lately I am all lists all the time!

[eruthros]

1. Here is a thing I wish blogs would agree on: what "previous" and "next" mean. On some blogs, previous entries points to older posts; on some, it points to more recent posts. Having to hover over links to figure out where they go makes me cranky.

2. Dear the internet, I am looking for a film called A Private Function. (1985, starring Maggie Smith and Michael Palin, in case there are several by that name.) It is not available on Netflix, or from my library, or from any of the usual places, and costs like $60 used on amazon or ebay. Does anybody have access to a copy? Your own or a library's or a better video store? ETA: I think I've tracked it down at a library, thanks!

3. I have this problem where I have physical therapists, but they're all about "getting better," not about what would make daily routines easier. So I have some things that I need, but I don't know where to shop for them -- are there good assistive devices shops that you like? Where should I buy a folding cane? If I want to get those foam things that go over the handles of knives so I don't have to grip so tightly, what are they even called and where can I buy them? That sort of thing. And instead my PTs say things like "oh, well, but maybe you won't need it for long..." and "why don't we wait and see if you get better first..." and "well, but you can work around it for now, right?" I find this very frustrating. Especially since "getting better" is so far the work of years. And thus I ask you, the internet, instead.

4. I am not going to talk a lot about episode 8x03 of Mythbusters, except to say: JAAAAAAAAMIE!!!! Omg he was adorable. And arrogant, which somehow makes him even more adorable, I don't even know. And Adam loves it. Also, I <3 Grant, because he is awesome. And Kari -- I'm so glad she's back.

Comments

[sabinetzin]

I can't help much with the other stuff (well, I can help squee about Jamie, obviously), but I can tell you I bought my folding cane at a luggage store (actually, I bought this one from this store, which is a regional chain). So some sort of place that sells travel supplies might be your best bet.

[eruthros]

Ah, good idea!

[sasha_feather]

Fucking PTs!

Just saying.

[eruthros]

It annoys me so much. I'm like, "well, okay, but I haven't been able to hold knives for a long time..." and they say "but what if you get a diagnosis tomorrow!" As if a diagnosis will make it magically better instantly! Grrrrr. As if wasting twenty dollars on something to help me cut food is worse than wasting twenty dollars on meds that don't work/give me side effects/that I wouldn't need if I got magically better tomorrow. Maybe I can get my prescriptions filled on a day by day basis too! Just in case!

[yatima]

Jamie's all greased up and ready to go. Me: "FANSERVICE!!!"

[eruthros]

You are so right about fanservice -- it was an amazing line!

[chagrined]

I bought both of my folding canes from Binson's, which has a location in my hometown near my parents' house. The first one lasted me about 1.5 years, after which time the handle sadly snapped in half in the middle of Chicago. (We repaired it temporarily with duct tape.) The second one has lasted me about 1 year 8 months so far, so it's doing better than the first one! But it was the exact same model as the first one, b/c despite the breaking I really liked that one a lot (cheap, comfortable on my hand, easy to pull apart and fold, fit in my bicycle cage when I could still use my bicycle), so I got it again. I looked on their website to see if I could find the same cane as the one I have on there, and actually I couldn't find it. So, alas. But it is a good cane. :( Anyway, I would say for canes, definitely, buy them IN PERSON. You really need to get something that's going to fit your hand & height comfortably, so you don't want to take that chance with some random thing you buy online, imo (if it's going to be something you'll be using a lot).

IDK those foam things for knife handles, but I have (probably) similar foam things for my pens/pencils? Those ones were given to me by my occupational therapist a year ago or so. Anyway, I know I mentioned the North Coast Medical company to you before (the one I get my soft wrist/thumb braces from), and they sell some kind of ergonomic silverware crap iirc, but I don't think it was foam grips, I think they're like, custom silverware stuf, which is probably a lot more expensive (and possibly less useful). Anywho, when I googled "foam grips," I also came up with this: some company that manufactures various/custom foam grips! Maybe that'd be a good place to start? I have to say, my foam grips for my pens/pencils work WONDERS. It still hurts my wrist/thumb like hell to write with a pen/pencil, but it is way way way way worse without the grip, so I am v. glad I have them. I never do any cooking, pretty much, but I imagine they'd be v. useful in that realm as well. :)

P.S. lol I just drank an entire bottle of wine during my Mythbusters drinking game with my friend, oh man, so many explosions :3

[eruthros]

too many explosions for your own good! buuut I bet you had fun.

I bought an adjustable cane in person, but I have Small Town Problems for a folding one -- and the thing is, I don't need the cane all the time, so the adjustable one is good for when I wouldn't go out without one, but not for when I get half a mile away and something goes wrong. So I was hoping I could measure my current cane and then get one that long online.

Foam grips! Check.

[chagrined]

This is probably doable! I just worry about the grips a lot, b/c some types of grips are quite uncomfortable for my hand, and it's hard to tell that from just looking at a picture.

Anywho, though, as for height, you can also get folding adjustable ones (which mine is, for example), so I think probably just get one of those! It's really chagrining my dazzle that I can't seem to find my exact model online anywhere, grrrr. I probably should have saved the manufacturer's information. *facepalm*

[eruthros]

I also worry about grips a lot, because I have trouble grabbing tightly. But really, it's buy a folding adjustable cane on the internet or not at all, so!

[sineala]

I bought an adjustable folding cane on Amazon, actually. Mine is blue, but there are a variety of colors.

Do you have an occupational therapist? When I was going to one last year, they kept handing me all sorts of catalogs for assistive devices. North Coast Medical is probably your best bet online. And if you go to an OT, they'll probably have a bunch of sample stuff lying in their closets they will be happy to give you for free. I now have a bunch of elastic shoelaces, extra electrode pads, and swan-neck finger splints, for example.

[eruthros]

No! I have no OT -- here they seem to be reserved for people with OSHA complaints. I would really like to see one, though, because everyone says OTs are great for daily life stuff. SIIGH.

[sineala]

Really? I just went to my PCP and asked for an OT referral, and got one. And, really, daily life stuff is their thing. It seems like it ought to be possible, but it sounds like there's something about lacking a diagnosis? Am not sure I understand the situation, sorry.

(Of course, the podiatrist also refused to cast me for AFOs even though my PT said it was a great idea to have them in case I wanted to, say, walk long distances, because the podiatrist said I could get by without them. And the insurance was willing to pay for them! I got inserts instead. I do not understand people.)

[eruthros]

Ah, no! They refer to PT for most OT-type things here, and the occupational therapists are mostly for employees with injuries etc. It's a whole problem!

Grr at that podiatrist! Doctors suck sometimes. "Get by without them" != "would have same experience with and without them"