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Comment on Alright you Primitive Screwheads, listen up! by Greetings from Planet PA «

Greetings from Planet PA « — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 12:38:22 +0000

[...] « Alright you Primitive Screwheads, listen up! [...]

Comment on One more reason by rebekah (hearn) yearout

rebekah (hearn) yearout — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:14:37 +0000

The trial for the murder of Ben Walker will begin in March. Kevin Rardin is the prosecutor.

Comment on The Union of my State Address by David

David — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:20:57 +0000

I think of both you and Claire as family. You guys mean the world to me. Not a day goes by with me invoking your name. Most of the time, it’s for good. I’ll give up on our friendship when they pry it from my cold dead facebook account.

Comment on The Union of my State Address by Squeaky's Mom

Squeaky's Mom — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:36:38 +0000

Just knowing you and Claire are there and Bonnie can count on your friendship makes me feel better. Only those with chronic illness can understand what it’s like for others.

Comment on The Union of my State Address by Ted

Ted — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:02:34 +0000

All things considered, you (and Claire) soldier onward. Know that you are always appreciated–and if you happen to miss an activity (like a hog killing) we know it isn’t for lack of desire. For myself, I still plan on returning with you to the Big South Fork. In the meantime, know that no apologies are needed, and when you need a place to vent our door/phone/inbox stands open.

Comment on The Union of my State Address by Donna

Donna — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 23:05:21 +0000

My dear Michael & Claire, you Claire have really been there emotionally for me via e-mail this past year. I am sorry that I sometimes forget what it is to live with a chronic illness or someone who has a chronic illness.
When my mother developed Fibromyalgia I was not able to understand why she could not do things like before, why plans where changed or cancelled. It is very easy to go from the extreme of worrying and trying to fix something that you cannot “fix” and going to the opposite of being angry, angry that your own life has been affected, and being selfish in wanting more from someone who simply cannot give more to you.
Michael, I apologize for forgetting what you must deal with, because I do not really know, until now, what it is like for you. There are ups and downs and I only see or hear about ups. And I forget how bad the down times can be for you.
You would think I would be able to understand this myself, living with mental illness, that there are good days and bad days, and really horrible days. It is like a rollercoaster, without end, that very few seem to understand. I understand , Michael, what it is like to appear OK, to be high functioning, and give the appearance that you are fine. That is only the brief moments or a few hours that people see. Others do not see the daily pain and suffering, because it is hidden. Thank you Michael for reminding us all that what we may see of a friend or stranger, is not all that is there in their life, that more understanding and love is needed. Because no one can make the illness go away. I myself have seen or communicated with you and pushed too much , asked too much of you and especially of Claire.
I remain you dear friend, loving you both, wishing that I could do something, and feeling the frustration that I cannot , and forgetting your limitations. Please forgive me where I have pushed or asked for too much. And thank you for what you have given, true friendship.
with much love, D.

Comment on The Union of my State Address by Katrina Miller

Katrina Miller — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:27:02 +0000

I very well understand and empathize with you and what you are going through. I have experienced similar with family members and I have also cared for people who could no longer care for themselves due to old age and illness. So I kinda get where you are coming from. It’s difficult. Very difficult. But also remember that you have friends that do understand and that are there for you. There is a large group a including me that is there for you, all you need to do is ask. I wish that this suffering was not currently in your life and especially your dear husband. But sadly it is and I hope to give you strength and support as you have given me. I consider you a truly amazing person and thank you very much for all you words of wisdom. I feel today like a weight has been lifted. I hope I can be there for you in the same way. As I tell myself when things get to me ‘just breath’. Om mani padme hum.

Comment on The Union of my State Address by Lainey

Lainey — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:08:58 +0000

Michael & Claire…

I applaud the time, energy, and, yes, courage you’ve invested in sharing your struggles. No one can truly know what another person goes through, and, given the nature of chronic illness, it’s easy for those not with you on a daily basis to forget what a marathon–not a sprint–it is.

The optimist in us wants to cling to any good news or positive development as “progress” and the signal flag that happily ever after is just around the corner. Our minds find it difficult to fully assimilate the concept that there isn’t happily ever after, that there might only be trying not to get worse.

I have the luxury of taking the things I might struggle with, slapping some fictional person’s name on it, then releasing it as someone else’s story. I have the luxury of “hiding” how much of my writing is (or isn’t) about me. I have the luxury of putting a Hollywood spin on it and wrapping it up neatly with a bow.

It makes me all the more mindful and appreciative of what it took for each of you to sit down and put words to your reality.

All my love to you both as you continue to fight the good fight.

Comment on The Union of my State Address by Claire

Claire — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:18:25 +0000

Very well said, my love. Also very appreciated. Though everyone has their own suffering and daily struggles, I think sometimes reminders can be helpful when it comes to chronic illnesses.

I have had several very difficult times with my own friends when they don’t understand why I am flaky with making plans or emotionally fragile. Many a time I’ve seen the equivalent of an eye-roll and foot stomp when I turn down long-term plans with friends, as if I’m just being a drama queen. When I’m left to explain it on my own, I sometimes get some variance of “you worry too much,” or “but he’s better now, isn’t he? I thought that was in the past?”

What Michael said on this post is very helpful to me as a partner and someone who loves him very deeply. Yes, I worry too much. But I also know what happens when I don’t worry ENOUGH. That balance is something I have to find, but until I do, communication is the only tool I have in the arsenal. Michael’s post helps me do so, and I think it will help my friends as well when they don’t understand why I too am affected by a chronic illness even if I myself am not the patient.

Chronic illness affects everyone, not just the patient. While I am indeed healthy, I do not feel healthy. I often feel tired and shagged out after a long squawk (thank you John Cleese). While family and friends do not see how bad you feel, I do. I watch how badly you pay for everything you do/don’t do, and I in turn pay for it as well.

The only way to avoid hurt feelings and misunderstanding is to be open and honest. While Michael values his privacy and does not want pity, his friends and family deserve the opportunity to fully understand what living with chronic illness means for both of us. Otherwise it’s too easy for people to take it personally when things change abruptly.

I have had difficult moments with people who say they understand, and at that moment I’m sure they do. But that understanding is fleeting, and invariably there’s that “But he was doing so much better” moment. Yes, he WAS better on that day/during that week/that month. But today he’s feeling like crap and the only thing I can do about it is be here if/when he needs me. This is the difficulty of living with someone with chronic illness.

All Michael and I can do is find that balance between isolating ourselves and trying to hide the situation and throwing a lifelong pity party. Both of us are working from opposite ends of that spectrum, and we are grateful to all who have been on this path with us.

Comment on One man can make a difference by Claire

Claire — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:15:41 +0000

I also wonder if Comcast has something to do with this. Though they publicly say they will have nothing to do with day-to-day functions of NBC, I distinctly recall when they moved FoxNews into their basic cable slot and MSNBC only into the higher, deluxe package pay slot.

I respected Keith and the show, but always with the knowledge that it, along with the network, was decidedly slanted to the liberal. Being a liberal, this was fine by me. However, on this particular issue I am surprised by their lack of fact checking & finding true experts to be their talking heads and makes me wonder if that means everything else they report needs to be vetted more thoroughly. I find this to be more disturbing, as it would take a great deal more effort for the viewer to do their own research on every single story (unlike with Fox, where all a person needs is a functioning knowledge of history and an average intellect to spot the hyperbole and downright falsehoods portrayed as facts).

You know what I miss? REAL journalism. I think I’m putting my own personal moratorium of all news programs that are anything other than general survey coverage like “Nightly News” or their ilk. I don’t need anyone to editorialize or teach me my opinions. I think I can form them all by my widdle self.

Though I DO need someone to satirize for me, since I am not clever enough to transition irony into comedy. Thank goodness for The Daily Show and Colbert Report. They make me laugh even when I disagree with the points they make.