Go, FA mice

This has been a crazy year. I turned 40, quit a job where I was loved, took a job that is good and is evolving into something more fun, and moved into a new house with my sister and her family.

My Friedreich's ataxia got worse, too.

I know I am not supposed to think I will get better, but how am I supposed to read things like this from the MDA and think it is just a matter of time before I am running.

Do I maintain hope that I might not need a chair forever? Or do I assume science and medicine will never get it?

And even if they did cure FA, would it help me? Or am I too old to benefit from any cure?

Here's to the future ... I guess.

It's not my Wii skills my nephew likes

In his own odd little way, my nephew is looking out for me.

Last night, he, his dad and I left a family party at Mom and Dad's early and came home. He and I were playing Wii while my brother-in-law was downstairs in the basement.

I was drinking tea and all of a sudden had to go to the bathroom rather urgently. I made it to the bathroom but just to the bathroom, not the toilet.

With no one in the house but my 7-year-old nephew and brother-in-law, I decided to change my clothes myself. I transferred to my shower chair, got undressed and wheeled to my clothes bins to get some clean clothes.

I am not sure how long he was there, but at that point I heard my nephew from my open doorway if I had taken a shower. I told him no, and he asked, well, why don't you have pants on? I told him I had a little accident and needed to change but was OK.

I then heard him giving my brother-in-law a quick recap and telling him I didn't need help.

At that point my sister came in and helped with the cleanup, so I still didn't do anything on my own.

I want to say my nephew came hunting for me because he needed my Wii skills, but I am the worst Wii player in history. He must like me.

Nicked up

It was inevitable, I know. Maybe I should be glad it finally happened. I put a big gouge in a visible door frame. I wanted to throw up.

It's not that I thought my brother-in-law would hit me. He actually spent the day putting up a flat screen TV in my room.

It's just I have tried so hard to be careful and I made it less than three months. Even less if you count the nicks in my door frame.

Bruce should be played in church

I went to Mass tonight, and while I love the carols, this is the song that got stuck in my head. Not that I heard it at church.

I am amazing, but Claren deserves the credit

Claren got two gold stars for yesterday.

First, I went into the restroom, and the door to the wheelchair stall was closed. I went closer, though, and noticed that it wasn't locked or anything, so I figured it was unoccupied. I opened it and waited for Claren to go in, like she always does. She didn't, and only then did I hear the voice saying, "I'll be out in a minute."

I almost walked in on a co-worker!

At lunch, I went for a walk and after Claren did her business, I bent over to get it.

I heard this voice but didn't see anyone. Then this woman appeared -- she must have been across the street when she saw me -- and asked me if I wanted her to pick up the poop. I said no but thanks. She replied, I guess you do this a lot.

When I admitted I do pick up after Claren regularly, she said, "You are amazing." So just SUCK IT, low esteem.

Anyway, she then told me how she is always so happy when people help her. I agreed, but told her I didn't want to make anyone else pick up poop. Again she said, "You are amazing."

Let me point out here that she was quite a cutie.

She also told me that people in her neighborhood did not pick up after their dogs, and they weren't in chairs.

I considered asking if she lives in my neighborhood because I see the the guy across the street walk his dog but have never seen him with a bag. But I didn't.

I remembered this scene from Spider-Man that includes the line "You are amazing." My encounter did not end as well.