Vanspinner's Blog

Time Flies . . .

vanspinner — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:14:50 +0000

It has been some time since my last post, and the main reason is that I often fall into the trap of not blogging until a world shaking event happens. Whether or not anyone other than myself reads my posts, the real benefit is the chronicling of events from my perspective, and not creating a Pulitzer Prize winning book about my life. However, if the Pulitzer Price committee does choose to give me the prize, I will accept it.

I find the stimulation of computer games, e.g. Civilization IV (the new Civ-5 is about to be on the shelves). Repetition helps as I have played this game for the last 18 years or so, through four revisions – the fifth looks interesting, and I will probably buy it when it comes out in the next few months. I am torn as the new game may pose some issues for my memory, but, as I have played it through four versions, and play it regularly, I think I can get the rhythm of the new one. Then again, why risk the boat as I am very familiar with version four . . .

I play several memory games, Bookworm for example, and this does seem to keep my memory functioning better . . . however, I do see a slow and subtle deterioration, but it is not very fast, and, so far, I can usually compensate.

My wife and family are a major factor in my slower than most memory deterioration, e.g. stable environment, quite home (we moved into a senior community and it is in a wooded area with a pond, etc. The main adjective for our home here (3 years or so) id peaceful.

Anyway, I will try to blog more often . . .

Facebook is Treasure Trove of Mental Stimulation

vanspinner — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:46:09 +0000

As I have stated earlier, Alzheimer’s is a pain in terms of an increasingly erratic memory – however, the many games in Facebook, e,g, Farmville, Farmtown, Cafe, etc provide a gaming experience which helps strengthen memory, but in a format which is not so elaborate that memory loss can make playing impossible. Facebook is not only a gaming site, it is also a medical modality for strengthening memory both in general and for those with Alzheimer’s . . . I know as I have Alzheimer’s and it DOES help medically and is just a fun game.

Snow Is No Longer Fun

vanspinner — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:35:49 +0000

I remember when I was a kid (in the dim past when dinosaurs roamed the land) and loved as much snow as possible to fuel snow forts, snow ball fights, sledding, etc. Now, I interact with snow to shovel the driveway – actually, not too bad as our neighborhood provides free snow plowing for our driveways (to the edge of our house) which leaves very little to deal with (just the snow which ends up under our awning where the car is housed). So all in all, I get a little shoveling and, I admit, it is nostalgic to the days when I was younger and could shovel prodigious amounts of snow and not seize up after the shoveling is done. Oh well, our cat is amused as he likes to look out the window at me in the cold shoveling snow. It also helps that my wife, Jeanne, and I are retired, so we do not have to drive if conditions are too snowy. I toyed with the idea of making a snow man, but, I think I would rather be inside drinking hot coffee and relaxing in out warn, snug home.

Small Things are a Great Joy for Me

vanspinner — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:10:02 +0000

This may seem silly, but our recent purchase of an indoor/outdoor thermometer is a really fascinating for me . . . without going outside, we can now see the current temp in and outside. I suppose this proves that I am amused by small things . . . so what, it is similar to our putting outdoor Christmas lights on a timer so I no longer have to go outside each evening to ignite the lights. The lights are beautiful particularly reflecting on the snow we have accumulated. I am now contemplating the automation of all activities so we can just get up and watch TV, spin, weave, play computer games, etc – - - come to think of it, we are already doing this. Oh well, saves me the effort to change anything, I suppose. Retirement is bliss and I am so very joyful that I get to spend all of my time with my wife, Jeanne. I wish everyone could be as happy . . .

An Extended Absence (Alzheimer’s)

vanspinner — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:41:17 +0000

Well, I seem to have seriously neglected posting on my blog . . . I will now make an effort to make regular posts. I am not sure if this is an off-shoot of Alzheimer’s, but I do seem to be somewhat detached from things around me, so I am not motivated to do things, even those that I have always enjoyed in the past. Actually, there are some things that I do keep up with on a regular basis – number one is doing rosaries and I do from 3 to 7 a day (the Rosary always calms me down and helps focus my mind) in addition I have no problem doing them by memory, and a rosary does have a somewhat lengthy amount of things to recite – God has, indeed, given me a therapeutic activity. I can also play computer games which require remembering things – examples are Bookworm, (finding words in a grid), and Civilization (Sid Meier’s game) I have played since 1992 (now on the 4th edition and with all current service packs added), so, as complex as the game can be, it is , at least now, still hard wired in my brain and I can still play it well and enjoy it. Anyway, the point I am addressing in this is that mental activity does retard the progress of Alzheimer’s, but. at this time, the progression does go on (but slower with mental stimulation). As a result, I can do things I have done in the past, but I do see a deterioration of my ability to do them as well as in the past – on one hand this frustrates me, and on the other, I am grateful that I can still do it.

My wife is a great asset to me – without her, I am sure I would not be able to function as well as I am at this point. I know I am getting more reactive to frustration, and she has to deal with that some, but she does it discretely. Our family (kids, grand, kids, great grand-kids) are all supportive – I am blessed, even though I can get frustrated when my memory craps out (kind of like walking on Swiss cheese where I can be just fine and then suddenly fall into a black hole without warning where my memory is a blank). These episodes do not last too long, and my memory does re-assert itself but it will happen again, and more often with the “black hole” time getting subtly longer.

I will now sign off, and I will try to make more entries more often . . .

Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease

vanspinner — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:36:56 +0000

In my experience personally, the things I see in the Alzheimer’s group, and noting how the other people who are in the same boat I am are coping, there is no hard and fast common route for all people with Alzheimer’s. It seems to impact people in different ways, e.g. speech, anger management, frustration, withdrawal, etc. In time, more and more aspects seem to attach themselves to the person with Alzheimer’s – but looking at the progression of my mother compared to me, the decline is much slower for me. My mother manifested symptoms in the 70′s and there were precious little avenues of treatment. My father retired early, and devoted himself to caring for her. Basically, he had the double whammy of dealing with her being engulfed by the alzheimer’s cloud, and having no definitive help in the form of medications (I have Razadyne and Namenda with more coming in the pipeline). Not only this, but there was no help from groups managed by specialists in the disease and let me tell you, the Rush Group is a HUGE blessing for me and is a real help to keep me focused, and hopeful for the future. For my mother, my father’s total devotion to her counted a lot to make her feel safe – but it placed a burden on him. Again, Rush recognized this early, and my wife has a separate group that meets concurrently with mine in a different room(composed of those with Alzheimer’s) to discuss how the caregivers can cope and deal with the impact of this disease.

Alzheimer’s Is a Pain Sometimes

vanspinner — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:01:34 +0000

I have been diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s for several years now, and I want to publicaly thank my wife Jeanne, and our kids (step-children to me) for their support. I do not express my feelings often, and this was the case before the Alzheimer’s, but I feel the need to make a definitive statement to my wife, children, and grandchildren. They are all a major factor in my ability to have a “normal” life – their support and positive reactions have been a blessing . . . and I know there are times when I am frustrated, and I hope I do not react negatively when this happens, but I suppose this does happen from time to time. I treasure my early retirement, as my wife and I were able to retire about the same time, so, there can be a positive thing in what is certainly a negative event (Alzheimer’s). I do forget things from time to time, usually short term things at this point. However, I do remember the rosary, so I can recite them from memory without a problem – a gift from God. I thank my family, and I hope my frustration with the Alzheimer’s is not confused with anger or frustration with any person around me. ALL of my family is a salve to soften the impact of this disease, and with accelerating research to curb this disease, I am hopeful that the symptoms can be halted and, better yet, rolled back. Again, I thank you all: Jeanne, Gina, Suzanne, Michael, Jennifer, Liz, and the grandkids (not to mention the two great-grandchildren!).

I wish my employer was so empathetic . . . I was a computer systems analyst in a major Chicago area hospital (in Lake Forest), and, when the symptoms impacted me, I went to the Rush Alzheimer’s Center in Chicago and they were a huge blessing. In the first of two required tests, they stated that I did show definite Alzheimer’s symptoms but they could only make a provisional diagnosis, and the definite diagnosis could not be made until a second testing in six months from the first test. Shortly after the first test, my employer fired me stating that my memory issues were a performance issue and not a disease as a final diagnosis was not given as the second test had yet to be taken. I lost all benefits and was escorted out of the hospital by security. I suppose they consider Alzheimer’s to be a crime.

Therapy in a Busy Word – It Can Also Generate a Modest Income

vanspinner — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:47:28 +0000

I have been spinning (on a spinning wheel) for years now, and it is an incredibly soothing activity. Not only that, it can generate money by selling hand spun yarn. In any event, the yarn is basically a truly unique product as hand spun yarn is specific to the individual who spins it in terms of how thick or thin, color, number of plys, etc. I was surprised, when I started some years ago, to find that there are many people who are carrying on this old trade – if you have stress in your life, spin, as it does produce a calming state. The process is easy after a short period of adjustment to the process (not a problem, trust me), and you can do it while watching TV. You may not get rich, but there is a market for hand spun yarn. Spinning wheels can be relatively inexpensive, or very costly – so there is a wheel for everyone! As they said in an old commercial on TV – “Try it . . . you’ll like it!”.

Driving in Atlanta Late at Night

vanspinner — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:35:44 +0000

I know that most people have silly stories to tell about dumb things that they may have done, but I think I may have the dumbest, or, at least, one of the dumbest in history. In 1973, I was a student at Georgia Tech and was also a member of the Sports Car Club of America, and, as such, I was qualified to tech inspect cars at the Road Atlanta Race Track, both prior to the races, and when a car is possibly mechanically unsafe due to a brief collision, or mechanical issue. Anyway, this spring night, I was returning from a meeting which was basically a party to celebrate the completion of that year’s SCCA races. When I hit Atlanta, the beer really kicked in, and I was driving through the dark and quiet business district at about 80 miles an hour, with two of my friends, when I noted a motorcycle behind me with many red lights and a rather irritating siren. At least I had the good sense to stop to see what object was behind me – being totally drunk, I wasn’t sure why this vehicle has irritating me. Anyway, when I saw a rather large policeman get off of the motorcyle, I actually started to sober up. No kidding, he was every caricature of a large and somewhat overweight southern sheriff, with a thick drawl who said to me “BOY, get out of that vehicickal”. He asked for my licence and here is where my preparation for an event like this kicked in. You see, I had my Georgia Tech student ID right next to the driver’s license – the reason I did this was that every major college in the United States was erupting in anti-war (Viet Nam) demonstration EXCEPT Georgia Tech (a college of nerds, I guess). The cop was now in a quandry – nail me (I deserved it) and possibly ignite the students to join the demonstrations everywhere else in the U.S. – or let me go. He stared at me a few minutes, then he threw my wallet into my car and said “Boy, git back on campus!”. I did so, and, whether that cop knew it or not, I did tone down some after this as I did realize how lucky I had been, both in no ticket, and not having a terrible traffic accident.

A President of the U.S. for ONE Day

vanspinner — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:29:34 +0000

Zachary Taylor was elected President and the swearing in ceremony was set for SUNDAY, March 4th, 1849 . . . However, Ol’ Zachary was very religious and refused to be sworn in on a Sunday, as this is a day to be devoted to God . . . as a result, the President pro-tem of the Senate, David Rice Atchinson was sworn in as President to serve ONE day (Sunday) to allow incoming President Zachary Taylor to be sworn on on Monday, as the outgoing president was no longer the President at Midnight Saturday. “President” Atchinson summed up his term as President as having been spent asleep.