A New Fright
JD Rhode
Creepy crawlers
Dress up
And candy galore are just some of the things that we expect
On this day that is never a bore
But now-a-days our kids can’t see that kind of fun
Trick-or-treating door to door at the mall shops
For fear of being stolen
Or getting poisoned goodies
Is a worse fright than anybody in a mask jumping out at you
Will we ever again see the good old days?
When kids had parties
When adults left their lights on till midnight
When the only fear of a girl or boy
Was not bringing enough bags to store their delight?
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Not Just Black and White
How do you view the world? As a crip (what my husband calls us disabled people, as he is one, too), I'd have to say that I have many experiences that most people don't have, likewise, I'm sure. However, a (long) while back, I was having a hard time explaining this to a friend. We were talking about golf, I believe.
I was saying how I wanted to play sometime, but I got the feeling she didn't understand. At first, I was confused; I thought the course was not accessible, however then I thought otherwise. Maybe, because most people who play golf are on two feet, it was hard to understand why or how I could play. From my knowledge of the game, though, one just (tries to) hits a ball into a hole, right, and drives the golf cart, or my chair, as the case is, to each stop. I'm not talking about professionally playing-just having some fun.
I get that kind of misunderstanding often, though. Many people assume that there is only one "right" way to do something, but being disabled, I've learned that that just isn't so. Here's an example: I always tell people I'm gonna go on a walk, or I'm gonna walk over there and... Okay, truth be told, I'm not "walking" anywhere like most of you, I'm rolling, but it's my walking. So I told this lady, "oh yeah, I walk just about everywhere I want to go." She had the nerve to answer back, "Walk; what? You mean you role, right?" Honestly, I wanted to smack that woman.
The point I'm trying to make is this: creativity counts for much. I've long ago learned that if you can't do something one way, try another way; it's not always gonna be clear-cut. Yes, I'm physically slower than the average non disabled person, but mentally, I‘m just fine, and having a good time is something nobody should have to miss. Each time we do something, we learn what works and what doesn't, but it's hardly ever just black and white.
I was saying how I wanted to play sometime, but I got the feeling she didn't understand. At first, I was confused; I thought the course was not accessible, however then I thought otherwise. Maybe, because most people who play golf are on two feet, it was hard to understand why or how I could play. From my knowledge of the game, though, one just (tries to) hits a ball into a hole, right, and drives the golf cart, or my chair, as the case is, to each stop. I'm not talking about professionally playing-just having some fun.
I get that kind of misunderstanding often, though. Many people assume that there is only one "right" way to do something, but being disabled, I've learned that that just isn't so. Here's an example: I always tell people I'm gonna go on a walk, or I'm gonna walk over there and... Okay, truth be told, I'm not "walking" anywhere like most of you, I'm rolling, but it's my walking. So I told this lady, "oh yeah, I walk just about everywhere I want to go." She had the nerve to answer back, "Walk; what? You mean you role, right?" Honestly, I wanted to smack that woman.
The point I'm trying to make is this: creativity counts for much. I've long ago learned that if you can't do something one way, try another way; it's not always gonna be clear-cut. Yes, I'm physically slower than the average non disabled person, but mentally, I‘m just fine, and having a good time is something nobody should have to miss. Each time we do something, we learn what works and what doesn't, but it's hardly ever just black and white.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Cerebral Palsy
I got most of this information from the web (aside from my personal comments, of course), but that was some time ago, so please don't freak out that I'm not quoting the sites.
I have cerebral palsy, and I think it's very important that people know exactly what that is before ignorance kicks in and misconceptions are made. So, here you go:
What is the Definition of Cerebral Palsy? Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development, or during infancy. It can also occur before, during or shortly following birth.
"Cerebral" refers to the brain and "Palsy" to a disorder of movement or posture. If someone has cerebral palsy it means that because of an injury to their brain (cerebral) they are not able to use some of the muscles in their body in the normal way (palsy). Children with cerebral palsy may not be able to walk, talk, eat or play in the same ways as most other children.
Cerebral palsy is neither progressive nor communicable. It is also not "curable" in the accepted sense, although education, therapy and applied technology can help persons with cerebral palsy lead productive lives. It is important to know that cerebral palsy is not a disease or illness. It isn't contagious and it doesn't get worse. Children who have cerebral palsy will have it all their lives.
Cerebral palsy is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination. Depending on which areas of the brain have been damaged, one or more of the following may occur:
• muscle tightness or spasm
• involuntary movement
• disturbance in gait and mobility
• abnormal sensation and perception (I don’t have that)
• impairment of sight, hearing or speech (My hearing is fine, and I only have minor impairment w/the others)
• seizures (I don’t have that)
Cerebral palsy is a broad term which encompasses many different disorders of movement and posture. To describe particular types of movement disorders covered by the term, pediatricians, neurologists, and therapists use several classification systems and many labels. To understand different types of cerebral palsy more clearly, you must first understand what professionals mean by muscle tone.
All children with cerebral palsy have damage to the area of the brain that controls muscle tone. As a result, they may have increased muscle tone, reduced muscle tone, or a combination of the two (fluctuating tone). Which parts of their bodies are affected by the abnormal muscle tone depends upon where the brain damage occurs.
There are three main types of cerebral palsy:
• Spastic Cerebral Palsy
(stiff and difficult movement)
• Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
(involuntary and uncontrolled movement)
• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
(disturbed sense of balance and depth perception)
• Mixed Cerebral Palsy
There may be a combination of these types for any one person.
I’m special; I’m a mixed breed, lol.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy:
About 10 percent of children with cerebral palsy have what is known a mixed-type cerebral palsy. These children have both the tight muscle tone of spastic cerebral palsy and the involuntary movements of athetoid cerebral palsy. This is because they have injuries to both the pyramidal and extrapyramidal areas of the brain. Usually the spasticity is more obvious at first, with involuntary movements increasing when the child is between nine months and three years old. The most common mixed form includes spasticity and athetoid movements, but other combinations are also possible.
I have cerebral palsy, and I think it's very important that people know exactly what that is before ignorance kicks in and misconceptions are made. So, here you go:
What is the Definition of Cerebral Palsy? Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development, or during infancy. It can also occur before, during or shortly following birth.
"Cerebral" refers to the brain and "Palsy" to a disorder of movement or posture. If someone has cerebral palsy it means that because of an injury to their brain (cerebral) they are not able to use some of the muscles in their body in the normal way (palsy). Children with cerebral palsy may not be able to walk, talk, eat or play in the same ways as most other children.
Cerebral palsy is neither progressive nor communicable. It is also not "curable" in the accepted sense, although education, therapy and applied technology can help persons with cerebral palsy lead productive lives. It is important to know that cerebral palsy is not a disease or illness. It isn't contagious and it doesn't get worse. Children who have cerebral palsy will have it all their lives.
Cerebral palsy is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination. Depending on which areas of the brain have been damaged, one or more of the following may occur:
• muscle tightness or spasm
• involuntary movement
• disturbance in gait and mobility
• abnormal sensation and perception (I don’t have that)
• impairment of sight, hearing or speech (My hearing is fine, and I only have minor impairment w/the others)
• seizures (I don’t have that)
Cerebral palsy is a broad term which encompasses many different disorders of movement and posture. To describe particular types of movement disorders covered by the term, pediatricians, neurologists, and therapists use several classification systems and many labels. To understand different types of cerebral palsy more clearly, you must first understand what professionals mean by muscle tone.
All children with cerebral palsy have damage to the area of the brain that controls muscle tone. As a result, they may have increased muscle tone, reduced muscle tone, or a combination of the two (fluctuating tone). Which parts of their bodies are affected by the abnormal muscle tone depends upon where the brain damage occurs.
There are three main types of cerebral palsy:
• Spastic Cerebral Palsy
(stiff and difficult movement)
• Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
(involuntary and uncontrolled movement)
• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
(disturbed sense of balance and depth perception)
• Mixed Cerebral Palsy
There may be a combination of these types for any one person.
I’m special; I’m a mixed breed, lol.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy:
About 10 percent of children with cerebral palsy have what is known a mixed-type cerebral palsy. These children have both the tight muscle tone of spastic cerebral palsy and the involuntary movements of athetoid cerebral palsy. This is because they have injuries to both the pyramidal and extrapyramidal areas of the brain. Usually the spasticity is more obvious at first, with involuntary movements increasing when the child is between nine months and three years old. The most common mixed form includes spasticity and athetoid movements, but other combinations are also possible.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Cutest Dog in America
Why am I doing this? I'm not exactly sure. Could it be to get my name out there? Maybe. Or is it the one million dollar first place prize attached to it? That has a really nice ring, but honestly I'm sure I don't have enough votes to win.
I love animals but especially dogs. I had four of them. I won't go into details in this blog, but now I have two: a black Lab and a Shih Tzu. I entered my two year old Shih Tzu, Hollywood, in the Cutest Dog in America Competition because I truly believe that he is the cutest dog in America. The picture I posted is great, but a still-frame just can't quite capture his lovable personality.
If anybody reads this, please go to the site I pasted below and vote for my Hollywood. Registration is free, and you can vote once a day. I'm not gonna lie; the money would definitely help, but there's more to life than money. The contest is almost over, though, so please vote often. Thanks very much.
Direct link to your photo...
http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=3E1BBBD9D4F431CA1CA8B8E4AE78B26B
I love animals but especially dogs. I had four of them. I won't go into details in this blog, but now I have two: a black Lab and a Shih Tzu. I entered my two year old Shih Tzu, Hollywood, in the Cutest Dog in America Competition because I truly believe that he is the cutest dog in America. The picture I posted is great, but a still-frame just can't quite capture his lovable personality.
If anybody reads this, please go to the site I pasted below and vote for my Hollywood. Registration is free, and you can vote once a day. I'm not gonna lie; the money would definitely help, but there's more to life than money. The contest is almost over, though, so please vote often. Thanks very much.
Direct link to your photo...
http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=3E1BBBD9D4F431CA1CA8B8E4AE78B26B
My Intro
Hello. I'm still trying to figure all this out and can't quite get it. I hope it detours nobody from reading what I have to say. My name is Joey. I write novels and poetry. I'm always thinking. I like the outdoors and love cold weather. Enough about me for now; I have to figure out why my profile says 'my intro' and how to change it...
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