ALS Bytes

Changes, ya’ll!

Steve — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:29:56 +0000

Sunday morning, and Food Network on the tv, am I a glutton for punishment or what? My diet recently has been pretty sparse. My daily cereal processed with banana has gotten difficult. I’m often skipping trying to swallow anything for a can of Ensure in the tube. Anything with meat or grain has to be [...]

What a long strange trip…

Steve — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:25:58 +0000

This past week has been nothing short of interesting to say the least. But what’s life if not completely the unexpected? Someone once quoted that “Life is what interrupts your best-made plans” and mine seems to be no exception. Since our return from Thomasville last Sunday night late, my normally routine three-day trip recovery has [...]

Tobii ATI introduces the Tobii S32™

Steve — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:27:28 +0000

This new recorded speech device looks promising, with 90 hours of recording time, touch and switch scan access, plus built-in IR control for your remote gadgets. Check it out!

One man’s suffering is another’s…

Steve — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 02:25:12 +0000

Back from a few days in Thomasville. Cindy’s mom had a pretty major surgical procedure Monday. We got to the hospital about an hour after they took her back. We were pleased to see so many family members there in the waiting area…11 of us in all I think. Isn’t that what it’s all about, [...]

Wheelchair van for sale

Steve — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:06:53 +0000

2008 Dodge Caravan SXT, silver- 3.8 V6; AMFM CD MP3 radio, power everything including rear & side doors.

EXCELLENT condition

the rear load ramp itself is manual but easy & smooth, fit permobil 300 with room to spare, Qstraint lockdown, recent service, still some warranty remaining, new battery, 31907 miles

email for pics CRF8@aol.com

$26,900 Orlando [...]

The Future Is…

Steve — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 02:01:55 +0000

Hackers alter Wii controller for disabled users

University of Delaware students say they have hacked the Wii video game controller and the Wii Fit’s Wii Balance Board to be used with applications for disabled people.

Dubbed WiiAssist, the project adapts the infrared sensors in the Wii controller, which detects a Wii game player’s [...]

Dog Days

Steve — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:22:07 +0000

Maura and I just returned from walking Pepper. Love the evenings when the air cools and the sun has set. Ever wonder why people say “the dog days of summer”? As much as Pep loves to walk, I also know he doesn’t like the hot sun. Don’t reckon I would either, if I wore a [...]

Mind…AT EASE!

Steve — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:33:07 +0000

This is my way of putting my mind at ease, spilling the web of brain activity into my blog through a scramble of mouse gestures on my laptray, via Dasher. After seeing Decaprio’s latest, “Inception” tonight, my brain could stand to expel some weight. Great movie, made me want to see it again one day [...]

Movie night

Steve — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:38:50 +0000

Saw “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” last night with Paul, Sarah and Maura. Great special effects, typical Cage, pretty predictable Bruckheimer. Props to Paul for being such a reliable friend, always showing up smiling in spite of his own life problems.

I think one of the keys for my survival with ALS is staying humble by recognizing that every [...]

Edmund, the OBX and answered prayer

Steve — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:52:59 +0000

During my first tour in Germany, my favorite barber on the base had a very distinctive, accented way of answering the phone, located just beside his chair, “Barber shop, Edmund speaking”. Only it was more like “Bobbashop, Edmund speakINK”, with all the aplomb of “Schultz” of the old Hogans Heroes TV show, back when we [...]

VA Proposed Change for Rating ALS

Steve — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:18:35 +0000

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its Schedule for Rating Disabilities by revising the evaluation criterion for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to provide a 100-percent evaluation for any veteran with service-connected ALS. This change is necessary to adequately compensate veterans who suffer from this progressive, untreatable, and fatal disease. This change [...]

Changelog, June update

Steve — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:54:31 +0000

Had a great time attending Hillary’s graduation last weekend; especially getting to meet much of Cindy’s extended family at the grad party Friday night. If I were given the chance to select a family of in-laws, I honestly believe I couldn’t have done any better. I’m a very lucky man to have such a loving, [...]

Memorial Day and the other war

Steve — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:45:16 +0000

Iraq, Afghanistan…pretty easy to find out how many lives have been lost, sacrifices made in these conflicts. But what about the other war most veterans and their families are unaware of? There’s no mobilization, no training for it, nothing can be done to prepare, no immunization, no p-tabs, and no weapon has been created to [...]

Day 28…like any other

Steve — Sat, 29 May 2010 02:48:27 +0000

Wrapping up the month of writing on a “day in the life”, I think one thing is pretty obvious: as long as I’m able, and at most every opportunity, I’ll continue to tear myself away from this laptop and enjoy the life I have left. It’s that simple. What was once a “day-trip”, with ALS [...]

31 Days of ALS…Day 15, 16

Steve — Sun, 16 May 2010 15:20:47 +0000

For the month of May, ALS Awareness month, I’m doing my best to chronicle what it’s like to have, live with or care for someone with ALS. Although many of the difficulties, thoughts and [...]