I miss the little things...

[PDaddy]

I know I shouldn't dwell on what I can't do, but its hard isn't it?! I do have a positive attitude, I am looking forward to Heaven!

Anyway, I miss:

Tearing a sugar (sweet-n-low) bag open
[now I use scissors]

Opening a soda can
[now I use a opener from Sammons_Preston]

Turning the key to my house
[now I use a key helper from Sammons_Preston]

Turning the key to start my car
[now I use a automotive key helper from Sammons_Preston]

Taking my gas cap off
[now I need assistance from someone]

Buttoning my shirts
[now I need assistance from someone]

Throwing a frisbee for my dog
[my Aussie can catch frisbees for HOURS!]

Unhooking my wife's bra
[just seeing if anyone is still reading this]

Not jumping at every little noise

Carrying 2 Sparkletts bottles at once

Whistling loudly

Clapping

Writing
--------------------------------

After all that, I still enjoy every day!!

[Al]

Yea them bra hookey things can be a challenge.

AL.

[wright]

There are many reasons why I stay on this forum. Threads like this and the many people like Al and PDaddy are certainly two of the main reasons. I Just thought I'd share. Take care my friends.

[vmd]

PDaddy:

I appreciate your atttitude. It seems as though I'm heading in that direction with respect to hand proficiency.

[crystalkk]

It's all the simple things in life that we take for granted.... until we can't do them anymore!!!!!

[BethU]

Hey, I can still get the gas cap off! And my cat refuses to chase frisbees. Otherwise, your list is spot on. (And just for laughs, trying unhooking a bra sometime with your arms twisted behind your back!:-))

Good to know about those key helpers.
BethU

[sharonca]

I was thrilled to learn that the gas station has to pump self-serve gas for me with my handicap placard.

I'd like to go to the store and not be totally exhausted. Make that across the room.

I am grateful my hands still work great. I am a very fast typist. That will be hard to lose.

If I get to Heaven first, I'll be looking for you PDaddy!


Sharonca

[chrismaya]

Your attitude is a true blessing here!

Too bad you don't live in NJ. You are not ALLOWED to pump your own gas. :)

[hopingforthebest]

Your post is sooo true and funny too!

My husband said before he dies he would like to be "whole" again to throw a ball to his grandson and to pick up his granddaughter and hold her in the air.

I miss his hugs most and him wiping his own butt!!! Had to end that with some humor, but it is true!! :)

Patty

[Al]

I'd like to be able to wipe my own butt. Most people I have met and that is a lot since 2003 are totally bummed out (pun intended) at the thought of someone doing that job for them. I was but the first time was not as bad as I thought. The lady discretely waited out side while I did my 'business" And flushed to get rid of some of the scent of last nights dinner. I then called out that I was ready for the paper work. She came in and asked what I meant. Well I said, the jobs not done until the paper works finished. She had not heard that expression before. You gotta love the generation gap. God this is so much fun I could just sh_t. LOL.

al.

[brendapals]

you guys are awesome! This IS so much fun I could just sh_t! It certainly makes the day more entertaining when we can laugh.
As for the bra hookey thing, what ever happened to using the teeth? hahahaha
Love to you all,
brenda

[Al]

I was going to mention that I had done that but thought it was too rude for the forum. LOL.

AL.

[CindyM]

Gheez! I go to bed early and look at what goes on late at night around here!!! :-D

[awieleba]

on a funny note, pdaddy~

maybe you should invent a bra unhook gadget to be sold at sammons-preston! shoot, non als men need that! my hubby does! and us ladies at times could use one for ourseves! and you could make a couple bucks........imangine seeing folks faces when they see that in a catalogue!

[lovelily]

Al....you could keep a can of 'neutra air' in the bathroom, so the poor woman could give a spritz, and then wouldn't be knocked over by your aromatic scent! :mrgreen: Also...a ladies hint. Try the wet wipes (target brand) sorry they are in the feminine aisle. They work wonders on the butt, and you feel soooo clean! :-D

Have a great day!

take care
lovelily

[Sammantha]

Hey PDaddy, i dont read the PALS posts too often but i am so glad i read this one..... If you were like my husband, you would come up with a great arguement for your wife not to wear a bra!! What a way to get your wife to go around without one, my husband would love that! Too bad for him...........

[PDaddy]

Thanks Samantha, and everyone else! I didn't think this thread would be this popular. But, alas, my wife still wears hers... :neutral:

And Wright, thanks for your wonderful comment early on in the thread.

THANKS ALL!

[Diane Rae]

Wow honey, aren't you getting kinda personal on this forum. I didn't know you missed un-hooking my bar that much. The wife is always the last to know. :-D Now that you mention it, I miss that too - but at least you're still interested, you still have your sense of humor, and best of all you are still you, the greatest husband in the world.

[CindyM]

OOPS! Hope we are not the cause of any family arguments around here! :-D LOL

[sharonca]

That is too cute!

[MtPockets]

This thread is so good I had to let my wife read it too. :)
I could never undo the straps when I was well. Butter fingers. I think a woman must have designed the do hickie, whatchamacallit, thingy, on the back of the bra. :-D

[Al]

I thought I read somewhere that it was a man that invented it. A very very sick sense of humor he must have had.

AL.

[PDaddy]

Sick and twisted!!

This thread is so good I had to let my wife read it too. :)
I could never undo the straps when I was well. Butter fingers. I think a woman must have designed the do hickie, whatchamacallit, thingy, on the back of the bra. :-D

[lovelily]

Hello Gentlemen! A little info as to who to thank for bras!

According to "HOORAH FOR THE BRA"...A PERKY PEEK AT THE HISTORY OF THE BRASSIERE, by CHERREE BERRY

"The heroine all woman need to thank as they fasten their bras is New York socialite Mary Phelps Jacob (also known as Caresse Crosby). With the help of her housemaid, two handkerchiefs, and a long pink ribbon, Jacob created the first-known brassiere in 1914. No more whale bones.

Woman could breathe! Jacob patented her creation, but when she was unsuccessful at marketing it, she sold the rights to the Warner's Corset Company for $1,500.00 (the patent was later valued at $15 million!) Little did she know that less than two decades later, Warner would dump corsets and solely focus on selling bras".

:-D

take care
lovelily

[BethU]

"The heroine all woman need to thank as they fasten their bras is New York socialite Mary Phelps Jacob (also known as Caresse Crosby).

Rats! I wanted to blame those silly little hooks on men.:-)
BethU

[PDaddy]

Well, that explains EVERYTHING!

But still, after all the bra talk (which was fun!) I still miss opening a Coke can without assistance...

[Al]

I don't drink soda's but do still enjoy rubbing my face in a lacy dream. Even if I can't open it. LOL.

al.

[rose]

.....so.... today, I received even more forms from Social Security to fill out, and one of the questions was asking what I was unable to do, that I used to be able to, and having read this (very) entertaining thread earlier in the day, I burst out laughing, wondering how many of you guys would/could put the bra hook dilemma down....8-), and as for myself, I'd considered if maybe down the road I'd want to try sewing velcro to the backs of mine, and decided that just letting the girls loose seems a better plan.

Seriously, I still have finger dexterity, but I am losing strength, and I miss being able to open a bottle of wine by myself ~ and to be able to pull the cork back out after its been opened (was just battling with that)

[Just J]

Pdaddy, thanks for this. Its nice to know folks can continue to be otpimistic with a sense of humor. I worry about my husband though...this is going to be real hard for him. For example, I recently purchased a cane for him which he is using around the house. I had to go with him last week to the motor vehicle administration (too much of a task for him right now) anyway, I asked him why he wasn't bringing the cane and he responded that he didn't want to be seen in public with it. Now how do I respond to that? I guess he's going to become a hermit. We're going on vacation in October and I already told him that I was going to look into renting a motorized scooter for him. At least he didn't reject the idea. Keep smiling.

[PDaddy]

Thanks Rose and Just J, that's llfe.. I'm smiling every day!

[BethU]

[QUOTE=rose;50727
Seriously, I still have finger dexterity, but I am losing strength, and I miss being able to open a bottle of wine by myself ~ and to be able to pull the cork back out after its been opened (was just battling with that)[/QUOTE]

Know the feeling, Rose! I was trying to pull a parking stub out of the little machine at the entrance to a parking lot, and couldn't do it with my left hand. Had to unbuckle, squeeze out of the car and jerk it out with both hands. The guy in the payment booth was laughing his head off. I briefly considered backing the car up and ramming the booth, but then decided to laugh along with him ... although not very sincerely.

I envision eventually having to pull it out with my teeth. (But perhaps when I reach that point, I'd better stop driving!)

Are we having fun yet?
BethU

[Al]

Hey Beth. I used to have a light weight set of pliers in the console for grabbing those tickets.

AL.

[BethU]

Great idea, Al! (Why didn't I think of that?!? :-))
BethU

[quadbliss]

Hi Just J,

Tell your husband I have discovered that I am not my body. I am my presence or spirit. I am paralyzed from the neck down, need help with the most basic bodily functions, and can't speak. In spite of this, I have not lost one ounce of my dignity. No one can take that away from you. You have to surrender it. I have pride in who I have become, and exist with an ere of confidence.

Mike

[Just J]

Hi Just J,

Tell your husband I have discovered that I am not my body. I am my presence or spirit. I am paralyzed from the neck down, need help with the most basic bodily functions, and can't speak. In spite of this, I have not lost one ounce of my dignity. No one can take that away from you. You have to surrender it. I have pride in who I have become, and exist with an ere of confidence.

Mike

Thanks Mike. He was very athletic his whole life so I think that he is still in denial over not being able to do things. Once we have a diagnosis I think his attitude will change. Right now we know nothing other than witnessing his constant decline over the past 3 yrs. Wishing you the best!

[MtPockets]

So well said Mike as usual. It is a shame that for some of us it takes a disease like this to make us stop and think of these things. I mean that with all my heart.

I use to be a work-a-holic and a perfectionist. Can you imagine me now. I guess that is why I like to share my failures sometimes on the forum, to let others know we all make mistakes, but we can learn from them. Go to: http://www.alsforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=42377#post42377

I guess I am a slow learner, because I make the same mistakes over and over again. But, I am learning. I am learning from the wisdom of others who have walked this road before me, like Mike, Grandpa AL, etc. I'm sorry my memory is so bad, now, I cannot remember all of the wonderful people who have helped, and there is not enough room for them all anyway. Please consider your name mentioned.

I can not thank you enough for sharing your heart with me and others. Only when we meet in heaven will you understand the people you have helped and influenced. Gods Bless you all. Keep up the good work.

[sharonca]

What I'm going to miss...... I've decided that I'm not going to drive anymore. We've been on vaca for a week and I feel so much weaker. Last time I drove I needed to lift my right leg with my hand to switch from gas pedal to break. Not good. So I'm taking a big girl pill and making the decision - no more driving.

Sharonca

[PDaddy]

Sorry to hear that Sharon, I hope I can make the right decision at the right time too..

[CindyM]

I am sorry to hear this, too, Sharonca. You are doing the responsible thing, though.

[sharonca]

Boy, I really feel I made the right decision. Today I had to have my grandson lift my feet to get in the car. Progression is never fun. Grandson goes back to Texas on Tuesday. So sad to lose my helper. I have lots of friends who will be my drivers.

Sharonca

[anneinma]

This thread is so good I had to let my wife read it too. :)
I could never undo the straps when I was well. Butter fingers. I think a woman must have designed the do hickie, whatchamacallit, thingy, on the back of the bra. :-D


Great sense of humor which keeps us all going. It had to be a man who invented that!Bless you for your outlook and humor.

[bossman]

I hear you I cant do any of that myself even hard to do the sipper up on my pants.To carry a cup 10 feet with out it droping is a good day.The thing I hate I cant ride my bike

[CindyM]

Hey Bossman- here's a little trick that helps if you are not extremely weak: tie a loop of clear fishing line to the tab in the zipper. Then you can pull the loop of fishing line.

Me, I just wear pull up pants now. I got cheap ones with fake fly flaps so I look like a grown-up. :-D

[PDaddy]

Great idea about the fishing line, I'll try it...

[CindyM]

If you use clear line, it does not show up against your clothing as quickly as a regular twine or ribbon would. Plus it doesn't fray in the wash.

I forgot to say that I took the buttons of my waistbands and substituted velcro tabs. Then I re-sewed the button over the front closure so that after I "close" the waistband with my velco, it looks like I buttoned everything together.

[hopingforthebest]

My husband misses playing the Base and being about to hold his grandbabies over his head.

Mike-you are an awesome inspiration to all on this forum! :)

[SMillheiser]

I'd like to be able to wipe my own butt. Most people I have met and that is a lot since 2003 are totally bummed out (pun intended) at the thought of someone doing that job for them. I was but the first time was not as bad as I thought. The lady discretely waited out side while I did my 'business" And flushed to get rid of some of the scent of last nights dinner. I then called out that I was ready for the paper work. She came in and asked what I meant. Well I said, the jobs not done until the paper works finished. She had not heard that expression before. You gotta love the generation gap. God this is so much fun I could just sh_t. LOL.

al.

Hey Al,

I don 't have ALS and have full use of my hands and limbs. But I never knew you were supposed to wipe your ass after taking a dump. With paper no less?? Whats that all about?
Stu

[rose]

OK boys, you just made me choke on my espresso!!!!:D:D8)

[Al]

Yes Stu it's true. We do wipe with paper up here. It gets very cold here in winter and if you don't wipe the klingons (not the Star Trek kind ) they freeze and make it very uncomfortable to sit. I guess you Californians just squish em. LOL.

AL

[Sammantha]

Beth U and Rose i had to write this and i hope you are able to read it! I went to my moms bank to get money for her and i pulled up to the ATM. Well the ATM was on my dreaded left side. My hand all the way to my shoulders is messed up. I cannot maneuver that arm in a very smooth way and the fingers arent very strong. Anyways, my car was low to the ground so i had to open my door and i tried hard to reach over and use my right arm but no luck. I was stuck using my left. Well i put the card in but wasnt pushing the buttons hard enough then it would start the transaction over, then this truck pulls up behind me. He was behind me all of two minutes when i finally was able to finish. As i went to take the money he hollers at me, "What's the problem get your money and go!" I had just had the hardest time ever trying to get money i was not in a good mood, not to mention i was not there that long! I turned and faced his big truck and said It doesnt pay to be a smart-ss!!...... Then i slowly sank into my seat, checked myself in the rearview mirror, fixed my hair, buckled my seat and slowly drove off!! I was so proud of myself because normally i would have cried or said i am trying to hurry......... I used to be impatient at ATM's but i never hollered at anyone, now i have more empathy!! Sammantha

[Sammantha]

Oh i just wanted to ad how great it is to have people helping others on here. I mean sometimes it is the simplest solutions that we cannot think of ourselves. Like Al suggesting using pliers for the tickets....... My boys are both pitchers now and i have not been able to practice with them anymore. Well the oldest is in the majors and the youngest in the minors. The major's coach showed me how to get his pitch faster and the minor's coach said if anyone wants their kid to pitch then they have to practice with them at home. So they were mad at me because they know i cannot bend into a catcher's stance. First i cannot get up and down like that and second eventually i would not be able to move from that position, i would be frozen like that in pain. (It has happened already,) plus i catch with my left hand which is only good for a few minutes, then the glove becomes too heavy and my hand hurts a lot. I was discussing with my sons grandfather who coaches another team and he said, get a stool! He said get a bucket so they have a lot of balls. Get a stool and catch like that, that is what he does! I was so happy, i am like YES! That is what i will do. Something so simple but i would never have thought of it.:)

[BethU]

I mean sometimes it is the simplest solutions that we cannot think of ourselves. Like Al suggesting using pliers for the tickets

I remember thanking Al for that tip ... but didn't think to add how much better an idea it is to carry pliers than to back the car up and ram the ticket booth!!! Which I was contemplating at the time ...

Fortunately, I am on emotional lability meds now which are helping a lot. So there will be fewer rammed ticket booths in LA from now on. 8)

BethU

[CindyM]

LOL, Beth. With all you are going through, if you need to ram a booth or two they should provide a special one just for this outlet! :smile:

[sdsyd]

Oh my gosh Al. You never cease to amaze me. Klingons.
My teenager calls them dingleberries. How gross.

And I get a laugh before I head to work.

[rose]

One of my son's will say he has to "drop the boys off at the pool" LOL boys will be boys whether they're 6 or 60 (+) 8)

[rose]

I turned and faced his big truck and said It doesnt pay to be a smart-ss!!...... Then i slowly sank into my seat, checked myself in the rearview mirror, fixed my hair, buckled my seat and slowly drove off!! I was so proud of myself because normally i would have cried or said i am trying to hurry......... I used to be impatient at ATM's but i never hollered at anyone, now i have more empathy!! Sammantha

I'm proud of you too! :-)

[irishbull44]

I have been around the boards for a little bit now and have posted once or twice but I had to chime in after reading this thread. I am not as far along with my symptoms as some of you however I certainly know what you are talking about regarding how my hands are feeling lately. I don't like to think about the direction I am heading in as far as symptoms go and find that at times ignorance is bliss in that regard. Thanks for the smiles and laughs you have all given me today.

At any rate I wanted to suggest that instead of trying to undue your wife's bra with your hands go ahead and just use the scissors you mentioned in your post. :-)

Great thread!!

Take care,

[sdsyd]

I say Ban the Bra! Peace and love,man. I was sooooooooo born in the wrong era!
~Cindy

[SMillheiser]

Yes Stu it's true. We do wipe with paper up here. It gets very cold here in winter and if you don't wipe the klingons (not the Star Trek kind ) they freeze and make it very uncomfortable to sit. I guess you Californians just squish em. LOL.

AL

AL: How often do you do this? How many times can you use the paper before discarding it? Please advise.

Rose: We called them dingleberries when I was a kid. And I'm 57.

[BethU]

AL: How often do you do this? How many times can you use the paper before discarding it? Please advise.

You're supposed to discard it?

[SMillheiser]

AL: How often do you do this? How many times can you use the paper before discarding it? Please advise.

You're supposed to discard it?

I didn'think so!

[rose]

I say Ban the Bra! Peace and love,man. I was sooooooooo born in the wrong era!
~Cindy

Me too! 8-) Mine are all the 3 or 4 hook varieties, and lately I've been asking myself, why struggle with this? Its not like I'm likely to break into an impromptu run when going somewhere, so why not just let the girls brighten someone's day ;)

[PDaddy]

Hurray! Finally some good advice in this forum!
SET THE GIRLS FREE!!

Me too! 8-) Mine are all the 3 or 4 hook varieties, and lately I've been asking myself, why struggle with this? Its not like I'm likely to break into an impromptu run when going somewhere, so why not just let the girls brighten someone's day ;)

[rose]

I pledge to do my part 8-)

[BethU]

I didn'think so!

For maximum dainty freshness, however, I do let them dry out before reusing.

[CindyM]

Thanks for the giggles, guys. It was a definate LOL!

[Al]

So Rose, when do we get pictures of the girls?

AL.

[rose]

Here you go!

(*)(*)


heh heh heh....

With all the doom and gloom on here today, a cute (to me ) story. Last week on a warm day, I had on a sundress (and no, the girls weren't harnessed) was coming out of the liquor store with a bottle of wine. This other customer came hurrying over to open the door for me, and we walk out to our cars. Its a small lot, only three cars parked in it. My mini is in between two bigger cars. The guy goes over to the wrong one and is struggling with the key trying to get in. It turns out he was driving a Ford Explorer, but was trying to get into a Jeep.

I love being a girl ;-)

[lovelily]

Guys...does it 'always' come back to the bras? :lol: Do I have to use the word 'gentlemen' loosely??? No cracks from the peanut gallery! ;)

I thought you guys were talking about toilet paper.

[PDaddy]

The funny thing is, I just put that little innocent line about bras to see if any one was still reading it!

[rose]

Pat... Well, now you know 8-) maybe we're just easily entertained.

Lovelily, I believe there are two very mature topics running concurrently right now: T & A

[lovelily]

Rose ~ definitely, only from what I have been reading I don't think the guys wipe their A's. ;-)

And PDaddy, Does your wife know what you're up to? 8-)

[BethU]

Rose, you are hilarious. And a true artist !!!

BethU

[rose]

Rose, you are hilarious. And a true artist !!!

BethU

Why, thank you! 8-) I actually possibly just maybe perked them up a bit, but that is called artistic leeway, right??

[SMillheiser]

For maximum dainty freshness, however, I do let them dry out before reusing.

Beth

After drying.... should I chisel them out? Wouldn't that make re-use a bit more comfortable?

Stu