Friday, April 5, 2013

Pick Me Ups

By Laura Bradford

Been feeling just a little off the last few days. The first day I managed to work around it. The second, proved to be a little harder but I still managed to make a go of my day. Yesterday, not so much. And today? Well, the verdict is still out.

Now here's the thing about me. I like to do stuff. As in real stuff. Other than writing and the time suck of social media, I'm not a computer girl. I don't have an I-Pod, I-Phone, or any of the other gadgets that take so much of people's time these days. I don't really watch TV (except Survivor and a very occasional--as in once every three weeks or so--episode of The Ellen Show). Sitting still, staring at a screen for too long bores me to tears. And sitting on a couch? Unless there's a fire nearby, I can handle that for a limited time as well.

I am, essentially, the anti-couch potato. So having something like M.S., that could, potentially, affect my mobility later in life seems rather ironic, don't you think?

Fortunately for me, I'm doing really well. The medication I take has kept the disease from progressing and I rarely have flares. Whether my current onslaught of symptoms is considered a real flare or not remains to be seen, but I'm hoping it's more of a mini-flare.

That said, I'm forcing myself to rest as I know it's the quickest way to rebound if it is, indeed, a mini-flare. So, I'm left with reading (which is great), writing in bed (which can work, too), and the pile of movies I've accumulated over the years for a quick pick-me-up.

My favorite go-to pick-me-up movies of choice?  27 Dresses, Hitch, and the still-makes-me-giggle Housesitter (Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin are awesome together).

What about you? What's your pick-me-up movie (s) of choice?

~Laura 

10 comments:

  1. Hoping you'll be back up to what my husband jokingly calls "ramming speed" (going at the day-to-day with momentum and force!) soon, Laura.

    I happened to just see a favorite movie of mine, the 1955 "Guys and Dolls". And, from a dozen or so years ago I highly recommend Robert Altman's "Cookie's Fortune"--it's got great performances and a fun story with a well written array of characters. I always cite "Cookie's Fortune" as one the best examples of characters who share a unifying spirit and the true binding material of a certain type of living and community, but who are all distinct and display great individual voices. The voice thing seems very hard for some writers to nail (you know, the pieces where every character sounds the same in part because the writer is a little too stuck on expressing his or herself through any and all characters--drives me crazy).

    The movie stars a great ensemble of Ned Beatty (LOVE HIM!), Courtney B. Vance, Liv Tyler, Glenn Close, Julianne Moore, and the wonderful Patricia Neal--among others--in one of her last roles. Some may remember her as the wife of Roald Dahl (though they divorced after 30 years and five kids) and for her inspiring comeback from a series of strokes in 1965. The strokes forced her through a tough brain surgery while she was pregnant with their 5th child! She was a tough and talented lady.

    But, my point was, you might enjoy "Cookie's Fortune"--sorry to digress! I just admire her life story so much.

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  2. Vicky, that sounds great! I love the cast you outlined. Thanks!

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  3. Laura, you're doing the smart thing--taking it easy. That's what these chronic conditions teach us, to listen to our bodies and give them what they need--which is often rest for those of us who like to stay busy.

    One of my favorite pick-me-up movies is SOME LIKE IT HOT. Great cast, great script. Believe it or not, another is a Bollywood epic called LAGAAN, 4 hours of drama, comedy, singing, and dancing about a cricket game. Sounds dreadful, doesn't it? That's what i thought when my husband first brought it home, but it's a terrific movie. It was up for the Oscar for best foreign film in its year, and I think should have won.

    Take care and get to feeling your usual self fast.

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    1. Thanks, Linda! Today was a better day. One of my friends talked me into watching a Bollywood flick once and I was pleasantly surprised.

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  4. I'm glad you're resting and have some fun things to do, like reading and watching movies. My favorite pick-me up movie is Hello Dolly.

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    1. I'm not sure I've ever see that, Dru. Will check it out.

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  5. Laura, please take care and when the mini-flare has flared its last, go back to full speed ahead. I have to say, yes Some Like It Hot....Tony and Jack in dresses - too beautiful, When Harry Met Sally, and Best Years of Our Lives. Harry and Sally make me laugh. And Best Years shows the wonderful spirit which brought us back from the precipice of evil.

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    1. Thanks, Annette. When Harry Met Sally is a good one for some laughs!

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  6. As another suffer of autoimmune illness, I know it can be frustrating. I hope this "flare" passes quickly. As for movies, I see so end already mentioned "When Harry Met Sally" which always cracks me up. I also enjoy some of the older screwball comedies, like The Philadelphia Story with Katherine Hepburn and just about any movie with Jimmy Stewart! Have you ever watched Harvey? You will laugh, I promise!

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    1. Harvey? I will need to track that one down, Maureen. Laughing is good. I think yesterday was the worst of the flare. Still a bit off today, but better than yesterday (which I'm happy about).

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