Monthly Diary - August 2026
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First Weekend of August - August 1-2
Saturday, August 1st - I interviewed a new caregiver candidate, Jennae who is a year younger than me. She lives in Bright, Indiana about 30 minutes away from my family home. She cared for a woman with multiple sclerosis. She performs and coaches figure skating. Jennae seemed to be a great fit to become a new caregiver.
Sunday, August 2nd - I hung out with my longtime friend, Karen. We ran errands at Rookwood and Kenwood Mall for my mom. We visited the newest Macy's store at Rookwood.- it's a small store. We went to Bonefish Grill for dinner- this was my first time visiting there. At the restaurant, I had a blueberry lemon drop martini and orange soy glazed salmon with rice and sautéed spinach- yummy 😋. I loved it so much! 10!
Second Weekend of August 7-9
Friday, August 7th - I had a virtual meeting with Lindsay Silverman, the founder of Adaptiv, a platform that enables people to discover adaptive fashion and accessible products that are designed to fit your life, your needs, and your journey. It’s for people with disabilities, caregivers, and founders who create adaptive products. Adaptiv is a real platform that brings adaptive and accessible products in one place. I discovered that via email last month. Her twin sister, Nicole has Cerebral Palsy.
The twins are awesome! We shared our stories and experiences with each other. We share our passion for adaptive fashion. We because fast friends.
Lindsay asked me to write a monthly blog feature for Adaptiv and I told her that I would love to do that. Adaptiv is a small startup company. I am so excited to collaborate with her and see exciting things happen in the future! Check out the website https://adaptiv-app.com
Saturday, August 8th - I hung out with Karen all day. We trained a new caregiver, Jennae with my care routines. We all went to Kreimer's German restaurant for dinner- I got a Bavarian chicken (grilled chicken topped with melted Swiss cheese and cinnamon apples) - delicious! We also shared a Bavarian pretzel.
Sunday, August 9th - I hung out with Karen all day. We went to Toast and Berry for brunch- I had a blueberry lemon smoothie and a mushroom omelet. We both shared a cinnamon roll French toast. What a delicious brunch. It's one of my favorite brunch restaurants in Cincinnati. Toast and Berry is a popular brunch restaurant that offers homemade French toasts, pancakes, omelets, toasts, and other brunch items. They also offer delicious mimosas and smoothies. I feel like I have a casual brunch with friends- everyone enjoys Sunday brunch! I highly recommend it. Afterwards, we ran an errand for my mom and then got Panera for dinner.
Try NEW Food - Jamaican Food - Wednesday, August 12th
I tried Jamaican food for dinner through DoorDash. My caregiver recommended that food to me. Jamaican food is a vibrant and flavorful cuisine that reflects the island’s rich cultural heritage. It often features bold spices, aromatic herbs, and a mix of sweet, savory, and spicy elements. Popular dishes include jerk chicken marinated in fiery jerk seasoning, fragrant rice and peas, and curries infused with allspice, thyme, and Scotch bonnet peppers. Fresh tropical ingredients like plantains, mangoes, and coconuts are commonly used, creating meals that are both comforting and exciting to the palate. Jamaican food celebrates a perfect harmony of African, European, and Caribbean influences in every bite. I was so excited to try it! I tried BBQ jerk chicken wings, jerk pasta, and plantains - those things were very good. I love the mildly spicy food 10!
Third Weekend of August 14-16
Friday, August 14th - My new caregiver, Jennae started working for me. I got my nails done. We went to Mexican restaurant for dinner. Jennae did a great job assisting me with my personal care routine, transfers, and transportation for outings. I feel comfortable with her! 10!
I stayed up late because I saw new Disney announcements from D23 expo on social media. I am a Disney Superfan and I always enjoy watching everything. I am most excited to see Frozen 3 (releases in November 2027), Tangled live action movie (releases in March 2028), Lilo and Stitch 2 (releases at May 2028), Incredibles 3 (releases in June 2028), Coco 2 (releases in 2029), The Princess Diaries 3 (releases in TBD), and Zootopia 3 (releases in TBD). I am also interested in seeing Hexed (releases in November 2026).
Saturday, August 15th - I hung out with Karen. We went to Alcove for dinner. Alcove is a vibrant restaurant located in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio, offering a unique combination of casual dining and modern comfort. The atmosphere blends rustic charm with contemporary design, featuring lush greenery, cozy seating, and a warm, welcoming vibe. The restaurant also provides a menu filled with freshly delicious dishes and fresh cocktails. Alcove is a popular spot for both casual gatherings and special nights out, providing an experience that feels both relaxing and memorable in the heart of the city. The restaurant is so beautiful. I had a Pink Moijo (mint-infused rum, lime, raspberry, and peach) - it was refreshing and delicious!, Crispy Potatoes - yummy, and Roasted Chicken Breast with corn risotto, mushrooms, and asparagus- delicious! I loved the way they made delicious food and cocktail - 10!
Note: The front door of the restaurant is not accessible. However, there is an alternative entrance that is accessible to the patio seating area next to the indoor seating.
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| Me having a Pink Mojito @ Alcove OTR |
Sunday, August 16th - I went to Carrabba's in Crestview Hills, Kentucky for dinner. They offered a summer special menu that features lemony dishes and cocktails. I had a Lemon Berry Sangria, Linguine Florentine with Shrimp in a lemon butter sauce, and Lemon Ice Box Pie. What a perfect lemon trio! 😋
Reds Game with Metzcor Crew - Thursday, August 20th
I attended the Reds game with Metzcor Crew. We sat in the section near the left field.
The Reds overcame an early 4–0 deficit and took a 5–4 lead in the sixth inning behind Matt McLain’s grand slam. Cincinnati appeared poised to finish the comeback and secure the victory. However, with two outs in the ninth, a dropped fly ball by center fielder Dane Myers opened the door for a six-run Cardinals rally.
Cincinnati refused to give up, scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate. With the bases loaded, however, McLain lined out to end the game. The Cardinals escaped with a dramatic 10–9 victory and won the five-game series 3–2.
It was a wild, back-and-forth game that the Reds nearly won, but St. Louis’ ninth-inning rally ultimately decided the outcome.
Fourth Weekend of August - August 21-23
Friday, August 21 - I did Car Wash with Metzcor Crew. I used a sprinkler wand to rinse off my mom's car and a few other cars. It was so fun.
Saturday, August 22 - I attended my longtime friend, Karen's bridal shower with my mom and my caregiver, Nya and it was so beautiful. Pink and Brown was the theme for the bridal shower. They served espresso martinis, mimosas, delicious lunch, and elegant desserts. I had a strawberry lemonade mimosa, delicious lunch of chicken salad croissant, pasta salad, buffalo chicken dip, Chicken n' Waffle bite, and meatball, and a blueberry lemon cake. What a wonderful meal! We played 3 games. Karen opened bridal shower gifts. She thanked all of us for the gifts!
Afterwards, I went to Pepp and Dolores in Over-the-Rhine for dinner with my caregiving friend, Jailyn. I had a glass of Chardonnay, ricotta and bread, lemony Caesar salad, and crab and corn ravioli with grilled asparagus. They also offered a soft serve gelato for dessert- I tried a vanilla mascarpone and Nutella swirl gelato with crushed Amaretti cookies- it was really good. What a fantastic dinner!
My chosen niece Anastasia received a birthday gift from me. She recently turned 1! She got 2 cute outfits.
Sunday, August 23 - I hung out with my two friends Abby and Maria who completed her last chemotherapy treatment for her ovarian cancer on August 12th at my house. We talked about Maria's cancer journey. She has bald now- she looked great. Hopefully, she will be in remission soon and her hair will grow back. 🙏🩵 We got LaRosas for dinner and Graeter's for dessert. We had a wonderful time together.
Last Week of August
Tuesday, August 25- My parents left for their 2-week cruise vacation to Italy, Greece, and Croatia. I was staying with my caregiver Nya while they were gone. I shared goodbye hugs with my parents before they left.
In the afternoon, I saw on social media that Dolly Parton died at the age of 80. The news made me feel shocked and heartbroken! 😭 💔 She was a true legendary diva! I admire her music, fashion, and beauty! I will always love you, Dolly! 💕
Saturday, August 29- I hung out with my caregiver Nya, her 5-year old son Grant, and her boyfriend Carter. We went to Children's Museum where I went there as a kid. The museum features energy zone, farm area, train area, dentist office area, Kroger grocery store, etc. It was fun for Grant to play around alongside us. Then we went to the Delhi Park picnic and playground. We went to Giovanni's Italian restaurant for dinner. Afterwards, we went to see the Paw Patrol movie at Cinemark.
Sunday, August 30 - I hung out with Nya, Grant, and Carter. We went to Nya's church. Afterwards, we went to Court Street Kitchen for brunch- it was a nice restaurant. I had a mimosa and lemon ricotta pancakes- yummy. We had a fun weekend.
I video called my bestie Laura. She just got back from her 3-week Sicily vacation with her family. She was talking to me about her Sicily adventures. They had a blast. I really loved hearing about it. We'll be working on our future trip. We talked about our career updates and news. Our video call went great!
Career Update
I wrote the first blog post for Adaptiv. It was published on August 17th. The blog post addresses my insights on adaptive fashion and my experience using Adaptiv. This is just the beginning we can do more. We hope to share stories and perspectives through Adaptiv. The link to the blog post is https://adaptiv-app.com/stories/fashion-function-and-the-future-of-adaptive-discovery
The analytics went very well. The founder of Adaptiv expressed her consideration of giving me a potential job. She said to me "“ If you’re willing to continue on that journey with me as we grow, I would be so grateful. I really value your voice and what you’re bringing to the platform!”. Her words melts my heart ❤️ I feel blown away. I am willing to continue on that journey with her. I think it will grow bigger within a few months so it will probably lead me to get a paid job. 🙏
Monday, August 31- I ended my national AAC outreach workgroup job. Oh, we expressed our mixed emotions. 🥺
AAC funder, Administration on disabilities is happy with their work. They need to finish their goals in order to launch their National AAC Peer Support hub this fall.
However, There is no more funding at this time. So my workgroup and I will stop having meetings and assignments after August.
I am so proud of the work I’ve done with AAC workgroup. I loved working with them and learning from them during the past six months. What an amazing experience! I will never forget that. I will always be part of the National AAC Peer Support Network project. It led me to become a peer mentor - I am totally confident to help individuals who use AAC lead their meaningful and productive lives and gain greater communication independence.
According to the final workgroup meeting, We made a list of over 100 organizations and 50 peer support groups plus several peer mentors including me that are added to the directory.
I will keep in touch with them for future paid opportunities and announcements through email and newsletter.
Now, I will still continue doing blog work for CorMission (I wrote 11 monthly blog posts since September 2025) as well as my own work. I will also move on and I will look for new opportunities.
I accomplished everything I did for the workgroup. I want to make you proud of my hard work and accomplishments! I am so incredibly proud of working hard and being part of the AAC community! ❤️
My Exercise & PT Progress
I have been exercising well every day.
Thursday, August 6th- During my physical therapy session, I improved my leg strength. With the assistance of physical therapist, I side walked, walked gently, and did high knees while standing! 😀 I felt grateful for that. 🥹 ❤️
Thursday, August 13th - During physical therapy session, my strength and balance have greatly improved. I did the same exercises as previous session. I was also able to walk between 2 seated positions with the assistance of physical therapist. I loved doing those things. The physical therapist was amazed by how I performed the exercises. This experience boosted my confidence in working out and walking with assistance.
Living Fitness - Mondays August 3rd through August 24th
I took a 4-week program @ Living Fitness with Metzcor crew. Let's see what I did during the program.
Week #1- I did dumbbells, resistance bands, boxing, leg extension, stretching, etc. It was awesome.
Week #2- I did dumbbells, Pilates, resistance bands, pull-down weight machine, etc. It was very awesome.
Week #3- I did dumbbells, Pilates, resistance bands, kick ball, etc. it was very very awesome.
Week #4- I did dumbbells, resistance bands, pull-down weight machine, throwing tennis ball, step-ups, etc/ it was extremely awesome.
Each of 4 sessions lasted 60-75 minutes. I loved doing fitness. It helped me lose weight and improve my body strength. 10! One day, I will have home fitness at my own home.
The past month has been great for me. It was filled with excitement, relaxation, fun, joy, laughter, positivity, emotion, and well-being. I am grateful for what I did during the past month. 😁🥰
Thank you for reading my monthly diary. I hope you enjoy reading it. Let me know how you react to my monthly diary in the comments below.
🩷 Marisa
Congratulations on everything you do! Unbelievable! Keep up the physical therapy! You are crushing it!
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