And...It's Flare Time

     Just in time for the Memorial Day holiday, it's time for a flare.  The bad news is, well FLARE.  The good news is that I will have 3.5 days to recover from it before going back to work.

     I haven't had a flare like this in a long time.  Oh- there's the usual spikes and ebbs of stiffness and pain or one illness will flare while the others subside but this one is more of an attack and is definitely all three illnesses working simultaneously. I am sure, beyond a reasonable doubt that I have been overdoing and that kicked this off but I really don't have a choice.  People think, as evidenced by the many "When do you close for the summer?" phone calls, that Summer slows down for the bookstore after finals and graduation but it actually kicks up just as our payroll decreases.  While Summer classes have begun and traffic in the store is slower, on the back end we took in over 5000 rentals this term that need to be cleaned, picked, packed and shipped to other stores if we are not using them ourselves for Summer or Fall.  To that end I processed about 200 transfers (not 200 books, 200 shipments) going out this week.  We are also receiving shipments from other stores for our Fall term, receiving Summer 2 books, setting shelves for both terms and processing online orders.  While some places shorten their hours for summer, our hours don't change and with less staff, there still aren't enough of hours in a day.  That means I (because I am the only one on salary) have been burning the candle at both ends.  Quite a bit of stress and lots of physical labor, on top of a lack of sleep from the previously discussed acid reflux would be the precursor to this latest flare.

     Initially I thought that my body was just grumbling but I was wrong.  The lower back feels like I have a hot poker sticking in it on the right side and the hips are screaming.  All of my muscles feel like I have been hit by a truck.  The joints in my feet, my ankles, my knees, my elbows and my hands stiffen back up at even minimal rest and protest at any movement the rest of the time. My muscles are so tender that clothes with any weight hurt.   My meds are keeping me going but it's so exhausting that I have gotten home from work the last few days and had to nap for an hour as soon as I let the dogs out and back in.  Those naps have helped and you know they are needed when they haven't affected my bed time in the slightest.

     On one hand, this has been a stark reminder of how my life has changed with autoimmune illnesses.  A mere 8 years ago I was working far harder on my feet and doing physical labor and working far more hours than I do now and almost thrived on it.  I would go months without a day off and literally work until I dropped, take a few days and then do it again.  Now it seems a little too much and I am down for the count.  The difference in truly dramatic.  It's like I aged 40 years instead of 8.

     On the other hand, it's "just" a flare.  Whether it lasts a week, a month, a quarter or a year it will subside eventually and for that I can be grateful.  Besides, when it comes to pain, not only do I have a very high tolerance (I have been told that my "normal"- which is pretty stable- would put someone without my tolerance in bed for the duration)  but I tend to get fairly stoic.  I think it's the New England in me but I prefer to not "bitch" about my pain.  It doesn't lessen the pain, it doesn't help me feel better emotionally and honestly- who wants to hear it every day?  Instead, I function through a pain level of up to 8 or so and I just get slower and quieter.  I know some hate this phrase but I truly feel that "it is what it is."  There's nothing we can do about it, it's not going away, there is no cure, so why complain?  Moreover, the very last thing that I want is pity.  I would love if people could understand that I am going through something and that I may not be up to par and that I am doing my best, but I don't want to use my illnesses as an "excuse".    I don't ever want anyone to feel bad for me.  This is my life.  This is the hand I have been dealt and I will play it as best I can so I don't want people to feel bad about it.  They didn't cause it, I didn't cause it, it just is.

     So now, I will get some things done this weekend but perhaps not everything I want to accomplish. We had hoped to declutter our storage/2nd bedroom but that may not all get done.  Knowing now will allow me to reset my frame of mind and in doing so, I will be able to relax more fully.  I will work my scheduled half day today and then come home and nap.  When I get up, I will see what I feel up to doing but I won't push myself.  When I need to, I will stop and rest.  That will be the tone of the weekend.  I think as long as I keep things in perspective, it will be a good weekend.


“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.” 
― Og Mandino

An Average, Ordinary Weekend. Thankfully

Last week was a very, very long week.  First week of the semester and I felt like I ran and ran and ran.  Thursday I worked my normal 8 plus some.  I went home as normal and then went back from 6-10pm.  By the time I went home I was practically seeing cross-eyed.  Thankfully I had Friday off.

I caught a second third wind driving home and stayed awake until after 2:30 catching up on NCIS:New Orleans and then slept until almost 9.  6 hours-ish and it felt wonderful.  No worries, no deadlines, no time limits.  I woke up, had a pot of coffee in my pajamas, caught up on more television (my DVR was dangerously full) and then showered and headed out.  I had a manicure and (much needed) pedicure then went to the grocery for dinner and Saturday breakfast.  I lay down for a while, I basically lazed the afternon away.  It was lovely.

When I woke on Saturday- and most of Saturday, I had to keep reminding myself that it was NOT Sunday.  I kept feeling the urgency to get all of my Sunday things done.  Jim wanted to go to a tattoo convention but instead we went on our "Vape Run" to the different shops.  They are such good people and so that's an enjoyable errand.  We came home and had dinner and then I sorted all of my greeting cards that I have to send while we binged on Bloodlines on Netflix.  It sounds silly but itwas just relaxing.  We stayed late and I slept until 6:30 in the morning.

Sunday was a good day too.  While we were out on Saturday we did the grocery shopping for the week so we didn't have to go as normal.  We rearranged our house a bit to give us some more room and then I read for a bit, catnapped for a bit and then did a LOT of laundry.  While I was doing that, I prepped my clothes for the week and hubby cooked dinner.  He smoked a brisket and then made green beans and potatoes to go with it.  Dinner was lovely, after cleaning the kitchen I cut my fruit and veggies for work tomorrow and then it was time for Game of Thrones.  I feel like I was miles ahead of a normal Sunday.  That also meant that I could sit and enjoy an extra cup of coffee and the news in the morning instead of prepping my lunch and snacks.

Why am I telling you all of this?  Because it was lovely to just relax.  I didn't know how much I needed it until I was in the middle of it.  It was one of those moments where you just say to yourself "WOW- I really didn't know how much I missed normal!" and then you give thanks a million times over.  I hope you had as lovely a weekend as we did!  

A Defining Moment

     In thinking about what I wanted to write today, my initial title was "The Day My Life Changed Forever".  Then I started thinking about it and there have been so many turning points that it wouldn't be right to choose just this one as THE pinpoint moment.  When you grow up as a military brat, change is not only inevitable but becomes a way of life.  I think that those of us who live a gypsy life tend to, as adults, either embrace constant change or dig in our heels, put down roots and abhor change.  I like to think that I fall into the former camp.  So when I reflect, I see a lot of "big" moments that turned my path from where I thought it would go, each of them defining.  That said, like getting married, moving overseas both times, each of my four (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Lung Disease and Degenrative Disc Disease) diagnoses, there was one big moment that changed my world completely.  That would be the moment that I became a mom.

     Twenty-eight years ago today, we were blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby boy.  It was not a surprise.  We had been married 15 months, we had made the decision that while Jim was active duty would be a good time to have a child, and we thought we were prepared.  Whoa Nelly were we wrong.  I was supremely, naively and arrogantly confident during my pregnancy.  After all, I was 19 and knew everything.  *Can you just feel me roll my eyes with that last statement?* We stocked up on diapers, we picked names, we got the house ready and when it was time to deliver- we thought we had everything covered.  I even had a quick and fairly easy labor and delivery.  We were still thinking "We've got this- no problem!"  Hubby went back to work as we were in the middle of an exercise on the base and I was wheeled away to rest while they cleaned Josh up and got him ready to face the world.

     Then, they handed me that sweet baby.  They put him in my arms, I looked down at him and thought to myself "Oh Dear GOD- I am totally responsible for this beautiful, innocent, totally helpless child!  Now what!?!"  I realized as I looked into his eyes that I knew absolutely nothing. I realized that I was not as grown up as I had thought just a few hours before.  I looked at his tiny fingers and toes as he snuggled in and nearly had a panic attack.  It was incredibly humbling.  It was scary as heck and it made me question everything I knew about where I was in my life.  It redefined not only the way I looked at the world but the way I looked at myself.

    It's been a lot of years since that moment but when I look back I am still flooded with those same feelings. I would not be wrong if I said we grew up together.  I know that we did our best to raise Josh despite just feeling our way along.  I am incredibly proud of the man he's grown to be so we must have done something right.  We will never really know but even now those doubts creep in and I wonder what I could have done differently.  When I think about him and reflect back on our parental years I can see things that I wish I had done, things I perhaps shouldn't have done and it causes me to question everything.  That moment is still defining me after all of these years.

     Happy Birthday Joshua.  At each phase of your life you have changed mine as we grew.  You have challenged me, you have changed me over and over and having you in my life makes my Grinch heart grow three sizes when I think of you. Thank you for being you.  Thank you for making me want to be a parent you could be proud of and thank you for sharing your life with me even now when you have a choice.  You are the sun in my sky and I love you dearly.

Acid Reflux and Chronic Illness?

       Readers~ I would love to get your input on this! I have been fighting heartburn/acid reflux for months now.  I am learning (and not liking what I am learning) what my "trigger foods" are and I know that part of the problem is weight gain but this is not a fun battle.  It keeps me from getting a good night's sleep because it kicks in as soon as I lay down and at least one night a week it's so bad in the middle of the night that I wake up coughing up the "acid" and have to sleep half sitting up on my couch if I want any rest.  I have talked to both my Rheumy and my GP.  Neither is surprised.  They have me on a daily Prilosec which helps a bit but I still go through at least a 25ct bottle of Tums Freshers a month.

     The weight gain is a significant issue.  I have been fighting it so long and nothing is working.  I swear, I could do nothing more than drink water for a week and I would gain 5lbs.  It's stressful, it's frustrating and it's disheartening.

    The other side of it is that the whole acid reflux thing really bothers me.  I don't know anyone who LIKES to vomit but when I am coughing and bringing up the acid, I just wish I could throw up and have it over with.  When I get up on the "morning after" my throat is just raw.

   I know that my meds contribute to this in a way- but I can't stop those without serious ramifications.  One trigger is overeating.  I have to be very careful and find that "full but not too full" line.  It also seems that sugar in the evening is another trigger.  Not so much during the day but if I eat a serving at night- it seems to add to the usual and make it worse.  Of course- spicy foods are not good and I seem to be getting more sensitive to spice.  I am actually writing this in the evening and will schedule it for the morning in hopes that it reaches you.  Tonight we had tacos for dinner.  Basic, one each Old El Paso taco kit which we have used forever.  I had shells, meat with the seasoning packet in it and tomatoes and 3 hours later I can't bend over to take the dogs off their leads without feeling the acid in my throat.  It looks like I will bunk on the couch tonight so I can half sit-up.

I would love to hear if you have had this issue too and how you solved it.  Thanks so much in advance!

On a happier note~  This blog has been voted one of Healthline's Top 10 Rheumatoid Arthritis Blogs again this year.  I am in great company (Shout out to WREN for making the list again!) and am so very honored since I have written so much less this year.  It's inspired me to get going again once I get through the madness.  Stop over on Healthline (link below) and see the other great blogs that they have chosen. 

Healthline

I Am Overwhelmed

      In my world there are three uber-busy times of year.  The beginning of the Fall semester, the beginning of the Spring semester and April/May.  This time of year means end-of-year buyback, preparing for and opening the first Summer session, receiving and storing books for second Summer and Fall and Commencement.  Toss in my fiscal year-end and it's exhausting.   This year has been particularly challenging.
     I caught that lovely, long-lasting respiratory bug that was going around. Then caught it again.  Then caught it a third time.  It was several months of being sick off and on.  The "magic bullet" that finally killed it was a heavy-duty antibiotic and a jewel called Tessalon Perles.  Tessalon Perles are a non-narcotic cough suppressant that look like Vitamin D gels.  Just before round 3 I went to visit Mom and Dad.  Mom had the bug and Dr. Jackson had put her on them.  She suggested them for me as soon as I started coughing again and I asked my NP about them.  She said they LOVE them at the practice and gave me a script for them.  Four days later (as compared to 3 weeks) I felt human again.  I have been giving thanks to my Mama for them every day.  The surprise in this visit was that she prescribed me a rescue inhaler.  She said that since everything turns into bronchitis (Thanks Rheumatoid Lung Disease!) it would be wise for me to have one.  It had never been in my realm of thinking before but I was amazed at the difference it made.  She has left me with a refill on the Tessalon Perles and on the inhaler so that next time I can kick it as soon as it starts.

    During this time, my father's mother had a stroke from which she did not recover.  It was almost a two week journey that I wouldn't wish on anyone.  She was 97 years old and had lived her life but it was not a peaceful ending.  To be frank, she and I didn't particularly like one another so as we spent time in the hospital I found myself very conflicted. After the first few days of being basically unresponsive (she had a very specific DNR order and living will) she was taken off all measures and put into hospice.  She lasted another 11 days.  We know she knew we and the nurses were there because she would react to the nurses but beyond that there were no words and no response.  It was physically and emotionally draining for me and I was only there weekends.  My lovely parents were there all day long, all week long.  They are such good people.

    Another wrinkle in the fabric of my routine is that we had a huge systems change for our textbook ordering process.  This required learning a new system, ensuring the staff was training and "holding" all orders to be entered until the first phase of the transition.  By the first day we had over 1200 orders to enter which backed us up considerably.  The final transition is today.  There have been glitches- both in the software and in user-errors.  There have been moments of "I HATE THIS" as I found the differences and limitations which is surprising because I was very much looking forward to the "upgrade".  There have been moments when I called my best friend and mentor and said "did I struggle this much when you trained me? Because I just can't deal with feeling stupid and this software makes me feel just that." I think it was all about the timing (they wanted it in place for the beginning of the fiscal year- which officially began yesterday) but it was entirely mind-scrambling.

   The final straw sitting on this camel's back has not been a problem so much as a learning experience.  I made the decision back at the beginning of the year, with my doctor's permission, to go off of Orencia.  I just didn't feel that it was making a difference.  I didn't feel any better or worse than when I went on it and I just couldn't justify my co-pay and my insurance's $1500/mo payment for a drug that was doing nothing.  Well, it seems I was right.  So far (knock wood) there has been no consistent increase of pain and stiffness.  I have had several mini-flares but I believe that those were brought on by exhaustion.  I can't speak for you but in my body the more exhausted you are, the more pain you have and the more pain you have, the more exhausting it is.  That cycle has happened for me from the beginning and through every DMARD and biologic that I have tried.  My doctor asked me to consider Actimera but one of the side effects is liver issues and mine is already so damaged from MTX that even Tylenol causes my liver levels to spike so I am thinking no.  I think until I start to degrade and show consistently raised pain and stiffness, I will stay as I am.

     All of this has been very overwhelming.  I am getting through it and I am looking to the end of the tunnel.  In less than 65 days I will be in Tennessee with my puppies, my parents, my sisters and their families for a week and I cannot wait.  There's a lot to do before then (the end of buyback, Commencement, Summer 1 and then a store manager's meeting that I have to travel to) but I can see it.

     I think that once the initial craziness is over I will start working on finding more balance.  I need to declutter so that my house "feels better" in all aspects of my life.  So- if you have any suggestions- I am open to hearing them!
     

My Hope

I created this post for my Facebook status last night but I want to save it as a reminder to myself when I am feeling persnickity so I am going to post it here as well.

I am currently 47 years old. In my lifetime we have seen interracial marriage legalized and the Civil Rights Acts of 1968, 1991, 2008 enacted. Yet we still haven't gotten it through our collective skulls that equal rights means EQUAL rights.

The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence (you know, that little document drafted in 1776 that began this country) begins: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It does not say "All men are created equal EXCEPT..." or "as long as their idea of happiness coincides with mine."

Now, I figure I have 20-30 years left on this planet. It is my sincere hope that, before I die, we will finally see truly equal rights for ALL of our citizens- white, black, young, old, gay, straight, male, female. It is my hope that we stop with all of the hatred and treat one another with respect. That we stop trying to legislate other people's bedrooms, other people's faiths, other people's bodies and worry about leaving a great legacy for our children and grandchildren. Let's stop leaving a mess for our next generation and get to leaving an example of how to take care of our families, our neighborhood, our cities and our planet.

Ever-So-Elusive Sleep

    It was not a good sleep night.  I was tired when I went to bed but after the brain fog I had all day I was worried that I had forgotten something in my packing.  That made it tough to get to sleep.  Then around midnight Auggie was barking his face off to go potty and that woke Miss Harley too- so, back up I went.  I had slept just long enough that it felt like a good, solid nap, so there was no getting back to sleep.  If I wasn't traveling today I would have curled up on the couch but needing to be at the airport very early, my alarm was set for 3:15 and 3:30 anyway.  My silver lining is that I have been fairly productive.

Since midnight I have:

• Consumed a pot of coffee
• Took my meds
• Got dressed
• Applied the makeup
• Curled the mop
• Emptied last night's DVR
• Played my Facebook games
• Surfed the web. 
• Balanced my checkbook
• Answered work emails
• Did some pre-work for the meetings
• Made a list of ideas for upcoming posts here.  

And- there's still an hour before we leave for the airport.  I am traveling with a friend/colleague so I won't be sleeping on the planes and that's okay- it's just going to be a very, very long day as we will hit the ground running when we get there and won't be dismissed until about 9:30 pm.  Hopefully that means that tonight- I will sleep well.  If not- Lunesta, here I come.  I will give thanks for that option as well.  Insomnia is much easier to swallow when you know you have an ace in the hole if it continues.

On that note- I hope each of you got plenty of rest and have a lovely day!  Florida awaits! 

Slowing down?

Hi Gang!  It's been a busy, busy, busy few months.

     In January we had our "Rush" period at work.  If you have been following this blog for a while you know that I manage a college bookstore and Back-To-School is insanely busy for us.  I liken it to 3 solid weeks of "Black Friday".  It's just crazy.  I thrive on it but when it's over I deflate like a balloon.  

     Post-Rush I succumbed to the gnarly cold that's been going around.  The problem with that is twofold.  First, with a compromised immune system I am very lucky that it took as long as it did to "get" me but when it does- it's a real doozie! Second, with Rheumatoid Lung Disease  (note in the link that they also refer to it as MTX lung injury!) a common cold seems to go straight into Bronchitis.  It knocked me out for about two weeks, then hubby got it and was miserable, then he kindly gave it back. Thanks Honey! ;-)

     Then- the puppers needed to have their teeth cleaned and some teeth extracted which means they had to be put under general anesthesia.  Last time Harley had to have general she had a bad reaction.  It resulted in a trip to the emergency animal hospital and big meds and me coming home every few hours to give her a saline drip.  It was SO scary so this time I took three days off to spend with them after just in case.  Fortunately, they were both okay about 24 hours later (Auggie was high as a kite when he came home- it was pretty funny) with just a bit of bruising from the catheter and soreness in their mouths so we snuggled a lot.  The good thing was being able to just relax with them.

     In the midst of all of this work has been a whirlwind.  After rush we have about 4 weeks and then we start returning the books to the publishers in prep for the next semester.  It was also announced that we would be doing a huge systems upgrade (yay!) and that there would be 10 weeks of self-guided training on top of our usual daily work.  I have done my training but I also have to ensure that the staff does theirs as well.  It's been exhausting to say the least.  Next up- I fly to Florida tomorrow for our Annual Meeting.  People always say "Oh- rough life, going to Florida in March" but we are essentially booked from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm every day.  We only leave the meeting site for an event on Thursday night and even then we are shuttled back and forth.  The wonderful thing about the meeting is that I really, really like my colleagues and we only get to see one another at these meetings.  The huge bonus is that I get to room with my best friend.  I love and miss her because she's back in New England.  Phone, email and texts are great- but so very not the same.  I so very look forward with our two weeks together every year- the meeting and when she comes to visit in October.

     Oh!  And I started Physical Therapy for my back.  Can I just tell you how bizarre it is to walk on a treadmill under water?  That said- water therapy is not as grueling as "regular" PT so it's just a journey.  The therapist's goal is to strengthen my core.  My goal is to be able to walk a 5k without my back going into spasm and affecting my sciatic nerve when it becomes inflamed.

    The house is a mess, I am worn out and worst of all I hadn't been able to spend any quality time with Mom and Dad until this weekend- and if you follow Dad's blog, you know Mama has been sick, sick, sick.  Speaking of which, though my journey is toward gratitude in a "self-improvement" way- if you want to see someone who has gotten there in a faith-based way, you really should check out Dad's blog.  You can find it here.

     Looking at the calendar, it seems that mid-May should be our time to slow down a bit.  I know- it's about 7 weeks away but then the real relaxation will come in 101 days (on the 4th of July) when Mom, Dad, all the sisters and their families get together.  The only ones missing will be Josh, his fiance' and the kids.  Oh- did I mention that my baby got ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!  I am so very excited for them.  She is a wonderful young lady and brings out the best in him.  That's all I can ask but I get the bonus of really liking her AND two instant grandkids that I already adore.

     Well- this ended up longer than I thought!  That's what I get for letting life get in the way for so long.  As I close, I just want to take a minute to thank each and every one of you that reads this blog and especially those who have been on this journey with me through the ups, the downs, as I climbed and as I slipped back.  It is not easy to keep looking for that silver lining at times and even when I am not writing, knowing that I have you all behind me keeps me going.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  <3 p=""> 

  

An Interesting Article on Making Exercise A Habit- with Links.

There's a wonderful blog that I follow based on the book "The Happiness Project."  The author, Gretchen Ruben, has published three books on creating habits and what's really holding you back from being "happy".  I have gone back and read her first book several times and I always find something new.  I am very much looking forward to her latest; Better Than Before.

 Today, just as I was tossing around the possibility of joining Planet Fitness for the millionth time, this article from January 2013 popped up in my feed on Facebook so I thought I would share it here:

Want an Exercise Routine You’ll Stick To? Ask Yourself These 11 Questions.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day, or Quiz Day, or List Day.

This Wednesday: Want an exercise routine you’ll stick to? Ask yourself these eleven questions.

When I ask people what they’d like to do for their own happiness projects, they often say something like, “Exercise more regularly.”Exercise is very important for health and mood, and everyone knows this–and yet it’s often tough for people to stick to an exercise routine.

I think that one mistake is to choose a form of exercise based on a) what your friend recommends, b) what kind of change to your body you want to see, or c) what is the fashionable form of exercise. It’s helpful to consider these factors, but in the end, we’re far more likely to stick with an exercise routine that suits our nature and our schedule. If you’re struggling to exercise regularly, this is not the place to fight your nature! If you’ve been a night person all your life, vowing to get up at 5:00 a.m. to run isn’t very realistic.

Ask yourself these questions, and when you’re done, think about what kind of exercise routine would suit you best:

1. Are you a morning person or a night person?

2. Would you like to spend more time in nature?

3. Would you like more time in solitude; or more time with friends; or more time to meet new people?

4. Are you motivated by competition?

5. Do you enjoy loud music?

6. Do you do better with some form of external accountability, or does that just annoy you?

7. Would you like to challenge yourself with exercise (whether by learning a new skill or pushing yourself physically)–or not?

8. Do you like sports and games?

9. Would you like more meditative time, or more time to watch TV, read newspapers, etc?

10. Do you have a lot of control over your time?

11. Are you sensitive to weather?

Your answers should guide your thinking about exercise. Work out with a trainer? Take a class? Be inside or outside? etc.

For instance, if you’re a morning person who craves solitude and time alone with your thoughts, but has little control over  your schedule and hates feeling accountable to anyone, you might enjoy walking in a park every morning before you leave for work.

If you’re a night person who loves music and meeting new people, and is also motivated by accountability, you might like to take a dance-based exercise class after work.

Often, people will say, “Go for a twenty minute walk at lunch? That’s nothing. I really need to get in shape.” Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good! The twenty minute walk you take is so much better for you than the three mile run you never do. You get the biggest health boost going from no exercise to some exercise.

Just a little tweak in a routine sometimes makes a big difference. For instance, to exercise on the weekends, I go for a long walk. Generally, I like to think while I walk, but I do a lot of walking every day, and I found myself getting bored on the long walks–and so finding excuses to skip them.

One of my Twelve Personal Commandments is to Identify the problem. What was the problem? “I’m bored during these walks, so I don’t want to go.” For the first time, I bought myself an audiobook, and for the past few weeks I’ve been listening to The Golden Compass when I walk. It makes me so happy! I haven’t missed a day’s walk since I started.

How about you? What aspects of your nature and your schedule make it easier–or harder–to stick to an exercise routine? What works for you?

**Now, while this doesn't instantly answer my question about joining PF (I decided to wait to talk to the Physical Therapist about my physical limitations before Iplunk down the money) It does give me something to consider when it comes to the question of "Will I actually follow through if I DO join?' I hope that some of you find this helpful too!  

Why We Have Trouble Sleeping

     I have been up since 1:45 am.  I woke up with shooting pain from my hip to my knee.  It almost felt like dual charlie-horses.  I think Arthur was knocking on my lower limbs to remind me that he's still there.  I tried changing positions and stretching before I gave up, got up and literally walked it off.

     This type of thing has been a fairly regular thing through my journey so I didn't think much of it (other than the curse words I muttered till it ended) but when I sat down, I found an article from Arthritis Today in my inbox that addresses just this topic.  I read it and wanted to share it with you.

You can find the article here.  If you are like me, and insomnia is an "old friend" that pops up on a regular basis, I hope it gives you some insight,  Have a lovely day! 

On Being Normal?

   
      So I am on my second bout of Bronchitis in less than a month. As I was told- I will never have a "normal" cold again.   It's my own fault.  At the tail end of the first one I jumped right back in to life (a little too soon) and when hubby got sick, I didn't "quarentine" myself by sleeping on the couch.  Add in my RLD and I basically did myself in.   I wanted to go to see my parents this weekend but that's not going to happen.  I am not subjecting them to my germs (Mama's been sick- I am not contributing to her getting sick again) and I am not goign to ruin their Valentine's Day by keeping them up all night hacking.

     What we did do though was go out and buy two new Vicks Humidfiers.  One for the bedroom and one for downstairs.  Hubby slept upstairs last night and before he went to bed he put in one of the Vicks Vapo Pads for the humidifer.  He seems to be feeling better today so perhaps it helped.  I napped for 5 hours yesterday so I couldn't get to sleep last night and ended up falling asleep on the couch.  I will try it out tonight.  Since I can't take anything that contains Tylenol any longer (due to the liver damage from the MTX- insert sad face here) I will keep taking my Alka-Selzer Cough and Cold with Bayer Asprin and drink lots of tea and water.

     So that's my abnormal cold situation that led to this contemplation.  Another lovely effect from the off-shoot RLD from the RA.  If I have learned one lesson in my almost 10 years with RA is that even my "New Normal" will change far more often than I will be comfortable with.  Each time there is a new diagnosis, each time there is a new limitation or restriction there is a new, new, "New Normal".  I find, running through my head fairly often "What IS normal?"

     I don't think I have EVER been normal.  I had a very un-traditional upbringing.  Being a military brat, while forcing you to be highly adaptive, is not normal.  Even though there are thousands upon thousands of kids like us- we each have our own situations.  You could line up a thousand of us and I doubt you would find two who were not sibs that had been in the same bases, in the same order.  It's about as different from someone who lives in one place their entire life as you can get.  I am also so blessed that I have a wonderful, loving family who actually enjoys spending time together but even that's not "normal".  How many people do you know who have good relationships with their parents, siblings, In-laws, cousins, aunts and uncles?  My only relationship that is "not great" is with my grandmother.  Most people I know from all different age groups are not as fortunate as I am with their family situations.  I give thanks for mine every single day.  

     Even within my own family, I was always the "weird" one.  My interests were and still are all over the map.  I am not the "brave one"- that would be Heather.  I am not the "sweet one"- that would be Lisa.  I am the..."curious one."  I want to see everything and try everything. I am the one who loves to try new food from all over the world- Seaweed is a tasty snack.  I am the one who read all about and researched all different faiths until I realized that it's okay to be "spiritual" with out an organized religion.  I am the one who loves all things Halloween, who loves a good scary movie, who loves to write and read and can fall down a rabbit hole on Google.  I am the one who read everything I could about Salem (and the Witch Trials) and spent many, many years heading down there for Halloween.  I always thought I would write something set there until I realized that most of what I write is non-fiction.  I am the one who has been known to change my hair color with my mood (I have been from Platinum Blonde to Jet Black) and my style on a whim.  I am the one who enjoys acting- from Arsenic and Old Lace in High School to my Haunted Houses and even consider customer service a bit of a show but I have not one ounce of artistic ability. I am the one who loves movies and tv shows based on comic books and crime dramas and Game of Thrones and horror and good comedies and has to have IMDB up so I can see who is playing what character and check out all of the trivia.  I am the one who is crazy about the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox. I am the one who is even more crazy about all things Harry Potter.  I am the one who lives for "Jammie time" and would be happy if yoga gear became the new "business casual" and siesta became the norm.   I am the one who loves every bit of music from classical to jazz to country, to metal to hip-hop to pop.  I am the one who treats my puppies like they are kids because I miss my kid like crazy. I am the one who is excited to be an instant grandma when Josh gets married next year because I don't believe in "steps".  I am the one who still wishes I had a pony- even though I know I couldn't take care of it myself any longer.  Speaking of which- thankfully, I am the only one who ended up with the autoimmune illnesses and in doing so I am the one who is learning to be grateful while I learn to live with the pain. I am the one who can live with pain FAR more easily than with exhaustion.  Exhaustion is my kryptonite.   The weird one- yep, that's me.

I saw the most true Meme today and posted it to my Facebook page.  It's me in a nutshell.

I have decided to just say "To Hell with Normal!"  I have decided that it's okay to be the weird one- because some of the best people are.  

Appearances Can Be Deceiving

      I was in two different...discussions (I don't want to call them arguments because they were mostly civil) this week in regards to disability.  Both left me very disappointed and a little hurt because of some of the remarks made by people of whom I thought better.  

     The first came because someone was complaining that their boss "played favorites" by cutting a co-worker who was going through personal issues slack and the person who was initiating the conversation was resentful that they had to do what they felt was extra work.  My first response was to pose a question:  
"I don't mean to be offensive- but you do know what this person has going on that may be causing the manager to cut her some slack? For example- I have medical conditions that are chronic and painful. I have learned to live with them but when they flare up at best I can manage to get to work and give customer service all day, There are days I can't lift a stack of 5 mass market paperbacks to save my life. There are better days when I power through a pallet of textbooks by myself. Just looking at me, you would never know and I don't update everyonebecause my medical issues are between me and my regional and I know that I give 100% of what I am capable of every day." 

 The immediate response behind me was:

They hired that person under the condition that'd they be able to lift a certain amount and do a certain amount. I think it's unfair if they have a medical condition. Why should you have to suffer. (I am a rotten human being, PS.)

My next thought was "Wow, so this person thinks that my fellow chronic illness people and I should just go away so we don't inconvenience anyone?" I said something to that effect and that when I was hired I was perfectly healthy- that the illnesses didn't start for several year and that when I am doing well I work my tailfeathers off to sort of "make up for" when I am not well- and that I don't feel the need to broadcast when I am not feeling well and why because it's between my boss and I and my medical issues are no one's business.  They replied that we (people with chronic illnesses) should just get a new job because it not fair to anyone else that they would have to pick up our slack.   I was even more dismayed when several other people chimed in with the same attitude along with sharing articles about "dealing with lazy-coworkers" and such.  Now- not everyone was like-minded.  That cooled the steam coming out of my ears but I had to walk away because until then I had not encountered in "real life" that attitude and I was too shocked to be civil.  

The second was regarding handicapped parking spaces.  The Today Show did a story on Facebook "Name and Shame" pages because someone left a note on a Coke truck parked in a handicapped spot to unload that said "Congratulatons!  You will be featured on the Disability Parking Wall of Shame.  Take care!"  Someone that I know casually replied that they see able-bodied people get out of cars in handicapped spots- what's the difference?"  A couple of people replied that not everyone who is disabled needs a wheel chair and one woman said "You may look at me and see a full-bodied person but not all disabilites are visible."  

There was a bit of back and for but to which the person I know replied" Well if you can physically walk and move around then no need for a permit!!!! There are all kinds of disabilities and some do not require a front row parking spot!!!"  to which I finally chimed in with:  "Actually- I have several illnesses that are chronic, incurable, painful and limit my mobility. While I may look great getting out of my car, I use the cart to lean on for balance and just walking around Kroger and standing in line can cause my joints to flare up and my back to go into spasm. Looking at me- you don't know that I am legally disabled, but I am and that's why I have a handicap plate on my car. I shouldn't have to tattoo my medical conditions on my forehead because someone doesn't think I look disabled enough. Many of us in the autoimmune disease community deal with this all the time- and it only adds to the stress of living with the diseases.

There has been no reply since so I am hoping that we made her think.  I was a little taken back though.  I have dealt with people like that in my real life so it was less shocking.  I just think what threw me was who it was coming from and how adamant they were.

Perhaps it's because I am taking longer than normal to "recover" from my Rush period; perhaps it's because I have been having more "I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired" thoughts of late but I seem to be more hypersensitive to the school of thought that if people are disabled they should just go away so able-bodied people are not inconvienced or that unless someone can see what's "wrong" with you, you must be trying to abuse the "privliges" that really disabled people get.  

I guess what I want to say is this:  Unless you know someone personally, unless you know what's going on in their lives, don't just look at someone and make a snap judgement.   It's no one's business WHY we have a handicapped plates on our car.  It's no one's business why we are allowed to take it easy at times.  Unless you want us to ask you about extremely private questions about your life, your medical history- don't expect us to divulge that information just because you decide that we don't "look disabled" enought for your tastes.

Back to Work and Back to Spring Rush

    I don't know about you but it seems most of us have a rough time getting back to the daily grind after a vacation or time off.  The last two weeks have been lovely-ish.  We had "short" days at work, 8 hour days instead of 10.5 but only four hours a day open to the public- the rest behind the scenes.  We had a two day work week for Christmas week and four-ish (I worked Saturday) for the New Year.  Today we go back- and straight into extended hours.  From now until MLK day- it's time to fire on all cylinders.  The two hard parts about Spring Rush for me is that we go from end of semester (which is crazy busy) to the holidays to Rush again in a matter of three weeks and it's hard to go from up to down to up again so quickly.  The old body just doesn't do that as easily any longer.  It must be done though because this job provides the health insurance that covers all of the medical crap so- I will persevere.  One thing I have learned is that the key to perseverance is preparation.  

    How have I prepared?  I have bought a brace for my back since I will be on my feet all day every day.  I have made sure my RX's are all filled.  I have prepped easy to eat on the go foods (first part of this week: rice crackers and summer sausage, baby carrots and popcorn for lunch and snacks, yogurt with granola for breakfasts) and I have soup that I pulled from the freezer for when I get home late tonight and tomorrow night.  I have stocked my purse with Thermacare in case I need it, I have backups on on my Naproxyn and Flexeril "packed" and my clothes are planned out for the week.  The other half will fend for himself till the weekend and will help me take care of the dogs. The DVR is set for all the returning shows this week and next. I already have my grocery list going for after work on Saturday and have started planning what I will make on Sunday for meals for the next week. While I am at work on Sunday, I can count on Jim to wash and dry the laundry so I don't have to worry about that and I can fold on Sunday before bed since it's a mindless task that I enjoy.  I think I am as ready as I can be, all things considered.

    All of this will allow me to go to work, do the best I can, come home, snuggle pups and go to bed so I can get up and do it all again tomorrow.  Next week after we make it through the first two days of school I will start planning my recovery period over MKL weekend.  That will keep the light bright at the end of the tunnel.

Josh Shipp says "Perseverance is stubbornness with a purpose" and that is exactly how I am looking at this rush.  

Looking Back at 2014, Looking Forward to 2015

     Looking back:


     I don't know about you, but for me 2014 was interesting in a lot of ways.  Of course, there were the usual medical issues and more. On the physical side on the positive- I did manage to remain cigarette-free for all of 2014.  In two weeks I will hit the 13 month mark! There were great things that happened on the personal front as well as difficult. Good things at work and difficult.  Pretty much a normal year for most people.  I have had years like this before- who hasn't?  Somehow though it didn't feel normal, I just felt like something in me was off.

      I also found that I just didn't have the energy or patience to write.  Looking at my blog dashboard, I only wrote 14 posts between one year ago and today.  That's not a lot for someone who is a known motormouth!  I would open a new page, stare at it for a while, become frustrated and delete the auto-draft.  I did that a lot on my other projects as well.  I didn't have the stamina to push through.  I just didn't have much to say.  Well, I did. but it was often snarky because I found myself irritated a LOT.  I wondered occasionally if it was a mild depression because I didn't rebound as quickly from the news of the latest diagnosis as I normally do.  It's more than that though, it's more than what's going on in my life.  I would find myself reading or watching the news and going back and forth between just shaking my head, wondering what the heck is going on in this world or giving thanks that I wasn't raising a child in it.

     This year I watched the events of the year unfold around me, around this country and around the world and I just could not push through all of the overwhelming negative to find the positive in it.  We; people-friends-families- neighbors-towns- the whole country; are more divided than I can remember in my life- and I was born in the 60's!  We are divided racially (Still? Again?), politically, religiously, and in terms of values and we are more...open about it than ever before.  I found myself shocked at the things that come out of the mouths (and keyboards) of both strangers and people that I thought I knew.  It gave me a huge sense of disappointment in them for what was being said, how it was being said and the actions being taken.  It gave me a sense of disappointment in myself for not recognizing those traits before things came to a head.  I deleted/"unfriended"/walked away from a surprising number of people in my online life and intentionally allowed relationships to lapse in my real life.  The negativity was just too much.

     Now I know that there are people out there every single day who are doing good things.  People who are trying to make the world a better place.  It's just become hard to find them when their stories are drowned out by discord, by rudeness, by disrespect, by hate.  Just writing this and reflecting upon it has made me feel so tired and so helpless that I had to stop, close it and come back to it later.  Needless to say, I was rather looking forward to the end of the year and a new beginning.

Looking Forward:    

    It's a new year.  I didn't make a list of resolutions this year as I often have in the past.  Like so many, my resolutions tend to be out the window by February.  Last year's certainly did.  :-)   This year, instead, I am making it just one goal to "shake it off".  Last year was a big step backward for me in many ways and rather than allow myself to be mired in the things I cannot change I need to learn to let it go and move on to things I do have the ability to influence.  When my husband and I were separated I repeated the Serenity Prayer a lot.  To the point that it was almost by rote.  When that changed, I kind of let that drop off and that may not have been the best idea.  It's a simple thing but it allowed me to step back and remind myself that I can't take on or take in everything because I tend to take things to heart.

    In an effort to turn things back around  I have decided to utilize two "mantras" for 2015.  First, as I mentioned, is the Serenity Prayer:

The second is this:  

    Keeping these in mind should allow me to let go of what has been weighing me down and to re-focus my attention on all of the myriad of blessings that fill my life and on the wonderful things that people are doing for the world around them.  They are many, they are important, and they deserve my attention far more than any of the rest of the nonsense that's been going on.

     The first step is to make it through this Back-to-School rush (classes begin a week from Monday) and then get back into a routine.  Rush ends around the 18th so the light is at the end of the tunnel.  Then it will be time to make this the best year yet.  Bring it on 2015~ I am ready for you!  



      

The Verdict is In?

I saw my Rheumatologist today and the verdict is in;  I am a hot mess.

They now give you a "Patient Plan" at each visit that outlines everything going on.  Looking at my "plan" is depressing at best.

My "Problem List" reads as follows:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Degenerative Disc disease
• Rheumatoid Lung disease
• Acid Reflux
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

My meds list is now 8 RX's deep- plus a multi, B-12 and Prilosec.

Today's assessment reads:

1- Rheumatoid Arthritis is to the forefront (aka- I am starting to flare)
2- Current use of high risk medications (the Lasix perhaps?)
3-  Abnormal Liver Enzymes
4- Fibromyalgia is also at the forefront.

My weight has spiraled up, up, up since I quit smoking (almost) 10 months ago.  *It's as if my metabolism just died when I gave up on cigarettes and my BMI has ballooned*.  Vital signs are good- up a little but definitely within normal limits.

Current Orders:
- Begin Aquatic Physical Therapy after I return from my **vacation**
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
- Quantiferon (R) TB Gold (incubated)

Labs pending:
- C-Reactive Protein
- CBC (includes Diff/PLT)
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
-SED Rate by Modified Westeregren

See- Hot mess! Curling up in a ball and sleeping for the next.....5 years (?) sounds like a beautiful thing.  But that's just not possible.

Despite all of that- there are positives in my life.  These are the things I will be focusing on.

- Vacation.  Did I mention Vacation?  My best friend and I are heading to Florida next week for 5 glorious days.  We are meeting at the airport in Orlando, we are spending a couple of days at a resort on Cocoa Beach for a wedding of a dear friend, then moving to Universal Studios.  Sunday we will visit the St. Augustine Lighthouse.  It is reportedly haunted so we are going to do their night tour.  Check it out here.  Monday we are doing Harry Potter.  I know- most people go to Universal Studios to do the whole thing, but not us.  We will do the Wizarding World, Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley.  We really don't care about the rest.  The goal is to soak up as much of JKR's world as we can.  I am smiling just thinking about it.  I don't care how much  pain I am in, I have given myself days to recover when I come back.  We are doing all of the rides, we are doing all of the steps to the top of the lighthouse.  I will NOT allow my illness(es) hold me back from this once in a lifetime trip.

-Of course, there's my wonderful support system.  I have been very....whiny lately.  I hate whiny but I have just been so exhausted that I don't want to move and they have let me be.  That's the best thing we can do when I am like this. I have to do it, I don't have to like it.  Soon enough, if I keep it up they will give me a much needed kick in the a$$.

-My four-leggers.  A week or so ago, I just couldn't get out of bed.  I tried.  I got up and got ready for work and I was in so much pain, and so exhausted, that I called work and said that I would be a few hours late.  I didn't even change, I just fell back into my bed.  At 10:30 am, I tried to get going again and it just wasn't happening.  So I messaged my assistant manager and asked her to switch closing nights with me.  She agreed and I put my pajamas back on and went back to bed again.  I got up at 5 for a few minutes and 8pm for an hour or so then back to bed.  During this entire day- Auggie stayed in my bed with me.  He refused to move.  He curled up against my leg and stayed there.  The only reason I got out of bed was because he would not move away from me and I knew he HAD to go out and do his business and eat dinner.  Harley-girl is fighting her own arthritis so she lay down on the bottom step and stayed there.  When I came downstairs, she was my shadow.  Both of them offer such comfort.  I only wish I could be the person that deserves and is worthy of such devotion.

- My work.  It's at a place now in the cycle where I can sit to work. No 10-12-14-16 hour days on my feet.  There's a LOT of data entry right now, plus buying decisions, researching titles and emails flying but I don't have to be on my feet for any of it.  That's a relief.

- It's HAUNT season!  If you know me, you know I love, love, love Halloween.  I found my "niche" in the haunted house last year and I am back at it this year.  I can't tell you the joy it brings me.  I am sharing my weekends with a bunch of kids (I have bras older than a lot of them!) who are so creative and so thoughtful and so just excited to be there that I can't help but catch the excitement no matter how tired or sore I am.  They have been good to me too.  They are considerate of my limitations.  They are protective of my costumes and makeup and props and the room I am haunting in.  They even put a fan in there because my costume is so heavy!  Tonight there is a Halloween kick-off Parade.  I have been asked to walk in it but if I don't feel up to it, I can stay at the haunt and hand out candy.  They make me feel valued.  Like I make a true contribution- and I have so much fun doing it.  Everyone should have the opportunity to do this at least once.  :-)

I am sure there is more, but I have to take a nap before I go tonight.  I have a busy, busy, BUSY day tomorrow and won't be home till around 2am so I have to rest up while I am and the pups are both at my knee waiting to nap.

So the verdict for now is- yes, I am a mess physically but there are so many more things to be grateful for that I cannot let this overwhelm me.  We will see where we go with the new PT.  Until then, we take it one day at a time.

Have a lovely day!

There is No Limit on Who Can Be Your Support System.

     I have worked with "kids" of all ages for almost 20 years now.  Working in the restaurant setting, the bar scene, on college campuses and now in haunted houses has opened my eyes to exactly how many different kinds of family units there are and how many people grow up in truly difficult situations.  Some have amazed me, some have horrified me, some have just plain broken my heart.

     I have mentioned here before how grateful that I am to have the support system that I do.  My family (those I have by blood, by marriage and by choice) and my friends mean the world to me.  They pick me up when I am down, even when they don't know I am down.  They are there for the good times and bad.  They are loyal and honest and loving.  My groups is very diverse.  Male, female, straight, gay, young, mature, sheltered and worldly; all different backgrounds, all different life experiences and all different ideologies. What they all have in common is that they care about me and I care about them.  I couldn't ask for a better group of people in my life.

So what I would like to say to my young friends is very simple:  you never know who will become part of your support system.

You will encounter new people every day.  Don't discount someone because they are not like you.

That person  you think is so different is living (has lived) a life you know nothing about until you take the time to ask.

It only takes one thread to bind you together on a deeper level.

Don't be afraid to cut the toxic people from your life, all they add to it is a lesson on how not to treat others.

Surround yourself with positive people, those who encourage you to be the best you that you can be.

Spend time with people from whom you learn, let go of those who only want to drag you down.

Stop and really look at your friends, your family,your acquaintances.  You may be surprised to find out who is really there for you.  Don't take those people for granted.

Most of all, share your lessons.  Part of grown your support system is being that person for others.

I Had a Light Bulb Moment!

 

     When I am "haunting" I have a lot of time to think at the beginning of the evening.  Between makeup and getting into costume, waiting for the pre-haunt meeting and (being at the back of the house) waiting for the first groups to get from the front door to my room and then in between groups.  Yes, there are ambient noises but having spent as many years working in bars/nightclubs as I did- I can easily tune them out and almost meditate.  Unfortunately- I have not mastered meditation so my brain wanders all over the place- especially when I suck down two extra large coffees and already have a lot on my mind.

      As I was waiting this evening I was stretching a little and my arm did its "lets go numb" thing.  It instantly irritated me because frankly- regularly losing my strength and distinct tingling from my shoulders to my finger tips is getting old.  I shook it off after a few minutes and went back to "work".  A little while later it happened again and again and my frustration with it rose higher and higher.  About two and a half hours into the night we were back from a break and the tingling started to spread down my arm once again.  This time however was a little different.  I was relaxed from my break (and sucking back another coffee) and my end of the house was silent.  I was thinking about the herniated disc that's causing this problem and its counterpart in my lumbar vertebrae.  I considered that I have been battling lower back pain from the bad lumbar discs for many, many years now and this "falling asleep" thing in my upper body was fairly new. Rather than instant frustration a quiet thought slipped in.  "At least it's not pain".

     I actually jerked upright and took a step back for a second.  As the arm hung there in a full-on pins and needles state the light bulb came on and the thought seemed louder.  At least it's not pain.  I live with pain every single day.  Fingers, toes, hands, feet, knees, elbows, ankles, shoulders, back. Not always at once, usually bilaterally but not a day goes by that there's not some kind of pain.  The more I thought about this niggling little revelation I realized that the reason I have been so frustrated by this is not just that my body is falling apart.  I've been fighting pain and stiffness and loss of strength in my body daily for over 9 years now. I know how to deal with the pain.  I know how to medicate it, to compartmentalize it, to function with and through it and to give the stiffness time to work its way out so I can go about my day.

    No, the frustration comes because I don't yet know how to deal with this development.  What's really interesting is that while I was thinking this through, it came to me that this has been going on for longer than I wanted to think about.  I remembered talking to my sister over a year ago on several different occasions when I would be driving along and both my arm and my leg would go numb!  It's one of the things that I told the chiropractor at my early appointments and that's how we found of what rough shape my back was in.  It was an occasional thing and I thought it was more funny than irritating at the time but it was there.  When it clicked it was a "WOW" moment for me.  I pay a lot of attention to what my body is doing but this must have slipped by me until it got to the reached that that it was happening all too often to ignore.  At least it's not more pain.  I can live with this now, at least for the time being.  I will eventually have to decide if I can live with it long term or if I can take the time off that I will need to repair this latest insult to my body.  In the meantime, I have that thought to give me some peace of mind about the whole situation.  Now I know it could be worse. With that I can get some rest. 

It's A Wrong Side of the Bed Kind of Morning

     It's Saturday.  It's cloudy and overcast and I woke up good and cranky.  Hubby had to work this morning (that's a good thing) and his alarms went off at 6 and 6:10 because he had to leave at 6:30.  Evidently he was running late because he ran out quickly.  As soon as he left- the dogs LOST IT.  This was a break with their routine.  Normally when one of their humans wakes up- they go right out to do their business.  This time, one human jetted out the door and one stayed in bed.  They didn't like it and set up a ruckus.

     Normally I would be thankful for sleeping till 6:30- that's 2 hours after I normally wake up after all.  But last night I took a Lunesta because I haven't been sleeping well and I don't know about you- but when I take a Lunesta (or Ambien, or AdvilPM or any sleep aid), unless I sleep until it wears off, I wake up feeling like I am hung over.  That's not a good feeling.  To top it off, my shoulder started doing the "go numb and throb" thing which means I tossed and turned and slept so that the disc is inflamed and both wrists joined in the fray.  So- crankiness ensued.

    Now you may be asking "Why didn't you just go back to bed?"  Well, with the way the pain kicked in, I had to take my meds ASAP, and for some reason my Tramadol wires me right up.  That means I had to choose between sleeping off the Lunesta or taking the pain meds and the pain meds won.

     While I am waiting for the meds to kick in I have looked over my schedule for the week, checked 2 of my personal email accounts, took care of some stuff work work and watch some fluff on the DVR.  I have to get some laundry folded, pay some bills and then hopefully nap before I head to the Morgue for "Scare Tactics" and makeup rehearsal tonight.  Next weekend begins full dress rehearsals for our haunted house with "Friends and Family" night on the 26th- so that's something to look forward to.  That means my weekends will be booked through November 1st and it's a lovely thing.

    I also got to talk to my sweet son this morning.  Josh and I used to talk every day but he has gotten a promotion to "Site Director" and his hours have changed.  Between his new responsibilities (welcome to management honey!) and being a father to his lovely girlfriend's kids, his time is stretched thin and we haven't been able to connect the way we used to on a daily basis.  This morning he and Christina were taking their couch to the recycling center (they are getting a new one this week) and he gave me a call just so we could catch up.  I miss him like crazy but I know that if he were out here, his life would be very different.  He would not have his little family (and he is so crazy about Christina, Jake and Abbey) and he would not be managing a site for work.  The irony is- he stayed behind because of his karate and recently he has left the dojo.  He decided to step away from his position teaching kenpo and concentrate on learning Brazilian Jui Jitsu.  He's been taking classes for a while now and discovered that he really missed being a student.  His life has undergone so many changes in the last few years and he has grown up so very much.  I make sure to tell him often how very proud of him I am.  It's important that he knows that because we are so far apart.

    The more I think forward, the more I get over myself and the day starts to brighten, even if the weather doesn't.  They say there is only a 20% chance of rain but it's crazy overcast.  Not a bad thing at all.  It's chilly enough that I won't sweat myself through my costumes tonight.  Both are really heavy so when it's hot- it's a good thing I have barrier spray because I would sweat my makeup right off!  :-)   That will make it much easier tonight to play with makeup.  So there we go.

     I hope you are having a lovely weekend!