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Post by Lee Abramson on Aug 10, 2007 17:22:05 GMT -5
Hello everyone!
I am excited to be a part of this awesome community. I am 36, and have a C5 SCI due to stenosis. My head tilts to the left due to a botched surgery. I was also diagnosed with ALS two years ago. Despite my severe disability, I try to focus on what I am still able to do rather than dwell on what I can no longer do. Now that I am "retired," I spend all of my time pursuing my dream of writing music.
I found a very intriguing video made by a woman who is making a film called I Have Dreams Dammit
, where she asks people to define what a dream means to them and what their dream is. Watch here:
Here is my response to those questions.
Watch and enjoy.
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Post by Georgia on Aug 11, 2007 6:49:05 GMT -5
Hi, Ace! Welcome!
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Post by BA on Aug 11, 2007 18:48:10 GMT -5
Your video blog response was really heartfelt. Welcome to the board. I do hope that you get to realize your dream.
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Post by dolly on Aug 18, 2007 8:10:16 GMT -5
hello and welcome.
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Post by Lee Abramson on Aug 24, 2007 21:02:43 GMT -5
Very happy new development: I found out that if you become "totally and permanently" disabled, your student loans are forgiven! Moreover, anything you had paid since the date of the disability will be returned to you. What this means to me is this: $9000 of student loans are erased, without hurting my credit. Since I was diagnosed with ALS in February 2005 and had paid $4000 to the loan since then, I will be getting a check for that amount after the loan disbursement , which wipes out more than half of my credit card debt. Since hearing this good news, I have re-evaluated what my dreams are. I started a video podcast called the "Ace Noface Dreamcast" which is all about defining what my dreams are, updates on how ii am achieving them, as well as music video style dreamscapes of the dreams I have at night. Here is the iTunes link phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=262228306
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Post by Georgia on Aug 25, 2007 9:44:54 GMT -5
Ace, that is awesome! I am so happy for you.
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Post by Pony on Aug 28, 2007 17:15:15 GMT -5
Well, this is an important thread, really. I believe in having dreams, or striving towards goals. It has given me 'purpose', and I think it's one of the most important things for living - disabled, or not! For years my dream was getting through college. Being a musician before I got hurt, I still had aspirations of recording some things I was proud of, and being paid to play was another - both I've done post injury! You can hear some of my work at www.anthonyrainstarez.comI still play with one of my guitarist friends, but only for fun now. I did see one of my biggest dreams come true this year, and that was paying my house off, which I've been hustling to do for years. I figure as long as I have a house and a van, then I don't need much more to be happy. Well, I definitely need friends...oh, and cable...and computer!!! lol |
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Post by matisse on Aug 28, 2007 19:11:21 GMT -5
I suppose it remains to be seen, but at this point there is a decent chance I will not get to my full potential, due to some damn persistent laziness!!!!
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Post by devogirl on Aug 28, 2007 20:31:11 GMT -5
When oh when will medical science develop a cure for persistent laziness? And for the related condition, recurring procrastination? I feel your pain Matisse, I too have been a chronic sufferer for years.
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Post by E on Aug 29, 2007 6:26:41 GMT -5
When oh when will medical science develop a cure for persistent laziness? And for the related condition, recurring procrastination? I feel your pain Matisse, I too have been a chronic sufferer for years. I'd pay big bucks for the cure to that baby! Ugh. |
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Post by E on Aug 29, 2007 9:29:45 GMT -5
Y'know, it just occured to me...
Most people who actively complain about problems with being lazy and procrastinating are people generally viewed as "successful." From what I know about Matisse and Devowoman (she's no girl!), most people would say they're successful in their fields with advanced education. People often tell me they're amazed "how much I get done in a day," or, when I talk to people, I hear, "I'm sorry to bother you, because I know you're so busy," all the while I'm thinking about the last hour I spent perusing Wikipedia, comparing the BlackBerry 8820 vs. iPhone vs. the Treo, and checking this site... putting off real work. Yeah, some go-getter I am.
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Post by Pony on Aug 30, 2007 15:10:08 GMT -5
well, I know I'm also a lazy dude, and will never live up to potential, as Matisse puts it, but I've noticed that I chip away at my dreams/goals. Nothing comes easy to me, and I'm far from brilliant, but I have a streak of resilience and persistence that keep me ahead of the curve. I have two sisters who live terribly desperate lives, and they don't even notice my life, but it's because i'm not bitching and whining like them, or constantly shooting myself in the foot.
I heard somebody say a long time ago (post injury) "Get out of your own way..." It made a lot of sense to me, and I've really tried to live like that. It's especially important post injury, as I have enough chains on me, I don't need to throw anymore obstacles up.
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Post by Lee Abramson on Aug 30, 2007 17:50:54 GMT -5
As for me, when I clarified my dream of writing great songs, while facing terminal illness, I got busy. I had a lot to learn; when I started, I couldn't even read treble clef (I played bass guitar), had only half a semester's worth of self-taught music theory knowledge, and knew nothing about songwriting. Since then I've read most of a music theory textbook, take composition lessons from a university professor, and online songwriting classes from Berklee school of music. I write about a song a week, and I think I'm getting good at it. My latest music is available at the link
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Post by Candyman on Aug 31, 2007 1:41:03 GMT -5
Tony, or should I say Anthony (?), quite an inspirational website (http://www.anthonyrainstarez.com/bio.htm)!
Speaking of inspiration, I'd like to add that I also was influenced by the music of the Allmond (Joy) Brothers!
I just can't get enough Almond Joy bars while I tune out to the Allman's (I just wish they were covered with dark chocolate like the Mounds bar).
LOL,
Candyman (the typo-phobe)
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Post by Pony on Aug 31, 2007 15:50:43 GMT -5
LOL...ok Candyman, you got me!!! That was a stupid typo, and you'd think somebody who was influenced by the Allman Bros would've known how to spell their damn name, especially since those dudes were locals 'round this part of Florida. I just remember hearing Live at Fillmore East when I was about 14, and I was so turned on by the long guitar jams that seem so 'perfect.' Thanks man for checkin' the site out, and diggin' it!!  |
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