Monday, March 22, 2010

Of Illness, Facebook, and a Dog: Announcements

First: readers have doubtless noticed a falling off in the number of posts this last six months, and in the number of adventures that leads to them. For all this time I have been having difficulty walking (which I initially put down to arthritis) and also sitting in the hard chair I had here.

It turns out it is all down to Parkinson's, which was "formally" diagnosed last week, as some of you know. I have a great neurologist in Albuquerque and he has every hope that new medicines will make a lot of difference. Meanwhile I will be making some changes. I will sell some shotguns and most of my fly rods, though not my spinning rods (has to do with dexterity)-- details provided to those interested. My pursuit falcon BB must go to a new home-- two mile chases seem problematical. The little waiting on falcon, the dogs who will work close as well as far and retrieve, will stay. I am cutting back on pigeons slightly and going commercial on Thief Pouters for falconers. I am going to expand my collecting of native bees. In general I am looking for things to do that are interesting and don't require as much physical effort-- and maybe pay a little too.

One other thing to go must be Facebook-- IMAO a time- waster par exellance. It collected a few old friends but also a lot of people who WOULD NOT understand my blog feed was from four people, and I got tired answering them. Also it lacked intimacy and I felt it was full of strangers-- I did NOT want to announce my medical news there. While this is a site that is open to the public I feel that it is also a sort of community of common interests-- I did not feel that at Facebook at all. I hope some of my Facebook readers move over here but if they don't I can't help them.

Finally some good news-- Irbis has been given a clean bill of health and is racing around the yard. Interestingly Ray intends to take the plate out in a month, apparently a minor deal-- he does this in hard- hunting field dogs lest the steel provide a lever for breakage. Pix soon!

21 comments:

Luisa said...

Glad to hear about Irbis, and as a new member of Facebook, totally understand your FB decision.

Re the game-plan changer that is Parkinson's: May your meds work as they should, may new meds be even better, and may a cure be found soon. I'll hold good thoughts for all three. Best wishes in all your future endeavors -- and give your good dogs a pat from SoCal.

Mary Strachan Scriver said...

You have my sympathies with all this stuff, Steve. Parkinson's is NOT good but the research is active. It's hell gettin' old and I'm speakin' from experience. If it ain't one damn thing, it's another. I'm shutting down and discarding, too, though no live or precious things are involved.

Facebook was one of the first to go. I kept being found by people I'd managed to evade for decades and I hope they never figure out where Valier is. Anyway, I can't read that tiny pale print and every time they add a new feature (weekly) I got all confused again. NOT worth it.

I don't see why, if they are so interested in me, they don't just read my blog.

At least the health insurance prospects are looking a lot better!

Prairie Mary

Karen Carroll said...

Steve, To get some of the latest research on Parkinsons. Go the to world's largest online library. The National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. I worked at the National Cancer Institute for 10 years and have found the researchers highly dedicated. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ My best wishes.

Rachel Dickinson said...

I'm very sorry to read about the Parkinson's.

Steve Bodio said...

Thanks all. Kitty, I have bookmarked it.

Nagrom said...

Steve, am sorry to hear about the Parkinsons, but glad that you seem to have a good attitude and a proactive one. Good docs and good drugs do great things, especially now compared to what once was. Stay tough and keep after it. I'm not a praying man, but my thoughts are with you.

I'm a regular Facebook user, and even I am with you on it being a time waster. I am spartan with my use of it, having no interest in silly games or apps, and keeping my friends list small and my personal profile mostly distanced from my professional self, even my business "page" on FB. It was an essential when I was still in school for keeping up with friends and classmates - But now I've been able to use it less, and less, and I don't really miss it.

Glad Irbis is up and runnin'!

Unknown said...

We've not had the opportunity to know and interact much together over the years, but we both have been at the falconry thing for a long time (next year is my 50th) and find our passion for it something that brings us great inner satisfaction. I've always thought you were one of the few writers to tap into and write well about that part of the sport.

I will add you to my prayer list for your medical concerns, specifically that you respond well to the medical treatments you receive. A good falconer friend, now in his 70's, here in the Midwest has struggled w/MS for years, and has been blessed w/relative remission for quite awhile. His doctors are amazed. May you enjoy the same providential good fortune.

Anonymous said...

Steve, I'm very concerned to hear of your current diagnosis re: the Parkinson's, but be of stout heart my friend ... research abounds, and there is every indication that whatever medical advances happen, we may now have a chance to take advantage of the them! (only a little facetious there).

Strip down for action - a lot of us are doing that these days including yours truly - one of my sainted mother's favorite sayings was that she liked to think of living as the "Arabs" did - just fold their tents and steal away in the night. I'm thinking that is more and more a quality of life we need to cultivate these days.

Best blessings and good thoughts to you, my Internet Friend.

Lady with the exotic black dogs!

Tasha said...

I'm very sorry to hear about the Parkinsons-aside from being a falconer, I also work at Medtronic (a world reknowned medical device company). I know we (and probably other companies) have devices that can treat some of the Parkinson's symptoms. Here's a website with a bit of info:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/deep_brain_stimulation/deep_brain_stimulation.htm
I don't know if this will help you, but I would strongly suggest you ask your doctor about the possibility of getting one of these devices. Last summer they brought in a music teacher who had similar problems to Parkinson's to talk to us. They hadn't gotten her device tweaked well enough to stop the shaking in her right hand, but her left was perfectly under her control. It was incredible to see the difference. Even more incredible to think that I worked on the battery running that device and hundreds of thousands of others. I know you don't know me, but I do hope you can continue flying your birds. I don't know what I'd do in that situation. Hopefully I'll never have to find out.

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear this Steve.



Bill Carnes

Steve Bodio said...

Thanks again to all. Natasha, I will tell my doctor about this.

Anonymous said...

RE Facebook: I only got on recently and I feel like a motorist gawking at a three car pileup. I am stunned by the number of people who update the world on every meal, errand, conversation and random thought in their lives. I doubt I'll last long there.

I'm pleased to hear that Irbis is doing well. Young Charlie's leg is coming along nicely too - and we're seeing a concurrent positive change in his attitude.

Sorry to hear about the Parkinson's. I second Luisa's wishes on that and applaud you for taking it in stride so gracefully. I'm making similar changes in my life due to rheumatoid arthritis but still having a hard time accepting it.

Steve Bodio said...

Thanks-- I'm not sure your diagnosis isn't even scarier than mine!

Denise Dwyer Roderick said...

Dear Steve,I'd decided to try to find you online recently, and chose the day you announced your diagnosis. I have to admit being profoundly sad for you, but then memories of the enthusiasm and sense of humor that defined you as a boy surfaced, and I know they'll serve you well. And, though I don't have Parkinson's I was diagnosed 15 yrs. ago w/ an auto-immune arthritis similar in symptoms and treatment to rheumatoid. Just a genetic jackpot of particlarly nasty symptoms. My point being, I empathize and have complete faith that you'll get through this with grace. Denise

Steve Bodio said...

The Internet makes for amazing connections! Thanks, Denise-- hope you enjoy the blog.

Mark Churchill said...

Steve,

I hope the bits of unsolicited advice haven't become too oppressive. Here's one more: My Uncle David was diagnosed with Parkinson's sveral years ago, and was forced to quit painting...but is now back at it and doing quite well. He and his doctor attribute his recovery, or remission, or whatever the appropriate term would be, to an excercise regimen. Don't know that you'd want to duplicate his programme exactly, but your plan to stay active is surely a point in your favour.

Best wishes to you and yours.

Steve Bodio said...

Mark: not opressive at all. Can you email me (ebodio- at- gilanet- dot- com) to tell me more about your uncle's regimen?

R Francis said...

Echoing Mark
Have you got your bike yet?
See ABC News report on Cleveland Clinic trial.

Steve Bodio said...

First PT to get my legs back working, then bike (actually I have one that needs tires) and/ or Mark's uncle's vigorous routine-- which needs either a serious gym or for me to build one, financially and spatially a bit hard (;-)) But I'll incorporate some..

Is there an Internet link?

Stephen Olner said...

You'll have fun with the Bee's are you going organic with them if so there are a few good forums, blogs and websites out there.

I've been keeping bee's for 3 years and love every minute of it.

Wendy and Silvi said...

Steve, I worked with my mother for three years after her PD diagnosis. Let me know if there's any way I can help, please, and know you are loved. xx Wendy Parker and Silvi