Piano Pals

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Minecraft Parody


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Charlie Brown

April Is... Parkinson's Awareness Month

As part of Parkinson's Awareness Month, I am participating by utilizing the Parkinson's Disease Foundation's Toolkit of ideas to raise awareness!  Here is my letter to the editor printed in our community papers:

To the Editor:

This April, I urge our neighbors to take part in Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Nearly one million Americans live with Parkinson’s and many of them, including my husband are living right here in Berkeley Springs, WV.

There is currently no cure.  Parkinson's disease (PD) is "a chronic and progressive movement disorder, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time.  Parkinson's involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons.  Parkinson's primarily affects neurons in the area of the brain called the substantia nigra.  Some of these dying neurons produce dopamine, a chemical that sends messages to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination, as well as cognitive functions.  As PD progresses, the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases, leaving a person unable to control movement normally.  Primary motor signs of Parkinson's disease include tremor, brandykinesia (slowness), rigidity, stiffness, postural instability."

Imagine being just 49 years old with a large family when a neurologist explains that the reason your movement is restricted, muscles experience terrible pain, walking appears intoxicated, sleep is elusive  and you occasionally "freeze" while doing simple tasks is because you have a degenerative disease called Parkinson's.  Our youngest children were only 3 and 4 years old. 

But that didn't stop our family!  Through PD awareness and support of a strong and loving church and family, we are conquering this illness through the power of prayer, positive attitude and exercise.  With constant activity and connection with caring experts in movement disorders, we have come to manage what was a devastating diagnosis.  Although the journey can sometimes be "shaky", it has been also been joyous; learning to live daily by counting God's blessings, realizing that each day is a new opportunity to be healthy.

I invite you to show your support for others living daily with chronic illness to "Wear Grey for Parkinson's Awareness!" on April 13th.  

For more information, please contact the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.  Follow our story at www.excusemecanitellyousomething.blogspot.com where you can submit your photo and global pictures will be posted.  Show your support and awareness, “wear grey” on Saturday, April 13^th! 

Sincerely,

Angie Hott

Berkeley Springs, WV

304-258-7625; ahottfamily@gmail.com           

April 13th Is Wear Grey for PD Awareness!

Grey!   Gray!  or   GREEEEEEEEEEAY!!!!    Yay!  On April 13th, I will be joining others in the Parkinson's community and wearing, yes... my FAVorite color:  GREY!  As part of Parkinson's Awareness Month this April, Saturday the 13th, has been designated as "Wear Grey for PD Day!"  So, from head to toe, join me and others across the globe in an effort to raise awareness for families living with Parkinson's Disease.

You know what?  Each and every time I post using that color which mixes a combination of black and white, I find myself googling the correct spelling.  Gheeszh.  Of all colors, I much prefer something vibrant, bright, maybe even fluorescent.  But, for some reason the Parkinson's Disease folks have selected grey as it's banner color where you can see it included in the recognizable grey ribbon.  Wonder why it couldn't be green to match my Irish eyes? :-)  (I'm just teasing!)

So.  Grey it is.  Having just emerged from the shower with my dripping grey hair (at just 47 years old, need I remind you), it suddenly occurred to me that, well, grey really isn't so bad after all.  Being nearly all white for the past few years, I recently discussed with Kim over at the local hair salon, attempting to cover up these locks of mine.  Perhaps this is largely due to my second grader, Levi, announcing on his 8th birthday that he doesn't remember me in any other shade OR his recent question:  "Mom!  Why are all the other moms in my class like 25?"

R.e.a.l.l.y!?  Well, because they are!  But, like Michelle O'bama recently said about her new bangs, "It's just hair!"  And for goodness sakes, the more "grey" the better if it brings awareness to Parkinson's Disease.

So, be looking for my letter to the editors in the local papers asking the community to raise awareness for Parkinson's Disease.   It's like this:  if more people hear about this stinkin' chronic illness, maybe someone out there will figure out how to fix it.  Right?  Until then, well, "Excuse me, can I tell you something?" guess it's just me and my grey hair wearin' grey everyday and April 13th for PD Awareness Day!  You?

My Blog With a Cause

Just when I think I am losing my patience, The Parkinson's Coach shows up on facebook.  So.  Really?  Not to excuse bad behavior, ever; but reading the story "Parkinson's Apathy: Don't Care or Can't Care" helps make things make sense.  I just thought maybe it would help another PD partner out there too.

If not, maybe check out these folks:

The National Caregiver Support Line is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The National Caregiver Support Line Toll-Free number is 1-855-260-3274.

Visit the VA's Caregiver support site atwww.caregiver.va.gov.

I'm All Shook Up

Who sings that song?... Do you know it?  Can't you hear the melody; something like "whoa... I'm all shook up!"  Found this graphic on a page called "Christians on Facebook" today.  Now, as my entire house is asleep, I just can't seem to get Elvis out of my head.

No.way!  Elvis' "All Shook Up" is a musical based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night!  Add that to the list of things I did not know!  (It's a long list.)  While browsing around some old Elvis Presley videos on youtube, I came across "Burning Love" also.  There's a fun song to watch Elvis dancing and moving across the stage!

Hummmmm.  And I began to smile as I remember the Hott House weekly Friday Night Dance Celebration.  "BB" (which stands for "before boys" OR those years ages ago before our boys, Isaac 9 and Levi now 8 were born), anyway... "BB," there was a time when every.Friday.night, we (then it was just Dan, Caity, Violet, and well, me) well, we would crank up some music in the living room all just dance ourselves silly.

Way back then, Friday meant the end of a stressful workweek for Dan as an environmental engineer for Chevron.  We all looked forward to that Friday night home when we all got a little goofy.  Fortunately, our neighbors were acres away.  I must admit, as Caity became a teenager, she seemed a little less enthusiastic with our boot-scootin-boogie.  That might be mostly because Dan's favorite song to blast was "Hott Mama" by Trace Adkins!  Do you remember that?  "You're one hot mama!  You wanna?"  :-)  I guess 14 year-olds don't like it when their mom's license plate says "Hott Mama".  Wonder why.

Since then, our house has doubled in occupancy.  And you know what?  We don't have those dance parties anymore.  Sure, we have our own sunset celebrations; but since PD moved in, well... I guess it's just a little more low key around here.  Yeah right!  Now, it's all about ninja training boys, bow and arrows, and the middle school track team.

You want to know what "shakes me up"?  With all that something like living with Parkinson's Disease has changed, Dan might be more of a silent observer in all our commotion  but "he will not be shaken" by it all.  No.  He is always somewhere in the middle of it all or listening from his laptop and watching his crew tear the house apart while Isaac plays ragtime.

Do I miss the dancing?  Sure.  The boys will never see their daddy's sweet moves like the girls did; but hey, you know what they do see?

Their daddy.  Every day.  And... he will not be shaken.

He's my hunka-hunka-burning-love!

"He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken."  Psalm 62:6

YOU Can Help a Vet with PD!

Today is the last day to Help a Vet with PD!  Just click that to submit your comment on the Federal Registry.  It's easy!

For the comment section, just say something like "I think the US Department of Veteran's Affairs should include Parkinson's Disease as illnesses related to service connected TBI (traumatic brain injuries).

Thanks!

Veterans with Parkinson's Ruling on TBI Need YOUR Comment

Only two days left... did YOU comment yet? Click here to help vets with PD!

Thanks!

Cowabunga Birthday Cake!

Really?  Is the youngest Hott really turning eight?  Well, he is.  And here is what Levi wanted to do to celebrate this 8th birthday.  With two older sisters coming before him, I must admit that I was a bit unfamiliar with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Until now!

Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, and Donatello arrived to mutate into a team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles in our home for the celebration and play in the art of ninjutsu!  Following a transformation with "mutagen" turtle egg jello, turtle t-shirts, and masks, the boys all went crazy when they saw a tray of turtle cupcakes!

Gathered around for a very LOUD rendition of "Happy Birthday" heard miles away, these turtles from the sewers of New York City dove into their favorite green-masked cupcake.  As a mom, I was completely shocked by the response of this simple yet fun idea for Levi's birthday cake.  Who knew just a little ole cupcake could be so much fun?

You see, it all started with just a picture found on google while searching for an image to draw Levi's four Lego TMNT posters.  While exploring pictures, there.it.was!  Cupcakes!  

"MOM!  That's what I want for my birthday cake!"  So,... with a box of simple Betty Crocker funfetti, this mom set out to make her soon-to-be-8-year-old a mixture of mutant TMNT fun!  Equipped with a box of simple food coloring, a sister, and a friend home from school for a February snow day, we all set out to create gobs of green icing, four multi-colored masks, and some chocolate flavored icing for turtle eyes when......

"COWABUNGA!" 

We created a birthday cake to remember!  And, several happy little boys.  Check them out! (Warning, you may need earplugs!)

A New Old Birthday Party Idea

Really?  Is the youngest Hott really turning eight in just a few days?  Well, he is.  And here is what Levi wanted to do to celebrate this 8th birthday.  With two older girls coming before him, I must admit that I was a bit unfamiliar with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Until now!

Sweet Sister Violet with her pink TMNT mask....and.... Uncle Tony too!

The Teenage (or 8 yr old) Mutant Ninja Turtles all slept over and we wound up the fun with turtle pancakes for breakfast to a snowy Sunday Morning.  Levi's day was one to remember from the turtle t-shirts, masks, to the turtle cupcakes, it was all simple fun.  But best of all, was the family and friends to share it with Levi.  Thanks ya'll!

"This is the day 

which the Lord has made; 

Let us rejoice and be glad in it." 

(Psalm 118:24, NASB)

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The deadline is Feb. 8th.

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