Previously I had announced my intentions to stay off Twitter. I had an account (used exclusively for the purpose of entering blog giveaways). But apparently I’m pretty popular (my high school self would never believe that). I’ve managed to get a small Twitter following without even trying. So I give in folks. My inner Luddite has been defeated. I am now a total twit (because I wasn’t one before?). I’ve linked my Twitter account and my Facebook account. So at least I only have to worry about doing single updates. You people following me better be happy that you’re going to get real tweets now. My inner Luddite is very annoyed. But my inner geek is doing a happy dance. So I guess it all evens out. Follow me here.

Well, dear readers, it's MS Monday! Bet you thought I had forgotten seeing as this post is coming pretty late in the day. I didn't forget. I was in Calgary for some immigration stuff. I'll write more about that later. But I will say this...I'm beat!

Today for MS Monday I want to give you a preview of things to come:

There will be a very cool raffle to raise funds for the MS Walk.*

Anyone who donates can have their name (or a screen name) added to the "Dust Bunny Honor Roll" with a link to their blog or another website of their choice.*

There is a Facebook Group already up and running.

I also want to spend a moment discussing signs/symptoms and diagnosis of MS.

The symptoms of MS are varied and numerous. They can include pain, spasticity, cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, partial paralysis, vision problems, and even dementia (though rarely). For a more thorough look at the very, very long list of possible symptoms visit here or here.

MS is not an easy disease to diagnose. Unfortunately it isn't as simple as doing a blood test and getting a positive. Getting a diagnosis requires answering a lot of questions about one's medical history, and undergoing lots of tests (such as neurological and vision tests). Then, after all that, an MRI is usually used to confirm the diagnosis. For a look at the current criteria used to make a diagnosis see this Wikipedia entry on the McDonald Criteria.

MS diagnoses are almost as mysterious as the disease itself which researchers are still trying to find the cause and cure for. To help fund the ongoing research and to help those affected by an MS diagnosis click here.

*These perks will be retroactive for those who have already made donations.

Right now my Facebook icon is the cartoon version of me that's in my header. Someone mentioned something about feather dusters to me and I told them my dirty little secret:

I don't own a feather duster.

"WHAT?!" you say? "How could you deceive us so!?" you ask?

*shrug*

Them's the breaks, folks. I own no feather duster. I used to have a duster (albeit of the non-feather variety) before we moved. It was one of the many, many things that got left behind. And this is where the "dork" part of "Domestic Dork" enters in: I haven't gotten a new duster because I haven't dusted since we moved.*

But guess what.

"What?"

That's not the only deception.

*gasp*

That's right folks. There's more.

• I haven't been that thin since I got married.
  
• I've never put a bow on Lucy.
  
• My eyes aren't that green.
  
• My skin hasn't been that clear since I was five.
  
• And if my hair ever appeared that red, shiny, and volumnous I could die happy.

But I'm allowed to take artistic license in my self-representation because I'm so dang honest about the fact that my dust bunnies truly are breeding.

*Well, that's a slight exageration. I have done a few (very few) wipe downs with rags. I guess I shouldn't feel too embarassed. There isn't actually much to dust in our place (almost no pictures on the wall, no book shelf, no knick-knacks, etc.).