Uncategorized – Page 19 – Natalie Abbott

I Support The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

I rarely post about politics, but this is important.

Elsewhere, people with disabilities are dying. Are being denied basic medical care. Are being denied a right to education.

We are lucky that we don’t need to think about those issues. We are privileged.

But we can’t ignore the impact that something like this can have on people who happen to be born in circumstances where this is not the case.

It’s sad that we can’t get past fear mongering and paranoia to realize the impact that this could have.

Off my soap box now, and I promise a dog-ified post this weekend.

Wordless Wednesday: Work & Play

This is our “ooh, human, let’s do some work!!” face. He wants me to get out his favorite mail key that he carries for me. Sadly, I have just put it in my bag.

This is our “playing is fun (but tiring)!” face. Went to a graduate seminar at Canine Companions this weekend, and got all sorts of dog park time in.

Both are important to both humans and canines alike.

Beautiful

The first two CDs I bought with my first fancy shmansy CD player in the mid ’90s were a soundtrack to The Babysitter’s Club Movie (seriously? I am amazed and bemused)… and Tapestry by Carole King. Besides perfectly illustrating my rather eclectic taste in music, it also started my love of that music.

That album reminds me of my adolescence in a weird way, although it was recorded nearly 30 years before I listened to it. It’s just relaxing and reaffirming and comforting in a strangely perfect way.

My musical tastes have definitely evolved and have become a bit more refined over the years, but I always return to Tapestry.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to see Beautiful The Carole King Musical in San Francisco. I absolutely loved it. I will admit it, I am a Broadway snob. I think the last so-called “jukebox musical” I saw was either Movin’ Out or Jersey Boys, a long time ago. I am a fan of new composers, of thought provoking shows, of soul-shattering acting. But, but… sometimes you just need to relax. Sometimes you just need to not be on the edge of your seat, teeth clenched as Diana Goodman has a mental breakdown in Next to Normal. Sometimes you can and should have fun at a show!

I was thoroughly impressed by the song choices, but what I really noticed was how well the show’s “book” (dialogue) was crafted. It was good! Funny at times, poignant at others, it was just generally high quality. Interestingly enough, I saw Jessie Mueller, the actress who portrays Carole King, in Into the Woods in Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park in 2012. Sondheim to King is quite the change, but she clearly is at home in any genre.

I hope this show does well. It really struck me, as weird as it seems, as a women’s version of Jersey Boys. And I say that in the most complimentary way. A high quality jukebox musical that’s well-acted and well-sung should do well in the current Broadway environment, and I am interested to see how audiences and reviewers in New York respond to this show.

I hope they embrace it, it’s truly Beautiful.

Pink

I love pink. All of the feminist theory and women’s rights discussions in the world cannot cure me of my love of everything pink. Right now, I’m looking around in my apartment: awesome pink coffee maker, pink sweatpants, pink blanket on the bed… you get the picture.

I also love supporting organizations that are working to support great causes. On Sunday, I had the opportunity to attend a Pink Tea at Westfield Centre, which benefited several breast cancer organizations.

Like most people, I have had family and friends affected by breast cancer. My great-aunt is a 30-ish year survivor.

I have read enough of Peggy Orenstein’s writing on breast cancer awareness that I feel a tad bad about the appropriation of pink everything, but the organizations supported seem to be good and worthwhile.

The event featured tea, a fashion show, and speeches by a few survivors – most notably Giuliana Rancic from E!.

A few very pink pictures:

“I’m Sick of Being Sick!” Post

I am sick of being sick. I am sick of being used to being sick. So… this is just a whiny health-related post!

I’ve had respiratory issues my entire life, probably stemming from muscle tone issues. Most young children who die from complications from Moebius syndrome have respiratory issues. Unfortunately not that much research is being done in that area… hopefully more is done soon.

It went un-diagnosed for many years, where I would wake myself up coughing as a young child because I couldn’t breathe. Luckily I did not need any serious intervention beyond a changing medication regimen (now a pill – Singulair is a miracle drug for me! – and an everyday inhaler, plus an emergency inhaler). Usually I’m okay.

Until, that is, I get sick. I’ve been sick since Monday with a respiratory cold and am just done. Sick of that annoying light-headed due to lack of oxygen feel, sick of coughing, worrying about being able to breathe enough on Sunday’s fundraising walk, and really really sick of phlegm!

I think about perspective and feel a little guilty with this whiny post, but sometimes it just helps to complain!

In other news, my dog is being super-helpful for me when I’m sick!

Wordless Wednesday: Lapdog

I’m lapdog-sized, really!…

Changes

“I’m through accepting limits
’cause someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I’ll never know” – Defying Gravity, Wicked

Something has happened that I honestly didn’t think was possible: I can move the left side of my mouth. I can smile more evenly, with control over it. I still am not entirely sure what to make of this new ability!

I honestly did not entirely believe Sara Rosenfed-Johnson when she said this might be possible from the exercises she was giving me. I could believe her with lip closure, with bilabial sounds, with jaw strength… that seemed attainable.

But smile movement on my left side just seemed…unattainable. When I decided as a young teenager that the smile surgery wasn’t for me, I thought I had lost any hope of having a full smile. And I was okay with that.

But this is pretty great now that it has happened!

I’ve been doing exercises on and off (sorry, Sara!) for the past 6 or so years, working on different things. They started with jaw strength, then moved to lip movement. They’re great for adults to do on your own (maybe minus the rather creepy Casper the Ghost vibrator next time!) because they are easy. You can double-task, I spent a lot of time a few years ago reading the New York Times Arts section while doing exercises. And at least for me, you see results.

I didn’t actually hate speech therapy all that much most of the time as a child (private-public school speech was hit or miss)-I liked to talk, and getting an adult’s undivided attention was not bad). But doing specific exercises makes a lot more sense as an adult.

So those are my experiences so far. I’m interested to see what is in the future for me.

(Note: These are my individual experiences, I am not paid in any way by TalkTools to promote their product.)

Travels (with dog)

I just got back from a wonderful first “real” vacation-with-service dog. Not that I expected anything different, but Cassius was wonderful and (nearly) perfect.

We went to my favorite West Coast hotel, the Hotel Del Coronado. It’s helpful to go somewhere where you are very familiar with for a first major vacation, just because it takes the unknown away from the humans and let me both relax and work on giving Cassius a good experience.

Besides the fact that I really think Cassius missed his big bed (!) he took everything in stride. He enjoyed (human) sunbathing/doggie sleeping, was mildly confused when I went into the pool without him, and rather offended when I left him with my mom to go to yoga class. And don’t get me started on the look on his face when I went down to the water with him…

We had no access issues whatsoever, although I think we attracted nearly every toddler in the resort. Apparently the “get” command is exciting… there was an audible gasp in the airport baggage line when he picked up my glass case on command!

Our flights were both good, we were lucky to pre-board on Southwest and get bulkhead.

Although I have been away on a few short trips (Carmel-By-The-Sea, Ashland twice)… this trip felt like a nice milestone to reach with Cassius.

Some Heavy Thoughts & Inspired Actions

I have lots of both right now.

My grandmother died last night. Completely expected, but still at the same time hard.

Had a wonderful final visit with her, where she got to meet the dog and he gave her some of the love that only something with four legs, a wagging tail and big soulful eyes can give. I will treasure hat.

Death always makes me think of life, of trying to live and to make an impact on the world. I try to do it to the bestow my ability, try not to become encumbered by my own self-doubts and issues.

Considering things, I think I do a pretty damn good job of working for the causes I believe in.

Lots of the work I do (all the social media and web work for the Moebius Syndrome Foundation) is quite frankly done alone and without much response. We keep gaining followers, so I think I’m doing something right!

Because lots of my volunteer work is done remotely, I’m loving my involvement with CCI and being able to do in-person volunteer stuff! Later this month, I’m walking in the DogFest Walk ‘n Roll in Santa Rosa. Thanks to my amazing family and friends I’ve already reached my fundraising goal, which I’m really proud of. I would have had more in “my” account, but my dad accidentally (and hysterically) donated to himself!!)

But of course that doesn’t matter. What matters is more awareness, more contributions, more involvement from these events. I can’t wait to share my experiences with the amazing community I’m honored to be a part of through my partnership with my amazing dog.

Video: Therapy Dog Welcome in Oncology Department

Love this video, and the concept of facility dogs! All my various therapies and appointments would have been so much more bearable with a facility dog there. I may whine incessantly about Kaiser sometimes (amazing specialists for my disorder, but such a bureaucracy!) but I’m glad they embrace therapy dogs. Animals truly are the best medicine.