Re: [QUAD-L] Music?
You might want to clarify that Acid is music creating/editing software. LOL Although, maybe you meant LSD? Hahaha. Impressive job, Danny! On Wednesday, May 28, 2014 8:28 PM, donald scott rollingl...@yahoo.com wrote: That song is pretty Bad-A. Well done. I tried playing a steal guitar for a while but couldn't exactly pull it off. Maybe I'll try computer playing. Keep up the fun. Donald c5-c6 On Wednesday, May 28, 2014 7:28 PM, Danny Espinoza da...@immortaldesigns.co wrote: I was screwing around with Acid the other morning and made this. I still have much to learn about song theory and song structure so I know its probably not great but its nice to know I can still make music even though I cant play guitar anymore... https://soundcloud.com/danny-espinoza-3/1-5-21-2014?fb_action_ids=10152110454261724fb_action_types=soundcloud%3Apublishfb_source=aggregationfb_aggregation_id=288381481237582
Fwd: [QUAD-L] To wake, or not to wake up?
Don, your reply is eloquent and passionate, not to mention brave. It is very easy to fall into despair as a quad, especially as we grow older and see friends and family members pass away and others become disabled or crippled with pain. Those of us who were injured in our teens were likely cared for by parents. Now those parents are themselves disabled or passed away. Those of us blessed to find a mate have someone to love and lean on. Sadly, many of us do not, and we lose hope and purpose at this point especially if we have been a quad for 40+ years. My mother and wife both have physical problems that make me weep. My wife, Melissa, has heart and blood pressure problems plus edema and recurring pleurisy that hangs over our heads like a dark cloud. I am causing pain and physical damage to her as she rolls and tugs me around. She can barely walk for the back pain. My mom is nearly 81. She still gets around, but I can see a difference in her nearly every day. And all I can do for both is be an added burden. I know life is precious, and I have been blessed with two beautiful kids and a 31-year job as a teacher. But at age 62, things just seem to be all downhill. Would Dr.Pausch have struggled for each new day if he knew the suffering would continually worsen and there was no end in sight? What if he faced another 30 years of suffering day-after-day the pain and misery of pancreatic cancer? I have no answer to the meaning of life much less an answer to suffering. I love my wife and family and treasure my time with them. Sometimes I just become overwhelmed with the endless problems of quadom. Then I have to blow steam or explode. Thanks to all my quad buds for letting me blow some steam. Love and blessings to all of you. Larry Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: Resent-From: quad-list@eskimo.com From: Don Price donpric...@yahoo.com Date: May 27, 2014 at 11:33:54 PM EDT To: linda...@comcast.net linda...@comcast.net, Gmail bobbiehumphre...@gmail.com Cc: quad-list quad-list@eskimo.com Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] To wake, or not to wake up? Reply-To: Don Price donpric...@yahoo.com Bobbie, I've been thinking about your email since you posted it, trying to mentally compose a reply. Here's my short answer: No, I've never wished not to wake up. In fact, the opposite is true for me--I go to sleep every night praying that I get another opportunity to be alive tomorrow. But, it's not a simple question to answer, is it? I consider myself extremely lucky because 32 years post-injury I don't have the debilitating pain many of you describe. I don't have any pressure sores or kidney stones; my bladder and bowels function well and I still don't need Viagra. I'm not bragging; I am grateful for everything I have. My first thought is that you have to be honest with yourself, Bobbie. Is this simply a temporary period of 'the blues,' or do you possibly have clinical depression? It's a very important distinction because depression does have a physiological basis and can be effectively helped with medical intervention. If you are having suicidal thoughts I beg you to seek a mental health hotline--I guarantee there's one available in your community. On the other hand, if you're just feeling down and out, having a rough go of things at the moment, then I'm glad you had the guts to mention it here. Yes, I honestly think it took great courage to share a weak moment here, to be vulnerable. 'Us people' with disabilities are always held up as inspirational; we're fonts of strength and wisdom because we survived a disability. We all know what a bunch of bullshit that is. Partly, that misconception is fed by the media and their fixation on the 'supercrip.' I'm sorry, but if I see one more news story about a guy climbing Half Dome in Yosemite using only his tongue I'm going to puke! All of us here know we're just regular human beings, getting up, doing our business, going to bed. Guess what? Sometimes we even have bad days! However, Bobbie (and all), it is my firm belief that--barring medical issues causing depression--we (and only we) have the power to make ourselves happy. I don't just believe that, I know it. It's somewhat ironic that I read your email, entitled To wake, or not to wake up? the same day I started reading 'The Last Lecture,' by Randy Pausch. For those of you unfamiliar with Mr Pausch's Last Lecture, he's a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University who learned he had only a few months to live due to pancreatic cancer. His accurately-titled 'last lecture' is available on youtube and shouldn't be missed. The irony is that this man endured mind-boggling surgeries and procedures so he could have even a chance at living a few days longer, and here we are talking about throwing away precious days, weeks, years. I'm reading the book because my father--the strongest man I've ever known--has recently been diagnosed with
RE: [QUAD-L] Music?
Thanks =] Original Message Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Music? From: Don Price donpric...@yahoo.com Date: Thu, May 29, 2014 12:31 pm To: donald scott rollingl...@yahoo.com, Danny Espinoza da...@immortaldesigns.co, "quad-list@eskimo.com" quad-list@eskimo.com You might want to clarify that Acid is music creating/editing software. LOLAlthough, maybe you meant LSD? Hahaha.Impressive job, Danny! On Wednesday, May 28, 2014 8:28 PM, donald scott rollingl...@yahoo.com wrote:That song is pretty Bad-A. Well done. I tried playing a steal guitar for a while but couldn't exactly pull it off. Maybe I'll try computer playing. Keep up the fun.Donald c5-c6 On Wednesday, May 28, 2014 7:28 PM, Danny Espinoza da...@immortaldesigns.co wrote:I was screwing around with Acid the other morning and made this. I still have much to learn about song theory and song structure so I know its probably not great but its nice to know I can still make music even though I cant play guitar anymore... https://soundcloud.com/danny-espinoza-3/1-5-21-2014?fb_action_ids=10152110454261724fb_action_types=soundcloud%3Apublishfb_source=aggregationfb_aggregation_id=288381481237582
Re: [QUAD-L] To wake, or not to wake up?
Really well stated Don!! Hope you feel better Bobbie, we are all in this together. Meredith - Original Message - From: Larry Willis lwillis82...@gmail.com To: quad-list quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 7:26:48 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] To wake, or not to wake up? Don, your reply is eloquent and passionate, not to mention brave. It is very easy to fall into despair as a quad, especially as you grow older and see friends and family pass away and others become disabled or crippled with pain. My mother and wife both have physical problems that make me weep. My wife, Melissa, has heart and blood pressure problems plus edema and recurring pleurisy that hangs over our heads like a dark cloud. My mom is nearly 81. She still gets around, but I can see a difference in her nearly every day. And all I can do is be an added burden. I know life is precious, and I have been blessed with two beautiful kids and a 31-year job as a teacher. I am causing pain and physical damage to my wife as she rolls and tugs me around. She can barely walk for the back pain. It just seems to be all downhill for all of us. Thanks to everyone for letting me blow steam. Larry Sent from my iPad On May 27, 2014, at 11:33 PM, Don Price donpric...@yahoo.com wrote: Bobbie, I've been thinking about your email since you posted it, trying to mentally compose a reply. Here's my short answer: No, I've never wished not to wake up. In fact, the opposite is true for me--I go to sleep every night praying that I get another opportunity to be alive tomorrow. But, it's not a simple question to answer, is it? I consider myself extremely lucky because 32 years post-injury I don't have the debilitating pain many of you describe. I don't have any pressure sores or kidney stones; my bladder and bowels function well and I still don't need Viagra. I'm not bragging; I am grateful for everything I have. My first thought is that you have to be honest with yourself, Bobbie. Is this simply a temporary period of 'the blues,' or do you possibly have clinical depression? It's a very important distinction because depression does have a physiological basis and can be effectively helped with medical intervention. If you are having suicidal thoughts I beg you to seek a mental health hotline--I guarantee there's one available in your community. On the other hand, if you're just feeling down and out, having a rough go of things at the moment, then I'm glad you had the guts to mention it here. Yes, I honestly think it took great courage to share a weak moment here, to be vulnerable. 'Us people' with disabilities are always held up as inspirational; we're fonts of strength and wisdom because we survived a disability. We all know what a bunch of bullshit that is. Partly, that misconception is fed by the media and their fixation on the 'supercrip.' I'm sorry, but if I see one more news story about a guy climbing Half Dome in Yosemite using only his tongue I'm going to puke! All of us here know we're just regular human beings, getting up, doing our business, going to bed. Guess what? Sometimes we even have bad days! However, Bobbie (and all), it is my firm belief that--barring medical issues causing depression--we (and only we) have the power to make ourselves happy. I don't just believe that, I know it. It's somewhat ironic that I read your email, entitled To wake, or not to wake up? the same day I started reading 'The Last Lecture,' by Randy Pausch. For those of you unfamiliar with Mr Pausch's Last Lecture, he's a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University who learned he had only a few months to live due to pancreatic cancer. His accurately-titled 'last lecture' is available on youtube and shouldn't be missed. The irony is that this man endured mind-boggling surgeries and procedures so he could have even a chance at living a few days longer, and here we are talking about throwing away precious days, weeks, years. I'm reading the book because my father--the strongest man I've ever known--has recently been diagnosed with leukemia. I'm not judging anyone here. I can't walk a mile in your shoes (to use an exceedingly inappropriate cliche,) so I don't have the right, or desire, to lecture anyone. But, as I said, I know that we have the ability to choose (yes, choose) happiness and gratefulness in our lives. HOW you do that is going to be very much an individual thing. There are a million self-help books out there, and a few of them are even good, but that journey is yours to take on your own. Having said that, I still feel the compulsion to make a few suggestions (once I start typing I just can't stop--sorry!) First of all, one has to make the mind shift from what we've lost (or can't do,) to what we still have available (or can do.) If you can see, be thankful. If you can hear, be grateful. If you can think, praise the heavens. Somebody wrote that they miss the simple things,
[QUAD-L] Nest thermostat and smoke alarm
I wanted to share this with everyone because it seems like it would be benificial to us. These thermostatandsmokealarms can be controlled and notify through smart phones "I would assume tablets as well" or through a website.https://nest.com/thermostat/life-with-nest-thermostat/https://nest.com/smoke-co-alarm/life-with-nest-protect/ -Danny
RE: [QUAD-L] Nest thermostat and smoke alarm
beneficial* Original Message Subject: [QUAD-L] Nest thermostat and smoke alarm From: "Danny Espinoza" da...@immortaldesigns.co Date: Thu, May 29, 2014 3:44 pm To: quad-list@eskimo.com I wanted to share this with everyone because it seems like it would be benificial to us. These thermostatandsmokealarms can be controlled and notify through smart phones "I would assume tablets as well" or through a website.https://nest.com/thermostat/life-with-nest-thermostat/https://nest.com/smoke-co-alarm/life-with-nest-protect/ -Danny
Re: [QUAD-L] Nest thermostat and smoke alarm
Great stuff! Environmental control units have come a long way in the last few years. I used to have some units I bought at Radio Shack that you could plug devices into and control remotely (on/off only.) It was great when it worked but I had several over the wall plugs burn out on me. Yikes! If any of you are iPhones, hold on for a bit. I recently read that Apple is entering the environmental controls market in a big way real soon. Apple doesn't do anything in a small way. Very soon all houses will be 'smart,' and you'll be able to control everything from temperature to lighting to music with your smartphone. Pretty exciting times! Don. On Thursday, May 29, 2014 3:44 PM, Danny Espinoza da...@immortaldesigns.co wrote: I wanted to share this with everyone because it seems like it would be benificial to us. These thermostat and smoke alarms can be controlled and notify through smart phones I would assume tablets as well or through a website. https://nest.com/thermostat/life-with-nest-thermostat/ https://nest.com/smoke-co-alarm/life-with-nest-protect/ -Danny
Re: [QUAD-L] Nest thermostat and smoke alarm
I currently use a thermostat which can be controlled by infrared signals. I use my ECU to move the temperature up or down. It usually goes up or down by 2°, but I can track it. If it's on And it set for 78 let's say, if I hit the up arrow when it's on 79 it will essentially set it for 79. I bought the thermostat quite a few years ago from Smart home I believe. It was around 70 bucks. Sent from my iPad On May 29, 2014, at 8:43 PM, Don Price donpric...@yahoo.com wrote: Great stuff! Environmental control units have come a long way in the last few years. I used to have some units I bought at Radio Shack that you could plug devices into and control remotely (on/off only.) It was great when it worked but I had several over the wall plugs burn out on me. Yikes! If any of you are iPhones, hold on for a bit. I recently read that Apple is entering the environmental controls market in a big way real soon. Apple doesn't do anything in a small way. Very soon all houses will be 'smart,' and you'll be able to control everything from temperature to lighting to music with your smartphone. Pretty exciting times! Don. On Thursday, May 29, 2014 3:44 PM, Danny Espinoza da...@immortaldesigns.co wrote: I wanted to share this with everyone because it seems like it would be benificial to us. These thermostat and smoke alarms can be controlled and notify through smart phones I would assume tablets as well or through a website. https://nest.com/thermostat/life-with-nest-thermostat/ https://nest.com/smoke-co-alarm/life-with-nest-protect/ -Danny
[QUAD-L] oops!
My babbling response to Don below is a rough draft sent by mistake. A finished copy is on its way. From: Larry Willis lwillis82...@gmail.com To: quad-list quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 7:26:48 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] To wake, or not to wake up? Don, your reply is eloquent and passionate, not to mention brave. It is very easy to fall into despair as a quad, especially as you grow older and see friends and family pass away and others become disabled or crippled with pain. My mother and wife both have physical problems that make me weep. My wife, Melissa, has heart and blood pressure problems plus edema and recurring pleurisy that hangs over our heads like a dark cloud. My mom is nearly 81. She still gets around, but I can see a difference in her nearly every day. And all I can do is be an added burden. I know life is precious, and I have been blessed with two beautiful kids and a 31-year job as a teacher. I am causing pain and physical damage to my wife as she rolls and tugs me around. She can barely walk for the back pain. It just seems to be all downhill for all of us. Thanks to everyone for letting me blow steam. Larry Sent from my iPad On May 27, 2014, at 11:33 PM, Don Price donpric...@yahoo.com wrote: Bobbie, I've been thinking about your email since you posted it, trying to mentally compose a reply. Here's my short answer: No, I've never wished not to wake up. In fact, the opposite is true for me--I go to sleep every night praying that I get another opportunity to be alive tomorrow.But, it's not a simple question to answer, is it? I consider myself extremely lucky because 32 years post-injury I don't have the debilitating pain many of you describe. I don't have any pressure sores or kidney stones; my bladder and bowels function well and I still don't need Viagra. I'm not bragging; I am grateful for everything I have.My first thought is that you have to be honest with yourself, Bobbie. Is this simply a temporary period of 'the blues,' or do you possibly have clinical depression? It's a very important distinction because depression does have a physiological basis and can be effectively helped with medical intervention. If you are having suicidal thoughts I beg you to seek a mental health hotline--I guarantee there's one available in your community.On the other hand, if you're just feeling down and out, having a rough go of things at the moment, then I'm glad you had the guts to mention it here. Yes, I honestly think it took great courage to share a weak moment here, to be vulnerable. 'Us people' with disabilities are always held up as inspirational; we're fonts of strength and wisdom because we survived a disability. We all know what a bunch of bullshit that is. Partly, that misconception is fed by the media and their fixation on the 'supercrip.' I'm sorry, but if I see one more news story about a guy climbing Half Dome in Yosemite using only his tongue I'm going to puke! All of us here know we're just regular human beings, getting up, doing our business, going to bed. Guess what? Sometimes we even have bad days!However, Bobbie (and all), it is my firm belief that--barring medical issues causing depression--we (and only we) have the power to make ourselves happy. I don't just believe that, I know it.It's somewhat ironic that I read your email, entitled To wake, or not to wake up? the same day I started reading 'The Last Lecture,' by Randy Pausch. For those of you unfamiliar with Mr Pausch's Last Lecture, he's a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University who learned he had only a few months to live due to pancreatic cancer. His accurately-titled 'last lecture' is available on youtube and shouldn't be missed. The irony is that this man endured mind-boggling surgeries and procedures so he could have even a chance at living a few days longer, and here we are talking about throwing away precious days, weeks, years. I'm reading the book because my father--the strongest man I've ever known--has recently been diagnosed with leukemia.I'm not judging anyone here. I can't walk a mile in your shoes (to use an exceedingly inappropriate cliche,) so I don't have the right, or desire, to lecture anyone. But, as I said, I know that we have the ability to choose (yes, choose) happiness and gratefulness in our lives. HOW you do that is going to be very much an individual thing. There are a million self-help books out there, and a few of them are even good, but that journey is yours to take on your own.Having said that, I still feel the compulsion to make a few suggestions (once I start typing I just can't stop--sorry!) First of all, one has to make the mind shift from what we've lost (or can't do,) to what we still have available (or can do.) If you can see, be thankful. If you can hear, be grateful. If you can think, praise the heavens. Somebody wrote that they miss the simple things, like sitting up in bed and putting their feet on the
[QUAD-L] Blowing steam in the land of quadom
Don, your reply is eloquent and passionate, not to mention brave. It is very easy to fall into despair as a quad, especially as we grow older and see friends and family members pass away and others become disabled or crippled with pain. Those of us who were injured in our teens were likely cared for by parents. Now those parents are themselves disabled or passed away. Those of us blessed to find a mate have someone to love and lean on. Sadly, many of us do not, and we lose hope and purpose at this point especially if we have been a quad for 40+ years. My mother and wife both have physical problems that make me weep. My wife, Melissa, has heart and blood pressure problems plus edema and recurring pleurisy that hangs over our heads like a dark cloud. I am causing pain and physical damage to her as she rolls and tugs me around. She can barely walk for the back pain. My mom is nearly 81. She still gets around, but I can see a difference in her nearly every day. And all I can do for both is be an added burden. I know life is precious, and I have been blessed with two beautiful kids and a 31-year job as a teacher. But at age 62, things just seem to be all downhill. Would Dr.Pausch have struggled for each new day if he knew the suffering would continually worsen and there was no end in sight? What if he faced another 30 years of suffering day-after-day the pain and misery of pancreatic cancer? I have no answer to the meaning of life much less an answer to suffering. I love my wife and family and treasure my time with them. Sometimes I just become overwhelmed with the endless problems of quadom. Then I have to blow steam or explode. Thanks to all my quad buds for letting me blow some steam. Love and blessings to all of you. Larry
Re: [QUAD-L] Blowing steam in the land of quadom
I had a woman adapt a house for me and all. I screwed it up and wouldn't commit because I was a 24 yr old quad at the time and things were good. I had no idea what the yrs would do to me as I age. Oh well, we got to to the best we can with what we have. Everyday is a blessing in some way. I do agree with ol Don on one thing, the ability to be happy or sad is within ourselves. How we deal with our challenges determines a lot of things. Although life isn't fair and we all started the race of quadum with different support, levels of function, income levels, age at onset, therapy received and family . There is no way you can compare one person to another because we have no idea of all the factors involved. Basically the same as walking individuals cant really compare each other in any fair manner. The way I see it is take each day one by one and try to do something productive each day and it will usually build into something. Any quad that gets past the 20 yr mark has done something right. On Thursday, May 29, 2014 9:26 PM, Larry Willis lwillis82...@gmail.com wrote: Don, your reply is eloquent and passionate, not to mention brave. It is very easy to fall into despair as a quad, especially as we grow older and see friends and family members pass away and others become disabled or crippled with pain. Those of us who were injured in our teens were likely cared for by parents. Now those parents are themselves disabled or passed away. Those of us blessed to find a mate have someone to love and lean on. Sadly, many of us do not, and we lose hope and purpose at this point especially if we have been a quad for 40+ years. My mother and wife both have physical problems that make me weep. My wife, Melissa, has heart and blood pressure problems plus edema and recurring pleurisy that hangs over our heads like a dark cloud. I am causing pain and physical damage to her as she rolls and tugs me around. She can barely walk for the back pain. My mom is nearly 81. She still gets around, but I can see a difference in her nearly every day. And all I can do for both is be an added burden. I know life is precious, and I have been blessed with two beautiful kids and a 31-year job as a teacher. But at age 62, things just seem to be all downhill. Would Dr.Pausch have struggled for each new day if he knew the suffering would continually worsen and there was no end in sight? What if he faced another 30 years of suffering day-after-day the pain and misery of pancreatic cancer? I have no answer to the meaning of life much less an answer to suffering. I love my wife and family and treasure my time with them. Sometimes I just become overwhelmed with the endless problems of quadom. Then I have to blow steam or explode. Thanks to all my quad buds for letting me blow some steam. Love and blessings to all of you. Larry
