Taking Action on MS Pittsburgh!

Here's an AWESOME Memory!  

With so many ways to Take Action on MS I feel blessed that this past weekend was spent with about 100 fellow MSers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for Genzyme's Take action on MS campaign with Madeleine Stowe. While Madeleine does not have MS, her father did. And boy does she have a lot of good stuff to share with us all.

Knowing that I don't do that well in the heat, I was a bit nervous flying into Pittsburgh with A weather report of 91F and raining. As summer is approaching I was nervous. The MS was starting to creep up on me. I could feel it, time to take action. The week prior to traveling consisted of lots of water and good quality food and some tricks to distress the body. One of my favorite tricks iS an elixir from Orchard Flats Juicery in my home town of La Canada. The one I took was for stress and included ginger, turmeric, B12, lemon and celery. These are amazing! I took two the day before I flew out and the wave of calm over my body felt like a comforting, cooling blanket.

The week prior to flying was a busy one. On top of working with my marketing clients there was much to do for the event this past Saturday. Wardrobe called for some blue shirts so I did a little shopping. Rocked a total deal at TJMaxx when I found a Vince shirt in the color of my eyes. Clothes cleaned, hair and nails done, I was ready for the flight and the stage.
And an early flight it was to be! 7am from local airport, BURbank. Only twenty minutes door to door. Not bad. The big black car picked me up and I was on my way with plenty of clothing options to keep me looking good.

After an easy flight, I met up with the team at Vallozzis restaurant in downtown Pittsburgh. Delish! Starting with about five appetizers followed by an amazing dinner of homemade pappardelle and suckling pig, we were feeling fat and happy. Time to head back to the hotel and get some shut eye. Saturday to be a long day!
Waking in just enough time to doll myself up I left for the event. Time to take action on MS!

I checked out my set and all looked good. I was ready to go!

As the doors opened in cime about 100 folks wither with MS or caretakers of this with it. This is my group! As they settled in I handed out my cheat sheet on managing stress with MS. I love this sheet of tips and tricks and wish I had it fourteen years ago when I was diagnosed. Not a day goes by that I don't use something from this sheet:

There's so much to learn at these events. From managing stress to exercise to emotional issues. And then we all sit down for a lovely lunch and meet Ms Madeleine Stowe and hear about her experiences as a child with a father with MS in a time when they knew nothing about the illness. Her story is a good one. And she's a doll. A very nice, supportive person. Just who we need and want to help us build awareness for the MS community.

So how are you taking action on MS?

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Tips for making it safely through the day

Here some tips to help us survive MS on a daily basis.  Trust me they work!

These might seem small and silly but attention to these details can save you from a bump, a bruise or a stressful moment, none of which we want in our lives.  

1.     Knife on the cutting board.   Always face the blade the same way – either inward toward the center of the board or outward, away from the center of the board.  This way the practice of putting it in the same place can help reduce accidental cuts from moving hands too quickly in the cooking area.

2.     Close the cupboards.   Every time you grab a cup out of the kitchen cupboard or the hairbrush, shut the drawer or door.  Ever knocked your noggin on a door that wasn’t shut?  When one it moving too fast and not paying attention it’s easy to smack something.  Take the time to closes things up.

3.     Put things where they belong.  First, have a place for important things like keys, phone, purse, sunglasses, water bottle.  Get in the practice of always placing things back in their place.  When we are rushed it’s easy to forget where we’ve left things – by always placing things back in the same place this little trick can save an exorbitant amount of stress when it comes down to it.

4.     Close the Drain.  Ever dropped something due to clumsy fingers?  Like earrings, hearing aids, contacts, etc., getting in the habit of simply closing the bathroom sink drain can help avoid a disaster in the future. 

Small habits these are but practices that can help avoid stressful situations in the future are ones worth acquiring. 

Practice everyday.  Increase your awareness, take your time with each habit, breathe deep and bring intention to what you are doing.   After some three weeks or so this practice will start to become habit.  

Good for you!   

What are some of the smallest habits you have picked up to help you get through the day?   

Juicing and Chia Pudding for our Health

2 Ways to Eat for Wellness 

After a few crazy months of eating anything and everything I'm taking a couple weeks to turn it all around. 

First of all let's alkalize this body and get this gut working like a Porsche! 

Spent the morning Juicing and making chia pudding which are two of my faves. 

Time to put my gut into gear. 

#takethatms 

I made about seven jars of juice, some with greens and carrots, some with beets and lemons. 

Morning Juice: 

1/2 beet

1/2 lemon

1/2 cucumber

1/4 small watermelon 

1 apple

Cooling Off Juice: 

1 carrot

1 apple

1/2 cucumber 

1 handful mung bean sprouts

2 celery 

1/2 lemon 

Booster juice:

2 carrots

1/2 orange 

1 small piece ginger 

2 celery 

Handful parsley 

1/2 cucumber 

Best to make juice fresh every time. But this can be difficult and time consuming. I will sometimes make a few bottles at once and drink them within 24-36 hours. 

Chia pudding and hemp milk for those vitamin Ds. 

Chia Pudding 

1/2 C hemp milk

2 tablespoons chia seeds 

Place in mason jar or any container, shake and chill for a few hours or overnight. 

Toppings: 

Maple syrup

Honey

Nuts

Fruit

Be creative and enjoy the goodness! 

My 1st MS attack, learning to flow like a river

Fifteen years it's been since I stumbled my way through Guatemala with a disease I knew nothing about. Here is a quick video of me remembering my initial attack. Through the course of three weeks I lost ability to walk or see unassisted...what was going on?

Finally I got in to see a neurologist and after spinal tap and MRI, it was confirmed. I have multiple sclerosis. I have what?! Learn to deal with it. I started with copaxone but then was asked to join a three year double blind study with the chair of neurology at USC. Sure thing, I said! And so glad I did as I have spent the last thirteen years learning to better manage this condition without the use of many prescriptions and with the use of certain foods and supplements along with a change in lifestyle.
It's difficult to describe my vision issues but this is a good image of what it feels like. Not sure how I took this photo but it works! Don't look at it too long...

We can do this! MS changes our lives but it doesn't have to take our lives. In fact, the more we learn to go with the flow the better our illness can be managed.
Think of a river, floating along some riffles, tootling around rocks and staying in the green water when wham, a huge rapid appears around the corner. There's no eddying out on this one. Time to see a path and take it. Commit. We can't fight the white water, we must flow with it around the obstacles causing the rapids.

This is the attitude that helps me deal a with my MS a little more each day. It's not easy and may not be successful with this mindset, but it's a focal point for me. And that is a good thing, having a focus.

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Reaching a dream! Fly fishing and managing my MS

A lovely memory popped up from a couple of summers ago - my trip to Hot Creek Ranch.  It's a bit too warm for me to be fly fishing around here so I'm enjoying this post again!

I just accomplished a feat never thought possible in past thirteen years. Between MS smarts, a great family and friend support, I just wrapped up a fly fishing trip at Hot Creek Ranch outside of Mammoth California.

With the right tools, experience and knowledge I took a trip that's been on my bucket list for years. Even one year ago I couldn't do this trip because of my MS. So grateful for my Friends, family, cooling vests, SPF shirts, gloves and neck wraps, cooling foods, and more which allowed me to make this trip. I am not a Wonder Woman. I am still learning. But I have learned many tricks!

Location. Hot Creek Ranch outside of Mammoth, California:

Have you ever been to hot creek ranch, mammoth? It's a private fly fishing ranch in the eastern sierras outside of Mammoth Lakes. I highly recommend it....dry fly only, no wading, completely barbless (to the point it needs to slip through your shirt cleanly), #20 or smaller flies, 6-7x, wind and clear as can be water. This is fly fisher speak. Basically, it's awesome!
Leaving Los Angeles. We head north. Eastern sierras here we come! Air conditioning a must for this girl with MS. 100F through the Owens valley. I keep my cooling vest handy. Even the sun coming in from the window can start to sap my energy. I am using a MediCool vest for this trip.

We Stopped at Alabama Hill Cafe in Lone Pine and missed them by 10 minutes. Bummer! They've got some great eats. Looking up at Mt Whitney always does something magical to me. We quickly get back into the AC of the car and head north. Onward to Bishop for food.

We head through Bishop and pick up some essentials. Jerky! Ok, jerky may not be high on the MS diet but it's high protein and fat, and good when out on river. We stocked up.

And then, We arrive! Nothing like being greeted by a big old American flag blowing in the wind.

The temps start cooling a bit as evening approaches. I stroll along the creek and Look back at cabins:

Fishing can be quite therapeutic. Fly fishing brings the sport to a whole new level. It is constantly reminding me of the importance of patience. The more I fly fish the better my MS seems to be. The constant balance of energy and regeneration.

I was also able to spend time with some of the best fly tiers and casters around. So much to learn and loving every minute. I'm fascinated by the fly fishing process.

Looking down stream from the bridge.

Hiding from the sun I head out with the girls. Under this mess of clothing is another cooling vest, neck wrap and sun protection. I wrapped the nck wrap up a bit before heading near the water so I wouldn't spook the fish.

My friends take me to the bluffs where there's a nice breeze and a bit of protection from the Eastern Sierra sun. 7:30am and it's still nice and cool.

Not much of a hatch going on but practicing casting, mending and getting a good drift. Missed a few. That's ok.

I fish with Barbara Komatsu in the morning. Her late husband was the beautiful fly tier and fisherman, Dennis Komatsu. I am blessed in so many ways. Barbara is a retired school teacher with a heart of gold and shared much vital knowledge with me. I stayed out a bit longer than planned as we were having such a good session. But then it was time. The temps were warming up and my cooling equipment wasn't so cool anymore. That's ok. Time to go in and cool off.

Some of my friends taking a break. Below, Marine Veteran and member of Project Healing Waters, Desiree, hooks a beautiful little brown trout.

The colors in the Eastern Sierras are always a bit amazing. My friend, Leigh Ann, tying one on before hitting the water. I was way too worn our from my morning adventure to fish or photograph so for evening I stayed cool and just walked to a couple little holes and watched my friends fish.

Leigh Ann took me under her wings the next day and we hooked up with a little rainbow. Priceless advice from everyone.  This is about the smallest trout ever but it was a great experience!

With fly fishing it's about the process more than the size for me. Still quite a newbie with flies I am just happy when I can hook up with one. That means that I:

• Found a spot with fish
• Matched the hatch
• Didn't spook the fish
• Casted
• Mended if necessary
• Got a good drift.
• Eye on the fly
• Set the hook
• Tight lines

And yesterday I hooked up with a nice one! Lost it but that will come with more experience.

And that's what I love about fly fishing. It's the whole package.

Want to learn how to fly fish? I can hook you up with a great teacher!

I never imagined being able to take this trip since my MS ravaged my body so many years ago. But with some management, medicine, nutrition, and GOOD ATTITUDE, we can aim and learn to accomplish more in life.

Thank you for being my support group. For helping me every inch along the way. For some this may not seem like a lot. But for me it was the world!

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A day trip to Downtown LA, a conference and fun times!

Since it's too warm to go outside for a field trip I am reminiscing a fun one I took awhile back:

Ever had that feeling about being so psyched for just being that you're shivering and jittery for the pure enjoyment of life?
That is me today. Have no idea what brings this feeling on and if I could bottle it I would. But waking up early, hitting the train by 7am, headed downtown to a conference, it brings the day into an exciting perspective.

The conference was on social media, small business and chambers of commerce. What a plethora of resources for sure.

I was just psyched to take the gold line to union station and grab a taxi a mile to the office. A mile isn't far but in downtown LA can be a nuisance. Had a great conference. All morning. Networking, social, learning. It was all there. Way to go Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

Small world story. Was chatting it up this morning with OJ and coffee. The wall filled with photographs of past board presidents. This one photo was right in my line of site. And all I could think about was how I know this person. He looked so familiar. So I checked it out.

No wonder! It was My friends dad, John Argue, who passed several years ago. He was very influential in 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The conference was on social media and marketing. Excellent program. Lots gained.

The LA chamber is located at 350 S Bixel.

The conference was great. Full of information and many new friends and folks. And best part? Public transportation, my favorite. This time I got the locals route and took the 16 bus to Pershing square where I could pick up the red line to union station and then the gold line to pasadena. Love how you can text to find out when next bus is coming.

En route was the beautiful Pershing square, the memorial to Pershing and the ice skating rink. All in the middle of downtown Los Angeles.

While palm trees define the LA skyline the juxtaposition between them and life downtown always intrigues me.

I stopped for lunch at Union station then on the gold line to Pasadena for some shopping and adventures. In the meantime, taking a break...

Union station is one of my favorite places. If these walls could talk. Wowza. Years and years of history. Beautiful architecture. People a plenty.

Time to hit the train! The gold line this time to Pasadena.

Leaving Los Angeles....heading north to Pasadena and then home.

And then to Pasadena we arrive. Time for shopping, strolling, and a glass of wine.

Well, that was quite a day. A fully packed, no MS sort of day! Tired today but not wiped out. Well, sort of wiped but can rally for two events today. A DAR meeting and then Festival in Lights at our local park where I'll be watching the kids play in snow. And knowing that Saturday will include beloved time on couch and Mizzou football, I don't mind pushing myself a bit beforehand.
Here's to a rocking Friday! Remember to take time to enjoy your days during this often stressful time we call the holidays. Take time for yourself. Be gentle. Be easy. Be kind. Love yourself.

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