{{{vw}}}

In more Annabel communication news, I've got the All-Star Game on in the background. They were introducing the teams, and when they said "Ichiro Suzuki from the Seattle Mariners," Annabel said "Yay?" in the same questioning tone she used with "Done?" earlier today. I wasn't quite as quick on the draw in praising her appropriate response, since by the time I'd cycled through, "Hey, that sounded like a 'yay', and she didn't make a sound when anyone else was introduced, which means she recognizes 'Ichiro' and/or 'Mariners' as something the people in her world cheer for," they'd already introduced the next player.

But still, I thought it was cool.

Annabel said "Yay?" in the same questioning tone she used with "Done?" earlier today.

Susan's raising a valley girl!

askye, much ~ma to your mother and aunt. And grandmother, for that matter. My paternal grandmother had Altzheimers and eventually had to go into a nursing home. Unless there's someone around who can care for a person who is in that sort of situation 24/7--and by "care" I mean physically pick them up when they fall down, track all medications, feed, and wash them--a care facility of some sort is pretty much necessary. And they aren't all awful. My grandmother's seemed pretty nice, from what I can remember. My great aunt also spent some of her later years in one that seemed nice. There's a care facility in Durham that several parents of friends and friends of my parents either have been in or are on waiting lists to get into, and it's rather lovely--trails and a music room and such.

I'm feeling much better. Dave showed up early so my bath was cut short, but I have had Chinese takeout and and watching the All Stars game and things are better.

Much ~ma to askye and her whole family. My family went through this with my step-grandmother, and I really do think that making sure that your grandmother is taken care of when she can no longer take care of herself is the kindest thing you can do for her.

I can't make myself look at the scary retouched photos.

{{{vw}}} You did what you could in a bad situation. That's all that matters imo.

"Hey, that sounded like a 'yay', and she didn't make a sound when anyone else was introduced, which means she recognizes 'Ichiro' and/or 'Mariners' as something the people in her world cheer for," they'd already introduced the next player.

Go, Annabel! She sounds like a highly intellegent little girl to me.

Susan's raising a valley girl!

Either that, or she's thinking, "Why do we cheer for the Mariners? They've been losing all my life."

I re wrote my email to the editorial bitch. I figured, I might as well do some research and get more information. Plus I forgot to put in the part where Sexton's from here. His parents live here, this is home town and he's been here in the hospital here.

This is the new version:

Dear Ms. Hill,

I'm very confused by your recently editorial regarding Wyatt Sexton because the editorial was poorly written and researched I would like some clarification.

First -- in your editorial you said "A few weeks ago, I wrote that it would be better if Sexton had a drug problem rather than an incurable, but treatable mental condition, such as bipolar disorder."

I was floored to read this. Completely struck dumb and then irate.

Exactly how would it be better? Are you saying that an incurable drug addiction (because there is no cure for drug addiction) is better than an illness that is treatable? I have bipolar disorder, I'm on medication and I know that as long as I take my medication I will be stable. If, on the off chance, my medication doesn't work correctly I can go to the doctor and adjust my medication. There is no temptation to face daily, no desire to get high, no craving, no addiction. If this is your position -- that addiction is preferable to a treatable condition -- do you feel that way about all treatable but incurable conditions? If Wyatt Sexton were diagnosis with Lupus or MS or diabetes would you say, also, that he would be better off a drug addict?

Or did you mean that there is less of a stigma attached to drug addiction? That the general public is more likely to understand and react sympathetically to addiction than it is towards mental illness? Because if that is the case then you are perpetuating the stigma.

I also take offense at your implication that maybe there is something more than Lyme Disease going on with Sexton, that maybe his family is using the excuse to hide something like drug addiction.

You aren’t a doctor and neither am I but using www.google. It only took me a few minutes to find The American Lyme Disease Foundation’s website at: [link] They have an informative and easy to read website that provides the following information about Lyme Disease.

Regarding the late stages of the disease:

Arthritis (pain/swelling) of one or two large joints Disabling neurological disorders (disorientation; confusion; dizziness; short-term memory loss; inability to concentrate, finish sentences or follow conversations; mental "fog") Numbness in arms/hands or legs/feet

The website also says: If early symptoms are undetected or ignored, you may develop more severe symptoms weeks, months or perhaps years after you were infected. “

Regarding treatment and a cure (bold face mine)

Early treatment of LD (within the first few weeks after initial infection) is straightforward and almost always results in a full cure. Treatment begun after the first three weeks will also likely provide a cure, but the cure rate decreases the longer treatment is delayed.

According to this website there is a chance that Wyatt Sexton’s Lyme Disease can be treated but not cured. If this is the case do you still think he would be better off addicted to drugs?

Your closing paragraphs again highlight your lack of research for this editorial.

You said “The smartest thing might be for Sexton to never come back to Tallahassee. It’s not like he built some great legacy at FSU.”

Tallahassee is Wyatt Sexton’s home and he’s been here in the hospital. Wyatt graduated from high school here, his father is an assistant football coach at FSU. He won’t be kicked to the curb.

Even if he wasn’t a home town boy and had an incurable, yet treatable mental illness he'd be treated with compassion and understanding. Something you seem to know little about.

That's great, askye. But this bit "because the editorial was poorly written and researched" I think I'd take out or at least move it to the end. Make your case first (which you do very well) or I think some people would hit that line and think 'crackpot'.

But go you! That was a purely appalling editorial and I'm glad you're stepping up.

applauds

What brenda said, askye. Excellent rebuttal.

Great letter, askye, but I think you should take out the part that brenda quoted. You make that point quite well with evidence without needing to state it explicitly.

Dave is getting aggravated because I insist on booing A-Rod despite the fact that he is part of the team we are cheering for tonight.

I just made a room reservation for Dragon*Con. Eep. First con.

I had a blast at DragonCon last year. Be sure to take a camera!