Yoga For Parkinson's in Anchorage

We have a schedule for Rocky Plotnick's Yoga for PD class in August & September. Rocky has studied yoga with a Parkinson's coach, and this class should be a great way to take advantage of the benefits of Yoga for those who have Parkinson's.

Classes will be from 1:15 pm to 2:15 pm on Thursdays at the Alaska Dance Theater (550 E. 33rd Ave).

We will take a break from now until August 22nd.  This means NO CLASS August 1, 8 or 15.

There is no charge for this class.  Yoga mats are provided.  No experience necessary.

Just bring comfy clothes and an open mind.

Watch for Rocky's website, trinityyogaalaska.com - launch date is August 5th.

Another Revised Manuscript Page

We're up to page 88 of my Parkinson's "graphic novel" revision! About ten pages to go... On this page. I give in to my baser instincts, and just wail the tar out of the damn disease.  I apologize in advance for this lowbrow behavior, but it did feel awfully good. (Click image to enlarge)

Special Meeting July 24: Presentation from the MJ Fox Foundation

Hello friends, We have a special meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 24. Madhavi Rao, an advancement officer with The Michael J. Fox Foundation will be in town to give us a rundown on Parkinson's research the foundation is excited about. Because I anticipate a larger than usual audience for this special presentation, it will not be at our customary  venue. Instead, it will be at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center, from 3:00-5:00. There is ample parking there, and a covered drop-off area by the front door. We'll be in the Sullivan Room. Staff will be able to direct you.

Anchorage Senior Activity Center

Address: 1300 E 19th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone:(907) 258-7823

This should be a barn-burner of a talk, I hope you can make it.

July Parkinson's events for Anchorage and environs

Hello  friends. Here is the lowdown on  PD activities for the month of JULY.

You are invited to attend the Parkinson’s Education TeleHealth Presentation: July 8, room 2401 at 1:00 p.m. in the Providence oncology wing on Piper St.  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 on your right.
This Month, a double header, leading off:
Harmonic Wellness Acoustic Sound Therapy and possible benefits for those affected by PD.
Since 1979, Lynn Kelly, MT has been involved in the Healing Arts of alternative health and healing.  Certified Massage Therapist, California College of the Physical Arts, Huntington Beach, California.  Lynn’s point of view, disease is an indication, that for whatever reason, a person’s energy has changed and their energy needs to be brought back into a healthier state. Harmonic Wellness Therapy is dedicated to safe, affordable and noninvasive vibroacoustic sound table therapy.  Harmonic Wellness Sound Table Therapy Utilizes comfortable oversize massage tables converted with high quality  transducers that translate sound into vibrational massage targeted to the cellular level of muscles, organs and bones in the body. (Lynn will provide a day of Harmonic Wellness Therapy mini sessions free of charge at the Parkinson’s Resource Center of Spokane.) Lynn Kelly, MT Founder of Harmonic Wellness Therapy, LLC ...and... 

 

 Laughter may be the best therapy Speaker: Cyndi Cook, Resource Director  - Parkinson’s Resource Center A brief look into laughter, why it benefits all of us...and some funny videos to inspire laughter. Meetings are free of cost.
The Parkinson's TeleHealth Program broadcasts live, interactive educational talks to a network of rural communities in the Northwest. On the SECOND Monday of each month, a guest speaker presents a topic geared toward the interests of Parkinson's families. The information is designed to help participants to improve their knowledge of Parkinson's disease and in turn their quality of life.

And this month, the meeting will be our annual Summer potluck. The date: July 20, the time, 3:30, the place will be my house 9601 Elmore Road. To find our place, take Lake Otis Blvd to the intersection with Abbott Road. Head East on Abbott (toward the Mountains, the sunrise, uphill etc. ) Follow Abbott until you come to a traffic light. Turn right, heading South on Elmore for a quarter of a mile or so. Or just take Elmore South from the University area until you hit the light at the Abbott intersection, and then continue as above. Our driveway will appear on your left, halfway up a small hill. Turn down the longish unpaved driveway, and find us whooping it up at the end. What to bring: Your choice of Summer picnic food. We'll have various items to grill. Looking forward to seeing you,

Two Contrasting Pages From a Work in Progress

These two pages occur in separate chapters, but make an interesting contrast. The first is from a passage about the shock of diagnosis, and how professional healers can compound the pain of disease. The second is about the gratitude due to those from all walks of life who step up and help carry the burden. There are many thoughts to tease out of this contrast, one could write a book...
(Click images to enlarge)

Update: Here's a New Event happening in May

April was Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month. But May is shaping up as Routing Parkinson's Disease Ignorance Month. In addition to the Telehealth broadcast, (May13) on top of the Q&A with PD Specialist Dr. Alec Glass (regular meeting May 18) we have...

Ali Samii, MD
Movement Disorder Specialist
Professor of Neurology & Adjunct Professor of Neurological Surgery
University of Washington and the VA

Tuesday May 14, 2013
2:30pm Registration
3:00pm -4:30pm Program

Sheraton Anchorage
401 East 6th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 276-8700
Parking will be provided

Parkinson’s Disease: An Update

Box Lunches will be provided

Please RSVP to 1-877-229-4532 ext 1035806

Now is your chance to grill a PD specialist intimate and up close. See you there, and there, and there.

Alaska PD Report, Late April, Early May

Hello Friends This just in: It's meeting time again. That means we'll be having one of our little heart-to-heart chats at 3:30 in the West lounge of the Pioneer Home this Saturday. We will be discussing iPhone apps for people with PD, DBS Surgery and an idea I have for an exercise class. Whoee! You won't want to miss it. Or if it's gloriously sunny like it is right now, maybe you will want to miss it. Let your conscience be your guide.
The telehealth presentation this month will be Tools to help you stay active and in your home – Jennifer Ams, Family First Senior Care The broadcast will be Monday, May 13. The topic: Parkinson's and nutrition, room 2401 at 1:00 p.m. in the Providence oncology wing on Piper St.  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 on your right.

Hope to see you soon 

Pete

More Revamped Pages from the Parkinson's comic

Here is what was originally a one page story that has grown to two in the second draft of the PD book I am working on. This is the original page:

(Click to enlarge) And here are the new pages:

So what is going on here? Well, probably the first thing you noticed was it's in black and white. Why? It's a little faster for me to work this way. Since they have not bought the manuscript yet I am hoping to get a resolution over what they will do as soon as I can.  They can see from the black and whites whether this will satisfy their criteria in terms of content. Also, it's cheaper to publish in black and white rather than full color. If it is to be published in lavish full-color, I can add that later. In my experience adding color to black and white yields better results than converting color to black and white.

The other big thing I a trying to do is cut down on words and especially narration. Hey dummy, it's comics, a VISUAL medium. So let the visuals do the talking. That, along with a better organized approach is contributing to a more interesting and coherent work. At least I believe it is. Your thoughts are welcome.

The Book Project Lives

Long-time followers of this  blog may recall that way back when, I reported that I had finished the manuscript for a book. The manuscript was in the form of a "Graphic Novel", which is a somewhat more respectable term for what most people call "Comic Books". At least, I thought it was in that form. What it really was, for the most part, was a blob, a mass of ideas that were  held together in a big sticky amorphous slug of batter. Miraculously, an editor at an academic press saw something in that wad of words and pictures, contacted me, and asked if I would rework the thing. So I have been organizing it and revising it into a form other people can digest. I hope.

Once the thing is revised, I will resubmit the work to the publisher. The editor is working with me to overcome the reservations they had. Their criticisms have been helpful, and I believe it will be a much stronger work. I hope to have the revision finished in a couple of months. Here are a few revised pages, your thoughts are welcome. Click on images to make them bigger.

Pete

Parkinson's forecast for March

Heads up, fellow frostbit wonders, It's time once again to review the month in PD. What have we got for our Parkinson's people this month Johnny? Its a beautiful TELEHEALTH CONFERENCE! (Wild sustained applause) Ths month our intrepid hosts will fearlessly feature "The link between possible environmental triggers" What could those be? Find out by attending the interactive broadcast  Monday, March  11. room 2401 at 1:00 p.m. in the Providence oncology wing on Piper St.  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 on your right.​

 

​ And THAT"S NOT ALL!!!! We will have our usual scintillating regular meeting on the 16th of March, 23;30 at the Pioneer Home. Subject TBA.

 

Even THAT isn't all! We'll have, a terrific chance to get some up-to-date PD wisdom from a respected neurologist. Details below

ALASKA PARKINSON’S EDUCATION PROGRAM
Understanding What Your
Medications Will Do For YOU
Dr. Monique Giroux
Movement Disorder Specialist, Movement and Neuroperfomance Center of Colorado and Medical Director, NWPF
Thursday, March 28, 2013
2:30-4:00 PM
U Tower of Providence Hospital
Cancer Center Room 2285
3851 Piper Street, Anchorage, AK 99508
Complimentary Program and refreshments for people
living with PD, family caregivers and friends
Register
Online: www.nwpf.org
Call: 877-980-7500
Sponsored by TEVA Neuroscience

Gotta run,

Peter​