Word Cloud - #HAWMC Day 30

Word Cloud. Make a word cloud or tree with a list of words that come to mind when
you think about your blog, health, or interests. Use a thesaurus to make the branches
of your “tree” extend further. http://www.wordle.net/

strength                                     sleep                                                 surgery
                       funny                                                            tired
      pain                                        empowered
       laughter                                                         blogging
                                     chocolate                                                                                                                  foot

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Six Sentence Story - #HAWMC Day 29

Six Sentence Story. In this day of micro-blogging –  brevity is a skill worth honing. Can
you tell a story and make it short and sweet? What can you say in six sentences.
Check out some here: http://sixsentences.blogspot.com/

I give myself shots each week to make myself better.  Even though the shots do help, they give me horrible bruises that make me look dreadful in a bathing suit.  The bruises are so big and ugly that people look and stare because I look like I have been beaten or in an accident.  My bathing suit doesn't come close to covering up all the bruises on my legs.  I long for a bathing suit that covers those bruises. Unfortunately, this isn't the 1920's.

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

The First Time I… - #HAWMC Day 28

The First Time I… Write a post about the first time you did something. What is it?
What was it like? What did you learn from it? 

Okay, because I am in work mode these days, I will talk about a work thing.  All I seem to do is work anymore.  I am NOT complaining!  After last year and the downturn in the economy, this is great.  I just wish it were spread out a little!  Some days I am working 12 hour days and it gets a little exhausting.  I am really happy though!  I love my work.

So this thing I had to learn how to do for the first time is a business proposal.  In the past when I got a referral for work, it is usually a company or nonprofit that is desperate to find someone who can fix their problem.  I am asked to give references and then they hire me.  The last two times I have been asked for a business proposal.  The first proposal left a lot to be desired. This last one took a whole day to write it.  Then after I wrote and handed it in, the scope of work changed and now they want another proposal.  I am so unsure about doing them, so I avoid them as long as possible. I learned that I need to find out how to do them and get better at doing them. 

What did you do for the first time and what did you learn from it?

Until tomorrow...


If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

5 Challenges & 5 Small Victories - #HAWMC Day 27

5 Challenges & 5 Small Victories. Make a list of the 5 most difficult parts of your health focus. Make another top 5 list for the little, good things (small victories) that keep you going.

Challenges:

1. aches, pains, soreness, creaky joints (oh, was I supposed to give one challenge?!)
2. that sore ______ (enter in your own personal woe of the moment: knee, foot, toe, shoulder, back, finger, etc)
3. exercising hurts my joints but I need to exercise to make my joints feel better.
4. eating out at restaurants is SO good but it sets off my Crohn's disease.
5. by the end of the day my eyes are so dry it is hard to see clearly.

Victories:

1. exercising helps me to lose weight and makes me feel better.
2. during non-flare times I like to get as much completed as I can.
3. have been eating well so no Crohn's flares in a while
4. was on an airplane with no problems with cramping in my legs
5. 1-1/2 weeks until surgery and I will be able to get rid of this pain in my ankle

What about you?  Any challenges or victories??

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Health tagline - #HAWMC Day 26

Health tagline. Give yourself, your blog, your condition, or some aspect of your
health a tagline. Make sure it’s catchy!

Arthritis...it doesn't have to suck.

                          Arthritis makes you rethink your life.

Crohn's, what a pain in the ass!

                                                   Acid reflux brings it all up.

Arthritis is all over this joint!

I could go on and on.  They just keep coming!

Until tomorrow...


If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Third person post - #HAWMC Day 25

Third person post. Write about a memory you have but describe it  using the third person. Use as many sensory images (sights, sounds, textures, etc) as you can. Don’t use “I” or “me” unless you include dialogue. 

Photo by MARVIA

It was Adrienne's first rainforest.  It was so lush and green.  She could hardly see three feet in front of her.  She was afraid of getting lost.  The smell.  It smelled like warm, wet dirt.  But cleaner, purer.  Then the rain started, real soft at first.  Kind of misty, then it began to rain harder.  Raindrops so big.  The noise of the raindrops hitting the leaves of the trees was like a train roaring down the tracks.  So loud it was disorienting.  The rainforest was a place she could get lost in.  A beautiful place you could get lost in.  A beautiful place to be treasured.

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Health Mascot - #HAWMC Day 24

Health Mascot. Give yourself, your condition, or your health focus a mascot. Is it a real person? Fictional? Mythical being? Describe them. Bonus points if you provide a visual!

A mascot?!  Hmmm.  I am not sure I can do this one.  My mascot would be strong and powerful.  But what would it look like?  I am not sure.  I am not this kind of creative.  Okay, it would be a dog superhero.  A dog that would crawl in bed and cuddle with me when I am sick and walk with me when I need to exercise and greet me when I come home.  The best superhero ever!

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Health Activist Choice Day 2! - #HAWMC Day 23

Health Activist Choice Day 2! Write about whatever you like.

I hear this song all the time and I love it.  I decided to talk about the lyrics.  The reason I like the song so much is that we have all had someone that hurt us whether it was a loved one or a friend.  When the relationship goes bad sometimes it goes so bad that it just ends and one person never knows quite why.  That person is left hanging.  I had a really good friend once. She was a really good friend in college and after college.  She had a really rough time with life.  I kept in there being her friend through rehab twice.  Then all of a sudden one day she stopped picking up the phone when I called.  She stopped sending birthday cards.  She stopped calling, writing, everything.  No explanation.  No reason.  I left messages saying if I had done anything, I apologize and that I loved her no matter what.  Nothing. To this day I don't know what happened.  If I did anything or said anything.  I will probably never know and I am not sure I will ever get over it.  I know this song is about lovers who  break up but when I hear the line "Now you're somebody I just used to know", it makes me think of her, my friend.

Somebody That I Used To Know

Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
I told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kinda sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make it like it never happened and that we were nothing
I don't even need your love, but you treat me like a stranger
And that feels so rough

No, you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records
And then change your number
Guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believin it was always something that I'd done

But I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know-oh-oh

But you didn't have cut me off
Make it like it never happened and that we were nothing (oh)
I don't even need your love, but you treat me like a stranger
and that feels so rough

(oh)

No, you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect you records
And then change your number (oh)
Guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Somebody that I used to know
Somebody (now your just somebody that I used to know)
That I used to know
Somebody that I used to know
Somebody (somebody) (now your just somebody that I used to know)
That I used to know

I used to know
That I used to know
I used to know
Somebody

Here is the video of Gotye singing the song live. 

 

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

The Things We Forget - #HAWMC Day 22

The Things We Forget. Visit http://thingsweforget.blogspot.com/ and make your own
version of a short memo reminder. Where would you post it?

My memo reminder would say:

Fish need air to breathe

I say this because the electricity went out in the backyard this morning.  I woke up and let the pups out and the pond was not running.  The poor fish were gasping for air!  They don't just need water, they need aerated water.  When the pump doesn't run, the water is stagnant and they look like they are green around the gills.  After trying everything I could think of: resetting breakers, pushing the CFI/GFI buttons, unplugging things, I finally got an extension cord and ran it to a plug on the deck that was working.  So the pond is working even though the lights and everything else is not.  Electrician comes tomorrow to see what is what.

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Health Madlib Poem - #HAWMC Day 21

Health Madlib Poem. Go to : http://languageisavirus.com/cgi-bin/madlibs.pl and fill
in the parts of speech and the site will generate a poem for you. Feel free to post the
Madlib or edit it to make it better.

all in beautiful

All in beautiful went my dog sneezing
on a creative fish of majestic
into the intriguing movie.

sentimental cool hot tubed and slowing
the bomb Wii before.

yummy be they than zany book
the happy organic Wii
the organic the bomb Wii.

sentimental organic vase at a sick star
 the curious panecotta before.

car at hair went my dog sneezing
sneezing the Australia down
into the intriguing movie.

sentimental cool hot tubed and slowing
the joyous yoga before.

boring be they than slender organic partner
the cool sick Wii
the ruby slow n Wii .

sentimental ruby minibar at a majestic bird
the sparkly phone before.

pond at computer went my dog sneezing
sneezing the candy down
into the intriguing movie.

sentimental cool hot tubed and slowing
the sparkly rain before.

colorful be they than funny doormat
the awesome laughter Wii
the ugly wacky Wii .

sentimental ugly hotel at the beautiful candy
the wacky flowers before.

All in beautiful went my dog sneezing
on a creative fish of majestic
into the intriguing movie .

sentimental cool hot tubed and slowing
my Walt Disney World mash pond before.

- adrienne & e.e. cummings

Okay, that was weird!  Most of it didn't even make sense.  There are better MadLibs to do. 

It is so hot here.  I had the roof down in the car and went to Lowes to get mulch.  I had a very nice young man help me put it in the car.  He wouldn't even take a tip.  It is supposed to be warm again tomorrow. Yay!

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Miracle Cure - #HAWMC Day 20

Miracle Cure. Write a news-style article on a miracle cure. What’s the cure? How do
you get the cure? Be sure to include a disclaimer  ;)

This is a fantasy article for a health challenge.  None of this is true! Unfortunately...

Cure Found for Dry Mouth and Dry Eyes

After years of research, scientists have found a cure for Sjogren's Syndrome.  Sjogren's Syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease in which a person’s white blood cells attack their moisture-producing glands. The most common complaint is dry mouth and dry eyes.  The syndrome came into the news this past year when Venus Williams was diagnosed with Sjogren's. The cure for Sjogren's Syndrome requires patients to visit their doctor's office for three injections one time a week for three consecutive weeks.  After the three injections, the symptoms of the disease begin to recede. Researchers hope that the cure for Sjogren's will lead to a cure for other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Crohn's disease.

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

5 Dinner Guests - #HAWMC Day 19

5 Dinner Guests. Who are 5 people you’d love to have dinner with (living or
deceased) and why?

Five dinner guests?  Gosh I am too tired to do this.  It feels like a test of my wits.  Okay, let's think. 

Someone funny and chatty.  I would say Carol Burnett but I saw her on some shoe recently and she was kinda bitchy.  I would ask Bette Midler. She can sing and be funny. 

Someone political. I like that Donna Brazile. She is interesting and quite funny sometimes. 

Someone who was an activist.  I think Martin Luther King, Jr.  He would bring some lively conversation.  I think he would get a hoot out of Bette Midler.

Someone who is a good writer.  Alexander McCall Smith.  He is a Scottish writer who wrote "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" and who is hysterical.  We met him in person a few years back.

Lastly, someone who is an actor.  I think Dame Helen Mirren would round out this group.  She is really funny and looks like she could keep conversation going at a dinner party.

There you go.  More alive than dead.  It should be a great dinner party.  Really funny.  Just how I like my meals, with a side of humor!  Who would you invite?

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Open a Book - #HAWMC Day 18

Open a Book. Choose a book and open it to a random page and point to a phrase. Use that phrase to get you writing today. Free write for 15-20 without stopping.

From the book I Touch the Earth, the Earth Touches Me, by Hugh Prather

One reason that I sometimes have difficulty "deciding" is that I assume that I should have no reservations. The word itself implies a completion. Often I can bypass "deciding" simply by noticing in which direction I am leaning.  Asking myself, "What is my preference?" cuts through this perfectionism.

I have a hard time making decisions sometimes.  Not on the little things like what type of sandwich but on big things.  This drives my partner crazy.  She sees something and wants it.  She doesn't need to see any other options or another color.  She actually gets angry if you try to show her other options.  She sees it and that is it.  She is done.

I am the exact opposite.  I see something and I want to look around and see if there is something else I like better before I spend my money. Before I bought my car 10 years ago, I went back to see it three times.  Drove it twice.  I already knew I wanted it but it was a big purchase.  My last car was a less expensive car rather than a car I was passionate about.  It was bought new when I was fresh out of college and my father co-signed the loan for me.  So this car was my going to be my first car that I wanted.  My convertible!  Of course I bought it and have loved every minute of driving it.

I also had bouts of indecision when I bought my Ipad.  I actually went to buy a Kindle Fire but then I had a sales person talk me through all the tablets and I was sold.  I went to see the Ipad three times before I bought it.  Of course I love it.


I guess I am a perfectionist when it comes to making decisions.  I just want to make the right decision.  I am scared to make a wrong decision.  I mean, who wants to make a bad decision?  Who wants to buy the wrong car and get stuck with it for 5 years?  I am just a cautious decision maker.  Not a "jump and the net will appear" type of decision maker.  That is not me!

Until tomorrow...


If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Learned the Hard Way - #HAWMC Day 17

Learned the Hard Way. What’s a lesson you learned the hard way? Write about it for
15 today.

A lesson I learned the hard way?  There are so many lessons I learned the hard way.  Don't touch a hot iron.  Don't shake a soda and then open it.  Don't leave ice cream out on a hot day.  Don't swim after eating. 

A lesson I learned lately?  Here is a lesson I have not learned: Wear my slippers.  My feet feel better when I wear my slippers but I am lazy and forget to wear them.  My very pricey slippers.  From a foreign country.  I don't wear them and then my feet hurt.

Okay, a lesson I have learned?  I can't think of one.  I am hard headed.  I don't learn lessons very easily.  I can think of plenty of things I have not learned.

Oh, here is one!  I went to the dentist today and I have not been in awhile since I don't have dental insurance.  I was given a silver star (not quite a gold star) because I flossed and brushed my teeth very well.  I guess I learned that lesson!

Until tomorrow...


If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Pinboard - #HAWMC Day 16

Pinboard. Create a pinterest board for your health focus. Pin 3 things. What did you pin? Share the images in a post and explain why you chose them.

Okay, I don't know what  pinterest board is.  I actually had to look it up in Wikipedia:

Pinterest is a pinboard-style social photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, hobbies and more.

I have no desire to get involved in another passing phase.  Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace, Youtube, and the list goes on.  It is just like VCRs, 8-track players, and dial phones.  Good things that go by the wayside for new technology.
 
Three things that I would say about my health focus:  

1. Picture a bright sunshine.  A happy sunny day and a bright future!  
2. Picture a plane taking off.  Going on an adventure somewhere.  
3. Picture bottles of medicines.  The pills and medicines that going to make me better and keep me from getting sicker.

Those are the things I want to say about my life and health focus.  Yeah, I might be sick but I still have sunny days with the top down on my convertible. I can still go on adventures. The medicines I take keep me from getting sicker. So life is good!

Until tomorrow...


If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Writing with Style - #HAWMC Day 15

Writing with Style. What’s your writing style? Do words just flow from your mind to your fingertips? Do you like handwriting first? Do you plan your posts? Title first or last? Where do you write best?

Writing.  Well, I call it typing.  I don't write my posts.  I type them.  Sometimes I plan my posts like when something exciting happened that day or when I am participating in a blog challenge.  Then I think about the subject or topic or event and begin writing.  I usually write what happened and then go back and read it and make edits.  I like to make the story flow if I am telling a story.  If I am answering a blog challenge question, it is much harder for me because the challenge answers don't usually flow off my fingertips. 

I usually come up with the title first.  I try to come up with something funny or quirky.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  Sometimes I post and then I come up with the best title.  Too late.

I write best when I am not stressed or under the gun to get the post completed.  I am usually on the couch watching TV with my feet up.  Laptop on my lap.  (where else does the laptop go?) 

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

My Dream Day - #HAWMC Day 14

My Dream Day. Describe your ideal day. How would you spend your time? Who would you spend it with? Have you had this day? If not – how could you make it happen?

My dream day would not include a Migraine!  Migraines screw up the whole day! 

My ideal day would include some of the same things from the list from yesterday.  Good food.  Movies.  I would spend it with Brenda.  I would sleep late and not stress about work.  We would hang out in the morning and eat these great croissants someone gave us once.  Then, slowly get ready and go to the movies.  Afterward I would want to go to my favorite burrito place and get a black bean and plantain burrito.  They are the best.  Then home to have some sort of chocolate dessert!  Watch some sort of movie or TV show.  A slow relaxing day.  I have not had a day like this in a long time.  Probably not since before the economic downturn. 

When you find this day, please let me know!  I could use a day like this!

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

10 Things I Couldn’t Live Without - #HAWMC Day 13

10 Things I Couldn’t Live Without. Write a list of the 10 things you need (or love) most.

Yesterday I was not feeling very good.  I had a massive migraine so I went to bed early.  The migraine continued into today despite taking medicine.  Finally I took an Imitrex shot and now hours later I feel much better.  I can finally function.  Although I am a bit hungry.  Oh, and I have a massive bruise where I gave myself the shot!  Hate that. 

Now, 10 things I can't live without. 

1. My Medicine!  As you can see from today, I am a mess without my medicine.  I can imagine how long this migraine would have continued without taking the shot.
2. My Family.  Brenda, Lucky, Happi and Sunny.  They are the best.
3. Music.  I love music and listening to it calms me down and makes me happy!
4. Books.  Especially when I have insomnia.  
5. Good Food.  I love to eat good food.  Now that I cook, I look forward to food.  I used to not care if I ate or not.  Now I am happy to eat.
6. Internet. Okay, I am connected.  I can't help it.  I have a smartphone, Ipad, laptop.  I am connected 24/7.  I want to get new alerts and updates.  I want to get my People update every day.  I like to get the latest emails.  
7. Chocolate.  I am a chocoholic.  I admit it.  I have given up alcohol, drugs, wearing fur, eating meat, smoking.  I have this one vice!  Chocolate.  Really good chocolate.  High quality chocolate. European chocolate.   I don't think I can ever give this one up. 
8. I am lactose intolerant but I love Ice Cream.  Every now and then I sneak a little bit.  I make sure it is good quality.  I am not eating any cheap ice cream if I can only eat a spoonful.  I only eat the good stuff!
9. Double Stuff Oreo Cookies.  Yes, I am addicted.  They are a vice.  Since I have to be careful how much chocolate I eat, I eat a double stuffed oreo to get satisfy that chocolate urge.  Guess I must be hungry with all this food talk.
10. TV/Movies.  I like to watch TV to unstress.  I admit it.  TV is fun. I like to watch movies too.  We rarely go to the movies, we watch Netflix or OnDemand.   This is my de-stressor.  Right now I am watching a re-run of Law & Order: SUV while writing this.  I have a bunch of favorites but the funniest this week was Mike & Molly.  Cracks me up!

I didn't include my health but to me that is a given.  Without my health, I wouldn't be living!

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Stream of Consciousness Day - #HAWMC Day 12

Stream of Consciousness Day. Start with the sentence “_______”just write, don’t stop, don’t edit. Post!

Tonight is Crazy!  We are having a horrible thunderstorm complete with lightening.  Now for some of you this is nothing interesting or new.  Where I live we rarely ever get thunderstorms or lightening so this is an unusual experience.  Plus this storm is REALLY big.  The rain is coming down like cats and dogs (where did that saying come from?) and the thunder is REALLY loud.  The thunder is so loud that Happi came running upstairs, cried and went under my legs.  Happi never gets upset from loud noises like fireworks or earthquakes or (usually) thunder.   Little Lucky jumped up and began barking.

I went and got a flashlight because I thought any minute the electricity would go out.  I turned off my computer just in case the electricity surged.  I was ready just in case.  There was even an emergency breakthrough on the TV about possible tornado warnings.  Crazy!

About 10 minutes ago the rain subsided and I only see some lightening in the distance.  I guess we are through the worst of it.  Although they say it will storm all night.  I am glad we emptied some water out of the pond out back.  Now the challenge is getting our water-phobic dogs to go out and pee! 

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Theme Song - #HAWMC Day 11

Theme song. Imagine your health focus or blog is getting its own theme song. What would the lyrics be? What type of music would it be played to?

Theme song?  This is crazy.  I think I am skipping this post.  First of all I can't stand theme songs, I find them annoying.  Those stupid songs that get stuck in your head.  I can't write lyrics.  I am not a poet and I can't rap.  So, there you go.  No Theme Song. Sorry!

Tonight I made this great Udon Tofu vegetable soup.  I never cooked with udon noodles or bok choy before.  It turned out really good.  I am actually looking forward to eating it tomorrow night. The recipe called for only greens but I also added broccoli, mushrooms, and red pepper.  Tasty!

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Dear 16-year-old-me - #HAWMC Day 10

Dear 16-year-old-me. Write a letter to yourself at age 16. What would you tell yourself? What would you make your younger self aware of?

Dear 16 year old Adrienne,


Be kinder to yourself.  Don't be so hard on yourself.  Laugh more.  Don't take yourself so seriously. 


Life is a marathon and not a sprint.  Take your time with life.  You have a great spirit.  Go have fun!  


Love,
More Mature Adrienne

I really don't have much to say to my 16 year old self.  I don't have any regrets from my younger years.  All the things that happened to me are what made me who I am today.  All the bad and the good.

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Keep calm and carry on - #HAWMC Day 9

Keep calm and carry on. Write (and create) your own Keep Calm and Carry On poster. Can you make it about your condition? Then go to (http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/) and actually make an image to post to your blog.

This was really cool.  I thought that with all that is going on in my life right now, keeping calm is really important.  They always say stay calm and walk to the nearest exit. 



So much going on, today I called to change a doctor's appointment that I already changed a week ago.  Too much going on! 

Until tomorrow...


If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Best Conversation I Had This Week - #HAWMC Day 8

Best conversation I had this week. Try writing script-style (or with dialogue) today to recap an awesome conversation you had this week.

The best conversation I had this week was when my friend told us she was pregnant.  It was a complete surprise. It came out of the blue.  She was with us for over an hour before she broke the news.  I can't believe she waited so long to tell us.  I don't think I would have been able to wait so long.  She gave us a box with a little pink onesy in it that said "I love my aunties".  We opened it and we screamed!  It is so exciting! 

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Health Activist Choice! - #HAWMC Day 7

Health Activist Choice! Write about whatever you want today.  (Maybe try a bonus prompt!)

Months ago my foot slipped off the clutch in my car when the car was off and sitting still. The car rolled forward and touched the car in front if me. It felt at the time like my ankle gave way. I asked my doctor if that could happen. He said he didn't know how. Now I see it all clearly: the torn ligament in my ankle made my ankle give out when I pressed on the clutch. I am not crazy.
Happy Easter!
Until tomorrow...
 If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Ekphrasis Post - #HAWMC Day 5

Ekphrasis Post. Go to flickr.com/explore and write a post inspired by the image. Can you link it to your health focus? Don’t forget to post the image!

It is that time of the year.  Some call it Easter.  I call it Cadbury Mini Egg time.  My second favorite time of the year.  Christmas being my favorite.  At our house we call Cadbury Mini Eggs "Crack Eggs".  Why you may ask?  If you are asking you have never had one.  ONE?! You can't have just one.  Once you open the bag, you can't stop eating them.  We call them Crack Eggs because they are as addictive as any substance.  We are convinced there is something other than chocolate in those eggs.  It has to do with the hard shell coating.

These eggs are the perfect combination of hard, crunchy shell and sweet, melty chocolate.  They also don't melt in your hand which makes them almost the perfect candy snack.  I can easily put away one-half of a bag in one sitting.  I like to put the egg in my mouth and then break it in half and crunch each half and let the chocolate melt in my mouth.

Go out and have a great Easter and if you are so inclined, get yourself some Cadbury Mini Eggs, if there are any left on the shelves.  I know I will.  Honestly, we have already gone through two bags of the Crack Eggs.  I know I have to avoid the Easter candy aisle of our local Walgreens.  Okay, maybe one more bag for this weekend...

Update on my surgery: Met with the surgeon today and we went over the steps of my surgery.  There are a few things wrong with my ankle/foot but we can't fix them all in one surgery.  I will get the ligament fixed first and then see where things are.  If I still have pain, another smaller surgery will be in my future.  I just want her to stop pressing on the points that hurt so much! 

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Health Haiku - #HAWMC Day 6

i Health haiku. Write a haiku about your health focus. 5 syllables/7 syllables/5 syllables. Write as many as you like.

My knee surgery Stop the pain in my ankle Delayed for a month
Will be on crutches Getting around won't be easy For six weeks or more
Once it is all over Able to walk much better Walk the dogs again

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

I Write About My Health Because… #HAWMC - Day 4

Day 4 - I write about my health because… Reflect on why you write about your health for 15-20 minutes without stopping. 

I write about my health because after being a member of the RA Club, I realized that many of the people in my life (friends, family, yes, even doctors) don't know much about rheumatoid arthritis.  That is why this started.  I wanted to educate, be an advocate and share stories about having arthritis.

Why do I write on my blog now?  I still like to do all of those things but the focus has changed a bit.  In just the short time that I have been writing, I have had two other diagnoses.  I now have Sjogren's and Crohn's disease.  So I still write about RA but I write about my other autoimmune diseases also.

When I started writing this blog I thought I would spend more time writing about advocacy but that has not happened.  Not because I don't want to but because there aren't enough advocacy opportunities to do to keep up a blog that I write on almost every day.  I put in as many advocacy opportunities as I can.

This blog has morphed into a place where I write about what it is like to live a life with multiple autoimmune complications.  From my feet up to my scalp. (oh, I haven't written about my scalp yet have I?  Well, that is coming to a blog soon!)  As some of my friends have said, they had no idea that so many things can go wrong.  I like to think that I had no idea that so many things can stay right!  (Life is good! I just got my Enbrel Support Card.  If you have no idea what that is, it helps to pay for the co-payment for Enbrel.  It is a life line!)   

So, I write about my health because people want and need to know about autoimmune diseases.  Education, with a healthy dose of humor, is so important.  Of course for no other reason, it makes me feel better knowing there are others out there (does that sound selfish?) and I get support from the comments they leave. 

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Superpower Day - #HAWMC Day 3

Day 3 - Superpower Day. If you had a superpower – what would it be? How would you use it?
My superpower would be to be in more than one place at a time. I am so busy these days I don't have a minute to do anything. If I had two of me, I could do my work with one of me and have doctors appointments and make appointments and return phone calls and have with the other me. That sounds fabulous!

This is written after a full day of running around with clients, spending a few minutes with a friend returning to Europe, gulping down dinner and going to a play. Maybe my superpower would make it so I could get some down time.

What would be your superpower? What would you do with it?


If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Inspirational Quote - #HAWMC Day 2

Day 2 - Quotation Inspiration. Find a quote that inspires you (either positively or negatively) and free write about it for 15 minutes. 

"You don't realize how strong a person really is until you see them at their weakest moment."

It is so true. Have you ever seen someone giving birth or someone getting chemo? They are the strongest people you will ever see. Lifting weights is easy compared to pushing a 12 pound baby out of your body. Running a marathon is a piece of cake compared to a round of chemo. Seeing people rise up to do what seems impossible, those are the miracles. Seeing people face challenges knowing those challenges are not going to be pleasant but they face them anyway.

Sometimes the challenges are not so life altering. Sometimes the challenge is getting out of bed in the morning or being able to walk across the floor. Sometimes it is being able to hold a hairbrush or a toothbrush in the morning. Or maybe it is swallowing those pills just one more time when you really don't want to.

These people are just as strong. It takes strength to get out of bed when you know your feet are going to hurt like the devil. It takes strength to stick yourself with needles each week. It takes strength to exercise when it may send you into a flare. It takes strength to keep going. We have strength!

Until tomorrow...

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the WEGO Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge (#HAWMC) during the month of April, sign up here.

Given An Award & Health Time Capsule #HAWMC - Day 1

I was given this award a few days ago!  I am so honored!  I have been so busy with this silly little surgery thing that I didn't find time to say thank you!  I have been awarded The Liebster Blog Award by Deb aka ABC's of RA.  Deb has been writing about her life with RA.  She has such an interesting and uplifting writing style (especially those kitty photo montages!)


From Deb's blog: For over thirteen years I have been traveling my ra journey.  I have taken claim to it.  I have carried it in silence at times, I have carried it in pain at times, I have tried to hide it at other times, and I have acknowledged that it will be with me for the rest of my life.  And today, I try desperately to celebrate it the best I can.

This award is given to bloggers who inspire you and have less than 200 followers. The Liebster Award takes its name from the German word meaning ‘Beloved, Dearest or Favorite’. I’m humbled and honored to receive this award.

As part of the tradition it is passed along to 5 bloggers that have motivated and inspired.

To accept the award you must:
1. Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them.
2. Post the award to your blog.
3. Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you appreciate and value.
4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have been offered this award.

I am honoring the following bloggers for their wonderful contributions to the health community. 

Wren, at RheumaBlog.  Wren writes the most poetic posts.  I always feel like I am there when she writes about a situation.  Her blog is "about rheuma and how it affects those of us who live with it every day."  

Megan, at Objects in Mirror are Closer than They Appear.  Megan is participating in the Health Activist Writers Month Challenge.  Her profiles states: I read and write like it's an addiction. I teach. I design objects and interfaces. I laugh often, though rarely early. I also happen to have lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Lana, at Living Life as I See Fit.   Lana is also participating in the Health Activist Writers Month Challenge.  Her profile states: From the day that I received my first diagnosis, rheumatoid arthritis, I promised myself that RA would not win. A couple months later, I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. In beginning, I went through a variety of emotions: Fear, denial, optimism, frustration, numbness, and skepticism. My emotions would change several times day and hope and acceptance were a long ways down the road. My blog is about who I am, my struggle for answers, and how I have made lemonade.

Courtney, at Age Does Not Bring Wisdom, But It Does Give Perspective.  Courtney is my sister-in-law and dealing with two young children.  She is also currently trying to lose weight.  From her blog: One thing I plan on adding at the end of every entry is a bit about what the children have done or are doing.  You think you're going to remember everything as they grow up, and then you realize you can't even remember what was happening this time last year. 

Socks, at Itis.  Warm Socks profile states: This blog is where I record my experiences with autoimmune disease, doctors, and my interactions with the healthcare system.  In this autoimmune war, I intend to win.  You can, too.

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 Day 1 #HAWMC  Health Time Capsule


Okay, here is the beginning of the Writer's Challenge.  I have to think of things to write about.   A time capsule to be opened in 2112.  What would I put in it?  I would put copies of my health tests just so I could see how far things have changed in the next ten years.  I am always interested in how much things have changed over time.  I find it hard to remember when I think back.  Did my feet hurt five years ago?  Did my hands hurt this much ten years ago?  Maybe I should put this blog in the time capsule since this is the closest thing I have to a medical journal.  I am not sure what personal things I would put in a time capsule.  Maybe photos to see what I looked like, what my hands and feet looked like.  What my weight was so I can see if by getting off steroids I could lose the weight. 

If people found it, they would think I am a fairly ill person but that I am a person who is optimistic for the future.


Until tomorrow...