Stoke Awareness

Stoke is far more common than most people realize, and it's important to be able to recognize the signs - the faster help is administered, the more of the victim's brain is saved. When someone exhibits signs of stroke, call 911 and make a note of the time that you noticed the symptoms starting. Every minute counts, both for how much damage is prevented and for determining what immediate treatment options are best.

Hyper-reality

Last Monday afternoon my partner Wes suffered an ischemic stroke midway up the Middle Cerebral Artery in the right hemisphere of his brain.

Turbulence is life force. It is opportunity. Let's love turbulence and use it for change.

Okay Lord, i'm trying here....

Right-Hemisphere Stroke

The right hemisphere of the brain controls the movement of the left side of the body. It also controls analytical and perceptual tasks, such as judging distance, size, speed, or position and seeing how parts are connected to wholes.

A stroke in the right hemisphere often causes paralysis in the left side of the body. This is known as left hemiplegia. Survivors of right-hemisphere strokes may also have problems with their spatial and perceptual abilities. This may cause them to misjudge distances (leading to a fall) or be unable to guide their hands to pick up an object, button a shirt or tie their shoes. They may even be unable to tell right-side up from upside-down when trying to read.

Along with their impaired ability to judge spatial relationships, survivors of right-hemisphere strokes often have judgment difficulties that show up in their behavioral styles. These patients often develop an impulsive style unaware of their impairments and certain of their ability to perform the same tasks as before the stroke. This behavioral style can be extremely dangerous. It may lead the left hemiplegic stroke survivor to try to walk without aid. Or it may lead the survivor with spatial and perceptual impairments to try to drive a car.

Survivors of right-hemisphere strokes may also experience left-sided neglect. Stemming from visual field impairments, left-sided neglect causes the survivor of a right-hemisphere stroke to "forget" or "ignore" objects or people on their left side.

Finally, some survivors of right-hemisphere strokes will experience problems with short-term memory. Although they may be able to recount a visit to the seashore that took place 30 years ago, they may be unable to remember what they ate for breakfast that morning.

Senility is Contagious

You know, i'm never far away from being half mad, but there are moments when i think Wes' mom's dementia is going to drive me all the way. i think i'll get a t-shirt that reads:

1. Your purse is in your bedroom.
2. Yes, that's your bedroom.
3. You live here with Wes, Brian and me.
4. Wes is in the hospital.
5. You've lived here for the past year.

...five minutes later...

1. Your purse is in your bedroom.
2. Yes, that's your bedroom.
3. You live here with Wes, Brian and me.
4. Wes is in the hospital.
5. You've lived here for the past year.

Lather, rinse repeat.
Ad nauseam.

Racism is Ugly

For no particular reason

a picture of Enrique:

Mad Hare Speaks

Velocipedic Ventures

Earlier this year i cautiously committed to increasing my physical fitness. Cautiously, because over the past twenty+ years such efforts have veered all over the place (along with my weight) and included many annoying injuries. With no interest in repeating that pattern again, i began to explore ways to make changes that would foster overall long-term differences in the way i live my life. So how best to move toward increasing my fitness?