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Today in my life

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 8:33 pm
by skydog
Going to set my flying aside for awhile. Today hang gliding I was not able to lift my leg high enough to get fully into my pod harness. My brother the Eagle joined me for awhile. Had to laugh as to him it must have looked like my talons were out pursuing prey. Tough to hang it up after 31 yrs in this sport. I am so grateful for the people I have met and places traveled along the way. Truly my life is blessed. I appreciate life and the endless bounty experiences past and yet to come. Thank you to all my friends. There are no strangers in my life, only people I haven't met yet. My spirit soars unending. Peace to all Mark

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:44 am
by jimmylegs
bummer skydog. flying is a great feeling. hope you get it back!!

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:20 am
by cheerleader
Sorry, Mark. It must be hard to say goodbye to the physical things that you love. Jeff can't run anymore, but he uses his mountain bike as his "legs." Maybe you'll find other ways to fly? Or maybe this is just a temporary grounding.

Today's my birthday...wanted to say thanks to the people who have made this year more hopeful and encouraging for me and my family. It's appreciated!
older and wiser,
AC

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:57 am
by patientx
Jeff can't run anymore
Cheer,

Is this because of a balance issue, or is it a weakness/fatigue issue?

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:55 am
by cheerleader
It's a combo, patient.
He was a long distance runner, and the legs just don't work well after a bit of time from fatigue- plus it hurts him. He'll still jog a little with our son or dog, but it's not the same as it was. He's really thankful the legs are still working, though!
AC

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:52 am
by skydog
Thank you for your support. I used to love hike but was not much of a runner. Short sprints skim boarding to prepare for summertime demanding desert launch conditions. Find myself running in my dreams and actually find it quite enjoyable when it happens. And rock hopping was another favorite up until the first symptoms took away my balance. I am glad to hear that Jeff can still jog a little. Mountain biking still is something I can and still enjoy too. Keeping ever positive and enjoy what I can do. Anything more is just a big bonus. What I am learning here from everyone will bring about positive changes. Anything is possible. Peace to all Mark PS From the heart Thank You and Your Welcome A big Happy Birthday to you Cheer.

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:44 pm
by Loobie
Man there seems to be so many of us that were so uber-active. I got as high as ranked 7th in Ohio by the Ohio Racquetball Association, but all of us in the top 10 would constantly beat on each other. After the board would rank you, you could move about through tournament points earned and there were plenty of times when I beat the #1 person, but also vice versa where the #10 guy would beat on me also. I hated giving that up; just hated it. I was actually playing in the Regionals in Chicago when my ON hit. It was that sudden. I was just starting a match, and 5 minutes later after a sweat I couldn't see through the fog. I took a time out, cooled off, chalked it up as weird and went right back in. Well needless to say, my vision only lasted about 30 seconds until I got hot again. I'm with you man. Giving up the things you love is one definition I've seen of someone's idea of 'the end of your life'. Like you said Mark, at least we can dream.

And by the way Ms. A_ _ _ _ Cheerleader, Happy Birthday!!!

Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:14 pm
by skydog
Woke this morning and lay thinking of the day before. I felt strong enough to make another flight in my hang glider. It wasn't easy but some how by staying really cool I was able to pull my usually weak left leg up into my harness after launch. Sometimes it all fits together so perfectly. The wind was forecast to blow just right for a flight at one of our favorite sites. After a few calls made our group was ready to embark on a flight to spread the ashes of a fellow pilot and close friend that fell victim too a serious cancer. With out regret he took his own life. Wanting only to be remembered in the best of times and not fading away as most do with this type of cancer. With six of us in the air flying formation his best friend released his ashes into the sky above a favorite spot where he flew often over the past 35 yrs.
I will forever remember all of us flying in formation to see our friend off. May his spirit soar forever. With tears streaming from my eyes I circled three times as his ashes lifted into the sky. What a powerful day. I hear the Raven call and know he is at peace. Life is short my friends. Live everyday to its fullest. No regrets. Peace Mark

Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:35 pm
by Loobie
Mark,

I'm sorry about your friend, but am glad you guys got to give him a proper send off. Sounds like a bittersweet day.

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:47 am
by skydog
Loobie
You know there does seem to be allot of us that have the high rev lifestyle. I think maybe a new poll with everyone giving a brief explanation of their life in progress say in 10 year blocks of time.


For starters here is my life in blocks of ten yrs.
1. Born to a very health conscious mother. Drank so much carrot juice just prior to my birth we were yellow and checked for jaundice. No health issues or injury. Born in Northern Cal. Moved to Min. for first 4 yrs.
Back to northern Cal. Very healthy. In fact didn't even have a good outward sign of getting the chickenpox after being exposed. Usual scrapes and bruises.
2. Very active from 10 to 20 yrs. Never ill until at 18 yrs old came down with Mono. Wouldn't stop going full tilt until it about killed me. Recovered quickly. In my late teens and early twenties I was the last man standing and the first up and ready go in the morning. A good cat nap could keep me going for hours.
3. From 20 to 30 yrs I commercial fished and worked long hard hrs. slept little on 5 day trips often getting less than 20 hrs of sleep in 5 days. Perfected the art of cat napping.
4. At 30 to 40 yrs of age I could physically out work 22 yr olds that thought they were tough. Caught the chicken pox at 40. Just about died bounced back but had to have several root canals from teeth that suffered from the high temps. Still slept less than 5 hrs most nights.
5. Now from 40 to 50 I could still work the hrs. I had the early signs of MS and wrote them off as just getting old. Started a very labor intensive aquaculture business. Long hrs of hard physical work that revolved around the tide. Sleep was difficult as I worked nights in the winter and have never been able to sleep during the day. Diagnosed with ppms at 5o yrs I still have a hard time getting much more than 5 hrs of sleep per night.

In a nut shell I have worked and played hard my whole life. Now I hit the ms wall daily. Staying Mobil as I can Mark

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 6:07 pm
by Terry
I've spent some time thinking about how active many MS'ers have been. I was not. Busy, yes, atheletic, no. (I did spend lots of time in the stands watching my kids be athletic, though. Doesn't count, does it?) What I thought was this... If being extra athletic causes nutrition depletion, then where my story would fit in... I had 4 children within 5 years. No...not talking about "activity" ( :oops: ) talking about nutrition depletion. I heard a doc advise on pregnancy and nutrition... a fetus is like a parasite. It will take all the nutrition it needs from the mother. It is the mother who needs to worry. So maybe I had too many babies too fast and ended up way short on nutrition. It was only after my youngest child was born that I began to have migraines and alpocia areata. Seems like that is when my troubles began. Just a thought.

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 2:39 pm
by skydog
Gardens 75% planted. the mornings have been perfect. Cool and cloudy so I could get allot done before fatigue sets in. Bring on the sun... Any body else planting a garden this spring ? Peace Mark

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 4:36 pm
by jimmylegs
awesome mark! i'm only working on the balcony garden this year, sadly... :S hehehe

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:29 pm
by Terry
I ordered a few things to plant. The delivery date is May 11. We'll see how I do. I usually just plant tomatoes. I have a plum tree and also really want another fruit tree. I looked for a tree to order but didn't find anything online. I got in the "it must be organic" mode. Maybe I'll just forget that and get one from the local nursery.
Question...
We read about the cats getting sick when eating only irradiated food. Most (?) seeds we buy have been irradiated. Will those plants be less nutritous as organic seed plants or altered somehow?

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:20 pm
by skydog
I would think that because the seeds may have suffered some damage from the irradiation process that they may not grow as well and possibly be less nutritious. Wish we could just let nature be. Now you have me searching. I just bought all new seeds for this year because some of the seed that I have been collecting have started to show signs of cross pollination and are no longer pure. Wish now that we had spent a few more dollars on organic heirloom seeds instead of your everyday garden supply brands that most likely were irradiated. Oh well next year back to the best again. Our fruit trees are just now big enough to start producing. Some of the wild crab apple that I grafted are on there second year and looking good. Happy Gardening Mark