Introducing Optimus Pride

Soca Scooter is no more.

he had a good 6 year run and at first, he never failed me. Alas, the time eventually came when I couldn’t rely on him any longer. It made no sense that I would be ready to bounce starter and mash gas and………nothing! he just would not move. The vexing thing is that I knew what  was wrong but the problem was that I just never knew when it would happen and the time I took him to be repaired, he worked perfectly fine. Now that I’m writing this and think back, the problem started happening a while back but somehow I was always able to get him moving again and never realised that it was actually the start of an issue so I guess it was just the end of the road this time. Anyhoo, I just couldn’t afford to take any more chances and I had to replace him.  I’ve talked bout Bumblebee here already. He is my Lamborghini…my weekend ride if u will, and driving up the road in my neighbourhood is just not his scene.  I needed another “Corolla” to handle that and all the jammin I put the things thru on a regular basis. Enter…Optimus Pride.

Optimus Pride is like a Soca Scooter2.0 and he’s a chunx bigger. He breaks apart when I have to load him up into a car and he’s low and close to the ground so I won’t feel nervous driving on a slight incline, all the while hoping with everything in me that we won’t tip over. He’s .6mph slower than SS but Bumblebee has gotten me used to the slower speed so no big deal. It’s weird though, the handles and controls are shaped differently and for some reason, there are times (more often than I’m willing to admit) when I press the control at first and we head in the wrong direction.  What the?!? Have u not been using a scooter for the past 6 years?!? It really doesn’t seem to make any sense at all,  but it is what it is. OP (not to be confused with OB 😉) also has front and back wheel suspension so his ride is nice and smooth.

his name…allyuh know u hadda indulge me.

like Soca Scooter, he’s originally red. Unlike Soca Scooter he came with alternate blue panelling that can be switched out depending on the mood of the user.  I was thinking about what to name him and I figured that maybe I could stay with the “Transformers” theme and use both colours.  Hmmmm…Optimus.  Optimus Prime is red and blue so I can switch out a few of the red panels and use the blue. “Oh self…not a bad idea at all…k, i’ll call him Optimus.” Well the problem with that was that he eh no transformer. when people see Bumblebee in action going from folded to not, he’s a transformer. Optimus doesn’t transform, he breaks down and apart…yes that bothered me (say what u will about me). A friend suggested “Optimus Pride”. Yuh see he’s a Pride scooter…that’s the brand. I thought it was perfect; staying in the “Transformers” theme without actually being a transformer. Quite clever if (by chance) u ask me 🙂

Saturday I was out on Bumblebee and someone said to me, “is that a license plate u have there?” I replied with a “hell yeah!”. I think it was Miami carnival 2013 that I had the idea to create a license plate for Soca Scooter – it was Stax3.25 (my car at the time was Stax3). There was no way that I’d know at that time that five years later, I’d be asking Asal to make Stax5.25 for me.

Optimus Pride – see the blue panel on the front wheel mud guard
Pride brand

Aye allyuh have a great week; I gone so.

Health, Hope & Hops

Allyuh ever buy a ticket to go somewhere just because? U know nothing about it and have zero expectations and as u buying the ticket, u say, “well self. how bad can it be? I mean, it have alcohol so…jes buy the ticket.” And then u go and u have the time of your life? That was me with Health, Hope & Hops last year. Lol. It’s an annual fundraiser held by the MSCA.  I’d seen the emails for it before but never went. I don’t remember what made me decide to buy a ticket last year…actually….now I think about it, every year since i put them together, Claire the organiser, avidly works with Aunty P at the Men Who Can Cook event so I decided to go to support Claire. Besides, that meant that i was doing my part to ensure that the MSCA stayed in business – I need it. i bought my ticket.  Soon after, G told me that she was going to be here that week so we organised for her too.

“HH&H” is held at a brewery in downtown Atlanta on a Thursday night. It starts with a complimentary cocktail hour between 6 and 7 followed by a 4 course dinner that’s “MS healthy and prepared personally for the evening”. Each course is paired with either beer or wine. G got there right around 6 (cuz she wasn’t working that far away) and took advantage of the cocktail hour. By the time I got there at 6:45ish I was able to get a margarita that was the worst I’d drunk in my life so the evening really started on shaky ground -I eh go lie. There were a few opening remarks and then everything really began. We didn’t know what to expect, so we figured that based on the menu choices, we’d divide and conquer so that between us, we’d get a taste of everything.  Well. What we didn’t know was that everybody got everything on the menu and we didn’t get beer OR wine, we got beer AND wine with each course if u so chose – we chose. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the waiters weren’t stingy with anything.  Thinking back, neither of us can really pinpoint any ONE thing that made the night so good.  I guess it was a combination of the food, the people, the cause and last but not least, the ever flowing alcohol. It was a “school” night but we didn’t care…we were having a great time. At the end, I knew that I was never going to miss it again.

This year, it was held on April 19th and I roped in SD, Frit, K and Dom and OB got lucky because he happened to be here. Once again, it didn’t disappoint and Frit even went as far as to to say that it was “the best night he’d had in a long time”. There was a waiter there who seemed familiar to me and I asked him if he was there last year. His reply was yes and he went on to say that he always signs up to work the event because he always has such a good time doing it. G couldn’t be there this year, so I tortured her with pictures throughout the night. Once again, none of us can really pinpoint exactly what it was that made the evening so great, but everyone had a fantastic time.

Both years it was on the 2nd to last Thursday in April, so I’m thinking it’s almost safe to say that that’s when it’s held every year.  If you’re ever in Atlanta around that time and looking for a good time for a good cause, be sure to check it out. Health, Hope & Hops held by the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Atlanta and hosted by the staff at the 5 Seasons Brewery. And guess what? for everything you get out of the night, it is dirt cheap and sooooo worth it.

2017
2018-1 latecomer

Health, Hope & Hops

Allyuh ever buy a ticket to go somewhere just because? U know nothing about it and have zero expectations and as u buying the ticket, u say, “well self. how bad can it be? I mean, it have alcohol so…jes buy the ticket.” And then u go and u have the time of your life? That was me with Health, Hope & Hops last year. Lol. It’s an annual fundraiser held by the MSCA.  I’d seen the emails for it before but never went. I don’t remember what made me decide to buy a ticket last year…actually….now I think about it, every year since i put them together, Claire the organiser, avidly works with Aunty P at the Men Who Can Cook event so I decided to go to support Claire. Besides, that meant that i was doing my part to ensure that the MSCA stayed in business – I need it. i bought my ticket.  Soon after, G told me that she was going to be here that week so we organised for her too.

“HH&H” is held at a brewery in downtown Atlanta on a Thursday night. It starts with a complimentary cocktail hour between 6 and 7 followed by a 4 course dinner that’s “MS healthy and prepared personally for the evening”. Each course is paired with either beer or wine. G got there right around 6 (cuz she wasn’t working that far away) and took advantage of the cocktail hour. By the time I got there at 6:45ish I was able to get a margarita that was the worst I’d drunk in my life so the evening really started on shaky ground -I eh go lie. There were a few opening remarks and then everything really began. We didn’t know what to expect, so we figured that based on the menu choices, we’d divide and conquer so that between us, we’d get a taste of everything.  Well. What we didn’t know was that everybody got everything on the menu and we didn’t get beer OR wine, we got beer AND wine with each course if u so chose – we chose. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the waiters weren’t stingy with anything.  Thinking back, neither of us can really pinpoint any ONE thing that made the night so good.  I guess it was a combination of the food, the people, the cause and last but not least, the ever flowing alcohol. It was a “school” night but we didn’t care…we were having a great time. At the end, I knew that I was never going to miss it again.

This year, it was held on April 19th and I roped in SD, Frit, K and Dom and OB got lucky because he happened to be here. Once again, it didn’t disappoint and Frit even went as far as to to say that it was “the best night he’d had in a long time”. There was a waiter there who seemed familiar to me and I asked him if he was there last year. His reply was yes and he went on to say that he always signs up to work the event because he always has such a good time doing it. G couldn’t be there this year, so I tortured her with pictures throughout the night. Once again, none of us can really pinpoint exactly what it was that made the evening so great, but everyone had a fantastic time.

Both years it was on the 2nd to last Thursday in April, so I’m thinking it’s almost safe to say that that’s when it’s held every year.  If you’re ever in Atlanta around that time and looking for a good time for a good cause, be sure to check it out. Health, Hope & Hops held by the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Atlanta and hosted by the staff at the 5 Seasons Brewery. And guess what? for everything you get out of the night, it is dirt cheap and sooooo worth it.

2017
2018-1 latecomer

My New Challenge

I’ve been M.I.A.  forgive me; I had a visitor.  Allyuh know how it is, when people come from out of state/out of the country. Was a short trip for Obs so was pace right thru. Things are back to normal now, so back to our regularly scheduled program.

a few weeks ago, I was having a conversation with a coworker and she told me that she really loves rock climbing.  Some time during the conversation, my disability came up and she said that the facility to which she and her son go has a “disabilities night” if u will. They shut down the facility to able bodied folk (I think) and the disabled can go climb as much as they want.

a little background for u: Sometime within the last 10 years or so a facility called Stone Summit opened in the area where I lived. Discovering that it was a rock climbing facility, I was intrigued but back then I wasn’t into working out one bit (Steups. Ballys gym got 3 years of membership fees from me and if I went 10 times, I went plenty). Anyhoo, as intrigued as I was about the rock climbing, I did nothing about it.  Fast forward to April 2018…

speaking to the chick piqued my interest once again and once she told me about their offer to the disabled, I decided to call Stone Summit (I still live close by). I called and found out that they do not shut down the place for the disabled but there is a group that goes in every Wednesday to climb and that group is specifically “dedicated to providing adaptive adventure opportunities to anyone with a physical disability.” The atlanta chapter offers climbing and cycling.  All I had to do was go to their website to find the information I needed. I emailed the contact and discovered that yes every Wednesday from 7-9, for a $10 fee, I ccould go climb. I just had to complete a few forms and give them the details of my disability. Of course, I was concerned about this bothersome left side of my body but the chick to whom I was speaking said that in some situations, they’d have someone climb with me to help.

What the hell did I have to lose? I knew that if I didn’t go, I’d be mad at myself…I went 2 weeks ago. Did I know what to expect? Nope. Was I nervous? Not at all.  I’ve discovered that I’ve become quite trusting in these kind of situations. Maybe it’s because I have to be? In certain situations, I need help – I cannot deny that. It’s better to get the help than not and who better to help me than someone who deals with the situation all the time. I got there, introductions were made, I was told how things go and I “gearsed up” – my harness and shoes (there are special rock climbing shoes). Since it was my first time I was given the option of climbing the less intimidating wall – I took it.

So right now I’m using the word “climb” very loosely. They actually put me in a pulley rope system they have designed – remember it’s adaptive climbing. So it was a combination of my physically climbing and their using the pulley to get me up (I cyah lie, it was mostly pulley). I only went that one time cuz remember Obs was here for a short time and we had things going on. I had a blast, I actually went up twice and am looking forward to going again. Going forward, I’d like to start climbing more and using the pulley less (that’s my goal). Additionally, there weren’t enuf volunteers that night for someone to climb with me, so hopefully the next time I go, someone will be there who can “be my left side” so to speak. They can place these limbs or at least help to get them where they need to be. I’m heading there tonight, so stay tuned!

Enjoy…

here i am being carried to the wall. had i walked this, we’d just now be getting there
being “pulleyed in”
starting my climb
almost there

 

Ole Talk Thursday

Well…I’m still sane. I know that it’s only been three months but I am okay with no meat on my plate. The other day I told G that I never thought I’d see the day when I’d actually enjoy eating a plate full of raw and/or cooked vegetables and be completely satisfied. I haven’t missed meat, been tempted to eat meat and I haven’t even slipped up and forgot that I gave it up. At least, not with meat…the other day I was eating pizza and it was going down so good and mid chew it occurred to me that “oh shit! I’d given up dairy too.” Oh well, wha yuh go do…well wouldn’t u know that my stomach hurt that entire night. I must say though that eating vegetarian is fine with the exception of “meat substitute” meals. Maybe it’s because I know what I’m missing?  I eh care how u slice it or dice it, the “meat substitute” eh cutting it at all and makes absolutely no sense to me. Anyhoo, have I benefitted in any way from this diet change? Haven’t a clue. I really can’t tell physically if anything has improved and I don’t even mean w.r.t. the MS, I’m just talking in general. A doctor once said to me, “you’re really healthy except for this damn disease huh” and it’s true. All my blood work, vitals, cholesterol, whatever else have always been normal. My energy during the day? Normal (for me) how do I sleep at night? Like a baby. So nothing’s changed but I’ll keep doing it. Never know what could happen long term.

Speaking of changes. In December I told you we discovered that my thyroid was affected by the Lemtrada and I now have hypo thyroid disease. The Endochrinologist prescribed a once a day pill and told me to come back in 6 weeks when she would retest. Between then and when I went to see her at the beginning of march, my thyroid was tested twice (as part of my routine monitoring) and those results were out of whack. When she ran the test in March, it came back normal. Yay! I go back to her in April when she’ll test again and then I guess she’ll decide what steps if any to take w.r.t. the medication/dosage. Interesting thing about all of this is that apparently under normal circumstances, if someone is diagnosed with thyroid disease and they are prescribed medication, they have to stay on it for life. With the Lemtrada induced disease, that is not always the case but of course, like everything MS related there is no consistency either. I may be able to come off or not…who knows, time will eventually tell. Story of my life!

Sigh! I’m going to have to give up (and replace) Soca Scooter. I’m out of hibernation now and unfortunately he is not working as he should. I tried to get him repaired but that failed. I can’t be making movements and he stop in the middle of the road with no warning (that actually happened on Saturday in Bumblebee and it is hard to make that look “planned”). If I could, I would get another exactly like him but the company stopped making that model so hopefully the upgraded version can handle everything I throw its way. Thank the Lord that winter is FINALLY on its way out so a gal has things to do and places to go.  I plan to make that purchase in the next couple weeks so stay tuned for that.

It occurred to me yesterday that I should call Shepherd Center right about now so that I can be placed on the waiting list to start PT this year.  Being placed now should mean that I can start around June or so…exciting  times ahead.

Alright, I gone so…allyuh do have a great Easter weekend!

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