Why not piggyback on one MS Society fundraiser for another!!

  

   The past few years I've walked in the Walk MS and raised money for MS research that way.  I had a lot of very generous people help me on my mission.

     Now that I'm riding in the Bike MS  "Bike To The Bay", I felt like I needed to focus on this event, so rather than ask all of my wonderful friends to help me twice this year, I wouldn't walk and focus on the Bike.

     However, when I was at a "Bike To The Bay" planning committee meeting, Alberta Hunt from the National MS Society asked if anyone could sit and man the Bike MS booth at the Walk.  Of course most of the eyes looked down because you know if you make eye contact then you will certainly be delegated.

     But you know me, I don't really care for that awkward silence so I said I would.  I asked Alberta what time I needed to be there and she said from 7:00 AM until I turned 65!  What did I get myself into!?  

     Then after a couple of days it occurred to me that I could dip into this pool for some more prospects for my team.  I figured it wouldn't be a conflict of interest because the Walk was already taking place so I wouldn't feel guilty pulling potential  prospects from the Walk.  They would either be psyched up from having just done the walk and want to get involved in the Bike MS, or ready to keel over, then ask me if I was crazy.



     I was sure to wear my cute "Team Leapfrog" shirt so if nothing else maybe I could promote our team that way. I wasn't getting my hopes up though; I mean, these people were probably already exhausted from doing the walk and the Bike MS was probably the furthest thing from their minds.

     Well I was wrong.  I couldn't believe how many people were interested in riding in the Bike To The Bay.  It did make sense though.  A lot of walkers were there because they had a loved one with MS or they themselves had it.

     At this point I decided to pull out my "MS card".  I have it, I may as well use it;)  Anyone who even glanced for a second at the Bike MS literature was now a candidate for my team.  The funny thing was, almost every person who stopped at the Bike booth was interested in riding.  And when I told them I have MS and that's why I started team leapfrog they immediately wanted to be on my team.

     I gave out quite a few of my Leapfrog cards and now I'll just wait to see how many new riders I get for my team. Fingers crossed that my team will be bigger than ever!  Remember, My goal is now 50, but that could change because we're already at 32.

      As always the turnout for the walk was overwhelming, and it was amazing to see how many people from our community wanted to help in this cause.

     I also ran into a couple of my team members which I hadn't met yet, as well as my friend and fellow blogger Nani, who also has MS and just recently completed the training to become the MS support group leader in this area!  Congrats Nani!

     The biggest reward I received from volunteering at the  Walk was seeing how many people truly wanted to help us in our fight to cure MS.  Now I'm even more excited to see the same enthusiasm  at the Bike To The Bay!!

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

The countdown to outside riding continues

 

        Now that winter is in full force and we've all been staring at snow, while freezing for what seems like forever, I have to try harder than ever to come up with ways to keep from going stir crazy.  I'll find any excuse to make my way to my favorite coffee shop.  Chandler Cafe' is the cutest, quaint little coffee shop on earth.  It's right in the middle of downtown Sylvania,Ohio.

     I go there often enough that I think I should have my own name plate on my favorite high top table.  My new BFFs, Maggie and Kate are the sweetest people  you will ever meet and they were kind enough to let me snap some photos of them for my blog:)

     It's ironic how February is the shortest month of the year yet it takes the longest to pass.  As soon as March rolls around and the streets are cleared of the black crystallized snow I plan to throw on a jacket and hit the pavement again.

     For now though, I'll find anyway possible to pass the time indoors, and what a better way than with a big cup of coffee in hand!

Have a great day!

Christine:)



Please sponsor me or join my team:)
msohiobike.org 

     

Proof! See, I do have a brain!!

     At my last Neurologist appointment my doctor  gave me a script to have an MRI done on my brain.  I guess he just had to have proof I actually have one!

     I knew it was a waste of time, but who knows, the jury has been out for awhile and maybe he just needed to confirm it.  They might even discover a few loose screws while they're at it (that would explain a lot!).

     I've had many MRIs in the past but It was time for a follow up again. What they're actually trying to do is compare the current brain lesions with those from the past to gauge any signs of progression.  Next they repeat the entire procedure on my spine.  The whole process takes almost two hours, stopping halfway through to pump my veins full of dye (unlike superman and his kryptonite).

     Many people have a hard time being rolled into this narrow white cylinder, then subsequently be forced to listen to what sounds like a jack hammer drilling non stop for the duration; it could certainly bring out the claustrophobia in most.  They do give you a headset with music to attempt to distract you from the noise, but the "jack hammer" always trumps the music.



     However, my creative little mind has a strategy to get me through this whole ordeal.  I just ask them to turn on my favorite classic rock station and  imagine I'm lying on a white sandy beach (with some cute guy jack hammering next to me!) and I don't even have to worry about a sun burn. I'm not a Neurologist or a Radiologist so as far as my MS goes, I'm not certain as to what exactly these images conclude, but at least I finally have proof, I knew it, I actually do have a brain!


Have a great weekend!!

Christine:)    

Please sponsor me or join my team:) msohiobike.org  

A good mood might be contagious, but some people just aren't ready

     

  Most people don't really like Mondays but  I usually love running errands that day, because the random conversation I strike up with total strangers always puts me in a good mood.

     However one stop I have to make isn't always my favorite and that's the post office.  I've been going to the same post office for many years and the same postal worker has been there a million years himself.

     This guy really needs a vacation in the worst way because no amount of idle chit chat will make him smile.  I've tried to shower him with kindness but the stone cold look on his face tells me he isn't in the mood.

     Dropping off a simple package makes me feel like I'm going to be subject to a strip search.  You better answer his questions seriously and by no means make any sudden moves or you could end up being escorted out in shackles. 

     As I was walking in the door there was a young man coming out pushing a cart filled with packages.  I'm guessing he was a Currier (that, or very popular).  Of course as any decent person would do, I opened the door for him then proceeded to the line.

     When I was standing in line I saw "Mr. Cranky Pants" up at the counter and started doing the math.  Two workers and how many customers in front of me... Just my luck I drew the wild card and ended up with...  you guessed it!

     I walked up to the counter with my package and gave him my usual smile.  He very sternly said "if it's ready to go, leave it ".  I attempted to show him I had everything correct, and with an escalated voice he repeated "LEAVE IT!". You don't have to tell me twice... Oh, I guess he did...

     So I put it down  and headed for the door.  I noticed the same young man was coming back in with another cart full of packages, I hustled out the double doors and said "here let me hold the door".  Then I said "wait let me get the other one too".

     The young man replied "wow, no one has ever done that for me!"  I chuckled because I'm sure he was exaggerating.   He said "I'm serious, never!"  I'm guessing it was the second door that blew his mind.  I smiled and said "have a good day!" 

     So I did help put some one in a good mood that day but I guess "Mr. Cranky pants" just wasn't ready.

Please join my team or sponsor me:)


Have a great day!

Christine:)

I know! I'll just imagine I'm a spin instructor!

     I have to admit, riding a stationary bike indoors three days a week can get a little monotonous,  but that doesn't stop me from doing it.  It's time to play those mind games again so I don't start pulling out the excuses.  If I was a spin class instructor could I say "I just don't want to teach today"??  I don't think so; my paycheck would rely on it and so would the classroom full of anxious students.

     Okay, so I'm not a spin instructor, and my class room consists of... well, just me, but that doesn't mean I can't trick my brain into believing someone is counting on me.  So here's what I tell myself... "yes there is a paycheck and it's called my health:)"  And who is counting on me??  Well... me of course!  Do I need a whole classroom before it matters??  Heck no!!  So I slap on those sneakers and start on my mission; before I know it my class is done.

     Sure, I don't get a room full of "great job"s at the end,  but in my mind I hear it:)  That's all the reward I need!


Have a great day!

Christine:)

The simplest things make my day!

                           

     I'm not much of a gambler; things don't usually fall into my lap.  I've learned that I have to work for what I want in life.

     However, I do like going to the local casino every now and then just to drop a twenty into the penny slot machines. It gives me the feeling of being in Vegas without even jumping on a plane.  More times than not I end up making a donation to the economy, but once in a while I get lucky and make a buck or two!

     For the most part it's simply a fun night out, and it's one thing my son Matt and I can do together.  A while back I went with my 26 year old daughter Emily and though I didn't win big money, it was certainly a day to remember.

     As we were entering the casino I noticed the man checking people in was letting most of them slip right by, no questions asked.  As Emily and I approached the gate the man said "I need your IDs". I smiled and waited for Emily to pull hers out.  He then said to me "I need yours too".  I said "are you serious?!?!"  This is my daughter and I'm 50 years old!! He leaned in and looked at my eyes... then said "okay, you're good:)".  I guess the crows feet were a dead give away:)

     I could take offence to his snap judgement  but I would be a fool to think any 50 year old looked under age (except for Medicare,lol).  He told me I looked young and they're required to ask anyone under 35 for identification, so I was thrilled just to be lumped into that category.

     That day I certainly had an extra bounce to my step (of course maybe it was my "turbo leg" causing it...)  at any rate, my day was made and it's amazing how it's the simplest things in life that do it!


Have a great weekend!

Christine:)

     

Christmas shopping keeps me going!

isn't she too cute?!

      When it comes to shopping I'm really more of a "window shopper" than anything else.  When ever something catches my eye it isn't long before I talk myself out of it or remember I have one just like it at home.

     I really enjoy walking around the mall with my mom on any given Saturday, and even more-so  around the holidays.  I just love to see all of the interesting people, along with all of the decorations and lights.

     It's even more enjoyable when my Christmas shopping is done and I watch all of the others scrambling around like crazy people. 

      I usually spend the remainder of the time until Christmas checking to see if I got the best deal or not.  The better option would be to put my blinders on and step away from the racks; there's no turning back.

My sweet grandbaby William loves the excitement too!

     We'll enjoy it while we can, because it won't be long before we're saying once again "when's it gonna be spring?"


Have a great weekend!

Christine:)

     

The slug bank: my strategy for survival

     Anyone who has MS will tell you that most of the time we're working with an energy deficit.  I personally can tell you that most days my body feels like lead and I feel like I weigh 300 pounds.  If I were to add fifty pounds of actual weight I would probably feel like a sumo wrestler.

     I'm not complaining, my condition just makes me stronger.  We only live once so it's up to me to have a strategy to keep my body as healthy and strong as possible, so I developed "the slug bank".  If I get up early when my energy level is at it's best and get my workout in, I will have made a deposit into my slug bank for later.

     The great thing about this bank is, later in the day when the rest of the world is scrambling to get  that workout in, guess what I'm doing... yep, being a slug, a guilt free slug!

     You've heard the old cliché "nothing tastes as good as being thin feels", well I have my own cliché, "nothing tastes as good as an hour in slugville feels".  When I look at a doughnut my slug calculator kicks in.  The average person would say "I'll just work it off later".   After my one to one and a half hour work out at 4:15 in the morning I'm not in the mood to make a deposit into my slug bank later.

     Of course I have to play mind games with my self to get through my workouts.  They tell you if you find a workout you enjoy you will stay with it.  Well, I have to say at 300 "mental" pounds there isn't a workout I love.  So I have to trick myself to get through it.  It's my daily ritual to talk myself out of quitting half way through.  What else am I going to do at 4:30 in the morning, sit and stare at four walls?? Then I pray to God for strength, thank him for the great friends in my life and just keep chasing that carrot knowing I'm making a deposit into my slug bank.  As long as I have a strategy my life is good!


Have a great weekend!

Christine:)

   

I just keep moving

   

     One thing I've discovered That Cinderella and I have in common is, at a certain point we both morph into a whole different creature.  Hers is at the stroke of midnight and mine is anytime that isn't 70 degrees and climate controlled.

     With having MS I've become a human weather gauge predicting how my body will react for that day.  Winter time its like cement and the summer its total mush.  In a perfect world it would be 70 and sunny, no humidity, with a slight cool breeze year round.  Of course, snow on Christmas Eve and gone the day after... oh yeah, can't forget about the flowers... and rain from one to four a.m.  Is that too much to ask??

     This past summer I discovered my bike was a great tool for getting me outside when the weather wasn't optimal.  But as the seasons change and the snow sets in I need to find another way to force myself outdoors.

     Snow skiing and ice-skating are out,  but last year I found another creative way to improvise.  My brother Doug has snow mobiles and asked me to go riding with him.

     We had a blast and I had totally forgotten I wasn't wonder woman!  That was until I got off of my snow mobile, stepped in a snow bank and lost my balance.  As I was laying there flat on my back, watching the snow hit my face I asked myself what any six year old child would do in my shoes... Yep, I made a snow angel:) 

From lemons to lemonade!!


Have a great day!

Christine :)

It's just too cold; I'll ride to warm weather!

     With cold weather here it's time to have a plan to make it through til spring;  it's just too cold so I'll ride to warm weather!  Of course we know I tucked my road bike in for the season but that doesn't mean I can't take a "road trip".

     When I rode outside over the summer it was so nice looking at all of the scenery and wild life, but as I've transitioned to riding indoors I don't have that luxury anymore.  I'm forced to stare at the same four  walls day after day.  We know playing mind games with myself is how I operate so I needed to come up with a strategy to make it through the winter.

     I decided I would take a road trip!  Up north is way too cold, but a road trip down south would be perfect:)  So on my bike I went.  I estimated the miles I go in an average week and if you add the bike and treadmill, I'm clocking in at about 50 miles a week or 200 a month.  The hard part of getting started is behind me and now I'm well on my way;  I'll just keep riding and by spring I will have taken the most amazing road trip  "imaginable".  With my calculations I will have racked up about 1300 miles  by the time The-Bike-To-The-Bay gets here, which is a whole a lot of riding for sure; but I've got all winter:)

Come along for the ride:)


Have a great weekend!

Christine:)

If only the flu "flew the coop"

   

  Having MS is challenging enough on it's own so I make it a yearly ritual to get a flu shot.  I would rather be proactive  than reactive when it comes to my health.  

     With a compromised immune system already, I could probably get the flu just by thinking about it.  Have you ever been around someone who tells you they have the flu and immediately you start getting this sick feeling in your stomach?  There is nothing worse.

     After I get a flu shot I feel like I've been given a magic bullet and all of a sudden I'm invincible.   Then when someone comes up to me and says they don't feel well I can confidently reply "looks like someone needs a hug..."

     It was getting that time of the year and I knew I needed to get my shot before it was too late.  Ironically, as I was driving down the street I saw this huge sign that read "GET YOUR FLU SHOT TODAY!"  I couldn't believe it!  Someone actually put up a sign just for me!!  Now I knew I had to do it.

     When I got to the pharmacy the pharmacist asked if he could help me (that was a loaded question).  I replied "I would like to get a flu shot..." that's not true, I wouldn't like a shot, "let me rephrase that... I need a flu shot", again there was no one holding a gun to my head forcing me to get one...  The Pharmacist jumped in, "so your here for a shot:)" "yes!"

     He handed me a form to fill out that had about 200 questions on both sides.  I was getting ready to pull out my passport and offer up my first born child.

     One of the questions had me perplexed.  It read "medical conditions"; followed by a line about one inch long.  I called the pharmacist over... "Here's a question for you..., this says medical conditions... is this a YES/NO question because I could write a book!"  "No"  he replied, "they just want a brief history".  So on that one inch line I squeezed in the words MS/breast cancer.  I'll leave the book for another day.

     The next comical question... "any previous reactions to injections?"  The first 1500 over the past eleven years never caused any problems but this next one just might put me over the top:)  As it is, right now I'm a walking pin cushion. I feel like I should carry a disclaimer "caution,  If you see me drinking water please step back to avoid sprinkler".

     After all the red tape, I was finally able to get my shot and soon I was ready to face the world; the only disappointing thing to this whole ordeal was when I looked down and noticed no cartoon characters on my bandage... I guess there comes a time in my life where I just need to be a big girl once and for all:)

* We finally have dates! Check out the BIke-To-The-Bay page:)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Christine:)

     

My super powers

 

  I'm sure we've all wished we had super powers at one time or another, and while it's only a fantasy, I sometimes think I actually have them.  To be able to fly would be a great super power.  The contraption on my leg would make me think I have this gift.

     I cherish my "turbo leg" or "power pack"... okay, it's really a walkaide, but "turbo leg" sounds much cooler:)  Not only does it prevent me from tripping on my toe (most of the time...), but it opens up a whole lot of dialogue.  When I ride my bike I don't wear it because it's very cumbersome, but take away the bike and this tool is a godsend.

     When I volunteered at the last Bike-To-The-Bay it was very obvious.  This device actually does give me "super powers" because I can morph into anything my creative little mind can think of.  I can go from being "on house arrest" to "a sports injury" all in the drop of a hat.

      On the second day of the Bike-To-The-Bay  they were calling for  light rain, so I wanted to avoid a power outage on my "turbo leg".  Since last year, they've come out with a protective cover,  but before that I had to improvise.  This actually worked out to my advantage.  I wrapped it in this pink scarf and all of a sudden I was a Ninja!  When asked why the limp, I responded "This is nothing, you should see the other guy!"

     The local chapter of the National MS Society holds a monthly support group meeting and it just so happens they were having some people come to talk about Tai Chi classes.  This was perfect!  I can look like a Ninja:)  Of course they had to set me straight; Tai Chi is Chinese, a Ninja is Japanese... hey, tomato-tamoto:)  What ever... this was my chance!!

pretty scary huh?!  Lol

     It's all just a matter of perspective, but when it comes down to it, I really think we all have "super powers" in one way or another:)

Have a great weekend!

Christine:)

The outdoor riding season has come to an end

 

      Well it's finally time to put my bike into hibernation for the winter.  Where did the summer go?  Remember the bike trail I was riding on just a couple of weeks ago??  Look at it now! Snow?!?!  Seriously!?!?  And we're not even half way through November!  Not quite enough for a snowman but I was freezing my behind off taking these photos, then again the wind didn't help:)

    Of course now that means I have to try harder than ever to keep up my riding indoors so I don't have to start all over come spring.

     To think there was a day that I couldn't ride a stationary bike five minutes without getting bored out of my mind.  Now I find myself using it like a drug.  The natural high is amazing!

     So I've committed (with witnesses)  to riding after work three afternoons a week and I'll admit I usually dread getting started, but about twenty minutes in when I feel that first bead of perspiration roll down my face I remember why I'm there.

     Once again it's the mind games that keep me going; if I have to imagine myself riding across country then that's what I'll do.  As long as I keep focused I can do anything!


Have a great day!

Christine:)

     

The files of my "myelin challenged" brain

   My brain and body don't always communicate like they're supposed to; I blame the loss of myelin for most of my craziness, though the thinking part is still intact.  I don't want to point the finger but that's why God gave us a pointer finger right... to point it:)  Life may be challenging, but I refuse to let it take me down, so I need a strategy.

     The way most people go through life trying to put all of their ducks in a row, I try to do the same with my thoughts.  I decided I needed a file cabinet to store all of the thoughts that help me stay positive  If you get a minute to check out my Pinterest boards you'll see just what makes me tick.

     On my boards I have nothing informational, educational or any useful household tips.  I simply use this as a space to store all the things that make sense out of life for me.  I've spent a lot of time searching for inspirational thoughts that give me hope, images that make me smile, and jokes that simply make me laugh out loud.

     Whenever I have a moment that I question "why", I go to my boards and say  "oh yeah, now I Remember!  It's amazing how the things that matter the most can get buried by things that aren't important.  Check it out and see if it doesn't put a smile on your face as well!

Have a great weekend!

Christine:)

Thank God for friends

   

  Preparing to ride in the Bike-To-The-Bay has been a true learning experience for me.  From discovering what kind of bike I need, what gadgets I need to get over the finish line safely and what my body needs to physically make the ride.

     In the process of training I learned that a flat tire is quite possible, wide tires are miserable, and hills along with wind can make my body feel like cement.  

     One very valuable discovery I made was that I am much stronger than I gave myself credit for and the harder I work at it the stronger I get.  As I've mentioned before, my strong leg is the leader and my crazy leg is the follower.  At the end of my ride I always coast into my driveway and then give my exhausted leg a chance to go back to normal.  Good strategy right!?

      But as time went on I also learned another important lesson, though my strong leg could go on for miles and miles, my weaker leg was useless on it's own.

     In the past I've been lucky and able to coast while crossing busy streets.  The timing has always been perfect.  On this last ride I wasn't as lucky.  As I was approaching a busy street I noticed a lot of traffic coming from both directions and I knew I would have to stop.  The cars were going 50 miles an hour so there was no darting out between them.

     Eventually I came to a complete stop and mind you, I had been riding my bike for almost twelve miles non-stop so my leg by this time was toast.

     Here was my dilemma... If I was to balance on the strong leg, my weak leg would take forever to pick up speed.  However, if I was to try to balance on the week leg I could come crashing down like a ton of bricks.  My decision was to balance on the strong, wait until there were no cars for about a million miles and push off with the weak leg, cross my fingers and hope for the best.

     Of course I made it across the street but not without breaking a sweat.  So now I have one more learning lesson to add to my list and that is... I may be strong willed and truly believe I've got this, but on the day of the ride I'll tell you this, I will not be riding alone:)

Have a great Day!

Christine:)

     

My "best" just got "better"

  

   One thing I have never been known to be is a quitter.  It doesn't matter what curve balls life throws me I always manage to find a way to adjust and find a new "normal".  MS threw a curve ball and it wasn't long before I figured out how to juggle my life so the challenges became just a way of life.

     Sure, back in the day I ran and roller bladed and walked for miles on end.  Now my footdrop only makes me work harder to keep active with what I have.  I won't lie, I sometimes feel like crawling after only a mile of walking but that's why I force myself to do almost two miles everyday on the treadmill  and then I throw in a dose of strength training just for good measure.  This became my new "normal", day by day I had a strategy.  I wasn't about to give up on my body or my life.

     However, sometimes we need to step outside our comfort zone before we're forced to see that our "best" could be "better".  I had a valid excuse for not running a marathon but what was my excuse for not riding my bike?  No toes needed for that...

     It took a nudge to get me convinced but it wasn't long before I discovered I was capable of riding in the Bike-To-The-Bay.  To think I could have gone through the rest of my life convincing myself and others that my "best" was good enough.  Everything happens for a reason and thanks to that vote of confidence my "best" just got better!

Have a great day!

Christine:) 
   

Angels are watching over me

   

      I truly believe there are angels all around us because no sooner did I commit to this Bike-to-the-Bay  journey, and kind people were coming out of the woodwork to get involved.  one of the first soldiers in my army was my friend Michael, who I met before the Bike-to-the-Bay last year.

     Michael has health challenges of his own, but when he heard I was going on a leap of faith that I could complete the ride he immediately wanted to be a part of it.  After hearing me mention my tires were all wrong for the ride, causing total exhaustion,  he gave me a very generous gift of new tires to make sure I made it over the finish line safely.  Talk about a heart of gold.  Then my friend Robert put them on. Soldier number two!

     If there was one tiny  moment that I  thought about backing out, now there is no way I can quit. I have my guardian angel looking out for me.

Have a great weekend!

Christine:)