watervole | Stabilising

Stabilising

I'm getting onto a slightly more even keel. The news re Rosalie still isn't
good, but at least the initial shock is over.

The shoulder is starting to ease up, though the voice is as bad as ever.

I phoned my sister up north (not the one with cancer - I have three sisters and
a brother) and asked her for the family news. She knows my voice problems of
old and helpfully spent 20 mins giving me all the family news she could while I
made Clanger noises down the phone (for those who don't remember the Clangers -
shame on you - I made expressive whistles).

Thanks to everyone who's posted. It's meant an enormous amount to me and it's
nice to see old friends again. I've only been on LJ since Easter, but I've had
to severely limit the number of people I can friend as the shoulder goes way too
fast if I read too much in LJ.

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About five years ago while suffering a bit of RSI, I bought a chording keyboard (a Handykey Twiddler). Fortunately my wrist got better, so it's just been gathering dust for a long time. It's a sort of short wand-like mouse/keyboard thing that you strap onto your hand with a velcro strip. You control the mouse part by leaning it, and you produce characters by pressing different combinations of buttons on it. It takes some training to use, but it's a lot better than not being able to type at all. You can see a picture of a later model at http://www.handykey.com/site/support.html (where there are also drivers for my model available for download, I see). Oh, and it needs a PS/2-style keyboard connector, a PS/2 mouse connector and a 9-pin serial port.

Anyway, if you think this thing would be helpful for you, just get me your address somehow (since I've naturally mislaid it since I last sent you stuff) and I'll mail it to you.

the problem isn't in the wrists per se, it's the neck and shoulder.

I took a look at the gadget you mention, but I don't think it would help. The position you have to hold it in looks like one that would give me problems (I have trouble driving much as holding the steering wheel often sets it off)

On a different topic, can you recall if Roberta Settles (the sandal lady) takes credit cards these days? I may send her a letter.

The mouse function works as long as you can move your hand freely in a sort of joystick-like manner, and the keyboard function only requires finger movement. There really is no required arm position. I've used it with my lower arm lying on an armrest.

She didn't the last time I was there, but that was a while ago now. I'll try to drop by and ask. It'll give me a reason to leave the flat, if nothing else.

Judith does indeed make Clanger noises:-) It's a lot better than talking to dead silence, you get sufficient feedback to feel comfortable.

But I don't know who the Clangers are! I don't think they got exported. Then again, we didn't discover Doctor Who until three years after we left the States.
Though, strangely enough, I do know about The Magic Roundabout and the Wombles.

Hang in there. *hugs*

For those who need to know what The Clangers are, you can find details at the BBC website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/tv/clangers/index.shtml

Waht with all the wandering around the globe, The Clangers passed me by, or vice versa, but I have picked up the general concept from cultural osmosis while living in the UK. There's a selection of RealMedia clips on the site for those who wish to Watch/Listen With Mother. Including the one of the Disgraceful Swearing that got banned... Personally, I reckon that if any of the littlies could work out what was in the original script before it was converted into whistles, there's no point in worrying about corrupting them.

I just had to write that (and I love saying even more, especially to Americans who don't know what it means). Thanks for getting me into this LiveJournal thing--it is very interesting and will allow me to keep in touch without you having to write so often.

Please know that I am sending lots of hugs and good wishes for your sister and your entire family. My mother survived "terminal" cancer 19 years ago and lived for another 17 years, until she was 86. She had a Stage IV lymphoma and the treatments were pretty rough, but as others have said, that was a long time ago and treatments always improve. Also, you might want to pick up Fran Drescher's book. I have not read it but know that she was diagnosed with a late stage cancer, either ovarian or cervical, and survived. She looks better than ever now, so just remember that while there is life, there is hope.

Also, tell Richard that I am just itching for an excuse to make a trip to England, and after the work I have done for the past 19 years, there is NOTHING I am shy about, so if he doesn't get to the doctor, I'll drag him there and help the doctor with the exam! There, that ought to scare him!

Take care and remember that Liam and I send hugs.

NIce to see you on LJ. That should help reduce the bouncing e-mail problem.
YOu need to redo the Liam icon without the white background. Do him more justice.

Thanks for the feedback. I kept trying to get the picture to load and the file was too large, so I guess I went overboard in reducing it. I was in a hurry as it was a busy weekend. I'll get back on this week and fix it. No picture really does him justice; he needs to be experienced! All the people who came to look at furniture fell in love with his sweet personality and several people offered to buy him from me! Too bad they didn't buy the furniture.

You know, you should tell Gareth about this website. I know he loathes computers, but this would be a great way for his fans to keep up with his activities and he would not have to worry about replying to people he wanted to keep in touch with. Perhaps his wife is more comfortable with computers than he is and could do this for him? Just a thought for the next time you see him.

I'd ask how your sister is, but don't want to have you do more writing. I would have called, but read your post about your voice, too. I am so sorry all this is happening to you! I'll check your journal later to see how things are going, but Liam and I have been saying our prayers for her.

Take care and remember that you have friends all over the world!

Debora

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Stabilising

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