Tuesday, February 21, 2006 | 0 Comments
Monday, February 20, 2006 | 0 Comments
evilsciencechick said...EXACTLY!
and what the hell was up with all the falling? stupid falling, too.
lots of icy chaffed butts on ice dancing tonight.
Sylvana said...ESC, I felt worst for that one girl who fell on her hip. Did you notice that the guy was always all apologetic and consoling afterwards whether he was at fault or not (mostly not) and the girl would be giving the "I'm with stupid" looks.
DrMax said...I only watch ice skating for the crashes.
sideshow bob said...USA! USA! USA!!
Sylvana said...DrMax, then you definitely should have been watching last night!!
SSB, well, we were the best ones.
Godknows said...Good question evilsciencechick . enjoyed your blog.
Sylvana said...Godknows, welcome to my blog! I'm trying to figure out why you seem familiar. I KNOW NOW! I have you rolled on my review blog! Keep up the great work! And I think that I will try those chicken wings, but what is "chicken powder"?
Saturday, February 18, 2006 | 0 Comments
sideshow bob said...I found a couple places for mini-golf that aren't too far out of the way...but I think it's a little too cold for mayhem. Unless we can do it from inside the car.
Sylvana said..."...too cold for mayhem."? Now that's Fucking Cold!!
DrMax said...-10 F huh? I'd advise against streaking.
SierraBella said...Hope you both had a wonderful night! Actually, snuggling sounds like a perfect way to celebrate.
Gerbera Daisy said...HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!! I hope you and your hubby had a great time. :-)
Sylvana said...DrMax, we haven't streaked in years.
Sierrabella, snuggling was the best part of the night.
Gerbera Daisy, thanks. It was interesting and fun.
Shannon said...At first, I thought you said "Smuggling was the best part of the night."
I vote for delayed "mayhem." Now you have an excuse anytime it's warm to make up for lost time.
Happy Anniversary.
Sylvana said...Shannon, we did participate in some pseudo-mayhem. We drove up to a refinery at around midnight. I took pictures while SSB kept a look-out for the feds.
Thursday, February 16, 2006 | 0 Comments
"AG" said...Oh this is a raw topic for me. I will keep it brief.
I am undiagnosed ADD. Had all of the symptoms as a kid. THANK GOD THEY DIDN'T PUT KIDS ON RITALIN back then. I learned to manage it and am fine. ADD and ADHD is an approach to life that can be managed. When I worked as a counselor I had clients that wanted me to refer them to a psychologist because they WANTED to have an ADD/ADHD diagnosis to "explain" things, and then they could blame it for what they do. But there is no blood test or brain scan to find it because it's a pattern of behaviors and thoughts. The point is to manage it so it doesn't manage you. (And you clearly do that!) I just can't get into seeing it as a disability. I think my "ADD" has made me a creative and industrious person. I hone it. And that's what it's all about- your level of functioning.
Sorry, I'll stop here. :)
Yay for short attention spans!
"AG" said...One other thing- I want to read this book: Delivered from Distraction : Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder
OldRoses said...I've learned to do stuff when no one is looking. I can't seem to convince anyone that as long as (task) gets done correctly, it doesn't matter HOW I did it.
Flubberwinkle said...I've never been tested for ADD. I did, however, see some similiarites in my behaviour from reading your post. Lately, I've acquired an old school habit of jotting things down on the palm of my hand with a pen. Thankfully I don't have sweaty hands and I keep reminding myself errands, passwords and other stuff throughout the day. My family thinks of this as "my little oddity", but seriously, you've got me thinking.
Shamus O'Drunkahan said...I know this is a real medical condition, but it seems that ADD is often used as a "catch-all" excuse. If a kid acts up at school, it's ADD, if you have trouble focussing on something, you may have ADD.
Wait, what was I saying?
Seriously, it's kind of like when you read a book on psychosis and find yourself thinking, "I do that!"
Nobody is normal, is what I'm saying. We're all various degrees of effed up.
sands of time said...To be able to overcome difficulties on your own and learn your own coping skills shows just what a capable woman you are.
Shannon said...BRAVO! And I want to second what AG said. I HATE Ritalin...hate hate hate. I've always thought that a behavior needs to be managed and not medicated, that's exactly what you've done. HOw would you have ever gained these excellent coping skills had you been medicated?
I kind of want to high five you now, but I think it's just my morning caffeine rush kicking in.
Derek Knight said...I totally forgot what I was going to say here.
What was the post about today?
DrMax said...Syl I'm surprised at you.....not taking drugs for ADD/ADHD?! If everybody had that kind of attitude, how the heck would our poor pharmaceutical companies make any money?
Otto Man said...Do what now?
Sylvana said...AG, there are recent studies done by NIMH that show that there are actual physical differences in the brain between people with ADD and "normal" people.
For me it is a disability since it FREQUENTLY makes things far more difficult for me. And it is hard for people to understand since I look normal and otherwise act normal. They assume that I am being lazy or that I am stupid. Hence the title for my post. Some even act like I do it just to piss them off. That's my favorite reaction!
I know people that take the medications and it has made a WORLD of difference for them. I have at times considered trying it, but I hate dealing with the required visits to the psychiatrist. Even though I am going to be a psychologist eventually (researcher, not therapist), I really have a problem with most psychiatrists and therapists that I have met.
I would like to just for a little bit know what it feels like to think "normally". I wonder if it would feel like a weight being lifted, or maybe it would feel like something was missing. But in any case, I would just like to know.
That book sounds like it would be really useful. I think I will check that out. THANKS!
OldRoses, I do that too!! Then I don't have people second guessing me all while I'm doing something. And FORGET trying to explain my process!!
Flubberwinkle, the symptoms of ADD/ADHD run parallel to other things. For instance, when I was researching my son's symptoms to try to figure out how best to deal with him, I learned that the list of symptoms for giftedness are almost identical to the list of symptoms for ADD/ADHD!!
I have also learned that the symptoms of ADD/ADHD are very similar to the mental afflictions that people with fibermyalgia suffer.
Shamus, I agree that it has become a "catch-all". Child misbehaving? ADHD!! Having trouble staying on task? ADHD!! It certainly couldn't just be bratiness or boredom.
It is that eagerness to label everyone that shows the slightest similarity to the symptoms that really screws over the people that actually have it!
Pink Lady, well said. Thank you for that!
Shannon, I think the best way to handle ADD/ADHD is through behavior modification; but some people really need the medication, too. I do think that doctors and schools are way too pushy with the meds though. I'm sure you read my previous post about our battle with the school!
BTW-- I used to medicate my condition with high doses of caffeine. It actually worked pretty well. But all that caffeine was not good for me. I had to quit. So now I'm back to my muddled old self.
Derek, heehee!
DrMax, as much as I seeth about drug companies, they do bring some useful items to the public - even if they do charge a first born and a third toe for it!
Otto Man, exactly!!
"AG" said...Sylvana- I always consdier the source of a study and who has funded it (and therefore a vested interest in a certain outcome). Here's another perspective: Letters Editor, JAMA
"AG" said...Sy- I wanted to add that I don't dispute that you and I think differently- we do!! Is it challenging? Hell yeah! Where I disagree with some is the treatment method. I'm a cognitive behavioralist to the core, so it's only my perspective I'm offering. As far as my comment about not labeling it a disability, I personally find it not helpful. I prefer more empowering terms which helps frame the situation in a more positive manner. Again, that's just my approach. I respect yours.
"AG" said...And finally (see, I always hit "submit" before I finish a thought!), when I said you and I think differently and that is challenging, I meant the ADD way of things.
Sylvana said...AG, it is nice to hear how other people are dealing with ADD/ADHD. That's what I really like about Doug's blog.
And true, true, you do have to research the motivation behind a study, or even the opinion of the study. I do have several other non-NIHM studies that also show that there is a significant difference in the brains of ADHD vs non-ADHD children -- specifically a smaller right superior prefrontal lobe, smaller corpus callosum, greater right caudate, along with various other brain region differences. At least one of these studies included in their treatment group children who had never used ADHD treament drugs along with children who had. (if you want the titles of these I can get them for you. I got them from a subscribed article service, so I can't link)
I do not believe that ADD/ADHD is a brain defect. I believe that it is an evolutionary path. ADD/ADHD people were meant to excel in certain situations, so I guess we do agree in that way that it isn't a disability in and of itself. But when an ADD/ADHD person is force to live in an environment that isn't conducive to their genetics, it does become a disability of sorts. (Sort of like 7' tall people trying live in a 5'7" world. Their height can at once be both a gift and a hinderance). So I do think that if at all possible the environment of an ADHD person should be adjusted to better suit them and what they have to offer; but, I do think that if that really isn't possible or isn't making a difference alone and medications can help the person, then meds should be allowed. Not forced, just allowed.
I have several cousins that have ADHD with ODD and without the medications they certainly would be in prison right now. I think being able to function in society is worth the risks of the meds and far better than that alternative. You may be right that with the right behavioral modification they could do the same without meds, but that option hasn't shown itself to them at this time, so meds are their best option until then.
Sylvana said...Oh, and I'm totally for looking at lemons and thinking YUMMY LEMONADE!! That is the best way to approach life! ;)
Lindsay Lobe said...Hi Sylvana
Maybe it could be biochemical or structural. It was thought Winton Churchill suffered from ADHD.
I think it’s very refreshing you’re able to speak so frankly about it, as do your commentators, who I equally commend.
What it points to I think is an inner world which is different and not impoverished but also endowed with are a gift of creativity.
A neurological condition that both robs but also endows.
Elkhonan Golberg PhD Clinical Professor of Neurology at NY School of Medicine and Director of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Performance said:
On a more ordinary plane, I have often felt that the more gifted people in my personal surroundings paid a price for their talent in other areas of their mental life, and that the balance between gift and deficit is ruled by some unforgiving zero –sum equation.
From His Book “The Executive Brain”
I thought that quote sums it up.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Best wishes
Wednesday, February 15, 2006 | 0 Comments
Heather said...I don't know who any of the political people are in my town except the mayor and that's only because my boyfriend's son has his autograph on a shirt that's hanging in the bathroom!!
Sylvana said...I love that he's got the autographed shirt, AND he has it in the bathroom.
Our mayor was a trouble making barfly. He had to go to court a couple of times for his drunken antics (one involving an alley fight with a baseball bat - he had the bat) and I think once for an incident when he wasn't drunk (that we know of) that involved a downtown shop owner and a snow shovel (or something like that).
He wasn't a very good mayor.
Otto Man said...Does Tommy T. still have that bad dye job? It looks like he dipped his head in wood varnish.
Sylvana said...Otto Man, I haven't seen him lately, but I agree that he had a bad case of helmet-hair.
Sylvana said...OMG! Tim Michels IS the dickhead that ran against Russ in the last election!!!! Sleazy, lying, little SOB!!
Wednesday, February 15, 2006 | 0 Comments
DrMax said...Happy V.D. to you too Syl! Oh, wait, dang, I mean VALENTINE'S DAY....sometimes you have to watch your acronyms.
Lindsay Lobe said...Sylvana and SSB met one fine college day
Only eyes for one another as love had its say
They sang in the sunshine and laughed every day
Marry those sweethearts! tie the knot straight way !
The birth of that marriage was the birth of a son
For 13 years later he’s as smart as his Mom
The heart of that marriage was a new gardener’s start
For blossoms of roses for your valentine’s warm heart
Sylvana said...DrMax, if you are not careful, V-day can lead to VD.
Lindsay Lobe, that was beautiful! Thanks!
sideshow bob said..."if you are not careful, V-day can lead to VD."
You keep me in stitches, baby!
Sylvana said...SSB, you flatter me.
Don't forget to pick me up at 1:15.
And they DO call him "Ligety Split"!!
Well??? Did you feel funny after eating the bhajis??
February 23, 2006 7:05 AM
LOL!
February 23, 2006 8:40 AM
AG, yeah, but I'm pretty sure that it was just gas. Cauliflower does that to me.
Shannon, :D
February 23, 2006 8:59 AM
Thats funny
February 23, 2006 1:25 PM
Pink Lady, It's not like we are potheads, but I'm pretty sure that some of our neighbors would be quick to think it!
February 23, 2006 4:32 PM
So what happened with the coat? Did your son trade it for the, uh, "mint"?
"Hey! I need closure on that anecdote!"
February 28, 2006 11:23 AM
Otto Man, I swear everyone must think he's being raised by crackheads the way he runs around with out the proper clothing and he wears the same thing 5+ days in a row!
February 28, 2006 4:52 PM