World Getting Smaller
Recently I have been amazed at just how small the world seems as I am now able to make more friends who want to learn more about foreign accent syndrome almost daily via the power of the world wide web.
If you have been following me for any amount of time, you know how frustrated I am by the limited amount of information about Foreign Accent Syndrome. I had a bit of a breakthrough last week as friends and Tweets pointed me to a newer case that has been widely publicized regarding a lady in the UK suddenly speaking with a Chinese accented voice after suffering a migraine.
The BBC did a story, CNN and other news articles suddenly popped up all over the place. I really believe I know how she feels as she is tired of the novelty of the fact that she sounds different. I know what she means when she says that she want her “real” or “old” voice back. As a result, I sought to contact Sarah and have since connected. I look forward to speaking with her by phone sometime soon, but in the meantime we are in touch across the ocean and time zones via internet.
Then, there was a television program that aired on the Science Channel, but which we don’t have that broadcasting channel. The title of the episode is called “Secret Life of the Brain: Losing Myself.” (If you discover a link or another broadcasting please let me know in the comments). Though I have not seen it, apparently, it touched on Foreign Accent Syndrome and raised a lot of interest from people who had never heard of it before. Twitter was alive with people who couldn’t believe what they were hearing.
Through those Tweets I discovered some new contacts, one of which is a French speaking writer of medical papers who writes “The Brain From Top to Bottom” (here is a link). Those writings helped me learn even more about the brain and how it functions or dysfunctions.
With this sudden influx of interest maybe there will be some advances in the study and dissemination of scientific research. We can share in the hope of knowing that people are taking the matter seriously. We can share our struggles and insights to encourage one another. That would be an answer to the prayers of the few who are having to endure living with such a rare disorder that so profoundly affects their identity, that is not easily explained and to which there is no accepted treatment or cure.
Since we have used the internet to shrink the world, maybe now it is time to use that same mode to make awareness larger in the world.
Introducing Mary
Mary and Gidget
Hi everyone!
My name is Mary Myers. I am SO excited to join the Warren Waggers!
I grew up in Lafayette, participating in the 4H dog program (among MANY other projects!) in Tippecanoe County! When I “aged out”, I stayed with the Tippecanoe County dog club as a leader, focusing mainly on showmanship. After I graduated from Ivy Tech, I got a wonderful job offer in Austin, Texas. My husband Kyle and I lived there for nearly two years, and then we moved to Hampton, Virginia for family events.
In January, we returned to our home state of Indiana! I am very glad to be home. I am now a student at IUPUI majoring in Pre-veterinary Biology. This fall, I will be applying to Purdue’s Vet School. It’s been my lifelong dream, and I cannot believe it’s happening. Hopefully I will start vet school in 2011.
In addition to being a student, I’m involved with dogs both professionally and personally. I have six (Yep SIX!) dogs. I have 5 Pointers (sometimes called “English Pointers”, but their breed name really is just Pointer) and one pomeranian/sheltie mix. Her name is Gidget, and she runs the house. She’s 12 years old. I’ve had her since she was 4 months old, and she was my first dog I showed in 4H. She’s incredibly smart and I took her through 6A obedience and three years of agility. My Pointers are all show dogs, but do “work” also. They are trained to hunt birds in the field. Some are therapy dogs, some are trained for obedience, and some even do agility. I have 3 show champions and 1 who has a hunting title (one of my dogs has even been to the Westminster dog show!). I don’t just show my dogs! I am a professional handler also. That means I show other people’s dogs in conformation (which is almost like showmanship).
I look forward to meeting all of you and having a GREAT 4H season! If you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to e-mail me. (envypointers@yahoo.com) I will get back to you as quickly as possible! I can’t wait to see everyone! Good luck, and hug your dogs!
Mary Myers
Mary and Maverick
Mary is currently going through the process to become a registered 4-H Volunteer Leader and will be joining us at our regular meetings in May.
EXCUSE THE MESS
Please bear with me as I am in the process of reorganizing the website. You can search by topic in the search box in upper right corner of this site. OR you can use the “Tags” box on the right side of the page and just click on the tag of what you’d like to see.
Thanks for visiting the site : )
Know Your Dog
DOG BUCKET LIST
Youth Leaders – Club Officers
At the last meeting of Warren Waggers 4-H Dog Club the youth members of the club voted on club officers. The elected officers are as follows: