Concrete vs. Abstract...

As I study to become a commodities broker, I'm finding that there are more details that will drive me insane, if nothing else. I'm finding that I'm a severely logical person. I am concrete. There is nothing abstract about my thinking whatsoever. I remember at one point in my college career, I took a personality survey. The result said I am a concrete sequential thinker. My guess would be that a commodities broker would not be on the list of potential careers for me. ;-)

Bob tries to explain things to me. He does a great job; however, trading is not a science, so any kind of explanation doesn't penetrate my logical brain. He just grins and says positively, "You'll get it."

Physically and mentally, Bob gets stronger everyday. When I look back at last Christmas, Bob is 300% better. He's such a miracle.

It's the loony bin for me...

Let me give you an example of how insane my brain is becoming as a result of the year's events, (rather, over the past 18 months)...My son was making a chicken patty. I said I should make chicken Parmesan for dinner sometime. I proceeded to ask him, "Do you know what kind of cheese is put on chicken Parmesan?" He just looked at me like I had two heads. My next place of residence is the looney bin.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND

HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR

GREAT TEACHER...

My new found love is the "Sing Off". I believe it might top American Idol. These singers show great talent because they sing with absolutely no music. Amazing!

Bob is a wonderful teacher when it comes to teaching me about commodities. He knows so much. When I ask questions, his eyes light up like mine do when I walk into an antique store. My eyes get the size of saucers.

Me? Over-protecting? ...

I read an article written by a spouse whose wife was 56 years old and had a level 4 ruptured brain aneurysm. The medical staff did not think she was going to survive, and when she did survive, they didn't think she would be able to get out of bed, or if she did get out of bed, she would be quite disabled. Sound familiar?

His wife survived, has no signs of the occurrence, except for weak muscles from laying so long and the need to write on post-it notes for everything to remember to do.

One thing he mentioned in the article that made me think was that since he had to become an advocate for his wife, because the medical staff were basing his wife's treatment as though she was not going to survive or be capable of doing things for herself, he became over-protective. Now, that her recovery is progressing, he continues to unknowingly over-protect, which, doesn't allow her to have trial and error for her to relearn things that may have been forgotten. Like Bob, she has all of her long-term memory; she just needs to write a lot of notes for present day occurrences. (heck, I need to do that!)

Anyhow, what he said made me think that I have a tendency too to be such a "mother hen" now. Maybe, I need to back up and let Bob do for himself. He has also become quite dependant on me. He doesn't leave me out of his sight for very long. I thought it was cute, but, maybe, it's not a good thing for his recovery. I'm his security blanket, I suppose.

BOB PASSED...

Once again, Bob has proven all of the medical professionals wrong. He passed the branch office managers test for brokers! Woo-hoo! OHSU doctors never thought he'd get out of bed. The VA medical staff said he may never go back to work as a broker. I "thumbed" my nose at all of them. Now, I can be the Italian that I've learned to be and flick my hand under my chin and say "Ba-fungle". (That's not how you spell it, but use you're imagination.) In other words...F*** You! Bob said, "All of the above was fun."

I also told Bob, since he passed the test, his memory has returned (because he had to learn and memorize new stuff), he gets no more slack from me when it comes to memory. Therefore, I get diamonds at every holiday, birthday, and special event. :-) NO REMINDERS!

Bob still has some physical strength things to work on, like leg endurance, leg strength, back strength, and leg flexibility.

crossing fingers...

I think I'm going to have to post something on this blog more frequently than once a week. I feel like I'm leaving my readers hanging in midair with nothing to read.

Bob did well this past week. We are studying for him to take a branch manager's test on Thursday. Keep your fingers crossed that he passes. When that is done, then it's time for me to study for the broker's test. I'll take you on that journey. I can tell you, what I've learned so far is that the world evolves around a bunch of people making guesses. Right or wrong, doesn't matter. I think they are educated guesses, but maybe not. I have to learn the "waiting" time length after the guess.

Need a stocking stuffer? Go to www.travel-mobility.com to order a personal medical information book. Fill out the family history, then give the book to a child of yours.