I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Blue are you telling us you are having an alt. therapy?

Just joking, I know there are many things "out there" that are not yet understood, but considered state of the art in diseases and disorders for which there is as yet no known etiology or cure. It takes brave people to try, it also takes desperate circumstances to make the trying worth while.

That's very impressive, Alexandria. I love writing and have done a lot of it in my life, but I don't have the imagination for fiction, IMO. I am always impressed at how people can whip up stories.

Thank you for telling us about Deep Brain Stimulation, and for participating in what has to be an incredible experiment. I had heard of it for intractable depression, I know that it is done in Kingston, On. Only because I heard a very interesting programme on the CBC about depression. It was on around noon. Being able to listen to the CBC during the day is one of the bonuses of cancer

In a world first, Dr. Andres M. Lozano and his team at Toronto Western Hospital has shown using Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) on patients with early signs of Alzheimer’s disease is safe and may help improve memory.

The phase one safety trial of six Ontario patients took place from 2005 to 2008. All patients left hospital within 2 to 3 days of surgery, and continue to participate in regular follow-up cognitive assessments.

Throughout these assessments, Dr. Lozano says half the patients continue to perform better than predicted – that is – their memory capacity has improved, or deteriorated less than expected.

“While the study was not looking for efficacy, the results suggest that of the six patients, three may have done better than if the Alzheimer’s disease was allowed to run its course,” commented Lozano. “We showed that not only is this a safe procedure, but that the evidence is there to warrant a bigger trial. Any amount of time that extends quality of life and quality years to someone with Alzheimer’s may be a benefit.”

Dr. Lozano first discovered the potential for DBS to treat Alzheimer’s disease while treating a patient for obesity using DBS back in 2003. While signaling areas of the brain, Dr. Lozano and his team triggered memories in the patient. In follow-up testing the patient’s memory improved and Dr. Lozano set in motion the first ever DBS trial of patients with early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

“We’ve demonstrated this is safe, and that the evidence warrants more study. We’re now planning a phase two, multi-centred trial - we’re just waiting on the funding,” says Dr. Lozano.

Results of Dr. Lozano’s trial are published in today’s issue of Annals of Neurology. Anyone interested in more information about participating in the next phase please visit:http://www.uhn.on.ca/Focus_of_Care/KNC/Functional_Neurosurgery/research.asp. There is a form interested applicants can print and fax in.

Good morning all. Also not a coffee drinker, just poured my only Diet Coke of the day. That's my caffeine addiction.



I'm reading through R Caro's 4 volume biography of LBJ. On volume 2 and into the 40's For some reason I'm fascinated and also the history will eventually become familiar as I get to the 60 's. Throughout you are asking the same question as the author. Do the ends justify the means? Living near DC it was easy to get to the protests.



My only foray into knitting was also home ec. 7th grade. Assignment 36" scarf. I struggled to get to 24". Don't remember the grade. I was just too antsy to sit and relax to it. Still am. I did manage the apron assignment and cooking wasn't so bad.



So there is a little of my, used to be, boring life.

Good Morning! 

oooooooooooooooo, knitting!  Knitting was one of my destressers when I was going through treatment.  There is this lovely program at my treatment center called Knit for Life--full of women who have dealt with cancer and who knit.  They gather weekly to chit chat and knit--if you don't knit, they will hand you needles and yarn and teach you.

I first learned to knit when I was a gr'up--I had heard knitting was good for stress and so in a stressful work time, i taught myself to knit.  I like knitting just fine but do have trouble juggling knitting, cooking and reading--doing all three at the same time just doesn't work out.

I would describe myself as an "uncomplicated" knitter--I have yet to complete a sweater but lots of hats, socks, scarves and fingerless gloves. 

Mary--how did you like Bite of Seattle?  I went with two of my monsters on Sunday--we spent most of our money at the Alley (the Tom Douglas charity section) though I did grab some green papaya salad--mmmm.  I was sooo glad we were there shortly after 11--when we came out to leave nearer to 2, it was simply crazy with people.

Today was my first day to sleep in for, well, too long.   And I was woken up at 0700 sharp by a cat fight literally on top of me. Ugh. I stiff-armed the aggressor (Lovey) off the bed and comforted the other (Lucy).

I think I've told you this, but I'm in limbo between apartments past and future. Had to leave the prior due to no functional A/C (I don't care how hot it is outside, 88-92 inside is not acceptable!) and new landlords who considered me a whiny bitch for repeatedly telling them that. I packed up the cats and fled to my brother's half basement with a lumpy futon, where it is a lovely 67-68 all the time. The cats and I are generally happier than we've been in months. I bought my way out of the old lease (still have 6 mos to sue them in small claims court) and have found a lovely new apartment on the other side of Indy (Plainfield, actually) with twice the sq ft as the old. I'm going from 425 to 860 sq feet. Woo-hoo! I won't know what to do with myself. But it isn't available until Aug. 28th. Sigh. I spent every spare moment last week packing up the old place, and Friday, the family helped me put it in storage.

And Lovey isn't taking things well at all. It doesn't help that shortly before this all started, cat #3, Swiffer, decided she wasn't happy being third in the pecking order. Lovey hasn't taken her demotion well, either, poor baby. But she's lashing out at both Swiffer and my sweet alpha, Lucy. And occasionally, me. And the new place only accepts 2 cats. I planned to smuggle them all in, but now may be looking at down-sizing. Lovey really is a sweet cat when there's no pressure on her and she isn't third in a pecking order. She LOVES attention. She was all over my 6 yr old great-nephew, but he already has a kitty. She's only a year old, so still adaptable to a new home, I'd think. I've put out the word among family and friends, on Facebook and on my work's intraweb, thinking I might get a better home for her that way than just putting an ad in the paper. Suggestions? TIA.

No suggestions for you Riley, but yey about the new apartment! And the bigger size.

Riley - congrats on the new apt.  I couldn't deal with not having A/C so glad you moved out.

Cats are such finicky creatures.  I have three of them and they have found their pecking order but in order to keep the peace I had to boot one to living outside.  She started peeing in the house.  She is so much happier not getting picked on by the other two cats.

Do you have a no-kill shelter in your area?  If you can't find a home via the means you mentioned - you might look into this.

Riley - congrats on the apartment.  Sorry about the kitty situation.  Maybe you need a cat whisperer - or that guy on My Cat from Hell to sort things out.  There are cat behavior specialists who may be able to help sorts things out. It's just so hard to find a home for an adult cat.  I'd be careful about newspaper ads - there are still people who experiment on animals.   Good luck with it.

Finished a chapter!!  YAY!  

OK - guess I'm weird - I liked making bound buttonholes - and the same technique is so useful for pockets.....

hubby and I HATE crowds, so haven't been to either the Bite or FolkLife or even the Taste (in Tacoma) for years and years.  I get my Blue Angels fix at work, as I can usually see them practicing out my office window (unless the weather is bad), so we also skip SeaFair - and haven't been to the parade since the kids were young.

Riley - congratulations on the new apt, and hope you win in small claims court.  There aren't many things worse than a bad landlord.  I was lucky in my renting days and almost always had good ones - I also tried hard to be a good renter, but can remember one time...  oh never mind - too embarassing.  

We miss you Sunflowers!!!!!

AHHHH----------HomeEconomics,aprons,ironing,SwissSteak. Crappy class, Drama better,English better, Gym and bloomers not so much.  Readin,Ritin,Rithmatic. Sewing I could do as long as I left out zippers and buttons,crocheted a 10FOOT LOOOONG single chain, so my MIL showed me how it was supposed to be done properly, and made the whole blanket in an hour. I did make 1 patch of a "graany square",she finished the other 59 patches. ThankYou,ThankYou,ThankYou. She would make herself a sweater to wear one day,then that night take it apart and make a new one for the next day. When her DD was in elementary school MIL made her a new dress everyday. She was a wonder was my MIL i dearly miss her!  I hope everyone has easy,gentle testing, along with good results. Hoping you GO TO sleep Not be PUT TO SLEEP during the testing. Love to all-------------kad2kar

P.S. Bren, I recognized my gunmetal sandals in your white ones. Glad you gals had good visit.