Dancing on Mardi Gras

     Liz, my standing date for line dance pointed out it is pretty amazing that first class where I danced without my walker fell on Mardi Gras.  The teacher, MaryLee, who was wearing a fool’s hat, complimented me on doing every step.  It felt great.

     Dick, who takes me to the gym, once a week, says he is going to have knee replacement surgery in April.  He says having me as a model helped him have a positive attitude toward his arthritis.  Carol wants to visit him and bring him coffee.

    The present moment is camellia blossom filled.

Haldol

     The Haldol I am taking is helping a lot.  It has reduced my movement to the point I am not using a walker indoors.  That is great news.

     My new favorite TV series is Downton Abbey.  It is very engrossing, has great acting and production values.

     Carol has mentioned it is hard to have the loss of what our connection was when we first got together.  I miss it, too.  She also said people who just see me once a week can’t understand how much my HD is slowing me down.

     The present moment is cozy.

More This and That

   I started taking Haldol, and sure enough had an unpleasant side effect.  I was  thinking I was going to have to stop the medication, right away, which was discouraging.  Fortunately, Carol talked me into continuing it and that issue got better.  Carol talked to a pharmacist, who said the drug can have a side effect of weight gain.  That would be a relief to regain what I have lost.  He said the weight gain isn’t a healthy one.  Oh well.

     Carol gave me some dvds of the first season of Treme for Christmas.  It is my new favorite TV series.   The subject is musicians in New Orleans shortly after Karina.  The music is great.

      I have three boxes of copies of the book I published in 1988 about getting sober, Three Glasses of Wine Have Been Removed from This Story.  I am looking for homes for them.  I don’t want any money for them.  Let me know if you can take one or more.

     I figured out I could buzz some candy or cookies into my smoothies.  That creates variety.

     I had some problems with transportation to Seattle Insight Meditation Society.  That dramatized the fact that I find the instructor’s voice irritating.  I decided to quit there and start going to Lotus Sisters, a lesbian meditation group.  I found a member who lives close by, who gives me rides.

     Carol is going to be going to Palm Springs with some friends, February 15-19.  I have the usual trepidation and excitement about batching it.

     The present moment is cozy.

This and That

I wanted to mention another friend, Jane, who has been helpful with rides to shows I am covering, even though she lives on the opposite end of town.  She contributes to my column and helps me track down set lists which make writing my reviews much easier.  We have seen Dr. John, Tingstad and Rumbel, and Meshell Ndeogeocello together.  Her husband Rhodes also provided a quote I could use at Tingstad and Rumbel.

Carol and I went to my wonderful HD doctor, Dr. Bird.  I asked him if I could switch to another medication, since the tetrabenazine I take isn’t being all that helpful at the dose I am able to take , because of side effects.  Dr. Bird says there are some other medications I can try.  We are starting with Haldol.  It will take a few weeks to get it up the level where we would expect improvement.

I have heard a joke about Haldol:  “My patients on Haldol thank me twice, when I put them on it, and when I take them off it.”  I hope I don’t have to ask to be taken off it.

The preset moment is warm inside and frosty outside.

Another Standing Date

     I also have a fun standing date with my long-time friend Richard.  He helps me cover shows Carol isn’t available for.  He gives me rides, help tracking down set lists and erudite comments I can quote in my column.  He is particularly qualified, because his father was a jazz pianist.  Recently, we have seen Rickie Lee Jones, Chick Corea , and Poncho Sanchez. He also helps with things like changing the bulb on the porch light, since we had gotten behind on doing that.

     The present moment is cool.

More Damage

    On Christmas Eve, I broke the universal remote.  We had to run the dvd player manually.  I had a moment asking Carol if I should stop playing dvds.  She said no.
    I forgot to mention another friend Barbara has a standing date taking me to my hair cut, important for my sanity.  Also Kathy is doing pharmacy runs for me.  Very helpful,
    The present moment is cozy.

More Memory Issues

    Since Carol sensitized me to my memory issues, I asked her to start paying my bills, and keep track of things like tax documents I don’t want to lose.  I am lucky to have a partner I trust who is willing to do that.
    Also, another friend Nancy has started having a standing date to go to the gym with me.  She responded to my wish list on the web site Alice set up.  I thought the web site would let me know when I had a message.  It didn’t, but Alice noticed and passed it along.  The combination of the formal and informal process worked.
    The present moment is surprisingly sunny.