21 posts tagged “qotd”

Which new movies are you looking forward to seeing this fall?

"Across the Universe"  It looks like a TRIP!!!  Especially for those of us who grew up during the age of the Beatles and the "British Invasion".  (Remember Herman's Hermits? And what girl who was alive at the time didn't have a crush on Davy Jones of The Monkee's?  Huh?  Huh?!!

“From blue screens to puppets, this film is an absolute trip. To sum it up, it�s a Beatles musical dissecting different sects of people in the 60�s. As far as musicals go, it�s similar to Pink Floyd�s THE WALL, in that it�s a series of songs directly translated to screen with broad stroke of surrealist eye-candy through- out.”

“From the opening shot of ATU, you can feel how much Taymor (the brilliant creator of "Lion King: The Musical") wants to make this film…and it make right.”

“The film has absolute cult potential, if not for the built-in Beatles fan-base but for the charming product that will send chills to anyone willing to be sucked into this colorful adventure.”

What are five things you take for granted? 
Submitted by meowkitty.

Over the last few years, I’ve learned a lot about what I USED to take for granted…

 

1.  I used to expect my knees and legs to automatically pull me up into a standing position and to transport me around.  Now I have to half pull myself up by holding

onto the walker handles.  And if I’ve sat down in a slightly low chair (as I did at the shampoo bowl at the salon yesterday), I cannot physically get myself up out of that chair.  It took two young women to help lift me up outta that chair.  It’s times like that when I feel sooooo embarrassed and humiliated.  I know logically I shouldn’t feel that way, that my body is betraying me, but societal perception, and appearance!, are very strong elements of our culture.  It shouldn’t be that way….  If I moved to , would I be venerated for my age and wisdom?  ;-)

 

 

2.  When you pick up a plastic bottle with a twist off cap, it’s safe to assume that your hands can turn that cap & open the bottle, right?  Not for those with arthritic

hands and arms.  I keep a small wrench around to open bottles with now.  And I can no longer manage ANY kind of corkscrew, even those fancy “rabbit” kind, so I’m no longer having a glass of wine every so often.  Now my drinking has been restricted to restaurants for a holiday or birthday or somefin’.  If Josh is around HE can open the bottles for me, but I’ve just kinda lost the desire to drink.  THIS is a GOOD thing! :-D

 

 

3.  It was always so simple to get in and out of a vehicle.  Not so much now.  Because of the stiffening and reduced range of motion in my knees, I have to plant the left leg into the car, slide the foot sloooowly forward which allows me to drop * thunk * into the passenger seat, & then try to get my right leg in.  It’s all usually done in slow motion so I don’t hurt myself.   ;-)  And then of course I need a friend or cab driver to

fold up the walker & stash it in the trunk (that’s the “boot” to you Brits & Aussies, ‘eh?)

 

 

4.  We just take for granted that we can pull open the cellophane bag of chips, right?  Or you know how you slide a nail in between those zip-loc closures they have

on more and more packaging these days?  Sometimes I can get them open, but more often than not I get SO frustrated that I can’t manage this simple little thing that I finally just get the scissors out (I have a pair at my desk & another in the kitchen drawer). 

 

 

5.  And isn’t it nice when you finally settle down into bed at the end of a long day?  You scrunch the pillows around just so, find a comfy position, and drift off to sleep.  Unfortunately that doesn’t happen so easily at my house, ‘cause when I sleep on my side now my shoulders and/or arm hurts.  I’m gradually learning to sleep half on my side & half on my back.  It’s just so annoying to have to teach an “old dog” new tricks

 

 

 

FYI…. I haven’t answered the QOTD in order to whine.  I’ve answered it in the hopes that those who read it will stop and take a moment to be grateful for the healthy functioning of your bodies.  We DO take ALL of these things for granted.  We

don’t even think about it.  But remember, it is a gift and a blessing to be healthy and whole.  And it can all be taken away….sometimes gradually, and sometimes in a “paparazzi flash bulb” moment.  One minute you’re walking around, living your life, and then * flash flash * we’re blinded for a second and find we can no longer do what we could do a second before.  I’m reminded of Christopher Reeve, and the polo accident that changed his life.

 

 

In one of those blinding “flash bulb” moments, Chris’s life went from that of a robust, healthy, athletic man to a quadriplegic with a spinal cord injury.  An excerpt from his website: 

May 27, 1995 – Events that occur in a fraction of a second often seem to those who experience them as if they unfold in slow-motion. It was in just such a flashing moment that a robust and athletic Christopher Reeve was paralyzed from a spinal cord injury so severe, that his first lucid thought was that it might be better for everyone if he were to die.

"When Dana whispered those life-saving words to me, ‘You’re still you. And I love you,’ it meant more to me than just a personal declaration of faith and commitment. In a sense it was an affirmation that marriage and family stood at the center of everything, and if both were intact, so was your universe."

With those words, Christopher chose to live. After months of grueling rehabilitation and therapy, Christopher returned home to find himself surrounded by a life so familiar yet completely new.

What an awesome love and promise that Dana Reeve gave to her husband that day!  The will to LIVE!  Though my challenges are FAR less debilitating than what Chris went through, I can relate.  I’ve considered whether it would be “better for everyone” if I weren’t around anymore.  It would take a HUGE burden off of my son’s shoulders, and my sister’s too, to a much lesser extent.  But through the dogged determination and love of both of those people, as well as the encouragement and “reality checks” I get from friends old and new, I persevere.  You, my Vox friends, have really made a difference in so many ways.  And I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for “pushing” me along on my journey. ;-)

 

I’m even going to meet one of you NEXT WEEKEND!  Here in Seattle!  And then a bunch more over Labor Day!  I’m easy to pick out of a crowd:  I’ll be the one with the walker or wheelchair and probably a goofy expression on my face.  Hey… you have to find a lot of humor when life deals you a bad hand.  Through your posts, I find humor, empathy, angst, sorrow….the gamut of human emotions.  But the common denominator is that you’re all REAL.  Or at least you seem very real to me, and I thank you for that! *HUGS*  [Please forgive some of the wierd spacing & formatting.  Sometimes when I put pics into my posts it goes ALL wonky and I'm screwing around with it WAY too long, so...]

Some of the peeps I'll meet over Labor Day!  From left:  Aubrey, Lauowolf, Lurkertype, Sparky & Meg

Hey Lauowolf....send me a REAL pic so I'll know whose car it's safe to get into when I get there! ;-)

How often are you wrong?  Do you find it difficult to admit it when you are? 
Submitted by emily ann.

Oh geesh, at least 1/3 of the time probably.  But usually it's because I didn't have all the

facts and went off "half cocked".  I don't find it difficult to admit I'm wrong.  I guess I'm old enough now to understand that it's ok to be human.  It doesn't make me "less than" to admit that I made an error. And if someone rejects me for being "real"..... well, it's their problem, not mine. Those who pretend they know everything and are always right are SO aggravating!  I think it really comes from a lack of self-esteem, so they create this false sense of bravado and confidence.  When deep down they're terrified that people will find out who they REALLY are.  I'd rather try to be humble and honest than pompous and annoying!  LOL!

You Can't Make Me Eat That!

What do you absolutely refuse to eat?

Hmmmm...... Okra, hominy, brussel sprouts, escargot (BLEAH!), octopus, calamari, caviar.....anything in those categories.  (I DO like asparagus, btw...just never figured out how to cook it properly).

What are your deal breakers in a relationship?

Dishonesty, infidelity, alcohol or drugs, or smoking..  It's also nice if a guy and I are on the same page spiritually

What do you think your pets would act like if they were people? Do you think you'd get along with them? 
Submitted by Melissa.

Pooh would be a laid-back surfer-dude fer shure.  He'd always be "Huh?"
.
 

In 5 words or less, who are you? 
Submitted by dejablu503.

Fighter, Mother, Worshipper, Compassionate female

If you could have three wishes from a genie, what would they be? 
Submitted by tatteredhalo.

1. To have a healthy body without pain or bent, swollen extremities
2. That my relationships with family members (especially my son) were wonderful and close
3. Eradicate the hatred and fear in the world and replace it with love for all humanity.  This would (hopefully) end the wars and fighting, and cause us to look outside ourselves so that we might befriend and really care about every person we come in contact with.  I suppose my point is that if we really loved instead of making decisions based on what's politically advantageous, maybe we could end hunger, disease & homelessness.
   

What will be your famous last words?
Submitted by ngocaroo.

What are your three favorite snacks?
Submitted by Sunscreem.