Welcome

As it says in the description, this is my place to rant, to think things over, to organize my thoughts, and my to do lists. As I learn more about the skin disease I was just diagnosed with (dermatomyositis), I will be adding my notes here as well - just to keep things straight in my head.

For instance, I saw my acupuncturist this morning. Sharon is a doll and an angel. She listened to what was ailing me, talked to me about the information that I could find on her blog to help with the inflammation and then took my pulse and found where to put the needles for today's session. As soon as the first needle went in, I began to cry; not because it hurt, but because I could finally relax and let someone else care for me for a while. The needles took the tension right away. As I "cooked" for 20 minutes, I cried more and just let the needles do their work as Tibetan music played on the ipod.

Sharon emphasized how important it is for me to lessen my stress load in order to deal with this disease. The stress adds to the inflammation.

Along with beginning yoga again and taking more walks and motorcycle rides, I need to be able to offload some responsibility, or just let some things figure themselves out. I've been carrying a lot of other people's baggage around with me lately. That needs to end - for my sake as much as theirs. I hope that they realize that I have not left them, but I just can't carry their load as I need to care for me right now. I hope they will be there for me even after I let their loads go.

With the detox, I may not (probably won't) be able to go out drinking with them for the foreseeable future. Yes, I rely too much on alcohol. Sue me. I hope they don't mind meeting me at tea houses instead. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it worries me. I like pubs - not only for the beer, but for the atmosphere. I can probably still frequent pubs. It just won't be as much fun drinking water/tea/etc while they are having dark and stormies.

List of things to do this week:

1. read Sharon's blog (done)
2. make appointments
1. opthomologist for a baseline prognosis on my current eye health (more on this later) (done! going in on April 5th!)
2. naturopath to help me find natural ways to cure my body
3. general practitioner to help me keep the dermatologist inline (more on this later as well) Done! 4/4 11am
3. go grocery shopping for foods that will detox and help me fight this
4. find yoga/pilates videos I can do at home: done! ordered from Amazon.

nice to have:

• set up extra bedroom as yoga studio 

PS. it doesn't suck having a purring kitten on my lap