Threatened with a Wheelchair

I had a really rough night last night. The pain was more than I've felt in quite some time. The joints, the muscles, the overall achy everything. Almost brought me to tears. I went to bed earlier hoping it would help. But like most nights I tossed and turned (and maybe even whimpered some).

I know why I hurt so much. I'm trying to live a normal life. I'm working full time now for the first time since before I started this blog. Five full days working like a normal person, a Saturday spent working in the garden like a normal person, a Sunday spent at the grocery store like a normal person. Walking around the block like a normal person. (Can you tell the GPS is still off?)


But I'm not a normal person. Or so the rheumatologist reminded me today.

That was at about the same time he threatened me with a wheelchair.

I've been resisting going back to the infusions for going on several months. The doctor made a pretty darn good case about why ignoring treatment is a bad idea. He is absolutely confident that I will be in a wheelchair and on disability within five years. And between now and those five years? The pain, stiffness, fatigue, and joint damage will get worse. I will never get better, never live a normal life. But with infusions, I could possibly have two good months out of every three.

I might just take those two months. Better than what happened last night. I can't hide that kind of misery.

Shopping in Circles

Going grocery shopping and shopping for shoes and clothes in the same store made me look like I didn't know where the heck I was going. Actually, I didn't. I've always shopped in the large women's clothing section of the store. But I can't wear those sizes anymore so I had to find a department that had clothes that would fit. Not knowing what size I really wear I had to spend time trying things on. All that work (plus the 3/4 of a mile of walking) and all I came away with was boring groceries and a pair of shoes and a shirt, both on clearance. Better than nothing.

Time to Pass the Christmas Torch

I've been thinking long and hard on this one. When I was cleaning my sewing room today the decision became final in my mind.

No more sewing Christmas stockings for the Stockings for Soldiers project.

This is the time of year when I start working on the project, but instead I find it's the time to pass the torch. Pass it to others who don't feel the need to outdo themselves due to some I-need-to-impress or I'm-never-enough way of thinking.

I have lots of non-Christmas charity projects and lots of non-Christmas fabric to work with.

It's kind of sad, but it's time to let Christmas go. 

GPS Malfunction

The GPS walking app on my phone must have some sort of issue. One lap around the block at work looks like this.

The two trips around the block looks like this.

You'd think I was running back and forth across the streets and in yards and into homes. (Don't worry, I wasn't.) Weird.

Personal Weather Station

No need to watch the weather on TV here. Just pay attention to the cat. When she hunches under the coffee table you know a storm is on its way.

This time there was more lightning in one storm than I have ever seen before. Even managed to snap a picture in the middle of the night.