Monday Meeting with Speech Pathologist Anne Ver Hoef UPDATE

Hello friends, Anne Ver Hoef who is coordinating the new speech  practice meetings for people​with PD asked me to pass along that the next meeting, Monday Dec. 18 at 3:30 will be held in classroom 1, NOT the Ivy room.  Classroom one is downstairs in the bldg closest to Airport heights Dr. in the AK Regional complex.​ This should be a helpful activity that aims at preserving and conserving our ability to communicate, which is key to quality of life. Anne is the bee's knees, so this meeting is highly recommended.

The Parkinson's Forecast for Anchorage and Environs

Heads up fellow PwPD. We will beat back the darkness Saturday, Dec 16 by potlucking like we don't care that it's too dim to tell what exactly is on our plates. Not that we can taste anything, anyway, given that our sense of smell is shot. We'll eat, watch the lights come on across the Anchorage bowl in the early winter gloaming, and all sing "Jingle Bells" if I have anything to say about it. I'll bring something main-dishy, scads of festive plastic utensils, and charming holiday-themed paper plates and cups (although the theme of the holiday may be Halloween, I'm not exactly sure what I have on hand.) You bring whatever you think goes well with light and heat deprivation. You could consider bringing something known to be particularly good for People Packing Parkinson's, blueberries, vegetables rich in color, leafy greens and, God bless 'em, tasty wild-caught Alaska salmon!

Those in need of more distraction from the bleak mid-winter (and that would be all of us) should consider going to voice pathologist Anne Ver Hoef's gathering for those who wish to practice speaking to strengthen their voices. If you didn't get the memo, here is the gist:

The second meeting of our PD  Conversation Group is planned for Monday, December 18th at 3:30 at Regional Hospital , Conference room 1.

Some activities we discussed doing at this meeting are:

Holiday singing

Script or play reading

Chinese auction  

read and discuss news articles

The goal is to develop and improve our speaking and conversation skills in a supportive group  of folks who all share the challenge of "Living well with Parkinson's"

And  we are setting up a special meeting JANUARY 4TH, on Care partnering for PD. The Presenter will be Connie Carpenter Phinney of the Davis Phinney Foundation. Connie won a gold Medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in bicycling and competed at the Olympics as a speed-skater, too. But what qualifies her as a speaker on care partnering is 17 years of experience garnered through her marriage to fellow Olympic cycling medalist Davis Phinney, who has PD. More details to follow.

That's about it! Hope to see you at some or all of these great moments in Northern Parkinson's.

Lymph System Shocker!!! The PD Pundit Looks at Yet Another Surprise From the Amazing Brain

Heads up! A brand new edition of the PD Pundit now available for your inspection! Just click here, and prepare yourself for a stunning revelation.

I Said, Late-Breaking Meeting, Speech Therapy for PD

Hi folks, I just received a note from Rock-Star speech pathologist Anne Ver Hoef who has this to say "I’m organizing a PD speech group: meeting Monday, Nov 13 at 4:00 pm at Denny’s on DeBarr Rd, back room. I️ have invited several people but got behind in timeliness. Sorry for late invite. I️ don’t know if this will be a 1-time thing or if there is interest in group that practices skills and strategies and meets somewhat regularly." As many of you know Anne is a terrific therapist and a stellar person to boot. This is bound to be a fruitful use of your time.  I hope it isn't too late for you to adjust your schedules to attend this clambake.

Think LOUD,

Peter

A new episode of The PD Pundit (He's only trying to help) Hot on the trail of a Parkinson's cure is up over at ParkinsonsDisease.net. Today's topic, the rapid acceleration of PD care.

R.I.P. Bob Rinehart, Longtime APDSG member

Bob at the picnic last Summer

I'm sorry to report Bob Rinehart, the genial Texan in the old-fashioned suspenders, has died. According to Caroline, his wife, Parkinson's Disease did not play a major role in Bob's final hours as he was also coping with cancer and other ailments as well. Not that you would have known that to look or interact casually with him. He took his health problems in stride, and held to a balanced view of life. He was a solid, reassuring presence.

Bob worked for the BLM in land law. He processed native claims, allotments and the like, traveling the state widely. A great joy of his life was flying. He was a pilot who owned three small airplanes. He also loved public radio. especially Prairie Home Companion. He went on two Prairie Home Companion-sponsored cruises, on which he and his wife Caroline met Garrison Keillor the host of the show.

Bob could be quite witty. I remember hearing him answering the question "Who are the Kardashians?" with the reply " Evil Star Trek aliens from the planet Kardashia."  Members of our support group are likely to recall him fondly for the ribs he would provide to our annual Summer potluck. They and he will be missed.  Our condolences go to Caroline and the rest of his family.

The services for Bob will be held 2:00 Saturday the 28th at The First Congregationalist Church, 2610 East Northern lights, tucked in behind Wendler Junior High)

Oct 21st, a Halting Talk on "My Degeneration" at Providence Hospital

I will be giving a halting, slurred speech about my book-length comic "My Degeneration" this Saturday, October 21st at the Adaptive Abilities Fair put on by the local MS organization. My talk begins at 10:00 am and goes for about an hour, including the Q&A at the end. I will have a number of books available for you to pick up, thumb through, put down, then pick up again and finally buy. And yes I will be happy to deface their crisp, clean pages with my damn near illegible signature. The venue is the Providence Health Park, 3851 Piper St., Tower U Rms 2281 & 2285

Parkinson's Can't Take Cartooning Away From Me. Not yet, Anyway

About a year ago, I ran into Matt Bors at a cartooning convention. Matt has, through sheer force of his considerable will, created one of the most provocative, smart cartooning sites on the Web,"The Nib". To my surprise, he had read my book, and said he liked it.  He proposed that I do a piece for his site, emphasizing the cartooning aspect of my struggle with Parkinon's Disease.  I did. To make a long story short, here it is.

Brand New Edition of the PD Pundit Now Up Over at Health Union

The PD pundit looks at some of the hows and whys of early detection of Parkinson's Disease. Find it here. He's only trying to help!

Rejected! This Post Was Toast. Do Not Read if You Are Satire Impaired

A piece I did for a blogging client. It's inspired by the fact that three of the 20th Century's most evil men had Parkinson's Disease. Given some of the side effects of our medication, if seemed within the realm of humorous possibility there could be a connection. While the client thought this was funny, they declined to publish the piece for fear someone might actually believe that "A sudden powerful urge to brutally repress your fellow humans" was a legitimate PD medication side effect. (To their credit, they paid up a kill-fee without complaint.) I am confident confusion in this case will not be a problem for Off & On readers, and because I like the way the drawings of Franco  and Mao came out, here it is.