Breakfast and dessert for this week

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Yes, those are chocolate chips.  And a second loaf in the background.  I forgot how easy this was to make.  The original recipe has a peanut butter frosting but it really doesn't need it--it's already yummy.

The value of MS Drugs

A recent study was released and has the MS community buzzing.  It essentially says: “Our study shows that under the current prescribing and pricing conditions in the U.S., the disease-modifying drugs account for about 50 percent of a person’s overall healthcare-related costs over 10 years and need to be brought into line so that they are not such an economic drain.”

Travis did a fantastic summary.  The number that hit me squarely between the eyes was that, in the United States, the “cost-effectiveness” of all MS disease modifying drugs came out to an average of $800,000 per “quality-adjusted year.” That means that we are paying (whether we pay, our insurance pays, or Medicare pays) nearly $2,200 per quality day over 10 years versus those who don’t take MS meds.

Medpage adds: Ten-year disease costs were similar across DMTs, ranging from about $470,000 to roughly $493,000 per patient.  More importantly, in my opinion, it points out the "positive news" that early treatment improves the cost-effectiveness.  Is it just my jaded cynicism that makes me think that is just another way to influence newly diagnosed (or nearly diagnosed) people into these really, really expensive treatments?

It's Not All In Your Head

I've been having a hard time with things.  Nothing in particular.  Just things.  All of a sudden, I'm just overwhelmed and I fall to pieces.  I know it will be better, and probably very soon.  But I can't stop falling apart with the smallest provocation.  Things just don't seem to be going smoothly.  At all.

I just returned this book to the library.  I thought it was good although I took quite a while to work my way through it.  I'm not sure there was anything new but it did validate some of the things I've picked up and implemented in my life.  The author spends some time talking about the cognitive and emotional problems we may have with MS, including examples from specific people, touching on blame and moral judgment; unresolved conflicts causing physical symptoms; the triad of depression, anxiety and pain;

Here are some excerpts (from the author and from people with MS):

• It's the power of the possible that counts.
• Maybe I wasn't eating healthy, maybe I wasn't a good person, maybe I didn't pray enough.  I wonder if this is God giving me a message, or what I did I do wrong?  The truth...is that I didn't do anything wrong.
• It's not all in your head; it's in your immune system too.
• Forgetting may be more of a matter of displacement than disappearance.

Then the book gets into how to deal with with all these stuff going on in our heads.  Recommended actions include exercise, meditation, and journaling.  These are things I'm doing but I don't feel like any of it is working right now!  It was a good reminder that I'm not alone, others feel this way, and I am going to have to keep working on my health.

If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? --Ancient philosopher

Suck my blood. And energy and stuff.

I went (later than I hoped) to get my blood drawn for the endocrinologist.  As soon as I was done, I took my thyroid medication, picked up a coffee beverage from Ground Control, and headed to work.  I had to deal with some things at work that really zapped my energy, and a long business lunch made me feel less productive.

I got home and had an odd experience.  I turned off my car to go inside, and the car beeped.  And then it was quiet, but it beeped again.  And it kept doing this.  I opened and closed all the doors, checked the lights, turned the car on and back off--nothing made the interval beeping stop.  I started to feel frustrated, but I thought about how to handle the situation.  I looked through the manual and didn't find anything relevant; I looked online and didn't find anything relevant.  So I called the dealership where I bought the car, and I got a service guy who really tried to help me.  But he couldn't.  We determined that the beeps are about 45 seconds apart.  I called the dealership closer to me and the service guys were gone but I can go in the morning.  Assuming my battery isn't dead by then....

What a weekend.

Weekends.  TGIF and then, bam, Monday, Monday.

Friday night, well, it's the end of a long week and we're just getting stuff done.  Including calling a family member about a party that is supposed to be Saturday.  We're calling the family member because we didn't get an invitation.  It's not at all where we thought it would be.  They apparently forgot that we moved to the southwest valley.  Even though they have been to our new house.  More than once.

Our friends came over Saturday morning.  He installed our kitchen lights and she brought me her old bike (she got a new fancy bike).  When they left, we got ready to leave.

We went to my friend's house in the far east valley; she is moving with her family to Chicago in a couple of weeks.  We've been friends for about 20 years and I am going to miss her.  She is uber-fun.  She was having a yard sale outside and a discount sale for friends and family inside to get rid of her husband's stock of sunglasses.  I called to find out if we could still come over since we were running pretty late and I thought they would be packed up.  I won't have another chance to see her before she leaves.  She was enthusiastic so we went.  And hung out with her and her sister (another friend of mine, who was selling her stock of dresses from a retail store she just closed) for a few hours.  They gave us some unreal deals.  And we got to hang out.

When we left, the party (the one we weren't really invited to attend but were expected to attend) was already started. And we were probably an hour away.  Did I mention that the party location was in the northeast valley?  No, more northeast.  Keep going.  You're almost there.  But we're not.  It's not even close to the people throwing the party or, as far as I know, any of their friends.  I hope they won't care that we aren't going, since we weren't invited.

We go to dinner with friends who were out of town for my husband's birthday.  We go to a bar and get kicked out before we get in.  (I can't make this up!)  We go to another and have a good time dancing.  And, for someone in our group, apparently drinking too much.  Great group of friends, fun times.  Out way too late.  I was actually nervous driving home, I was so tired.  I know, I'm old.

My husband insisted we were going out with friends in the morning.  And we haven't even packed for his business trip.  We get up, not at all early enough, and yet way too early, and pack for his trip.  Then we go meet the friends.  He and the other guy leave for their trip.  Girls day out!  Or in.  We go to lunch (margaritas!) and then to my house for Dance Dance Revolution, Mudslides, Kettle Crinkle Buffalo Bleu Potato Chips, and Mario Smash Bros.  Kickin ass, takin names!

When they leave, I eat a little dinner and sit down to read in front of the TV.  And then I wake up and go to bed.  I know, I'm old tired.

I don't know that I would change anything I did this weekend.  But I think this represents my weekends pretty well.  So if you come over and my floors are dirty, or the toilets need to be cleaned, or there is laundry drying on my patio and in all my bathrooms, give me a break.  (Okay, that last one is because my dryer is broken and under warranty and they aren't coming to fix it for two weeks.)  I don't actually spend any time here....  Don't judge me!

Cassi and other randomness

*****

I got home last night and went out back with the pooper scooper to clean up the yard.  While I was cleaning the yard, Cassi decided it was time to do her business, so I bagged it for the vet.  I took it this morning (I did NOT eat breakfast in my car today) and the test came back negative for parasites.  Whew.  If her poop looks normal after a few days, I can discontinue her medication and probiotics.

*****

On a major street near my workplace, a weird light was put in recently for pedestrians, since they were crossing there anyway.  It has always amazed me when people just cross the street, outside of a crosswalk, like someone isn't going to hit them.  A friend of mine lives near my office and she has mentioned that there is a location that people cross in front of a particular restaurant, with no crosswalk, after dark, and it feels like being in a frogger game or something, trying to miss these people darting (hopefully) across the street. 

So a woman in Atlanta has been charged and convicted with vehicular homicide because her four year old kid was hit by a drunk and drugged driver (his third hit and run).  Although many (including the jurors apparently) do not agree with me, I do not think it is a fair charge.  Maybe, maybe, the reckless conduct charge, but look at the photo.  That looks like a direct path.  I can't even see where she would have crossed in a crosswalk, so it is pretty far.  When someone is hot, tired, dragging kids with them, well, I can't judge her for her choice.

*****

I love books.  And libraries.  And bookstores.  Peaceful, cool, infinitely interesting.  I buy online sometimes but I like to browse.  So Barnes and Noble is generally my first stop for book shopping.  I was at lunch today and someone was talking about how awesome the new Color Nook is.  I do not have a "reader" yet, but I think there is a case for the Nook.  And Barnes and Noble!  Do you fight the Amazon monopoly when you buy books?

Ridiculous. And I ate it.

I was wondering, why do the skinny people in the office bring in the worst-for-you treats?  Why are these the people who want to have an ice cream throwdown, with everyone else acting as judges?  Why are our skinniest friends the ones who post pictures of their favorite breakfast of chocolate chip or big-as-your-head pancakes on FB--again, too often?  (On the days they aren't--or maybe they are--posting their daily mile updates?)

I saw this list, 8 Ridiculous Restaurant Calorie Bombs, and as I'm reading it, I'm thinking, who eats this crap?  And then, I see the Cheesecake Factory Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake.  "One slice of this sweet treat is comparable to an entire tub of Breyers All Natural Homemade Vanilla ice cream."  Yep, it's ridiculous, and I ate it.  With my thin friend.  Of course.