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Nan Tepper's avatar

Favorite lines in this piece:

1. You know what they say, if you spot it, you got it.

2. I do shoot straight even when I’m jiggly.

3. I say this acknowledging that an average third grader probably has better tech skills than I do, but I still have never met a TV remote that I couldn’t make my bitch in less than five minutes.

I love the duck face, the fully charged battery t-shirt, and of course, the Love Thug button, of which I am a proud owner and wearer.

Love you, Eileen, and can't wait to see you in action, IRL!

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Love, baby that’s where it’s at….🎤🎶♥️

Number one is a good number one priority. You’re nailing it. 🤩

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Nan Tepper's avatar

MWAH love thug!

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

I'm certain I picked up #1 from you! I'd heard it before but you brought it back into rotation. I used it for something positive when it's more often than not referring to things you don't like in others that you do yourself. Why am I explaining this to you? Who knows.

You are such a Love Thug. Bonafide. Love you tons, Ms Tepper.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Love you back, missy. Love thug, baby, love thug. You know to which song I am referring, yes? Number one is my north star these days. Accountability and willingness to see my flaws. Some days, it's hard to keep track. Thank goddess I have the people who trigger me to show me the way back to kindness and acceptance. xo

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Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Gosh, I can't imagine how tired you must be, Eileen. So much physical upheaval -- but still, progress! Meanwhile, your sense of humor rides on. Just remarkable!

For what it's worth, being asked to count the months backwards would make me want to tap, tap, tap somebody's eye out.

I hope you're getting both rest and results. I'm glad you've got a nice combo of good looks and brains on your team. I'm glad you got LOVE THUG buttons!

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Ha! Believe it or not, the months of the year backwards is the fun and easy test! The other one is eyes closed start at 100 and subtract backwards by increments of 7. Even before PD, visualizing math is not my jam. I thanked them profusely for not using that one. The resident said he only knows the months of year backwards now after hearing them in that order a million times a day.

I am getting some great results. It's a process but I am very hopeful. ❤️

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Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Aw hayull naw!! Math forward is hard enough for me. 😅 HOPEFUL is awesome!

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Lucy Conway's avatar

Yeah I struggled with that too.

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Amy Cowen's avatar

Glad to see the update and thank you for walking us through this. I’m going to guess a lot of readers are tapping their fingers during and after reading. Hoping things have gone well in the days after. So get this: “My insincerity detector is set to NOPE.”

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Amy, I definitely pegged you as one who does not suffer fools gladly. Having a good spidey sense on fakers is a most helpful skill.

Things are coming along! I'm glad to bring some good news to the table ❤️

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Susan Kacvinsky's avatar

Simply marvelous! Such great style- and lines. Congrats on surviving everything with so much grace and class.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Thank you, Susan. ❤️

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Susan Kacvinsky's avatar

Pulling for you!

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Cynthia Lawless's avatar

I like Nan’s format, stealing. Favorite lines:

“Better or worse?”

OMG 9 year old lazy eye glasses flashback.

“You know what they say, if you spot it, you got it.”

Why did I never know they said that?

“new brain, new game”

You are fucking amazing, E. You make all of the tech stuff so human, you’re writing a remarkable gift. Thank you for taking us all along, sharing.

Love your new game 💜

Thug it out! \m/

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

"If you spot it, you got it” is usually in reference to something you don't like in another person that you are also guilty of. I flipped the script a bit.

Can't thug it out without you, my dear. You are always there with the rock star flourishes.

💜💜💜

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Kip's avatar

I need a button! And one for Christine

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

You'll be getting some from the factory, thanks to Ms Lawless! ❤️

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Cynthia Lawless's avatar

coming up! will send some to Christine’s office

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Thank you, Cynders!

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Kip's avatar

Thanks Cynthia!

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Wendy Wolf's avatar

Love the battery Ts, love the E goes Electric. Oi. Those eye tests--this or this?--always stress me out! What if I get it wrong? What if my glasses are wrong? Then I have to do it again and what if I get that wrong, too, and it's a never ending quest? And with yours, the stakes are SO MUCH HIGHER. (You sound less waffly than I am, so it seems you're good to go. Decisive self awareness is an excellent life skill.) Love+hugs 4eva.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

I'm not sure if I'm less waffly as I am "please just tell them whatever they want to hear so this test can be over". I mean, I try to assess to the best of my ability, but after while it all blurs together. You can imagine my glasses are really accurate, more reason to always have 30 pairs of cheaters. You are the best, I hope you're enjoying your last bit of Wendy time. ❤️

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Wendy Wolf's avatar

I actually expressed my concern to my eye doc (whom I like a lot) and she said the test checks and cross checks, so in the end, they have a pretty good idea of what’s needed. Which helped. : ) And thank you. He comes home today. I’ll be straightening up the house. It’s funny how much I settle in and make everything to MY liking when I’m alone… More soon… *kiss noise*

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Kari Bentley-Quinn's avatar

Awkward duck face is always a choice 😂😂 here’s hoping to continued zapping success!

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Thanks Kari ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I hope NYC cooled off a bit.

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Kari Bentley-Quinn's avatar

We are no longer inside Satans colon. It’s more like satans boxer shorts 😂

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A CRONE WITH A BOTTLE. Or two.'s avatar

Shout out to your roomies who seem to share your sense of humor (and know how to bake/make buttons?) and much love and electricity to you. Love THUGS forever.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

It takes a village (the buttons come from a friend in Seattle) but YES, the friend fam does share a lot of laughs. What else is there?

LOVE THUGS FOR LIFE. I hope you are well. I love seeing you here. ❤️

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Jodi Sh. Doff's avatar

Perfect t shirt choice. ❤️

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A CRONE WITH A BOTTLE. Or two.'s avatar

Did it come with the treatment?

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

A friend sent me both shirts. ❤️

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Rosemary Siipola's avatar

Looks like you’re off to a great start. Best wishes.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Thank you, Rosemary.

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Paula Taub's avatar

What a great t shirt for the occasion! You look so happy. Save a button for me!

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Sass sent me the shirts ♥️

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Rita Ott Ramstad's avatar

Dang, I am tired just from reading this! I am continually awed by all that you are sharing. What a fantastical experience you are having. Part of me, of course, wishes with all I've got that you would not have to have this one. Another part of me thinks, holy shit what an amazing time to be alive with a condition such as yours. I had no idea such remedies exist. That first video is mind-blowing. How can we be both mammals who can figure these kinds of things out AND also mess up the world (and each other) in the ways that we have (and are continuing to do)? Humans! It is so generous of you to share all of this--and with humor, to boot. You are definitely my idea of the best of us.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Humans are capable of so many things….why the current mode of destruction? Baffling. It is a time to savor all the wins, to be sure.

I decided to write what I would have wanted to read if I was diagnosed with PD tomorrow. Unfiltered thoughts about the path I choose. I so appreciate your kind words, always ♥️

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Irena Smith's avatar

Ooh, I have so much to say about this. First of all, that I am following the Eileen Goes Electric (and your awesome t-shirts, and the good-looking medical support people) with bated breath. Second, that I continue to send you all the good juju I possibly can. And third, is one of your roomies possibly Russian? Named Pikup Andropov? (Where are your Car Talk fans indeed? RIGHT HERE, BABY! I loved loved loved loved that show.)

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

I love the list and I can’t wait until my new brain is air worthy. SFO or bust! I’ll wear my overalls.

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Irena Smith's avatar

❤️ ❤️ ❤️

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Irena, you and I have the most random and awesome things in common...Freaks and Geeks and Car Talk? You are most certainly my kind of weirdo.

The next chronicle shall be good juju activated and hopefully hilarious! It's always slow going in these parts because "hyper focus" can cause dyskinesia. Breaking in the new brain slowly....

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Irena Smith's avatar

Do you know how many times I've wanted to say "Well, you've wasted a perfectly good hour..." at the end of a meeting? Too many to count.

Of course we also have our mutual admiration of a well-cut pair of overalls and vests adorned with hardware in common, so the list is random and growing!

You know what they say about breaking in a new brain: haste makes waste. Take your time. (I don't actually know what they say about breaking in a new brain, but I'm sure someone somewhere is saying it.)

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Kip's avatar

I am so glad this seems to be going well. I will stay tuned in for future installments...

I second Nan's favorite moments list. Where do I get a button?

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Elaine Belansky's avatar

Thanks for the update. Weird thing to say but I wonder about you in between your posts, hoping things are coming along. And they certainly seem to be. Love your writing. Hope you’re fully charged now and can find some joy each day.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

I am doing quite well, Elaine. I appreciate you reading and leaving this note. More discussion of joy is coming soon. ❤️

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Anita Charney's avatar

Thank you, Eileen. This was my first read, lying in bed totally engrossed. So overwhelmed I feel my heart pushing into my throat. Yes, I realized I was involuntarily tapping my fingers, too…

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

That's hilarious. All the annoying tapping is contagious! Thank you for reading, I'm very glad to have you.

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