Forum Replies Created

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    January 28, 2020 at 2:52 pm in reply to: Handwriting and FA

    I probably don’t have the emotional sentiment tied to handwriting – probably because it has always been terrible even before FA made it worse. 🙂

    But I certainly understand the feeling of loss.

    I am so dadgum impatient, even typing is a major hassle for some days. I’ve used voice-to-text transcription software with pretty good results. https://shop.nuance.com/store/nuanceus/Custom/pbpage.resp-dragon-home-bf-2013-digital?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=xhk-ao-2020-dragonpc_ecom_ppc_productterms&utm_term=dragon%20voice%20to%20text&cvokeywordid=33|306061&cvosrc=ps.Google.dragon%20voice%20to%20text&utm_term=dragon%20voice%20to%20text&adid=351272114079&matchtype=e&addisttype=g&cid=7010W000002GCboQAG&pgm=4990660600&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgefPkt2V5wIVkv7jBx0zKQMIEAAYASAAEgKv3_D_BwE

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    November 13, 2019 at 9:39 pm in reply to: Avocado debate

    Man, if I could grow those suckers I’d have an orchard of those trees. And I’d always have guacamole.

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    October 26, 2019 at 12:11 am in reply to: Married life

    I was married and had one kid before being diagnosed. I have had two other kids since.

    FA is a huge bummer, and frequent obstacle of normal family activities, but my wife and kids love me. I am very grateful for them. As an obviously ‘not normal’ dad and spouse, they really do not seem to care as much as I think they would.

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    August 1, 2019 at 11:38 am in reply to: This is My Season for Rest and Rejuvenation

    I get it, the concept of proper rest and mindset is great. I especially like the ‘Whether you are resting or “doing,” allow yourself to be fully engaged in that moment or process’ quote.

    But I’ll counter this by suggesting many of us, using the ‘It’s my season of rest’ is a mental excuse to ‘give up’ for a period. Some people find themselves stringing together months and months of ‘rejuvenation’ only to be years down the road of progression and time has been lost.

    I know enough about the author’s achievements to know he is plainly not that type, nor is he suggesting a little ‘R&R’ be abused.

    But I’ll suggest (to me especially), the regret of ‘not using it and losing it’ is worse than the benefits of taking it easy and loving it a little too much.

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    July 23, 2019 at 4:36 pm in reply to: Life with FA is Tough but I Won’t Give Up!

    This is an A+ article. Good job to the author.

    In the scope of the ‘onslaught of progression’, I find stacking my agenda with lots of smaller, short term goals that are potentially achievable is a good defense against going too far down the pit of misery.

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    June 22, 2019 at 12:56 am in reply to: Beaches Are Not For Me

    Man, y’all should go to Texas beaches. There, sandy beaches have the consistency of wet concrete.

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    June 12, 2019 at 12:12 pm in reply to: Is Uber/Lyft Viable For Those With FA?

    I’ve used Uber and even Uber XL maybe 30 times in various cities. Me along with 3 – 7 others (coworkers) is common.
    With Uber, I’ve never noticed a ‘disabled’ flag of any sort, which is a bummer.

    But in those ~30 calls, I’ve not had one showstopping experience. Little stuff, like telling the driver you can’t really be dropped off across the street from your destination (ie: avoiding cross traffic) and pulling up to ramps rather than curbs is needed, but not really that awkward.

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    June 10, 2019 at 12:37 pm in reply to: Advice For Newly Diagnosed

    Enjoy each day for what you can do. Today is a great day to be alive.

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    May 10, 2019 at 9:12 pm in reply to: Happy birthday Jesus Rodriguez

    Happy birthday!

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    April 18, 2019 at 12:11 pm in reply to: Going back to work

    I work more than full-time for a small business. For me, working helps me not dwell on FA/me/and what I am losing or have lost.

    I never feel a total grasp on my situation, and having work goals and deadlines has been very valuable in shrugging off self pity.

    I’m not going to lie: the fact I pull paychecks without financially dependent on anyone else or program sharpens the edge for me.

    I’m not saying those reliant on help/SSI/caretakers are inferior. Anyone dealing with FA everyday is tougher than nails.

    For me, the motivation of a career and the dependence of people on me financially helps bring focus to what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. Having FA also helps me shrug off unimportant work barriers as trivial. “ie: You’re upset about the temperature outside?!?! Pfft!”

    In summary, having a job and working everyday has an important mental benefit when dealing with FA.

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    June 22, 2019 at 12:51 am in reply to: Is Uber/Lyft Viable For Those With FA?

    ha! I assure you, if it’s cool, I will make it uncool once they find out I’m using it…

  • brian-rhodes

    Member
    June 13, 2019 at 1:26 pm in reply to: Is Uber/Lyft Viable For Those With FA?

    The drivers are typically pretty understanding. I’ve not gotten sideways with a driver on account of my FA, but a few due to other reasons (like being crazy drivers!:) )