A Mercifully Short History of Bad Ideas

Don't be mislead by the title of this post. I have bad ideas to spare. In fact if you need any, call or email and I'll send you some of my overstock. This will be a mercifully short history because of the concentrated time period in which it takes place, not because of a sudden short supply of stupidity.

Our sorry tale begins on Labor Day. We had plans to go to the Alaska State Fair. My back was acting up for the first time in years and I decided it would be smart to stay home. This was a good idea. Probably the last one I had that day. Pam asked if she should stay home to keep an eye on me, but I didn't want her to miss those mammoth cabbages, weird looking chickens, and enormous hogs raised by improbably young members of the 4H club, so I said "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." Stupid idea #1.

She wisely gave me a second chance to have her stick around which I declined citing the profoundly stupid point that I would likely be too proud to accept her help on anything consequential, so she might as well go enjoy herself and not worry about me. If you're keeping track this probably counts as bad idea #2.

Two or three hours into her absence my back began to act up with a sadistic streak unlike any thing I had ever experienced. After a long and inventive period of writhing around I discovered I could attain a measure of relief by lying on the floor and curling my legs up to my chest. Expecting Pam to return at any time I decided to kill the intervening hours by watching "Magnolia". Which I did on my back my legs curled up, the picture on the TV appearing upside down. You're probably thinking this was bad idea #3 but it was actually worth it. I love William H. Macy in this flick.

Eventually Pam returned and found me on the floor doubled up watching Macy get creamed by a rain of frogs. I lay down in the back of the Subaru and we drove at a smart clip to the emergency room. They loaded me up with 20 mg of Valium and when that didn't kill the spasms in my back muscles they threw in some morphine too. That worked. I even felt good enough to lecture Pam about how morphine was known as "Soldiers Joy" back in the Civil War, hence the name of the popular fiddle tune by the name of "Soldiers Joy". Music and drugs go way back together. Naturally Pam found this fascinating.

Armed with a prescription from the ER doctor for Valium to relax my back we drove to the all-night drug store, and picked up some little green pills. Boy did that do the trick! I became the very incarnation of mellow. I wasn't worried about anything. For instance walking around the house in the dark with a compromised sense of balance from PD further compromised by muscles relaxed by Valium. This led to a certain amount of banging and crashing as I rammed into walls and furniture. Bad idea #4? I think so.

At this point Pam began to get a touch irritated "What are you trying to prove?" She demanded. A reasonable question. I'm not sure of the answer. Maybe that she doesn't have to drive all the way to the State Fair for entertainment.

Sneak Peek: Progress on the PD comic "A Mixed Cursing"

Drawings ©2011, Peter Dunlap-Shohl, Click to enlarge

For years people have been prodding me with the question "Why not turn the blog into a book?" I usually counter-prod with the question "Do we really need another book on Parkinson's Disease?" Then several months ago I ran into two friends, Scott and Julia. Scott is a great fan of graphic novels, which is a highfalutin' term for fancy comic books. We were chatting about "LOGICOMIX" which is,among other things, a comics biography of Bertrand Russell we both read and enjoyed. "You have enough in your blog to turn it into a graphic novel", Julia suggested. I told her I didn't think so. The blog doesn't really amount to a narrative, the drawings aren't connected enough. The whole thing seems like a fragmented, episodic series of observations. Not enough graphic or novel. Or maybe I'm just lazy.

Later I was talking to my friend Steve. Again the dreaded book subject came up. I raised the usual objections. But he may have given me a way to focus that will work. "You treat Parkinson's Disease like an adventure", He said. Hmmmmm. With a massive, Herculean effort, a guy might be able to make that work. I've got about eleven pages so far. They appear above. above, in case anyone is curious.

One reason I have been reluctant to start a project like this is a fear it will interfere with blogging. Then it occurred to me I could post pages here from time to time, neatly killing two flies with one swatter. Page twelve calls, must run...

Classes for Alaskans Dealing With a Chronic Disease

Hello friends,

Below is a brief description and contact info regarding a series of classes being put on by the Multiple Sclerosis Center for those of us dealing with Chronic disease.

Better Choices Better Health Living Well in Alaska

This is a Self–Management program for those dealing with
Chronic Diseases. It is a six week course designed to bring
you hope, tools and resources. It will allow you to improve
your health-one step at a time. It begins October 12 and
will meet every Wednesday through November 16th. It runs from 6:00-8:30pm, and will take place at the Alaska MS center, at Providence Hospital. Pre-registration is required and limited space is available. Please RSVP by calling 929-2567 or email us at info@alaskamscenter.org .


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The Alaska Multiple Sclerosis Center (AMSC)
907-929-2567
3340 Providence Drive Suite 552 (Tower A)
Anchorage Alaska 99508

Neurologist Dr. Monique Giroux To address Anchorage Parkinson's Community

On Thursday September 22, 2011 Dr. Monique Giroux will speak on the Prescription for Brain Health with Parkinson's at 2:30 pm, Providence Alaska Medical Center. Dr. Giroux will examine the question of how exercise and other lifestyle choices affect your physical
symptoms and brain health with Parkinson’s?

This should be a dynamite presentation. It's being put on by The Northwest Parkinson's Foundation.

The event will be held in the Providence West auditorium, which I am told is located near the cafeteria in building "H" They ask that you register beforehand. Here is how:

Online: www.nwpf.org
Call: 1-877-980-7500
Email: alecha@nwpf.org


I hope to see you there. Thanks to Alecha Newbern at NWPF for getting the word out.

Breaking News! "Dignified Dachshund from Anchorage Hillside" Sweeps to Third Place in Parkinson's Pets Competition.

The voting is over, the people have spoken. The dignified dachshund from the Anchorage Hillside came in third. She wins some Gramma Lucy's dog food and assorted Michael J Fox swag which we expect will make great chew toys. Vienna wishes to thank you all for your unstinting support. It's always a tough road when your legs are only six inches long.

Vienna expects to take a few weeks off to rest, spend some time with family, and pursue her hobby of scratching herself. Although she is disappointed to have slipped in and out of first place to finally finish third, she has not ruled out future electoral possibilities.

"We ran a hard campaign, a clean campaign that we are proud of. We stuck to the issue of my cuteness, and that message obviously resonated with a great many of the voting public." She went on to point out that her campaign attracted national as well as international support and said she would like to send a shout out to her friend Noelle in Great Britain and a big thank you to Roberta Greenberg and the Los Angeles Dachshund play group.

She was quick to congratulate her opponents. She had nothing but praise for first place winner Our Perfect Champion who "not only ran a clean campaign but also well-brushed" And she hopes that Milly will be able to chew her share of the prize dog food without too much difficulty from that nasty under bite.

Meanwhile behind he scenes rumors of a campaign in disarray swirled throughout the day. There were unconfirmed reports that Vienna had fired her one-person campaign staff, complaining of his lackadaisical approach to the campaign. Sources close to Vienna, including her closest friends Shadow and Olive refused to comment, although some reporters quoted Shadow as denying the entire story with a loud "NAYYYYYY!"

More on this story as it develops, if it develops.

Vienna is interviewed on KTUU Television here here

Michael J Fox Fundation Pets for Parkinson's Contest- Dignified Dacshund Struggles for Recognition

(Photo by Pamela Dunlap-Shohl)

I don't remember where I saw the information about the Michael J. Fox Foundation's Pets for Parkinson's contest. I do remember thinking that the above portrait of our Dachshund, Vienna, had a certain "je ne sais quois". For fun, I entered it.

Imagine my surprise when I went to the page where the frontrunners were posted and found Vienna running a respectable second. I voted, posted the info to my facebook page and was rewarded when I checked in later to find Vienna had made the leap to frontrunner! Since then she has slipped in and out of first place. Currently she is right behind some silky blue-blooded golden retriever named... are you ready for this? "Our Perfect Champ" Well. It ain't over until the fat Yorkie sings.

How can you help? Glad you asked. Just go here, and cast your vote for the scrappy underdog, Vienna. Look at that face. How can you say no?

Team cul de Sac Update: Cartoonists Versus Parkinson's Disease

Chris Sparks, our lovely guide and mastermind of the Team Cul de Sac project, gives us a quick tour of some of the wonderful art work contributed by a talented crop of cartoonists to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Chris started this project to honor his friend, cartoonist Richard Thompson, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease. Thompson is one of the most admired pens in the business, but only because he is wildly talented, creative, and a gentleman to boot.

The cartoonists were invited to create work featuring the characters invented by Thompson for his Cul de Sac strip. The artwork will be combined into a book, sales of which will help support the Fox Foundation. Individual pieces will be auctioned and money will be raised for Fox that way as well. If you've ever dreamed of owning an original by Bill Watterson, Lynn Johnston or any other fine cartoonist, watch the Team Cul de Sac blog for details.

In the meantime a big fat thanks to the people at Andrews and McMeel, who are publishing the book, and especially to Chris, who has a tiger by the tail. Wait a minute.... Is that Hobbes?

A 900 Mile Message

Pam and I met Doug Bahniuk at the end of his 900 mile journey across Alaska (Photo by Pamela Dunlap-Shohl)


When asked why he he wished to climb Mt. Everest, mountaineer George Mallory is said to have replied "Because it's there". When you ask Doug Bahniuk why he rode his bicycle 900 miles from the North Slope of Alaska to Anchorage, he cites a more compelling incentive. Doug wanted to show other people who suffer from Parkinson's Disease that adventure and accomplishment are still within their grasp.

To achieve this, he set about a test that he describes as "Brutal". Riding solo across Alaska on a road of potholes and "washboard" ripples, a road littered with rocks the size of peaches, he fought headwind and fatigue for nearly three weeks. Doug rode through mud and mosquitoes up mountain passes. He sheltered from the rain under a bit of plastic. He pitched his tent over beds of rocks that prodded him at night through his blue foam pad. He fell off his bike three times.

He finally arrived in Anchorage hungry, bug-bit, triumphant and relieved. He can now return to his normal everyday life. A life where he must deal each day with Parkinson's Disease. A task that will surly seem tame compared to his wild ride from the remote Arctic back to civilization.

Mallory disappeared on Everest. Mortal risk was one of the hazards of going there. With Doug, it's not the going there that matters, it's the coming back.

The Doug Has Landed !

Doug made it! (As seen from the warmth and comfort of our car.)

August Alaska Parkinson's Calendar

August is here. If, like me, you still have Parkinson's Disease, you may be interested in the following...

Monday, August 8, 2011 A Parkinson's Telehealth Seminar on Bone Health and PD with Dr. Lynn Kohlmeir. Look for this event in room 2401 at 1:00 p.m. in the Providence oncology wing. Go to the second floor walk down the lonnnnnnnng hall that stretches South from the cafe and look for room 2401 pretty much at the end of the hall. The room will be on your left, not far from the statue of Mary in the nook at the end of the hall.

We will have our regular meeting on the 20th, fifth floor of the Pioneer home, 3:30, subject to be announced.

I also would like to bring your attention to The Alaska Parkinson's Page on facebook. This is an effort to create a place where people who are not able to take advantage of our support group can have a virtual support group on the internet. If you know of people who live out of town, or simply can't get to meetings for whatever reason, please point them to This page

I would be happy to have suggestions on what to include there, so check it out and chime in.

Get outside while it's not raining!