It's Clear As Mud...

Honestly!

Being a hero was never on the top of my my list of things to do. Being respected and making things good or better than when I arrived has been. Today I realized what Noreen had told me 2 years ago....I am a hero.

Being a hero doesn't make you perfect it just makes you unusually courageous! I used to joke in college...."When God gave out courage I snuck up and took an extra helping!". It may or may not be true. It also makes you react to things I think sometimes...not as appropriately as one should. Other times most appropriately when one should!

I met up with a friend of mine tonight who has Barick's(sp?) disease. We talked about how we've cheated death. I talked about how I cheated disability. Those kind of things make you kinda iron willed. It can be to your benefit or not to your benefit.

Today as I notice my herodom...I realized how important it is...no matter what....to keep up the good fight! It's because of Mary Peirce's, Shirley Dennis's, Len Geiger's and Karen Erickson's that people begin to realize...it isn't over till....IT'S REALLY OVER!!

Most importantly I realized no matter what I could never stop being an alpha1 advocate. I think of the people that came before me and inspired me and realize I have an obligation I can never shirk.

I Feel Criminal...posting this

I am burned out on fundraising, alpha1 awareness raising and all the darned politics surrounding it! I still want to do the DD and the liver walk but, I actually want to take a year and just focus on doing some things for myself. Not only does all the above take effort but also it takes money to participate in events. Gas to drive there, food and lodging. I want to spend some of that money on maybe a roadtrip with other objective than to site see. I'd like to mentally recharge!

Back flips & Cartwheels!

That's what I felt like doing today after seeing Dr. Hogarth....he told me to keep doing what I'm doing. My lung function has increased 10% since I saw him last year. I tested out today at 51%.It is the most AWESOME news in the world to me!! He said when I get back in shape completely my lung function maynot increase but, what I am able to do with that lung function will.

Interview & Americas Grow A Row

Well, the interview is definitely on at WGEZ 1490 am out of Beloit, Wisconsin. Sometime between 8pm - 9:30pm April 26th, 2009. I am not nervous at the present time. I'm thinking about 1 - 2 hours before my stomachs going to flip flop but, on the other hand I may experience an enormous sense of calm. What ever way I react I know the most important thing I can do is to continue to help raise awareness about alpha1. We need more people properly diagnosed that can participate in research so we have more answers than we do now!

It seems the locals found Americas Grow A Row program too intimidating or felt it was inadequate....at least they recognize the need for food at the local food pantries and are doing some sort of vegetable growing program for those economically disadvantaged.

It's Official!

I am to be interviewed by the radio station dude in Beloit but, there must be no question/comment section as was said in the alpha-pack newsletter...or the association people would have responded with up to date info in regard to genetic COPD(alpha1). I had requested info about current legislative initiatives and alpha1 in regard to kids. Both I really have not kept up on. Guess I'll just tell them to subscribe to Alpha1toOne if there is a question/comment aspect during this interview.

Keep Your Fingers & Toes Crossed!

It looks real promising for me to do the radio call in talk show @ WGEZ in Beloit April 26th. I just am waiting on verification on the vacation day April 27th. Dr. Hogarth emailed saying an appointment to see him the 27th is doable! Please pray or send me some good vibes!!

Yeah...and hey I think I got the drafts in my greenhouse eliminated yesterday. At 10am this morning it was 100 degrees in there. I had to open the workshop door, open the greenhouse door into the workshop and turn on all the fans in the greenhouse!

April is....

ORGAN DONOR MONTH

No Barn Again...

At least not the way it is...maybe a reinvented barn. Although disappointed, not surprised. Tried to close up that north door on my greenhouse and realized I had to used blueboard or greenboard insulation in each door frame to truly cut out the draft. If that doesn't help it retain enough heat then I guess I'll break down and light up the gas heater in it. Almost all my garden stuff has arrived with the exception of some seeds from Victory Seeds.

Contractor comes by Sunday to work on stairway and replace door between kitchen & mud room. This house is sooo out of square I just don't want to mess with remodeling. The more I look at each room the more I want to leave the majority of it alone! Probably replace windows with Milgard windows within the next year. Replace the front entry door with newer more energy efficient door.

Trust & Addiction!

Hah! You thought this was serious...didn't you??? Some of it is actually but, some of it's not.

As far as setting up the trust to protect several assets I own....I spoke to my sister Johanna (who is on a tx list and has met/known more alphas than me) about whether I should get right on it or would it be ok to hold off a couple years.You see once it's done I can't change any of the trustees or by laws. We decided that although it IS somewhat risky so is the alternative. That being said I am going to put off completing it for 2 years. I will be sitting down with my lawyer to discuss how many different ways it can go and how by laws will change some things.

Now for the not so serious. I swore up n' down I would never become involved in the facebook community. We-e-e-ll, that all changed Friday when I got an email from a girl I graduated High school with. I was introduced to that crackhouse and now I'm addicted!! Who knows when I'll post something noteworthy here again! I even managed to connect with someone I had gone to college with in Oklahoma who I hadn't seen or talk to in 20 years. 20 YEARS!!! If I ever get back down to Oklahoma and see her I hope I survive that weekend. Kristi is way more energetic and wild than I have ever dreamed or attempted to be!!

Closing a Chapter With a Fresh Perspective

Well, the disaster response training was not as in depth as I expected but, it was highly elightening. There are ISO classes through FEMA or Homeland Security one can complete online that take a couple hours. Realistically most churches in the upper midwest are likely unprepared to serve in the event of a disaster as well as they could. There are also CERT classes one can take as well.

Although, I got next to no sleep that night I managed to get on the road by 3:30am. I arrived early to Evansville. We got my tractor loaded w/o a hitch. There was such a peace for me knowing all my tractors are in one place and out of the weather. It WAS the sweetest feeling!

I didn't get to Denny's to get the books but, he returned my phone calls & they are being shipped to me this week. Mr.Morgan showed up early. Inspite of some other snafust we made it on time & headway with the attorney over the trust. Some suggest that I am like a surrogate Mom to my nephew(not because his Mom is a bad Mother...I think it has more to do with he & I click better). Warning to all you parents(surrogate parents as well) out there....You think the teens are bad...WAIT TILL they hit their 20's!! Things will improve over time I simply need to be patient.

After I had dinner with Morgan I stopped in Evansville at the Night Owl. I wanted to see some of my old friends before I left. When I first walked in I was waiting to be served and there were a couple of regulars there and we were trying to decide who this one guy was. Was he Dale Holland??? We hadn't seen him in years there. I actually didn't see many who I expected to see but, who I saw was very unexpected. I saw a friend of mine's Dad(Dale) with his new wife and stopped to chat with them. He talked about how I wouldn't recognized Ty these days. He doesn't drink anymore(which is a very good thing). As we visited we tried to figureout when was the last time we had seen each other and he figured it had been at least 12yrs. The thing that struck me the most was not his response to my health but, his response to the fact I was no longer in business for myself.

You know sometimes a person forgets how much people believe or see in us!

Spring Has Sprung!

I have been on v. layoff this week. I found a hauler for my Allis-Chalmers C in southern WI. I sent a text msg to Mr. Morgan. He is thrilled Aunt Kate has progressed to the current century! I always used to say that phones were for talking on and computers were for texting on. I meet w/ a lawyer on Friday to determine if a irrevocable trust is the way for me to go. I spoke briefly to Bill today and he dispelled the myth that it was so exorbinant it was beyond my reach. It turnsout it isn't really anymore expensive than to maintain said assets outside a trust.

I'm going to try my best to get into an evening course at UW-EC called Fundamentals of Speech but, have been warned it is hard to do as a special student. Thursday I will participate in a congressional Disaster Response training course in Eau Claire that FEMA and Homeland Security may require in 2010. I also found out my alpha friend Cindy Wilson from Chicago got a single lung tx last fall. She sounds like she is doing GREAT! She also happens to be the alpha support group leader in greater Chicago. A contrator still hasn't been by to fix my stairway because all of them are so busy!

I did find one who will examine my barn to determine whether it can be saved. I've been in several barn lofts and was so taken by the unique rafters in the loft. They appear to be oak to me. I have wanted to save it from the get go but, I'm not convinced it can be salvaged. It's outward appearance has changed quite a bit since last fall. If I am able to restore it I'm not reusing it as a livestock barn but, as a retail facility. I live in what I consider to be a retirement/vacation destination and believe that would be the best reuse for it.

Inspiration Comes In Unexpected Form

I started going to different churches to get a feel for the spirit of the church to help me in my quest to enable Americas Grow A Row program to flourish here in Rusk county. However, without Colleen Duerr and Rev. Donn Schroeder's wisdom & prayer I don't think it could have gotten to the point it has! I'm discovering it's actually started to motivate me to find a home church.

I rented two movies tonight "The Express" & "Fireproof". I liked the movies and thought about my college days. I remembered how many times people told me something couldn't be done and how I believe they could & did them. It's amazing what one can accomplish when one chooses to believe. I suspect the same holds true not only for me but, for many of you who read my blog. If we will simply give ourselves permission to believe we can it's amazing what we can accomplish. I found the interviews featured on the DVD's most inspiring and reminded how much faith plays a part in every aspect of our life.

What Do You Got Going On...

I decided to checkout the LBYM board at fool.com today. That was the title of the last post I read....and I thought it was going to be dreary. It turned out she did what my Mother used to tell me..."Count your blessings!".

So what good happened to me today.

-I discovered my new alphanet coordinator is a christian.
-I discovered Joann's friend who died of cancer was her best friend(who was only a few yrs older than her...just like my friend Karen)
-That sometimes we don't realize how much some people value us as a person.
-Although I was swore off participating in any cancer fund raisers...I am indeed not(I was soo
moved by Joann's story of her friend Reggie who lost her battle to cancer)
-I discovered I was going to have at least a 36hr work week because orders are up!
-I may just succomb to text messaging(ROFLOL)
-I enjoyed coming home to another beautiful spring like day

*I didn't experience this today but, Sunday reaffirmed that I moved to a GREAT
NEIGHBORHOOD when I visited w/ Rich & Vi next door*

Just To Let You Know

I got all setup for an infusion last night and looked at the pocket watch (w/ a minute hand) I use and discovered the battery had died. By the time I got back from Wal-Mart my veins had become weiry. I came straight home tonight and got it started on the first stick! To say the least I was elated !!! I am nearing the end of "Failing Forward" by John Maxwell. I am so glad I bought and continued to read that book. I also skim read the book by Ruth Graham "In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart". I also have John Maxwell's books "Today Matters" & "The Difference Maker" Don't know when I'll get to them. I expect next trip to J-ville I'll stop at my friend Denny W's(he has an organic farm) to pick up all my market farming books I lent him.

I may be posting infrequently for a while. As soon as I get the minor remodeling work done in the stairway and the house refinanced I will likely get too busy to post frequently. When I bought this farmhouse I questioned the drywall finish job and a couple other things. I kept telling myself "Oh, it's not that big a deal." Well, six months has gone by and as soon as refinanced my poor house is going to get redone a room at a time. Plus, the stairway to the upstairs. It has vertical boxcar siding and half the sinkers aren't counter sunk. The same in the mudroom! I visited with the neighbors Sunday and Rich admitted the previous owner did all the remodeling. I have begun telling people "He should have left it to the professionals & the semi-professionals!"

I also have to begin training for the 2009 DD. I may do the Milwaukee liver walk w/ the Frietag family(They have children w/ alpha1). I also have seeds coming that need to be started. I have grow-a-row, angelflight & next week I am intending to attend disaster response training. I have too much to do but, everybody knows I'm happier that way than too much time on my hands!!

OMG...I've Done It Again!!

I signed up for the metric century Dairyland Dare 2009! I swear this is the last year!!

I am nervous, scared & excited! I hope I can finsih it this year. What an accomplishment that would be! I'm excited to learn that Len Geiger has several vids on youtube as well(as the result of a link in an alpha-pack newsletter I received). That is so awesome!

Now for that grow-a-row business. Pray for us! It is such a great program especially for those to contribute to that don't have a lot to spare....they can make such a big difference without parting with much cash!! There is an Episcapalian church in our county who sooo needs the assitance. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could ease some of their burden???

It's Official....I have a cold!

However, I went 8 months without an upper respiratory infection!! WooHoo!!! Now if only I can stay away from urgent care for 1yr. That was my original goal.

I am almost to chapter 10 in "Failing Forward" By John Maxwell! I almost chose to not finish reading it. I am in the process of helping coordinate a grow-a-row program in my county. There is much excitement over the program. It has been quite educational as well. In addition to that Karen my primary health POA(Power Of Attorney) wants me to go on a Guatemalan mission trip and I guess I'm actually interested. I wasn't at first but, after I read a little bit about it I got more intrigued...who'd a thought. She said I needed to travel and no matter what country I did a mission trip in ...it would be a life changing experience. So, now I begin to save for it.

What A Glorious Day...

It was 36 degrees out and just beautiful out!!

I've been busy trying to get everything done so I could get my house refinanced. Pouring over garden seed catalogs...ever the green thumb ya know! Also, have wonderful news. The ICAA coordinator contacted me to get the ball rolling for Rusk county to start a grow-a-row program. I am so excited they have embraced it! It will send out such a positive message to our local community as well as surrounding communities as well! Think of a rain shower in spring and each one of us has an opportunity to be one of those little rain drops!

Living Well While Living With Uncertainty

I thought a lot about that today. I have had my share of bumps and bruises along the way in life. Some brought on by me some brought on by others( in the form of layoffs). I haven't posted because I promised not to be an Oscar the grouch! Monday morning I went into work while others who had as much as 25 - 40 years in got mandatory layoff. I sat in my car arriving 35 minutes early to work looking at the factory thinking about my co-workers. How many would be there...How many wouldn't be returning ever. I had bid on the position as a aluminum extrusion sawyer four years ago because it was level 4 and they always seemed to get more overtime than any other dept. It seemed so surreal. I have slightly less than 5 years in. Right now alpha1 pales in comparison to all of that!

How do you live well while living with uncertainty??? You make a choice to. You choose that your cup is half full. You direct your attention to someone or something else. As Kathy from work today said "It doesn't do you any good to worry about it!" It really does more good to focus on somebody or something else. You have the possibility of making someone elses life better and feeling good about yourself at the same time! I got a call from Michelle at Accredo today for a reorder and asked her to call me in a couple weeks. I explained what has happened and explained what I was trying to do about my low morale. She was understanding and said that was fine. I can't speak for the others that distribute augmentation therapy meds but, I suspect the same holds true....they really care about the patients!!!

Today, I choose to focus on Angel Flight Central and Grow-A-Row.

Furnace Filters

What is it they say "experience is a great teacher"....well, a recent experience drove that point home!

I had replaced furnace filter with the spare the previous owners had left. It was a filter that removed 8 different things instead of one that removed 11 different things. My eyes had been itching for several days. I decided to replace it with the higher filtration filter. Next morning when I woke up my eyes didn't itch and I had an easier time of breathing. It costs a couple bucks more than the lower filtration filter but, the difference it makes in quality of life is worth every penny!!

Also, micro fiber or leather covered furniture is better for your lungs than cloth covered furniture. They don't trap/hold things that are detrimental to your lungs. Likewise if you can do away with carpet & knick-knacks which hold dust and other nasty's that is also a worthy pursuit to protect your lungs.

Old McDonald Had a Farm...

Boy, do I ever feel like old McDonald. I still have a job but, will need to get up at ungodly o'clock in the morning. I thankfully didn't get the call from my supervisor saying "You have been given mandatory layoff." I got the call to show up for day shift in my normally determined area. I have run into a couple of people who work 2nd shift where I work around town and I swear they used the dartboard method for determining who got mandatory lay off. 52 took voluntary and 200 got mandatory.

Now like old McDonald I'm going to have to watch the weather till spring comes. Guess there's worse things that could happen! I am so thankful I have my farm. People always have to eat and I got the place to grow stuff. Plus, I ain't gonna go hungry. My Mother said to me once after I said I was hungry..."You're always hungry!" I am also thankful for my sister Mary who took the time to bake and cook with me at an early age when she was home on weekends from college. I started cooking at 7 and baking by myself when I was 9. I'm also thankful for having a frugal Father who grew up during the great depression and taught us all how to be resourceful.