If you don't press the right buttons they go into standby mode.
They need replacing every few years because they get too slow/bored of the R.
They always think there is a better model round the corner
Anyway, this was supposed to be my GAL update but I got distracted
Today I took DD4 to Matlock park. I've never been before and it was great! It was really gorgeous in the countryside with hills all around and woodland. We sat and had a picnic and then DD4 went in the paddling pool. It's the first time I've ever taken her swimming properly as I can't go in the pool but this was outside and I sat on the edge, getting splashed by thousands of kids enjoying themselves.
Then we had ice cream and went on another train ride (she loves train rides) and after that I supervised her on the slide. Then she wanted to go on the swings but I can't lift her so I grabbed the nearest able-bodied person and asked them to push her on the swing for me. They did
She was running round for hours and even played football with some other kids while I sat on the grass exhausted! It was really fun.
Work update: got a nice big cheque through the post for a big book order and I have been invited to get involved with research at Manchester university - division of epidemiology and health sciences. They want to interview me again like Nottingham university did, only I'm not quite sure if I want to. I have a couple of weeks to think about it.
Shortly after I got in, I got a text message from X, saying did you get my message. I said no, I was out all day.
He wanted to get DD4 this evening instead of tomorrow morning. I said yes but only if he returned her tomorrow night instead of Friday. He agreed.
I opened the door but didn't look at him. He said hi and came through to the living room while DD4 was putting on new clothes. He asked what we'd been doing so me and DD4 told him about our day. He said he'd never been to Matlock park before, so I told him to take the girls because it's great.
I was sitting on this pair of sunglasses that are DD4's and they were hurting me so I pulled them out from under me. X laughed and said 'Nice sunglasses' I said 'They're not mine, they're DD4's. You thought her skirt was mine last time.'
I put them on to demonstrate that they are way too small for me and he laughed and said it was hard to tell which clothes were mine and which were DD4's as we wear the same style (erm, yes dear, except her's say age 3-4 years on the label and are a tad smaller )
DD4 showed him a book of hers, then they left because he said his dinner was going cold. I had to resist the urge to say ''who's cooking it for you tonight?'
That's it till tomorrow and I'm more preocupied with the idea of the needles
Jo, here is a good picture describing a simple man and a complicated woman Men are really simple/not complicated Only thing wrong with the man's control pannel is there needs to be 3 switches. One for food, one for sex, and another for leisure time activities.
I hope this brings a smile to someone. The picture may not apply to Andy.
And Jo, Qoe100 is right. Believe in yourself. If you think people stay away from you it is mostly because they don't know how to act or what to say. You might say be normal. Sometimes the situation is normal to you but it is not normal to them.
When I was in college with older students, some disabled, some blind we helped each other. Some students had medical problems and a few were in wheelchairs. There were divorced moms and dads, guys that got fired/laid off after working for one company for 25 years and a whole bunch of missfits thrown out into lifes trash pile.
I helped two blind guys and one young woman that used a wheel chair. I was in the program for almost 3 years. It got more normal for me but even after all of that time, I still don't get interactions with disabled people right all of the time. I would guess most people you meet really don't know you very long.
About your love for Andy and the way he treats you and your tears. I don't know I can add anything right now but say respect and fairness. Keep those two words in mind for yourself and for how others should treat you. Sometimes that is all we can get from others. It goes a long way when done properly.
Now Jo, tell me what is wrong with the picture of all of the switches, dials, and labels.
And watch out for Jill's big stick. She is a honey at heart but she sure can be mean if you get her mad.
Well, I think the best way to treat a disabled person is to pretend they aren't disabled.
To me, a person with glasses is disabled as their eyes don't work properly, and women with huge breasts, ugh, that's a worse thing to be saddled with than legs that don't move right because it can give you backache carrying all that around and men leer all over you.
I just want people to view me as Jo, not that woman with weird legs. I mean, at the park yesterday this mother stopped me to ask what was wrong with me. I told her, politely of course and we had this discussion about it but I hated it. She referred to herself as 'normal' (as if I'm not normal - what is normality anyway? Normality is subjective) and then proceeded to ask if I had any help from social services with my child.
I gritted my teeth and said no, through a strained smile whilst privately wanting to punch her in the face. As usual able-bodied people think that disabled mothers can't even look after their own children.
I actually think a lot of abled people are more disabled than I am because they only think of 1 way around things and if that doesn't work they panic and don't know what to do.
Anyway, I was enjoying myself at the park so much that I brushed off that particular convo.
I sent X an email finalising my plans for Christmas (hence his contact arrangement with DD4). I invited him and DD's over for Christmas Day but said it didn't matter if he didn't come because I'm getting a DVD player for the TV (I only have one in the computer) and we were going to watch loads of new films and eat chocolate till we burst.
After sending the email I went to the IVF clinic.
I was really worried and asked loads of questions beforehand because I am actually contraindicated on more than one point. They had to consult with the dr.
I have been told I may get migraines because I usually have them, and that it may make me upset/weepy or angry but these feelings will only be for the duration of the drugs and won't last.
They said they'd have to blood test me for my prolactin levels (since I've only just stopped breast feeding DD4).
I can only hope that I can trust what they tell me.
Anyway, after being given the all clear, the nurse showed me what to do and my hands were shaking so much when I put the needle in it was silly. It didn't hurt at all like I expected it to, but I am a bit sore now.
I have to inject every day until about 30th August. These drugs will shut down my ovulation. They reckon it might shut down my sex drive too but that's okay since I'm not having any. After 30th August I have to have a 'down regulation' scan to see that my reproductive system has shut down properly, then I'll have to start injecting the stimulating drugs - lovely!
Please pray for me that I won't get any terrible side-effects.
Got home feeling pleased that I actually managed to inject myself without fainting, and phoned Andy but he didn't answer.
He phoned back, saying he was at Home Bargains and he'd be with me in a minute (Home Bargains is round the corner from my house).
He came in and asked me 'Have you got any coffee? I'm parched.' So I got a drink for DD4 and a coffee for him.
While I was in the kitchen making the drinks, he said that Walmart were selling DVD players for �25. I said that's cheap, I want one of those for Christmas. He said I know, that's why I told you. That was thoughtful of him to mention it.
I told him about the IVF clinic and how he might need to help with DD4 after he comes back from holiday if I get a migraine. I also told him I might get upset, start crying or get angry with him and just to ignore it because it's not me, it's the drugs.
He laughed and said it sounds like normal to him.
(Yeah, didn't you know, I'm sarcastic, aggressive and I keep threatening to swap him for a rampent rabbit ).
He asked me how many needles there were and why on earth I would want to do that. I said I've had 4 babies and now I wanted to give someone else the chance. I told him I have wanted to since I was 19 but I was too busy then.
'Yeah' he said, 'making more babies.' (wink, wink). Honestly, men!
For some reason I can't remember, we talked about Home Furnishings (I think it was because he went to Home Bargains) and he told me a friend of his was moving near me (I resisted the urge to say 'who? Your little fuckwit?') - instead I just said 'oh that's nice'.
He asked how my best friend was, so I told him and asked if I'd seen this other friend of mine. I said no, not lately, and that everyone has family so they don't want to visit me, but never mind, I can just work. I would not have written my book if I was out partying.
He said I was a workaholic. I said 'Do you think so?'
'Yes' he said, 'I've never met anyone as driven as you.' I said I wanted to to pay off debt etc.
Then we talked about my email to him re Christmas plans and he asked me where I was going in November. I told him London. He asked me where I was going in December, I said I'm taking DD4 to a Christmas Fantasy weekend and there's going to be a party and a pantomime, Christmas markets and Santa for the kids. He said it sounded fun. He didn't mention whether he and DD's would come over, but that's okay, I am just going to leave it up to him now I've offered.
Then he went, after having spent an hour with me.
He's off camping for a week now, so we won't see anyone, and I can't take DD's to the park next week as they are still away, but I'm going to take DD4.
RE: Jo I actually think a lot of abled people are more disabled than I am because they only think of 1 way around things and if that doesn't work they panic and don't know what to do. You haver that right!
Jo, some so called normal peole want to help ot "think" they should help so they get uncomfortable and start thinking what they would do if in a situation like yours. The one person asked about you having help because she has not thought of other ways to do things , just like you said. I am not on anyones side here and yes I think you as a normal who does some things differently than I do them. Huggs to you for being putting up with the uncomfortable feelings.
If i see someone different than I am (mother with kids,older person,cane, etc)and it looks like they might be havind some difficulty, I casually ask if I can do something and if the answer is slightly even no, I say something nice about the place, weather, or day and move on.
It's good to hear you enjoyed the park. You get out way more than I do and I don't have a child to look after.
Please pray for me that I won't get any terrible side-effects. Jo, I hope you don't have any unmangeable side effects. You are brave to do this and I never knew how much work and pain was involved in this type of process. I bet most women would not do it.
I hope you are holding up okay. I am not the praying kind but for whatit is worth I am sending my best wishes to you. I cannot fathom the pain you must be in. You are one strong woman.
UD
The 3 laws of DBing:
1. PMA is critical to DBing.
2. Since drop in WAW's PMA leads to drop in LBS's PMA and vice-versa detachment is critical.
3. Validate to raise WAW's PMA and GAL to raise LBS's.
