25 Things I have learned in the last few months ...

I have learned a lot in the last few months. I have had issues - arm, hand, skin issues. And they have taught me plenty. Here's what I have learned ... ( I have to get this all off my chest and then I will be DONE with it !!)
1. I don't like not feeling well.
2. It is exhausting.
3. Not knowing what is wrong or when some other freak thing will pop up is enough to make me insane.
4. I am a medical freak ... now that's awesome ! *kidding* ... it may make you briefly famous among your healing circle but actually it sucks. I don't want to be in a giant pickle jar someday !! lol !!
5. Heat is not my friend.
6. I don't like to blog about negative things ... and getting to the point where this doesn't feel negative has been difficult. But I think I am there.
7. Blisters leave marks ... lots of ugly marks.
8. You learn who your true friends are ... when "I really am not feeling well" and the subsequent need to just go home is enough to have someone drop you like a hot potato ... that opens your eyes to a lot. But it is good - it's good to know who will just roll with you.
9. Short sleeves don't cover up ugly marked up arms (or flabby turkey arms - heehee) but long sleeves sometimes make things worse.
10. You need to take care of yourself, choose your own path, and do the research.
11. You need to roll with things every day ... things don't need to be planned to the milli-second.
12. I am terrified of human combustion. Always have been and am even more so now.
13. I have a wonderful husband & great friends.
14. Sometimes you just need to cry & feel sorry for yourself ... but then you need to put on your big girl panties and suck it up.
15. Chips sometimes do help ... briefly.
16. Sleep is the best healer in the world.
17. I am vain ... sad ... but I am. Hives were irritating but the day they reached my face ... then it was serious. I was embarrassed by my hands ... I am vain.
18. I am tougher than most people (including myself) think.
19. Relax ... relax ... relax ...
20. Don't consume anything that you don't want your body to have to get rid of later in life ... why didn't I know that when I was 17 ...?
21. Mind over matter doesn't really work.
22. I wish I had thin arms with well defined muscles.
23. I am okay with just taking things as they come. Life is great.
24. Reusable ice packs are amazing !!
25. I am kicking ass on this thing ... somehow. So there !!!

I know , I know ...

I know ... I need to post. But about what ?? I am trying to keep it positive & not be a complainer ... so I have kept quiet !! Things are fine, work is great, the sunsets are spectacular, cats are adorable, husband is wonderful ... but my damn arms are gross !!! Blistered and red & super duper ugly !! I spend a disproportionate amount of time thinking about them ... I bet they never think of me !! I have been trying all the treatments, ice, heat, rolling pin (yes, rolling pin), now tomorrow I go INFRARED !!! I have my fingers crossed , my hives are popped in anticipation, and I am hoping that in a few days I will have a GLOWING report !! Happy days are on their way ... I am confident ... at least I hope so ... pretty sure anyway ... lol !! Talk soon !! Okay ... so far ... it was great !! I am HOPEFUL !!! So hopeful !!!! WAHOOOOO !!

Oh the Glory of It !

This is why I live where I do ! I never come home at night without looking out at the water and being grateful to live in such an amazing place. It is glorious, calming & exciting at the same time, and just reminds me of how big the world is and of my little place in it. I am a lucky gal !!

wellllll ... still searching for that good thing to say ...

EDIT : okay, the swelling has gone down, only a few marks left, arms feel good (just don't squeeze !) and the Benadryl has kicked in. The snow is gorgeous and the sun is magnificent. I am ready to have a GREAT day !!! I think my crappy attitude may be fading ....fading .... fading ...
Yep, it's true ... the last few weeks have been much like the last post. More treatments, more reactions, more hives, more misery (how's that for drama ?!) . And that is all I am saying about that. Next week I will have a whole new perspective on things and something cheerful to blog about !! ( I am looking for an adventure to embark on - just for material for the blog , you know !!)
Here are a few reasons why I don't get as much done as I sometimes hope for ... apparently the best beds in town are on paper & stamps or on the paper cutter. Comfy & blissful !!


Hope you have that cozy kind of week !! I'm off to work on my crappy attititude !! ;)

welllllll ... it was *quite* a week ...

Gee, you know ... I try to keep it positive, try not to whine or complain, kvetch & carry on (on my blog ... in real life , I can hold a pity party as well as the next guy !!) ...and sometimes I slip , but I try. But then this week came along ... and OH it was a doozy !!! I could say a few positive things like ... I am alive. There are still undiscovered species in the world. ummm .... but that is nothing like my week !!!
I have an ongoing hand/arm problem that was dealt with about 5 years ago ... involved 2 surgeries and 3 bouts of phsyio. And then finally some DEEP bruising physio that fixed it. I made radical work & career changes and then happily carried on ... thinking it would never return.
Sloooowly over the last few years ...DUN DUN DUN ... it did return. So I ignored it until I couldn't and decided to bite the bullet and start deep tissue massage therapy ( and literally bite the bullet ... or my lip... or anything ...) . Found a great therapist and off I go. OWWWWWWW!!!! It was brutal as I expected but what I didn't bargain on was an allergic reaction to the soothing balm ... irony ... My arms turned bright eat-my-flesh-off-the-bones red with the whole arm being a raised welt. Both arms. Nothing could touch them. Then came the blisters. ooey yucky blisters. As the therapist said ... if it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have none. Yep. I agree sometimes. This is after 2 weeks of constant hives because I was pretending to myself to have no worries about this whole problem. "Me ? I'm not worried . Nah. " POP POP POP HIVE HIVE HIVE . SO I have been one sweet BLOTCH for all of this week too. Yesterday I had such a big hive on my foot, I couldn't wear my shoe the last half of the day !!
But ... it is getting much better. Skin is white again (except for the hives) and I can touch my arms !! WAHOO !!! And this may be an honour ... "Worst Arms Ever" was my diagnosis. Like human bubble wrap to massage. Pretty sweet huh ??! I'm so making a badge to wear to my next session !!
But there is a bright spot ... I am going to tell you what my secret fear was ... when the yellowy globs started appearing on my arms, I had no idea they were blisters. I was horrified. I thought the fat in my arms had all globbed together into these hideous masses ... I was terrified it would stay that way !!! (now it may have been all the Benadryl ... let's say it was ... but that was my honest to god fear ...) I was DELIGHTED to find out they were blisters !! So silver lining to every cloud ... hey ! I did end up saying something positive after all !!
Have a great week !!!

Give PEACE a Chance ... All I am saying ...

Back in 1969 John Lennon & Yoko Ono held a "bed-in" to promote peace. I'm thinking they had something there. Our new sheets may hold the key ...

THeSe aRe A FeW of My FaVouRiTe ThiNgS ... !!

I am NOT A MINIMALIST.
I LOVE STUFF.
*** A few years ago we did address the issue of hoarding ... let's just say it involved renting - and filling - a dumpster. AND discovering AMAZING things that had been squirreled away. It did show me the importance of a tiny bit of restraint and more organization but it did not squelch my love of stuff ... nothing could do that, I'm sure !! ***
So this year I am going to share from time to time some photos of my favourite things ... and there are many !!
In honour of the New Year ... fresh start, clean page , standing on the precipice of the sparkling New Year ready to dive in ... I have these faves for you !!

This is my clock in my workroom. I ADORE it ! It makes me smile every time I look at it !! I fully live by the concept ... DO IT NOW !!! Don't wait ! (Oh, I only apply this to fun stuff ... I can easily put off vaccuuming or other icky tasks... this may explain why I have lots of fun but a messy house ... but, really, who cares !!)
This hangs on the wall ... actually near the clock ... just in case I have a pang of responsible conscience ... a second opinion !!
And last but not least ...

My Damned Dollies !! I love these dolls. They are made by a girl in Toronto and I buy one each time I go to the One of a Kind Craft Fair. They are so fun ... and saucy !! I love their rebellious nature . How fun is a doll with an eye patch and a knife ?! I gave them a CN Tower so they wouldn't get homesick ...
Have a great week !!