Squishy Stuff, Loud Sales Assistants & Male Humiliation!!! :s :p

I guess you all know it's 2 weeks today till my wedding in the states to a beautiful woman!

Well, there are certain preparations you have to make before you're married, and I thought the following story would amuse people out there, as a very inexperienced male goes into a well-known chemist that has the same name of footwear, if you get my drift...

I went fearfully into the Chemist clutching my previous grocery shopping list with one item circled and underlined nervously, approached the counter, very carefully making sure there was no-one else around, I even waited for a few minutes until the queue cleared, and asked for the particular product I needed.....

My actual words to the sales assistant were: "This is a bit embarassing, but I'm getting married in two weeks, have you got any ********?" lol

The girl behind the counter must have been about 20 years old at most and said "what's that, I've never heard of it?" mortified I had to explain that it was a ********!
(You would have thought the fact I said I was embarrassed and I needed it because I was getting married would have been a clue!)

She said "oh!" and SHOUTED (!) across to her colleague "this lad needs some *******, where do we keep it?"

The thought rushing around inside my rapidly blushing mind? - GAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It may be my own paranoia, but I'm convinced every single woman in the place looked at me like I was a pervert or something!! :-(

Eventually something was found, but it involved at least two female sales assistant searching the aisles, and picking up things and saying "is this it?" To which I barely whispered "no, I don't think so", keeping my gaze to the floor so I could avoid eye contact wth every person in the shop...

Eventually, a suitable product was found, and after paying, I quickly escaped, almost running to catch any shreds of dignity that I had left which were escaping through the door....

I'm sure I heard laughter as I left, a distinct female tone...

:-(

Just Keep Breathing...

I'm pretending to be civilised folks.

Yes, that's right, you heard me right.

I'm currently sitting at my desk, typing out this post whilst listening and chilling out to... ah, currently I have "Meditation From Thais", a classical piano piece playing in the background.

Actually...

It's not just in the background.

Actually...

It's keeping me sane.

I have precisely 19 days until I fly out to the States, and then I will have precisely 6 days before I am wed to the girl of my dreams. No... she is real, I mean THE girl of my dreams. I'm absolutely bewildered by the rush of emotions and feelings I'm having at this moment, realising I'm giving my life to someone else, and commiting the rest of my days to a woman that I love, till death do us part, as I will say in a few weeks time.

Don't misunderstand me, it's not fear. Fear is the furthest it's ever been from me in actual matter of fact. It's Joy. Pure unadulterated joy that I've found someone to spend my life with, someone who I'm attracted to, someone who I love to laugh and cry with, but most of all, someone who fascinates me and enthralls me, and who interests me on the tiniest level. I'm truly humbled by what God has done for us both in these last eighteen months or so, and maybe it's the music I'm listening to, but I feel so at peace and so grateful to God for bringing me someone as beautiful as Meg into my life.

I don't just mean on the outside, though she is incredibly beautiful. I mean someone who has that rare quality of being beautiful on the inside too, someone who captivates me and who is kind and graceful and generous and all those things every man secretly wants in his bride. As men we may mess around and struggle to be serious and have a bit of depth to us at times, but secretly deep down, we all want that beauty to rescue, that beauty to fight for, that girl that brings out a protectiveness in us, and that we long to hold close and keep safe.

Meg brings out all those things in me, and I confess, I'm no man really in the masculine scheme of things, but somehow, my heart aches to be all those things for her, and my instinct is to care for her and be gentle with her and protect her. Not because she's some wisp of a thing with no backbone and timid to the point of weakness, but rather because I see a passion and a love in her that awakens feelings of protection in me, almost as a great work of art compels you to appreciate it.

I cannot verbally state how much I love her, and I'm finding amazingly that my love for her has grown and grown in leaps and bounds since even we were last together a week ago. I can't wait to declare my love for her publicly in a few weeks time, and to state to the world how much she takes my breath away. She is truly beautiful, not just a skin deep shallow beauty, but one that is God created and lasts and lasts, and one that compels it in others too.

I can't help but pour out my feelings as I blog because I can't keep them in. I've been waiting for such a long time to find a person who I could spend the rest of my life with, not in some soppy way, but in a real gut wrenching way. Someone not only who I would be amazed at, but someone who would compel me to be a better man, a better Jesus Follower, a better husband, a better person.

I can't really express it here, but I know I'm going to weep like I never have at my wedding, and you can call me a big girls blouse if you want, I don't care!! It's not just because I love her so deeply, it's because God has been so unbelievably good to me this year. Jesus has given me everything I ever wanted in a wife, and he's given me a new job, and a home to live in, and so, so many other things this year. He's provided when we've needed stuff, provided patience when we found the going tough, and provided grace when we found the going rough.

All through the Visa Application, we were so fearful that it wouldn't go through and that we'd be separated. All our fears were ever so gently wiped away by the One who knows our doubting hearts. Three days was all it took. 3 days!!! God is so full of Grace and gives and gives and gives until you think he musn't have anything else to give, and He gives a little more. His love and His gentleness with me break my heart.

And all this spoken through the gift of my beautiful bride.

I can't wait to see her walking down that aisle to meet me.

ONE Month to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it!!!

1 more month of singleness!

Well, Megan flew over for a week and she flew back yesterday to make the final preparations for our wedding in Maine on the 16th August.

I have a strange mix of emotions realising that's it's just one calendar month until I marry my beautiful fiance, but mostly excitement. The night before she left, we went over the vows with my dad (who's marrying us) and I think at that point, hearing those ancient words (we're using the traditional vows, words like "I give you my troth", etc) I must admit, I got just the teensiest bit nervous!!

Not nervous of spending my life with Meg, because that's all I want at this point with having so many separations, but just nervousness about the holiness of it all. To make those promises, in front of God Himself... that's a little scary!!

It's good though. I need to be a little scared, because if I was totally confident and approached it knowing I can be everything she wants then I would be making a huge mistake. Meg and I love each other, and I can honestly say she is all I want, but if I'm looking for some huge emotional physical sponge that can meet all my needs for the rest of my life in Meg, then I'm looking in the wrong place. It's really important for us to keep reminding ourselves that it's in the giving of love to each other through our relationship with God that we'll make this work, not some silly sentimentality that says we'll never argue or disagree.

I'm excited at what God has for both of us in our life together, and excited about what he wants to do through us as uniquely, as a couple. I guess time will tell what that will eventually be!!

Success!!!

Long time no blog I know.

Megan and I have had so much to do, so many documents to file, so much internet research and phonecalls, and so much busyness...

But it's all paid off!!

Megan was granted her 2 year Visa to live in the UK as my Spouse yesterday!!!

We're so excited and so pleased, there just aren't the words!!

Because of a technical hitch we didn't know about, Megan has only 28 days to enter the UK from yesterday, so she will be coming over to visit for a week or so before the end of July! She could wait until after the wedding and the honeymoon, but that then has a knock on effect of reducing her two years because we didn't realise we could post-date the visa.

Her visa has multiple entries in it, so she can visit the U.S. as often as she wants during the next two years, and return to the U.K. We were worried at one stage that when she got the Visa, she wouldn't be able to go home for two years, but thankfully that was mis-information!

After all our prayers and worrying, her visa was granted in three days!!! God has been very good to us, and those of you out there in the blogging world who have prayed or held us in your thoughts, whether briefly or contsantly, thank you so, so much!

I'm off to be domestic and clean, as I've got a day off today!!

I will try and keep more up to date with blogging now that all the Visa stuff is over, and work is starting to calm down a bit.

Oh yeah, work.

Hmmmm. Far far too much has happenned in work over the last few months to explain in a sentence, so I'll post on that and on my general health in the next blog...

Only 40 days to go until I'm married!!!

:D

:p

Exciting & Frantic!!

That is my life at the moment!

2 months and 18 days till I marry the woman of my dreams, and theres still suits to sort out and a visa to apply for, but I'm at least in my ownplace with running hot and cold water, electricity, tv, a bed and three piece suite and most importantly, internet access!!

I don't ask for much, do I? ;)

I shall blog a bit more now that I'm online at home, because I just don't have the time in work at the moment.

tarrah for now!!

Moving!!

No, no I've not been weeping tears of joy or sadness!

I'm leaving home, my parents hone, for good tommorow!!!

I'm moving furniture into my and megan's flat tommorow (or should I say today cos of the time), and then I'll be living there!!!

It's so exciting!!

Anyway, I'd better get to bed, I'm up in six and a half hours...!!

:-)

Roll On Holidays...!!

Update!!

Well, I have a house phone, a filter coffee machine, a 6ft fridge/freezer a kettle, an oak video cabinet, a tv licence and running water...

That's about it at the moment!!

I haven't moved in yet, and I've kept the electricity switched off at the moment to save money, but I'm hoping to hire a big van for the 17th, and that weekend will be my official moving in date!! It's only next weekend, it's not far away!!

In 2 weeks time, I should have broadband installed, although I've got to buy a usb wireless adaptor first. I've been advised to get netgear.

Well, that's it for now, I'm off on saturday so I'm going to go and clean like a maniac, hoovering and cleaning the oven and the kitchen and the fridge, etc while I've got the chance before I move in.

Life is at a hectic pace at the moment, but I'm surviving so far!

Our New Flat!!

The outside of the building... (I'm not telling you which number we are though!)
The door to our floor...

The front door of our flat (from the inside)

This is the second (spare) bedroom...

This is the entrance to our Master Bedroom, with en-suite shower and loo!

En-suite shower, with handy coathooks!

Master bedroom...

Bathroom... (separate to en-suite)

Hallway... (duh!)

Kitchen area off Lounge...

Lounge/Diner area with french doors...

there you go, that's a tour of our unfurnished future home!

We're so happy!!

:D

Exciting Possibilities!! :D

Well it's been all-go here at the Cullen parental Household.

After a few weeks of flat-hunting, and trans-atlantic messaging and phonecalls and texts and image-sending, I've found one that Meg and I are happy with. I signed the rental application today, and I have to wait 48 hours for my details to be checked out and for it to go through.

So, very soon I could be in Meg's and my new flat!!

:D

It's very exciting, we're really pleased with it, and because it's two bedroom, we could have guests stay eventually as well!

If there's any hitches (which there might because I've been low-income for a long time until I got the Manager's job - now I'm up to just below average - Christian Retail for you!) then my Dad has agreed he can step in as Guarantor for us.

Here's hoping the next 48 hours will hold some good news for us!

:-)

My sister

Isolation?!

It's just occured to me that I might seem a bit of a strange one if people really got to know me in the ms blogosphere, since I don't belong to any local chapters, or groups, whatever you'd call them, and I only know one other person with MS in the "real world".

It might look like I'm living in denial, I'm not I can assure you, but I don't tend to think about it alot, because I figure it's just better to get on with things, as there are a lot more people worse off medically speaking than me.

I'm not that bad, sure I feel tired alot, I get spasms and my legs feel like lead alot of the time, but apart from wierd sensory symptoms I'm not actually that bad and have a lot to be thankful for. When I was first diagnosed, just over five years ago, I went into a panic, and looked at groups locally, but (and correct me if I'm wrong people please!) my local MS group seemed to be very poorly organised, and full of older people who had had the condition for years and years, and were quite disabled. I felt kind of out of place, but was confused as when I attended a newly diagnosed session organised by my local MS nurses, there were loads of people around my age there. (I was 29 at the time)

I went to look at the website of my local group last week just out of curiosity, and the website is exactly the same, and the same dates on it even! It just looks old and dated and out of touch to me, and frankly puts me off. I do feel a bit isolated at times though...

Would anyone know of a group that meets in Liverpool UK, young adults, twenty or thirtysomethings? I've not found anything, though I guess I could ask my nurses at my next appointment.

One of my biggest fears was realised the first phone call I had with one of the main organisers of the group, who I'm sure was in his sixties (no offense meant, I just mean in comparison to me) and was very very negative. I guess once the MS really kicks in, and you have to endure increasing levels of disability, it must be very difficult to remain positive and to lighten up, but as I've not experienced that yet, it's hard for me to understand. Not that I'm saying that we shouldn't share our hurts and struggles, just not all the time constantly!

I was put off my local group, because when I spoke to the gentleman, he obviously asked me when I was diagnosed, and what symptoms had brought about the diagnosis. As soon as I had told him, he basically replied with "well it'll get much worse than that don't you worry", and also "you work full time? Well you'll have to give that up eventually... I did, you know" which I realise is true, but wasn't exactly the best thing to tell someone when they're newly diagnosed!

Maybe it's that experience that put me off, maybe it's just because I can be quite introspective at times. *sigh* I don't know.

I've been thinking lately that I want to meet with people with a similar experience of life, but I don't want to meet just to moan about my symptoms, or discuss ailments or treatments. Heck, I can do that when I'm older with practically anybody, and probably will!!

Are there any positive, fun groups out there with normal people in them?!

(gee, I know this post sounds harsh, I was just being honest!)

It's Been One Of Those Days... *

Nuff Said.

(* = My nephew Jacob)

Wow.

Mytalented sister is at it again.

Her friend (Jay Norton) has produced one of her songs and given it an electro/dance feel, and it's so good, I honestly would buy it. It sounds incredible, I'm trying to encourage her to send it to Radio 1.

Anyway, before I brag anymore about my sister, here's the link:

Ruth's Player

The song is called How Long, though she has other songs of hers on there.

How Long just blows me away, it's so professional!

Go Ruth!!!!!!

:p

Sense & Sensibility...

So, I haven't really had a good week, and I find myself getting ready for work not having had a good weekend either.

One of the wierdest symptoms of M.S, I've found, is one that starts when you've overdone things. Your body kind of rebels against you, and the only way I can try to describe it, is that your whole body feels "on edge".

Everything you touch literally gets on your nerves, and you long for the numbness to come back. Seriously, it's like your sense of touch goes nuts, and everything you accidentally brush up against, or knock into (your balance is usually off as well so this happens alot) sends your senses reeling.

You find that you have a background sense of irritability as your nervous system goes into overdrive, and everything upsets you, to the point where you want to shut yourself away from the world and go lie down in a darkened room alot, or go be a couch potato and let "Doctor TV" try his mind-numbing therapy on you.

I've hardly done a thing this weekend, mainly because my body had had enough. There was one point last week, where I was so stressed in work, that I started getting dizzy out of the blue and had to stop for 5 minutes to go and have a cup of (decaffeinated) tea.

The hardest thing I find about all this, is sharing it with others. I should have talked to Meg about it, but when I'm really tired and fatigued, I find it hard to find the words and express myself. It's like my brain is emmersed in thick pea soup and there's a constant fog and mental block to battle against.

I'm hoping today will be different.

Frustration Part Deux

*sigh*

My computer (desktop) is very ill. It's only about three years old, but it seems the usb ports are failing on it. (apparently I've overloaded them and caused a permanent conflict in the main usb circuit board)

I've sent it away to see if it can be fixed, and meanwhile I'm using my Dad's laptop during the evenings, but I'm not holding out much hope, because hard wired usb's are notoriously hard to fix apparently, and just putting in a temporary one doesn'y work for my Voip Phone, it has to be hard wired...

On the health front, I've been having very painful itchy swellings on the soles of my feet and also near my arch and on my wrists stretching down towards my little finger. They almost look like an injection site reaction, being very red and angry and swollen, and then after a few days they die down and then reappear again somewhere else!

I've had this problem for more than a week now, and it's very uncomfortable to walk on at times. The desire to scratch the affected area is almost more than I can bear, and so far my local G.P. has no idea what it is, and the M.S. Specialist Nurses say it's nothing to do with M.S. (and I quote) "because M.S. is an invisible disease, it doesn't have physical symptoms"...

Right.

Tell that to my muscles in my legs when they twitch and spasm. Tell that to my waterworks that aren't working properly at the moment for which I will (in a couple of weeks as I'm waiting for them) be self-catheterising myself on a weekly perhaps daily basis.

In fact, tell that to my back that often has severe lower pain, and also to my whole body when I've occasionally run out of spares, and am down to my last teaspoon!

I just don't know what it is, it happens in work and at home, sometimes it looks like an insect bite but I've compared the cleaning chemical stuff at work and at home and they're completely different. I'm very good with personal hygiene, it's not mites or anything, if it was my shoes that I wear, why would it have started randomly this last week?! Besides, my doc examined my feet and said that my arches were fine, no collapsing, etc. You don't have lymph nodes in your hands and feet, so thankfully it can't be any nasty white blood cell stuff...

The only thing my poor G.P. made a guess at (and he admitted it was a guess!) was that it was possibly arthritic, as the swellings had happenned near joints. Why would I suddenly have developed arthritis though?! I don't have a physical job, and yes I walk a lot cos I don't drive, but not any amount that is excessive?

I really have no clue and I wish I did, it's extremely annoying to have no answers to this particular malady.

Any suggestions I can look into, apart from me developing a resistance to Copaxone? (I'd thought of that, but my Consultant thinks that Highly unlikely, I'd be the first person literally to do so, and besides, I've only been injecting it for maybe three years)

*sigh*

Any suggestions of areas to look into anyone?!

Frustration.

Summed up by one word when you are enduring a 4,000 mile separation from your wife-to-be...

COMPUTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nuff said.

Hmmmmm...

It's 7:30, I'm up and about to pour (decaffeinated) coffee into my tired body, and prepare to go to work.

I'm normally more of a morning person, but this week it's been an effort. Thankfully today I feel a little better, though I have a very busy day ahead of me. I've got a rep first thing, and then I have to chase up two Bookstalls for two Events, get on top of all the shop accounts invoices and paperwork (I did the majority of it yesterday thankfully!) and then stop for some lunch.

Then, I have another rep in the afternoon, Timesheets for all my Part Time staff to do so they get paid at the end of this month, arrange a Leaving Interview for one of my staff who is retiring next week, prepare all the paperwork and training documents for her replacement; then I have a brief interview at our local BBC Radio Station to talk about the Promotion we're running as a chain at the moment "Bibles For India".

The basic idea is that we're encouraging people to give us all their spare/old Bibles so that we can parcel them up and send them to our brothers and sisters in India, many of whom don't have their own copy of the Bible.

Hopefully we'll get a good response after the interview starts airing from Sunday onwards!!

I hope I don't start to fall asleep by that stage in the afternoon!!

Down To Basics...

Ok, I should have done this a loooooooong time ago, but for those of my few readers who enjoy healthy lives, and want to understand an analogy of what having Multiple Sclerosis is really like, whether a mild form or not, please click on this link.

It's a very well-known analogy in many circles, but particularly for M.S.

It'll maybe give you an insight into how it feels at times.

Right, talking of spoons, I'm off to bed because I should have been there 30 mins ago...

Compassionate "Mercy-Eating"...

Lonely?

Lost in the bottom of the barrel, wondering when that special someone will come to find you?

You're aware that you're different from everybody else, people are harsh and judge by appearance and you get left behind all the time...

Forsaken and lonely, you meek out you're existence while your world crumbles around you as you see your colleages chosen over you every time...

Well don't worry, little lonely broken Custard Cream, I will choose you!!

:p

Out With The Old, In With The New?!

It's a common theme for me these days.

Whether it be with work, my spiritual journey, or my relationships with the people I love, at the moment I'm being constantly called to renew things.

Whether it's a new renewal of my commitment after being away for two weeks to make my shop as successful in spiritual things as I can; or a committment to make my relationship and forthcoming marriage to Megan as strong as it can be; or a commitment to knuckle down and find out what God really wants for my life and be the disciple He wants me to be; frequently at the moment I feel a desire to set out on roads I've not gone down before, and it's scary and exciting all at the same time.

I've been in my new role at work for a little over three months now, and I feel like I'm only just scratching the surface in terms of the changes I want to make and the impact I want the shop to have in local ministries and in being a resource centre for the Church as a whole.

I've got plans, but plans, as we kinow, take time to develop and build, and I'm finding that frustrating, because I'm such an impatient person. My dad always tells me about when he goes as Pastor to a new church, he waits a few months to see how it operates, and only when he sees how things tick after a while, does he make suggestions of change. It's very wise advice, though not entirely the same situation, since the shop isn't new to me, and therin lies my frustration. I need to see it with fresh eyes, to have a vision for what it could be and not just what it is now.

I guess I could say the same in my relationship too. There's alot of frustration there too. Not with Meg, but rather with being separated from her by such a vast distance of ocean. With being so near on the end of a phone every night, but yet so very far away. With all the stuff we still have to do connected with the visa for her, and there's only four and a half months left!!

I'm living with frustration in where I am on my journey with God. I feel like there's so much more I need to learn and grow in, and so much more I could be doing at the moment, but so little time I have to do it in. I just don't want to be one of those people who look back in twenty or thirty years time and say "if only" over and over again. I want to see God do amazing things NOW.

That's my problem.

Impatience.

I guess we all live with it to some degree, but I'm reaching my threshold at the moment, and I think God is purposefully allowing me to live at this level of impatience so I'll learn to trust in His Sovereignty more, and stop trying to make a go of things and solve things myself.

So, welcome to the place I live, it's called Limbo! The space between faith and fear, between hope and despair, between courage and cowardice. I feel the challenge constantly at the moment, do you?

The Dangers Of Being Tired...

I've had a long week, and it's only Wednesday, so I knew I was in for trouble even before I received the following email this morning:



Subject: You won the sum of £485,000.00 GBP from Yahoo! Msn Awards

Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 00:00:10 -0400

From: yahlt11@aol.com

To:


You won the sum of £485,000.00 GBP from Yahoo! Msn Awards, you are hereby advice to get back to us by contacting with your Clearance Officer REV FATHER JOHNSON for your Claim.Agent Name: REV FATHER JOHNSONE-Mail: rev_fatherjohnson2006@hotmail.com Tel: +447031848598



As soon as our agent hears from you, he shall commence the process that will facilitate the release of your fund to you. You are therefore advice to furnish your claims agent with the below informations



FULL NAME:......................................................

COUNTRY:........................................................

HOME ADDRESS:................................................

MOBILE NUMBER:...............................................

HOME NUMBER:.................................................

AGE:................................................................

SEX:................................................................

MARITAL STATUS:............................................

OCCUPATION:..................................................



Yours faithfully,



Mrs. Carol Jones

On line co-ordinator for

YAHOO AWARDS & WINDOWS LIVE PROGRAMME,

Sweepstakes International program.



I was very tired this morning, and my mischievous side was raging as I'm fed up of getting these types of scam, so I decided to reply:

Dear Rev Father Johnson,

Thank you for your kind offer, I must say I was very surprised to hear from you as we haven't spoken in years!! How is your wife doing?

Is her leg still bad with the varicose veins, and does she still have trenchfoot? I hope her leprous acne is not giving her too much trouble? I do hope she is well, as these things can be very nasty at times, and I was only saying to my mother the other day how dreadful it must be for her.

I didn't realise you and your wife had gone into International money awards, it's a step up from a carboard box in Chippenham High Street isn't it!! Well done you!

As I know we're life-long friends, could I ask a small question? If I were to provide you with my details as you requested, could you first send me your copy of your data protection certificate number, so I know they will be kept safe?

Also, if you could let me know how exactly you want your agents to be furnished? Would you like velvet or perhaps kashmere would be a nicer touch as it is smooth to the skin and very lightweight. If you are employing people in the Secret Services, then perhaps they should be taught what is appropriate to wear when they are killing, chasing and tracking people? Only my opinion of course, I haven't reached the enormous echelons of business and power that you have!

Please pass on my regards to your wife and 50 children, I look forward to hearing from you my friend;

Yours Affectionately;

Englebert Ramsbottom.

We shall see if I get a reply...!!

Carnival of MS Bloggers

The latest contributions are out, you can find them here.

Please go read!

It's Us!! Have Our Autograph!!

To Pee Or Not To Pee...

Well, it's reached that stage.

The stage where I have to stop pretending I don't have M.S. and face the facts.

It's funny, when you have a relatively mild form of MS like I do, with only occasional muscle spasms, a lot of tiredness (as opposed to fatigue which I KNOW is different, because I've experienced it!) and occasional annoying things like facial ticks, it's easy to just lie to yourself that nothing really is wrong with you, that injecting yourself everyday with copaxone is a normal occurence, but then something happens.

I've had problems for the last year or so with my waterworks and bowel movements, (gee don't I sound like a 180 years old or something!) and even now just typing this out makes me writhe with awkwardness inside, but it's a problem I tried to ignore and just get on with, that has got increasingly more frustrating and embarassing. For the past six months I've been seeing MS nurses and Continence nurses, learning neutral terms like "leakage" to discuss issues and situations I've found myself in occasionally that are not horrific, but certainly embarrassing.

The problem is, they've become a bit more frequent than just occasionally, and after months and months of me putting it off I've got an appointment next week at the Continence Clinic to teach myself ISC. This means Intermittent Self-Catheterisation, maybe two or three times a week, and in layman's terms for those of you out there not familiar, involves sticking a tube up areas that have never seen the light of the sun.

As a male, apparently it's alot easier process to go through, but takes a lot longer tubing for obvious reasons. (why can I not hide a male ego based grin when I type that? - I wish! heh! ) I've watched the video, with reactions between mild horror and faint amusement at my Dad's reaction when he merely looked at the diagrams, (I saw him physically recoil and say in a loud voice "oh son, no! no!") and I'm now mentally ready to start learning the process.

Comments made in an understanding way like, "it might hurt the first time, and when you get to the Sphincter muscle before the bladder, pushing it through that might hurt alot and you might pass out" didn't exactly help my enthusiasm for this treatment, but needs must.

I've decided to approach this in a scientific, cold, emotionless manner, much like a boy looking at a small bug under a microscope would. (please don't draw any conclusions from the microscope comment - Ed) Whether this approach will be successful, or whether I will run screaming like a 12 year old girl from the room, remains to be seen.

I guess most guys wouldn't have a problem flopping out their member in front of a female nurse, but I'm a little different that way, it will be a highly embarassing situation and thoughts of a sexual nature will be the last thing on my mind when I attempt to stick a tube up.... actually never mind the description, I feel nauseous just thinking about it!

Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to it, but I know it will be better for me in the long run, and hopefully be a relief in more ways than one. When I first started injecting copaxone, more than two years ago now, it felt very strange and alien, I guess this is just the same. All part of the "fun" and crazy journey of MS.

Well, those of you who do, please say a prayer for me on Wed 26th at approx 9:10 am GMT, I'd appreciate it...

An Extremely Nervous Guy.

Longeth Time No Speakee...

Yes, yes I know.

One thing you should know about me is that Procrastination & Laziness are two of my greatest Gifts, however they are not being used much at the moment!

I'm so blummin' busy!!!

Anna, my new Senior sales has started, and I'm in the midst of training her at the moment, which is interesting, as if you've been at any workplace a long amount of time, you tend to just do things on autopilot until you have to explain them to someone! :p

The last two weeks were fantastic, I spent them with the love of my life, and we got quite alot of wedding stuff organised for August. (the big day approaches...)

Anyway, I have to be off now as end of lunchtime approaches and I have lot's of... well... Manager-ish type stuff to do...

Bye!!

MS Awareness, Blogging Friends, and a little Link Love...

See Below.... My Blogging Friends!!

MS Awareness, Blogging Friends, and a little Link Love
There are at least 137 MS Bloggers out there actively discussing whatever suits their fancy. Below you will find many of these suspects....wait... I mean lovely blogger friends who happen to have multiple sclerosis.Remember how I mentioned a group project was in the works? Well here it is. As the founder of the Carnival of MS Bloggers, I'd like your help in spreading the word, and in doing so we will strengthen the bonds of our own little Multiple Sclerosis Blogging Web (and share some linkie love with each other). If you are not an MS Blogger, but are a regular reader here, please feel free to help spread the word too.
Here's what you do:
Copy the entirety of this post
Create a new post and paste this content
Visit 3 of the blogs listed below which you were unfamiliar
Leave a comment on their blog encouraging them to participate
Please add Brass and Ivory to your sidebar, if it's not alreadyNew editions of the Carnival of MS Bloggers will be presented bi-weekly at Brass and Ivory. Previous editions will be are archived here and the button below has been revised to include the new link. Please update your sidebar.
Names of the Blogs - Name of Blogger (if known)
and # of posts in 2008 (as of 3/5)
Newly brought to my attention!!!Persnickety Quilts (Dianne)Scraps and Threadtales (YankeeQuilter)Living Life at LeeHaven (Karen)Barbara's TchatzkahsMiddle Age Mania (Tricia)Curmudgeonette (Pamela)Tokyo Girl Down UnderMima's DoingsMark and MSHome Sweet Home (Jennifer)9 Brand New MS Bloggers joined the blogosphere in 2008!!New! Carole's MS Blog (Carole) 49New! Great Mastications (Orla) 37New! Movin' On with MS (Sammie) 26New! Me, Myself and MS (Emma) 10New! Being Ammey 8New! Blogbuster (Daniel) 6New! Etsy Crest (Shelby) 6New! Serina's Blog 5New! I'm Beating MS (Michael) 2Most Prolific MS Blogger - so far in 2008!!Jim's Deep Thoughts (Jim) 231Top 10 Rather Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!A Stellarlife (Diane) 109Merely Me's Multiple Synchronicities (& Sclerosis) 90Friday's Child 70My Journey - Living Well with MS (Diana) 69Sunshine and Moonlight (Kim) 65The MonSter Ate My Branes! (Natalie) 65Queen Mediocretia of Suburbia 60Brass and Ivory (Lisa) 56Brain Cheese (Linda) 52Maybe I'm Just Lazy (Julie) 5128 Moderately Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!Maggsbunny (Maggie) 48Living with Multiple Sclerosis (TC) 47MS My Way (Callie) 43Bugs, Bikes, Brains (Shauna) 39Dancing with MS (Lazscott) 37Trying to Catch My Breath 37A Florida Journal (SwampAngel) 35Now We Are Six (Tish) 33Reality Check (Michael) 32Access Denied (Herrad) 31Multiple Sclerosis Blog (Charles of MSBpodcast.com) 30MS Activist (NMSS) 29Self-injecting Chinese Hamsters since 2007 27Shirl's the Girl (Shirley) 27Disabled Not Dead (Anne) 26Life with MS (Trevis) 26Living with MS (Blinders Off) 25White Lightning Axiom - Redux (mdm) 25Stevers! 23Word Salads (Have Myelin?) 23Danieldoo (Vivian) 22Caregivingly Yours (Patrick) 20Deo Volente (Lisa N) 20Down the MS Path (Vicki) 19Do You Have That in My Size? (Denise) 17Jenn's Nook (Jenn) 17Fingolimod and Me (Jeri) 16Human Life Matters (Mark) 1651 Mildly Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!A Life of Learning with MS 15Behind Blue Eyes (Zee) 15Katy and Mike's Adventure (Katy) 15Living Life as a Snowflake (Sharon) 15Mandatory Rest Period (Kim) 15MS Maze (Mandy) 15My Journey with MS (Christina) 15The Multiple Sclerosis Companion (Pat) 15'Tis Herself (Kell) 15A Short in the Cord (Joan) 14Blindbeard's MS Blog 14Bubbie's Blog (Cathy) 14One Crazy Chick (Chris) 14Pat's Pond (Pat) 14Rants and Musings (Cutter) 14G and K's Mom 13MS Toolkit 13Newly Diagnosed with MS (Andrea) 13One Life (Stephen) 13MS Not Just a Diary (Dave) 12Rayne's World (Jayme) 12Chaos Personified 11My MS Journal (Jaime) 11Purely Patsy (14 yr old Patsy) 11Victoria Plum - Technician! (Victoria) 1126 Less Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!! Broken Clay (Katja) 10Mark Pickup (Mark) 10My Chain Driven Ride through Life in Alaska (Michelle) 10Deborah Does Navel-Gazing (Deb) 9Funky Mango's Musings 9Inside the Mind of a Squirrel 9Living Well with MS (Michon) 9No Time for MS (Courtney) 9Sorting It All Out (Michael) 9Travels With Lucy (Virginia) 9MS Caregivers (Prudence) 8Can You Hear Me Now? (Donna) 7Irreverence is Justified 7Multiple Sclerosis Notes 7My Tysabri Diary (Lauren) 7Chris Has MS (Chris) 6Diary of MS X (7 Divas) 5Electrical Disturbance (Stephan) 5Know Multiple Sclerosis 5MS in the OC (Frank) 5MS News and Notes (Deb) 5MS Recovery Diet Blog (Ann) 5The Endomorph (Ruth) 5The Jaws of My Life (Jaws) 5Time to Deal with MS (Homer) 5YodaMamma MS & More 538 Barely Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!Some of these folks have multiple blogs or co-blog and are loved none-the-less!! Let's help spread the love and let them know that WE know they are appreciated.Carolyne's MS Odyssey (Carolyne) 4Defeating Illness (Chris) 4Intent, Context, Perception (Chris) 4Libbi's MS Journey (Libbi) 4MS Recovery Diet Blog (Judi) 4My Autoimmune Life 4The Life & Times of Sancho Knotwise (JM) 4The Zen Pretzel Trick (Zen Angel) 4When it's Raining... (Keeley) 4Kebenaran - The Truth 3Montana Homecoming (Sister Jane) 3Ms Quill 3Reality Chick (Keli) 3Catch My Disease (Lisle) 2Clods and Pebbles 2Dissonance 2Georgia MS Advocates 2Lazy Dog Public House 2Looking Forward with MS (Pamela) 2Surviving MS in Alaska (Michelle) 2These Pretzels Are Making Me Thirsty (Trrish) 2Troy's Multiple Sclerosis Experience 2You Me and MS (Judi) 2Camille's MSadventures 1Comment Column (Virginia) 1Erik's MS & Lyme Blog 1Hop Bloody Hop (Philip) 1Jenn's Journey with MS (Jenn) 1Living with MS (Cyndee) 1Mismorphic's World of MS 1MS Musings 1MS Real Life Stories & Issues (Kristin) 1Postcards of My Life (Sherry) 1Rebooting Times 1Shoester (Doug) 1The BS of My MS (Heather) 1The Perseverant Pincushion (Trish) 1Tysabri Help (Deej) 1Having too many items from various posters to count: LJ Users with Multiple SclerosisAnd finally - 26 MS Bloggers who have been silent in 2008!! Angst on a Shoestring (Gina)Dandelion Wine (Lynx)Doug's MS Journal (Doug)It's Not All in My Head (Optimist)Just Above the Abyss (Heidi)Life with MS , seeking a cure (Karyl)Managing MS with Tai Chi (Joel)Managing Multiple Sclerosis (Vince)MarciaritaMichele's BlogMike's PlaceMS - My Scene (Virginia)My Complications (Amanda)My Demyelination (Tina)My MS ExperienceObject of My Injection (Michelle)Say It Isn't So (Mouse)Talk Story with KimberlyThe Great NetXperimentTo Be Continued... (Jaime)Truth and Beauty (Baraka)Tryin' to Imagine Bliss (Suzy)What is MS to Me (Dave)Willy's MS RantsWind Among the ReedsHard to categorize:I Have MS (Tim)Huggins' MS Pages (James)MS - A Personal AccountMS Protocols (Jeff)MSB's PodcastMSing AroundMultiple Sclerosis Blog and NewsMultiple Sclerosis SucksOUCH! It's a Disability ThingSquiffy's House of Fun
Thank you for helping to build a stronger MS Community.
Sphere: Related Content • Stumble It!
Posted by LISA EMRICH at 8:00 AM
Labels: Blogging, Carnival of MS Bloggers, Multiple Sclerosis

23 comments:
Taxingwoman said...
Hi! Lisa Thanks for letting me know about thisI will be home tomorrow and will give it my attention. An interesting project !
March 6, 2008 10:54 PM
BRAINCHEESE said...
VERY NICE! You took a great deal of time and energy to provide this post...thank you!Linda D. in Seattle
March 6, 2008 11:53 PM
Lazy Julie Baker said...
Thanks, Lisa. I'm copying your cutting and pasting right now. Blog on, Sista! :-)Lazy Juliehttp://lazyjulie.blogspot.com
March 7, 2008 12:13 AM
Nancy Carroll said...
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
March 7, 2008 12:30 AM
Diane J Standiford said...
Lisa, I feel bad for the bloggers with few posts---they may be doing the best they can. I will have to add that fact to my blog. I don't want anyone to feel bad if they have not posted as often as others.I commend you for gathering the MS Blog links. That was a lot of work.
March 7, 2008 2:31 AM
Blinders Off said...
Thanks for letting me know Lisa.
March 7, 2008 4:20 AM
SwampAngel65 said...
Hi Lisa,Thanks for letting me in on this great blogging idea. I'll be sure to follow your steps and get things set up tonight when I get home from work. Good job!!!
March 7, 2008 7:14 AM
Merelyme said...
wowee! you have done so much work on this project! this is great...i will definitely go a-visiting soon. this is really nice what you are doing here and will be of great benefit to all.
March 7, 2008 7:24 AM
TickledPink said...
Hi Lisa,Thanks for doing this! I've already found 3 wonderful new MS bloggers I didn't know of before. :-)Great idea...but you are full of those, aren't you!?!~Jeri
March 7, 2008 11:20 AM
Frank said...
Lisa,I just love this blog! I think you've managed to turn it into a true community forum.It will be linked to my MS in the OC blog @ www.msintheoc.blogspot.com.Frank
March 7, 2008 2:11 PM
Orla Hegarty said...
Thanks for putting this together and including me on your list Lisa.I have chosen the road less traveled when it comes to 'treating' MS - and remember - there are no treatments, only 'disease modifying medications' (wtf?). So, I do not take any prescribed medications.I realize that others have chosen different paths and wish all of you well. I started my blog in the hopes of connecting with other blogging MSers who are choosing to 'treat' this condition via a dietary approach. I have yet to connect with someone like that but I have connected with lots of like minded bloggers who treat their health conditions with diet changes. That support alone has been so very wonderful for me.If there are others on 'the road less traveled' for their MS then I'd love to hear from you. Namaste to all.
March 7, 2008 2:40 PM
Christina K. Brown said...
cool!When I get back from my cruise (leaving tomorrow at 4am...)I will do this!
March 7, 2008 3:37 PM
Jim said...
I just got home from work. Its cool. I will catch up tomorrow since I am not doing anything tomorrow. Yippee !!!Thanks for sharing.Hugs, Jim
March 7, 2008 5:08 PM
Miss Trish said...
Thanks so much for this initiative! I'd only posted on my blog once this year before now. This initiative and other recent connections with MS bloggers has made me conscious of doing two things: blogging more often (for which I have a basic remedy to help me get back into a rhythm) and blogging more explicitly and more vulnerably about my journey with MS. Lots of my blog, especially in the early days, is taken up with simple stories and observations about life. As it [the blog] progressed, and as I progressed on my journey with MS, the MS got a mention every now and then. The title is, of course, in direct reference to the fact that I inject Rebif thrice weekly.Keep up the good connections!- Miss Pincushionwww.betweencoffees.com/pincushiondiary
March 8, 2008 9:55 AM
J. Patrick Leer said...
I'm guessing this is an extension of Braincheese's "102 Blogs about MS". Both of you have taken extraordinary time to make such listing available.THANK YOU for listing me as "moderately" prolific. I am always fretting about screen time.Caregivingly Yours,Patrick Leerhttp://caregivinglyyours.com/http://journals.aol.com/daddyleer/CaregivinglyYours/http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/
March 8, 2008 5:15 PM
LISA EMRICH said...
Thank you all so much for participating!! I'm excited about the potential for greater support and connections.
March 8, 2008 7:01 PM
trrish said...
ha! I didn't know anyone was keeping track. I'll get more prolific :-)good work,trrish
March 8, 2008 7:52 PM
Keli said...
Thank you, Lisa for opening up the doors for those of us with MS. Through your site, I have found so many others with this illness . . . we are a brave band of sisters and brothers and it helps to know there are so many of us that understand, commiserate and who can just say, "I've been there. I know what you're saying." So thank you again! You are definitely a shining star!
March 10, 2008 11:17 AM
herrad said...
Hello Lisa,Thanks for leaving a comment about Carnival of MS Bloggers on my blog.Just been copying and pasting and visiting three blogs I had never heard about, but thanks to your brilliant links list they are all there for me to visit.Brilliant!Love,Herrad
March 11, 2008 3:46 PM
Barbara said...
I don't blog just about my disability - I do talk some about invisible illness (MS), pain, fibromyalgia, MS along with a lot of other subjects but I am linking to you!! Great posts on this blog!
March 12, 2008 10:15 PM
Anonymous said...
This post has been removed by the author.
March 14, 2008 12:23 AM
Anonymous said...
On unnecessary assholishness:In light of this fucking bullshit, I am quite honestly considering deleting my entire blog.I really don't need to find pejorative, condescending posts by invasive, Bible-thumping ignorant breeders when I am (for the most part) attempting to mind my own fucking business.Just an FYI.-X.
March 14, 2008 12:25 AM
Yoda Mamma said...
It might be the ol' MS poopy-brain but I have no idea what it is that you want us to do...copy this entire page? And create a new blog? I already have a blog so why would I need to make another one? I am so confused! IF I could just add my existing blog to the list, I'd do that but create a new one is just not something I feel a need to do.If anyone is interested my blog is yodamamma MS & More. If you want to add it to your list, please do.
March 17, 2008 1:24 PM
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MS AWARENESS WEEK: Help Spread The Information!
Lisa Emrich's blog, Brass and Ivory has quietly been an on & off read for me. She writes with clear strength about living with disability, chronic illness, the state of healthcare and the realities of life for people like her & I. To ...
Posted byBarbara atMarch 12, 2008 9:38 PM
Caregiving: MS BLOGGERS / MS Awareness Month
MS BLOGGERS --- March is MS Awareness Month. Lisa, of Blogger journal Brass and Ivory, has assembled an extraordinary project --. MS Awareness, Blogging Friends, and a Little Link of Love. A listing of “at least 137 MS Bloggers out ...
Posted bydaddyleer atMarch 10, 2008 2:00 PM
Join the Movement.....
One stitch at a time is how I'm approaching my knitting these days. As long as I just keep focusing on that one little stitch at a time then things are pretty manageable. It allows me to focus on the moment and the process of knitting ...
Posted byLady Wentworth atMarch 10, 2008 2:43 AM
Linking it forward…Kudos to Lisa Emrich
MS Awareness, Blogging Friends, and a little Link Love. There are at least 137 MS Bloggers out there actively discussing whatever suits their fancy. Below you will find many of these suspects….wait… I mean lovely blogger friends who ...
Posted byaglol atMarch 9, 2008 3:08 PM
In the summer of 2006, I had just purchased some Burt's Bees Hand ...
In the summer of 2006, I had just purchased some Burt's Bees Hand Salve, which I really like. It has a strong odor, but one I find pleasant, and it works well for me. I took it with me on my work trip to Denver in August, ...
Posted byStephan atMarch 8, 2008 10:57 PM
An Interesting Project
My post wouldn't post and now I'm way too tired to start over.Never fails when I forget to save, something goes wrong. Lisa at Brass and Ivory ,has an interesting project going on. Check out the March 7th post ...
Posted byTaxingwoman atMarch 7, 2008 10:42 PM
Testing My Computer Skills...Lisa's "Linky Love Post"...
This post comes from Lisa at Brass & Ivory...she's painstakingly taken the time to put together an extensive MS Blogging list. I do hope I have "done the right thing" here by trying to follow her simple instructions to repeat the post ...
Posted byBRAINCHEESE atMarch 7, 2008 10:27 PM
MS AWARENESS, BLOGGING FRIENDS, AND A LITTLE LINK LOVE
T-Nationn H Top 10 Rather Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!! A Stellarlife (Diane) 109 Multiple Synchronicities & Sclerosis (Merelyme) 90 Friday’s Child 70 My Journey - Living Well with MS (Diana) 69 Sunshine and Moonlight (Kim) 65 ...
Posted by atMarch 7, 2008 1:14 AM
Here a blog, there a blog, everywhere a blog, blog!
One of my fellow MS bloggers sent me the following message and I thought I would do my part to spread the love: MS Awareness, Blogging Friends, and a little Link Love There are at least 137 MS Bloggers out there actively discussing ...
Posted byLazy Julie Baker atMarch 7, 2008 12:15 AM
MS Awareness, Blogging Friends, and a little Link Love
brought to you from Brass & Ivory… MS Awareness, Blogging Friends, and a little Link Love. There are at least 137 MS Bloggers out there actively discussing whatever suits their fancy. Below you will find many of these suspects….wait… ...
Posted bysclason atMarch 6, 2008 11:40 PM
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"Lisa claims to be only a professional musician but I've been in this business for 35 years and I have to say she has a lot to contribute on the issue of health care policy."- Robert Laszewski"Kudos to Lisa Emrich for consistently producing high level analyses of living with disability."- Zagreus Ammon"Some people are brave, some strong, and sometimes they write well, too. You might consider this interesting blogger who posts on the hows and whens of telling other people about not-so-obvious physical problems. I'd say it would take trust to do that, and guts. Check this one out at Brass and Ivory. Excellent, excellent post."- TherapyDoc"I have come to grow very fond of Lisa. She is very passionate about the topics she writes about and is not afraid to voice her opinion. This is one tough lady I am telling you...and Lisa has a kick butt list of all the MS blogs you never knew existed until now. Her site is full of information and support. So do go visit. You will be glad you did."- Merelyme

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Consortium of MS Centers (CMSC)
European MS Platform
International MS Genetics Consortium
International Organization of MS Nurses
MS Coalition
Multiple Sclerosis International Federation
Multiple Sclerosis Trust (UK)
National Institute of Clinical Excellence
National Library of Medicine
Neurology Now Journal
Rehabilitation in MS (RIMS)
Society for Neuroscience
This is MS (News)

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MS Foundations
[+]
MS Foundations
Accelerated Cure Project
Myelin Repair Foundation
NMSS - National Capital Chapter
The Myelin Project
Trish MS Research Foundation (Australia)

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MS News and Articles
[+]
MS News and Articles
Accelerated Cure - In the News
Archives of Neurology (AMA)
Healing Well
Healthology
International Journal of MS Care
Medical News Today
Medical Research Council
MedlinePlus - National Library of Medicine
MS Exchange - CMSC Newsletter
MS Log News
MS News Room
National Health Services Direct
Neurology (AAN)
Neurology - MS Articles
New England Journal of Medicine
NYT Health News
Sage Journals Online
Stu's Views and MS Related News
The Boston Cure News
WebMD Health Center

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MS Research Centers
[+]
MS Research Centers
CenterWatch Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
Duke - Human Genetics
Medical Research Council
MS Center at Johns Hopkins
MS Center of Oregon
MS Genetics Group
MS National Research Group
MS Rehab Research and Training Center
MS Research Australia
MS Research Center of NY
MS Research Unit at BGH
North American Research Committe (NARCOMS)
Race to Erase MS
Sylvia Lawry Centre for MS Research

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Rx Assistance
[+]
Financial Assistance
NeedyMeds.Com (highly recommended)
Benefits CheckUp
Chronic Disease Fund
Co-Pay Relief Fund
Free Meds and Solutions
HealthWell Foundation
Kelly Packowski MS Foundation
Modest Needs.Org
MS Helping Hands - (WA State)
MS Research & Relief Fund (UK)
MSAA - Cooling Equipment
MSAA - MRI Diagnostic Program
NORD Co-Pay Assistance Program
Patient Access Network Foundation
Patient Advocate Foundation
Patient Services Incorporated
PhRMA's PPA (not recommended)
Prescription Assistance Info
Rx Outreach (generics only)
Sweet Relief Musician's Fund

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Health Coverage Information
[+]
Health Coverage Information
American Medical Student Association
American Patients for Universal Health Care
Americans for Health Care
Ave Cassandra
CA - Guaranteed Health Care
CA - Health Care for All
CA - One Care Now
California HealthCare Foundation
California Nurses Association
Center for Economic and Policy Research
CO - Single Payer UHC
Coalition Supporting Equity for our Nation's Self-Employed
Colorado Consumer Health Initiative
Community Catalyst
CT - Coalition for UHC
CT - UHC Foundation
Divided We Fail - AARP
Everybody In Nobody Out
Fact Check
Families USA
FL - Floridians for Health Security
Foundation for Health Coverage Education
GA - Common Sense Health Plan
H.R.676 - "Medicare for All"
Health Finder (HHS-ODPHP)
Health Law Advocates, Inc.
Healthcare-Now!
IL - Health Care Justice Campaign
Insure Kids Now
MA - Campaign for Single Payer HC
Maine People Alliance
MD - Health Care for All
Medicare for All
MN - Citizens Organized Acting Together
MN - UHC Coalition
National Council on Patient Information and Education
National Health Council
NC - Health Care for All
NY - PNHP Metro Chapter
OH - Single Payer Action Network
OH - UHC Action Network
OR - Archimedes Movement
OR - Health Care for All
Physicians for a National Health Program
Prescription Access Litigation
Progressive Democrats of America
Protect Your Health Care
Protest Health Care
Right to Health Care
SEIU Healthcare Union
The Sicko Cure
TX - Health Care for All
Universal Health Care Action Network
UT - Quality Coverage for All
VT - Health Care for All
WA - Health Care for All
We Be Illin'
WI - Coalition for Wisconsin Health

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Recent Comments
I love how you pulled all this together! Thank yo... - Karen Dianne Lee
Cool gadget! I'm always looking for things to make... - Miss Chris
It might be the ol' MS poopy-brain but I have no i... - Yoda Mamma
When I was in Junior High and High school, I playe... - Jim
That is added to my shopping list for the future. ... - Jim



Blog Archive
▼ 2008 (67)
▼ March 2008 (16)
Quilting Bloggers Spread MS Awareness
Stuff that makes life easier....or not.
Everything's Fine by Sid Schwab
Music Antics
Random Thoughts - How a few simple words can break...
Carnival of MS Bloggers #6 - A Country of Our Own
Warning: Steroid-induced Annoyance Ahead
Is Diet the Answer to Treating MS Symptoms?
Drink Up, Drug Up, Read Up
You Less-than-three My Blog, You Really Less-than-...
MS Awareness, Blogging Friends, and a little Link ...
Big Insurance Company vs. Mild-Mannered Insurance ...
Joining the MS Party
A Multiplicity of MiS-Simplification
Stuff that makes life easier....or not.
What difference does $165,776,833 make?
► February 2008 (27)
Letter from Mother of MS Patient
Carnival of MS Bloggers #5
Federal Money for Multiple Sclerosis Research
PR for MS - Ogilvy and Betaseron
Who is your Hero?
Stuff that makes life easier....or not.
In Honor of the Academy Awards - Oscar Night for S...
MS Carnival #5 - Submissions Due
Who Needs to Know?
Gooz News hosts the Health Wonk Review
Yippee! Yay! Go Federal Trade Commission!!
I must...I must...BLOG!!!
SCHIP in the News AGAIN!!
MS Forums Online - Where do you go to talk?
Carnival of MS Bloggers #4 - Valentine's Special
Annoying mysteries of life from a frustrated blogg...
Sharing Grace in the Face of Illness
Clear Communication is Key!!
Fear and Anxiety - What are your dreams?
MS Carnival #4 - Submissions Due
Health Wonk Review is Hosted at the Health Busines...
Who do you tell, when do you tell, and why do you ...
Joshua means "Yahweh (God) rescues"
Blogroll Amnesty Day
Preparing for Your Doctor's Visit
Depression and Drugs - What do you take?
Get your Carnival Button here!!
► January 2008 (24)
Billy Tauzin to be honored at Montel Williams MS F...
Carnival of MS Bloggers #3
Love, Depression, and Loneliness
As the World Passes By...
MS Carnival #3 - Submissions Due
Why My Blog?!!
Invisible Challenges
► 2007 (64)
► December 2007 (21)
► November 2007 (14)
► October 2007 (15)
► September 2007 (9)
► August 2007 (5)

Labels
ADA (3)
Advocacy (1)
AHIP (2)
Alt-Med (2)
Anxiety (2)
Biogen (1)
Biotech Drugs (1)
Blogging (14)
Bogus (3)
Carnival of MS Bloggers (8)
Cavalcade of Risk (4)
Cephalon (2)
Congress (5)
Copaxone (1)
Depression (3)
Diagnosis (2)
Doctor Visit (3)
Dr. Eric Berg (2)
Drug Marketing (7)
Election 2008 (3)
Fatigue (2)
FDA (2)
Fears (1)
Forums (1)
Genetics (1)
Health Policy - Government (8)
Health Policy - Insurance (9)
Health Policy - Pharmaceuticals (7)
Health Policy - Universal (6)
Health Wonk Review (6)
Hugh Downs (1)
Humor (5)
Innovation (2)
Inspiration (9)
Just For Fun (12)
Loss (2)
Love (3)
MedLink (1)
Mental Health (1)
Money (13)
Montel Williams (3)
Multiple Sclerosis (21)
Music (4)
NARCOMS (1)
News (6)
Nutrition (3)
Ogilvy (1)
Patient Care (7)
Pfizer (1)
PhRMA/Pharma (16)
PPArx (7)
Public Relations (2)
Questcor-Acthar (5)
Relapse (1)
Research (9)
Richard Cohen (1)
Rx Outreach (1)
SCHIP (3)
SiCKO (1)
Simple Life (3)
Solumedrol (1)
Teva (3)

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