Taking Care of Business

Calculated my pain meds through the weekend so I don’t run out, and learned they only wrote enough for me through Sunday 4pm DUH! They’re CLOSED MONDAY!!! Sometimes it’s tedious being my own advocate.
Called AAA to cancel the continuous advertising mailings, and spoke with the most wonderful young woman! Not that I can remember her name… TBI PROBLEMS!
While dad was out getting my pain med refill, I’ll explain how I managed to get the refill (and how much) in an edit, because this typing one finger, predicted type, now is driving me mad.
Dad has been helpful, but grumbling.

The Starbucks Article by Epilepsy Foundation: “Coffee Break” 2008

and now I type… This was available online Coffee Break until I was about one week into traveling for #SurvivalDay20.

It’s nearing midnight and I’m typing one handed, predictive-type-assist, so I won’t edit much here and now, but THIS explains the beauty of my interaction with Starbucks and the importance of Survival Days.

WB Harry Potter UK

I’m making this “first post” of my experience at Harry Potter World UK (as I’ve called it) to give my first impressions and tweet about it… I’ll give my FULL POST by making a PAGE dedicated to the experience!

I post this now, so as not to waste any more time. It was April 18 and 19, 2016 that I visited! I’ve let FAR too much time pass without making an entry!

Upon leaving the final day, I was asked, “What was your favorite part of the tour?”

I didn’t have a “favorite part”. My answer was, “The people I met along the way.” I meant, of course, the STAFF and HELPERS working at the tour!

Learning the “behind the scenes” bits was interesting….
Seeing the actual sets was fascinating! …
But the PEOPLE involved with this experience MADE IT WORTHWILE for me!

I chose one person who brought the experience to life for me! If I trust my memory, which is dangerous to do, I will say her name was Louise… She was in the Backlot Cafe on day one. She helped me choose which line to go into for Butterbeer ice cream! (Then, on day 2, when there was a long line and I was EXHAUSTED and broke, she came out to explain the less expensive sandwiches so I could purchase something less expensive and more filling! I walk with a cane, and carrying my tray, plus my bag and the cane is an ordeal! She very graciously took my money to the register, and brought back an eggs mayonnaise sandwich in a bag!) I will find her name and photo in my photos. She said I impacted her! I’m not sure as much as she impacted me!
After I filled up on my sandwich, I took my remaining photos and had enough remaining to enjoy a small Starbucks coffee at the entrance, before taking a taxi back to my Airbnb in Watford. The next day I journeyed back to Amsterdam and flew to NYC. After a few days in NYC, I flew home. I’m home now! What an AMAZING TRIP!

Traveling is more complex than I thought

I’m having a fantastic journey! It is more complicated than I anticipated.

I didn’t realize the strength of my deficits.

Focus – list list list list,
Time – it slips away! Set a timer every 15-20min to stay on task,
Pack/repack – why did I pack so much?!?!
Money – disappears as quickly as the hours,
Friends – invaluable!

#LookAtYourselves #AreYouProudOfYourselves #ThinkAboutWhatYouAreDoing

I only HEARD about this until this morning.
I watched it for the first time a moment ago.

It sent a #ShiverDownMySpine!

My #SurvivalDay20 trip is as much about the Holocaust as it is about my recovery

I thought I was #AnneFrank in the hospital #ForFucksSAKE!

Nothing, I repeat NOTHING is so bad about Hillary or Bernie that can excuse voting for this #PieceOfSHIT!
–>> Think about Niemoller’s poem #RightNow and ask yourself what you need to do:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Holocaust Encyclopedia

I’m walking to Starbucks again today! YAY ME!

It will be high 50s & 60s today, 0% chance of rain! Perfect weather to walk so far! But first, I must:

Make sure I have my wallet – I need OTC (over the counter med, Ranitidine) I take for my trip at Walgreens, on the way and across the street. –>> Actually, this can wait!! It’s out of the way and I need my ACTUAL Rx again before I go.

Check stock (online) of Prince of Tides at Barnes & Noble (I want to physically purchase a book in a book store, not Amazon, before I leave for NYC. Patrick Conroy just died and Prince of Tides is LUSH with Southern imagery and will help me with my blog. I want to gift this book to someone at the beginning of my trip and remember to bring my copy of the actual book on my trip!)
Look at my Shutterfly account. I think I have enough credit for another copy (copies?) of my Germany 2003/2004 photo album that I completed the day before I entered the hospital for surgeries 2 and 3. (It was due 12/10/2007 and I finished it the night before! I remember because that was the date I entered the hospital for my next round of surgeries.)
Consider upgrading the tiny laptop if I can’t get wifi to work at Starbucks. I’d rather have one that can run the video program I purchased (Corel VideoStudio), anyhow. *Don’t over spend!! Don’t get this if you can’t!! You need to be able to pay for what you need!
Possibly purchase another Ravenclaw Quiddich jersey (if it will get here in time) with my name on the back, but now my size – this one 2x is HUGE!
My photo book front:
My photo book back:

Today I See My GP (general practitioner) – I hope she is proud

I took her advice to heart and began eating better

she didn’t push me -> if you push me, rather than simply give me the tools/knowledge and walk away I tend to push back rather than take action!
she was KINDER and FAR MORE PATIENT than I would have been with me at that point -> knowing what I know now about what I used to eat compared to being stuck in that recliner 99% of the day!

She didn’t say to exercise, because I had already bought the WalgreensActivityTracker and spoke of my intentions to walk, but not of any intention to change how I eat

She is an EXCELLENT Doctor!

I will get a photo with her today, if I can, and post it here, with her permission.

If you see a photo of me and my doctor, she gave me permission to use a photo of us and I remembered to take one.
If not, I either: 1. forgot to ask, 2. forgot to take one, 3. BOTH!

Walked to Starbucks!!!

My goal – before my #SurvivalDay20 trip – came true this morning!
I WALKED to the Starbucks near my house (but not the one I used to work, because I’m erring on the side of safety) we now have a SIDEWALK to this one and there still is NOT a sidewalk to MY Starbucks!

Same distance (3 miles),
I brought my walking stick,
I got my favorite drink, since I’ve educated myself on what is GOOD FOR ME,
My dad is driving me home!

Gotta love my dad! LOVE MY #DamnOldMan

SurvivalDay416

Stop. Shuffle. Regroup. #TBI #Epilepsy #BrainSurgery

Category: Travel