BETTER RUN FASTER THAN MY BULLET

Yep, I made the news last week

for fighting back against

a would be robber with a gun.

I threw my bags of groceries and my 12 pack of cokes

and hit him in the face.

A gun verses groceries. 

I think

I was just angry

because we were in my front yard

and he had no right to be there...gun or no gun.

***

I'm still alive,

but I think

next time

I'll just give him

my wallet.

And just like the song says...

you better run, better run,

faster than his bullet.

Here's Morgan Wheeler doing a fine job and she's got 

the sweetest voice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGo1Ccc7ceI&list=UUDCrQrXZbwL70BDSVPcR4Fg&index=21

from my garden

n

CHASING ANGER AROUND & AROUND

Right from the start

you have to decide what to do with your anger.

...Anger about the wasted time

....about the wasted efforts

....and wasted emotions

....wasted money

and wasted visits

to doctors

to counselors

to helpers

of every description.

Diseases make people angry.

And if you're a caregiver

and a family member

your life goes left instead of right

day in and day out.

But I'll tell you a secret...

Anger is a terrible partner in the car seat next to you

on your journeys.

Better to open the door and throw him out on the pavement.

And don't leave that seat empty.

Open the door to love

to hope

and to prayer.

Those are much better partners in the seat next to you

and wherever the road leads

they will smile and hold your hand...

even through the valley of the shadow of death.

***

Today's song is 'Lead Me' by a Sanctus Real.

Enjoy your 5 minute break.

David/:0)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLr6G8Xy5uc

a friend's garden here in Houston

n

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE....IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT

....is to get your children off

of caffeine

and

...off of sugar

Both are not the friends

of an OCD mind.

Both promise

much

but deliver little...

except to

get the mind racing even more

and to put (at least in our son)

his invasive thoughts 

in overdrive.

We find it's the fastest road 

to a meltdown.

***

Here's the "Mission Impossible"

theme featuring

Lindsey Stirling and The Piano Guys.

Thanks for stopping by!

David/:0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p0BqUcQ7i0

the raccoon in our back shed

n

TIME TO BEAT OCD & AUTISM

Whenever I get really tired 

of the battle

and really want to BEAT

my son's OCD problems

and my son's AUTISM,

I try to find someone

playing the drums.

***

In this case, I found a 10-year old

boy with autism

who is now famous

for playing rhythms on 

his washing machine.

Yes, let's BEAT OCD!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_viuM_sEOOU

morning glories in our garden

y

WHAT DOES OCD FEEL LIKE? BAD THOUGHTS BLACK, GOOD THOUGHTS WHITE

You know about the famous art muse mask that's half black and half white.

Most of us without OCD can push back against black thoughts.

We can dismiss them as silly

or crazy.

Not so with OCD.

The thoughts come in as an invasion.

A flash of light....

dark light.

And then you have to force them back outside

your mind.

Or let them pass through to the other side.

Or you must ignore them 

as specters, or beasts, or...

ghosts passing through to nowhere.

***

Today's break is from Brandur Enni from 

the remote Faroe Islands.

The song:

"The Illusion of..."

I totally understand the symbolism. So will anyone with OCD.

Great job, Brandur!
(By the way, that is his girlfriend playing the part of the white, good thoughts)

David/:0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjEcGBpCggs

patterns from my garden

n...y!

I NEED THINGS TO BE NORMAL...not backwards!

Too many things are

not NORMAL right now...

I need this video to happen to our family.

I wish I could

have just a few normal days

in a row.

It would be OK to have 

a boring day once in awhile.
Really....

****

Today's break is brought to you

by Fall Off the Earth

with "Little Boxes".

David/:0)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM8JhvfoqdA

from my elementary school

n...y

MUSIC & OCD

I'm reading a memoir of a person with OCD.

They mention that in their despair

they are drawn to angry, raging music.

It gives them reassurance that they are not alone

in their suffering;

that these musicians are also angry

& furious about their unfair conditions.

***

For me, the opposite is true.

As a caregiver for our son I'm drawn

to soothing music...

...music that calms,

....that repairs
that mends the damage

done by daily hardships.

That's why I listen to my own 5 minute breaks.

***

Here's Kurt Hugo Schneider

with the best cover of Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting"

 Kurt has a math degree from Yale University

not a music degree.

Could have fooled me! Go Kurt!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_F5UkkqDOA&noredirect=1

from the front garden

n

n

JUST GIVE ME A REASON....FOR OCD...and DUSTY DRUMS

My son wants to know why he

has OCD.

What should I tell him?

There's no cause and effect like when...
^^^

a person overeats....they get obese
or if

a person smokes, he gets lung disease
or if

a person drinks to excess & his liver fails
###

But OCD...

is it because.....a person thinks too much, thus  your brain repeats the thoughts to itself?
Is there such a thing as overthinking?

And exactly how does one turn off their brain?
He wants to know

why he has OCD and not you?

It's hard to explain.

But lack of a cure is even more difficult to explain.

Perhaps someday.

***

Today's break is from a fantastic duo.

Hope you enjoy the dusty drums.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCi3lo1JaQI&list=UUplkk3J5wrEl0TNrthHjq4Q

 a prickly pear from my garden

n...y!

HOME & THE OCD COMMUNITY.... IS THERE SUCH A THING?

We can wrap ourselves around almost every cause.

Clubs for this and clubs for that....

Organizations that support everything from A to Z.

But OCD?

Is there a community to support those living in fear

and fighting their inner demons?

The answer is 'yes'.

OCD is much more prevalent than you can imagine.

In fact, chances are good that one of your friends has OCD.

With that in mind, I've added some OCD blogs to the side panel.

I like these because they speak of personal struggles

and victories.
Best of all, remember this,

you are not alone!

****

Today's 5 minute break is from the every encouraging

Piano Guys with their new song

"HOME".

You'll love it! Enjoy your break. 

And thanks for stopping by!

David/:0)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF-Z1A0ujlg

Home

y

I LOST MY LOVE IN THE WIND

a beautiful song..in memory of the victims of the tornado that hit Oklahoma City on May 20th, 2013.

I have lived through two tornadoes in my lifetime.

One hit my apartment in 1982.

Another hit our elementary school a few years later.

There's nothing I can write that can describe the feeling, the sounds,

and the bizarre and horrendous destruction 

that happens within seconds.
Maybe it sounds like war.

My thoughts and prayers are with those families.

***

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMMSBS0qwPk

Tina Guo "I Lost My Love in the Wind"

my photo of a farmhouse from Danevang, Texas

n

WHERE CAN WE GO FROM HERE?

With many 'lifetime' conditions like OCD

or autism

parents often ask, 'Where do we go from here?'

A lifetime is a long time

to thinK about something never being over.
Personally, I like to think about...

Progress.

I dream of progress

...in the medical field

....in new attitudes about OCD

....in loving others

....in prayer

and progress in overcoming our children's sufferings.

****

Today's break is from a group called

City Harmonic.

The song: I Have a Dream

You'll like it. But be sure and watch

the very last scene very carefully.

I have a dream....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flbUa2LzepI

a nutcracker in our collection

y

A VACATION FROM OCD

Can a person take a vacation from OCD?

or from any mental disorder for that matter.

You take your thoughts with you no matter where you go.

And some daydream to get away.

But OCD is different.

Constantly, the unwanted thoughts invade.

They follow you like a pack of dogs after its prey.

So how do I teach my son to blow the whistle

and call the dogs off?

That's what we are learning.

****

Today's 5 minute break is from a delightful Danish group

called Alphabeat.

The song 'Love Sea'. 

Such fun!!!!

I love them.

All for now,

David/:0)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptZvGkkkZAo

A white oleander in bloom today. :0)

y

HO HEY...BUT WAS IT THE DANCE DISEASE?

Yesterday our son was standing around in the living room,

then suddenly started stepping quickly in place, cocking his elbow

and swinging his arms around.

This alarmed our visiting friend and my wife...

so much so that we called our doctor.

His pyschiatrist has mentioned that some of the medications

he is on for OCD

can result in involuntary movements.

And some could trigger very unusual behaviors similar to something called Sydenham's Chorea or
'the dance disease'.

When we asked our son to stop, he said he couldn't.
This went on for many repetitions...like a human marionette with strings.
Scary stuff.

We later found out that he had once again broken

our rules and had an ENERGY DRINK.

His doctor's have told him over and over

caffeine and other stimulants

really play havoc with his brain.

Prognosis for Sydenham's Chorea 

Fifty percent of patients with acute Sydenham's Chorea spontaneously recover after 2 to 6 months whilst mild or moderate chorea or other motor symptoms can persist for up to and over 2 years in some cases. Sydenham's is also associated with psychiatric symptoms with obsessive compulsive disorder being the most frequent manifestation. (source: wikipedia)

If you need a stronger dose than wikipedia, here's the report from NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health)

http://intramural.nimh.nih.gov/pdn/pubs/pub-14.pdf

*********************************************************************************

Today's 5 minute break will make you smile...and maybe get up and dance.

Alex Boye' does the song 'Ho Hey' is perfect style.

Enjoy your break,

David/:0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbvWWzjPM2A

a live oak down at the bay

y

WILL WE EVER BEAT OCD?

Even with all the research and the billions of dollars spent
in the health field,
mental health and the chemistry behind brain dysfunctions remain elusive.
Are we any closer to managing a cure for OCD? I wish.
***
When I get really 

upset about my son's constant battle

I like to find a musician 

doing fantastic things with drums...

 a symbolic way to  BEAT OCD...

perhaps someday soon.

#####

Here's today's 5 minute break.

David/:0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkwsHV7t25g

palm tree patterns in my garden

y...Y!

STRESS....TAKE A NUMBER PLEASE

It's nice to get your STRESS factors lined up in order of importance.

Let's have some fun with my life and decide which of these should come first.
Remember: Humor saves lives.

Ready?

1. My son has severe intrusive OCD that seems to be increasingly 

difficult to manage. Today he did not show up for work & will probably be fired.

WoW! 

2. My other son is failing his final math class of his senior year and may not get to graduate.

The graduation invitations have already been sent and we've already set up his

graduation party.

We're contacting his teachers daily to see if he can bring up his 65 to an 81 in the next three weeks.

WoW!

3. My wife's blood pressure is jumping up to 165 to 180 each afternoon,

so her doctor has ordered a stress test, and EKG, some blood work tomorrow.

She may have benign tumors on her pituitary gland.

Wow!

And finally...

4. I get to deal with all three each and every day.
Pray for us.

****

BEST MUSIC VIDEO AWARD for this MONTH goes to:
Jason Gray..."Remind Me Who I Am"
Best 5 minute break of the whole blog.
Thanks for stopping by,
 David/ :0)
(which, by the way, means beloved)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKyY8zfjBMQ

From my garden. Bug holes and patterns.

y

MEMORIES

The original musician for this song died before our modern levels of technology

could record him properly.

This group (Third Day )found his sound track and decided to record it again

as a tribute.

It's the Apostle's Creed that many Christian churches profess

each Sunday.
I did as a child.
And I remember....

Enjoy the music & the message.

Thanks for stopping by today.
David/:0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3i-_VWxOAc

Shell ginger in my garden

y

5 MINUTE BREAK MOTHER'S DAY

It's hard to find a music video to celebrate Mother's Day,

but here it is:

She's got a baby on board and singin' her heart out.

Enjoy your break!

And thanks for stopping by

***

'Material Girl' by Walk Off the Earth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpnHhii3ZIk

Shell ginger in my garden

y

FACE VALUE

It's nice to see successful people.

Do they make you happy or just plunge 

you into depression?

You ask, why can't I be popular

or successful or happy?

I have a very good friend that, to the outside world, has very little

'face value'.

Yet, she is one of the happiest people I know.

What makes her that way?

I would say it's her confidence and a love for people.

And she finds other happy people to be with.
***

What's so strange is the flip side of all this.

I know a very nice person with lots of 'face value'.

She's got everything going for her, but is so

riddled with self-doubt and worry

that none of that matters.
So....

Like yourself as you are...and don't change a thing!

***

Today's  5 minute break is from a very young and confident British singer.

There's no band...
No background vocals....
She's all alone &

that takes courage!!!
Enjoy the song &

thanks for stopping by.

David/:0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lYw_L_tNhs

One of my photos from my plant collection and some help

from photoshop. 

Just for you!

y

CONNECTIONS & OCD

I've been thinking a lot about connections.

I'm a very introverted and quiet person.

I love to be alone.

I don't seem to need many friends.

On the outside, it doesn't look
 like I'm
a
 people
 person.

But I'm VERY connected with the people around me.

I think about my friends all the time.

And I think about their support.

I would guess that many people with OCD

appear to be introverted.

Their journey and their battle
are inward...

and one that's personal beyond imagination.

And yet,
they must think about their friends

even though they may not talk to them very often.

My advice:
stay connected even through your toughest times.

***

Today's break is another cover song from Keiyana Osmond.

It's delightful and full of surprises,
especially
the guy doing random somersaults.

Enjoy your 5 minute break

& thanks for stopping by!

David/:0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0IBPeuLGWc

n...y!

RAYS OF HOPE and OCD

Have you ever wondered how important hope is?

Hope has to be a large part of the equation 

with OCD and many other debilitating conditions.

To gain more hope, DO NOT look at the big picture.

You will only feel overwhelmed.

Take each step and break it into even smaller steps.

Ask, will I do one thing now instead of putting it off?

Will I do another and another

until the progress starts to add up?

Try it and congratulate yourself on small accomplishments.

Don't look at the big picture...at least not for a week or two.

That way you'll have time to do hundreds of small things!

List every small task you do and watch the miracle happen.
Tell a supportive family member what you are doing and watch them smile!

And remember, one petal does not a flower make, but without it,

the flower would not be complete.

***

Today's break is from a lost artist named

David Hewitt.
Play one note and another and another
and see what kind of music you can make..
just like this beautiful song.

Thanks for stopping by!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBEGz964SC8

My son's sunflower out in the garden!

y

DO YOU KNOW A LOVE SPONGE?

tODaY's bREAk Is PuRE FuN

But what exactly is love sponge?

Maybe someone who needs a hug all the time.

I had a colleague tell me she was worried that she

was hugging her 6 year old child too much.

I said there was really no such thing.

I'd always err on the 'too much' hugging and love

than too little.

Go hug someone RIGHT NOW!

And just think, you get  free hug at the same time.

***

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnT7e6SqUrE

n

OCD: YOUR STORY, MY STORY

What's your story?

Who wants to listen?

How can the bad stuff be any good?

How can our son's OCD problems 

be of any help to someone else?
***

I've now read four autobiographies about people who have

had severe OCD along with two OCD autobiographical blogs.

All have a common thread.

The way out is not to turn inward

but outward.

To find a purpose;

To find a way to help others.

What will that be for our son?

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0jiALPCtH8

The Story from the movie 'The Lucky One'
Listen to the Lyrics
David/:0)

n

ANGER IS A LOADED GUN...AND YOU'VE GOT TO CONTROL IT

Anger...cocked and loaded

and ready to shoot

Awful words,

Loaded words,

Hurtful words,

Blame,blame...

and more blame.
For all that's wrong with life.

Our son gets so angry when he is not on his medicine

or when his pants don't fit just right

or when the food isn't perfect.

He's better now.

A person can even cough in the next room

and he can still eat his meal

without thinking of germs.

Still...we should all take a break from yelling...

....a permanent break.

***

Today's 5 minute break is from a Canadian group I discovered late last night.

They win my MOST CREATIVE VIDEO AWARD!

Just watch and you'll see what I mean.
The song is 'Red Hands'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_86379&feature=iv&src_vid=56L5ppNRyEs&v=1bt-FHaFVH8

tree patterns in the park

y

YOU LOST YOUR KEYS; I LOST MY MIND...

...just kidding.

But think about it,

OCD sufferers are constantly battling their own mind.

Sometimes winning.

Sometimes losing...the control of their minds

and their thoughts.

Tonight our son has a head cold

and it is NOT helping his OCD.

I just ran out the door to get him some chicken soup.

That should help, right?

***

Today's break is FUNNY and LIGHTHEARTED

the perfect medicine for stress.

Thanks for stopping by!

David/:0)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe4SckesWLE

son and friend being silly 

n

OCD FAMILIES...WE'RE NOT BROKEN, JUST BENT

A very popular song carries these words....and I like them.

Broken families; it sounds so final and so tragic.

But bent families...sounds like the parts are still there

and with a little help

all could be shaped, molded, and realigned.

Today, some city workers came to my garden to trim

branches near the electric wires.

They hurt a lot of my plants.

Some were snapped off....completely broken.

It will take many months for them to mend.

And they may never heal completely.

Others were bent.

Still intact and still able to function.
And still able to grow...

Just like our OCD families.

***

Today's 5 minute break is the best version

of the not broken, just bent song.

I've listened to dozens of versions and these three friends score a perfect 10.

Enjoy your break

and thanks for stopping by today.

David/:0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRDNyFXw4tE

Y!