Old Years (new year’s eve)

so it’s interesting…almost everyday i am made aware of a phrase/saying that is something only a Trini will understand.  I never realized that no-one else says “ole years”; i knew that Americans don’t, but i thought it was a Caribbean thing…come to find out just this weekend gone that maybe it’s a Trini thing?

Anyhoo, so a friend of mine is having a big lime (get together/party/any social gathering) for old years.  He lives in Raleigh and “D” is coming down to ATL to drive up to NC.  All of us were in Atlanta at some point years ago (Spelman and Morehouse days) and even tho we don’t see each other very often; we are still in touch and this lime promises to be a shitload of good/happy times. Well I’ve known about it for some time and then decided that i will go south instead of north for the occasion.  Suffice it to say that “D” is not happy about the fact that I’m not going (most probably because now he will have to drive up by himself).  He was cursing me out about it last week and it occurred to me that subconciously i’d prefer to in a social setting only if at least 1 of my “inner circle” is around.  Maybe it’s because I know that if something were to go wrong, they would have my back.  Now don’t get me wrong,  “D” is part of the “inner circle” but as i mentioned before, he did allow me to fall TWICE in a party 🙂

It’s not that people who will be at the lime don’t know that i have MS (i think), it’s just that they don’t know what I’ve been experiencing all along and instead of having to explain myself, i just don’t want to put myself in what could turn out to be a difficult situation.  Maybe this is not the best way to handle and maybe I will “grow” out of it, but i guess until then, it is what it is.
on a side not, going south also means that i will be in warmer temperatures, let’s not forget that most important little tidbit!

Old Years (new year's eve)

so it’s interesting…almost everyday i am made aware of a phrase/saying that is something only a Trini will understand.  I never realized that no-one else says “ole years”; i knew that Americans don’t, but i thought it was a Caribbean thing…come to find out just this weekend gone that maybe it’s a Trini thing?

Anyhoo, so a friend of mine is having a big lime (get together/party/any social gathering) for old years.  He lives in Raleigh and “D” is coming down to ATL to drive up to NC.  All of us were in Atlanta at some point years ago (Spelman and Morehouse days) and even tho we don’t see each other very often; we are still in touch and this lime promises to be a shitload of good/happy times. Well I’ve known about it for some time and then decided that i will go south instead of north for the occasion.  Suffice it to say that “D” is not happy about the fact that I’m not going (most probably because now he will have to drive up by himself).  He was cursing me out about it last week and it occurred to me that subconciously i’d prefer to in a social setting only if at least 1 of my “inner circle” is around.  Maybe it’s because I know that if something were to go wrong, they would have my back.  Now don’t get me wrong,  “D” is part of the “inner circle” but as i mentioned before, he did allow me to fall TWICE in a party 🙂

It’s not that people who will be at the lime don’t know that i have MS (i think), it’s just that they don’t know what I’ve been experiencing all along and instead of having to explain myself, i just don’t want to put myself in what could turn out to be a difficult situation.  Maybe this is not the best way to handle and maybe I will “grow” out of it, but i guess until then, it is what it is.
on a side not, going south also means that i will be in warmer temperatures, let’s not forget that most important little tidbit!

Nothing bout the Disease

So…the christmas tree went up last nite.  I wouldn’t say that i wasn’t feelin Christmas”y” but there is something to be said for putting up the tree, untangling the lights and trying to sidestep the broken decorations while “Coochie, coochie, coochie la la”, Baron and Scrunter etc blasting in the background. 
Next on the list – sorrel, ponche a creme (there’s a 1st time for everything) and rum punch.  All we need are some gifts under the tree and Santa can come and buss ah lime.
This picture is part of the tree

Insurance

Okay…so my mother is an Executive Agent at Guardian Life BUT I really do think that insurance is 1 of the BIGGEST rip offs that any normal person has to deal with – and I’ve told her as such.  Now…don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that i have it but oye! the insurance companies don’t always make it easy for you. 

Anyhoo,  at the end of the 2007, i got a statement  of savings from the pharmacy i use; I call them every month to schedule a shipment of my “beloved” shots.  I won’t get into the cost of the MRI/Lumbar Puncture etc, but my medication cost upward of $16K (and that was 2 years ago).  My cost; roughly $300.  Actually, at the beginning of every year, i normally hold my breath around the delivery of the 1st shipment, because I fear that my monthly cost will increase.  Boy am I glad that i have the insurance!!!  What would my fate have been if i didn’t?  I know someone who doesn’t take any shots – i applaud her, but as much as i “look forward to taking them every day“,  I’m not brave enough to find out what would/could happen if i didn’t.

Heat + MS=Disaster

I’ll tell anyone up here without skipping a beat that “I’m an island girl”.  I practically grew up on the equator in Trinidad.  I knew nothing of cold weather and snow and jackets and gloves and…I can go on and on…I’ve been in Atlanta for 18 years (gasp!) and every year handling winter gets worse for me – for instance, this year i’m hibernating.  if i ever leave da A, i will be moving south – I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE HEAT!!  this cold weather truly is for the dogs!

My Home and Our Flag

Well…how “lucky” am I that heat exacerbates Multiple Sclerosis???  For an MS patient, alot of times summer is dreaded because, if displaying symptoms at that time, the heat will/could worsen the symptom.  The “good” thing about this is that once the body temperature cools down, the symptoms (writing this blog has taught me that i cannot spell that word on the first try) are generally rapidly reversed.  It is suggested that, among other things, we (patients):

  • Stay in air conditioned areas (i really don’t enjoy a/c – esp when i’m in the car and driving; “G” absolutely hates it because i dunno, but I’m beginning to think that she actually didn’t grow up in Trinidad afterall)
  • Use cooling products during any outdoor activity
  • Exercise in a cool pool
  • Drink “icy” drinks that may provide temporary relief

(as a side note, i must mention here that sometimes the flip side is true too – there are patients who are affected by the cold! – that’s MS for u)

I am yet to experience any exacerbation of any symptom during summer OR if i did, it wasn’t so marked that i noticed.  Oh well, as i mentioned before I’m hibernating this year AND I AM counting down the days to being able to drive with my car windows AND sunroof open!

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