Lupus in the brain and tv drug commercials

My doctor in Michigan had one main goal- keep the lupus from doing any permanent brain damage. When I started having symptoms showing the lupus was messing with my brain

(such as wanting to put my head thru plate glass windows (had a lot of trouble going to malls!), losing feeling on my right side, not being able to differentiate between to, too and two, putting words in random order when writing, basically a ton of really diverse symptoms.)

she had me go thru two courses of chemo. I think like ten or so infusions. This was ten years ago, and the chemo was the same as cancer patients, tho I did not lose my hair. (It thinned out some and then grew in curly, stayed that way for eight years, then went back straight. Odd, no?) But, I did NOT have any brain damage at all. So it worked.

The reason I bring this up now is because I moved to Minnesota five years ago. Three years ago I developed brain lesions, tho I have been told that my lupus is "not active" the whole time I have lived here. (My Michigan doctor never told me that once!) So, what caused the brain damage?

One of the strangest symptom, to me anyways, of my previous brain involvement, was that I would say "ahind" and "afore" instead of behind and before. A few months ago, I noticed I was doing that again- and it seems to be getting worse! I am using the substitution on words I never did before. Today I just hollered at dad "I don't alieve you!" - which really, makes no sense at all. :)

So, basically, please excuse any grammatical errors I make. :) Since the Lupus is "not active" it clearly is caused by the weather in Minnesota... or something...

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warning- salty language ahead....

I just have to comment on a tv commercial I heard recently. I was reading, or knitting, or beading, and didn't actually look up, so I don't know how to spell the name of the drug they were selling, but it is pronounced ass-effects. And it is for heartburn. I dunno about you, but it does NOT sound like a drug anyone needs to take. Kinda like the warnings on the fake fat foods? May cause ass-effects such as diarrhea and gas... anyone really think the drug will sell???
I have not heard/seen the commercial again. I wonder if they realized what the name really sounded like? HA!
I did fall off the bed laughing at the time and had to run and tell Mom and Dad. And I have randomly hollered "I need some ass-effects!" around the house. So don't be surprised.

Have a great weekend,
Anne

Reading List

Every time I am in St. Cloud I insist on stopping at the lovely new library. I adore the new books section- I have yet to get books from any where else in the library, my bag is always full after visiting the new books!

Here are some great non-fiction books I have recently read.

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"They Must Be Stopped"
Why We Must Defeat Radical Islam and How We Can Do It
By Brigitte Gabriel

This book is fascinating reading. Especially since the author grew up as a non-muslim in a muslim country- she points out things such as never ever having seen a foot bath in a public building in twenty years there, yet universities in MN are installing them... hmmmm.....
She tells the history of Muhammad, who lived what he preached- lying is good if it is for "allah's" purpose, kill everyone who won't convert, women are worth the same as animals- you can rape and beat at your will, slavery is normal, etc.
Here is one quote she gives from the Koran- the only real holy book to muslims-

"So fight until there is no more Fitnah (non-muslims) and all submit to the religion of Allah alone (in the whole world)." Koran 8:37

She also explains how compromise with muslims just shows you are weak- and they will continue to take advantage of you.

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"American Priestess"
The Extraordinary Story of Anna Spafford and The American Colony in Jerusalem
by Jane Fletcher Genisse

This story, of a small cult in Chicago that moves to Jerusalem in 1881, is just plain interesting. It includes lots of details of life at the time, including the great Chicago fire and the history of Jerusalem. It also shares the story of Dwight Moody- of the Moody Bible Institute, and the revivals that went throughout America.

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"A Supremely Bad Idea"
Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All
by Luke Dempsey

I wasn't sure why I picked this book, as I am not interested in birding, but it is hilarious.
Slightly salty language at times, but I laughed and laughed as I read it.

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"Godless"
How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists
by Dan Barker

Just fascinating to read how Dan Barker, a evangelical preacher who did missionary work in Mexico for years, lost his faith and became an atheist. Not only does he detail his journey and his thoughts, he tells how his family reacted- for example, his wife left him and married another minister yet his parents were convinced by his experiences and thoughts and also became atheists. Very interesting book.

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Off to hopefully get some beading and knitting done today,
Anne

the creative process

I finally quit procrastinating and started on the bead project I have been planning as a gift. I was thinking it would be lime greens- all the pretty spring greens- so I gathered all the supplies I needed from the bead room and started pulling all my lime green beads. As I was looking at them together in the pan, I decided to add teals. I added all the teal beads I could find- from seed beads to crystals to anything in the right color.

Then I sat down with the full pan of beads and started on the project. I outlined it in a beautiful lime green, and started the interior with a great silver lined teal. As I was beading, I thought- oooh, that gold-lined yellow seed bead I have would look great with this! And I spent the next two beading hours trying to talk myself out of it. Why? Cuz I already know what will happen.

I will find the yellow beads, add them in, then think of something else that would be fabulous.... and then something else... and in the end I will have used about ten percent of the beads I originally pulled, have a project that is totally different than I pictured, and need three hours just to put away all the (used and not used) beads I end up with in the pan!!

But, the pull of the yellow beads could not be denied, and this morning I had to go dig thru the cupboard until I found them... and they look fabulous....

My creative process seems so messy- I never end up with what I start out thinking I am making. I can't knit a pattern without changing it either. Am I odd, or is that how it is when you are creative?

Anne

angry letters update

Well, I have gotten replies from my last batch of angry letters, so I thought I would share!

The food company sent me a coupon for a box of fish fillets, and also for the relish. They said they couldn't tell me how long it would be fresh when it was not airtight.

The knitting needle company wanted me to send the whole set back with the packaging. I said I didn't have the packaging, and I had a sock on the non-defective needles. So they finally gave in and said I could just return the broken needle for replacement. HA!

I did finish the sock now tho. On too the 2nd!

Mom and Dad are home.

Be sure to read the Dassel/Cokato Dispatch for the story on Gregory!

Anne

babysitting

I have a great, but messy, way to entertain an almost 3 year old for a few hours. I had to come up with it quickly when Olli arrived for me to babysit wearing a baseball mitt on one hand, a hockey glove on the other, waving a full size goalie stick, and hollering "Anne! Let's play hockey!" :)

When I was talking to Shari earlier in the week, she mentioned that she had given her 2 year old a pan with some oatmeal in it to drive his matchbox cars around in. So I told Olli to get all his tractors, animals and farm stuff over to the table, and I gave him a bowl of oatmeal. As I said, messy, but he didn't much budge from the table the whole 3 hours his parents were gone!

Then I just had to wash the table and give the floor a good sweeping- maybe five minutes work for 3 hours of mostly peace!

Tho he did NOT let me read my book- "ANNE! Don't look at the book! Play with ME!" :)

We did take a couple breaks, but he was careful to ensure he still got to play with the oatmeal when we were done, to read books we had gotten from the lib just for this visit, to type on the puter, and to look for new hockey songs on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8k7T1zYem8

This is O's current fave, and had to be shared with his dad when they got home.

Off to keep cleaning before the folks come home!

Anne