To Health

It is Thursday and I challenge you all to be thankful.

I am thankful for having a week so filled with health that I have been running around doing things I normally can't (like having nearly all the house clean, sparkling clean, all at once). It has kept me from sitting to actually write, but it has filled me with ideas.

I am thankful that spring is almost here, and that DH and I are going to the Philly Flower Show next week, and that my Mom is planning on coming down to join us.

I am thankful for friends who are willing to get up early and come to brunch to celebrate DH's birthday on Sunday. And that said friends are talented and generous enough to bring things so I don't have to cook it all.

I am thankful for having two job offers.

I am thankful that on Monday I will be having my one year blogaversary, and I am thankful that I will be able to share it with you all by hosting my first giveaway. Come back Monday to find out.

I am thankful for another week to live.

Hello All

It's been a while, yet again. Well between bronchitis, two rounds of stomach bugs and a bit of traveling in between, my brain has not been interesting in giving me things to write. Well the house is beginning to regain order and a state of health and I am over my writer's block and there are posts in the work.

With all the resents coughs, aches and ickies I have been inspired to do a series on at home, non drug, ways to fix or atleast manage some of the common health complanets. I hope to have the first installment tomrrow.

Hope all is well with you. And I leave you with this photo from a recent trip to Conneticut to visit my family.

Blessings,
~Kate

The 'Sick' Word

On my last post I had a comment that really made me stop and think about how I approach some things...

Hello. I notice that you head your blog "a sick girl" and I wonder if therein lies a good deal of your problems.
I too have many health issues (not only fibromyalgia but other truly debilitating problems) and I don't label myself as 'sick'. Yes I have many problems and life gets hard but they are bodily problems -my mind is healthy. I remain optimistic and have a hopeful and thankful outlook on life. Thankful because however bad I am feeling these are not terminal illnesses - you only need to be in the company of someone worse off than yourself to have your own problems put into perspective.
One thing I would do is change your header - saying you are a sick girl immediately show you to be someone who is dwelling on their illness, even to the extent that you are revelling in it. Sure, life is hard when you have problems but you should look at the bigger picture - you don't have a terminal illness, you get by with less pain than some people have to endure. Try not to be so inward looking and enjoying being sick and I can assure you that people will begin to treat you differently - as a whole person, not someone who classes themselves as 'sick'.
It is easy to fall into the trap of being a 'sick' person, almost to the extent of wallowing in your 'sick' state. I hope this advice will help you and perhaps you could leave a comment in this section about your reaction to these comments.
M-

M-,
Thank you for your comment, I have actually spent much of the weekend mulling it over. I totally understand how you might interpret the word "sick". I try to live a life thankful for what I have, and I don't need to be around someone sicker than myself to realize how worse it could be. But being still a few years away from 30, sick for more than half my life and having a down-turn in health makes a person wholey aware of their health issues. These health issuess and those of both the earth and those on the earth helped spawn the idea of starting this blog. I understand that my focus in writing has not fully come together; but the header is a testament to my daily life. I am sick, I work towards health every day, some days I get there and some days I don't, but regardless I get up the next day (with my bones creaking like an old house) and try all over agian.

I am not reveling in being sick, I am owning something that is part of my life. The people who know me well, my friends and family, don't treat me any less or any different. Except some of my burlier male friends hug me a little gentler than they do my husband, and my friends understand when I have to cancel because I have another infection or have muscle cramps in my legs and can't walk.

Notice that the words "healthy" and "green" also apear in the header. This blog is a daily journey and the reason maybe because of sickness, but the journey is about health. Healthy of the body, the mind, the spirit and the planet.

New Year, New Week, New Post

In years past I have made New Year's Resolutions; they were broad and vague and usually forgotten by the end of January. But this year is different, this year I vow to make no New Year's Resolutions. I vow to take life month by month, week by week and day by day. I have places where I would like to be in a year and in five years. But as life so frequently needs us to be, I will be flexible and reevaluate my time frames and check lists. My hope is that in being a little bit more Organic in how I style my life, my lifestyle will follow suit. And that with some meditation, a little bit of prayer, and a lot of work, I will be able to meet my goals for this year.This was supposed to be ready for the first Monday of the year; but it was still percolating. See, I'm taking this year week by week.

photo credit: Me at the 2008 Philadelphia Flower Show, take by R (my loving husband)

The Word

Whether you are a Bible Scholar, Language Buff, Literature Fiend or Religious this site might appeal to you: http://originalbible.com/ . As more than one of the above I am very excited about this project.

There is an ancient Jewish adage regarding translating the Scriptures, “One who translates a verse literally is misrepresenting the text, but one who adds anything of his own is a blasphemer.” This new translation uses transparency, "The basic idea of transparency is that one should be able to “peer through” the English translation, and, to whatever extent possible, see, hear, and even feel, the dynamics of the original text." They hope to better represent the originals use of language, including alliteration, puns and word plays, idioms, rhythms, redundancies, and obscurities, the the reader can better understand some of the nuances for them selves. There is a reason that for centuries both the Catholic and Jewish religious leaders and scholars learned the language of the original texts. I read what has been posted on the site already and it is fare more beautiful than what my Oxford Scholars Bible has in it's pages (and though I do actually own more that one bible, the others were not at hand, I think they were not at hand at the time).

I do look forward to the release of this translation.



photo credit: The Bible 1601 by Allyson Ricketts
and He Inspects the First Sheet of His Bible from Giclee Print

Introspective Medical Post

Many Anniversaries are happy, some are sad but filled with warm memories; tomorrows is neither. Ten years ago, tomorrow, I got the diagnoses of Fibromyalgia. It was wonderful to know what had been making me so sick for years; but it was disheartening to find that there wasn't a "cure" or a lot of information on symptom management, especially for a Juvenile patient. But I got a good doctor and created a management plan that worked.

But some how, over the coarse of ten years I have gradually gotten worse. For a NON-degenerative disease (syndrome technically), this is not a good thing. I am resentful that I can't manage my health now; I know some of it is my inability, but I know some of it is just my body working against me.

And now nearly ten years to the day I am diagnosed with an additional issue. I was to the endocrinologist today. My Thyroid is still unhappy. I officially have hypothyroidism and have meds for it. Yay, one more pill to take for the rest of my life. He thinks the nodule is because my thyroid is working double time to produce hormones. This is a common and controllable illness; but is yet another item on my almost comical list of medical issues.

Sometimes I think God placed my brain ans spirit in the wrong body.

Once again the year goes out with me wishing and hoping that the next year will bring more good health then then one that has passed.

I hope you are all well.

We Need a Little Christmas

Yes, I took an unannounced week off. We had a little case of lie here. Things are okay, I just had a number of doctors appointments and things to do.

One of those was working on the Nativity Pageant at Church. I re-wrote the old play, really i used the old play as a guild line for length and form. I am also directing it. This is the first time my work is being preformed and the first time I have directed. I know it's only a Church thing and the children in it have minimal/no experience, but it is still very cool. And I am very excited.

However the house has suffered; it has become very cluttered and I still haven't gotten our decorations up. Today is cleaning, tonight is getting boxes out of the attic and getting our tree. Tommorow is cleaning the kitchen, making soup and decorating the rest of the house.

Hope all is well in your worlds,
Kate

Faith

Usually when people have a crisis of Faith they find that their Faith is lacking something and that maybe they had Faith in something that isn't really there. This past week I have been finding that I am having the opposite. I am finding that maybe I don't have enough Faith and that maybe I need to close my eyes and just trust and believe. I was raised very Catholic, as a teen with issues and opinion I found that a) the Church didn't support and help me enough and b) I didn't agree with a number of the Church's positions on things. I have learned I don't have to agree with everything. I am also realizing how members of my family find comfort in ritual, tradition, prayer and the idea of there being more.

And through all this and all my wishing, that it was as easy as when I was little and had all the Godly Faith in the world, I still find that I have a block in my path.

picture credit http://www.rosaryaday.com

Getting to Know You

I was not tagged; but this has been floating around and I thought it might help you all to get to know me better.

The Rules
1. Copy the questions and then answer them (post it on your blog remember).
2. Tag 4 people and let them know you have tagged them.
3. Let the person [who tagged you] know that you have done a post for the tag.

What are your nicknames?
Kate is my diminutive, my family, acquaintance and coworkers call me this. My husband and close friends call me Magpie, my husband also calls me Baby Bird. And some people know me as Marguerite, it is the name I use for my fifteenth century (hundred years war) recreation.

What TV game show or reality show would you like to be on?
Does Antiques Roadshow count as a reality/game show? I find most of the others demeaning and mind numbing.

What was the first movie you bought in VHS or DVD?
Hmm I'm not sure, I think it was Prancer, on VHS, I loved that movie when I was little. I'm still pretty fond of it.

What is your favourite scent?
Oh I love so many; as far as perfume goes I would have to say Lavender, Amber, and a mixture of Sandalwood and Rose. For room fragrance I love the smell of baking bread or pie. And I love seasonal smells, cinnamon, pine and cranberry for autumn/winter, and lilac, lotus and sage for spring/summer

If you had one million dollars to spend only on yourself, what would you spend it on?
A nice house with lots of land; then I would fill the land with heirloom plant, vegetables and livestock.

What is one place you've visited, can't forget and want to go back to?
England! I went to London and Bath for my 18th birthday. My parents and I only spent about four day in England and I would love to go back for at least two weeks. And then take a side trip to Ireland and France to finish out the month.

Do you trust easily?
I want to, but I am cynical, I've been hurt in the past.

Do you generally think before your act, or act before you think?
I can be very impulsive and sometimes not in a good way. I try to think before I act, and many of my actions are very planned out. However I sometimes I do just go with my gut and act.

Is there anything that had made you unhappy these days?
My health getting worse, and having to face the fact that long term disability may be a reality. Unfortunately being so chronically sick and not able to work has effected my ability to keep the house in a clean and organized manner.

What is your favorite fruit?
Berries, all of them. Clementines are a very close second.

What websites do you visit daily?
My Gmail home page, I can check my email, the weather, basic news bulletins, and daily quotes to ponder. I also visit Live Journal and various blogs.

What have you been seriously addicted to lately?
The internet, and playing with my dog, Fozzy.What's the last song that got stuck in you head?
I piece form the Nutcracker, the March of the Toy Soldiers to be exact. It appears in a lot of Christmas commercials and movies.

What is your favourite thing to wear?
My wedding and engagement rings. But my favourite article of clothing is skirts, they are comfortable and lady like.

Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy?
Not as a cereal, but I love Rice Krispie Treats, they are a good Gluten Free treat.

What items couldn't you be without during the day?
My buckwheat heat-up pillow, a blanket or warm sweater and socks, a book or good magazine and a comfortable place to sit.

What should you be doing right now?
Nothing, it's my scheduled break; but I need to get up and do the dishes in a few minutes.


Well I'm not tagging anyone, but I would love to read about everyone. So if you read this and haven't done it already please post your responses in your journal and post a comment here so I can find you and get to know you better. Have a lovely day, ~Kate

Do

I'm having one of those days where my pain levels are high and my energy levels are low; it causes the smallest tasks to seem daunting. I feel overwhelmed and frustrated. My poor husband, R., is having a very similar sort of day; but he has the added stress of being at work. I just want to go back to bed. But Life needs to be met and dealt with. And all one can do is pray and meditate, then gather their self up and do.

Home and Hibernating

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and Thanksgiving. R. and I were up in Connecticut visiting my family. I really miss them and the state I grew up in. My mother made a wonderful holiday dinner for our small clan; and my grandmother made a warm comfort food dinner for us on Saturday, before we drove home. I was very thankful to be "Home", how ever it was nice to arrive home late on Saturday.

Were I was raised will always be "Home"; Connecticut and my family are a large part of who I am, and who I want to be. But were my bed is will also always be home; it's were I rest my head and live on a daily basis. I can not just occupy a house, I must live in a home.

On Sunday our house went from home to den. After putting on our winter weight over the weekend, R. and I decided to hibernate on Sunday. We were both very worn out and in need of a quite rejuvenating day. We woke up a few times to walk the dog, have some dinner and watch a few Christmas movies; but other than that it was a day of sleeping. It really is a Joy to have a day were you can lounge around in your pajamas with one of your favorite people.

However, this morning began a new week and a new month. R. went off to work and I am here trying to organize the week. There is a lot to be done this week; the laundry is waiting for me and the house needs to be put back to straits and thoroughly cleaned before we decorate for Christmas.

I hope you all have a productive and peaceful week.

Mother Letter

I found this blog via another blog I read; I love the idea and wrote a letter myself (even thought I am not yet a mother).

Dear Mother,
I am not a Mother yet, and do not have any sage stories or trials of child rearing to share with you. But as a young woman who can still remember her years spent being reared I do have one plea: The rules aren't always right! When I was very young I was diagnoses with a learning disability, and at the time one of the ways for helping children who were LD and ADD was to remove all distractions from their learning area, and environment in general. My parents realizing my creativity did not do this, they just worked a little harder with me. And they gave me the gift of my very own desk; with drawers and cubbies to fill with crayons, paper and other creative distractions. My spelling is still not the strongest; but I later went on to the Talented and Gifted program, a Charter School for the Art and Humanities and a great small highly rated College. I now write poetry and essays, blog, and craft. And though I had many hard years in school, I learned how to focus myself, work at my faults, and were able to keep the things I loved and brought me joy in my life.

Much Luck and Peace,
Kate (a young writer with a rocky start)

Brrrrr

So far this week has been cold here; colder than most of last winter was. I'm not dealing with the chilly weather as well as I have done in prior years. I'm the girl who would walk around New England with out a coat on, in the dead of winter.

I have also noticed today, that I would really love some plants in the house. The only real problem is that we have one sunny window and it's in the bedroom. Our main living area gets very little sun light. I hope Santa can find me some shade friendly house plants.

Photo: Light Collector by Lori Archer

A Little Box of Sunshine

Sometimes it really is the simple, little things in life; one of my greatest joys of this in-between season (no longer really Autumn and not quite Christmas) is a clementine, or three. They are so small, bright and juicy; really I could devour a whole box, if they didn't cost so much. So instead, I try to savor each one.

Thankful for Thankfulness

Sometimes we just need to be thankful that we have the ability to be thankful!
"What a happy holiday it is, how social and pleasant and comfortable and easy! How near and dear all the bright faces gathered around the long table at Thanksgiving-dinner, seen to be. Truly, we should all be thankful that we have a Thanksgiving."
- The Original Girls Handy Book, by Linda Beard and Adelia Belle Beard 1887