So, I've been down around the mouth, lately. NN12 is coming up and we've been in such financial dire straits that I knew I couldn't go without aide.
I tried the DFA Scholarship pool, but was not selected. So, I had given up. Tragically (Ok, First World tragic), I live in Boston. So close!
I would have about zero transportation costs to get there. But, given my health, I need to stay on site if I'm going to attend. (I take a lot of breaks for rest/naps and I wouldn't be able to manage travel to & from every day.)
But, in these wee hours, a ray of hope has penetrated my gloom. And I wonder, wonder, do wap a do do do... Can anybody share a room?
More below the fleur de Kos...
My ex started prodding me to figure this out a few days ago. He knows how much it meant to me last year and he sees how down I am about not being able to go this year. It's been a long year of Witnessing Revolution, then getting into the streets myself with Occupy Boston, and getting arrested and preparing for trial.
On the home front, he is still looking for work, one year after getting laid off. The foreclosure process on our house is imminent. We're working on a plan to establish a cooperative homestead here and invite other people in to we jointly buy the house and get a new, smaller, affordable mortgage. Fingers crossed. (Maybe I'll write about that some day.)
My medical situation has improved a little bit. I have been getting the doc's recommended dose of IV Immunoglobulin since September and we're seeing demonstrative, though small, steps in the right direction. In March, my left foot had a minute auto-response to being tapped on the ankle (the same way they do with the knee-jerk thing.) This is the first time in 5 years that it has responded. I can't tell you how huge that is. It means there is some nerve repair happening!
I've had fewer headaches and seem to have a little more stamina. A day out and about now, might only result in 1 or 2 days of being highly symptomatic. While I used to get crushed by every sound, with physical reaction, I now seem to tolerate sound for a bit before I start to cringe in pain. Baby steps.
Still, a long way to go. And I'm being told that my cognitive deficits are not likely to be improved. Nor my tremors. I'll take what I can get, at this point.
I have been teaching some knitting classes again. That's been wonderful. I have students who keep re-enrolling in the "beginner" class and we basically have an ongoing knitting academy going with about 12 students. I have my "girls" on Thursday afternoons. Ages 7-12. My daughter comes along sometimes. She got them started with "Knitaoke". Once they've settled into their projects, we take out the iPad (thanks to all of you!) and they put up YouTube videos with lyrics and sing along while they knit. Can I just say? It's about the cutest thing ever. It's a riot and the store is so livened up by it. I'm very happy to be teaching again.
So, we decided that I could apply my next paycheck to NN12. Its not much. About $300. Wasn't sure where to go from there. But, last night, my sister just happened to email me asking me if I was planning to go. She has a ticket but has now realized she can't make it. So... I have a ticket!
Now, I need lodging. And food.
Does anyone have an available space to share a room? And how much would it cost? Is it possible that I could pull this off?