The explanation was, to say the least [the very least], comical! Really, all I heard was blah, blah, blah.

The gentleman who phoned was very business like and polite. I’m sure the typical PR guy. The reasoning behind the reservation person saying that I could reserve the room, but no guarantees, was due to… get this, here it comes… natural disasters! You know, floods, earthquakes, even fires. You see if they guarantee the room and this happens then issues can arise. Seriously… do I sound [or look like] I have STUPID written on my forehead? I mean really, if that happens the majority of people would understand. It was very hard for me to keep from lmao and saying something sarcastic.

Marriott had no problem guaranteeing my room.

I explained that I told the guy [reservationist] that if I got there and the room was gone, I would expect my money back so I could go elsewhere and was told, no, there is a 48 hours cancellation policy. PR guy said that if that happened they would definitely accommodate me and find me the proper room I needed. Now I’m confused, do they not train the reservationists? [maybe Paris trains them, oh wait she does nothing] If the RG [reservation guy] had explained the natural disaster problem [roflmao] I would have said okay! But, I know, from experience that the real issue is someone coming in before we get there, needing a roll in shower and them giving it to that person. How do I know this… because  this was done for me at the Hilton Garden Inn when my friend and I had a mom’s night away. [now I feel like shit for that] We said we would go elsewhere, but he said, no he could change the rooms. Anything for a buck!!

Like the Hilton's need more money... grrrrr

The PR guy also said he would give me their direct number, and in the future I can call them directly and they will get the manager to make sure I get the room reserved. Just train your fucking employees.

So there you have it! Again, all I heard was blah, blah, blah!

PEACE!!!!

]]> http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/02/04/hotel-hell-update/feed/ 8 mztracyr Make-Money-online http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/02/03/hotel-hell/ http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/02/03/hotel-hell/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:19:12 +0000 Tracy http://makingitthroughtherain.com/?p=1850 ]]> In my head I do not ‘see’ myself as crippled. I just see me. Unfortunately there are little issues that pop up to remind me.

Next week we are heading to Carlsbad/San Diego so I can go see my Uncle, the dentist. Finally going to find out what’s happening with my painful mouth. We usually stay with my parents in Carlsbad at their home, but it can be rough for me with no ‘crippled’ access. Roger and I decided we would stay in a hotel nearby with the roll in showers and accessible rooms. We had stayed at the Hampton Inn Carlsbad once before and it was perfect. Now, here’s where the fun starts. I called to make a reservation making sure I could get a roll-in shower room. They said they were booked for those rooms on those dates but had an ADA bathtub room. I explained that will not work for me and he said to try the hotel next door, the Homewood Suites by Hilton. Okay, cool. I thanked him and called. The Homewood Suites had no availability for these rooms either so he said he would call the Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad. By now I’m feeling a bit nervous and stressed and crippled. All this to get a hotel room? I figured 3rd times the charm, right? Wrong!

The Hilton Garden Inn had roll-in shower available rooms. Woot woot! Not so much. Now we could pay for and ‘reserve’ this room…but…they can not guarantee we will get the roll-in room. Ummmmm, what? I’m paying for the reservation [reserving] the roll-in room, but you cannot guarantee it. WTF! Basically, we can pay for it, but once we get there is may not be available and we will get an ADA bathtub room. Now I’m not only confused but getting angry and tearing up. I ask the guy why the other hotel has the rooms and also has them reserved for the people. [why I couldn't get one there] He’s sorry but there will be no guarantees for the roll-in room. I explain that if we pay for it and it is not available that I will need to cancel and get my money back so I CAN find a hotel with the room I need. He explains that no money will be refunded as it’s a two day cancellation policy. I then explained that the ADA will not be happy to hear about this.

After a few no so nice, yet adult like comments, I hung up. Wow, I can’t even get a hotel room… I really am crippled! Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!

I call my parents and burst into tears explaining what happened. After a few minutes, I calmed down, [thank you Cheryl] regained my composure, and realized I can tough it out for two days in their house. It’s just the bathrooms that cause me stress.

Now that I was composed, I noticed there was a Marriott nearby as well. I figured, maybe the 4th time is the charm and fuck Hilton!

Dialing the number, crossing everything, I call The Courtyard By Marriott Carlsbad. [oh please, oh please] My first question to the sweet voice on the other end was, “Do you have roll-in shower rooms?” She says yes. My second question was, “If we reserve one, will we be sure to get one?” She says yes, they will reserve it and put a block on that room for me!!! HALLELUJAH…HALLELUJAH Really, I heard music! So this  lovely girl made our reservations, blocked the room, and instantly sent me a confirmation.

Marriott - a crippled persons dream! :p

My stress was lifted, my spoons replenished. I will NEVER deal with Hilton again. They may be and have accessible rooms, but they are NOT cripple friendly. Marriott, you are my new love, Thank You!!

Love and light peeps!

My favorite part of the song is…

“Be careful how you touch her for she’ll awaken; and sleep’s the only freedom that she knows”

The whole song means so many things to me..

__________________________________

Wildflower by Skylark

She’s faced the hardest times,
You could imagine
And many times,
Her eyes fought back the tears
And when her youthful world,
Was about to fall in
Each time her slender shoulders,
Bore the weight of all her fears
And a sorrow no one hears
Still rings in midnight silence
In her ears

Let her cry,
For she’s a lady
Let her dream
For she’s a child
Let the rain,
Fall down upon her
She’s a free and gentle flower
Growing wild

And if by chance,
I should hold her
Let me hold her for a time
But if allowed just one possession
I would pick her from the garden,
To be mine

Ummmm………………..
Be careful how you touch her,
For she’ll awaken
And sleep’s the only freedom,
That she knows
And when you walk into her eyes,
You won’t believe
The way she’s always payin’
For a debt she never owes
And a silent wind still blows
That only she can hear
And so, she goes

Let her cry,
For she’s a lady
Let her dream,
For she’s a child
Let the rain
Fall down upon her
She’s a free and gentle flower
Growing wild

Let her cry,
For she’s a lady
Let her dream,
For she’s a child
Let the rain
Fall down upon her
She’s a free and gentle flower
Growing wild

She’s a flower
Growing wild

She’s free…….

Love and Light ~Tracy

]]> http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/01/31/wildflower/feed/ 1 mztracyr http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/01/23/a-dog-named-patrick-update/ http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/01/23/a-dog-named-patrick-update/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:36:22 +0000 Tracy http://makingitthroughtherain.com/?p=1822 ]]> For his story click here

For the love of Patrick

I remember when I saw the first picture of Patrick, I knew this poor soul was gone. When I finally got up the courage to look, to my happy surprise, he was alive… barely. AHS had him for the first day to stabilize him then he was of to Garden State Veterinary Hospital, where the miraculous recovery truly began.

The monster, Keisha Curtis, who did this to him, we pray will pay for her heinous abuse and torture to Patrick.

From the Capt. at NJ SPCA:

To All: In answer to the questions of the Plea Agreement, that Plea was rejected by the Defense Attorney representing Kisha Curtis. The Plea Agreement included 18 months in jail, $5000.00 in fines and an animal ban on the defendent. Again this is not unusual and moving forward we are confident that this case was handled properly by NJSPCA and that our case is strong and solid. Capt

——————————————

AHS is still fighting to tear Patrick away from the only loving home he has ever known. Patrick has been with The Scavelli Family during this ordeal. He is loved for the first time in his life and they want to adopt him permanently. Yet, AHS is fighting to have him returned to their shelter/zoo. I thought shelters were supposed to want the best for the animals… guess not this one.

Please sign and share the petition below to tell the courts to let Patrick say with the Scavelli Family!

Let the Scavelli’s Adopt Patrick

To remove Patrick would be tantamount to abusing him all over again! We MUST let our voices be heard!

For more on this part of the case go here.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” -Mahatma Gandhi

]]> http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/01/23/a-dog-named-patrick-update/feed/ 0 mztracyr patrickthen and now http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/01/23/quotes-to-live-by/ http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/01/23/quotes-to-live-by/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:58:41 +0000 Tracy http://makingitthroughtherain.com/?p=1814 ]]> Found this while surfing the net… gave me the giggles! [bold print is my jam lol]

——————————–

Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

It’s always darkest before dawn. So if you’re going to steal your neighbor’s newspaper, that’s the time to do it.

Don’t be irreplaceable. If you can’t be replaced, you can’t be promoted.

Always remember that you’re unique. Just like everyone else.

Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.

If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.

Some days you’re the pidgeon; some days you’re the statue.

Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

A closed mouth gathers no foot.

Never miss a good chance to shut up.

There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

Generally speaking, you aren’t learning much when your lips are moving.

Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.

——————————–

Peace out and have a fabulous day peeps!!

There are so many things that need to be done for my family and around my home. If I were MS free the shit would be over and done with. My family and house would be rockin’! It’s time for to-do lists I’m thinking. I need to put all the things that need to be done in order by priority. Then figure out how to it all…

I do not start out the day with many spoons, so I must utilize them smartly.

Need Spoons!

There is sooooooo flippen’ much clutter in my home that some places are hard to get into with my wheel-chariot. My closet has become ‘here’s where all the junk goes’ central. And, yes, I’m a bit [huge bit] of a pack rat. It’s hard to let go of things. I guess we could buy a bigger house so I can have a ‘junk’ room… Okay, back to reality!! But, that is an idea!

Where to start:

• get tax stuff together
• go through closet and get organized
• get salvation army pick-up together
• get all my jewelry pieces together and clean design area
• find someone to hangs doors and add door guards [to protect from wheelchair, lol]
• carpets cleaned
• front closet cleared out

Now these things may sound easy to some, and years ago I would have been done in a couple of days. Now, this stuff could and most likely will take a month or more to complete. Now all I have to do is to decide what to do first and how to get it done!!

Decisions…decisions…

Peace out peeps!!

you know, you've been here

I have been searching for over 1 year for a seat cover for my chair. Due to the arms on the seat it is hard to use a basic cover. I also did not want to have to cut arm holes into the cover. During a Google search I happened to look down at the sponsored links and saw an ad for Cabela’s . I went in to their auto seat covers section and found the Cabela’s Universal Fit Bucket Seat Cover. It was inexpensive [at the time 9.99] and was mad of a water-resistant urethane. Perfect. I figured for this price cutting holes in the arms would be ok to do. To my JOY, I did not have to cut anything. It is a shell of sorts.

I know wrinkles, but when seated no one sees. lol

The back, open enough for back seat bag.

The regular price is 19.99 for one seat-cover. It is sturdy and easy to put on. I love the fact no more nasty cuts on my chair or scraping on my legs. If you need a cover for your wheel-chariot, I recommend this.

My on site review:

I have been looking for a seat cover for my Jazzy 600 Power Chair [electric wheelchair] for quite some time. No one carries them. Regular seat covers are hard due to the attached arms and wires on the chair.
I figured, the price was right for this cover and I could cut arm holes. I was so happy to see that no holes had to be cut, and it fit my high-back chair perfectly.
Will be buying a couple more so i have them at the ready.
Thanks to Cableas!

Direct link to the cover is here.

Happy Shopping!

Peace out!

Well today our girl Leslie is here cleaning the house and was finishing up my room and bathroom. So… I was playing some games with Cheryl and made a comment to Roger that I needed a “p”. He looks at me and says, “You can go, Leslie is done in our room.”  I almost fell off my wheel-chariot lmao trying to explain, I  don’t need TO pee… I need A “P” for the game. I know, I know probably not all that funny, but I don’t get out much!!

Have a great Saturday peeps!!

]]> http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/01/14/i-need-a-p/feed/ 4 mztracyr Photo1 pee http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/01/13/2012-hooray/ http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/01/13/2012-hooray/#comments Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:18:10 +0000 Tracy http://makingitthroughtherain.com/?p=1771 ]]> I’ve been asked recently why I haven’t blogged, honestly, I’m just blah! Lately not much on caring or really even trying. 2012 started out with flu going through my house. 

I have not had the flu for years thanks to my MS. Yes… thanks to my MS. My immune system is so overactive that colds and flus go right past me. The Tysabri infusions suppress my immune system, so, lucky me got sick! As we all know the flu makes ya all weak and shit. Times that by 1000. I’m already weak so the flu pretty much paralyzed me. Happy fucking joy joy! I’m trying to be positive that since the year started out so horribly, it can only get better. <insert sarcastic evil laugh> When I used to think that way I went from legs braces to a cane to a walker to a wheel-chariot. So the ‘it can only get better’ comment doesn’t mean all that much to me.

On a positive note… I’m getting a Picc Line inserted in the next month or so. My veins are pretty much non-existent and it hurts like a beotch when trying to find my veins. So this is a good thing. It’s a damn good thing I’m not an intravenous drug user! Seriously!! lmao

Now to share an amazing song my kid’s former nanny, Marilyn, hooked me up with. We are so blessed to still have her in our family after all theses years! She knows me so well, this is my song!

Hard Life – Brad Paisley

_______________________

Lyrics

Stop starin’ at me
Leave the sad looks at home
Everybody feels bad,
And you don’t understand,
It’s not like I’m alone

‘Cause everyone has battles to fight
And I don’t need your sympathy tonight

Yeah, it’s a hard life
But I’m okay
If I didn’t have this, I wouldn’t be who I am today
And I have lots of friends
Oh, and I have love
And yeah, I have a hard life but in some ways everybody does

There’s a lot I can’t do
But don’t be judgin me

I’m in a body I hate 
But I have my faith, more then what you see

So what if I can’t kick a soccer ball into a goal?
I feel like I can lift 500 pounds with my soul

Yeah, it’s a hard life
Oh, but I’m okay
If I didn’t have this, I wouldn’t be who I am today
And I have lots of friends
Oh, and I have love
Yeah, I have a hard life but in some ways everybody does

And some like me have lost their battle
But they will be the sun that gives you warmth,
And lights the way so we can shine on

Yeah, it’s a hard life
But I’m okay
If I didn’t have this, I wouldn’t be who I am today
And I have lots of friends
Oh, and I have love
Yeah, I have a hard life but in some ways everybody does
Yeah, I have a hard life but in some ways everybody does

_______________________

Love and Light! xx, Tracy

]]> http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2012/01/13/2012-hooray/feed/ 7 mztracyr sick0022 http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2011/11/29/coming-around-again/ http://makingitthroughtherain.com/2011/11/29/coming-around-again/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:03:38 +0000 Tracy http://makingitthroughtherain.com/?p=1747 ]]> It has been awhile since I have created anything or been in my Artfire shop. Hoping this feeling stays with me and I keep going. I was ready to throw in the towel, but thanks to my friends I gave it another go.

A new collection of handmade artisans I put together today.