Sunday, April 14, 2019

Finally Up To Date

April 2019

I'm getting more acquainted with this again so I just wanted to give readers an idea of the content and suggestions of how we all interact. I plan on writing at least twice a month, more if there's really something important(I don't want to overwhelm). Part of my life's purpose, I believe is to share the ups downs and lessons of someone living with Spina Bifida so I'll be talking about life.  Other times, I may discuss(prayerfully factually) thoughts, ideas about current topics from funny to mundane and yes even politics and faith. While I am a Christian I won't promise to be perfect, you may not like everything I say. I'm only going to post a few more entries to Facebook.  I welcome you to click the "follow" button or enter your e-mail address which then, I believe will notify you only when there're new entries. Should you choose to follow the blog and wish to comment, please feel free.  I ask you to be respectful and I'll do the same.  I don't mind dialogue but let's be open minded and respectful.

2019's been ok so far.  I've had some health concerns but they're slowly diminishing. My last testing will be in May for concerns about lymph nodes. Doing my best not to worry until I know there's something to worry about.  Like I said I work at the local Target.  Strangely I haven't worked since Mid January due to changes they made and they need to "figure out how to fit me back into the job" Given the weather and health challenges, I haven't worried to much but it's getting hard(financially and otherwise). Also, I haven't really heard of anyone else being shorted due to changes. I hope something works out soon.  Till then I'll work more on my Wedding Consulting plans.  OH I also have a blog for the www.wheelingweddingplanner.blogspot.com I hope you join me there to. Well, that's all for now. Night Folks!

Monday, April 8, 2019

Photos from the last few years

Friends, family and good times
 
 




Back To Blogging 2

All these things made me want to be cordial, yet cautious who I truly befriended.  Which in turn led to more days in which I'd wake up, realize I had no appointments, no one was looking for/needed me so I would sleep way more than I should.  Don't misunderstand, I had lots of nice times and gatherings with neighbors, I just didn't want to get in the middle of drama.  I had plenty of guests visit for Avon parties, family gatherings and friends over. I even competed with my sister in the Ms. Wheelchair Ohio Pageant that summer. I moved there not by choice, but I did my best to make the best of it. Out of homesickness, I went home as much as possible.

2013 turned to 2014 and things seemed to be moving along for me personally yet my dad hadn't been well for some time and in July he passed away.  About a month later, beloved comedian Robin Williams died unexpectedly.  Both were like gut punches and seemed intertwined because Williams movies had been a part of so many funny family memories. My dad left me a sum of money that was a blessing I didn't see coming. I was thankful that lots of financial burden would be off and entertained the notion of moving back to my hometown.  I prayed, checked availability at a place, and calculated whether I could really afford the expense now having more financial stability. I decided I needed to take the risk.  By years end, I was preparing to head home.  I was thrilled!  The place I moved to is another senior/disabled housing complex(really, truly the only type of place that has even close to adequate accommodations for the disabled). 

My apartment is way more spacious than I've had. Much bigger living area and bedroom.  Good space that meets my needs. I'm slightly more independent in the kitchen and have had a few memorable attempts at making food for friends, and several attempts at no bake cookies, bars, and desserts. After getting settled in, I felt more at ease moving forward with continuing education for Wedding Consulting. I decided on this as a career path because I've always loved all things wedding, have business experience and wanted to go with something I felt I'd stay with as long as I was at my other job.  I had already obtained certification from one school and felt it necessary to go further so as to become a member of The Association of Bridal Consultants. I became a registered member in October 2016.

While excited about meeting goals, I wasn't making money so I decided to apply at the local Target. The day of my interview I was all dressed and ready to go. And what do you know... a raining downpour!  My aide and I got me to the van with an umbrella but I still was drenched! I continued on, arrived early, and did my best to dry off and not be as much of a wet rat.  Long story short, I Got The Job.... After 5 Years Of Searching And Being Rejected I Got It!  Working there has taught me about how to work with and well... for very different distinct types of people.  Thinking about it makes me laugh. The end of '17 was rough due to many unexpected and often unexplainable issues with my van. Thankfully none of it got me fired. Since many of these episodes happened during winter months, while I was alone and oft times after work hours, I began experiencing things that I can imagine resemble PTSD type symptoms. Still kind of dealing with them to this day. Anger and fear are things I need to work on.  I'm just now feeling anything close to relaxed and certain I have reliable transportation.

All in all, I've survived and thrived through a lot. I hope to keep you up on what the future has in store. Thanks for reading, and we'll talk soon. :)



 

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Back To Blogging

WOW Six Years! I can't believe it's been that long since I posted on here.  Browsing through some of my other posts, I see how things have changed. Lots of ups, downs, twists and turns. I'd like to get back to writing on here so thought I'd start off catching up.

In 2013, I was mostly getting adjusted to a new normal with my Interstim Sacral Nerve Stimulator. I can happily say that I'm going six years strong with it having approximately 80-95% success rate(that's saying a lot since I live with Spina Bifida and was told I probably would always have some issues) and lots less socially crippling. At the time I was about a year into unemployment and truly hoping that was the beginning of a turning point. While I was fortunate to be offered many interviews, I somehow never seemed to measure up or the company offering couldn't offer enough hours so they didn't have to pay benefits. It was devastating. I quit the job I'd been at for 18 after feeling like my back was against a wall.  This was a place that helped me get many starts in life and had a lot, in my mind, to do with my identity. Many other things happened, friends/family were moving or dying, and social connections(aside from social media) I had were being diminished. Finances were getting slim and it felt like walls were closing in. The day I couldn't balance my checkbook almost broke me.  It was obvious something wasn't right and saw my doctor immediately, I was diagnosed with depression and prescribed a low dose medication. 

On top of this, rent was getting high where I was living. I knew I couldn't stay and the one place in my hometown the was accessible for the disabled didn't have vacancies. Sadly, I had to move about 20 minutes away. My new apartment was an efficiency, if you don't know what that is it's about like a child's shoe box in which the kitchen, living, bed/bathroom And The Bedroom Closet seemed to fit all in one small space. Never in my life did I ever have to downsize so much(7 large garbage bags of cloths just in the first few months.) One of my first days there consisted of training a new home health aide, have both the cable and internet guys installing things and needing me to answer questions or give instructions all while the wheelchair repair guy was doing something with the chair.  It makes me laugh now, but at the time it was head spinning.

I lived in a senior and disabled housing development.  For as outgoing as I am, I sensed that not many people really wanted to embrace the newbie unless they wanted dish on the other lady from the complex my aide was working for. This made me want to avoid people.  I also came to realize it mattered which side of the complex you lived on.  One side thought they were better than an other and answered to this high and mighty lady who rode around on a scooter and thought she was just as much the manager as the actual manager.  She was referred to as The Mayor.  I wonder if she's still alive....??? I could tell all kinds of stories but I digress.