ALS Informational Seminar at Key Project

I learned the hard way that if you want to go to Kahekili Highway on the H3 from Kailua, you exit Kam Highway. Otherwise you go all the way to Stadium to get out and double back to Kaneohe. I learned it the long, 20-mile doubleback way, but next time, I'll know.

The KEY Project is way past Temple Valley but the view is beautiful even if you are 15 minutes late. The MDA crew was already there and so were all the other booth displayers. Kristen mounted the board onto the MDA table while Leslie helped me tape Lou Gehrig on the wobbly easel. Peggy is ensconced beautifully on the table on an equally beautiful metal easel. I caught lunch from servers Crystal, Leslie and Audrey while Ronda worked the crowd. There was toe-tapping music from this nice young man and I wave to Chester also working the crowd. There were many familiar faces. I meet the newly diagnosed families and try to calibrate my friendliness to their receptivity index. I give them copies of our brochure, printed in glorious color a couple hours before the UH crowd pau hana'ed at 4:30 pm Friday, thanks to my friend, Christina Higa of PEACESAT.

So here: enjoy the images. Sorry, I'll get better with practice, promise! Cross my heart.

Feeling Very Positive Today

Wow!  I have several new followers today, thank you Divina for spreading the word.  I hope I don't bore everybody with my blogs.  Anyway, it's fun for me and if it gives you a little bit of enjoyment or some insight into who I am and what I'm doing every day that's great!  I've been looking for some new technology to help me out at home using my computer and using my phone.  I think I may have finally come up with a product that will help me.  Thanks to my friend Brian, who found it for me on the Internet. 

I can currently use my computer with my headset on and Dragon speech recognition software and also a USB touchpad which Brian bought for me from Amazon.com called "easy cat".  I am lucky I still have a strong voice even though I wear my BiPAP 24/7and I still have some functionality in my hands so I can use the touchpad.  I just cannot type or reach the computer keys. My problem is that I have trouble using my phone, so I've been looking for a device that would allow me to use my computer and my phone hands-free, without touching any buttons and only using voice commands.  The Device Is a little bit expensive, but I think I'm going to give it a try.  I'll let you know what I think after I get it. This is the link to the website. http://www.nobuttonsheadset.com/index.htm

A note from Tracy Sherman, to all of us

Inspired by Chester's comments at the last ALS Support Group meeting, I decided to dig out this poem that I found...hummm..back in the 80's and always hung on to. I think I found it in a Readers Digest book my mom subscribed to and have yet to find it on the web anywhere else. When you read it you will know why I kept it...yellowed..torn...basically beat up...but still readable.

FREEDOM
I write because I am confused
And seek to understand
I sing because I am alone
And reach to take a hand.
I wonder because I'm curious
And feel I should know why.
I hurt because I'm human
And this is why I cry.
I laugh because I'm joyful
And this seems right to do.
I love because you're special
And pray you love me too.
I live because of all these things
I find in every day.
They tell me just what life's about
And I listen to what they say.
To laugh, to love, to live and sing,
Oh yes, even to cry,
These simple gifts of freedom
I will treasure 'till I die.