That Old Dog happens to be me. I don’t really mind the “old” part. As my granddaughter says, “It happens!” and “dog” doesn’t bother me as I’ve enjoyed the love and companionship of terrific pets. 

This is not that I recommend that you refer to me as an old dog, however, I can handle it — pretty much most of the time. Well, sometimes, anyway.

Some challenges have popped up in my efforts to upgrade our www.adf-winnemucca.com website as well as my personal and adf Facebook pages.

Along with those two monsters, I am also trying to download personal music on MP3 players for our respite participants and other community members living with dementia or individuals who are just feeling lonely. In March this endeavor will extend to Harmony Manor and Quail Corner with the support of Lowry Cheer. I accept that they will be far more adept at the latter than I am.

To begin, our website is tremendously outdated with old registration forms and older photos of older yet events. Time flies and I have been inattentive, but currently I am dedicating daily labor to get this website appearing up-to-date. 

I am also putting in a weekly blog (and sometimes more frequently) starting with a focus on the Nevada State Plan for Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias. This begins with a Task Force overview followed by Nevada statistics on dementia and then on to a synopsis of each of the 17 recommendations sent to Governor Lombardo.

While there is ultimately no power in our group, we are able to make wants and needs known for our state. Fortunately, writing and posting are simple and fun. Creating PNG or JPEG files for advertising our key events such as the Sprint Tri June 3rd (this includes a workout plan which is now posted so check it out) and Turkey Trot registration (still in the struggling-to-complete mode). 

You tech savvy folks are groaning, but I confess. It‘s complicated. Many technological techniques are not intuitive to me.

As for Facebook, similar struggles abound, however, progress happens. I have a daily “Myth Buster” on Alzheimer’s and dementia plus have been updating with blog posts and newsy bits. It is difficult at times to schedule time and energy to this venture, but kind words, thumbs up, and boosts from readers help. 

In fact, as I write this my confidence level for maintaining this social media is rocketing because I think the information I am sharing is of value. Next step here includes signing up for Instagram and then linking the sites for reaching more people. I believe I will save that for next week, followed by a podcast. Some shout at me, “Slow down!”, but I can’t… really.

Finally, the music and memory deal. Several years ago, when we launched this program, we were able to purchase iPods and iTunes synched perfectly with a few quick taps and clicks. Within minutes each person received a device with personal music. 

Since then, Apple has abandoned iPods for more lucrative products – iPhones and iPads, for example. These are wonderful gadgets, but not practical either by price or by usefulness for those with dementia who just want some music. 

After all, I wash may destroy the new players, but we are only down $50 instead of much, much more. I have dinked around on YouTube with explanations for converting iTune files, but I’m suffering as each click sends me off into the nether land of techiness. It should be complication-free, but it is not. 

I am thinking, and please correct me if I am wrong, that if I plug the MP3 player into my laptop and go to Amazon and download MP3 songs, the next few steps should be effortless, painless, and leading to success. The scary thing is that each click may lead me into further unknown territory and impending disaster. 

As you know, learning new skills, gaining new abilities, transport power to the brain as the synaptic connection between neurons fires, communicates, and builds cell power and increases brain function. I almost hear tiny explosions as I tussle to advance interconnected signals that route and reroute ideas and thoughts. Occasionally, too I sense a fizzle. Why can’t I remember the 95 taps that led me to an answer? Instead, I resume trial and error, fixated on victory while sidestepping defeat. I might add – this is exhausting! But entertaining as well.