tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51167695579101174472024-03-13T04:06:20.244-07:00USER FRIENDLY VEGASMake the World a Nice Place to VisitPattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-67650767260129937822014-08-13T18:07:00.003-07:002018-05-27T13:08:19.867-07:00"I'm Sorry You Feel That Way" is NOT an Apology!<br />
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So I'm not going to rehash the situation with UPS here as I've already <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/ups-customer-center-las-vegas?hrid=blZppWiZx50uVxvCFDkjSA" target="_blank">posted on Yelp</a>. Let us just say that a UPS driver in particular and the local UPS center more generally really doesn't get how to do customer service. This is not news. UPS has had low customer ratings for years and has not done much about it.<br />
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But I write here because today's fiasco is all too familiar.<br />
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<h3>
The Scenario:</h3>
First person points out that the behavior and actions of second person is creating problems, not just for the first person, but for a lot of people who share commonalities with the first person.<br />
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Second person responds with ridicule, insensitivity and contempt. Second person is caught doing so. Second person is asked to apologize. Second person says, "I'm sorry you feel that way" to first person.<br />
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Wow. WRONG!!!!!!<br />
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First, it is a lie. Second person doesn't feel sorry about anything other than getting caught.<br />
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Second, it is impossible. You cannot be sorry for someone else's feelings.<br />
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Finally, it is an insult. First person isn't pointing this out because their feelings are hurt. First person is trying to teach second person some empathy. First person doesn't have any moral or practical obligation to teach this lesson. First person has generously chosen this path, usually because first person hopes against hope it will make the world better for everyone.<br />
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Conclusion: Second person just doesn't get it and, more probably, just doesn't give a damn.<br />
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This is not a good way to run a society and that should be enough. But even if you are the most cynical, right-wing, free-market, big-business, anti-social person on the planet, you should still care. Because this is also no way to run a business.<br />
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So at the moment Big Brown thinks, "Well, we've gotten away with this for so long, we can continue to do so." But commerce is unforgiving in the end. So one of two things in Big Brown's future. This will grow into a total collapse of the business or this will be one more indication of a total collapse of the economy.<br />
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Unfortunately, I'm think the odds are on the latter. Too many people do business this way.<br />
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The Lesson:</h3>
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This, my friends, is what is wrong with business, with the economy and with life in our society.<br />
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<br />Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-88946197247164574062014-07-17T17:30:00.000-07:002014-07-17T17:30:07.163-07:00What If...Here's what it feels like to get some respect. For years now, I've been telling doctors, "excuse me, but I think something more is going on here than just neuropathy. My symptoms started long before I had any specific metabolic symptoms and they began with an injury. Isn't there some way to make sure what it is?"<br />
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And for years I've been patted on the head and been told that I'm fat (like I missed that bit of data) and that therefore it was "obviously" diabetic neuropathy and "obviously" would go away if I was a good girl. How did we know I was a bad girl? Not by looking at metabolic numbers. No. But, because I was in pain. Yep we know the source of your pain because you have metabolic conditions and we know you are not taking good care of those metabolic conditions because you are in pain.<br />
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I took a course in logic when I was 17 years old. Spock was my favorite sci fi character. I can recognize a circular argument at 50 paces with my eyes closed.<br />
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Well today, for the first time, a doctor listened.<br />
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I'm going for more tests, but she actually said it might be something different and something more treatable. Physical therapy, supportive prosthetics, different medications and, maybe in a year or two no more daily pain. And...<br />
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(Dare I write it?)<br />
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Maybe, just maybe, with a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work I can walk again without help.<br />
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I really, really, really don't want to get too excited here, but I am hopeful about my body.<br />
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Possibly for the first time in 17 years.<br />
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I won't know for months and maybe years if this is going to work out, so I am prepared for some ups and downs.<br />
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But...<br />
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What if...<br />
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<br />Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-29056360807302863892013-09-13T22:07:00.000-07:002013-09-13T22:07:06.534-07:00The mechanisms of microaggressions<br />
It is this simple.<br />
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From your point-of-view, you have done one little thing. "I was only parking there for a minute." "I only blocked that door for a little while." "I only said something unkind once."<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6L79tDOr_7g/UjPudEYqXvI/AAAAAAAAB_E/2hdSdoDp48k/s1600/ocean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6L79tDOr_7g/UjPudEYqXvI/AAAAAAAAB_E/2hdSdoDp48k/s320/ocean.jpg" width="320" /></a>From my point-of-view, I run into it day-in-day-out. I hear it day-in-day-out from everywhere.<br />
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You are part of a collective and when you act within that collective from the privilege positions you have, it is not little.<br />
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Your one act may be drop in the ocean, but the ocean is real and I am drowning in it.<br />
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And that is why I am so angry.Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-74110201958407857422013-06-21T20:24:00.000-07:002013-06-21T20:24:15.317-07:00Handi-Crap Parking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyD_ac86DHPfpnO4RXzcRBIr6Ns4FKACRZNnU0zvsq8s62AI9z29tACYJhTm9XMjwzOiO_-pOPp3pBG_etvaA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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It is hard to call it a law if it isn't enforced. One of the many points we would like to make with our documentary.<br />
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The project has been put on a back burner but it has not been abandoned.Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-87483114017409977222013-04-13T05:30:00.000-07:002013-04-13T05:30:02.220-07:00DAY 13: D.R.P.A.T.T.I.E<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-turdPJ4rS68/UWhacDsPyTI/AAAAAAAAB7I/VDriGESZaVI/s1600/P1010007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" bua="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-turdPJ4rS68/UWhacDsPyTI/AAAAAAAAB7I/VDriGESZaVI/s320/P1010007.JPG" width="139" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thank you Carl </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">for the Acronym</span></em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>D</strong> on't</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>R</strong> epeat</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>P</strong> atented</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>A</strong> ssumptions</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>T</strong> hat</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>T</strong> ake</span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>I</strong> n</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>E</strong> veryone</span><br />
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<br />Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-31841697056950345152013-04-12T05:00:00.000-07:002013-04-12T11:58:23.176-07:00DAY 12: Hey me from the past...We are still here!<br />
Dear Me from the Past,<br />
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I wish I could go back and tell you how beautiful you were and that you didn't need to make such drastic changes in your body in order to be acceptable to others. You were (we are) a bright, talented, kind and loving person who has had a lot to offer the world. <br />
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The journey from you to me has been fraught with burdensome lows and accelerated with victorious highs, but I cannot help but wonder how much better it might have been if you had understood that we have dignity when I was your age. <br />
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Having said that, we are doing okay. So the most important thing I would have you to know is that we are tough. We have survived lots of setbacks. <strong><em>We are still here.</em></strong><br />
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That fact. That knowing we can survive, we can thrive, we can learn. That is the basis for my faith in the future. That is what makes life moving forward much easier than it appears some days. <br />
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Love,<br />
Me from the PresentPattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-6835267958916162112013-04-11T05:30:00.000-07:002013-04-12T11:32:06.517-07:00Day 11: Gadets! The Accu-Chek® 360 Android App Reviewed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Most people regard me as a diet failure because of my current weight. But the truth is I was really good at dieting. I like projects and going on a diet was always a project for me. Most of my diets did not end because I went on a binge or fell off the wagon. They ended because I was told by a medical person that if I continued starving myself, taking drugs and/or over-exercising, I was heading for the hospital. Low potassium, trouble with kidney functions and severe viral infections were the usual catalysts. Of course, once eating "regular" again, I quickly gained. I know now that most likely I had subclinical hypothyroidism and without thyroid treatment, I was messing up my metabolism even more. For those who think I am disabled because I am fat, please understand that my health problems <strong><em>began</em></strong> when I lost 130 pounds (half my body weight), not when I gained weight. In my early adult life, I was athletic and health even while fat.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TIHjFFwe718/UWhMevmCESI/AAAAAAAAB6w/nO0LUMCOtSo/s1600/accuchek360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" bua="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TIHjFFwe718/UWhMevmCESI/AAAAAAAAB6w/nO0LUMCOtSo/s1600/accuchek360.jpg" /></a>I tell you all this to give you the background on why I really like my new Android app the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.roche.ac360mobile&hl=en" target="_blank">Accu-Chek® 360.</a> Because of my background of disordered eating, I am leary of doing any kind of "dieting." Having blood sugar difficulties in my 50s first put me in a tailspin emotionally. </div>
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I have worked hard to know my body in this area. I eat when I am hungry and finish when I am full (something others call "intuitive eating," I just call it "natural"). If treating my metabolic disorders meant "going on a special diet" then I was trapped. It didn't make sense to me that the behavior that got my body into this mess would get me out of it. I sought other answers.</div>
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Through a combination of medications, exercise and medical monitoring, I do have both blood sugar and thyroid under control (as well as cholesterol and blood pressure). I continue to eat when I am hungry and finish when I am full. I found that I did better if I waited a little longer to determine how hungry I am and what I wanted to eat. Usually, the answer is clearer and has less impact on blood sugar when I do. I also know that exercise is key. I stretch every morning and I lift weights. I hope soon to add some aerobics to this, probably deep water aerobics because of the nerve damage in my left foot. What has held me back is a place to work out with a warm pool.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-okg0n9MNK5k/UWhMZiKZ5HI/AAAAAAAAB6g/DxhyrW6b-yY/s1600/accucheck360entry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bua="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-okg0n9MNK5k/UWhMZiKZ5HI/AAAAAAAAB6g/DxhyrW6b-yY/s1600/accucheck360entry.jpg" /></a>But when I found this app for my tablet, a lot of stuff has come together. Mostly, I think I find it emotionally satisfying because it is a project and it has a measurable-do-it-yourself-style of defining success. <br />
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Basically the app allows me to record blood sugar, exercise, medications and supplements, health status, stress levels, pain levels, blood pressure and pulse rate. If you are into carbs counting, there is a place to do that as well. I just record whether my meals were small, medium or large. Also, I do not weigh myself, but there is a space for recording your weight. I record my pulse there and just ignore the "pounds" designation.<br />
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I do not take insulin, but insulin records can also be kept, so I would assume this little gadget would be extremely valuable information for those who have to adjust insulin depending upon food and exercise. It has a place for "pair testing" to allow you to further track insulin effects. <br />
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If you take a lot of pills (mostly supplements) on a daily basis, this is an especially good gadget. It remembers previous entries and so all I have to do to keep a medicine/supplement record is check boxes. Since I can have some memory problems when I am in pain, having a record of whether and when I last took medicine is important. This aids in that extremely well.<br />
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There is also a way to send the results over a specific period via email. I have not used this feature yet, but I would assume if one is working with a medical professional this would be a nice way to provide data for them so they can assess your situation more fully.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qAof6RSHrjU/UWhMbHPQ39I/AAAAAAAAB6o/FfmKb9HYLxc/s1600/accucheck360summary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" bua="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qAof6RSHrjU/UWhMbHPQ39I/AAAAAAAAB6o/FfmKb9HYLxc/s1600/accucheck360summary.jpg" /></a>The thing I enjoy most about this is that I can look back over time and see the effects of stress, sleeplessness and exercise on my health, especially my blood pressure. BTW, as long as we are talking about gadgets, I use a wrist cuff to measure my blood pressure. I bought a Kroger brand for $35. Arm cuffs hurt me to the point of crying and were extremely dependent upon who was doing the measuring, which made my blood pressure look much worse than it was. By monitoring my own blood pressure, I have been able to convince doctors to stop giving me high doses of medication that were making me so dizzy, I could only take before bed. I suspect I had low blood pressure for a few years based upon over-medication. I now take the cuff with me to doctor and thus avoid the arm cuff. I learned my blood pressure and pulse are higher at the doctor's office than when I am measuring at home (look up "white-coat syndrome"). There are problems with a wrist cuff under reporting, so I aim for about 10 points (bottom number 70) below "normal" just to be sure. </div>
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What I've learned from using this app is that my pulse and blood pressure are greatly influence by my sleep patterns and my stress levels. When I am getting enough sleep and not overworking, the numbers are much lower. High stress weaks drive the readings up, especially at night. Meditation helps.</div>
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So my project oriented, detailed-loving, objective-data-loving self is happy that I have ways to measure my progress in improving my health that do not rely upon weight or BMI. </div>
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Finally, I have no idea if this app is better than any other of the glucose monitoring apps out there, but I've used this one for about 3 months and it has made a difference in my health. I highly recommend it or finding something similar to it, especially if you love projects and control. </div>
Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-90221509020328494132013-04-10T05:30:00.000-07:002013-04-10T05:30:02.285-07:00DAY 10: Wordless Wednesday--Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-33565285966652810482013-04-09T05:30:00.001-07:002013-04-09T05:30:03.132-07:00Day 9: Family Caregivers are Unsung Heroes, Let Me Tell You About Mine<br />
Today's call for writing asks us to post tips for caregivers. I don't really have much in this area. It is a one-day-at-a-time kind of life when one or both people in a couple are dealing with chronic illness and disabilities.<br />
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Instead of tips, today I want to pay tribute to people who do this and do it willingly, lovingly and with great stress and difficulty. Many times, being devoted to someone else's health is detrimental to one's own health.<br />
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In March 1997, I got sick and didn't get well. What seemed at first to be a bad stomach virus, turned into months of my being bed-ridden, weak and catching every infection from any kind of bug I ran across (fungal, bacterial, viral). In a word, I was "dependent."<br />
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I won't go into all the details of what happened that year, but I do know it was the beginning of an odyssey that has so far lasted 16 years with no end in sight. My husband, <a href="http://www.sindustrycity.com/p/about-carl-wilkerson.html" target="_blank">Carl Wilkerson</a>, and I had only been married 5 years when all this began. He is 8 years younger than me, so he was only 31 years old.<br />
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People often will ask me or him or both of us what he "does" for a living. They cannot know how insensitive and painful that question is. He does a lot of things. He did a lot of things. Many of these things are unpaid and yet, as I have just got hired for the Fall in a full-time teaching position, I will say right here and right now that my Master's degree, my PhD, the research work I've done, the teaching work I've done and this new job would not have been possible without the loving care and support that Carl has given me.<br />
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He has sacrificed a lot to make me functional and successful in my endeavors. While my mind knows that fibromyalgia is way more complicated than this, I sometimes feel tremendous guilt that he became sick in 2008. As a medical sociologist, I know the research that shows that caring for a family member is detrimental to the health of the caregiver. I often wonder if his life would not have been better without a disabled wife. But because of his heroic choices, neither he nor I will ever know.<br />
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I think it is toughest on male caregivers because so much of the work they do is considered "women's work." Men who clean and cook and tip-toe around the house and put their own career goals in second place are often viewed as "weak" or "slackers" by the rest of the world, who want to see a resume to measure a man's worth.<br />
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I remember an essay in a book called <i>Dropped Threads</i> that basically stated that if women wanted men to share more of the domestic tasks in family life, they needed to stop considering men who do these things as "not good enough." Carl is a hero and I have little tolerance for those who might suggest he is anything less than that. We've been together 22 years all told (married 21 years in October) and I consider myself to be one of the most fortunate of people because my partner in life has proven his love to me beyond a doubt and has kept his integrity and dignity while doing so. <br />
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So here's the only advice I have to offer, not to the caregivers of the world, but to those who think they know someone they just met because they have neat little categories to put people into: <b>Don't assume you know what you think you know. People do so much more than for which this world gives them credit. They are not going to shout this to the world or answer inane questions like "what do you do?" with a full description of life with a chronically ill spouse. </b><br />
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In fact, don't ask the question at all. It is a stupid question. People "do" lots of things. We are not our jobs. We are not our titles. We are warmth, loving, generous, heroic and persistent people who take things one day at a time until they add up to a lifetime.<br />
<br />
<b>So let me say, publicly and loudly, thank you, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/carlwilkerson/featured" target="_blank">Carl Wilkerson</a>. You are my hero and I will use all my power to not let you be "unsung." That you have been a creative producer and accomplished so much in the past 17 years in spite of my illness, my disabilities and yours, is a testament to your strength, character and talent. (I love you forever.)</b><br />
<br />
===========================<br />
Oh, and if you, the reader, really care about this, you might <a href="http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=509" target="_blank">support more funding of home care</a>, so that so-called professional caregivers can give a family caregiver a break sometimes. Some more forward looking countries than the United States understand the value of the free labor family caregivers provide and also understand the cost-savings of supporting these heroes so that they can remain healthy.Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-5163953661821933102013-04-08T05:30:00.000-07:002013-04-08T05:30:00.936-07:00DAY 8: Neuropathy is a Porcupine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aezY2u36pYk/TJob8eJ1XBI/AAAAAAAAAGs/2zg13qCfgTI/s1600/Porcupine+Attack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aezY2u36pYk/TJob8eJ1XBI/AAAAAAAAAGs/2zg13qCfgTI/s400/Porcupine+Attack.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Sometimes my body is soft and I am cuddly playmate.<br />
My pain is calm.<br />
<br />
Sometimes my body is numb and I cannot appreciate what is around me. My senses are dulled.<br />
<br />
Sometimes my body is prickly and sharp and anything that touches me not only shoots pain through me but pushes you away.<br />
<br />
I don't mean to be a sticky mess.<br />
<br />
Some days are just not my day and I want to be left alone, please.Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-69746000054015969952013-04-07T05:30:00.000-07:002013-04-07T15:47:16.681-07:00DAY 7: Really? Uh, Really?<h3>
TOP 7 BOGUS CLAIMS I'VE HEARD ABOUT MY HEALTH:</h3>
<ol><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rbii-03BYqM/UWH29IJclNI/AAAAAAAAB5g/HXX-mdKYO9g/s1600/monkeybiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rbii-03BYqM/UWH29IJclNI/AAAAAAAAB5g/HXX-mdKYO9g/s400/monkeybiz.jpg" width="206" /></a>
<li>You are not disabled, you are just fat and lazy. (or "you <i>just </i>need to lose weight.")</li>
<li>If you ate right (insert description of "eating right"), your foot would heal.</li>
<li>Your neuropathy is from (insert underlying condition) and all you have to do is control your (insert symptom of the underlying condition) and your pain will go away.</li>
<li>You need to cheer up. Depression is a part of (insert condition).</li>
<li>You are "dependent" on that (insert any pain medication name). Don't become an addict.</li>
<li>99% of all people who get this will be better after (insert name of treatment).</li>
<li>You can make money and improve your health (insert latest Multi-level Marketing scheme).</li>
</ol>
Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-46784755147741439052013-04-06T05:30:00.000-07:002013-04-07T17:17:54.841-07:00DAY 6: Hey older me, what's my legacy going to be?<br />
<br />
Dear 55-year-old me,<br />
<br />
I know that you have a lot of insecurities about how your life has gone so far. You probably thought it would be cut short because of all the pain you were feeling from your incurable conditions.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UIg5IfWNPjQ/UWH0relRoSI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/FTsJn2Emy6s/s1600/starstuff.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UIg5IfWNPjQ/UWH0relRoSI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/FTsJn2Emy6s/s320/starstuff.png" width="315" /></a></div>
Well, we made it. We helped others to make it as well. We may not be in this life much longer and we still have no idea what to make of the future life, but we know it will be an adventure because we are made of star-stuff and star-stuff is always changing powerfully and changing everything around it powerfully as well.<br />
<br />
We've seen a lot of our students grow up and have kids of their own, some of whom we had an opportunity to teach as well. We've seen some tragedies along the way. The world is still filled with people who often do more harm than good, but at least we got past all the silly body size mumbo-jumbo from the beginning of the century. People celebrate body diversity now and concentrate more on health than weight.<br />
<br />
We've had a chance to write some books and to make some films. Most of which have at least had critical acclaim. So both Carl and us will be remembered for our work, which we always said were like our children.<br />
<br />
So don't worry too much about things. Imperfect as it is, medical advances have given us a much more comfortable life now that allopathic, Chinese and indigenous medicines have been integrated. Shaman practitioners reduced our neuropathy considerably and there are now sound scientific studies that have helped us figure out the role electro-magnetic energies and particles play in pain. Turns out our bodies were letting us know about some subtle but important imbalances and now that we've learned how to listen, pain is much reduced and health is much improved.<br />
<br />
I don't want to spoil all of the surprises waiting for you. I just wanted you to know you made a difference.<br />
<br />
With love and respect,<br />
90-year-old me<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-24215355165783793312013-04-05T05:30:00.000-07:002013-04-07T15:20:35.802-07:00DAY 5: My Health "Activism" Goals<br />
This is a post that I would have answered differently just a few days ago. Yesterday, I received a verbal offer and today, I signed an official acceptance letter for a tenure track position at the College of Southern Nevada. CSN is a teaching institution where most students are earning a two-year, Associates of Arts degree. I have worked here for nearly 5 years as an adjunct and because of that, I have had a number of "other jobs."<br />
<br />
August 19, 2013 I will begin a life with a full-time job and a side business. <br />
<br />
This affects my plans considerably. However, I think most people would be surprised at how little it will change the focus of my life. The drastic changes are going to be in timing and resources.<br />
<br />
I want to make two caveats about this topic:<br />
<br />
First, I don't think of myself as an "activist." I write about my own life, the state of health care and advocating for changes. I do not boycott, protest or testify. I am more interested in changing culture than law, though I understand that changing laws can be part of changing culture. I also do not like the "anti" stance that most "activism" uses. I like being "for" rather than "against."<br />
<br />
Second, I make to do lists (mostly because chronic pain and the medications I take to fight the pain leave me scatterbrained at times), but I really don't make goals, per se. I want to live the journey rather than plan it and I don't like to assume things will work out a certain way when another way might be more fun.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, I am involved with some specific projects that are health and/or disability related:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://watwatworld.com/wp-content/uploads/nurse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://watwatworld.com/wp-content/uploads/nurse.jpg" width="145" /></a>Creating Courses or Special Interest Topics on Sociology of Disabilities, Medical Sociology and Trans-Cultural Nursing</h3>
One great advantage of moving from the part-time ranks to the full-time ranks is the possibility of course development. While I've already been working on some ideas, the big news this week means that I can move forward. Teaching learners about how sociology gives context to the medical system and the health care provider/patient relationship is one of my longest interests. I look forward to creating curriculum that will promote the sociological imagination in matters of medicine. Since many of our students are heading into medical careers, this will be a great opportunity.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SF4zf4uLfM8/T-DkPYzcFFI/AAAAAAAABtY/G-gIhC8AHoY/s1600/UFV+Banner+larger.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SF4zf4uLfM8/T-DkPYzcFFI/AAAAAAAABtY/G-gIhC8AHoY/s320/UFV+Banner+larger.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3>
<i><a href="http://www.gofundme.com/userfriendlyvegas?utm_medium=wdgt" target="_blank">User Friendly Vegas</a> </i>(Our Docu-Comedy)</h3>
We will most likely devote a lot of time to complete this project. This represents a cross-section of my academic interests, personal experiences and artist endeavors. Plus, I get to work with my <a href="http://www.sindustrycity.com/p/about-carl-wilkerson.html" target="_blank">favorite creative partner</a>. This should be no surprise since I chose to write the Health Activist Challenge on this website. We have raised some seed money and are producing some trailers that we hope will help generate more money. We had hoped last summer to raise $5K, but it didn't happen, so we are seeing where the journey takes us next.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S4ItMRGLc0g/UWHVO9S9RrI/AAAAAAAAB4s/q47Qtc7w5Jk/s1600/CWD+ad.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S4ItMRGLc0g/UWHVO9S9RrI/AAAAAAAAB4s/q47Qtc7w5Jk/s200/CWD+ad.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<h3>
<a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cwd-couples-disabilities" target="_blank">CWD: Couples with Disabilities</a> (A <i>Psychology Today</i> Expert Blog with Carl Wilkerson, my husband)</h3>
Speaking of Carl, we also have several articles planned for this blog and writing for blogs can be part of my role as a public sociologist. This is a void on the internet where people always assume that for every chronically ill or spouse with disability is a perfectly able-bodied hero who can never be hurt or sick. The daily experience of many of us differs from that greatly (oh and by the way, we are super-heroes. Just not in that way.)<br />
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</h3>
<h3>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7kpZzEnSCyg/UWHoV3nSkcI/AAAAAAAAB5E/Hz-mef2dgsY/s1600/takingupspacegraphic3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7kpZzEnSCyg/UWHoV3nSkcI/AAAAAAAAB5E/Hz-mef2dgsY/s200/takingupspacegraphic3.png" width="153" /></a><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space" target="_blank">I Take Up Space</a> (A <i>Psychology Today</i> Expert Blog about "fatism," stigma, public health and the war on fat bodies) </h3>
I will also continue to write about issues around body size. Though I probably will emphasize sociological analyses and critiques of public health more than fat activism in the future. I also want to use this opportunity as a way to teach the concepts of stigma and social empathy. I believe the current moral panic about weight stems from a desire to hide public health and medical failures. (If you want to know more about that, read <a href="http://library.sjsu.edu/events/natalie-boero-killer-fat-media-medicine-and-morals-american-obesity-epidemic" target="_blank">Natalie Boero's <i>Killer Fat</i></a>. It is an excellent examination of the "war on obesity" from a number of different angles.)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MqgkUdKBbZE/UU-y2vIAsGI/AAAAAAAAB3s/nzvQyF4D-9U/s1600/people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MqgkUdKBbZE/UU-y2vIAsGI/AAAAAAAAB3s/nzvQyF4D-9U/s200/people.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<h3>
<a href="http://doingsociology.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">First Person, Plural: Doing Sociology</a><i> </i></h3>
I write a lot about sociology on my own sociology blog. I have written several articles about the health care system there. This site was inspired by the radio show Carl and I did in Victoria, BC between 2002 and 2004, called <a href="http://www.userfriendlyvegas.com/p/first-person-plural-radio.html" target="_blank">First Person, Plural</a>. The more interesting thing is that because I am faculty advisor for the <a href="http://csnlivingsociologyclub.ning.com/" target="_blank">CSN Living Sociology Club</a>, we may build on this to make a radio show and possible a YouTube station dedicated to sociology. If we do, you can bet some of the episodes will address social issues around medicine and health.<br />
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<br />
<h3>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/PDAnation/featured" target="_blank">PDA Nation</a> (an intermittant vodcast)</h3>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ftHHCLV8CBg/UWHrWAY2j1I/AAAAAAAAB5I/gsqQkDoj7tg/s1600/covershot2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ftHHCLV8CBg/UWHrWAY2j1I/AAAAAAAAB5I/gsqQkDoj7tg/s200/covershot2.png" width="200" /></a>Though not directly health related (and in fact, part of the point of it is that fat and health should not be linked in a causal manner), Carl and I will continue to make <a href="http://pinterest.com/pdanation/" target="_blank">PDA Nation</a> videos. The point of these videos are to have fun and show us having fun even though we struggle with disabilities and even though the world thinks fat people don't have a life. We a little more financial security, you can bet we will be out and about a lot more. No amount of <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space/201201/the-protestant-health-ethic-clinical-calvinism" target="_blank">Clinical Calvinism</a> or <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space/201103/stigma-is-big-business" target="_blank">stigma </a>is going to stand in our way!<br />
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<h3>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOR0JNJko-s/UWHuV6vfF1I/AAAAAAAAB5Q/faaCzEAp12A/s1600/sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iOR0JNJko-s/UWHuV6vfF1I/AAAAAAAAB5Q/faaCzEAp12A/s320/sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a>Living Life: <br />The Best Project of All</h3>
So the new job is going to make moving forward on these projects and ongoing activities much easier because of resources and more time. But remember, who knows how it will all work out. That's part of the journey.<br />
<br />
<br />Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-29656377664978919072013-04-04T05:30:00.000-07:002013-04-07T13:43:51.135-07:00DAY 4: My Top 7+ Useful Links for Health Resources<br />
<ol><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1nAQhDrbic/UWHUlPkH4OI/AAAAAAAAB4g/_DIatNIdWKU/s1600/Divahires.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1nAQhDrbic/UWHUlPkH4OI/AAAAAAAAB4g/_DIatNIdWKU/s400/Divahires.png" width="230" /></a>
<li><i><b>Neuropathy: <a href="http://www.neuropathy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=About_NeuropathyTypes" target="_blank">The Neuropathy Association</a> </b></i>This is the best website I've found for information about treatment and advocacy.</li>
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4ItMRGLc0g/UWHVO9S9RrI/AAAAAAAAB4o/HdKsVlfLwOU/s1600/CWD+ad.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>
<li><b><i>Chronic Invisible Illnesses: <a href="http://www.invisibledisabilities.org/about/aboutida/" target="_blank">The Invisible Disabilities Association</a></i></b> A beautiful website dedicated to promoting understanding about chronic illnesses and the frustration many sufferers face because they are not stereotypically sick. (Also check out <a href="http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/" target="_blank">The Spoon Theory</a>.)<br />
</li>
<br />
<li><i><b>Chronic Pain: <a href="http://www.inthefaceofpain.com/advocacy-101/" target="_blank">In the Face of Pain: Pain Advocacy 101</a></b></i>
Note that I really liked the American Pain Foundation, but it has closed its virtual doors due to lack of money and outside pressure trying to link it to drug abuse. Another good source is NORML's section on <a href="http://norml.org/library/medical-marijuana-reports" target="_blank">Medical Marijuana</a>, which is pretty good at keeping up with changes in law and latest research.<br />
</li>
<br />
<li><i><b>Universal Design: <a href="http://www.rollingrains.com/about/" target="_blank">Rolling Rains Report</a></b></i> Scott Rains concentrates on inclusive travel, but much of his work is overlaps with Universal Design. (Also check out <a href="http://www.universaldesign.com/about-universal-design/ada-vs-universal-design.html" target="_blank">Universal Design and the Americans with Disabilities Act</a> to see what the difference is between law and practice.)<br />
</li>
<br />
<li><i><b>Hypothyroidism: <a href="http://tpauk.com/content/977/about-us/" target="_blank">Thyroid Patient Advocacy</a></b></i> I am not including diabetes in this list and have a problem with most of what I read about hypothyroidism as well. Most of what is available on the net emphasizes weight as an aspect of treatment and often does patient-blaming, suggesting that sufferers of both these conditions may have brought it one themselves. Also, there is a lot of quackery on the net with instant cures and amazing treatments that mostly just rip off vulnerable people. I do belong to several list-serves and FaceBook groups that I trust where we share research and experiences. If you are interested in learning more, just make a comment to that effect and I will be happy to help out.<br />
</li>
<br />
<li><i><b>Caregiving</b>: <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cwd-couples-disabilities" target="_blank">Couples with Disabilities</a></i><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S4ItMRGLc0g/UWHVO9S9RrI/AAAAAAAAB4s/q47Qtc7w5Jk/s1600/CWD+ad.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="301" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S4ItMRGLc0g/UWHVO9S9RrI/AAAAAAAAB4s/q47Qtc7w5Jk/s320/CWD+ad.png" width="320" /></a> Okay, this is tooting my own horn a bit and I will admit that we have a ways to go to have a lot of information available for couples like us who both suffer from chronic illnesses and disabling conditions as well as give care to each other. But I want to highlight that there isn't much available in this area. Most caregiving websites I've seen offer standard advice about self-care and taking time off (like that can happen with the American For-Profit Medical System), but always assuming that a caregiver is well. This assumption usually drives me away from the site and thus, I can offer none here.<br />
</li>
<br />
<li><i><b>Health at Every Size®</b>: <a href="http://healthateverysizeblog.org/aboutus/" target="_blank">ASDAH's </a><a href="http://healthateverysizeblog.org/aboutus/" target="_blank">Health at Every Size® Blog</a> </i>This is probably the best way to read interesting and current thinking about HAES. Also check out <a href="http://www.haescommunity.org/index.php" target="_blank">Linda Bacon's site</a>, which will lead you to lots of other information as well. The site is retired now, but if you want a fast amount of links about HAES as well as Fat Acceptance and Fat Liberation, <a href="http://revolutionsresources.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">ReVolutions Resources</a> is a place where a lot of information is available in a centralized area, including a "Where to Begin" set of links on the left sidebar.</li>
</ol>
Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-65569614290719730792013-04-03T05:30:00.000-07:002013-04-07T10:40:08.132-07:00DAY 3: Wordless Wednesday: "My Experiences"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fridakahlofans.com/c0480.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKEhZ8vLJ78/UVs96hDwRlI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/1RcZVy2wThw/s400/broken+column.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-4451593651029673652013-04-02T05:00:00.000-07:002013-04-07T09:40:03.249-07:00DAY 2: Hello Fellow Health Activists!5 Things you should know about my condition and my activism:<br />
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<ol><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rw1p_bYpLps/TGRlkBMpz2I/AAAAAAAAAOA/gdsjeryM6cc/s1600/P1010034.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>
<li>I was misdiagnosed with lupus (yeah, I know, insert Dr. House joke here) in 1997. In 2007, my TCH levels were elevated and I was put on thyroid medication and most of my lupus symptoms disappeared. I've been told by 4 different health care professionals since then that I probably had subclinical hypothyroidism in 1997. The big hint that was ignored: I gained 90 pounds in 6 months. But you know, mistakes happen.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRdTKbBZ5Xk/TR4Yeg1h-BI/AAAAAAAAAUM/bUJecZCpPT8/s1600/scaleNOT.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Along with the hypothyroidism, I have the usual 50+ metabolic fun (though my blood pressure and cholesterol are borderline and probably not that serious). I have had high blood sugar in the past that is now controlled through medication, but no insulin. <br />
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</li>
<li><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRdTKbBZ5Xk/TR4Yeg1h-BI/AAAAAAAAAUM/bUJecZCpPT8/s1600/scaleNOT.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tRdTKbBZ5Xk/TR4Yeg1h-BI/AAAAAAAAAUM/bUJecZCpPT8/s200/scaleNOT.jpg" width="200" /></a>I adopted the Health at Every Size(r) philosophy in 2001 after spending the better part of my life dieting. I have been a successful dieter, losing over 75 pounds 3 times in my life and gaining all of it back, plus some. In January of 2001, I literally had the revelation on the road from my TOPS meeting that I needed to concentrate on health not weight. For the next two years, I re-learned how to eat. most of the time, I eat when I am hungry and finish when I am full. I have neither gained or lost significant amounts of weight since then. I know this because of the fit of my clothes, not because of actually tracking of weight. I do not weigh myself and only let a doctor weigh me when they present me with a solid medical reason to do so. I test my blood sugar regularly and I also take my own blood pressure on a regular basis. I use my bgs, my bp and my pulse to gage how I'm doing more than anything else.<br />
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</li>
<li>In 2004, I thought I sprained my ankle, but in fact, I probably damaged some nerves. Since then I've had to use a cane and <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rw1p_bYpLps/TGRlkBMpz2I/AAAAAAAAAOA/gdsjeryM6cc/s1600/P1010034.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rw1p_bYpLps/TGRlkBMpz2I/AAAAAAAAAOA/gdsjeryM6cc/s200/P1010034.JPG" width="200" /></a>eventually a scooter to get around. Undiagnosed hypothyroidism probably aggravated the nerve damage. Now I suffer from full-blown neuropathy. It seems to be peripheral, but it affects both feet and hands. The damaged left foot is now deformed, making it hard to stand for long and also making it hard to know where I'm walking. I haven't had any falls yet, but I've definitely had some "weebling" that scares me. My greatest fear for this is amputation. But I am not one to worry about things I don't have to face yet, so let's call that a fear lurking in the corner of my mind.<br />
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</li>
<li>I am a medical sociologist. My interests are in health systems, social factors (especially stigmatization) that affect health and disabilities studies, especially universal design. I teach sociology at a community college, so I don't have an opportunity to do original research, but I would probably prefer to write on blogs and public spaces over academic writing in any case. I believe social contexts are important for understanding health.</li>
</ol>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vtwigik8yHg/Th-RPWkIjTI/AAAAAAAAAgc/SKGtQ-mqfrY/s1600/guitarman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rw1p_bYpLps/TGRlkBMpz2I/AAAAAAAAAOA/gdsjeryM6cc/s1600/P1010034.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I'm not sure I have posts that will help the newly diagnosed, but I can share 5 places that I have written or spoke about health that may put chronic illnesses and disabilities in perspectives:<br />
<ol><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81juB-Y_cLk/UAMLHlhWxhI/AAAAAAAABwE/-cqQBXhEDps/s1600/design.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vtwigik8yHg/Th-RPWkIjTI/AAAAAAAAAgc/SKGtQ-mqfrY/s1600/guitarman.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vtwigik8yHg/Th-RPWkIjTI/AAAAAAAAAgc/SKGtQ-mqfrY/s320/guitarman.jpg" width="154" /></a>
<li> My husband, Carl Wilkerson, and I wrote a sociological memoir about my life as a fat and disabled person: <a href="http://www.pearlsong.com/takingupspace.htm" target="_blank"><i>Taking Up Space: How Eating Well and Exercising Regularly Changed My Life</i></a> (Pearlsong Press, 2005)<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>My husband, who has been my caregiver for 16 years now and who suffers from fibromyalgia, and I also co-blog at <i>Psychology Today</i>. <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cwd-couples-disabilities" target="_blank">Couples with Disabilities</a> is about couple's issues when both are suffering from chronic illnesses and both are the primary caregiver for the other.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>I wrote a blog for over 10 years called fattypatties. Much of it was simply my experiences as I navigated the social world I live in that vilifies fat people and persons with disabilities (including chronic conditions). I retired the blog this year, but it is where I wrote the most about <a href="http://fattypatties.blogspot.com/search/label/HAES" target="_blank">Health at Every Size(r)</a>. <br />
</li>
<li>I also blog at <i>Psychology Today</i> about <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space/201201/health-every-size-is-anti-dieting" target="_blank">Health at Every Size(r)</a> and <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space/201101/new-years-resolutions-who-is-failing-whom" target="_blank">Fatism </a>in a blog called <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space" target="_blank">I Take Up Space</a>. Topics <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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there have included <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space/201202/risks-obesity-financial-costbenefit-analysis" target="_blank">health care costs</a>, <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space/201201/the-protestant-health-ethic-clinical-calvinism" target="_blank">healthism</a>, <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space/201103/stigma-is-big-business" target="_blank">stigmatization </a>and <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space/201108/human-empathy-essential-component-human-society" target="_blank">social empathy</a>.<br /><br />
</li>
<li>The final thing about my work is that I am a sociologist and I write <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81juB-Y_cLk/UAMLHlhWxhI/AAAAAAAABwE/-cqQBXhEDps/s1600/design.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81juB-Y_cLk/UAMLHlhWxhI/AAAAAAAABwE/-cqQBXhEDps/s200/design.png" width="200" /></a>about health care reform and public health often on a blog called <a href="http://doingsociology.blogspot.com/search/label/Health%20Care" target="_blank"><i>First Person, Plural</i>.</a></li>
</ol>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81juB-Y_cLk/UAMLHlhWxhI/AAAAAAAABwE/-cqQBXhEDps/s1600/design.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>So that's way more than I have a right to ask you to read, but I do hope you like at least some of it. I look forward to reading and getting to know some of you as well! Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-35911011687587308952013-04-01T05:30:00.000-07:002013-04-07T09:39:39.591-07:00DAY 1: #HAWMC 2013: The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge<br />
In the spirit of <a href="http://fattypatties.blogspot.com/search/label/napowrimo" target="_blank">other 30 in 30</a> (or <a href="http://pinterest.com/pdanation/31-things-you-can-do-instead-of-dieting/" target="_blank">31 in 31</a>) series we've made in the past, I am taking up the challenge from <a href="http://info.wegohealth.com/HAWMC/" target="_blank">WEGO Health</a> (and may be joined by my partner in creativity a few times).<br />
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I don't actually think of myself as "health activist," but when I look at the themes in my writing over the years, I think such a thread exists. So here's how I think about my contributions to health:<br />
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1. I am a trained Medical Sociologist and, as such, I have done a lot of research about public health and health systems. First and foremost, I believe sociology brings important information to the table that other disciplines cannot. The impacts of social systems, economic systems, political systems and class systems upon health are well documented. Our health, our health care and our understanding of what is and is not healthy occur within cultural understandings and organizational structures. All that, in turn, contributes to our well-being and our sense of well-being.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hMH0P4b4Bkg/UVkROqeQEKI/AAAAAAAAB4A/ob0FMoc1wto/s1600/bodypeace.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hMH0P4b4Bkg/UVkROqeQEKI/AAAAAAAAB4A/ob0FMoc1wto/s200/bodypeace.png" width="200" /></a></div>
2. I am fifty-five-year-old <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space" target="_blank">fat woman</a> who suffers from <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cwd-couples-disabilities" target="_blank">chronic illness and disability</a>. I live at the intersection of a lot of stigma and often voices like mine are suppressed even among other activists. Many health-at-every-size activists ignore people like me because they fear we might undermine their argument of fat and fit (<a href="http://fattypatties.blogspot.com/2011/08/from-front-lines-of-haes.html" target="_blank">we don't</a>). Many disability activists (and probably some of the other WEGO bloggers) believe that if I just found a way to lose weight, I wouldn't be sick or disabled any more (never mind that weight gain is a major symptom of said chronic ailments and my disability stems from a <a href="http://theampletraveler.com/" target="_blank">camping accident</a> in 2004). <br />
<br />
<a href="http://theampletraveler.com/images/ATLogo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="right" border="0" height="118" src="http://theampletraveler.com/images/ATLogo.gif" width="200" /></a>3. I support <a href="http://www.ncsu.edu/project/design-projects/udi/" target="_blank">universal design</a>. And, in fact, I have chosen this blog to be the major place I write the 30 HAWMC 2013 entries because we are in the process of raising funds to do a <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/userfriendlyvegas" target="_blank">documentary </a>(really a docucomedy) about universal design in our home city of Las Vegas. Inclusion is often more about how we build things than anything else. We do not live in a one-size-fits-all world and <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/i-take-space/201201/the-protestant-health-ethic-clinical-calvinism" target="_blank">health is becoming one of those things that people are using to divide rather than unite</a>.<br />
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The main reason, however, that I have taken this challenge is that it arrived in my inbox at just the moment when I was feeling like I hadn't written much lately. I took the timing to be a sign from the universe to speak out. So for the next 30 days, that's just what I'm going to do.Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-34753284547412829542012-08-13T11:54:00.001-07:002013-04-07T10:51:20.245-07:00Sharing a Piece of my Fat History by Pattie<br />
In 1993, two things happen in my life that changed it forever. <br />
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First, in the Spring of 1993, I found an unusual therapist named Cheryl who asked a simple question: "What if being fat is just a natural variation of body types and it is okay that you are not what society considers <i>normal</i>?" No one have ever made that proposal to me in that language before. Sure, I read <i>Fat is a Feminist Issue</i>, but all that taught me was that if I became politically engaged, I would lose weight. I had and I didn't lose weight. Or rather, I didn't lose weight without becoming addicted to speed. By 1993, all the weight was back with buddies and my health was in decline. At Cheryl's urging, I decided to take some Women's Studies courses and think about what society had taught me about my body, weight and food.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLx8QJdKF90/UClMHxazHlI/AAAAAAAAB2E/xFtrDA83Bzs/s1600/beforeaftercover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLx8QJdKF90/UClMHxazHlI/AAAAAAAAB2E/xFtrDA83Bzs/s320/beforeaftercover.jpg" width="205" /></a>In Fall 1993, I also took a course with Etta Breitt at University of South Florida called <i>Women's Bodies, Women's Minds</i>. That course introduced me to the Fat Underground as part of the original <i>Our Bodies, Ourselves</i> publications. I had a framework for my body that I had never had before and it was changing not only the way I looked at myself, but the way I looked at society. This was the beginning of my desire to be a sociologist, especially a medical sociologist.</div>
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In that course, we were asked to produce a project that demonstrated what we learned in the semester. With Cheryl's help, I decided to put together a self-published, personal manifesto that I called <i>Before and After</i>. I re-published it in 1994 and distributed about 100 copies of it, mostly to friends and other students. That booklet became the basis for our sociological memoir, <i>Taking Up Space: How Eating Well and Exercising Regularly Changed My Life</i> (2005, Pearlsong Press). </div>
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During the move this year we found 27 copies of the original booklet. These were the "imperfects" because the binding was uneven, but they are essentially the original booklet.</div>
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So it occurs to us that these booklets might be of interest to fans of <i>Taking Up Space</i> and/or people who collect memorabilia of the fat acceptance movement.</div>
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<a href="http://www.gofundme.com/userfriendlyvegas?utm_medium=wdgt" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_top" title="Visit this page now."><img src="http://funds.gofundme.com/css/3.0_donate/red/widget.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
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So we are offering this booklet to first 25 people who contribute $15 or more to the Gofundme campaign for User Friendly Vegas. I will personally autograph and write a personal message to each person who receives a copy. We are only giving out 25, so please hurry to ensure you receive your copy.</div>
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You will also receive the $5 MOMTL gift card and the .pdf version of <i>Taking Up Space</i>, as well as have recognition on our FaceBook Wall. </div>
Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-80073518116563809942012-08-02T12:18:00.000-07:002013-04-07T10:52:37.895-07:0060 HOUR -- $300 CHALLENGE IS ON!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
PDA Nation, in cooperation with More of Me to Love and Pearlsong Press is offering a $300 Challenge for the last 60 hours of the Kiss-a-Thon!</div>
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<a href="http://pearlsong.com/" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" eda="true" height="94" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t8_guGOCA0E/UBrRimOjscI/AAAAAAAABww/0UmVlGvdiwI/s320/pearlsong.jpg" width="320" /></a>IF the total money raised is $300 (303 votes) or more, AND</div>
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IF you are a contestant who raised at least $10, OR</div>
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IF you are a contributor gave at least $10, </div>
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<a href="http://www.pearlsong.com/takingupspace.htm" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" eda="true" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UwAFczmIRAk/UBrR5b_v4vI/AAAAAAAABw4/3oNzaq5vQFU/s200/takingupspace.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
THEN you will receive a special edition, .pdf version of Taking Up Space: How Eating Well and Exercising Regularly Changed My Life by Pattie Thomas, Ph.D. with Carl Wilkerson, MBA (Pearlsong Press, 2005/2012). <br />
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This edition has a special preface by the authors written just for the User Friendly Vegas contributors and will be unique only to this fundraising campaign.Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-60589384989917919742012-07-29T12:55:00.000-07:002013-04-07T10:53:32.556-07:00The Curvaceous Bounty of Sin City Judging Door Prizes!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sincitybounty.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://sincitybounty.com/images/cbsclinelogoPINK200BKBLKtextWht.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">ANNOUNCING THE KISS-A-THON DOOR PRIZES!!! AND OUR LOVELY JUDGES!!!<br /> <br /> Our door prizes are going to be as follows:<br /> <br /> > MOST PASSIONATE KISS = Don't Stop Massage Oil by Booty Parlor<br /><div class="text_exposed_show">
> SWEETEST KISS = Kissable Body Topping, Strawberry<br />
> SILLIEST KISS = Tickle Me Intimacy Kit from Booty Parlor<br />
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Above gifts are from More of Me To Love (thanks for all the support!):<br />
<a href="http://store.moreofmetolove.com/entertainment/booty-parlor" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>store.moreofmetolove.com/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>entertainment/booty-parlor</a><span class="wrc0" style="height: 16px; padding-right: 16px; width: 16px;"></span><br />
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Our lovely judges will be the beautiful ladies of The Curaceous Bounty
of Sin City! They will be reviewing the pictures over the next week and
picking one lucky winner for each category. We will announce door prizes
next Sunday, Aug 5. <br />
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Look for more announcements this week. Keep voting! The more money we raise, the more special stuff we can give away!<br />
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Special thanks to our contestants!</div>
</span></span></h6>
Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-11455010526680302012012-07-27T11:00:00.000-07:002013-04-07T10:54:13.554-07:00KISS-A-THON CONTRIBUTOR'S RAFFLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.moreofmetolove.com/blogs/category/pda-nation/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.moreofmetolove.com/images/uploads/homepage_banners/cache/Kiss-a-thon6-465x500px.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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The wonderful people at <i>More of Me to Love</i> have added an incentive to participating in the <a href="http://www.userfriendlyvegas.com/p/kiss-thon.html" target="_blank">Kiss-a-Thon</a>: <b><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000;">We are holding a Contributor’s Raffle!</span></b> </div>
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Every vote = one entry to the raffle (and this is retroactive, so all the votes you’ve received to date are already entered!) We will select the winner on Sunday, August 5. </div>
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The prize is a $25 gift card to the More of Me to Love Store! </div>
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Here are some great items you and now your supporters could buy from the store if you win one of the gift cards:</div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>Books like: <i><a href="http://store.moreofmetolove.com/gifts-and-gift-cards/more-great-gifts/gift-ideas-under-25/the-curvy-girls-guide-to-style-volume-1.html" target="_blank">The Curvy Girl’s Guide to Style by</a><span style="min-height: 16px; padding-right: 16px; width: 16px;"></span></i> Chastity Garner</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>Practical Travel items like a <a href="http://store.moreofmetolove.com/travel/bags/convertible-travel-organizer.html" target="_blank">Convertible Travel Organizer</a><span style="min-height: 16px; padding-right: 16px; width: 16px;"></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>Self-Care items like the <a href="http://store.moreofmetolove.com/healthy-living/exercise/miscellaneous-exercise/jacknobber-ii-massager.html" target="_blank">Jacknobber II Massager</a><span style="min-height: 16px; padding-right: 16px; width: 16px;"></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>Sexy Items like <a href="http://store.moreofmetolove.com/healthy-living/skin-care/sensual-skin-care/booty-parlor-melt-chocolate-body-fondue.html" target="_blank">Booty Parlor Melt Chocolate Body Fondue</a></li>
</ul>
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Don’t forget the other great prizes as well:</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span><i><a href="http://fatsexthebook.com/" target="_blank">Fat Sex: The Naked Truth</a></i>, autographed by author Rebecca Jane Weinstein</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>You choice of a Tee-Shirt from <a href="http://bigworldwear.com/" target="_blank">Big World Wear</a><span style="min-height: 16px; padding-right: 16px; width: 16px;"></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><i><a href="http://thefatchick.com/The_Fat_Chick/Home.html" target="_blank">The Fat Chick Works Out</a><span style="min-height: 16px; padding-right: 16px; width: 16px;"></span></i> book and DvD by Jeannette DePatie (this is for the first person to reach 50 votes!)</li>
</ul>
<br />Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-56669972805481906542012-07-23T09:38:00.000-07:002013-04-07T10:55:05.979-07:00Kiss-a-Thon Deadline Extended to August 4, 11:59p<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">We've extended the deadline for the Kiss-a-Thon to August 4, due to recent events in Colorado and out of respect to them, we will hold off on posting updates until Wednesday.<br /><br />We believe that showing some love is exactly what this world needs right now and the events of the past week were a grim reminder of this. One of the reasons we are doing User Friendly Vegas is that we also believe that compassion can be literally built into the designs that shape our world.<br /><br />But we also know that shocking news takes time to absorb and priorities can lie elsewhere for a bit. Thanks for understanding.</span></span></h6>
Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-50084574233075423642012-07-16T07:47:00.000-07:002013-04-07T10:58:19.950-07:00Guest Posting at Adventures of a Part-Time Wheeler<br />
We wrote a piece over at <a href="http://parttimewheeler.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Adventures of a Part-Time Wheeler</a>: <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zvi5rHSKt2c/UAMKfLno69I/AAAAAAAABv8/KX4ZmicdiJM/s1600/stanford+design.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zvi5rHSKt2c/UAMKfLno69I/AAAAAAAABv8/KX4ZmicdiJM/s320/stanford+design.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://parttimewheeler.blogspot.com/2012/07/7-reasons-why-you-should-care-about.html" target="_blank">7 Reasons Why You Should Care about Universal Design, Even if You Don't Live with Disabilities </a></h3>
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"Our hope for <i>User Friendly Vegas</i> is that we can show that
respecting the dignity of others, making room for as many people as
possible, is a habit of mind and heart that is sorely needed in our
society. And that the practice of Universal Design is important because
it infuses into the system a way of thinking and acting that can benefit
every one, especially any one who faces exclusion."</div>
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Please check it out and share widely!Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-24357148608374777302012-07-10T21:00:00.000-07:002013-04-07T10:58:54.956-07:00New Sponsor to Kiss-a-Thon: Fat Chick Works Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-425y9TvyIS0/T_zmKxWB3YI/AAAAAAAABvs/pf9cW9V4Els/s1600/fatchick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-425y9TvyIS0/T_zmKxWB3YI/AAAAAAAABvs/pf9cW9V4Els/s320/fatchick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yet another wonderful sponsor with yet another wonderful prize. Jeanette DePatie, author of <a href="http://www.thefatchick.com/" target="_blank">The Fat Chick Works Out</a> is offering her <a href="http://www.thefatchick.com/The_Fat_Chick/Book.html" target="_blank">book and DvD</a> as a bonus prize. First contestant to get 50 votes wins! Thanks for all the support!<br />
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We have lots of pix and lots of lovin'! Look for your chance to vote on July 14 - 28!Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5116769557910117447.post-88020861549846990452012-07-10T10:53:00.000-07:002013-04-07T11:00:21.373-07:00Check us out Guest Blogging at Fierce, Freethinking Fatties...<br />
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<a href="http://fiercefatties.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/text-box.jpg?w=421&h=183" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://fiercefatties.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/text-box.jpg?w=421&h=183" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://fiercefatties.com/2012/07/09/user-friendly-vegas-why-make-a-documentary/" target="_blank">User Friendly Vegas: Why Make a Documentary?</a></i></h3>
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<a href="http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae168/fiercefatties/AtchkaNew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae168/fiercefatties/AtchkaNew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>Today we have an amazing guest post from Carl Wilkerson and Dr.
Pattie Thomas, the husband and wife team behind some of the most
ground-breaking work exposing the harm of stigma, discrimination and
bigotry. </i><br />
<i>(From introduction by Atchka)</i><br />
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<br />Pattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432437060665706938noreply@blogger.com