Galway for Japan Day - May 26th 2011

Irish Welcomes and Farewells...

Good afternoon guys. Finally, my exams are over. Head feels de-stressed. It has been such horrible weather in Galway city though, that I have not felt like leaving the house. This is not healthy for me, as I am always cooped up in the house by my own choosing. Feel like I am missing out on what life has to offer. So, something will have to give by next week.

Important Things That Happened This Week:

• ·         HRH the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip visited Ireland, the first time a monarch has visited these isles in 100 years, and as an Irish Republic.
• ·         My exams finished on Friday. Let’s hope I get into Second Arts this time.
• ·         The Rapture date was (again) wrong, so did not witness hellfire and total destruction of the Earth, as I do not believe I would have been the lucky few to arrive by God’s side in Heaven.
• ·         Garret FitzGerald, the former Taoiseach of Ireland, passed away after a short illness.  

I have been watching the State Funeral of Dr. FitzGerald, and I cannot help but feel saddened by his passing. He was happy in his life, loved his family, and worked for the people. It was lovely that he saw the Queen of England on the shores of Ireland in his lifetime, before he passed away.

With the coming of the American President on Monday (tomorrow) morning, it has been a busy but good time for Ireland. I have always liked Obama, and I hope he enjoys his visit to his ancestral home of Moneygall in County Offaly.  

What is the meaning of life without the love of people and the love of your life.

The Rapture

So guys, we are all still alive. Kept thinking that a large fireball was going to crash into the sitting room. I am quite disappointed now. 

How did your post-Rapture evening go? x

Arthritis Ireland's Get Your Joints in Motion 2011

Arthritis Ireland : Celebrating 30 Years : 1981-2011

Saturday 7th May 2011 : 11am - 12.15pm, Walked 5km


Woke up at 5am, got the Galway to Dublin train at 6:35am, arrived in Heuston Station at 8:55am. Got the mini-bus from Conyngham Rd to Furze Rd in the Phoenix Park where the 5km would take place. 

Phoenix Park Walk Plan

I was one of the early ones to arrive. Felt quite nervous arriving, as everyone else seemed to be volunteers. Met Louise, the organizer of the Get Your Joints in Motion event, and we chatted about the organisation, raising money and awareness for Arthritis / Rheumatoid Arthritis / Fibromyalgia affecting the younger age group. She introduced me to Laura, who started up the Young Arthritis Network last November 2010. 


We chatted about how the group was looking for members from around the country to connect with them via meeting places, emails, Facebook, etc. I told her that I hoped to raise more awareness about Fibromyalgia, and hopefully help raise more money for their group. She said that she had Arthritis herself, and I chatted to another volunteer that had  Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. They told me how tough it was at times to get up and do things, but they were so happy to be a part of this day. Sending Laura and the YAN team well wishes in the future, and hope there are members that want to start something in Galway city, as well as other counties. 

Around 400 or so people turned up for the 2.5km/5km walk, quite a lot of young people participated in the walk which was fantastic. Just before we started on our walk, Senator David Norris joined us for a little Zumba dance, to warm our feet up. He is such a character, and he cheered the walking group on. Once the walk started, he walked alongside us, chatting to various different people. I would have chatted with him, but felt especially nervous being on my own, so I wore headphones and listened to good paced music. 

One of the girls doing a Zumba dance class to get us warmed up

Laura (centre) and David Norris (right) starting us on our walk

I was so surprised when the walk ended. Nothing strained, nothing annoying me. Felt like I made a different somewhere. Got my medal and goodie bag, and stood beside a tree for an hour, waiting for a mini-bus to bring me back to Conyngnham Rd. The soles of my feet usually throb after a hard walk, so could not do the touristy thing in Dublin. That was a waste, because I was free from 1:30pm, and had my ticket home to Galway for 5:35pm. A whole 4 hours of waiting, but sure, it was worth it.

After finishing the 5km walk

My walking number and medal :)

I raised €95 for Arthritis Ireland, and hope it helps somewhere. Bring on next year's Get Your Joints in Motion :)

Today is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day...

Peace - Love - Cure - Support Fibromyalgia Awareness

Today (May 12^th) is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. So, for today’s piece, I want to talk a little about Fibromyalgia. Not many people know that much about this form of Arthritis, which affects a lot of people I know.

**Imagine waking up (or lack of sleep, getting up from a night of restlessness), with pains on parts or even all of your body. You are paralysed with the pain, and the only way to get out of bed is being carried out of bed. Imagine not being able to make sense of sentences being said to you, because of the constant pain you’ve had all day. You’re tired, you cannot think straight. Sometimes you feel like life is not worth living, because your energy is drained from keeping positive. **

This is the view I got from someone very close to me who I admire that has Fibromyalgia, and these were the worst days. No-one understands how much pain a person with Fibro has to deal with in a day.

Fibromyalgia is basically widespread chronic pain, fatigue, and cognitive problems. When visiting a GP, initially they do not recognise the symptoms, as it is an “invisible” condition. Only the person experiencing the constant muscle pain and tiredness knows what they are feeling. Sometimes they themselves do not believe this is happening to them. Friends and family might not believe that you are experiencing these symptoms, as they cannot “see” it themselves.

I need to stress that people with Fibromyalgia need our support. It cannot be “invisible” to people anymore. It’s not just senior citizens that suffer from this, young people suffer as well. I will put up a few links for sites in Ireland that help with your questions, and also to meet people that have Fibromyalgia, and other Arthritis conditions like Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Juvenile RA, and etc.

Am sending Fibro Love to all my friends and family that have FM. I look at you, and you remind me of steel, how strong you look. I admire you, and will help in any way I can to make people more aware. It will not invisible anymore, and will be acknowledged.

Links for you:

Arthritis Ireland

ArthritisIE : Fibromyalgia
Yorkshire Evening Post : Health: Coping with an invisible illness
About.com : What is Fibromyalgia?
Facebook: Young Arthritis Network
Facebook: ArthritisIreland.ie

xxx

Gach lá táimid ag shuffáil...

LMFAO doing their Shufflin' thang....

... Utah Saints had Something Good to dance to in 2008...

... but the Fresh Prince of Bel Air was the master at shufflin'!

<3 Everyday I'm Shuffling (Gach lá táimid ag shuffáil) <3