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Way to give! (or how to donate $25 without taking out your wallet)

You know all about MS SoftServe, right??  If you’ve somehow gotten to my blog and haven’t heard, I bestow upon you a silly amount of links! (video, blog, the staging ground for the site in progress and the cause on facebook.)

Are you still with me? Do you feel informed? Good.

MS SoftServe is making some amazing progress with grants applied and (some) awarded, with a spring campaign in the planning , and fundraisers on the schedule. At the rate we are moving.. this site will be available for use before 2012 becomes 2013.

I know, I know, you are really behind this effort. You know it will make a difference for PWMS and those who love (or even like) us. But unfortunately for many of us, making a donation is just not in the budget. Well lucky you (us).  The Find a Cure Panel is your ticket to karma (and so early in the year!) All you need is a few extra minutes to fill out an anonymous survey and Find a Cure Panel will donate $25 to MS SoftServe in your name.  What is  FACP you ask? . Here is the short version: FACP empowers people to impact on research. Click this link  for details.

Once you’ve determined that this org is legit and you’re ready to sign on to furthering the understanding of MS for the researchers who are dedicated to finding  a cure (not to mention the healthy donation to MS Softserve!) send an email to info@findacurepanel.com and put MS SoftServe in the subject line to make sure the cause you care about is getting the proper props!

Then sit back and enjoy the rest of 2012 with your increased karma… making this information contribution a win/win situation!

Thanks!

Amy

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Destination Unknown

While you are in the midst of pre-holiday scramble, take a moment to read my latest essay on Health Central’s MS site. My seasonally non-specific December post will not only give you a break from the stress of the holiday prep crazies, but it will also put your life in to a comparative perspective that may be comforting at the time of year when we all take stock. But that’s just my speculation. Go decide for yourself.  And return to your previously scheduled “holiday crazy” with a new perspective~

Destination Unknown

If you are reading this post, chances are good that you’ve been diagnosed with MS and have your very own diagnostic tale; a “Where were you when you heard about Kennedy, Lennon, Cobain” story. It’s often the first exchange when two people with MS meet.  “Diagnosed, 1988, only took one week after my first symptom,” or “Diagnosed last year after a decade of unexplained symptoms and dismissive doctors.” No matter how our stories differ, that day puts us on the same train; the one with no clear destination or announcements along the way to keep our bearings. (more)

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Hey Blog! Guess what I’m doing today~

You’ll never guess blog, so I’ll just tell you. I’m going to talk all about you…that’s right, you! Ms. Twyman teaches writing to 5th graders at Bradford School. How do I know this you ask? Madeline is in the class, silly! Anyway I’m so excited because I will have a chance to tell all of the students how amazing you are!

They don’t know about blogging yet, but I think that after I tell them, some of the kids will want to start one of their own.  I don’t have to tell you about how cool it is to put words up on the Internet for people to read. You know first key.  But they haven’t done it yet. They’ll learn how exciting it is to posting your thoughts and feelings, your photographs, details of your vacation, your best anime drawing or your creative stories. You could even put a recipe up there…or maybe even a dream you want to talk about. The possibilities are endless.

You know how I love writing. It feels so good to talk about things that I’m feeling while living with MS.  I’ve had MS for over 23 years… and I have a lot to tell people who are just diagnosed. I have stories that will help them feel better. I can even make them laugh which is the best feeling ever. How do I know they laugh you ask? Because the write comments telling me so! But sometimes I write about things that aren’t MS. Sometimes I write about what an amazing daughter I have ;) or even a poem.

Don’t worry blog, I won’t forget to remind them about safety on the Internet.  They all know a lot about safety already, but I’ll tell them about a few sites that are secure, that their parents can look at if they want to.

So, I’m not going to tell you everything. I want some of it to be a surprise! Just thought I’d keep you in the loop! If you feel your ears buzzing later, you’ll know why!  I’ll tell you how it goes!

~Amy

Your parents can help you find safe spaces to blog. This is a link to one for classrooms and schools.

http://kidblog.org/home.php

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Turkey, check. Cranberry sauce, check. Medical marijuana… priceless

Join us tonight for MSLOL Radio’s new show! (we are now part of Multiple Sclerosis – Unplugged Radio along side Stu’s Views and MS News!) On tonight’s episode we will explore the afore mentioned topic. No, not your thanksgiving menu! We are talking about the priceless part!

It’s all about medical marijuana and how it’s an effective treatment for many of us living with MS. There will be some very special guests- including a doctor who prescribes it and a chef that will tell us how to cook this therapy in to some very tasty dishes!

So Join me and my co-host Deanna Kirkpatrick for what will be a very informative and entertaining evening.

Be sure to bring some pre-holiday tastings just in case you get the munchies! ;)

If your too busy in the kitchen to listen live, download the podcast for later…. but make sure you listen to it before the tryptophan sets in!

Here’s the link. Listen on-line or on the phone. At 8pm EST and 5pm PST.

The call in number is: (347) 215-9265. Press #1 if you want to say something or ask a Q.!

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This just in!

Health Central has produced some terrific Multiple Sclerosis videos over the years that are a must see.

And here is my contribution:

While you are there, check out the other offerings of the site. The conversations going on in the MS community are not only informative but are often soothing. It’s good to know that you are not the only one dealing with it.

Enjoy and spread the link. * Full discloser:

*This was a challenging shoot (4+ hours). I think I slept for 3 hours after all was said and done. Kudos to the camera man and the editors who made it seem like a smooth conversation!

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MSLOL Radio- Humor Me! Finding the funny while living with MS

On Wednesday October 19th at 8pm (EST) we will disclose a mostly unknown, un-adverstised treatment for MS that has no side effects, no co-pays and can be taken every day, all day with no possibility of addiction. Hmm…that may not be true. Let’s just say that any addictive state can be legally and safely fulfilled.

It’s all about finding and using humor to cope… But you knew that didn’t you. I mean… you read the title!  Join us at 8pm on Wednesday to hear the accounts of 5 armchair comedians who have MS and can’t cope without it, and two professional stand-up comedians living with MS who make us laugh about it even when they/we can’t stand up. We’ll hear from Jonathan Katz (of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist fame) and British comedian Jim Sweeney (of The Comedy Store and Whose line is it Anyway, fame.)  Check out the Jonathan Katz interview with Trevis Gleason on EverydayHealth.com and Jim’s one man show My MS and Me. Both will help you find a spin on the most challenging of MS experiences that will likely have you nodding and laughing throughout.

Jim Sweeney, Improvisationalist Comedian with MS

MY MS and ME with Jim Sweeney

Dr Katz, Professional Therapist whose not a therapist, but does have MS

Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist

So, here it is once again (For me and MS cog fog peeps- repetition can be helpful me thinks. Granted cutting and pasting in iCal email alerts is even more helpful!)

Humor Me: Wednesday October 19th at 8pm (EST)
Use our new toll free number: (877) 774-3194
or listen on line at Blog Talk Radio …Oh, and while you’re there… hit that “follow” button, it’s the blue one with the word “follow” on it. This way you will be in the know and impress those of us who can’t remember anything!

Are you looking for that show you loved, the one from earlier this year?  Click here, and feel free to lather, rinse repeat!

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Stress Begets Stress Begets Stress when living with MS

Isn’t it annoying that stress has a negative impact on our health? I mean if we’re already dealing with emotional and mental strain, we clearly need endorphins not ulcers! Why isn’t there an immuno-modifier that can address this issue? And since we’re talking about lacking immune systems, let’s talk about stress and MS, because that combination is truly unjust. When you have stress and MS, it begets more stress and more MS, leading to even more stress and more MS! I pause to throw a dirty look at who or what ever is behind that serious misjudgment in human design…

(Want more? Click!)

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SSDI- From DISability to THISability

Please join us tonight for MSLOL Radio’s 11th show From DISability to THISability.
Tonight just happens to be Sept. 7th 2011 at 8pm EST

While coping with MS, we try to focus on what our abilities ARE, not what they aren’t. So leaving a career to be officially labeled Dis-anything by the government of these United States, often compromises the emotional foundation we’ve worked so hard to maintain. When you add the application logistical nightmare to the mix, it’s a wonder that any of us make it through the process.

Tune in tonight and you’ll hear from people who have made it through that process and found new meaningful ways to spend their time, often empowering them to make a difference not only in their lives, but in the lives of many.

We will hear from Kristina Erickson, the health insurance specialist from the National MS Society, who will help us demystify the process and provide some tips and tricks in getting through it. And a number of very compelling people who have been there and done that!
It’s a call in and listen show, so all you need is a telephone and the ability to dial the toll free # (877) 552-4068. Or if you prefer to listen via that link to the world at large that you call your computer… you can do that too! Go to this link and turn up the volume!

While you are waiting patiently for the show to start… enjoy the music stylings of MSbians- Katie’s Blues (Find a Cure for MS!) It’s our new show theme! Thanks Dean Kramer!

Oh, I almost forgot. If you are busy tonight… worry not! The podcast will be available after the show for listening on your schedule. Life is sweet, isn’t it?!

 

 

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Stuff You Should DEFINITELY Know!

If you don’t already listen to the smart, entertaining, informative blogcast on the How Stuff Works website  (that being, “Stuff You Should Know“) you are seriously missing out. Josh and Chuck are so many things. They’re smart, funny, self-deprecating, did I say funny? conversationalists that make all the most amusing references, ones that speak to me on a generational level. (Though I think I’m a touch older- we clearly have similar reference points!)

I listen to their podcasts quite regularly; it makes for excellent distraction while riding the bike. (Though I recommend stationary here… the laughing will be dangerous when balance is required!) The topics they speak to are everything from “How McDonalds Work” to “How Fascism Works” to “How Scooby-Doo Works” to  “Is Buthan on to Something with Their Gross National Happiness?” They run the gamut… and keep you coming back for more. Even the titles that don’t immediately appeal like: How Terror Management Works or How Agritourism Works are made fascinating by these guys. And I should mention Jeri here.. she produces the show and we know that Josh and Chuck wouldn’t sound so smooth without her! So kudos to her too. (Too patronizing? ;) )

So here is the money moment. I wrote them a letter a few months ago about MS SoftServe and they read it on the show “How Military Snipers Work”- it couldn’t have been the one on tickling or clouds.  So, follow these links and add them to your to do list. Assuming you are able to commit facts to your long-term memory- you will be impressive at parties and on facebook status updates. Or, you’ll just be entertained for the length of the show and forget it. It’s all good!

So, listen to the listener’s mail segment that I’ve edited out of How Military Snipers Work. It’s only a minute, though be warned! Their affable personae may lure you in for good.

MS SoftServe on SYSKl!

Happy Happy Joy Joy~