stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote in
news:h2bri2lecpe80769m4jamajmp3c2pbn5up@4ax.com:

On 11 Oct 2006 01:51:55 GMT, Pangur Ban <Pangur-Ban$@worldnet.att.net>
wrote in alt.atheism

Please give an update now and again if you will. I, for one, will
be watching.

Apologies. I was commenting about constant checks and adjustments.
I don't have MS. However, my central nervous system is 'customized'
and a mass of deteriorating circuitry. I can relate to what the
lady's going through although my path is different.

One can either 'cry in their beer' or make lots and lots and lots of
'lemonade.' The last couple of years I've been learning to draw and
paint. That's one hefty change from electronics.

My speech is now pretty good although it does vary. My written
language skills are, in some ways, better than they were before
'customization.' All 'bootstrapping.' Manure Occurrith. :)

When you are making lemonade, please use artificial sugar in
mine....and I do like pink lemonade on occasion.

Certes.

Best wishes for strong bootstraps.....drawing and painting. Two
skills which I totally lack.

Skill? Not at all. It's learning the basic mechanics. Consider a
child first being exposed to a hammer, nails, and a scrap piece of
lumber. With time and practice the child learns to weild the hammer
to a degree then may shift to a hand saw, plus measuring. In time the
child starts to understand things and begins to blossom. Perhaps
his/her first project will be assembling a pre-cut bird house. It may
not be pretty, but it will be functional and recognizable.

Painting and drawing is no different. Consider this; I don't see a
single image which gives problems with depth perception. Further, my
fine motor control leaves much to be desired.

It's not "how well the bear dances," but a wonder the bear dances at
all. It's an individual journey as is everything else learned. What
it takes is curiosity and a desire to learn something about a new
medium or application.

This bear may one day get a book on art basics and give it a try.

Are you familiar with artist, Judy Chicago?

I worked for her for several
years - in a non-artistic capacity, of course. I was fascinated by her
artistic processes.

stoney wrote:

On 10 Oct 2006 21:38:11 -0700,

stoney wrote:

On 10 Oct 2006 02:06:20 GMT, Pangur Ban <Pangur-Ban$@worldnet.att.net>
wrote in alt.atheism

stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote in
news:7rqli2hqcfm6upt57q7r3qe911pg3b6m14@4ax.com:

On 07 Oct 2006 02:55:54 GMT, Pangur Ban <Pangur-Ban$@worldnet.att.net>
wrote in alt.atheism

ike milligan wrote:

<

*snip* only for brevity

She called me last night, first time I've heard from her in a
couple of months (but that's as much my fault as hers..I've not
lost the number). This majestic, passionate woman that I love has
been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I am absolutely broken
hearted.

I am so very sorry to read of her diagnosis. I have known several
people with MS; all felt they were living full lives. With the
adjustments to life-style necessitated by the progression of the
disease, each found a new way to move forward with life. I hope she
will do the same.....

It's a moment by moment thing. It isn't fun, but there are times you
still 'win big.'

Please give an update now and again if you will. I, for one, will be
watching.

Apologies. I was commenting about constant checks and adjustments. I
don't have MS. However, my central nervous system is 'customized' and
a mass of deteriorating circuitry. I can relate to what the lady's
going through although my path is different.

One can either 'cry in their beer' or make lots and lots and lots of
'lemonade.' The last couple of years I've been learning to draw and
paint. That's one hefty change from electronics.

She really enjoys those dog agility trials. She actually had a
part-time buisiness making all the little ramps and jumps and things
for awhile. Building the things might be a little tough in the future,
but I don't see how it would affect how she handles the dogs, as long
as her mind is still there. IIRC, one of her dog buddies also has MS.
Perhaps that's a contact that can help.

Indeed. One of the reasons I conduct word and imagery play-besides
trying to get people to grin, laugh, or grimace is to seek to keep the
mind nimble and active. Some days I do better than others. I may have
to bounce from 'item to item' during the course of a day; or not be able
to do an item today. That's ok. Some things I might not be able to do
for a week, or more. It can be frustrating, but there's no sense in
'beating oneself up about it.' Shift to something else you can do-even
if its for a few minutes. It's not an easy thing for a 'go-getter' to
come to terms with, but it helps.

We all have our limitations. If injury and/or disease doesn't get you;
time will.

What do you draw/paint?

Just about everything. I work in oils, acrylics, graphite, pen and ink,
and have been known to work with charcoal. For instance, one time I had
access to a picture of a lighthouse attached structure. The outside was
taken quite a few feet from and 90 degrees to a window flanked by open
shutters. The structure was brick and the window had a stone arch.

The other pic was taken from the inside looking out the window. There
was visual data surrounding the window. For just the exercise I rotated
the viewpoint so the viewer was looking through the window from the
outside. I drew it and even placed items inside the vacant place.

That's pretty cool. Just twisted the perspective around, eh?

My speech is now pretty good although it does vary. My written language
skills are, in some ways, better than they were before 'customization.'
All 'bootstrapping.' Manure Occurrith. :)

Stoney, do you find that you can get better at things if you practice
them?

Certainly. With the data dropout I have if I'm working on something
mechanical or electrical then I've got to be 'backstopped' to minimize
injury potential and/or further damage to what is being worked on.

I'm just wondering if the activity itself can be
preserved/improved by repetition.

Yes it can. Even new things can be learned. However, that's not to say
from moment to moment you may not be able to access the data. In such
case, shift to something else and pick up the dropped task whenever
you're able to.

I guess a bit of comparison might help. For years I worked on avionics
black boxes as well as on jet aircraft. The last exposure to art was
mucking around in junior high. It wasn't something I had interest in or
an aptitude for.

From somewhere, I remember that you were an avionics guy. A lot of the
aircraft humor you post must keep me reminded of it. <g>

The skills I had in the technical world are gone. That's ok. It took
me awhile to accept they're gone and then to realize my accomplishments
remained. They couldn't be taken away. Mechanical stuff and table saws
were high risk.

I still don't have an aptitude for drawing and painting. However, my
curiosity got piqued by a art website I stumbled across a couple of
years ago. What I'm able to do is light-years ahead of when I started.
I hit things usually for 20 minutes, or so then back off and rest or do
something else for awhile. Sometimes I can go for a couple of hours.
I'm serious about it, but, for me, it is playtime and getting my body to
do things that are difficult for it.

I don't finish everything I start. There are some projects where I
haven't learned enough to either 'see' what needs to be done or I am
stymied by not being able to figure out how to get the particular effect
I'm after. As I either finally figure out or 'see' something then I'll
pick that project up again. As you work with things you learn
things-even if the end result is garbage.

Many though's the time I've flat been astonished at what I have done.
Just ask 'atheist@home ' about that. Or Robyn or Mickey.

Next spring I intend on building a small punt sail boat. No, I've never
attempted that. It will be small enough to fit inside the bed of my
pickup.

I'm also considering roughing out a form to bend a new gas tank for my
old motorcycle. I'd like to get that running again.

Of course, I'm also mulling over making a tryke.

I believe the key is to focus on what you can do and think of different
ways to complete a task. Hit it while you can then leave it and pick it
up again later.

Your ladyfriend sounds like a go-getter. She's just gotta be flexible
and adaptable, figure out ways which work for her and focus on bite
sized pieces. 'Just.' That took me quite awhile to figure out.

One person indicated that I can still *do* things, but in my own time as
I'm able to. It took me a long time to accept that, as I was a Class A
personality who could 'triple track.' 'Triple tracking' was gone and
had a heck of a time keeping from being 'derailed' on a single track.

Hope this helps some.

Yes, it does. And you're right about my friend. She's a pistol! I'm
glad she has at least the one hobby right now. She was quite the
accomplished flautist in college, but she hasn't picked it up in ages.
Sounds like having it re-padded might make a good xmas present.

Now if I can just figure out how to get it out of the house without her
knowing...<g>

stoney wrote:

On 10 Oct 2006 21:38:11 -0700,

stoney wrote:

On 10 Oct 2006 02:06:20 GMT, Pangur Ban <Pangur-Ban$@worldnet.att.net>
wrote in alt.atheism

stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote in
news:7rqli2hqcfm6upt57q7r3qe911pg3b6m14@4ax.com:

On 07 Oct 2006 02:55:54 GMT, Pangur Ban <Pangur-Ban$@worldnet.att.net>
wrote in alt.atheism

ike milligan wrote:

<

*snip* only for brevity

She called me last night, first time I've heard from her in a
couple of months (but that's as much my fault as hers..I've not
lost the number). This majestic, passionate woman that I love has
been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I am absolutely broken
hearted.

I am so very sorry to read of her diagnosis. I have known several
people with MS; all felt they were living full lives. With the
adjustments to life-style necessitated by the progression of the
disease, each found a new way to move forward with life. I hope she
will do the same.....

It's a moment by moment thing. It isn't fun, but there are times you
still 'win big.'

Please give an update now and again if you will. I, for one, will be
watching.

Apologies. I was commenting about constant checks and adjustments. I
don't have MS. However, my central nervous system is 'customized' and
a mass of deteriorating circuitry. I can relate to what the lady's
going through although my path is different.

One can either 'cry in their beer' or make lots and lots and lots of
'lemonade.' The last couple of years I've been learning to draw and
paint. That's one hefty change from electronics.

She really enjoys those dog agility trials. She actually had a
part-time buisiness making all the little ramps and jumps and things
for awhile. Building the things might be a little tough in the future,
but I don't see how it would affect how she handles the dogs, as long
as her mind is still there. IIRC, one of her dog buddies also has MS.
Perhaps that's a contact that can help.

Indeed. One of the reasons I conduct word and imagery play-besides
trying to get people to grin, laugh, or grimace is to seek to keep the
mind nimble and active. Some days I do better than others. I may have
to bounce from 'item to item' during the course of a day; or not be able
to do an item today. That's ok. Some things I might not be able to do
for a week, or more. It can be frustrating, but there's no sense in
'beating oneself up about it.' Shift to something else you can do-even
if its for a few minutes. It's not an easy thing for a 'go-getter' to
come to terms with, but it helps.

We all have our limitations. If injury and/or disease doesn't get you;
time will.

What do you draw/paint?

Just about everything. I work in oils, acrylics, graphite, pen and ink,
and have been known to work with charcoal. For instance, one time I had
access to a picture of a lighthouse attached structure. The outside was
taken quite a few feet from and 90 degrees to a window flanked by open
shutters. The structure was brick and the window had a stone arch.

The other pic was taken from the inside looking out the window. There
was visual data surrounding the window. For just the exercise I rotated
the viewpoint so the viewer was looking through the window from the
outside. I drew it and even placed items inside the vacant place.

That's pretty cool. Just twisted the perspective around, eh?

My speech is now pretty good although it does vary. My written language
skills are, in some ways, better than they were before 'customization.'
All 'bootstrapping.' Manure Occurrith. :)

Stoney, do you find that you can get better at things if you practice
them?

Certainly. With the data dropout I have if I'm working on something
mechanical or electrical then I've got to be 'backstopped' to minimize
injury potential and/or further damage to what is being worked on.

I'm just wondering if the activity itself can be
preserved/improved by repetition.

Yes it can. Even new things can be learned. However, that's not to say
from moment to moment you may not be able to access the data. In such
case, shift to something else and pick up the dropped task whenever
you're able to.

I guess a bit of comparison might help. For years I worked on avionics
black boxes as well as on jet aircraft. The last exposure to art was
mucking around in junior high. It wasn't something I had interest in or
an aptitude for.

From somewhere, I remember that you were an avionics guy. A lot of the

aircraft humor you post must keep me reminded of it. <g>

The skills I had in the technical world are gone. That's ok. It took
me awhile to accept they're gone and then to realize my accomplishments
remained. They couldn't be taken away. Mechanical stuff and table saws
were high risk.

I still don't have an aptitude for drawing and painting. However, my
curiosity got piqued by a art website I stumbled across a couple of
years ago. What I'm able to do is light-years ahead of when I started.
I hit things usually for 20 minutes, or so then back off and rest or do
something else for awhile. Sometimes I can go for a couple of hours.
I'm serious about it, but, for me, it is playtime and getting my body to
do things that are difficult for it.

I don't finish everything I start. There are some projects where I
haven't learned enough to either 'see' what needs to be done or I am
stymied by not being able to figure out how to get the particular effect
I'm after. As I either finally figure out or 'see' something then I'll
pick that project up again. As you work with things you learn
things-even if the end result is garbage.

Many though's the time I've flat been astonished at what I have done.
Just ask 'atheist@home ' about that. Or Robyn or Mickey.

Next spring I intend on building a small punt sail boat. No, I've never
attempted that. It will be small enough to fit inside the bed of my
pickup.

I'm also considering roughing out a form to bend a new gas tank for my
old motorcycle. I'd like to get that running again.

Of course, I'm also mulling over making a tryke.

I believe the key is to focus on what you can do and think of different
ways to complete a task. Hit it while you can then leave it and pick it
up again later.

Your ladyfriend sounds like a go-getter. She's just gotta be flexible
and adaptable, figure out ways which work for her and focus on bite
sized pieces. 'Just.' That took me quite awhile to figure out.

One person indicated that I can still *do* things, but in my own time as
I'm able to. It took me a long time to accept that, as I was a Class A
personality who could 'triple track.' 'Triple tracking' was gone and
had a heck of a time keeping from being 'derailed' on a single track.

Hope this helps some.

Yes, it does. And you're right about my friend. She's a pistol! I'm
glad she has at least the one hobby right now. She was quite the
accomplished flautist in college, but she hasn't picked it up in ages.
Sounds like having it re-padded might make a good xmas present.

Now if I can just figure out how to get it out of the house without her
knowing...<g>

-Panama Floyd, Atl.
aa#2015, Member Knights of BAAWA!
EAC Martian Commander
Plonked by Kadaitcha Man Sept 06
"..the prayer cloth of one aeon is the doormat of the next."
-Mark Twain

Religious societies are *less* moral than secular ones:
http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.html