The UNfriendly skies

I am playing hooky from my regular writing job to blog here! Shhhh be vewy vewy quiet!

Just went on a plane ride recently...haven't flown in several years. Sheesh. Now you can't even have a water bottle on the plane. AND they friggin charge you for each suitcase. They wanted sixty bucks for my baggage. So I put my purse in one...and just checked my big suitcase.

I was also wanded during my lovely time at the airport. Seems I wasn't fast enough getting shoes off, computer out of the case, and so forth. Then the plane was late.

But the icing on the cake...was the A-hole I had to sit next to. The plane was small and crowded and some big dude was yelling at the stewardess upon entering the plane. I think he was told to find a seat anywhere...and of course he had to sit next to me. "EXCUSE ME! I HAVE TO SIT HERE!" he bellowed at me. He threw the seatbelt across the chair and plumped his fat ass down and pouted like a baby. He had his Ipod touch out...playing games...and would not put it away for the take off. Meanwhile...I am terrified of flying. I am like white knuckling the arm rest as the plane takes off....and he is there playing games when he shouldn't be!

Then he spreads his legs wide as I am smashed up against my arm rest. I am a small person so...he was taking up like a seat and half at least. WTF!

What possesses people to act like assholes when they are in the sky? Is it suddenly suitable to do so?

Thankfully it wasn't that long of a flight but geez. Not a very pleasant experience. Next time I would like to take the train.

How have your flights been lately?

I am still alive!

Yes indeed...still alive and kicking!

I hope to revitalize this blog thang soon. Really and truly. I am amazed anyone still comes here.

One big change...I will no longer be writing about MS for Health Central. Waaah. Totally my decision....lots of reasons...but to the powers that be...I am praying and hoping that this change will make a big problem go away. BE GONE! PLEASE!

Wouldn't it be cool if you could just tell your problems to go away and they would? :>)

Hope you are all doing well.

Gotz to go to yoga now.

More to come...hopefully!

Please stop on by...

Hi guys!

I need to get with the program and keep up this blog!

Wanted to invite you all to a discussion I have begun on Health Central's MS site about Obama's proposed health care reform bill and...I want your opinions! You don't have to have MS to contribute. This is your chance to make your views heard as they may go all the way to Washington D.C.

Just follow this link!

We want to get as much discussion going as we can and try to steer things towards productive ideas or even solutions.

So come on over! Please!

Still here...

Hi out there!

I don't even want to know how long it has been. I am sorry for not being here. I miss my blog. I miss you guys. I am just busy. Same old same old. Trying to find a good way to maintain my blog here so...I think I am just gonna post my Health Central stuff here and links to find me there. I don't want to say that is my new home but it kinda is. My home away from home.

I hope you guys are all doing well.

Sending you all a big group hug!

Merely Me

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The Losses of Growing Older


There is nothing that gets you feeling more nostalgic than cleaning out the attic. I was cleaning out my attic the other day and I came across a box with maternity items in it including a brochure about breastfeeding and a well used manual breast pump. There were also maternity clothes, a few bibs, and a "boo-boo bunny" fashioned out of a washcloth. I held the bunny to my cheek. I had never used it with my children as it had been held captive all these years in this box. Then there was the bag tied with curled ribbons. It held all the cards I had received to say congratulations for having my babies. I opened one of the cards. It was from a dear friend from years ago who has since passed away.

I sat in my hallway with these things, remnants of a time of my life which will never come again. And then the tears came.

If you want to read more just follow this link.

It's a Man's World!

Hey out there!

She speaks! She is alive!

Ya know...life and stuff. And its summer. Too hot to blog much. But never fear...I am back and blogging. (I hope)

I did want to bring a very important matter to your attention. You want to know why I have Captain Crunch at the top of this post? Well I will tell you.

IT IS A CONSPIRACY!

Okay just listen to this list: Captain Crunch, Snap, Crackle, and Pop, King Vitamin, The crazy rabbit from Trix cereal, The leprecaun from that marshmallowy cereal, Tony the Tiger, Count Chocula, Franken berry, Toucan Sam...I forget which cereal he is from, and the list goes on!

Do you see what is going on here? There are no women icons for cereals! Don't give me garbage about now and then a woman is on the wheaties box. Okay...I am talking lasting icons here. They are all male. Find me a female icon for a classic cereal. I double dare ya. They do not exist.

What's up with this? Huh....huh? Yeah I dunno either.

While you are pondering the sexism inherent in children's breakfast cereals I will give you something else to think about.

As always I am writing tons.

Here are some links for whomever is interested:

1. On Health Central's Depression site I ask the question as to whether it is possible for depression to make one fall out of love.

2. Once in a blue moon I write something I am very proud of and this post on the MS site is one of those times. It just all came out of me and quite cathartic. I would be honored if any of you would come over to read it.

3. Let's talk about sex. Specifically...how illness can affect your sex life. Chime in with your experience right here.

4. Do you have a child who is hyperactive? Or maybe you are hyperactive yourself. Sensory Integration can help, I promise. Just follow this link to find out more.

5. You all know Dr. Deb right? Well she is just like one of the bestest bloggers out there who just happens to be a psychologist too. And she granted me an interview for the Friends of Quinn site. Please come check it out here.

I hope you all are having a magnificent summer thus far. Stay cool! Eat some Captain Crunch for me despite the sexist ramifications. At least the captain could have a girlfriend or something...sheesh!

My love of cheese

I do...I love me some cheese.

I love swiss, cheddar, and string mozzarella. But...just recently I have found THE cheese of cheeses. It is called Robusto Gouda and it is to die for...it has this nutty flavor which is intense...just a little bit of this stuff packs such a flavor...you will begin to crave it. Found it in a health food store in the cheese aisle where they had samples. Just one taste of this stuff and I was in love.

Cheese can be like that.

But some cheese is not cheese at all! I dare say there is cheese fraud going on out there! And I am here to warn you of it. I had never ordered a Pizza Hut stuffed crust pizza before. And so I finally caved in to seeing those commercials of hot melty cheese in the crust and...my family ordered one.

All I can say is "YUCK!" and...what is that stuff? It didn't taste like any cheese I have ever had. Instead of chewy...as mozarella cheese should be...it was the consistency of...glue.
I was very disappointed.

Have any cheese stories? I want to hear them but of course I do!

In the meantime...here are some links for you!

On the depression site: Social Skills for the Depressed and Socially Anxious

On the MS site: "But I'm Not Quite Dead Yet!" Mortality and MS

On the AHD site: When "Good Job" doesn't cut it: Alternative Ways to Praise

On the Friends of Quinn site: Walking in my Son's Shoes

On the Sexual Health site: What you need to know about Urinary Tract Infections

If you ever wanted to be like Doctor Ruth and answer sex questions here is your chance! Come on over and give your opinions and share your expertise right here. The world can be coming to an end and people will still have sex questions.

That's about it for now. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me here. You are too wonderful for words.

May is National Masturbation Month!

I bet you didn't know that.



Sorry to be so late to inform you of this fact. You only have a few days left to catch up! :>)



I do apologize for not being around so much. Just so much to do and only one of me. I miss my blog here and I miss you guys. I know things do get slow when we head into the summer months. I feel the need for a hammock. Actually I always fall out of those things. But the thought is appealing.



I hope everyone is doing okay.



So what shall we talk about? Okay how about the topic of masturbation?



I wrote a question of the week for Health Central's Sexual Health site about that Oprah show where Oprah and her best friend Gayle got into it about whether or not parents should discuss the topic of masturbation with their kids. You can find my question about all this right here. I would rather you answer there than here if you don't mind terribly. I am trying to get some more community discussion on the site and it is like pulling teeth! So come on...don't be shy...voice your opinion.



And now for something completely different...



Have you ever wondered about the gluten free diet craze? My son is on such a diet and I feel that it has helped his allergic symptoms immensely. It seems to also have helped his behaviors. This diet has been used too...in order to lose weight by some. If you have any experience with this diet or just want to know what it is about come on over to read and to comment.



And on the Friend's of Quinn site I talk my personal experience trying to undo comments made by teachers due to some of my son's learning disabilities. It is a great site...I do hope you come to visit. Just follow this link.



On the Multiple Sclerosis site I have a two part series about the doctor/patient relationship. Doctor Sethi, a neurologist and fellow blogger has written the first part about his views on this topic. He did such an excellent job...I am hoping you can come by to read here.



I could definitely use your help on the depression site. I wrote up a lengthy piece about how to find mental health services including medication if you have no insurance or money. I would be most grateful if anybody could add more links to resources right here.



Also if you have ever taken antidepressants or are currently taking them...I have a discussion going on about side effects to meds. If you could share your experience here that would be wonderful.



I am going to really try to get with the program and write more freely here. I don't want to lose my spontaneity and free spirited writing.

So what is going on with you? Tell me all that I have missed!

Will write for donuts!

Or brownies.

I bought the most lushious brownies yesterday...they were huge with gooey chocolate icing on top. Just to die for. There were four of those big suckers in the package and I only have one left.

I will be extremely sad when my last brownie is gone. My precious! PMS and brownies go so well together. TMI?

Okay enough of my hormonal indulgences. It is time for links!

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1. Friend's of Quinn site:

Look Beyond the Label and Discover the Gifts

2. ADHD site:

My Interview with Thomas McKean This was such a great interview with my friend Thomas who is on the autism spectrum himself. He talks about what life is like for him as an adult who has autism.

3. Sexual Health Site

My Question of the Week is...do you think sex stops at 40? What can respark sexual desire and interest? Stop by and give us your suggestions and comments.

4. The Multiple Sclerosis Site

"I'm not drunk, I just have MS!" Slurred Speech as a symptom of MS

5. My Depression Connection

Are you sabotaging your happiness?

Midweek Muse: Inspiration to get you over the hump


Stop on by to any of Health Central's sites. Show off your writing. Get noticed. Come answer some questions and help others. Make friends. All that cool stuff.

See you next week...

Change and a New Focus

Well...

Change is sometimes wonderful and especially when you call the shots and decide for yourself what is best for you.

Been writing about Multiple Sclerosis now since before my diagnosis. And I will continue to write about this topic for Health Central but I have decided that the extra responsibility of being the site's Community Leader was too much for me. I have multiple reasons for not wishing to continue on with my leadership role there but my primary reason is to preserve my mental health.

It never sat well for me to think about my disease 24/7.

I am so deeply affected by the stories I hear that sometimes I break down. I think the story that tore me up the most was a daughter who was asking if it was the end for her mother who had been struggling with her MS for decades. This daughter's question about her mother's end of life struck me to the core. I could not read her story and not feel that pain so acutely. I sat here and sobbed.

And then I thought, maybe I am not emotionally ready to dive into the deep end of this topic. I have always immersed myself in mental health. I am not afraid of mental illness. I am not afraid of autism. But I have to tell you that I am afraid of MS.

I cannot remain clinical and objective as....I have it.

When I found out that my son had autism I researched into the wee hours of the night. I went to conferences and still do. I read all the books. I always want to find ways to help my son. But for Multiple Sclerosis...I have no desire to be in some desperate place where I am seeking cures or obsessed with the details of this disease.

I want to live. I want to be happy. It is not mentally healthy to live and breathe MS. I am not my disease. I want to focus on wellness and sanity.

I want to help people the only way I know how...to share my humble experiences in coping with my MS. So I will have my own little island there to write. That is about all I can emotionally handle.

Besides...I would much rather talk about sex than MS any day of the week! It's like...gee...you wanna talk about my brain lesions? "Uhh....I think I will pass on that." But if you ask people if they want to talk about sex then you usually get a more gleeful reaction. :>)

I am very happy with my choice to change to being the community leader for the sexual health site.

Sometimes change....can be very good.

My Political Crush

Okay okay aside from our President...I think the hottest guy in politics has to be....



Drum roll please



George Stephanopoulos

Come on...he is totally hot in that chipmunk cheeked kinda way doncha think?

Who is your political crush? Do tell all!

Got some links for ya.

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In an attempt to get some conversation going on Health Central's Sexual Health Connection I will be asking a question each and every Thursday. Please feel free to join the discussion. We can all learn from each other.

My question for this week is...

I am not gonna tell you this time! You have to come over to read for yourself. Pretty please? With sugar on top? Just follow this link!

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To find out what my Depression Connection question of the week is come and read and join the on-going discussion right here.

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Mood Disorders and MS? You betcha! They seem to go hand in hand. To find out what other MSers say about this topic click here.

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Detecting the Early Warning Signs of Autism

It seems that there is more awareness than ever about autism these days. When I go to the bookstore there are multiple shelves reserved for books written about this disorder. There are more news articles, more research and more public discussions about autism than ever. This greater awareness may be due to the growing rates of children being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Some estimates report that one out of every one hundred and fifty children living in the United States may be diagnosed as having an autism spectrum disorder.

Yet with all this greater publicity and awareness, autism continues to be a most perplexing and mysterious neurological disorder. I contend that autism is not an easy disorder to detect early on because the child may not show all the signs right away. Add to this, every child on the autism spectrum is unique and may show vastly different symptoms than another child on the spectrum. All we really have to diagnose autism is a list of possible behaviors which the child may or may not display at any one time.

My two sons could be a case study in this confusion.

Want to read more? Just follow this link!

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How to Deal with Difficult People

Sometimes I think Sartre had it right with his infamous quote, "Hell is other people." Okay not all people by any means, just some particularly difficult people. We have all had the experience of dealing with a difficult person in our life. This person may be a neighbor, a co-worker, a boss, a friend, a parent, or even your spouse. A friend of mine once said that some people go to therapy and some people cause other people to go to therapy. Let's face it, how many therapy sessions are probably spent discussing the difficult people in our life?

What defines an individual as being "difficult" is totally up to the observer. I have met plenty of people who I feel are pleasant personalities only to find that others may view this person as totally abrasive. Then there is also a range of difficult as some people may only be mildly annoying while others may be abusive and downright toxic to our mental health.

Follow this link to read more...

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Playing the MS Card

I can hear your indignant cries right now. What does she mean, playing the MS card? Well, I mean using the fact that you have Multiple Sclerosis to get out of doing things you would rather not be doing. You know like chores, attending boring social engagements, or in my case, using my MS to save face for quitting martial arts.

I have never been athletic. As a kid I was always one of the last chosen for sports games. I still remember the humiliation of standing on colored circles in gym class according to height. There I was at the beginning of the line in my blue zippered gym suit standing next to August Soldano, the other shortest kid in the class. We would look at each other like stranded Lilliputians on an island with a tribe of tall, well coordinated savages. These savages would take out their god given gym talents by beating us smaller kids at every competitive game and sport.

To read more of this story just click right here.

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I hope you all have a lovely weekend and I will see YOU next week!

Sex and other stuff!

Now here's something fun!

Come and participate in my Sexual Health Connection question of the week which you can find right here!

The question is..."What do you wish your parents had told you about sex that they never told you?"

And for those of you who would like to present your writing to a wider audience, the theme I want to initiate on the sexual health site is....share your story about "the sex talk" you received from your parents. I imagine for a lot of us of an ahem...older...generation....there may have been no talk at all. Anyways...everything is all set up on Sexual Health Connection for you to set up a profile (you can be anonymous) and share your story.

Come on...it will be fun...something different than the norm to write about.

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Next I want to tell you that a friend of mine and fellow MS blogger has joined MS Health Central and will be writing some posts about her experiences in living with this disease.

Please do stop by and say hello to Vicki Bridges in her introduction which you may find right here.

What I love about Vicki is her kindness and compassion and hey...she is one terrific writer to boot. She used to be in journalism and it shows. Vicki is also one of the most positive people I know. In reading her posts...I feel like I can handle what comes my way. I can't say enough good things about her. So do pop by for a visit.

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My latest post on the depression site is about my father. It was a little difficult to write but I am very proud of this piece. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about my father despite the fact that he died forty years ago. I am 44 in case you are wondering. He died from his alcohol addiction.

My fondest wish is that someone will read this piece of writing and some little girl or boy will not have to live life without their parent as I did.

You may find my writing here.

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On the ADHD site we are continuing to discuss Autism Awareness Month. I had the honor of interviewing Stephen Shore by telephone for this purpose. Stephen Shore is a fellow co-contributor to the book, Embracing Autism and he has written more several books himself. Stephen is on the autism spectrum himself and is a wonderful advocate and speaker about how to best help those individuals who share a diagnosis of autism or Asperger's Syndrome.

Please do come by to read and comment upon Stephen's fascinating interview right here.

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Lastly but not leastly....

I will be writing for Health Central's Friends of Quinn site which you can see right here.

Quinn is a more than remarkable fellow who writes about his first hand experience as a young adult who has learning disabilities. He was just on The View with Barbara Walters just the other day. His site is absolutely going gangbusters with lots of wonderful support and feedback. I would absolutely encourage you to join the site.

I am absolutely thrilled to be able to contribute in any way to this site and I will begin doing so come May.

I think that is it! Happy Over the Hump Day everyone!

Beyond Synchronicity

Been more aware of synchronicity lately. I have always promised to write about my personal experiences with it. But I fear that in the translation, I will lose the magic. Ya know?

It is like this secret that I share with the universe.

Let's just say that I am grateful. I am so damn thankful for so many things...so many chances...so many opportunities.

I will just relate one moment in time which is about more than synchronicity. I suppose one could say that it is about faith? It was shortly after my diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis. I was having a bad day. I was having symptoms and feeling both exhausted and dizzy. My youngest son who has autism was also having a bad day which had resulted in tears of frustration. I remember sitting down on the living room chair and staring at the wall. It seemed time was slowing down to accommodate my inner bleakness. There was this sideways glimmer of light cast on the wall coming from the window blind slats. I watched it creep almost imperceptibly across the wall.

I became entranced with this light.

It felt as though the light was a warm bath warming my body and warming my soul. There was just something so hopeful about it.

I thought about my life and wondered where it would go. I wondered the things that you never want to think about. What would become of me? How could I keep on caring for a child who needs so much care when I now have neurological issues myself? I was on my way to drowning in my fears when I saw that light.

And this still voice inside me told me that it was going to be okay. The voice wasn't something you hear. It was something you feel. It came from inside of me yet it was as big as the universe.

Strangely...I felt that what was happening in my life was meant to be. I *knew* that as difficult as things might become, I would be given the tools with which to handle it. And I strongly intuited that my writing would be one of these tools.

I know this sounds like crock of doody. But seriously...I will never forget that moment I had. I don't want to ever forget it. I don't want to ever lose that connection to something deeper...something so certain.

I will not label it.

Is Twitter for Twits?

Need a good mystery?

Well all you gotta do is go to the internet. It is full of intrigue! Just imagine that someone out there may not know what I am doing minute to minute on Twitter! OMG! Is she picking her nose? Sorting laundry? Eating a twinkie? Alert the media at once!

We are all...so...damn...important on the internet.

It is like we are the Pied Piper...come "follow" me. You don't have friends anymore...you have "followers." Sounds like a stalker's paradise to me. (and it quite often is. *wink*)

Our attention spans are so small now we are reduced to so many characters of expression.

It seems to me that our internet evolution is more like a devolution. Make no mistake that we are morphing into more primitive forms. Soon we will need no words at all. Just send an emoticon.

Have you noticed that people aren't talking anymore? We are just shouting out mindless drivel into the ethereal space.

"I LIKE CHEESE"

"I ONCE TOOK THE HEADS OFF ALL MY BARBIE DOLLS"

" MY DOG'S FARTS SMELL LIKE BACON!"

"IT LOOKS LIKE A SASQUATCH TO ME. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?"

(warning...never let bloggers blog whilst drinking spiked lemonade)

Well holy Pastrami my fellow bloggers and bloggettes! We must hold some sort of standard for ourselves. We shall use complete sentences! We shall form complete thoughts! We will not fall into the Darwinian Internet cesspool!

Just say no to twitter.

(okay at least until tomorrow. Don't make me come there and give you a twittervention)

Now what was I talking about?

Oh yes...I am happy! You know why? Sex.

It is totally true. In my quest for health site domination I am now the community leader for the sexual health site on Health Central. I ain't lying. Seriously...I am. And to prove it, I spent some of this past weekend writing about gonorrhea. Yeah you try to spell that word over and over. Okay a bit of trivia...do you know why it is called "the clap"? Because the treatment they used to use for men was to clap the sides of the penis to rid it of green or yellow pus. Yeah...that sounds...pleasant. Do you know any historical figures who had gonorrhea? Huh? Do ya? Well I do.

To find out the answer to this and even more questions I know you must have about this particular STD...go here! And did you know...it is STD awareness month. Yes indeedy.

You all are welcome to the sexual health site. This is my personal invitation to you. The focus of the site is going to be more on fertility and pregnancy but both men and women are definitely welcome. Come on over and answer my question of the week at least. Pretty please?

All right enough about sex!

Now for a little depression. Okay let me rephrase that. Now it is time for some mental health!

Have you ever wondered how Buddhist philosophy would help with regaining mental health?

Well I did. I did an interview with a friend of mine who is very knowledgeable about Buddhism (he is the editor of a Buddhist magazine) and gave me a unique perspective on hope and healing from depression. I hope you will be as enlightened as I was to read what he had to say. You can find that interview right here.

And of course I welcome you to be a part of the depression connection discussion of the week which you can find right here.

I would be happy if you ignore everything else I write but came here instead to read my interview with Robert Parish who does some amazing work in creating documentaries about autism. He was my editor for the book I am in....Embracing Autism and...in honor of Autism Awareness Month I really want to get the message out about this topic. Writing about autism is my first love. Writing is my way to give back.

So if you could...come and read and comment. It would mean a lot to me. Just follow this link.

And lastly but not leastly...

I wrote about vacationing when you have Multiple Sclerosis. I wrote about going on a trip to hell...oh I mean Walt Disney World during the time right before my diagnosis. I didn't know I had MS and it made for an exceptionally "interesting" trip. If you have MS and you have a story to tell about vacations or travel please do stop by and either share it in a comment or sharepost. I could sure use some tips and I am sure our readers could too.

Okay so...I know I am a total loser for not visiting you more often. I will get there....sometime soon...like after I eat some more jelly beans and the rest of that rabbit and the ham and...the rest of the christmas candy in the back of the fridge and...

I will be by soon by golly! Or my name isn't matilda magillucutty. Okay it's not but that is beside the point.

signing off now...

toodles!

A question and some links...

Oh lordy I am so tired! Seriously. My bones are weary. I am in the mood to watch bad tv and go to bed early. But the one happy thought I have right now is that today I bought myself a chocolate easter bunny! I know...I need to get out more. Hey...the little stuff makes me happy...what can I say?

Ummm....okay....how about a question? Let's see...what do I want to know about you?

What do you hope the Easter bunny brings you?

I never tried using a different colored font. whoohooo! Excitement! See...I told you I need to get out more.

And now it is time for zeee links!

Contain yourselves. All three of you. I fear that I have permanently lost readers due to my negligence. I am trying to find balance and sanity. I have been very happy with my writing. It is just hard to find time to connect. I do apologize. I promise to visit soon. Now where have you heard that before? :>)

* Do you know someone who has a child who has just been diagnosed with autism? You probably do. The incidence of autism is rising exponentially. In honor of autism awareness month I have written another article specifically targeted to parents. If it helps but one person then I have done my job. Follow this link to read my post on Health Central.

* Sexual assault is not something we like to think about but it happens everyday. My sister was almost a victim but she actually talked her way out of being assaulted. I think this is unusual. What can be done to minimize the chances of being sexually assaulted? I give but some suggestions. I am hoping others can chime in with more. You can find my article about sexual assault right here.

* My journey towards a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis is a very interesting tale if I do say so myself. I have not even told the half of it on these videos. Much of it involves synchronicities which I still find hard to believe. Did you know that I had no idea I had MS for ten years? And then I went to see an eye doctor for reading glasses, told him about a single eye incident which happened over a decade ago and he warns me about MS. I had no symptoms other than optic neuritis. I had no symptoms when I saw this eye doctor. But then...after he talks about MS...I start having symptoms. Was I crazy? Noooo. Turns out I had it. Want to hear the whole story? Come view my videos. We are on Part Three.

* I have initated a Question of the Week over on MS Health Central. No I will tell you the question here....you gotta come over and see what it is. Curious? Stop on by and join the discussion already in progress.

* Can you imagine a world without antidepressants? Did you ever wonder how the world survived without them? It seems...not very well. Treatments for depression over the ages have been um...not so great...to put it mildly. As much as we may complain about the treatments today for depression, at least we have some choice. I give a tongue in cheek romp through the history of depression treatement with my biased commentary. I really enjoyed writing this piece and it is one of my better writings if I do say so myself. I hope you stop by to read and to chime in with your own insights.

* And lastly but not leastly...come and join the on-going discussion about what you would want someone to say to you when you are feeling depression. Just follow this link.

I also wrote a piece for a chemical dependency newsletter but I am still awaiting a link!

Okay so now you understand why I am tired and in need of a chocolate easter bunny.

I hope you all have a great weekend. Save some bunny ears for me....

Question for the Day!

What would make you happy at this exact moment in time?

And now...for some linkys!

* Did you know that April is Autism Awareness Month? Yep. And I wrote a piece that I am really proud of. Actually it is an excerpt from a diary I wrote when my son was in the process of being diagnosed. It is very pure as it was happening right then. If you want to read any of my pieces today...please come to read this one as it is very personal and has a lot of meaning for me.

Just follow this link.

* I made some videos recently to tell the tale of my journey towards diagnosis for Multiple Sclerosis. If you want to see Merely Me up close and personal here is your chance.

Here is Part One of my story.

And here is Part Two.

* How does a parent handle when their teen is depressed? Find out here.

* And lastly...a very serious topic. How can you decrease the risk for sexual assault? Here are some safety tips from my research.

That's all for now...I hope you are all doing well!