Larrisa and Julie – Chatting with a Self-Advocate

2023 Episode 2 – Join Larissa and Julie — Chatting with a Self-Advocate

So, today I’ve got a little treat for you. So, strap yourself in.

A friend asked if I wanted to be interviewed for a radio show? Sure, because I fully believe I have a face for radio. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I’m hideous but these days I look in the mirror and think to myself, it is what it is and I leave the apartment anyway.

Then I learnt the radio interview would be via ZOOM! FFS so, the treat today is this is really what Hellonwheels looks like. Including swearing in context.

And yes, I always looked stoned and I have never even smoked a cigarette let alone a joint, I just naturally look like I’m about to pass out.

Note, you get the added little bonus of me impersonating a Nona. Impersonation so look for that.

Later that day it was recorded, all I could think was all the things I forgot to mention, but Lara insisted I might have forgotten all the other things if I’d remembered to list all the things about my body that are now, for want of a better word, fucked.

Guess I’ll do a post on that soon enough. You’re welcome.

Different

Different

Was catching up on some of my data entry today when I realised how well I cope with my brain injury. So well, people often forget my AVM/ABI is not so much mental but physical.

I guess the point of my blog is to educate people that all brain injuries are different. While catching up on my data entry, which is a lovely excel spreadsheet where I record the carer hours and other services for future reference, I realised a date in November 2020 I had so much on at the same time it wasn’t funny. Yet I can cope. This particular day, I had my Personal Care (PC), carer for an hour. My community access carer, despite not going out arrived just ahead of the PC chick. All of which I can work with, as can they.

I still had to be presentable as I had a committee meeting via Zoom. While I don’t do make-up when I’m not out of my home (apartment!). I won’t do make-up to stay at home, but I do need to not do colour and then I remembered my MOTHER was here. It was not planned; it was very last minute the night before. But it is what it is.

My mum had gone out to her appointment and returned by the end of the Zoom meeting.
By which time my handyman had arrived. My handyman comes once yearly for a spring clean. Does windows on the inside, the fan covers in the bathroom, any areas on walls or floor that take a serious hit and it’s not the light cleaning my weekly HC (home care) carers need to do. Suddenly with too many warm bodies in my apartment, a complaint goes out that it’s too hot and can the A/C go on? Well, it’s set still too hot but here’s the remote, work it out.

Still three people are in my home and I’m to prioritise what everybody wants as the most important thing to solve first. At this point I get a bit grumpy. OK! We are working on it, if you can’t help, don’t be part of the problem my mum gets the heater to cool air.

There is a new calm. Mum makes her lunch and coffee and departs for her long drive home. What she was here for had been achieved.

Despite what she may think of how I feel about my mum. My mum is a ROCKSTAR! She really is.

The second carer gets her stuff done for me and departs. It’s just me and the handyman and a recently departed carer visits for a bit. She distracts the handyman briefly with talk of fruit trees and such. I’m meant to roll with the punches, it’s fine. The handyman goes, as does the visitor.

My brain is fried. But I coped with all the craziness. All these things, they wouldn’t normally happen ALL AT THE SAME TIME.