trying to mark

Am sitting in bed with my laptop table, trying to mark my advanced web group projects. Started on the first one and haven't even got it done yet. I love it when some student finds something new to include in their work, something I haven't see before.

Well, the first one used a CSS attribute 'filter' for an image with the value of 'light'.

So went looking for it, covered all the normal sites. Couldn't find it and then came across this brilliant site.

Just had to borrow some of it. Don't think this work in FF but it should work in IE.
Blur Filter

The writing should be blurred if it worked.

Am so tired, can't hardly keep my eyes open.






.

First Day Back

First day back at school today. Not too bad. Was O.K. all day, but very tired when I got home. Had a sleep.

Watched "Two Towers" for a while cheered me up a bit. Not that I was sad, just really tired.

Excellent energy levels most of the day. Got up early and out of bed from 6.30am to 5.30 pm.

Still I am lying down at school all day.. in my wonderful chair.

Raised my voice at a student today, apologized about a dozen times because it was so unnecessary. Something has put an edge to my temper, not sure what it is...

Yes I know that that's another side effect of M.E. - how convenient to blame everything on the M.E. ... or maybe I was just a bit strung out cause I had been on my feet for some minutes when it happened.

Oh well, had better get on with marking the group projects. Here are some peaceful ducks - my son took the picture.

Not a bad day

Just said to husband, "Well I didn't feel too bad today, all day".

Have to record that. Was out of bed for several hours. Watched the movie "Falling Down" again. Can't remember where he says the words but it is such a sad and desperate story...

BTW my o key isn't working prperly so every 6th o or s it just doesn't work. Means I have to do a lt f retyping - see it just didn't work twice in a row!!.

Will have to lift it and see what is wrong.

So nice to have a day, not a bad day...

ANZAC DAY

It is ANZAC Day and of course I did not go to any service. Not because I don't care, but two things, - it is too hard to find somewhere to sit/lie without suffering gross embarrassment and I would cry.

I always cry at ANZAC services. My father fought in the Second World War and still proudly marches, although he is 87 this year so I don't know if he did march or not. His father fought in the First World War and was gassed. Years ago I found the Wilfred Owen Poem Dulce et Decorum Est and I thought of my grandfather. Apparently he came back from the War much changed. I never knew my grandfather of course. He died in London in the Second World War more than ten years before I was born.

I cry because I feel the hopes and the fears of the young people marching bravely off to war and of those watching the march. Unlike those standing there that day, we know how it ended. We know that so many of them died or were changed forever in ways that made them distant damaged people. Yet I have known the stories of so many who lived lives believing that it was what they had to do so that we could be safe. It was a cost that had to be paid.

My Dad is a warm loving person. And I miss him a lot. He is in Queensland and I am in Canberra. Here is a photo of him getting ready for the march, 1995.

Just in case you were wondering ..

The statistics for ME recovery is
about 5-10% recover
between 40-60% get somewhat better
between 40-60% get worse
about 5% can end up paralyzed, bed-ridden and totally dependent on others.

Some die.


Thats why I was worried about being sick.

I get really scared.

I think that is why I am writing this blog. Because I am so scared.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Friday, 24th April, 2009 4.20pm

Found a nice short definition of what is wrong with me.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a chronic, inflammatory, primarily neurological disease that affects the central nervous system, the immune system, the cardiovascular system, the endocrinological system and muscoskeletal system. It can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including changes in sensory tolerance, visual problems, exertional muscle weakness, difficulties with co-ordination and speech, severe fatigue, cognitive impairment, problems with balance, subnormal or poor body temperature control and pain.

Found this definition on
http://170650.aceboard.net/170650-2169-11091-0-Sufferers-Rely-Alternative-Medicines.htm

Also recent research Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Mitochondrial Dysfunction http://www.ijcem.com/files/IJCEM812001.pdf.

If your read the website it comes from http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/article.cfm?id=381 it is an amazing story.

Bad Day Yesterday

Went to school - it is standown at present which means there are no students. I wanted to do some marking using two computers. I can't run CS3 on my laptop so had to go to school to mark.

Plus, the school bought me this really great chair which I can almost lay down in - the seat is like 45degrees to the horizontal and it has a big back so I work in comfort, using very little energy.

I have the 2D Animations on one computer and my marking sheet (in Word) on another. I have been using formulas in Word for a few years, but didn't realise (der) that you can do cell references.

This is how I teach, - almost lying down. I have my feet up on another chair. Seems very unprofessional I suppose, but I have a brain, and on most days I have enough energy to walk around the room and I also constantly interact with the students.

I also have good classes.

I teach using wikispaces.
Flash and the Web
Advanced Web and Scripting
Communications and Presenations are my current classes. These sites are under construction constantly. I have used most of the standown period to work on them and do marking.

So why am I writing this today? Well, yesterday a scary thing happened. I went to school, I did my marking. I got cold. The airconditioning is always a little weird during the holidays and I was hot so I took off my jacket. And lay there for hours, and got cold.

Came home, had a fever. To you - no scary. To me - terrifying. I don't want to get worse. I am so glad I can get out of the house and teach. I want to keep my life. It may be fairly bad at times - I can't go to so many things I would like to, there are lots of things I can't do - but I like my life, I don't want to get worse. People do get worse with this stuff.

So, today I am back in bed, with my table, working on my wikis - and investigating Second Life. Not that I want to join it but it interests me as a gaming phenomena. Some really cute IT happening.

Check out


Anyway, why does one blog? I guess I want to remember this.

Since I am in Australia, this was posted at 12.30 on the 24th April. One day before ANZAC Day - I forgot to edit the time when I posted.

Beginning

I can't believe that I am doing this. But I have realised that as I am is how I am going to be, if I don't get worse. I might get better. But when I do have good days I HAVE TO REMEMBER that there are really bad days. Don't waste the good days.

I had an excellent day last Saturday. I am almost crying when I remember. I didn't feel good or anything. I just didn't feel bad and I could walk normally. We walked around the block. First time I have done that in months. Even Sunday I still felt O.K.

Went to a PD on asp and .NET on Monday. Couldn't walk properly. Felt stupid. Had to rest. Spent Tuesday in bed. Today is Wednesday. Went to school and did some marking for about 5 hours. Came home and rested.

Maybe someone else will read this, or maybe not. If anyone does, they will notice that I rest a lot. I have to do that. I have myalgic encephamylitis. Not sure if I spelt that right.

I teach full time, and the rest of the time I rest.

I teach IT.

Today I saw a great video which I am going to use in my presentation class.