When you get into a tight place and
everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang
on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and
time that the tide will turn.
~ Harriet Beecher Stowe
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Psoriatic Arthrits - A Review
When I was still in high school, I began have a lot of pain in my hands and feet. What began as an every once in a while pain soon morphed into a constant, stabbing pain whenever I would be on the move for more than a few hours. Being under 20, I just thought that I had done way too much and kept pushing myself through the pain. That worked well until the day that my brother was diagnosed with a disease called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. The entire family was tested with my results coming out as inconclusive. From that moment, my life became a series of doctor visits, pills and pain.
Not a lot of information was available about Psoriatic Arthritis when I was diagnosed years later in the late 1990s. Luckily, times have changed. There's been an increase in information as well as medications used to treat the illness since then. Receiving a diagnosis of PsA doesn't have to be a life changer. Working hand in hand with your doctors to discover what works for you can make a huge difference in your quality of life when it comes to living with the disease.
For more thorough information on Psoriatic Arthritis, please click the link below to take you to a post I wrote when I first began this blog.
http://survivingpa.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-is-pa.html
Until next time,
Kay
Not a lot of information was available about Psoriatic Arthritis when I was diagnosed years later in the late 1990s. Luckily, times have changed. There's been an increase in information as well as medications used to treat the illness since then. Receiving a diagnosis of PsA doesn't have to be a life changer. Working hand in hand with your doctors to discover what works for you can make a huge difference in your quality of life when it comes to living with the disease.
For more thorough information on Psoriatic Arthritis, please click the link below to take you to a post I wrote when I first began this blog.
http://survivingpa.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-is-pa.html
Until next time,
Kay
Quote of the Day
Twenty
years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't
do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away
from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover.
~ Mark Twain
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Long weekend, short workweek
As I mentioned on Saturday, this weekend was Memorial Day weekend. The actual holiday was on Monday and it was the designated day to honor those fallen armed service members. It's my hope that they be remembered more often than one day by everyone.
It was unseasonably cold over the weekend. That didn't bode well for my PsA and Fibro. On Friday, the weather was so beautiful outside. Sunny and slightly breezy, I so wished that I was able to take advantage of it. Unfortunately, my lovely little pup decided to keep me up all night Friday and most of the day on Saturday. I wasn't able to get all of the restorative sleep that I need to reset the pain and stiffness. When I did get to fall asleep, I woke up around midnight and simply stayed awake to work on some of the crochet projects that I need to get finished by the end of October. I wanted to create a community project in order to help others somehow. Since I am okay with crocheting, the opportunity to make hat/scarf sets for the children of our local behavioral center presented itself. My next project is to create lap blankets for the elderly in area nursing homes.
Sunday was low-key even though everyone else was crazy about the Indianapolis 500 that happened. If I am to be honest, I didn't even bother with a lot of it. I spent the day catching up on reading that I had fallen behind in and made some headway toward finishing at least two books by Wednesday when I do my currently reading post on my other blog. Afterwards, I attempted to do some cleaning. I can often do some general straightening up but deep cleaning alludes me. No matter how hard I want to tear apart a room and clean from corner to corner, I can't anymore. It's just the plain true. The only thing I can do is whatever I can each and every day.
Monday was spent catching up on the blog posts both here and my reading blog. I managed to finish the 30th of 75 hat and scarf sets. I'm about halfway on the 31st scarf. I have given myself until the end of the week to work as many sets as possible before I start revising that novel of mine. I'll post more information about that journey on my other blog. After the rain had moved through Sunday night, I was able to move a little better on Monday. I was able to help with the clearing out/reorganization of the office/craft room. My husband and I have to share a space and unfortunately, my craft items runneth over.
Today, I'm just going to keep working on the crochet and reading. I am also going to start up a small exercise program so that I can lose this weight to help with both my breathing and my arthritis. Until the organization is finished, I can't use the weight machine but I have a small incumbent bike that I think 10 minutes twice a week is a good start. I don't want to overdo anything and cause myself a huge setback. I have done that before and it didn't end well at all. With that, I'm off to get my list of things done. Or as much as I'm able, that is.
Until next time,
Kay
It was unseasonably cold over the weekend. That didn't bode well for my PsA and Fibro. On Friday, the weather was so beautiful outside. Sunny and slightly breezy, I so wished that I was able to take advantage of it. Unfortunately, my lovely little pup decided to keep me up all night Friday and most of the day on Saturday. I wasn't able to get all of the restorative sleep that I need to reset the pain and stiffness. When I did get to fall asleep, I woke up around midnight and simply stayed awake to work on some of the crochet projects that I need to get finished by the end of October. I wanted to create a community project in order to help others somehow. Since I am okay with crocheting, the opportunity to make hat/scarf sets for the children of our local behavioral center presented itself. My next project is to create lap blankets for the elderly in area nursing homes.
Sunday was low-key even though everyone else was crazy about the Indianapolis 500 that happened. If I am to be honest, I didn't even bother with a lot of it. I spent the day catching up on reading that I had fallen behind in and made some headway toward finishing at least two books by Wednesday when I do my currently reading post on my other blog. Afterwards, I attempted to do some cleaning. I can often do some general straightening up but deep cleaning alludes me. No matter how hard I want to tear apart a room and clean from corner to corner, I can't anymore. It's just the plain true. The only thing I can do is whatever I can each and every day.
Monday was spent catching up on the blog posts both here and my reading blog. I managed to finish the 30th of 75 hat and scarf sets. I'm about halfway on the 31st scarf. I have given myself until the end of the week to work as many sets as possible before I start revising that novel of mine. I'll post more information about that journey on my other blog. After the rain had moved through Sunday night, I was able to move a little better on Monday. I was able to help with the clearing out/reorganization of the office/craft room. My husband and I have to share a space and unfortunately, my craft items runneth over.
Today, I'm just going to keep working on the crochet and reading. I am also going to start up a small exercise program so that I can lose this weight to help with both my breathing and my arthritis. Until the organization is finished, I can't use the weight machine but I have a small incumbent bike that I think 10 minutes twice a week is a good start. I don't want to overdo anything and cause myself a huge setback. I have done that before and it didn't end well at all. With that, I'm off to get my list of things done. Or as much as I'm able, that is.
Until next time,
Kay
Quote of the Day
It is only when
we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on Earth and
that we have no way of knowing when our time is up that we will begin to
live each day to the fullest, as if it were the only one we had.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Quote of the Day
True
friends want nothing from you except the joy of your presence. No matter
what you do, they will always be your friend.
~ Paramahansa Yogananda
~ Paramahansa Yogananda
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Quote of the Day
We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Years Day.
~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Off to the races.
This weekend is Memorial Day weekend in the US. It's a time when we are supposed to take a few moments to honor the sacrifices that many other men and women have made so that we can sit back, relax with good food and watch a little race called the Indianapolis 500. The race has become quite the tradition in the last few decades. I remember a lot cookouts with family, lots of food and betting who was going to be the winner of the race. There were times when we would guess the correct winner and other times when it really didn't matter.
What I remember most of all is the coming together of family. My parents, siblings, and I would pile into the car and make our way out to my grandmother's house. It was the unspoken official meeting place for all family functions such as birthdays, holidays, special occasions, virtually anything that required family and a good time. My aunt and uncle would bring their families. Soon the entire area was filled with smells, sounds and sights of family.
Those days are memories now in more than one way. Some of the beloved relatives have gone from this physical state. Others are simply too busy with their own lives. Others like me are no longer able to simply make arrangements and show up. There are so many things I have to do in order to leave my house that it takes a long while the day before and day of the event to get ready. Not only do I face that reality but I'm also well aware of the payment I'll make to arthur, aka PsA, for the days after depending on what I actually do during the event.
Times like these, I find myself mourning for the life I had before PsA. At times, all the days and nights run together and I forget what day it is. Without the occasional doctor's appointment and a few distractions, I would simply drift from day to day and not even realize a week or a month has gone by. I do believe renewing these blogs will help me just as much as pushing myself to work on projects for others will help my self-esteem. I have to learn to let the memories guide me and not weigh me down as I go forward.
Have a wonderful weekend no matter where you are.
Until next time,
Kay
What I remember most of all is the coming together of family. My parents, siblings, and I would pile into the car and make our way out to my grandmother's house. It was the unspoken official meeting place for all family functions such as birthdays, holidays, special occasions, virtually anything that required family and a good time. My aunt and uncle would bring their families. Soon the entire area was filled with smells, sounds and sights of family.
Those days are memories now in more than one way. Some of the beloved relatives have gone from this physical state. Others are simply too busy with their own lives. Others like me are no longer able to simply make arrangements and show up. There are so many things I have to do in order to leave my house that it takes a long while the day before and day of the event to get ready. Not only do I face that reality but I'm also well aware of the payment I'll make to arthur, aka PsA, for the days after depending on what I actually do during the event.
Times like these, I find myself mourning for the life I had before PsA. At times, all the days and nights run together and I forget what day it is. Without the occasional doctor's appointment and a few distractions, I would simply drift from day to day and not even realize a week or a month has gone by. I do believe renewing these blogs will help me just as much as pushing myself to work on projects for others will help my self-esteem. I have to learn to let the memories guide me and not weigh me down as I go forward.
Have a wonderful weekend no matter where you are.
Until next time,
Kay
Quote of the Day
Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seared with scars.
~ Khalil Gibran
Friday, May 24, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Ch-Ch-Changes!
I had restarted this blog for a few reasons. One, I think the information from my daily life could be something that those going through similar issues can relate to on a number of levels. As boring as it may seem to most, I know that I'm not alone in the amount of pain, frustration and isolation that I feel. Also, I think it's good to raise awareness for things that millions of people have to contend with on a daily basis. Maybe with enough attention focused on the problem, something would be done about it. Mostly, I felt ashamed that I had let a passion of mine fall by the wayside while I was going through some really tough periods. As I recovered from some physically and emotionally drained decisions, I realized that I needed to get back into the things that brought me the most joy and also defined me as a person. Writing.
For as long as I can remember, I've always been doing one of two things. Either I have been tucked away in a corner somewhere with a book in my hands or I've been creating stories of anything and everything. As I grew older, those passions were only reinforced and I found myself wanting to be an author so bad I dreamed it nearly every night. Then life got in the way as it usually does and I had to put the writing/reading on the back burner. When I started to get really sick, writing helped me to get through some of the confusion and frustration of having the familiar and dreams torn away from me. I held onto the dream of doing something with the writing through the worst of times that the PsA put me through. I achieved a lifelong goal of writing a novel over the course of seven years while going through all the tests, medicines and what-ifs.
Once my brother became seriously ill during a Lupus flare, I turned again to my writing to help me through. I had to keep focused on something other than the fact he might not make it through this time. I was able to maintain that distraction until the moment he slipped away from us. After that, it's taken me nearly 6 years to let myself feel enough to write again. In recent months, I have made the decision to take a leap of faith and do something with the writing no matter how much pain and health trouble I have. I will have my dream some how, some way.
Because I have rekindled the fire for this blog and have started a book review blog, I have made the decision to stagger the posts. The only exception will be my daily quote posts. They will go up as usual. My updates here will be on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday with the other days being reserved for my book blog. Of course, holidays will make the calendar weird but we'll deal with it.
Until next time,
Kay
For as long as I can remember, I've always been doing one of two things. Either I have been tucked away in a corner somewhere with a book in my hands or I've been creating stories of anything and everything. As I grew older, those passions were only reinforced and I found myself wanting to be an author so bad I dreamed it nearly every night. Then life got in the way as it usually does and I had to put the writing/reading on the back burner. When I started to get really sick, writing helped me to get through some of the confusion and frustration of having the familiar and dreams torn away from me. I held onto the dream of doing something with the writing through the worst of times that the PsA put me through. I achieved a lifelong goal of writing a novel over the course of seven years while going through all the tests, medicines and what-ifs.
Once my brother became seriously ill during a Lupus flare, I turned again to my writing to help me through. I had to keep focused on something other than the fact he might not make it through this time. I was able to maintain that distraction until the moment he slipped away from us. After that, it's taken me nearly 6 years to let myself feel enough to write again. In recent months, I have made the decision to take a leap of faith and do something with the writing no matter how much pain and health trouble I have. I will have my dream some how, some way.
Because I have rekindled the fire for this blog and have started a book review blog, I have made the decision to stagger the posts. The only exception will be my daily quote posts. They will go up as usual. My updates here will be on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday with the other days being reserved for my book blog. Of course, holidays will make the calendar weird but we'll deal with it.
Until next time,
Kay
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Waiting on rain.
It's bright and shiny outside with a strong breeze. If I were anyone without the PsA and other lovely diagnoses, I'd be out there enjoying the day. Maybe I could be doing some gardening or even taking a walk around the block. Unfortunately, these pleasant days will be spent inside the house near a fan or a/c unit and trying not to cry from pain.
For many years now, I've been a walking barometric pressure indicator. I can feel when there is the slightest change in pressure as my level of pain goes up a day or two before rain systems come my way. That pain can last for up to a day after the rain has left. Then the cycle begins again and again. So I am stuck here today with just my computer and other distractions at my side to help me try and forget the pain.
It doesn't help that I had to go without my anti-inflammatory meds for a little while. Something with the insurance and I have to pay a pricey sum for it. Sometimes it's not a big deal. Other times, it is just a fact of life that I have to live with. And I do because I don't really have much else that I can do about it. Still, it makes for a pretty hard day when the weather's shifting. Luckily, these times are rare and I tend to bounce back after a week of medicine back into my system. Well, I come back into a level of pain that I can ignore on a daily basis.
As I wait on the rain, I'm going to try and do some reading. Maybe even a little crocheting will be done. We'll just have to wait and see.
Until next time,
Kay
For many years now, I've been a walking barometric pressure indicator. I can feel when there is the slightest change in pressure as my level of pain goes up a day or two before rain systems come my way. That pain can last for up to a day after the rain has left. Then the cycle begins again and again. So I am stuck here today with just my computer and other distractions at my side to help me try and forget the pain.
It doesn't help that I had to go without my anti-inflammatory meds for a little while. Something with the insurance and I have to pay a pricey sum for it. Sometimes it's not a big deal. Other times, it is just a fact of life that I have to live with. And I do because I don't really have much else that I can do about it. Still, it makes for a pretty hard day when the weather's shifting. Luckily, these times are rare and I tend to bounce back after a week of medicine back into my system. Well, I come back into a level of pain that I can ignore on a daily basis.
As I wait on the rain, I'm going to try and do some reading. Maybe even a little crocheting will be done. We'll just have to wait and see.
Until next time,
Kay
Quote of the Day
Nothing is permanent in this wicked world. Not even our troubles.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Quote of the Day
Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it's holy ground. There's no greater investment.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Hello again.
Due to overwhelming circumstances beyond my control, I had to leave the blogging world behind for a short period of time. There were a number of things that I needed to work out. Most of them I have made a lot of progress but some of the major hurdles are still a good distance in the future to be dealt with. I suppose that I'll deal with them when they pop up . Until then, I am content to distract myself with a number of different projects. So what have I been doing in the time away?
Let's see. In September 2012, I decided to take my writing more seriously. I've always been a writer of sorts. I often created short stories and poetry while novel length creations seemed to allude me. Before this year, it had taken me nearly seven years to complete a novel from beginning to end. That doesn't include the editing and revision process either! I attended my first writer's conference that month as well. 2012 was also the year in which I actually submitted a short story and poem for publication in a local e-magazine. To my delight, they were both published!
During the month of November 2012, I participated in the annual NaNoWriMo contest. For those who don't know what that is, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org). Throughout the entire month, millions of would-be authors spend hours to reach the goal of having written 50,000 words. I have been attempted it on and off since 2005. Unfortunately, my success rate isn't very good as I have only "won" twice in the past seven years. However, this last year gave me the basis of a novel that I continued working on well past the end of November. In fact, I completed the novel in its entirety in April of this year. I have been quite pleased and shocked that I was able to finish one in six months!
Also during the later part of 2012, I decided that I wanted to do something community related in the honor of my brother's memory. Due to some unforeseen complications, what I had intended and the end result are slightly different but the essential desire is the same. I want to give back to those less fortunate in the community, especially the children, elderly and soldiers/veterans. My brother was huge on helping those groups and I'd like to carry on his giving nature. So I decided that I would help create hat and scarf sets for our local children's center. They have a 61 bed facility which is nearly always full, if not overflowing at times. Therefore, I set my goal at 75. Currently, I stand at 27 completed sets and have continued working through them one stitch at a time. My friends and family have been gracious enough to donate yarn, hats and their encouragement to keep me going.
Recently I have begun a second blog where I will be posting reviews of books that I have read. I have been entering giveaways where a requirement is to review the book and thought this was a perfect opportunity to expand on my love (okay, addiction) of words. You can find it at http://confessionsofawordaddict.blogspot.com/ and I do hope you enjoy it.
Other things have been going on, especially with my health, but I am going to save that for another day. My hands are going to revolt against me if I continue to push them. Hope you all have a wonderful and painless day!
Until next time,
Kay
Let's see. In September 2012, I decided to take my writing more seriously. I've always been a writer of sorts. I often created short stories and poetry while novel length creations seemed to allude me. Before this year, it had taken me nearly seven years to complete a novel from beginning to end. That doesn't include the editing and revision process either! I attended my first writer's conference that month as well. 2012 was also the year in which I actually submitted a short story and poem for publication in a local e-magazine. To my delight, they were both published!
During the month of November 2012, I participated in the annual NaNoWriMo contest. For those who don't know what that is, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org). Throughout the entire month, millions of would-be authors spend hours to reach the goal of having written 50,000 words. I have been attempted it on and off since 2005. Unfortunately, my success rate isn't very good as I have only "won" twice in the past seven years. However, this last year gave me the basis of a novel that I continued working on well past the end of November. In fact, I completed the novel in its entirety in April of this year. I have been quite pleased and shocked that I was able to finish one in six months!
Also during the later part of 2012, I decided that I wanted to do something community related in the honor of my brother's memory. Due to some unforeseen complications, what I had intended and the end result are slightly different but the essential desire is the same. I want to give back to those less fortunate in the community, especially the children, elderly and soldiers/veterans. My brother was huge on helping those groups and I'd like to carry on his giving nature. So I decided that I would help create hat and scarf sets for our local children's center. They have a 61 bed facility which is nearly always full, if not overflowing at times. Therefore, I set my goal at 75. Currently, I stand at 27 completed sets and have continued working through them one stitch at a time. My friends and family have been gracious enough to donate yarn, hats and their encouragement to keep me going.
Recently I have begun a second blog where I will be posting reviews of books that I have read. I have been entering giveaways where a requirement is to review the book and thought this was a perfect opportunity to expand on my love (okay, addiction) of words. You can find it at http://confessionsofawordaddict.blogspot.com/ and I do hope you enjoy it.
Other things have been going on, especially with my health, but I am going to save that for another day. My hands are going to revolt against me if I continue to push them. Hope you all have a wonderful and painless day!
Until next time,
Kay
Quote of the Day
"The manner in which one endures what must be endured is more important than the thing that must be endured.”
~ Dean Acheson
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