Written by Mandy on Monday, September 29th, 2008 in Emotional Issues, General, Links.
When it comes to multiple sclerosis, are you an optimist or a pessimist? Is it possible to be both?
Lisa Emrich (Brass and Ivory) says, “It’s difficult for me to sort out whether I’m pessimistic or optimistic or skeptic or ignorant.” I’ll second that.
I call myself a pessimistic optimist.
Written by Mandy on Monday, August 25th, 2008 in Emotional Issues, General, In The News, Links.
The world won’t soon forget the regal beauty of Nastia Liukin and the awe-inspiring power of Shawn Johnson as they graced the gymnastic apparatus during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Neither will I.Their faces betrayed none of the physical challenges and injuries they surely endured during years of practice and preparation. Cool and confident, they majestically glided through the competition, their routines appearing almost effortless. Twisting and turning, tumbling and flying, they seemed to defy the laws of gravity. They stole my heart and my eyes watered along with theirs as they received their honors. Their youthful smiles and jubilation were downright contagious. For a few moments I, too, felt victorious.
Read the rest here:
My Olympic Dreams
Written by Mandy on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 in Family, General, Links.
Written by Mandy on Friday, March 28th, 2008 in General, Links, Symptoms.
Relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis, the most common form of MS at onset, is often likened to a roller coaster ride because of its characteristic ups and downs. I often write about the relapsing portion of the equation, but how about the remitting part? Walks in the park, a little puttering in the backyard and taking care of those long-neglected tasks around the house come naturally now. Spontaneity and enthusiasm rule the day. These moments are few and far between, but oh, so cherished!
Read more…
Written by Mandy on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 in General, In The News, Links.
From In The Trenches Productions, Politics and Sexism: Hold the ‘B’ Word, Please
Written by Mandy on Sunday, March 9th, 2008 in General, Links.
MS Maze received this award from Brass and Ivory, who received it from…
Jim of Jim’s DEEP Thoughts who received it from…
Angela of Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy who received it from…
Jen of Find Out What Jen Finds who received it from…
Maddy of Whitterer on Autism who received it from the originator…
Kelley at Magneto Bold Too who thankfully explains it’s meaning!!!
This is how Kelley describes it:
“When the girls and I want to express our mutual admiration in public we say ‘Less than Three’.
If you look at it sideways: <3
It looks like a heart. So I heart you.”
Now I would like to pass it along to:
Written by Mandy on Saturday, March 8th, 2008 in Extras, General, Links.
This post comes to you courtesy of Lisa Emrich, of Brass and Ivory, in an effort to help MS Bloggers become a stronger community. Thanks, Lisa!
There are at least 137 MS Bloggers out there actively discussing whatever suits their fancy. Below you will find many of these suspects….wait… I mean lovely blogger friends who happen to have multiple sclerosis.
Remember how I mentioned a group project was in the works? Well here it is. As the founder of the Carnival of MS Bloggers, I’d like your help in spreading the word, and in doing so we will strengthen the bonds of our own little Multiple Sclerosis Blogging Web (and share some linkie love with each other). If you are not an MS Blogger, but are a regular reader here, please feel free to help spread the word too.
Here’s what you do:
New editions of the Carnival of MS Bloggers will be presented bi-weekly at Brass and Ivory. Previous editions will be are archived here and the button below has been revised to include the new link. Please update your sidebar.
Names of the Blogs - Name of Blogger (if known)
and # of posts in 2008 (as of 3/5)
9 Brand New MS Bloggers joined the blogosphere in 2008!!
New! Carole’s MS Blog (Carole) 49
New! Great Mastications (Orla) 37
New! Movin’ On with MS (Sammie) 26
New! Me, Myself and MS (Emma) 10
New! Being Ammey 8
New! Blogbuster (Daniel) 6
New! Etsy Crest (Shelby) 6
New! Serina’s Blog 5
New! I’m Beating MS (Michael) 2
Most Prolific MS Blogger - so far in 2008!!
Top 10 Rather Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!
A Stellarlife (Diane) 109
Multiple Synchronicities & Sclerosis (Merelyme) 90
Friday’s Child 70
My Journey - Living Well with MS (Diana) 69
Sunshine and Moonlight (Kim) 65
The MonSter Ate My Branes! (Natalie) 65
Queen Mediocretia of Suburbia 60
Brass and Ivory (Lisa) 56
Brain Cheese (Linda) 52
Maybe I’m Just Lazy (Julie) 51
28 Moderately Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!
Maggsbunny (Maggie) 48
Living with Multiple Sclerosis (TC) 47
MS My Way 43
Bugs, Bikes, Brains (Shauna) 39
Dancing with MS (Lazscott) 37
Trying to Catch My Breath 37
A Florida Journal (SwampAngel) 35
Now We Are Six (Tish) 33
Reality Check (Michael) 32
Access Denied (Herrad) 31
Multiple Sclerosis Blog (Charles of MSBpodcast.com) 30
MS Activist (NMSS) 29
Self-injecting Chinese Hamsters since 2007 27
Shirl’s the Girl (Shirley) 27
Disabled Not Dead (Anne) 26
Life with MS (Trevis) 26
Living with MS (Blinders Off) 25
White Lightning Axiom - Redux (mdm) 25
Stevers! 23
Word Salads (Have Myelin?) 23
Danieldoo (Vivian) 22
Caregivingly Yours (Patrick) 20
Deo Volente (Lisa N) 20
Down the MS Path (Vicki) 19
Do You Have That in My Size? (Denise) 17
Jenn’s Nook (Jenn) 17
Fingolimod and Me (Jeri) 16
Human Life Matters (Mark) 16
51 Mildly Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!
A Life of Learning with MS 15
Behind Blue Eyes (Zee) 15
Katy and Mike’s Adventure (Katy) 15
Living Life as a Snowflake (Sharon) 15
Mandatory Rest Period (Kim) 15
MS Maze (Mandy) 15
My Journey with MS (Christina) 15
The Multiple Sclerosis Companion (Pat) 15
‘Tis Herself (Kell) 15
A Short in the Cord (Joan) 14
Blindbeard’s MS Blog 14
Bubbie’s Blog (Cathy) 14
One Crazy Chick (Chris) 14
Pat’s Pond (Pat) 14
Rants and Musings (Cutter) 14
G and K’s Mom 13
MS Toolkit 13
Newly Diagnosed with MS (Andrea) 13
One Life (Stephen) 13
MS Not Just a Diary (Doug) 12
Rayne’s World (Jayme) 12
Chaos Personified 11
My MS Journal (Jaime) 11
Purely Patsy (14 yr old Patsy) 11
Victoria Plum - Technician! (Victoria) 11
26 Less Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!
Broken Clay (Katja) 10
Mark Pickup (Mark) 10
My Chain Driven Ride through Life in Alaska (Michelle) 10
Deborah Does Navel-Gazing (Deb) 9
Funky Mango’s Musings 9
Inside the Mind of a Squirrel 9
Living Well with MS (Michon) 9
No Time for MS (Courtney) 9
Sorting It All Out (Michael) 9
Travels With Lucy (Virginia) 9
MS Caregivers (Prudence) 8
Can You Hear Me Now? (Donna) 7
Irreverence is Justified 7
Multiple Sclerosis Notes 7
My Tysabri Diary (Lauren) 7
Chris Has MS (Chris) 6
Diary of MS X (7 Divas) 5
Electrical Disturbance (Stephan) 5
Know Multiple Sclerosis 5
MS in the OC (Frank) 5
MS News and Notes (Deb) 5
MS Recovery Diet Blog (Ann) 5
The Endomorph (Ruth) 5
The Jaws of My Life (Jaws) 5
Time to Deal with MS (Homer) 5
YodaMamma MS & More 5
38 Barely Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!
Some of these folks have multiple blogs or co-blog and are loved none-the-less!! Let’s help spread the love and let them know that WE know they are appreciated.
Carolyne’s MS Odyssey (Carolyne) 4
Defeating Illness (Chris) 4
Intent, Context, Perception (Chris) 4
Libbi’s MS Journey (Libbi) 4
MS Recovery Diet Blog (Judi) 4
My Autoimmune Life 4
The Life & Times of Sancho Knotwise (JM) 4
The Zen Pretzel Trick (Zen Angel) 4
When it’s Raining… (Keeley) 4
Kebenaran - The Truth 3
Montana Homecoming (Sister Jane) 3
Ms Quill 3
Reality Chick (Keli) 3
Catch My Disease (Lisle) 2
Clods and Pebbles 2
Dissonance 2
Georgia MS Advocates 2
Lazy Dog Public House 2
Looking Forward with MS (Pamela) 2
Surviving MS in Alaska (Michelle) 2
These Pretzels Are Making Me Thirsty (Trrish) 2
Troy’s Multiple Sclerosis Experience 2
You Me and MS (Judi) 2
Camille’s MSadventures 1
Comment Column (Virginia) 1
Erik’s MS & Lyme Blog 1
Hop Bloody Hop (Philip) 1
Jenn’s Journey with MS (Jenn) 1
Living with MS (Cyndee) 1
Mismorphic’s World of MS 1
MS Musings 1
MS Real Life Stories & Issues (Kristin) 1
Postcards of My Life (Sherry) 1
Rebooting Times 1
Shoester (Doug) 1
The BS of My MS (Heather) 1
The Perseverant Pincushion (Trish) 1
Tysabri Help (Deej) 1
Having too many items from various posters to count:
LJ Users with Multiple Sclerosis
And finally - 26 MS Bloggers who have been silent in 2008!!
Angst on a Shoestring (Gina)
Dandelion Wine (Lynx)
Doug’s MS Journal (Doug)
Imagine Bliss Butterfly (Suzy)
It’s Not All in My Head (Optimist)
Just Above the Abyss (Heidi)
Life with MS , seeking a cure (Karyl)
Managing MS with Tai Chi (Joel)
Managing Multiple Sclerosis
Marciarita
Michele’s Blog
Mike’s Place
MS - My Scene (Virginia)
My Complications (Amanda)
My Demyelination (Tina)
My MS Experience
Object of My Injection (Michelle)
Say It Isn’t So (Mouse)
Talk Story with Kimberly
The Great NetXperiment
To Be Continued… (Jaime)
Truth and Beauty (Baraka)
Tryin’ to Imagine Bliss (Suzy)
What is MS to Me (Dave)
Willy’s MS Rants
Wind Among the Reeds
Hard to categorize:
I Have MS (Tim)
Huggins’ MS Pages (James)
MS - A Personal Account
MS Protocols (Jeff)
MSB’s Podcast
MSing Around
Multiple Sclerosis Blog and News
Multiple Sclerosis Sucks
OUCH! It’s a Disability Thing
Squiffy’s House of Fun
Thank you for helping to build a stronger MS Community.
Written by Mandy on Thursday, February 28th, 2008 in General.
Lisa Emrich’s Carnival of MS Bloggers #5 is up and running….Head on over to Brass and Ivory and catch up on your favorite MS bloggers!
While you’re there, take some time to read past posts on Brass and Ivory — when it comes to the pharmaceutical industry, not much gets past Lisa’s sharp eye.
Written by Mandy on Sunday, February 24th, 2008 in Emotional Issues, General, Symptoms.
“I’m so glad your wife has come back,” I said to Jake when we finished dinner.“I am, too!” Jake gave me a long hug followed by a tender kiss.
This is the day that Mandy returned from her extended stay in the MS Motel.
The first day in which I needed no nap. The first day I did some real house cleaning (with a mishap or two). The first day I sat up straight rather than slumped in my chair at dinner. The first day that I once again felt my real chronological age of 48. The first day to feel like me again!
I’m fairly confident that I will once again get behind the wheel of my car tomorrow morning and drive myself to work.
The MS isn’t really gone. I may still need the cane at work. I can’t stand for long periods of time. I’ll still have an awkward gait, especially on stairs. There will be an unsteadiness and some bumping into walls. The hands will continue to shake. I can live with that.
I’m me again.
Written by Mandy on Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 in General, Links.
From MultipleSclerosisCentral.com: At the Crossroads
Written by Mandy on Sunday, February 17th, 2008 in General.
No, you haven’t landed in the wrong place — MS Maze has a new face! We hope you find it simple to navigate and easy on the eye.
We are currently working on updating all our blogs for a unified look. Thank you for visiting.
Written by Mandy on Wednesday, February 13th, 2008 in General, Links.
How much do you know about MS? Take Dr. Kantor’s six-question quiz on MultipleSclerosisCentral.com.
More posts from MultipleSclerosisCentral.com:
Written by Mandy on Monday, February 11th, 2008 in General.
It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
When MS strikes, that single step is the journey.
