More miles

Aiming for 7.5 miles each day now - targeting a 50 mile week. This'll be the first time.

I was easily upset over a work email this week, and when I tried to reply the shaking in my right hand was so bad it kept me from typing with my left! I have voice recognition software that I'm slowly learning to use, but I needed to use it that day. I think that was the worst my hand has ever shook.

Stress sure does bring out the best in us.

Oh, and Happy Canada Day!

Summer 2010 update

I haven't noticed a lot of change since March. I'm getting a little faster at one-handed typing. I'm back into biking, almost every day - being at home has taken away my excuses. I've only missed two days in the past month, and I'm doing about 6 miles per day.

 Judi and I are taking a vacation in July - at a cottage on Hall's Lake with her mom, brother and sister in-law. There's a paddle boat there, so we'll be able to keep pedalling.

The one armed man

I've been reviewing older posts, thinking about what changes I've had in my symptoms. I no longer attempt to type very much with my right hand, I do most of my typing left-handed. I have also switched hands for eating, and again - mostly use my left hand.

My right foot has been more troublesome, and quite often stiffens up while I'm sitting so that I need to stretch it before I try to get up.

Reading the old posts, I was surprised at how long some symptoms have been around. I'm dictating this post rather than typing. I haven't spent much time dictating, and I need to get better at it.

Today is my birthday, and I'm going to barbecue steaks for dinner. That's always been a more left-handed job for me anyway, so I don't think I'll notice any differences.

I need to be more disciplined with exercise, and start biking regularly again. I'm eager to experience some of the symptom relief benefits that exercise gives me.

Typing gets easier

I got a new toy for Christmas. It will help me to keep this blog (and others) updated. My typing has slowed down so much and I make so many errors that it's gotten very frustrating. I'm now using 'Dragon Naturally Speaking'. It was quick and easy to set up, and it's recognizing my speech quite accurately. It makes me wonder why I didn't get it sooner.

Now that I can type whatever I want, I don't know what to say.  :-)

So I'll just say; have a blessed New Year!

Be it resolved .....

One of the strange things about PD is that even though it takes and takes and takes from quality of life; it doesn't kill you. I've decided the grieving period is over. It's time to move on with the abilities that haven't been taken.

I've resolved for 2010 to think of myself as a normal person with some irritating problems, and not dwell on what PD may take tomorrow.

Finally ready to pray

I'm finally ready to be prayed over at church - we're scheduled for 10:30am this Sunday. This will be a perfect time as our pastor and his wife will be speaking about Broken Dreams. They are a wonderful couple and I can't wait to hear what God, through them, has to say to me.

Learn how to cope with the major disappointments that slip into our lives!

Here's the info on this weekend's services at HPAC;

BROKEN DREAMS

November 21-22

On the weekend of November 21-22 our lead pastor, Garth Leno, and his wife Patty will be sharing their journey as parents of a daughter with severe disabilities.  Jamie was diagnosed nearly 20 years ago with a rare disorder which has affected her in profound ways.  So we’d like to invite friends, family, and neighbours to join us for an intimate journey of the soul.  While the Leno’s “broken dream” relates directly to their daughter who is handicapped by Rett Syndrome, we recognize that many people in our world today are living with broken dreams of different kinds.  We believe that our weekend services on November 21-22 will be a great source of encouragement and hope for anyone who is struggling to understand why God allows stuff like this to happen.

Many people who might be interested in this message of hope are already involved in a faith community on Sunday morning.  So we’d like to invite them to come for the service on Saturday evening, November 21, at 6:00 PM. 

Many of us know families or individuals who are struggling with learning disabilities, cancer, autism, divorce, cerebral palsy, or the premature death of a loved one.   Most of us know people who are living with a broken dream of some kind.  We believe this particular weekend ministry will be a source of great hope and encouragement to them, and everyone is welcome. 

So please invite friends and family to join you at HPAC on Saturday November 21 at 6:00pm or Sunday November 22 at 9 or 11am.

Exercise, exercise, exercise

I went back to work on a 6 month contract, AND I'm trying to complete some programming projects that I picked up while I was laid off - so I've gone from a lazy summer to a crazy-busy fall.

My frequency of exercise had gotten so bad (infrequent) that I even started to notice symptoms getting significantly worse. There were times at work when my hand would shake so much I would need to put it back down on my lap and concentrate on relaxing before 'trying again' to type.

I knew I needed to get back on the bike. I've been more consistent in the last few days than I have for the previous month, and I can definitely feel the difference.

A great friend at church has offered to help me commit to getting up in the morning on time to exercise. It's such a blessing to have good people 'in my corner'.

I've been asked - do you bike indoors or outdoors? It's indoors - this is my bike;

With my balance, it's best to be low to the ground. It's also a big timesaver as I don't have to get dressed or even put shoes on to get started - and I don't need a helmet  :-)

Here's my biking chart from runningahead.com. Notice the big gaps. I'm targeting consistency as well as pace for the next while.