Always an Adventure

May 23, 2018October 5, 2018 ~ msgracefulnot ~ 20 Comments

I don’t even finish one adventure before I start looking for or planning the next one.

While we were in Boston, K was constantly on the phone with her husband trying to figure out the logistics for their relocation to Texas in July of this year. Before I knew what I was doing, either alcohol or I said, “Just rent a fricking truck or trailer, and I will drive.”…..”NOW, will you get off the phone?!?!?”….and that’s how it all started….well at least that’s how I remember it.

Fast forward to last week….

I got a message from K’s husband D, “Were you serious about driving the truck to Texas for us?”…. I responded, “sure, as long as you get me home when I’m done.” (I don’t THINK I was drinking that night) Anyway….guess what….. I’m going to Texas!!!!!…. um next week……

and that’s not all…..

While I am in Texas, I am going to meet my friend ‘Ghost’s’, girlfriend Jackie. Do you remember me talking about Ghost? He suffered a stroke at the end of November, and most of my communication with him since then has been through his girlfriend Jackie. In the back of my mind, I had been hoping to make a trip to Florida to see them and some other friends later this year, but I haven’t set a date yet….

Wait a minute Grace, you just said you are going to Texas, but they live in Florida, you’re going to Florida too?…… NOPE!….Jackie will be in Texas the same week I am, so we are gonna meet for coffee. What a small fricking world huh?

but wait there is more….

While I was pricing airfare from Houston to Ohare, I discovered (yes there was alcohol involved again), that it would actually be cheaper for me to fly to vegas and THEN home….. hmmmm Vegas….my best Friend Gary lives in Vegas, and it’s been a few years since we have been in the same room together…..

Ok truth be told, I am geographically challenged, and honestly thought that Nevada was directly North of Texas, so why not “stop in” and say hello. It was just lucky for me that when you travel at the butt crack of dawn and use carry on luggage only the cost for two one way tickets was cheaper and timing was better for pick up and drop offs than a flight from Houston to Ohare…..

I know that this story has been all over the place (literally) so let me recap, before I continue. Next week, I drive a truck in a convoy with friends to Texas. While in Texas, I meet a friend from Florida who will be in town. Then I fly to Vegas to stay with my best friend for a couple days …..AND….one more thing…..

I get to meet Paige from Page’s of Paige. A couple weeks ago, Paige posted that she will be moving to Vegas in the near future. Ever since I read her first post, I have wanted to meet her. This kid has some spunk. She is constantly challenging herself to try new things, and although I call her “kiddo” she is wise beyond her years.

I think I have said it 10,000,000 times before, but in case anyone missed it…. I LOVE meeting new people, and I am always looking for a new adventure….keep that in mind if you are ever heading this way, or let me know if your couch is free for a couple days, just remember that I am that friend……

Oh and the next adventure in the works is one more stateside trip this year and Italy next year…whoot whoot

Still, I have no words…can you help?

April 23, 2018April 23, 2018 ~ msgracefulnot ~ 10 Comments

I don’t know if you remember my post from January, Holding on when I talked about a young mother, losing her life WAY TOO SOON and not knowing how to comfort those left behind. Although I know there is no way to FIX This tragedy, I do believe that it’s important for Brandon to share his grief and to know that he is NOT ALONE. I have met so many wonderful friends in this blogosphere and I am asking you to listen to and read his story and if you can please let him know that he is NOT ALONE in this. I have included a link a blog he created last night. Thank you all in advance

I’ve started writing this post 4 times in 4 different ways. True to form, my crazy brain makes me keep deleting it and starting over. I want to tell the story of my wife and I, i want the whole world to know that I am nothing without her and that I don’t want […]

via Episode 1: Intro to Insanity — CaptainScrublord

You’re doing what? With who? Where?

April 19, 2018October 5, 2018 ~ msgracefulnot ~ 14 Comments

Phone conversation with Thing One:

Grace : “While I am in Boston I am going to meet a couple of friends that live in the vicinity whom I met in the blogging world.”

Thing One: “OK, mom, don’t forget the “proof of life” pictures.”

Grace: “you got it kiddo”

Friday, April 6, 2018

proof of life — Grace Fullnot….last seen wearing pic

Grace: Good Morning kiddo

Thing One: What’s wrong?

Grace: Nothing, just sending you proof of life, Bill will be here in a few minutes to pick me up.

Thing One: Why aren’t you smiling?

Grace: Seriously?… Because I am freezing my ass off, and besides I wouldn’t be smiling if I was kidnapped 😛

Thing One: I’m gonna need another picture

smile — The things you do for your kids….

Grace: Better?

Thing One: 😀

SMH….for those of you who don’t know…SMH is Shaking my head. (I really do that A lot!)

Superman was supposed to pick me up by 10. I’m expecting a little Honda Civic to pull up…. he tells me when he’s on his way that he will be driving a truck instead…..ummmm……. itty bitty roads….

“Let me know when you’re close, I might have to meet you on the corner?”

Before I knew it, ( early even ) there he was loading mine and my companions suitcases in the truck. Bill and I were heading to Salem for the day, where we would be meeting Karyn and Steve after exploring Salem for a bit. My traveling companions were going to Pax East at the Boston Convention Center, and we would meet up again at a new airbnb apartment near Salem for the night.

Superman Really Does Exist

Before we ever decided to meet in real life, Bill and I spent hours on the phone. (not all at one time, though he did provide a big shoulder when I was struggling with Sara’s death) but we’ve talked about our illnesses, our common expression of saying, “are you really sure you want me to answer that?” when people ask for our opinions, and so on and so on. Not only is he a great writer, but a great friend.

The real reason I am not posting his picture, is because he wasn’t feeling well and hasn’t been for awhile. That’s HIS story to tell though, if you want to check it out. As I said, he is a great writer, and just an all around great guy.

After eating breakfast at a little restaurant in Salem, we wondered around to find the Salem Witch Museum (my choice, not his)

I’m not going to say much about the experience, because hearing about the amount of hatred that people endured during the witchcraft trails still gives me the chills, but I did want to share this postcard. The last room of the museum is painted with the words on the postcard….. Very thought provoking!

Of course it was snowing in New England…AGAIN

snow in new england — Just flurries though for the time being

Let me tell you a little bit about the other two bloggers that I got to meet.

First of all there is Steve Markesich

Of course you can read his About ME page, but I want to tell you about the man I met. I’m not sure exactly how our path’s crossed. ( I think he was doing the “my publisher said, I need to add as many people on social media as I can for the book I am writing thing”) Either way, Steve’s is the first blog I ever started following.

I love the honesty, openness, and determination he displays when he writes about living with Primary Progressive MS. MS is a nasty monster, and while I would not wish the disease on anyone, it is good to know you have people like this with you on this scary ride. Poor Steve has also become a dear friend (didn’t know what you signed up for did you?”) Please take a moment to check out his blog MSich Chronicles. He does a great job of sharing how he overcomes the challenges that MS has laid at his door.

I had the privilege of meeting Karyn who writes Karyn’s Domain.

Karyn and my paths first crossed around the time she wrote this The best blog I ever read. She sent me a message saying that she had found my blog after reading Superman’s posts in their entirety, and looked forward to getting to know like minded people….

As many of you know lately my life has been filled with Drama, drama, drama, and I haven’t had much time for keeping up with ANY blogs, but the day after we met, I went to her website and saw this post. (Honestly at first thought from the meme, I thought she was talking about me….lol). This woman quit her job, and hiked the Appalachian trail!!! How can you NOT want to know more?!?!?! Actually , there is much more to Karyn, I encourage you to follow her on her journey as she discovers where she is headed next. I know that I will be.

I would like to tell you that our “little get together” lasted until dawn and that we all just barely escaped being arrested for a noise disturbance. But to tell you the truth…. we got together and just talked…..and it was perfect! (in hindsight, they might have brought duct tape for MY Mouth)

Thank you all for making the trip and spending your time with me. I look forward to our ongoing friendships!!!!

Will I ever learn?

March 2, 2018October 5, 2018 ~ msgracefulnot ~ 27 Comments

Will I ever learn patience or to slow down?

Nope, probably not. (Hey don’t shoot me, I’m being honest here) My whole life I have struggled with patience, and I have always been “in a hurry”. When My MS is at it’s worst though, my body won’t allow me to be impatient or in a hurry, and when I try to, I get hurt.

Yes I got hurt again 😦

I got hurt, but I’m not dead. I will explain what happened in just a moment, and you can even “yell” at me if you think it will help, but first let me explain, well try to explain why I did it.

So I wrote the other day that a trailer “fell into my lap”. I had help for a couple hours, I moved what I set out to do and that’s all I was going to do. My dad told me that since he thought he was having surgery the trailer was free for a couple weeks, and I might as well have the kids drop it at Einstein’s since he wouldn’t be using it. (That way I could take a “slow and steady approach” to loading it.) Thing 2 and her boyfriend “D” dropped the trailer off in Einstein’s driveway for me, when they were done moving the bikes.

Just because I am proud of my daughter I took a video of her backing the trailer in. This is funny to me because “D” doesn’t “trust her” to drive HIS Truck, but knows she is better at backing up a trailer than he is….That’s MY GIRL!!!! but I digress….

BUT THEN….

The temperature changed, not just the outside weather temperature, but the temperature in Einstein’s house wasn’t as frigid. I will write more about that another time and in another place, ( I think a new blog is coming ) but the verbal knives weren’t flying anymore and I started “getting cold feet” about leaving, so I HAD TO GO.

Einstein had been complaining about where the trailer was parked, and had even tried to move it by hand…. I did not say out loud “THAT”S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN”….but it did inspire me to make a call….

There was help available. A young man that I had friended a year or two ago while I was taking classes, was willing to help me move. We will call him “J”. (He said, “Hell I’ve got a truck, trailer, and plenty of friends”) just pick a day. That’s something that I would say, not something I am used to hearing so….ok “How about NOW?” came out of my mouth.

and that’s how it all began……

When you have help you take it!!!! “BUT don’t you EVER take help without working your ass off just as hard as the person who is giving you help!!!!” This one I think was literally beat into my ass as a kid, so no way is it going away anytime soon.

Einstein was NOT happy that I was having a “DATE” (as he called it ) over to help me move, so it was only “J” and no friends. Einstein moved most of my furniture to the doorway in preparation. (Did I mention a new blog coming soon?….when I don’t live in HIS house)

So the trailer was quickly loaded, and my car was filled, and off I went. Almost all of my furniture that can not be strategically shoved in my car has been “deposited” in my new place. (Of course it wasn’t until I had set up my big comfy couch that I realized there is no electricity run to the wall of the west side of the “living room”) But that is another story for a different day.

So what did I do?

I worked my ass off!!!!….and then some….I THOUGHT I broke my foot again. I remember the doctor saying, “this is going to hurt a bit”, as he stuck a needle in my foot. There was quite a bit of pain. (enough to make me vomit and then pass out) His orders were keep it elevated and iced all day. Back in the boot or use your wheelchair for one week…and of course take these drugs. I give in, not up, but I give in…for now.

The “moral” of the story is I did what needed to be done and now my body says IT’S done. I didn’t PURPOSELY over do it or rush. It’s so hard not to “overdo it” when you ARE feeling well, considering you KNOW that the “NOT feeling well” is just around the corner.

Thank you for your support

February 25, 2018October 5, 2018 ~ msgracefulnot ~ 9 Comments

Earlier this week, I hope you saw the wonderful guest posts by Steve Markesich @ MSich Chronicles, Alyssa @ fightmsdaily, and Alex @ MS with Ms Alex! If you missed their posts or have not seen their blogs, please take a minute to check them out! These people are not only positive inspirations to those of us living with Multiple Sclerosis, but for me they have all become friends outside of the blogging world. Alex and Steve have heard my tears, and offered their support and encouragement on numerous occasions. Alyssa sends me frequent messages ‘just checking in’. It is SO helpful to know that you are not alone when you are struggling!!!!!

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst

Something that MS has taught me is to try to plan ahead…to prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best. I knew that this last week was going to be difficult for me: recovering from my own surgery, taking care of my father while he recovered from his surgery (which was cancelled and rescheduled), packing and moving, slump week, etc etc, so I reached out to my friends and asked them for “help”.

Asking for help is so hard

Even when I write about “not fun” or painful subjects, I try to keep things “humorous”. I didn’t want to feel as if I HAD to write something, so as hard as it is to ask for help, I am glad I did. (trust me if you were in my head with all the mood swings etc , you would block me, ignore me, or otherwise, cut me out of your life, so I decided to “remain silent”) I won’t claim that having my friends guest blog, helped me FOCUS, but it did allow me time to try to wrap my head around everything that is happening, and to start getting “shit” done.

Better than I hoped

While I knew that my fellow bloggers would not disappoint with their pieces, I was surprised at the things that I learned from their writings. I really wish I had Steve’s letter to himself (pre-Ms) when I was diagnosed. It really is great advice!!!!! Alyssa’s Guest blog about the things she has tried for MS reminded me that we are all different, and that MS really is a snowflake disease. (I’ve said it before, but it really hit home) You have to fight for yourself, and what works for me, may not work for you. Finally Alex’s post called the do’s and dont’s of MS, in which she shares how her “attitude” and sense of humor keep her going. Alex is not only determined not to let MS define her, but she kicks ass for everyone around her as well.

THANK YOU again my friends

Thank you! Not only for taking the time to share on my blog, but for making a place for me in your lives, and helping me get through this rough patch. I really did accomplish a lot, the worst events of the week were the alone time (when I was left alone with my thoughts)

BUT each day, I filled my car from floor to ceiling (hindsight says that was probably not the smartest way) and drove to my “new” place and unloaded my car. Some days I even managed a second trip.

To “keep things interesting”, let me add that this move is “double duty”. Before I could move anything in, I had to begin emptying and cleaning the things that were left behind including the the ceramic tiles and tub from a bathroom. But YAH, I am making progress!!!