Restless Legs are Back

LIAM ANCHORING HIS RESTLESS LEGS

The name is back, that is. Restless Legs Syndrome. Two years ago the name was changed to Willis-Ekbom. The idea I think was to give the disorder a measure of gravitas. If it had a serious name maybe it would be recognized as a serious medical condition worthy of attention, study and treatment.

HOLDING ON TO A FRIEND'S LEGS HELPS

And its name an honor to the two men who diagnosed the syndrome. Sir Thomas Willis was the first to write about the syndrome in a medical way. He did this in 1672. Then a few centuries later in 1945, Karl Ekbom wrote a paper about the disease and called it Restless Legs. Here is the wiki link...you'll see them referenced near the bottom of the article in the history section.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restless_legs_syndrome
Here is a photo of some restless legs in our home.

LEGS

What is RLS? Here is the organization's website for the full experience.
http://www.rls.org/
And it is what it sounds like. One wants to move to feel better; to alleviate an uncomfortable feeling...can be one leg, both and not only legs. Arms, hands, head. My right side is restless.
Here is a medical explanation.
http://www.webmd.com/brain/restless-legs-syndrome/restless-legs-syndrome-rls

This year the organization offered a canvas poster compilation featuring RLS words submitted by sufferers. Who would buy this creative yet quirky item? Me. I have it. I believe the money tendered went to something good in the RLS community. I have it up in my yoga room. Thought it a fitting place...you'll see the temporary name across the bottom.

Liam has it also. Many believe dogs twitch and run while sleeping because they are having "chase" dreams. No. In my opinion, it's restless dog leg. The advantage dogs have is that they can sleep first and the restless legs kick in. Dogs will curl and stretch and curve their bodies to achieve comfort. Hiding front legs under and back legs bent. I study Liam's positions to see how he finds relief.

I have hooded sweatshirts which I purchased on sale a few years ago. Maybe the impending name change caused their obsolescence but now they have validity once more.

I felt sorry for them as it seemed no one wanted to wear them.

The RLS logo is on right side in the photos shown, left side when wearing. Yes, that is Liam looking. He does not wear a jacket but likes to have them near.

 RLS is in popular culture. You may remember or are aware of the Seinfeld episode "Jimmy legs'' 

Jimmy Legs=Restless Legs.

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2009-11-05/health/sfl-jimmy-legs-110409_1_deficiency-or-rheumatoid-arthritis-leg-and-juddering-populations-attending-medical-clinics

http://theseinfelddictionary.com/2009/03/14/jimmy-legs/

And trying different positions is part of the struggle with the syndrome...keep moving...

and then eyes open and start over again

Woof, Woof

Starbucks Stroll

DASHING LIAM

I received the notification via my Starbucks phone app. An April Star Dash. The challenge was to make a purchase at Starbucks prior to 11 AM on 15 days in April. If this was accomplished the reward would be 20 bonus stars. Here is the screenshot of the announcement.

Why would I want to do it? With every 12 stars you get a free drink/meal of your choice. So a latte and part of a latte would be my choice of prize. Extra free lattes always welcome. And I will be going anyway. Why not enter?

LIAM LOVING EXTRA LATTES

I had to be proactive and tap a few tabs to enter the race. I did. I joined. And the following screenshot shows the message I received.

My plan was not to plan.
There were 30 possibilities and I expected to garner my 20 stars by the 3rd week of April.

I did not anticipate earning my stars would be difficult. I am there before 11 am when I can be, which is 4-5 times a week. Certain days have scheduled appts. and activities which always preclude arriving before 11. I had no intention of manipulating my schedule to achieve the 20 bonus star goal. In my mind it had to happen naturally.
My plan was not to plan.
April 1 was a Wednesday and I started the dash with an earned star by arriving before 11.

The Starbucks app records the time of the purchase and I knew I would have an ongoing record to refer to all month. I also kept a tally on a wall calendar. Electronic and paper. Obsessive? Not to me, routine recordation. This month of April 2015 had some additional events and happenings.
April Dash Obstacles

These would be unexpected occurrences. The following are a few
Apple course-April 4

On a Saturday. No lattes allowed in the store. I decided not ask Liam's Dad to use my card for his coffee. He would have to get going early. Too much stress for the hubby's day off and too early in the month for me to panic. So a miss.
Long lines-April 5 and April 8

Twice I was in the store in what seemed like enough time but due to long lines and large orders by those on the long lines I was clocked in at 11:01 and 11:02. Thought of flagging down a barista and explaining my quandary but that would be tampering and my plan was not to plan. The month still had days.
Car Appt. 

Ordinarily in June but I am accelerated due to urgent reminders from Ford.
 Rhinebeck Trip 

Two days, taking out the last two days of April.

No Starbucks in Rhinebeck
Nail Appt.
moved due to Rhinebeck trip 
Snow Days
As a result of inclement weather reschedulings, yoga class from March 5 now moved to April 2...ends after 11.

I started off a bit slow. More like a Starbucks stroll than a dash. By mid-April I had accrued only 7... I had expected to be done. I had a good third week. No extraordinary efforts made to arrive by 11. 

By the fourth week in April it was obvious that I could make it. But anything might happen. Feeling a bit anxious on April 27, I gave Liam's Dad my card as I would be engaged all morning. I do that sometimes if he and I will have separate morning commitments. Not really a manipulation. We made it 15 on April 27!

Here the screenshot of the end of my dash. These last three stars are pre 11 AMs

On the way to Rhinebeck we stopped (this is a traditional stop, no manipulation) and I cushioned my star stash with an extra, making my total for pre 11am April Dash stars-16.
It's a wrap.
And I wait for the stars to shoot into my account.
May 1, May 2, May 3, May 4, Cinco de Mayo. Where is my email notification of my win? I had been apprised at the beginning that my reward might take until May 8th to show up. It is all electronic.Shouldn't it have arrived? I reread the first sentence on the screenshot shown above "Thanks for participating in the Star Dash! Look for an email by May 8 to see if you've won."
If, you've won? If????? A two letter word! Wait. There might be another interpretation.
Does that mean those who successfully completed the dash are now in another pool where a winner is selected from the universe of those who have earned the stars? I obsess about this little word "if"and its meaning in this context. If If If...over and over and over.

My plan was not to plan. Sigh...

Early morning May 6 (I have restless leg and its by-products and am awake) while perusing my phone activity, I notice a red badge on my Starbucks icon app. I tap and check.There it is! 20 stars... I win!!!!

And later that day, the official notification. See pic following.
Did everyone who earned 20 stars win? I don't know. But the wording says earned so I think so.

LIAM LAPPING A LATTE

Liam and I enjoyed our free latte today, LiamLicks day!  And have almost enough stars in the bank for another
Woo hoo
Win Win
Woof Woof

Cat in the 'hood

UH OH, THE CAT IS COMING

It must occur daily. The walk by of the cat. First in front of our house and then a turn up our neighbor's driveway. Our neighbor does not have pets. The cat must know this. I do not know if the cat has an owner in the 'hood. I don't see a collar. Liam knows the cat is coming before I do. The racket that precedes its walk by our window is chaotic and sudden and jarring. The noise all emanates from Liam. Each sighting is the same. Liam listens, then watches and finally explodes into an instinct driven chase, barking all the while.

He races to the window, frantic that he will miss the cat. Hooks his paws to the window ledge for the best view. The cat strolls by. And I mean strolls. The cat often pauses and they lock eyes. As the cat reaches the end of the driveway and is almost out of sight Liam bolts from the living room to the kitchen side door and body slams it. His poochie bells jangle. The string of bells hang on the doorknob and their sound is normally  my signal to release him to the backyard. Liam understands that being outside will give him a better chance of a close encounter with the cat. And the cat understands that as long as Liam is inside it will be safe.

                                                             I am not letting you out Liam. 

                                                                           So stop it.

Eventually the cat disappears into the shrubs of our neighbor's yard. A spent Liam stretches out. And we wait for the next time.

Meow, meow...Woof, woof

Dog Run

THINKING OF THE DOG RUN

I know they are coming before my Mom Carol sees them. By the time they are visible to my humans I am in full bark. Who are they? The dogs of New Hyde Park! I have my couch perch; my seat marked with a plaid towel. The street I am watching is Leonard Boulevard. Many of the dogs will pause at our Baxter Ave corner stop sign. I guess they are obeying the sign's command and while there are savoring stored smells and markings left by others. I bark and bark to say my hellos. This is my favorite view of the boulevard.

EYE ON THE CORNER STOP SIGN

I jump up and stand tall to make myself bigger. Sometimes my doggy buds react by facing in my direction. I know they hear me. Let's meet I think  But where? We should have a place.

THEY ARE ALMOST AT THE CORNER

They move along and I settle back down. If only we could meet and play. The town park is across the street from the stop sign. It is called Tully Park. Much unused land. A potential playground waits. However, no dogs are allowed inside.

GUESS THEY TURNED BACK

My parents talk about a place for dog play. Daddy Paul received some info while we were on a walk. I hear about a Dog Run. I listen intently whenever the idea comes up.

A gathering place for all of us. Here in New Hyde Park. Yes, across the street at Tully Park. A recent meeting took place right outside its Leonard Boulevard entrance. A meeting on a snowy March Tuesday. Mom was at a library activity. I know she would have joined in, had she been available. 

See link for our story and see a photo of my friends. You may know some of them. My friend Wrigley Wilbur is a featured participant.

WRIGLEY WILBUR (Wrigs)

Please check out the link for the dog run photo (Wrigs is in it) and story

http://nwsdy.li/1Ej8ubB

A Dog Run at Tully Park would be ideal. Wrigs and I could play. I could hang with all my buds. Mom and Dad could be with me. I would be safe. Maybe I would learn some commands. Maybe I could teach the younger dogs some tricks. Mom says they could teach me a few tricks also. I jump up on people because I am glad to see them. If I knew I could see them often I would not have to be so exuberant. I would restrain myself and use my energy to play in the dog run.

A dog run would bring the community together by offering a place to meet, chat and share info. We would be centralized. Happy viewing for passersby. A secure sanctioned environment. Healthy. Exercise. Unleashed!

Mom is part of an email group of supporters. I can only bark out my support. And I do. 

There are many new friends to meet. I see new dogs in the 'hood all the time.

For now I wait on the couch to be taken out.

ARE WE GOING OUT?

I WANT A DOG RUN

We will take care of our Dog Run. It will have a positive culture. And will benefit the community. Supportive of all. We are looking to have involvement. Will keep you posted. 

Woof, Woof

Lost, Late, Last

SEARCHING

I am often perplexed when folks tell me they get lost. Why don't they use GPS? It is available on every device. And there are online maps. And well, really, how the heck can someone not be prepared? Make a test run. I do.

I am impatient; shaking my head about those bewildered lost folks who are calling, texting, frantically running to make it to an event...it is impossible to get lost nowadays. Really it is.

Except I do. Often. And I had a whopper lost episode last Saturday. We have a sisters-in-law lunch at Seasons 52, a high end restaurant ostensibly in Roosevelt Field. Check it out, link follows
 https://www.seasons52.com/
I am prepared. I have the event date on my iPhone calendar which includes a link and directions and a map. I have the Open Table invite email. I know my route. The trip is supposed to take 15-19 minutes depending on traffic. I allow 45...this will enlarge my arrival window enough to avoid any possibility of lateness or lostness. I have a map propagated from the link. The screen shot of it below does not seem correct. The pin is plunked down on a Subway. Maybe Seasons 52 is also the name of a sandwich.

The second map below shows Seasons 52 next to the Grand Lux cafe. I have this from a Google map app on my phone. Hmm. This discrepancy does not affect my confidence in finding it. I figure I will easily locate it once there.

I have the directions (see screen shot below) and I follow the suggested route. I turn right once. I disregard the instructions after the fourth line. I begin the descent into LOST.

 THE ROAD NOT TRAVELED

I enter the parking maze.
Cars are traveling unlawfully and recklessly. You see, it has snowed (as usual) and there are soft slushy areas as well as granite hard dirt and pebble encrusted snow mountains. These conditions reduce the number of spots. I have a car not a SUV so after a few go rounds I am able to insert it into a half spot; the front of which harbors a small iceberg. Being small and flanked by a huge van, I do not stick out too much. I take it.
Saturday at Roosevelt Field is nightmarish to me. I try to always shop online to avoid going near a mall. Yet, here I am on Saturday at Roosevelt Field. And it is a Saturday after a brutal winter and on the first full day of spring. Eager groups of shoppers careen into me. They unknowingly whack me with their packages. Folks do not realize how much wider they are with their purchases hanging from them.

IS THERE A VIRTUAL PLAYGROUP?

Years ago I was able to negotiate visits to the mall. I had a plan. I would park up top and descend via an escalator. I experienced little human contact. Was in and out. Efficient. Pleasing. I now rarely go to the mall. I am out of practice by at least a decade.

Where is the restaurant?

WHERE IS IT?

Its address is 630 Old Country Road. Of course it is nowhere near Old Country Road. I know this because I came down Old Country Road. I see Dick's Sporting Goods and its address is 600. Okay, Seasons 52 must be nearby. I still don't see it. I feel panic washing over me. I retrieve my phone, tap my contacts. The alphabetical order dictates which sister-in-law gets the first distress call. No answer. I leave a message. As I talk I hear myself becoming unraveled. I might have even denounced Saturday shopping at Roosevelt Field as well the mall venue concept. I sort of remember adding that I might go home. Really. I think I did. I walk for another 10 minutes. Why can I not see it? Proceeding in alphabetical order in my contacts, I phone the next sister-in-law...call does not seem to connect. Irony. I am a person who never makes calls and I have made two. I decide to enter the mall and find a directory. No entrances. How do I get in? Through Penney's? Through Dick's Sporting Goods? I walk and walk. My window of being early is rapidly closing. It is now 12:50 and the reservation is at 1PM. I am irrationally terrified of being late and phobic about being last. Last and on time is disturbing for me. Lost and Late is a condition that engenders a profound negative shift in my view of myself.

HOW DO I GET IN?

Way down on the side I find an entrance and go in. Oh no, this is not better. Swarming shoppers. A cacophony assaults my ears and I consider removing my hearing aids fearing I might lose more hearing. No sense of urgency exhibited by the crowd, they are strolling. But I need to move quickly. Time is running out.

WHICH WAY?

No directory, not a one.

I ask directions of a salesman. He is stationed at a kiosk. Never heard of Seasons 52. He is sorry. I head down the other side. Cognizant that I look crazed. My anxious demeanor contrasts with the desultory movement of the groups of shoppers. I have my phone out and am using the GPS. It shows I am 5 minutes from Seasons 52. I have been 5 minutes away at every point since I parked my car.

ALONE IN A CROWD

I enter a posh jewelry store thinking these folks will know of a non-Food Court restaurant. They don't. And they are also sorry. Me too. I am very sorry. I know I have to get out of the mall. Seasons 52 must not be in the mall! Where is it? No exit. I must enter a store to escape. I race toward Macy's. I have traveled the length of the mall, both sides. I have to go through Macy's to get out. I do.

I see a Macy's guard as I am exiting. I ask him if he knows of Seasons 52. He says "I think it is on the outside." My aha moment. Of course it is. All the good restaurants are. And that is why it has an address. Why would restaurant in a mall need an address? Only outside restaurants need an address. Sigh. I am now out in the parking lot. Alone. Silence

Now I will be able to walk the perimeter and find Seasons 52. Not so fast. The entire facade is under construction. No signs visible, only scaffolding. I make a third call to my next in line sister-in-law. Success. An answer and directions. I have made 3 personal phone calls in one day. A record. One I hope to never break. I now am going to be a few minutes late as well as last. But not left out which is my worst fear. I arrive at 1:05. Late and Last but not Lost and Left out.

Questions

Why did I enter the mall? 

Why didn't I follow the instructions?

Why didn't I turn on my phone while driving and listen to the GPS?

Why didn't I call the restaurant?

Why did I walk left and not right?
Why didn't I use my "lost" time wisely and buy shoes on my way through Macy's? Or at least accept the ubiquitous offers of free sprays of perfume?

Why do have all these issues? 

I think it is some sort of psychotic episode brought on by my Saturday mall fear and fueled by my regular "l" issues...lose, last, late, left out.

My favorite TV show of all time is Lost. See link for a refresher. It ended 5 years ago. May 2010.

http://abc.go.com/shows/lost/about-the-show

No one was ever as lost as those folks. In June 2010, I bought a Ford Focus. I named him, Sawyer, after my favorite Lost character James "Sawyer" Ford. Here he is:
http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/James_%22Sawyer%22_Ford
Maybe I am trying to channel the Losties' experience.

In the end they all found one another. It took a while (some were lost for eons) but they did. 

And so did I.

Exiting the mall area is accomplished swiftly.
Once home, I perform a hard reboot to put myself back on a rational track. This "restart" consists of a visit to the health club. I walk on the treadmill and read. Walking and reading transport me to another zone. Exhaust the body, focus the mind and override emotions.
Later that evening I complete the reboot with some red wine.
Brain rewired. All is okay.
Who was that "lost, late, last person? Not me. How in the world do people get lost? Seriously...there are devices...
Safe at home again.

And do try the restaurant. It is classy and cozy and peaceful. An antidote to the mall experience. No need to even go near the stores. Seasons 52 is only tangentially in the Roosevelt Field mall. Actually best to think of it as located in Garden City.

Woof, Woof

Time Marches Onward

LIAM AT HIS PERCH DURING MARCH 5 STORM

My mother Ruth said that a lot. It went like this "Carol, time marches onward" then the addendum, "tempus fugit." Imprinting in my brain a vague anxiety as well as a future affinity for Latin.

I checked out the first quote and found many have said something similar and that there is no definitive attribution.
The tempus fugit phrase was easier to find.

See the following link

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempus_fugit

Guess she liked delivering well timed announcements.

Timeline
January
Watching the Honeymooner marathon on New Year's Day.
Hunkering down awaiting the storm of the century on January 26.
February
Canceled and rescheduled over and over.

March 
Snuck in on a Sunday and somehow we are already in the middle of it!
Tempus Fugit.

Lots of expectations for this month. A lion represents its arrival and a lamb its end. Snow piled high. Streets narrowed by encroaching snow. A swing month. Something of everything.
Hiatused shows returning, number of awards shows diminishing. Liam watched all. But lost interest during the Oscars after he saw his namesake Liam Neeson.

LIAM TURNS AWAY 
after seeing his namesake Liam Neeson present an award, 
no longer interested

The other seasons slide into each other easily...fall into winter, spring into summer. Winter into spring...not as easy. And March has both...the juxtaposition is often jarring.
The archaic and annoying daylight savings time is implemented, stealing an hour from us.
Ten feet of snow on the ground in places. Sunlight glaring off the snow. What a jumble of images and events.

We will share our March jumble.in this week's LiamLicks.

March
Since the New Year we have been anticipating turning the page to March on our Pet Valu calendar. Our New Hyde Park Pet Valu is adjacent to our Starbucks so we see it on a daily basis. Pet Valu produces its own calendar and the monthly featured pets are winners of a contest that was held in August/September 2014. The 13 (cover included) pets who made it received the most votes. It feels like only yesterday that we brought home the calendar!

http://petvalu.com/about-pet-valu/

PET VALU CALENDAR COVER

March is the first month featuring a dog. And he is a customer at our New Hyde Park Pet Valu! 
January had a ferret, February a cat. March's portrait is of Ricky. See him third from the left.. 

I thought we had a chance of Liam making it onto the calendar. Fresh off our Animal League poster selection, I thought Liam had it in the bag. Not. I missed the cues as to what would appeal. A seasonal motif. The dog as the star. No accoutrements. Our photo entry follows.You can see it does not fit...too many pillows, too many gifts. The couch is bigger than Liam. Should have done some cropping and zooming in.

OUR ENTRY

Ricky is an outstanding choice. One brown eye, one blue. And wearing a jazzy green neck scarf with a St. Patrick's Day theme. Of course! Perfect for March. Liam is okay with his non-selection. After all his photo hangs on Pet Valu's wall all year long. Thank You!

RICKY

Treats will always distract from a disappointment and Liam is enjoying St. Patrick's yummies from his Aunt. He nibbles on small pieces each day. We are trying to make them last till next week. As I hand them down to him I have to suppress the urge to try one. The company says they are fine for humans.

                                                                   We have a big storm. Then melting. The temps rise and fall.

7 degrees is the new 20

30 degrees is the new 50
over 50 has people in shorts and coatless

          Inclement weather. 

Snowy and sunny. Cold. Warmer. March is a wild mix. We are inside and outside. Adjusting to each day. And the days feel as if they are flying by. The hour we lost last weekend propels us into the second week of March. Soaring temps. These will soon to be a memory as winter settles in again next week.

KEETS, KRISTIN AND KAYSAR 
viewing the storm from the safety of their cage

LIAM AND I SHELTERING IN PLACE
and below more photos from these two weeks

PASSING THE TIME WITH COUCH AND KONG

    


TIME 

MARCHES

ONWARD


TEMPUS 

FUGIT

   


 Woof, Woof