Posted 8-6-19 I am a huge fan of symmetry, order and (good) habits. OCD is a term thrown around waaaaaaaaay too much in a way that is offensive to those few who truly suffer with it. I am not that. I do, however, find joy in the natural order of things and in routines/patterned living….
Author: Mark Applegate
Christian, husband, and dad...and a workplace chiropractic geek and cornbread chef on the side. I am also happily the Director of Systems Alignment for the SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging.
Stand By
Posted 8-5-19 One of my hats–my biggest hat— at my career with SeniorAge (much of Southern Missouri’s Agency on Aging) is that of I.T. Director. I fix computers, I set up software. I manage the server. You know…geeky stuff. Among the many responsibilities of this technical position is managing cell phones, often a headache of…
Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign
Posted 8-2-19 SignsThe 5 Man Electrical Bandlyrics as recorded by The Five Man Electrical Band in 1971 And the sign said “Long-haired freaky people need not apply”So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him whyHe said “You look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you’ll…
Laughter Truly is the Best Medicine
Posted August 1st, 2019 Have you ever thought what a God-given gift laughter and humor is? I have because it is a big part of my emotional baggage…my free-of-charge carry-on on the 747 of life. Do I say this because I am funny? I would love that to be the case, but I am generally…
Yosemite Stan, the Rootin’, Tootin’ist Patient North, South, East, and West of the Pecos…uhhh…errr…Mom’s New Wing
Posted 7-31-19 Mom’s new wing has all sorts of characters, many of whom have dementia, but dementia isn’t their most imminent threat to life and limb. One such fella I will call Yosemite Stan. This hombre is stuck in a wheelchair and is NOT happy about it. In fact, he is not happy about much…
Shark Week
Posted 7-30-19 This week marked the beginning of the 31st season of a pop phenomenon: Shark Week. Despite the fact that, on average, there are “only” less than 100 (verified) shark attacks WORLDWIDE with one fatality last year, we love to hate sharks. Mosquito Week, “celebrating” the organism responsible for killing 750,000 people worldwide, more…
Mom, the Babysitter
Posted 7-29-19 In the realm of things to bring up about my mom, I often forget to bring up the little things she did to help my family in its early days. You know it when you see it, the mom/grandma stuff. Babysitting comes to mind. Dozens and dozens of times mom drove to our…
Throwin’ My Hands Up…but NOT Like I Just Don’t Care
Posted 7-26-19 I really wish I was writing this little piece with some breakthrough hypothesis and with promises that I will follow up 24/7 with grant requests, fundraising, etc…because I figured out a way to make dementia not suck. No such luck. Dancing around the stages of grief as we are, I/we get grandiose ideas…
Sooooo Cute
Posted 7-24-19 Sorry for the brief articles this week. I am completely booked with work and family, but this cuteness topic NEEDS to be investigated further. I started this little discussion yesterday in a piece about the big eyes in my mom’s wall decorations and how much she loved cute things. I want to lead…
Those Big Eyes
Posted 7-23-19 Mom’s new room is being decorated this week. In her current condition, really loves cute things. I mean, we all do, but mom has a special joy that she finds when she sees things with exaggeratedly cute features. My sis is bringing a Hello Kitty blanket and she put a bunch of super-cute…