Lately, all I see from Wright State in terms of disability services are things that make me angry/unnerved. However, in all fairness I will try to list some good things about them, too.

The Tunnels
If you look up anything about WSU and accessibility you will hear about the amazing tunnel system that allows you to travel underground from one building to the next. It is true that the tunnels reach from the Creative Arts Center all the way to the Student Union and hit all the buildings in between. This does not include access to the dorms of the family housing units. If the weather is bad or you wish to use it, there is a shuttle service. Of course, each van is often packed with able-bodied students and you may have to wait if other wheelchairs are using the service (an empty/near empty van can hold two wheelchairs). Unfortunately, the shuttles often tell people with disabilities to “wait for the next one” even when there are open spaces on them. In some cases, this has led to waits of over an hour, with three or more shuttles declining students in wheelchairs rides. The vans also range in the amount of comfort and stability they will offer physically disabled students.

The tunnels are amazing, though I hasten to call them an accessibility feature for a couple of reasons. First, any student can use them. It is often I will see the tunnels packed with able bodied students with physically disabled students (wheelchairs and helper dogs and visually impaired students, especially) fighting to get through the crowds. Second, at least a few of the elevators in the tunnels (that get you to the classrooms and other parts of the university) are not accessible to physically disabled students (they need able-bodied assistants to hold quick closing doors and to push buttons that they cannot reach).

The Student Government
Credit where it is due, WSU’s current student government attempts to make all the accommodations for disabled students as they can. They might not always know how to make things happen, but when D brings disability issues to them, SG wants to help in any way they can. It is obvious that they want the school to be as accessible as possible so that all students can have a great college experience. Granted, this attitude could change from year to year based on the new SG leaders (the current government has many graduating Seniors that will not be back), but having a Director of Disability Affairs that cares about their job is a good start.

Greek Life
Anyone with a preconception of how Greek Life is would be shocked by WSU’s representation. For the most part the Fraternities and Sororities at Wright State are fabulous organizations that want to include people of every race, ethnicity, ability, and sexuality. While it does not always appear to be as prevalent as other schools, WSU’s Greek Life offers the brotherhood/sisterhood that you would find in other schools, but they are also more willing to accept all types of people with the hopes of making the world a better place. D is currently hanging out with guys from one of the largest Fraternities on campus and really seems to enjoy the friendships he is making and the activities he attends with the other guys. Most of all, I think he enjoys being included in something that you wouldn’t think disabled people would normally be included in.

Student Groups
Many of the Wright State student groups are disability-friendly. While not many disabled students get involved with some of the campus groups, most of them are willing to include any of the disabled students that want to join. Even the groups that are unfamiliar with people with disabilities state that they would like to accommodate students with disabilities as long as they know what is needed to allow this to happen.

In my opinion, (and mind you these observations are that of an able-bodied observer) these are the best features of Disability at Wright State. Now, we need to consider the parts that are bad/non-existent/horrible.

The Office of Disability Services (ODS)
When I think of an office purely to speak to the needs of person’s with disabilities, I think of an office that will help students adapt to college life, aid them in class issues, and will work as a liaison to make the school a more accessible place for people with all disabilities. WSU’s ODS promotes independence in students. What that means in the grand scheme of things is that they don’t do too much of anything. ODS does hire and maintain a group of personal assistants that help disabled students do a variety of tasks, but how in depth that program goes seems to depend on when you attend school at WSU.

When a disabled student comes to WSU for the first time they are given a class to learn how to advocate for themselves and how to hire their own PAs. There is no database or system to finding PA’s and often times people with disabilities are entrusting their care to absolute strangers their own age. They are hoping that these students (the PAs are semi-trained students) will show up and do what needs to be done. Things like note-taking requires the student to ask classmates to take notes for a gift card, rather than being paid (apparently since they are taking notes anyway, it’s an added bonus for them). If the student does not find another student to offer their notes (it happens to students all the time) then ODS will hire someone, often someone that has no knowledge of the subject, even though the disabled students grade often relies on these notes.

It’s also worth mentioning that in most cases, it is up to the student to find a way to pay for and/or copy said notes. Since D needs his in a computer format, his notes are brought to ODS and copied so that ODS can deliver these notes to him via email. This is a skewed system that prevents him from getting his notes in a timely manner. Last quarter, he received his notes for his final exam, AFTER the final had happened. It seems mildly irresponsible that ODS has so little interest in helping students with disabilities to succeed. Of course, they would say that the student needs to communicate better, and it is their fault their accommodations are not being met. I have seen the amount of emails D has had to send and how many of them have been ignored. If a student is told they will receive help and they do not receive that help, how many times must they try to fix things before it is no longer their fault?

When it comes to test taking, writers are available to students with disabilities. Students bring their test schedule to ODS and schedule tests with the office. A writer helps the student read and write the test in order to make sure that all of the work is done properly. Many times test takers will be late, there will not be adequate space for all scheduled students to take their tests, and the test takers are not trained adequately to provide test taking services. I have heard horror stories of ESL students as writers or writers that cannot spell simple words or form simple sentences. This sort of thing is unacceptable considering a person’s grade is on the line. It is so bad that some students negotiate with their professors to allow for them to have someone write the test for them out of the class, but without using ODS.

WSU PA Station
There is one PA station on campus that has assistants available to help students during the day. Though I am not positive I believe the PA Station runs until 7 PM. In theory, it seems awesome that this station exists, but it is not without fault. For one thing, the campus is rather large and there is only one station. In the event that someone is on the opposite side of campus and has an emergency, it’s highly possible that they will not make it to the PA station (something that could be alleviated by having two PA stations).

The level of care offered at said PA station also depends on who is working at the station on any given day. Some students need to use the PA station, but prefer to have their own attendants help them. This should not be a problem, but I know of at least one example where a student was told in order to use the PA station he had to have the available PAs help him and not his own attendant, even if he was more comfortable having their help.

For students that live on campus, they have to schedule after-hour bathroom breaks (doesn’t that sound inconvenient, if not impossible?). While the school used to offer a bathroom “pager” and an emergency pager for overnight emergencies, only the emergency pager exists. It is also clearly explained to PAs with the emergency page that it cannot be used by students who have PAs that do not show up to get them out of bed or for bathroom usage (unless it is a true bathroom emergency).

Athletics/Sports
WSU offers adapted rec. This is just what it sounds like. They offer adapted sporting opportunities for students with disabilities. This program is run (if you want to call it that) by a grad student, which is fine. However, there is not enough time to devote to the program, so they are either not spending enough time on it or they are not interested in the position they have been given. Adapted rec consists of the same activities over and over again for the quarter (things like bowling and kayaking are popular options). These things are not advertised well, often students are sent emails the day before/the day of the activity (a quarterly schedule and better advertising, seems to be a wiser option) so often the amount of students that could show up, do not. They do not offer wheelchair sports teams either, though this would be an easy option for them to implement as it seems to be something that many students are interested in when asked. The school also offers a fitness facility for students that at one point had an adapted area with hand bikes and other disability friendly equipment. Last time I checked the facilities, these things had been removed and are no longer available to disabled students. As a result, it is a rarity to see disabled students in the fitness facility.

The Sports Complex
I could write an entire post on the new Wright State Sports Complex that is being built (and contributed to a tuition hike for all students). The school has a Football Club and while the stadium is being built it is currently not accessible. If disabled (wheelchair bound or physically impaired) students want to attend events at the sporting complex they are unable to do so unless they want to risk sinking in the grass or staying on the sidelines…in the parking lot! During Fall Quarter, tailgate events were all the rage. It was rather depressing for disabled students though because while they could get to the tailgating (it occurs in the parking lot) when it became game time they were stuck in the parking lot, secluded from the Raider game because of their lack of physical ability. Eventually, the Sports Complex will be accessible, but for now it remains an expensive eyesore that was built for a school that has no NCAA football team. Not to mention that the university could have spent the millions for the stadium on accessibility repairs and academics, where the money needs to be spent.

Housing
Disgusting is the only way to convey the conditions that disabled (and non-disabled) students are expected to live in at some of these housing facilities (specifically the family/adult housing). Here I can only give you a personal example. We lived in The Village, which is the family housing units on campus. We paid $270 per week for less than 600 square feet and two small bedrooms. This is the only two bedroom accessible unit on campus. We were given our unit quickly and it was never cleaned before we moved in. The eight year old outdoor carpet was not changed. The bathroom had mold in it. The mold was subsequently peeled off the wall, washed off the wall, and power steamed, but it came back because housing did not want to spend the money to fix the problem (we know several other students that have mold, as well). In the spring maintenance sprays for bed bugs and other creatures. When they did that for us, we ended up getting cockroaches from one of our neighbors apartments. Add in the fact that the tile in the bathroom was so dirty they could not power steam it clean, the counter tops were stained, and students are often stuck with charges for the conditions of their apartment when they leave, it should be obvious why these apartments are not worth the money, much less the torture that the students go through to live in them.

Shuttle Service
Many schools that are far less accessible than Wright State have better transportation options. WSU offers shuttle stops around campus and at locations around the dorms and The Village. If it is raining or snowing, disabled students either have to fight the elements (which may not be possible) and end up stuck in snow or wet, or they have to miss class. This is unacceptable. Likewise, while shuttle service goes into the evening at the college, it does not go through the dorms after a certain point in the late afternoon. Considering most events happen at night, many students have to wheel home from the school as opposed to being offered a shuttle ride. Door to door service would be a better option for disabled students and this would be something that could easily be implemented for after hour activities and in cases of weather problems. However, these options do not exist for students.

The Ableist Mindset
Whether it is professors, administrators, ODS, or other organizations, there is a pervasive attitude of ableism that is a problem for a school that claims to be accessible. If disabled students have a problem with a professor or someone official on campus they should be able to go to ODS to receive mediation services. However, often what happens is that ODS will initially take the side of the able-bodied professor or official unless they disabled student can prove they are correct/honest. ODS also involves themselves in disputes that do not necessarily concern their office, as long as a disabled student is involved. They will represent themselves by sitting in on meetings for various departments that have meetings with disabled students that are advocating for their rights. Personally, I feel it should not be the position to help able-bodied figure heads when they are having disputes with disabled students. It is their job to assist those with disabilities.

Wright State has a lot of promising majors and offerings, but for those with disabilities it is important to remember before you choose WSU that they have a long way to come where disabilities are concerned.

Technorati Tags: Wright State University, WSU, Disabled, Disabilty, Physically Disabled, Wheelchair, ODS, Office of Disability Services

I’ve never considered writing about these things until now, but once I made the decision to do it, I knew I wanted to interview R so we could see what he has to say about his problems. I know how I feel about them (I will get to that in other posts), but I wanted to put something out there about his feelings. I do not have these problems so I can only imagine how it feels. Perhaps these are normal feelings for someone with his problems.

Personally, I would hope that all people with these problems wouldn’t feel this way. If they do, I hope they are able to learn to control these issues before it is too late for them.

As for R, he is currently on about five medications that he takes daily and while surviving, this regime does not make him take an active interest in his life. He is prone to depression bouts and moments of anger, but nothing real promising has been seen in quite some time. Now that we live in Dayton, he will be getting a Psychiatrist (with a new med regime, hopefully) and a new Psychologist and hopefully they will be able to help him take a more active interest in himself and taking more control of his life.

For now, let’s see what R has to say about his situation. (Side note: The words typed came straight from R’s mouth, so they are not edited.)

What is your Diagnosis?: Okay, I have what I like to call the gruesome trio of mental disorders. A combination of bipolar disorder, Aspergers Syndrome, and a moderate to possibly severe case of OCD. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s mild.

Can you describe Bipolar in your own words?: Let’s see. Bipolar to me is (I am trying to think), where the mind goes between two different states. A state of being perky and happy to a state of being down and depressed, but there is also a third state that comes spur of the moment and that is the anger. Each state of mind has its own state of effects when put into place. The perky side does what it describes; it keeps a person happy. The depressed state of mind makes sure that the person is always sad and always thinking of things as a worst case scenario. And, then in the anger state of mind you just feel a complete sense of hatred, no sense of remorse for what you are doing at the moment. Total anger.

Can you describe Aspergers in your own words?: Aspergers is a social disorder where the patient isn’t able to pick up social cues at the right time. If they do pick it up they either do it late or too early. Not only does the patient miss social cues, but the patient is also socially awkward when in social situations. Aspergers is also a form of high functioning autism. The patient can talk and they have a hyper-ness about them, but they still original characteristics of the autistic disorder. Some might fidget for certain periods of time with certain objects. Others might flail their arms.

Do you have any struggles because of these disorders?: Yes. One of the main struggles is my mood swings, caused by Bipolar. As I said, anger is the third state of mind in Bipolar. It can range based off of how angry I get. Sometimes it is mild and somewhat manageable to where it is full out uncontrollable. Another struggle I have is my inability to time my social cues right and my social awkwardness from the Aspergers Syndrome.

Describe what your manic thoughts are like: When asked about my manic thoughts I would usually say nothing about them, but to be honest there are like some weird painting that no one can quite understand the message of. My thoughts are like those of an untamed animal. They are rapid, non-stop, whirling thoughts, just spinning around in an endless train of thought all mixed up together. The thoughts are never quite grouped together. They are in bits and pieces. Because of this I can never quite understand the full train of thought. Some thoughts have to do with the possibility about my life, while others have to do with what I could imagine would happen if I was doing something in my career; if I was writing a book, making a movie, or creating something. I try to imagine what would happen. But right when I think I can grasp the thought, it either scatterbrains or I lose the train of thought altogether.

Side note: My thoughts are like a spinning wheel that never stops. It’s like “Round and round she goes, where she stops, nobody knows,” except that she never stops. In another scenario its like the hamster on a hamster wheel. The hamster runs as fast as he can to keep the wheel going, but when he gets tired he stops but the wheel keeps spinning and it makes the hamster dizzy. It’s endless.

Are you addicted to anything?: Yes. Technology, to be specific, computers, video games, any of the things that a usual teenager might have including cell phones – though cell phones haven’t been a problem for quite a while.

What do you do when you’re not allowed these things?: What do I do? Sometimes I try to find other ways to occupy my time. Being that I used to have these things they would waste most of my day. Now I need to find other ways to occupy my time. Sometimes I write or try to roleplay with myself. Sometimes I play little games. And sometimes when I can seize the opportunities I take these things (the ones I am not supposed to have) and I use them.

If you know you’re not supposed to take them why do you?: Because I know there is a purpose in them that I seem to find. The purpose might be writing or playing games or even trying to draw art for no reason at all. I just seem to find a purpose in using it….in a way that isn’t being used by it’s original owner. It gives it a full purpose in life.

Don’t you feel bad knowing you aren’t supposed to take the things you do?: Sometimes I feel bad, yes. Other times I don’t because sometimes I know I am not supposed to take them but I want to make sure they get utilized fully.

Is there anything that will stop you from giving in to your addiction?: When I try to think about it I think there might not be, but other times I think that I will get those things back that I have lost. That I will be able to use them again and that next time I will use them for the right reason. I would like to use them for work and business purposes.

If you know that you won’t be able to have these things until you’ve learned to control yourself, why do you continue to take them?: Because sometimes I think I will never get them back. So I take them.

When you become mad enough to become violent (usually when caught with something), how does that make you feel?: It makes me feel scared. It makes me feel scared for everybody that is around me when that spur of the moment feeling hits because I know that the third state of mind is at the point where it is uncontrollable. I know that I will hurt anyone to make sure that my secrets are not found out on whatever I have taken.

What happens when you try to fight those feelings of anger?: I try to fight the feelings but eventually I just lose the battle. I fight and then I lose. No ifs, ands, or buts. I just lose.

Do these things define you or is there more to you than just these mental problems?: No. They do not define me. They think they do but they don’t. What I am is more than what you see. What I am inside could be any of these things; a writer, a filmmaker, a video game designer or creator, but I like to think of myself as someone who’s creative mind might bring people to their knees.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell the readers?: I don’t know. Bipolar can be uncontrollable at times. You have to pick your battles. If you pick the right battles you can get away unharmed. If you pick the wrong ones, you could end up getting hurt, though I don’t like to think of that happening.

Technorati Tags: Bipolar Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, OCD, Interview, Personal, Teenager, Medicine, Technology, Addiction

My mom always has everything together. She’s one of those super mom types. She always has the phone call made, the house clean, and the cookies made by the time I get home. Me, not so much. I usually get things done, but she might not know what I am doing so she will continue to remind me until I either go insane, get tired of it and tell her I will do it later (she doesn’t like that, but it usually buys me five minutes), or I just drop what I am doing (usually writing or homework) and do whatever she wants.

Today, mom thought she would give me a little advice. I told her I was writing it down so that I wouldn’t forget and I did. We were watching Dr. Oz and he was talking about ways to combat the possibility of heart disease, which is a growing problem for women.

Mom’s advice while watching Dr. Oz: “You’re not gonna die if you straighten up.”

Thanks, Mom. After laughing for a few minutes (and writing it down) I thought about her advice. I know she means that I need to get on a schedule and pay more attention to the world around me. However, the idea of a schedule makes me wretch like I’ve got food poisoning. I’m hoping D can help me. I am going to let him put me on a schedule (this is where his OCD comes in handy. He loves a good schedule). I am going to try to keep it, so I apologize in advance for any bitching that may occur.

God, I hate schedules. But, I am determined to show them that I can do it…and who knows, maybe I will be better off for it in the end.

Technorati Tags: Dr. Oz, Mom, Schedules, Personal, Disorganized

While I tend to be rather personal, people continue to tell me to write about my life. I don’t see what is so exciting about my life, but the things that I hear constantly (that people want me to write about) are things like the fact that I am in a long-term relationship with someone that has a disability (D has a muscle disease and is in a wheelchair), our son has Bipolar and Asperger’s Syndrome (because one mental disorder certainly isn’t enough), D is in film school so we are learning together the ins and outs of making films, I am in school for Psychology, I am a fiction writer, and I’ve been a technical writer that has written extensively on everything from Real Estate (not so much fun) to sex (really fun). We also live with my mom (or she lives with us, however you wish to look at it), and that adds something to the family dynamic, as well.

Then again, maybe it’s my activist heart (I am pro-choice, pro-death penalty/harsher punishments for habitual criminals, pro-female (but not a feminist by any means), pro-do what you want in your own bedroom, and I am all for equal rights for all our citizens. Other than that death penalty thing, I guess you’d call me a Liberal. You’d probably be right. Oh, I’m also pretty anti-religion…or at least until you’re old enough to make up your own mind and you don’t use it to show the bigoted nature that many religious people employ.

Needless to say, my stress-level is always high enough to easily explain those blood pressure pills that keep me from having a massive stroke on a daily basis. Still, I never even considered writing about myself or our life. Today all that changed (well, it’s starting to change). What that means is that everyone is ganging up on me and I am still sitting partially on the fence. Everyone has been reminding me what a great idea it would be though.

First we had D who offered words of wisdom that went something like, “If you want to get back on track you need to talk about your life. Talk about our son and all the struggles we go through.”

We had a conversation and I ignored him, like I always do. Then I told my mom what he said and she agreed (she never agrees with him…I smell sabotage!)

She said…”Maybe that would be good for you. You could vent about D, and R (our son), and me.”

That’s where she got me. I can vent about her. I love my mother, but she is the kind of person that would get a thousand Twitter followers in ten minutes for saying the most outrageous things you can think of, only to call you a hater if you said it before her. Oh, mom. How I would love to vent about you.

So, I am going to keep an open mind and I am going to listen to my mother (for once). I am just going to try to type the things that go through my mind when I want to say something, but don’t. It should be pretty interesting, to say the least.

Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as everyone seems to think you will. Well, and that it serves as the type of free therapy any woman living with a physically disabled man, a mentally disabled teenager, and a cranky mom could need. Lord knows, I need it.

Technorati Tags: Blog, Personal, Writing, Psychology, Kids, Bipolar, Aspergers, Mom, Personal

Today’s edition of Things Heard on the Bus comes courtesy of the Project Mobility (Door to door service) bus. We boarded the van after D got out of his evening meeting (he’s on Student Government). There was another couple on the bus. While we were rather quiet, these two were talking up a storm and their conversation made me have to hold back the innocent laughter that wanted to erupt.

The conversation went something like this…

Him: “Have you ever ate at that there Waffle House?”
Her: “Mmmhmmm, Yes I have…A long time ago.”
Him: “Didja like it? Was it any good?”
Her: “I did. I liked it.”
My Inner Thought: (You must not have liked it that much, if it’s been such a long time since you’ve been there.)
Him: “Do they only serve waffles? Or do they have other stuff too?”
My Inner Thought: (Oh my god…Did he seriously just ask if Waffle House only served waffles? I can see it now…”Welcome to Waffle House we got Chocolate chip waffles, Bubblegum waffles, Waffles ala mode, Waffle stew…”)
Her: “Oh no honey, they do breakfast food and lunch stuff, too. They are the place that people go and eat after they go to the club, you know.
Him: “I might have to try them someday. Do they have stuffed waffles?”
Her: “Yep. They didn’t back when I went there, but they’ve got em now.”
My Inner Thought: (I didn’t know they had stuffed waffles. I wonder if they’ve been holding out on me. Bastards!)
Him: “I wonder what kind they got.”
Her: “You know…strawberry…”
Him: “Oh, I like strawberry..”
Her: “Cream cheese…”
Him: “Ugh, I don’t like cream cheese. Strawberry is good though.”
A momentary lull in the conversation occurs where you can see him contemplating stuffed waffles in his head via a cartoon bubble.
Him: “I might even go and get me some Bob Evans.”
Her: “You like that breakfast.”
Him: “I like the eggs and bacon…”
Her: “You eat sausage…”
Him: “Right sausage…”

This continued for the twenty-plus minutes we were on the van, but this was by far the most interesting part of the exchange, in my opinion. Other things they discussed included: making dinner, no longer taking night classes (which the male said wouldn’t be a problem because in the Spring, it wouldn’t get dark as early as in winter. She disagreed. She just really didn’t want night classes), his interest in watching Paranormal Activity 3..in the dark, and other topics I just can’t remember. At the very least, it was entertaining enough to keep me awake.

Until next time

Technorati Tags: Things Heard on the Bus, Project Mobility, Van, Waffle House, Class, Public Transportation

These protesters are hard working Americans. Many of them with college degrees they are forced to pay for despite not having a job befitting their education level. These protesters are using a voice that has been stifled by greed and ignorance for far too long.

These voices represent the 99%. These are a group of people that live their lives trying to do what’s right, but will never attain the “American Dream” no matter how hard they work because corporations and the top 1% have more pull with politicians to save their money while we are drowning in debt. We aren’t asking for your money. We are asking for equality.

I don’t have a trust-fund and have yet to meet anyone at the protests that do. I believe that even if any of us had one, we would still be there for our brothers and sisters that won’t see a better day because of the level of corporate greed that has enveloped this nation.

My life isn’t meaningless. I like my life and the way that I live it. These days, I can even say I am proud to be American. In fact, I find that the protests have made me prouder in this country than I have ever been. I am shocked that they took this long, but I am glad they are happening now and I hope that the amazing people protesting continue to use their voices until things change.

In short, Mr. Limbaugh I would like to say…fuck you. I know it’s a simple statement, but it is one that makes the most sense at this time. As one of the 1% you have no idea what you are talking about. You’re worried about your money and you’re not even smart enough to see that we don’t want it. In fact, you can continue to spend your money on hookers and illegal prescription medicines as you have done in the past. None of that is my business, or concern. My only concern is that you pay your fair share in taxes. I don’t mean the amount that the lobbyists and corrupt politicians have allowed you to pay, if you pay anything at all after jumping through those fabulous loopholes offered to the insanely rich. No. I’m talking about your real fair share.

When you become equal to us, the people that are the salt of this country, then I might have more respect for your words. Until then, I am pretty certain that the only people that will take stock in them are the ones that are just like you.

For everyone else…Occupy! Not because you have nothing to do, but because it’s your American right to use your voice and to ensure that it is heard!

Technorati Tags: Occupy, OWS, Occupy Wall Street, Protest, Occupy Dayton, Movement, Freedom, Tax Corruption, Corporate Greed, Rush Limbaugh

We were at the City Folk Festival (an amazing, free annual festival in Riverscape Park) and the heat was killing us. As we sat on a bench in what shade was available, we noticed people heading into the stadium. The idea of being in a cooler, more shaded environment certainly appealed to us and with that, we were heading to a baseball game. We needed wheelchair accessible seating (tickets for non-lawn are $15), but the only available seats were lawn, so we bought three (lawn seats are $7) and headed into the stadium.

We hit one of the many concession stands on our way through and picked up a Dr. Pepper and I ordered a Stadium dog. Now, I know many people bemoan about the costs of ballpark food and the expense of the hot dogs at the games. Yes, I paid $3.50 for a hot dog and under normal circumstances I would not do that. However, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another one. This was the best hot dog I can remember having. It was delicious. If you go to a game you should get one. I’m serious. They are worth it!

Once we had some sustenance we headed out to find our seats. The lawn area has your options of a few tables, a few chairs, and plenty of lawn space where you can enjoy the game. On super hot days, the downside is that you won’t find any shade to keep you a little cooler. Unfortunately, Dominick has asthma and it was hot enough that people were passing out on the street at the festival, so we decided to talk to someone about getting a seat upgrade because we saw plenty of empty box seats and wanted to find out about purchasing them and getting some shade.

The customer service ladies were nice enough to connect us with someone that could help us. While waiting, a corporate sponsor gave Dominick a pretty sweet Dragons baseball cap because she had a ticket for a free hat. The gentleman that came to talk to us (I missed his name) explained that many people buy season tickets in Dayton and occasionally do not use their seats, which would explain the empty seats. He found a couple of empty seats in the 114th section and told us we could sit there. I offered to pay for the upgrade, but he just wanted us to be more comfortable and left us to enjoy the game.

Around the 5th or 6th inning he came back to make sure we were having a good time and to see if the seats worked out for us. He had no clue that we were bloggers or that we might write about the experience at the ballpark. To him we were just a few fans visiting the game that day. It was refreshing to see that level of customer service. The seats worked out great and the service we received showed me why the Dayton Dragons are tied for the most consecutive sold out games in minor league baseball.

If you have a family this is one of the cheapest (other than free) forms of entertainment in the city. In between each change and inning you can watch the Mini-Dugout dancers perform, see competitions, watch the mascots Heater and Gem perform, or win a t-shirt as they catapult them through the stands. There is always something going on and always something to keep your attention. It made for a great night and we can’t wait to go back.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that the Dragons seem to play harder than some of the teams in the major leagues. We saw Rodriquez steal a base and attempt to steal another. Yorman Rodriquez (3 for 3 for the night) was also responsible for the two run homer that put the Dragons in the lead briefly in the fourth inning. After falling behind, the Dragons battled back in the eighth when Hamilton stole a base, which led to him later sliding head first into home plate to capture the lead. Ronald Torreyes picked up an RBI with that play. This lead to Drew Hayes picking up his eleventh save of the year.

July 9th marks the day when the Dayton Dragons will beat the record of most consecutive sellouts in minor league. I am sad I won’t be able to make it, but happier than I can explain that I’ve found a home team that I truly enjoy watching. I can’t wait for our next game.

Technorati Tags: Review, Dayton Dragons, Customer Service, Minor League, Sports, Baseball, Bowling Green, Cincinnati Reds, Fifth Third Field, Heater and Gem

I did have a chance to determine what I love and what I am not so fond of about Figure 1st though, which was important. This time also allowed me to decide whether or not I would want to keep using it once my supply ran out. Before we get into all that, here is what Become has to offer in terms of technical information about Figure 1st.

A word about Figure 1st from Become:

Figure 1st weight-management aids include a delicious fiber-enhanced protein shake with Super CitriMax®, to be used as a meal replacement or snack and our cellulite treatment, Lift + Firm Gel. For maximum results, use in conjunction with a healthy eating plan and regular exercise.

Figure 1st is a break-through weight management program that visibly improves your figure, inside and out. This unique line of nutraceuticals combines precise blends of clinically proven natural ingredients with delivery systems that can be absorbed more effectively than traditional weight loss products.

Figure 1st is designed to support and enhance your healthy eating and exercise program so you see and feel maximum results.

My Personal Breakdown:
The best thing about Figure 1st is the taste. You don’t have that gritty, flavorless taste that comes with so many of these kinds of shakes. The bottle says it tastes like soft vanilla ice cream and that is exactly what it tastes like. You use two heaping scoops in a glass of water (you can use more or less depending on the consistency you’re looking for), stir it up and it’s ready to go. After the first few shakes I began mixing it in low-fat milk because I never got that shake consistency that I was going for with water. While it still tasted good with water, it always felt like I was drinking ice cream soup, which was somewhat off-putting. Milk gives it a silkier, more shake-like texture. In the end, this will depend on what you’re going for. You might like the water, I just preferred something thicker.

You can use this as a meal replacement or as a snack. I am a snacker more than anything, but I chose to use Figure 1st as a meal replacement. On that front, I have to say it didn’t work all that well for me. When it came to replacing a meal, I found that I ended up being much hungrier sooner than when I would eat. At first I thought maybe it was just because it was a new program, but that was something that never seemed to really change. When I drink the shakes I end up wanting to eat sooner. So, in terms of dieting, this presents a struggle all on its own. I end up wanting to drink the shakes and still eat. I didn’t do this, but it was something I constantly considered, which made the dieting process a little harder.

If you are the kind of dieter that is able to avoid your favorite foods as opposed to eating healthier ones (I know I can be this way occasionally) you will probably love Figure 1st. This is a shake that’s going to give you some good flavor that is somewhat reminiscent of things you might be giving up. Figure 1st is going to perk up your flavor options without adding on the calories. It’s going to add in a lot of the things your body needs, as well.

Common sense will tell you that if you make responsible food choices, eat in moderation (for health and not for other reasons) and add in more physical activity you will lose weight. Figure 1st isn’t going to help you by doing the work that you need to do. If you’re drinking shakes and not changing your eating habits or working out, chances are you will not lose weight. Figure 1st is something that can help you along the way if you need help. It’s not an absolutely mandatory aid to losing weight, but if you need a little push it’s something that could help.

You can also purchase a Lift + Firm Gel that goes with the Figure 1st shakes. The value pack for both items is $93 as opposed to just $59 for the shakes. It is recommended that you use the gel after showering. The purpose is to help lift and firm the problem areas of skin where you are losing weight. I didn’t lose enough (or haven’t yet) to tell you how well this works. However, I can tell you that it made my skin feel silky and amazing.

When it comes to recommending Figure 1st or not, I think it comes down to how dedicated you are to losing weight, the sacrifices you’re willing to make, and how much money you want to spend. Personally, I don’t feel comfortable spending between $60-$100 for a shake when I could still lose weight without it. However, if you have the money and you need the extra push, Figure 1st is one of the best tasting diet shakes I have ever encountered.

Have you tried Figure 1st? If you use it, we’d love to hear about your experience!

Technorati Tags: Figure 1st, Weight Loss, Diet, Shake, Protein Shake, Low Fat, Thyroid, Dieting, Vanilla

1. The Weigh-In
I hate being weighed. I hate being weighed now more than before I found out that I have a thyroid condition. It seems no matter what I eat (or don’t) I gain weight or stay the same weight. Naturally, this makes the idea of weighing myself a less than desirable prospect. However, for this, I will admit my weight. The reason I feel that is important is for the mere fact that the idea of public weigh-ins is potentially humiliate me enough to make me want to continue trying to lose weight. Understanding that my thyroid condition can make things a little difficult, I will consider it a success if I lose anything or stay the same at least until any necessary medications are regulated. That being said, my current weight, before making any changes is 291 pounds.

2. The Shopping Trip
After coming up with a plan I realized I needed to head to the store. A friend of mine went with me and we did some shopping. He is also trying to lose some weight. To our credit, neither of us bought anything that could be considered bad for us. Rick is a candy lover. He visited the candy aisle three or four times, but managed to come out of the store candy free. I avoided anything frozen, convenient, or box-oriented. Instead, I picked up plenty of fruit juices, veggies, fresh foods, and yogurt/granola parfaits. All in all, it was not only a successful trip, but one that I was proud of, as well.

3. Figure 1st
I agreed to review Become’s answer to weight loss. Figure 1st is a protein style shake that comes in two flavors; Chocolate and Vanilla. The Vanilla actually takes on the flavor of a soft serve ice cream. I chose to try the Vanilla merely because I am very specific and very picky about Chocolate. I find most Chocolate tends to be milk chocolate flavored and I cannot stand milk chocolate. Depending on the type, it actually repulses me so I went with my fail safe and opted for Vanilla.

If you’ve ever tried Slim Fast, Figure 1st is something along the same vein. The idea behind it is that you drink two shakes and then eat sensibly and add in some exercise to work your way to a healthier you. I will be offering my full review on this shortly, so stay tuned. For now, I will say that it actually tastes pretty good and would be an excellent option for people that find it easier to swap meals for power drinks rather than straight up diet. If you find Slim Fast and other drinks work well for you then you will love Figure 1st. It not only tastes better, it’s also better for you!

So that’s it for now. I will be updating my progress regularly and hope to hear from other readers that are also trying to lose weight!

Technorati Tags: Fat Files, Figure 1st, Weigh Ins, Shopping, Weight Loss

After I had a child my body began to change. Many people lose weight after they have kids, but when I did the things to try and lose weight, I picked up all the weight that everyone else seems to lose. Years later, here I am. I always say I want to lose weight, but no matter what I do, whether I try or not, the weight never seems to fall off.

Six months ago I learned that one of the things that could have been making my weight loss attempts harder was that I have a thyroid condition. I started taking pills and will be monitored to make sure that my thyroid is producing the way it should be. However, I realize that this one issue is not the only reason I am overweight. Plenty of people are overweight so it clearly is not an issue of being lazy or uncontrolled. Still, when I see a thin person (and it seems that they are everywhere now that I’ve decided to lose weight), I can’t help but feel like they think I am some gigantic pig that visits buffets for a light snack.

Now that I am on medication for my thyroid I’ve decided it is time to get off my butt. I joined the gym here at school. I have decided to eat better and I’ve given up pop. This last thing was the decision that seemed the most logical, but certainly was the hardest. After all, if pop was like liquor, I would have died from liver failure long ago. Still, I have decided to stick to the decisions that I have made because they are right for me and it will lead to a healthier body.

I considered trying out Weight Watchers, but I realized that the laid back nature of Weight Watchers would allow me to make excuses for my previous, poor choices. Offering a point level for Coke doesn’t make me want to stop drinking it. Instead, it makes me calculate how many I can have when I am eating responsibly or how many cheat points I can use on Coke when I am eating like I normally do.

So, rather than go in the direction that I have before I decided to try something new. In the coming days I will be trying out Figure 1st, a new weight loss product by Become. Become is a somewhat newer company here in the US, though it’s more widely known in Australia. While Become is known for offering fabulous Anti-Aging products for the skin (we’ve reviewed them before with positive results), this is their first jump into the weight loss game.

Similar to something like Slim Fast, Figure 1st works as a meal replacement shake. It comes in two flavors; chocolate and French vanilla. You just mix two scoops with water and are free to enjoy a creamy, delicious shake. Along with the shake is a smoothing lotion, that lifts and firms your skin to help with your workouts and the changes in your body. You just place it on your problem areas after a shower and that’s it! You’re good to go!

Like most products, Figure 1st recommends a healthier diet and exercise to help you lose weight. This is not a solution that will allow me (or anyone) to do what I want and get a weight-loss free pass. It will take some hard work, but I figure this is an excellent sounding board for the chance to make a change.

So, stay tuned in the coming weeks. I will be posting my thoughts on Figure 1st, details on my weight loss, and the perils of someone that can be weak when it comes to the flavorful joys in life, but that desperately wants to lose a little (well, hopefully a lot) of weight.

Technorati Tags: Weight Loss, Figure 1st, Become Beauty, Australia, Dieting, Weight Gain