The Conference

I'm having trouble talking about the conference, but I'll try to express myself about it here.

Was it useful? Definitely. I had wanted to see an eye doctor, and now I know that I need a neuro optometrist. Also, I know now that we probably have brain stem lesions, not just functional damage. I had wanted to get the process of getting studies about treatment options moving. It sounds like there is a concrete plan for what has to be done that is moving at its own pace. The doctor who runs the foundation assured us that progress is being made, and we need to be patient.

Do I want to go back? Yes.

How often do I want to go back? This is very hard for me to answer. I feel a strong connection to the other attendees, because of our shared experience. Part of me wants to return every year to form a relationship with this community. However, there is a part of me that wonders if I should really form a relationship with a bunch of sick people and spend so much time focusing on my illness. There is knowledge and a sense of community, but there is also a lot of anger and frustration. Also, there is the obvious issue that it is financially, emotionally, and physically taxing to make this journey. I need to talk to my psychologist about this. Probably, I will return regularly but not every year.

Not about the conference

Oh, databases, you are so exciting! I've been full of ideas, but since I'm not at home, I haven't been able to write them down on that piece of paper on my desk that is covered with my database notes. However, I realized that I can write things out here.

I could do a much better job of handling addresses in all my databases. In my health database, I have a table with addresses of my doctors. As usual, I realized that I am duplicating a lot of information, since several of my doctors are part of the same practice, and yet I am writing their addresses in for each doctor. I also have a table for the addresses of the labs where my blood tests are done. On top of that, I'd like to improve the functions in my to do list database that handle birthdays and when I should buy and send presents. It could contain addresses, so that I didn't have to look them up, but I don't want to put them into their own table in my to do list database. So, it is time to create another database. Yay!

I'm using my email reader as my addressbook, and it is so not up to the task. If I make a nice little address book database, then it can hold all my other databases' addresses plus all the addresses I might need. I expect that it isn't normal to have a field in one database using a field in another database as a foreign key, since it seems like it wouldn't be possible to maintain the integrity of that data. However, the internet might have a solution. If not, I'll come up with something that does the job. I could put my address book into the contacts on my phone. However, I'd be happier if they were in a well-protected place online.

In non-database news, I would like to revisit the issue of what to do with my hair when I don't have to wear a winter hat. I don't want to have to braid my hair or put it in a ponytail to keep it from getting blown around when I am outside. I have previously used fabric headbands, but they didn't stay in place well. They certainly needed more elastic. Should I use the headbands I have and just add elastic? Should I use fold-over elastic, like they do for baby's headbands? Should I make them more decorative by adding the little hat forms, bits of scarves, flowers, or pins? I suppose I could even paint them. Do I need something to keep them from sliding? Probably, I first need to experiment to find the ideal width. After that, I can add decorations.