Owner: The Arizona Sunshine TBI Blog URL:http://arizonasunshinetbiblog.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:45:09 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: HOW ARIZONA HAS BECOME THERAPY FOR MY TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY Site statistics:Click here
2007-10-04 15:49:00 "The Battle of Evermore" Led ZeppelinGiven Jimmy Page's well known interest in the occult, it isn't unusual that a Zeppelin song would be written this way. The drums will shake the castle wall, the ringwraiths ride in black, Ride on ... Oh dance in the dark of night, Sing to the morning light. The magic runes are writ in gold to bring the balance back...ArizonaEarthshines.com
Insect Party Time 2007-10-04 15:05:00 By Dan SorensonARIZONA DAILY STARSaturday, July 8, 2006"Eeek! it's a (insert insect name here)!"Critters fleeing the monsoon floods in our yards and washes are holding their annual house party: Clouds of flying termites and lumbering palo verde beetles provide air cover for the parade of ants, scorpions, tarantulas, Hummer-sized sewer roaches, wolf and sun spiders, and crickets headed indoors.Scared? You're not going to get any sympathy from Carl Olson. He finds all this delightful, or at least intriguing.The insect invasion of desert-dwelling humans' homes just comes with the monsoons, says the associate curator of the University of Arizona's department of entomology."This is the time for sexual orgies," says Olson, referring to the source of widespread homeowner panic this time of year about swarms of...Ohhhoooooooooooooooo!I have not experienced this particular Arizona wonder yet. The monsoons so far are just really intense storms. Pretty cool actually they are what makes this a Read more:Party
New Dessert Life 2007-10-04 10:39:00 Adjusting to a new house a new doctor a new City...We arrived here in March. Tucson is a nice city so it was exciting driving through it and seeing all the new things we would get to know. From California we rented a house in what is a new bedroom community 30 miles south of Tucson called Sahuarita. It is a very nicely built and landscaped community out in the desert. It's very new which includes all the trees and well in Southern California these "planned communities" are popping up and I didn't care for them then. But we thought we would give it a try because it has a great pool, weight room and activity center. We wanted the boys to have a nice place to start out here. So everyone picked a bedroom and the U-Haul was unloaded.My husband began work 4 days after we got here. Being a CNC Machinist for many years he began work as a night-shift foreman for an Aerospace Company here in Tucson.He would work at night, then drive 30 miles to be home during the day with me, while the boys we Read more:Dessert
BATTLE CRY 2007-10-01 12:29:00 A Poem By Forrest LangleyBy Lew Waters(Lew Waters)When I was discharged from the Army they only gave me a 40% disability rating even though I had Traumatic Brain Injury, ptsd along with many other ailments. That gave us 673.00 dollars a month. My wife had to quit her job to take care ...Right in a Left World - http://rightinaleftworld.blogspot.com/I have invited Forrest to the Arizona Sunshine TBI Blog and the Arizona Room.ArizonaEarthshines.com
bad brain days 2007-09-30 14:16:00 I've been having some bad brain days, that's what I call it and it happens often. About the last 3-4. I get uncontrollably emotional. My feelings go into overdrive. But Yesterday I felt better, and then today is even more so.I'm very excited to be featured as site of the month for October, on the website for The Northeast Center for Special Care. I met Dominick Raffio online, he is the one who wrote about my blog on behalf of The Northeast Center for Special Care and asked me about featuring it. I think its wonderful what he wrote and am really overwhelmed by the whole thing. Anyway - it's very cool.Also, I've made friends online with a really nice gal in South Africa. She has 3 boys like I do and seams to be someone I will enjoy learning more about.All in all I'm trying to start this week off, in a good frame of mind.Until then thats it for this weekend. I'm spending the rest of it...oh I don't know...maybe not doin' a whole lot - Happy Sunday!ArizonaEarthshines.com
Walnut Canyon National Monument 2007-09-30 13:14:00 Walk in the footsteps of people who lived at WalnutCanyon
more than 700 years ago. Peer into their homes, cliff dwellings built deep within canyon walls. The presence of water in a dry land made the canyon rare and valuable to its early human inhabitants. It remains valuable today as habitat for plants and animals. See for yourself on trails along the canyon rim and into the depths.My family and I visited Walnut National
Mont. about 10 years ago. You can still see finger prints dried in the mud/clay from 700 years ago. It is one of the coolest things I've ever seen.ArizonaEarthshines.com Read more:Monument
Where'd they get that Name? 2007-09-30 12:11:00 These are bands that I like, I think it's interesting to know how some came up with their names.RUSHThey were rushing to think up a name before their first gig, and John Rustey's older brother yelled, "Why don't you call your band Rush?".AC/DCA band member saw AC/DC on a sewing machine. It stood for 'Alternating Current / Direct Current'. The band didn't realize it was also slang for bi-sexual, which caused a few misunderstandings in their early days. BAD COMPANYTaken from a 1972 movie starring Jeff Bridges. BEATLESOriginal bassist Stuart Sutcliffe came up with the Beetles in 1960, which was a play on Buddy Holly's Crickets. John Lennon is generally credited with combining Beetles and Beat to come up with the Beatles spelling. BLACK SABBATHNamed after a 1963 horror movie starring Boris Karloff. CHEAP TRICKThey claim they asked a Ouija board what they should call their band. CREEDANCE CLEARWATER REVIVALOriginally called The Golliwogs, unconfirmed reports say the band took their n
2007-09-27 13:08:00 When I first found out that today September 27th was the day Bloggers would unite and post their thoughts or otherwise on the subject of abuse. I really had to face it and include myself.I unfortunately know a lot about this subject. I saw my Mother abused by my father. Later I was abused as child. Then by a boyfriend when I was 16,17. I have also know verbal abuse. In any way shape or form abuse is wrong. I have never understood why anyone would think they can accomplish anything through hitting, punching or hurting of any kind another living creature.Whether it's the helpless elderly person that faces the wrath of someone in a terrible mood. My son works in an assisted living home and couldn't imagine any of his residents being harmed.Or a poor animal that can't even understand why the hell he is being beaten.My husband and I breed Miniature Pincshers because we love the breed, I can't fathom one of them being harmed.So this Blogger is United - For those of you who are abusers, p
My Normal Disappeared. 2007-09-26 12:41:00 We are now arriving in Arizona. It's been a long drive, but nothing new to us. You see about 10 years ago My husband, our boys and I moved to Indiana. I'll talk about that some other time. But anyway we were no strangers to long drives. In fact I think we all like the "road trip". Right Before my accident we drove from Southern Cal. up the coast to San Francisco for a vacation. We had a great time. I'm glad I remember it.So my husband is driving the U-haul with one of the boys, my Mother is driving me in my car with the other boys. She helped us make the move. We went down the coast through San Diego and then into Arizona through Zuma and that area. I'm not sure of the hwy. Right away though, the scenery changed. It does in all states, but as we got into Tucson you notice right away how different a desert it is from what you expect.I was immediately struck by the mountains that were surrounding us. It was and remains really pretty to me. The city of Tucson is really cool about how Read more:Normal
Scientists: Brain injuries from war worse than thought 2007-09-26 12:19:00 By Gregg Zoroya,USA TODAYScientists trying to understand traumatic brain injury from bomb blasts are finding the wound more insidious than they once thought
.They find that even when there are no outward signs of injury from the blast, cells deep within the brain can be altered, their metabolism changed, causing them to die, says Geoff Ling, an advance-research scientist with the Pentagon.The new findings are the result of blast experiments in recent years on animals, followed by microscopic examination of brain tissue. The findings could mean that the number of brain-injured soldiers and Marines — many of whom appear unhurt after exposure to a blast — may be far greater than reported, says Ibolja Cernak, a scientist with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.TROOPS AT RISK: USA TODAY'S full coverage on IEDs in IraqThis cellular death leads to symptoms that may not surface for months or years, Cernak says. The symptoms can include memory deficit, headaches, vertig Read more:Brain
Shine on... 2007-09-22 12:10:00 September 4, 2007I Posted this:Besides my Cockatiel Eddie, named after Eddie Van Halen. And on the bottom is Lucy. All our dogs have rock names. I don't know how it started, but it just ended up that way. We all love music. Besides Eddie, we have 7 dogs. We breed Miniature Pinchers, really great dogs and in addition to that they are - Anthem, Angus, Glory, Lucy, Penny, Floyd, and Layla.Do you know who/or what they are named after?Anyone? Post your answer in the forum!=========================================Ok I will just give the answers since nobody is there to quiz. (from left to right like a book)Eddie is named after Eddie Van Halen.Angus is named after Angus Young from ACDC.Anthem is named for the song Anthem, by RUSH He is "Anthem of the Heart"Glory for another RUSH song called Everyday Glory,Penny is named for the Beatles song, Penny Lane.Lucy is named for another Beatles song, guess, yes, Lucy-in-the-Skyyyy with Diiaaamonds.Floyd of course is named after The Pink F Read more:Shine
Moving into the Sun 2007-09-21 11:10:00 After dealing with our landlord in California, we had to make tough decisions. We knew that staying where we were was not an option. But where? Where could we go and make it on our new lower-than-it-already-was life style.My sister-in-law who is one of the funniest people I know, is also a surgical nurse. She's been a travel nurse for several years and she happened to be on an assignment here in Arizona and particularly Tucson at that time. She told us all about it here. And we bit.We got rid of what we didn't need, packed up the rest (all my guys did) and said goodbye to Southern California. I was born there, but It really wasn't all that hard for me. After my accident, I was and still am a little sketchy when I am riding in a car or I'm around a lot of people. All the buildings, blacktop, TOO many people everywhere.When we got to Tucson, I was amazed at how green it is here. One of, if not the wettest deserts in the world I've learned. Now I see mountains out my window everyday, Read more:Moving
Remarkable Account of Brain Injury Experience 2007-09-19 19:05:00 Lara Giddings, MHAMinister for Health and Human ServicesThursday, 20 September 2007 The Minister for Health and Human Services, Lara Giddings, today launched an important new book as part of BrainInjury
Awareness Week.Ms Giddings said Paul Allen’s book, My Life As A Fish, draws on his memories from the time he spent in a coma.“An accident resulting in brain injury could happen to anyone, and My Life As A Fish will help to enhance the community’s understanding of the experiences of people living with a brain injury,” Ms Giddings said.“Paul Allen’s story is an inspirational one. Following his accident, Paul spent some time in a coma and this is his account of how he grappled with the torment of his tenuous grip on reality both then and over the following years...ArizonaEarthshines.com Read more:Remarkable
, Account
You will be so Welcomed! 2007-09-17 16:56:00 If there is a soldier who has returned and is living with TBI. If you are him/her or know someone. I'd love to hear your story. Either here, through commenting, or in The Arizona Room. Don't worry even though there is a small amount of ads on my blog, for my Arizona Earthshines site and just a small number of other. There is NO advertising in the Arizona Room. So you can meet and talk with other TBI survivors in a kick-back place.You will be so Welcomed!ArizonaEarthshines.com
Traumatic Brain Injury and Comfort 2007-09-17 16:13:00 Posted by secondchancetolive on September 16th, 2007Welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy you decided to stop by and visit with me. In life you and I have experienced circumstances that have been out of our control. You, like myself may have sustained a traumatic brain injury that has presented you with various challenges to overcome. Your brain injury may have led you to develop a learning disability or a mental health challenge. I am also confronted by and challenged with a learning disability as well as other neurological limitations. These obstacles and challenges can leave us feeling very alone and overwhelmed. Consequently, you may be confused, discouraged and despondent by your present circumstances.In our frustration, you and I may want to isolate and cut our selves off from other people, but the good news is that you and I do not have to be alone in our struggle to accept our reality. We can reach out to other people and in the process find strength and comfort...h Read more:Brain
, Injury
Being Home after the Hospital 2007-09-17 13:10:00 It was really strange the last week I was in the hospital. I was very confused about many things. I kept telling my husband I wanted to go to "his" house. I didn't have any idea about where we lived until we pulled up in front the house. Then it all came rushing back. We had lived there for 4 years.When I first came home everything was strange. I spent most of the time either in bed or on the couch. I had terrible head aches, so bad that I would vomit from the pain and disorientation. I had these very strange "spells" that my husband in his research figured out was seizures. He took me to the neurologist and sure enough we found that I had post traumatic epilepsy. Now I have to take medication called Depakote to keep it under control. Unfortunately one of the side effects is weight gain. And since I have no balance, I can't exercise to make up for it. I use to walk a lot and thought that was my lazy way of getting exercise. Oh how I wish I could just take a walk again. It was really
Kartchner Caverns | An Arizona Treasure 2007-09-12 11:14:00 Kartchner Caverns boasts many world-class features that have been protected since the cave was discovered in 1974. Kartchner Caverns State Park offers visitors to this very popular attraction both a cave tour and an opportunity to experience the site's excellent Discovery Center. All caves tours are guided by a park interpreter. Guests will be taken to the Throne and Rotunda rooms. The tour is one-third of a mile in length and the complete tour will last approximately 60 minutes, 45 minutes of which are in the cave.http://www.wildernet.com/pages/area.cfm?areaID=AZSPKART&CU_ID=1Arizona
Earthshines.com Read more:Treasure
brain injury is an invisible disability 2007-09-12 10:23:00 When the guys do come back, brain injury is an invisible
disability. No one knows how you feel and it is hard to explain. I don't even remember anything until I woke up in the hospital 6 weeks later. It all really sucks let me tell you.I had a super hard blow to my head. I guess when it happened I went flying and then down, and slid. I had a closed head injury, lucky I was wearing a helmet but it was cracked and destroyed, that tripped me out, I saw it. (I think my husband showed me, or did I just think that is how I saw it?[[See this happens a lot with memories and train of thought.]]Oh and then while I hit and was sliding, I got my TBI, I broke my pelvic bone and had abrasions from the asfault on my knuckles, hip, arms, knee, thats all I can think of. I was pretty jacked up.But I've read that these guys in Iraq are getting TBIs from the bomb going off so close to them. The Blast is that stong. I have the MRI pictures of my brain and can see what my injury looks like. I wonder what
Doctors and Soldiers Struggle | TBI Resources 2007-09-09 18:34:00 Soldiers & Doctors
Struggle with Brain InjuryBy editor@truthdig.com Thousands of troops have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, or TBI. These blast-caused head injuries are so different from the ones doctors are used to seeing from falls and car crashes that treating them is as much faith as it ...Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines - http://www.truthdig.com/Taking on the VA For Brain Injury RehabilitationBy Michael KaplenThe Boston Globe in an important article reports on the success and failures of returning veterans and their families in obtaining brain injury rehabilitation services outside of the Veterans Administration network. ...braininjury - http://braininjury.blogs.com/braininjury/How to Live with Traumatic Brain InjuryBy gualtiero piccininiPhillips is a traumatic brain injury survivor and a rehabilitation counselor. He writes: "I sustained an open skull fracture with right frontal lobe damage and remained in a coma for 3 weeks at the age of 10 in August of 1967 Read more:Soldiers
, Resources
Ok, I'm Ready 2007-09-05 14:10:00 I guess today is the day. I'm finished setting up my website, blog and forum, so I'm ready to move on. It's so interesting to me, how different we have all had it, and I'm sure I won't be an exception. First off I want to say I will try to keep my posts fairly brief. Since my accident I have a hard time reading paragraph-after-paragraph of text. So I don't want to do that to anyone else.The first thing I remember in the hospital, is when I started to mix reality with my dreams. (husband has told me)I remember bits and pieces of things. Like I thought I was on an Asian Boat, like a party boat. NO kidding - I guess one of the male nurses was Asian and I saw him and imagined the rest. My husband says they laughed about it, like he said, "Oh because I'm Asian she's on an Asian boat?I didn't believe I was in an accident at first. My husband had me look at my scars and the fact that I hadn't shaved under my arms in a while...jeez! - I don't remember about 8 weeks worth of my life
Everyone should see The Grand Canyon 2007-10-17 14:21:00 About tens years ago my family drove from California to Indiana. We went 50 miles out of our way so we could see the GrandCanyon
which we hadn't seen before. You can go right to the edge where there is safety rails, you can really look right down into all of it. I remember looking down and having a real physical feeling of vertigo. I thought I was seeing the bottom, then I realized no...thats the bottom. It really is DEEP and it can play tricks on your depth perception. But beautiful beyond belief.As you see in this picture, we met some people from Japan who just thought our boys were adorable and they wanted a picture with an "American Family." It was so cute, they really liked holding our youngest son Alec who at the time was 4 and thought they were nuts. But he made it through and provided for a fun memory. (of which I'm thankful to have)I hope you watch the aerial footage and visit the links I've included. EVERYONE should at least see the Grand Canyon
even if it is in photograp
$8,400,000 verdict for brain damaged victim of motor vehicle accident 2007-10-17 12:44:00 By Levin & PercontiAn $8400000 verdict was recently awarded in a personal injury lawsuit to a 21-year-old woman who was in a car accident
and sustained severe and permanent brain injury. The woman claimed that she was a victim
of auto repair negligence, ...Illinois Injury Lawyer BlogArizonaEarthshines.com Read more:damaged
Traumatic Brian Injury.com 2007-10-17 11:18:00 Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex injury with a broad spectrum of symptoms and disabilities. The impact on a person and his or her family can be devastating. The purpose of this site is to educate and empower caregivers and survivors of traumatic brain injuries. This site aims to ease the transition from shock and despair at the time of a brain injury to coping and problem solving. Bookmark this site for the latest medical breakthroughs and brain research, the highest quality treatment for brain damage, the symptoms of brain injuries and the nation's best traumatic brain injury rehabilitation centers and resource information.What is TraumaticBrainInjury
.Com?TraumaticBrainInjury is a project of TraumaticBrainInjury.com, LLC. Our mission is to be the leading internet resource for education, advocacy, research and suport for brain injury surviviors, their families, and medical and rehabilitation professionals. If you are interested in submitting an article, please submit it via e Read more:Brian
Arizona Helps Us 2007-10-16 13:54:00 Walker, Wheel Chair or Cane?By now we had adjusted to day to day living here in Tucson. Like I mentioned John had decided to go into the medical field so he was working and going to school quite a bit. All while trading time with the boys so someone would always be home with me. At the same time he juggled all this he found me a primary doctor and thus a neurologist and others I would need to be referred by him.John also found that in addition to the Social Security I was now receiving, I was eligible for a program here in Arizona
called ALTC. They call it Altecs: Arizona Long Term Care. I was and still am very embarrassed almost, that I qualify for the same kind of program that I always used to associate with the elderly.Well it turned out to be one of those things I found myself being thankful for. It started with a nurse that they sent out regularly to check on me. She was very kind to me and didn't make me feel, the way I would have let myself. They provided me with a shower chai
Haunted Places I've Been | The Brookdale Lodge 2007-10-14 18:29:00 The Brookdale Lodge
Nestled deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains lies the historic Brookdale lodge. Surrounded by giant redwoods, Brookdale Lodge was originally opened in 1870 as the headquarters of the Grover Lumber Mill. The mill was purchased by H.J. Logan of Loganberry fame in 1900 and was converted into campgrounds and a hotel. Since then the lodge has passed through numerous hands.Between 1922 and 1945 the lodge was operated by Dr. F. K. Camp, a Seventh-day Adventist physician and a strict prohibitionist. It was Camp that built the magnificent Brookroom, a dining room that encloses a natural stream flowing down its center. This was the lodge's heyday. The Brookdale was the second most popular resort in California and played host to Hollywood stars, prominent families, foreign diplomats, and even a U.S. President. Famous persons passing through Brookdale Lodge included: Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Tyrone Power, Joan Crawford, Rita Hayworth, Hedy Lamarr, and President Herbert Hoover. The Read more:Haunted
, Places
"The Ghost Song" - The Doors 2007-10-14 18:00:00 Jim Morrison's lyrics often reflected his fascination with the spirit world of ancient Native Americans.The music and voices are all around us.Choose, they croon, the ancient ones.The time has come again.Choose now, they croon,Beneath the moon,Beside an ancient lake__________________________________________________________________ArizonaEarthshines.com Read more:Ghost
, Doors
Haunted Places I've been | The Queen Mary 2007-10-14 17:12:00 Ghosts and Legends of The Queen
Mary Ghosts & LegendsThe first-class swimming pool is a popular spot for ghost sightings and is part of the Ghosts & Legends show, a daily, special effects, walk-through show created aboard the ship that dramatizes actual paranormal and historic events that have been reported over the years. Wet footprints mysteriously appear — and there is not a drop of water in the pool. Women in vintage bathing suits visit for a leisurely swim. Although the pool has been closed for more than 30 years. Is it real, or is it your imagination at work? Testimonials from passengers and crew members continue to be reported and documented, all of them wanting answers to what they’ve experienced. Do ghosts really exist aboard the Queen Mary?Ghosts & Legends of the Queen Mary encompasses a 25,000-square-foot area and takes guests through locations not accessible to the public, blurring the line between reality and imagination.Ghosts and Legends of The Queen MarySunday Brunc Read more:Haunted
, Places
About Last Night 2007-10-20 15:23:00 Last night was fun. I was nervous for nothing. I'm glad. The people my husband works with are very nice and I made friends and it was a very pleasant evening. I wasn't uncomfortable or anything. So I'm looking at it as a learning experience. I think my mind runs away with thoughts or fears that are based on the way I feel physically. I "feel" strange so I'm afraid I'll come off as strange. I think I learned last night that I'm not strange. I'm ok and thats a good feeling to have back. :)Happy DayArizonaEarthshines.com Read more:Night
2007-10-19 16:55:00 Tonight my husband and I are attending a going away party for a friend that he works with. There will be several people there. I think what I wanted to share, especially with other TBI survivors, is how nervous I am.I want to go, in fact it will be good to get out. I was never shy around others and actually have in the past been more the party going girl than my husband would have preferred. However now...I fell funny when I'm going to be going around others that I don't know. I don't feel normal anymore, I'm afraid I stand out somehow. I know that I've read a lot about a brain injury being an invisible disability. I know there isn't anything anyone can SEE that is different about me. But I feel so different and that is what I don't want to show.I hope I don't say anything dumb or confusing. I hope I can have a conversation with someone face-to-face without getting lost in my thoughts or tongue tide.It's easy when I'm here on the computer because I can think about what I writ
"Witch Hunt" - Rush 2007-10-18 15:57:00 The Lyrics and music to this song are spooky sounding. As you see from the lyrics though it is really about the witch hunt that results from various kinds of prejudice.The night is blackWithout a moonThe air is thick and stillThe vigilantes gather onThe lonely torch lit hillFeatures distorted in the flickering lightThe faces are twisted and grotesqueSilent and stern in the sweltering nightThe mob moves like demons possessedQuiet in conscience, calm in their rightConfident their ways are bestThe righteous riseWith burning eyesOf hatred and ill-willMadmen fed on fear and liesTo beat and burn and killThey say there are strangers who threaten usIn our immigrants and infidelsThey say there is strangeness too dangerousIn our theaters and bookstore shelvesThat those who know what's best for usMust rise and save us from ourselvesQuick to judgeQuick to angerSlow to understandIgnorance and prejudiceAnd fear walk hand in hand...ArizonaEarthshines.com Read more:Witch
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