So I am a Hypocrit!!

So I am a hypocrite. I babsat my neice the other day and my sister-in-law gave me a stack of books to look at if I wanted to borrow any of them, and there was "A Million Little Pieces" and I took it home. We'll see if and when I will read it. Seeing it there, I couldn't resist.

James Frey--I change my mind

I have to take back what I said about James Frey: I saw him on Oprah yesterday and he is a liar, and I do care about that--just as she does. I kept thinking though--of course he lies, he is a drug addict and alcoholic, that is what we do! (When we are in the throes of our addiction). On the other hand, the book should not be advertised as a memoir, and also the editors should have checked the facts ahead of time. I have heard that he isn't part of a 12-step group, and that explains some things to me--he is not "right-sized" and he is not honest with himself. He needs to make amends to everyone who has read his book. I was going to read it and now I am not. He has a new book out, and how do I know if that is a true story? Having said all that I want to say I have not lied here in my blog. I do not lie, period. I am too afraid for one thing--I have never been a good liar. You can spot me a mile away if I even tried. However, I was dishonest in my drinking days in that I hid myself at home nightly and drank. I didn't let people see who I was, and I pretended to be someone else on the outside. My dishonesty had to do with omitting informaiton about myself, denial.

Bone Spurs

I found out recently that I have numerous bone spurs in my neck. One is pressing on the nerve to my left arm, and others are pressing on my esophagus. I had one PT session that made me dizzy and nauseaus and I lost my voice. I saw a second doctor who said there is no doubt that I need surgery--more than one because I have so many bone spurs, front, back, and sides of my vertebrae. He told me to stop going to PT as it could make me worse, and do damage. I am seeing a surgeon on 2/9. I am anxious but trying not to get too freaked out by it, just taking a day at a time, not projecting what is going to happen to me. I don't like the idea of being isolated after surgery. The idea of not being able to do things for myself. God, I hope it isn't too long a process.

James Frey

To tell you the truth I don't care if some of James Frey's book "A Million Little Pieces" was fictionalized. Although, he should have told us. But, the thing is, the stories he has described probably happened to some alcoholic/addict somewhere along the way. I haven't even read the book, but someday I will. What I heard on NPR is that he used a story where he discussed being drunk and high and plowed into a policeman. He describes being beaten on the way to the station, and it never happened to him. Well, I'm sure there is someone out there who had that experience, after listening to people at meetings. For now I will withold further judgement until I read the book.

The New Walking????

I read an article in Newsweek last night titled "The New Walking" about people who are not disabled buying motorized scooters so they don't have to walk so much. These are AB's buying scooters for enjoyment! I resent that. I would love to be able to walk anywhere I want, for as long as I want, but I started to lose the ability to spend long amounts of time walking when I was in my 30's! I got my first scooter at age 32. They have greatly improved my life and I wouldn't know what to do without them, but I would give them up in a second to be able to walk on my own. AB's don't appreciate what they have. It mentions the aging population and the rise of obesity in this country. Some people are getting them because they are too heavy to walk. People need to get off theire butts!
Having my scooter has benefitted me socially too as people in public no longer avert their eyes at my approach--they make jokes, tease me about my driving or ask where I got it because their elderly disabled relative could use one. It is a conversation piece. But when people at work would remark on how they wanted one I would say: "Yeah they are fun, but the qualifications to get one suck!" I think I am going to write a letter to Newsweek on my opinions about this. This is my rant for today!!!

Happy New Year

HI Blogland and Happy New Year:
I had a good day today. I was out with a friend for good conversation and fun. We saw the Chronicles of Narnia and I loved it. The cinematography was wonderful! It was like looking through a window at live action, not watching a film. And the story was magical and wonderful too. Now I have to read the books, I haven't read any of them!
Cripland as usual has been very interesting, never a dull moment. I have to go for an MRI of my neck, more PT and to see another physiatrist, since the one I saw last week specializes in Sports Medicine and does not know alot about neurological disorders like CP. I regretted going to see that first physiatrist as it set off all these other appointments.
I have a funny dyslexic story (don't get me wrong, I was never diagnosed with it, but with age and fatigue I often read what is not there). Last week I read a story about a poor elderly man, tied up and beaten. I read that he was beaten with a phone card, which made no sense, and so I went back to see he was beaten with a phone CORD. I have shared with several people this incident, to many laughs. (But it is very sad for the man involved don't get me wrong on that).
Here's to a better 2006 for us all.