.:: Yolospat ::.

How much more sad does it have to get before this country opens their eyes that our own fellow American’s are dying because they can’t afford to get their teeth fixed. My biological Father died when he was 36 years old from an abscessed tooth because he couldn’t afford to have it fixed. That’s two Father’s this world has taken away from me, and it all has to do with health care, or lack there of, in this country. Watch the Documentary “Sicko” sometime. It brings out the dirt on health insurance companies and how many people die on their watch because they are trying to make a dime off of the lives of people.

For those of you who are blessed with health insurance more often than not dental insurance isn’t ever an option or if it is the insurance company would pay for a cleaning or a routine annual checkup. Anything beyond that and it’s out of pocket. Depending on your economical status and the ability to pay those higher prices for the gold and silver packages of health insurance when millions of American go without each and everyday. Would it be so hard to pay a little in taxes if we could be reassured that we would be taken care of if we ever got ill?

The last 2 years have been a huge change for me when it comes to my attitude about money. I was always able to make enough money to live comfortably all my life until I got sick. If I wanted to go to the store and pick out a candle just because it smelled good I’d do it without thinking twice about it. These days I drink store brand soda and I jump at any chance someone says “free food” .. my luxury this last year has been buying books on my Kindle and now I’ve even stopped doing that and trying to find some good free ones online. There used to be a time in my life I would have items such as the new Kindle Tablet or iPhone 5 or iPad2 on pre-order (if they had that option) and sure, I couldn’t splurge on as many dinner’s out to eat but it usually all worked out. Now I have a pile where I have Brendan put the coupon value pack when we get it in the mail. From transitioning from the lifestyle of feeling financially secure to not knowing where your next meal will be has been one of hardest transitions I’ve ever had to make in my life.

I’ve just recently lost the last of my really good digital camera’s on my trip to Wisconsin and I had $100 of birthday money so I got myself a Flip phone. Right now I’m relying on my iPhone as being my only still motion camera and it’s just .. cumbersome. I know that I can’t go to the store and get a new one. I still haven’t been able to replace my Digital SLR since that live at the bottom of Glenmere Lake now and it’s been nearly two years since that’s happened. Taking pictures along with my many other hobbies has been art and photography. Not that I can’t afford my art supplies I don’t have my camera to turn to either. And I can’t just go to the store to pick up something new, not because it was the hottest thing on the market, but because I’ve never been in this position before. I even pawned my iBook after I came home from visiting Darci to get money due to unexpected bills. I’m hanging on by a thread and I losing those things that I used to be able to do that made me happy and I used to feel so inspired and creative.

I hate how much money is so woven into our society and into our lives. Those days of me getting the latest and greatest have been over for 2 years now. I’ve been giving it serious thought about doing a garage sale, it’s just the time and effort that would have to go into doing it. I have another avenue too that might be opening up that poked it’s widdle head over the horizon recently.

I’m the type of person that believes everything happens for a reason. Case in point while reading this article today called “Raise Your Expectations” written by Rob Parnell which speaks of the trouble I’ve been having as an artist and writer. Up until I was in my mid 20′s I depended more on other’s opinions about myself, my abilities, and my self-worth. It was great when I got good feedback which only made me strive to do better but when I didn’t get the feedback I had hoped for I took it so personally that I let it crush me and those dangerous seeds of doubt were planted in my mind. Most times I took other’s opinions as fact regardless if they were qualified to make such judgements or not and instead of taking their words with a grain of salt I would take it to heart lowering my self-worth instead of striving to overcome my faults and improve my talents.

It wasn’t until I moved to Florida back in 2005 when I started finding confidence within myself, my decisions, and my life. I put all my time and energy into my job learning as much as I could as quickly as I could and when I found my husband I never once thought anything could stop my uphill climb. When I got sick, lost my best friend, job, husband, and house I not only took a major face plant, but I didn’t even try to get back up on my feet again. I waved my white flag in defeat believing that that was the end of me. I erased all the hopes and dreams I had once had and replaced those with negativity, self-pity, depression, and filled up the emptiness with what-if’s, and what-might-have-beens. I convinced myself that everything bad that’s ever happened to me was somehow my fault or that I deserved it and that my purpose in life was to be other people’s punching bags and doormats to wipe their muddy boots on. I ALLOWED myself to believe that not because it was true but because my hope meter was on empty and I didn’t know how to change that. I didn’t think that I had the power within me to try.

When I first moved back to Colorado I started writing, a LOT. I would fill a 5′ 9″ 400 page journal front and back every few months. I poured all the poison within me onto those pages letting my subconscious take over, taking the poison out of me and along with my art I slowly started to heal. I think I was on my 4th journal when I re-read that first journal and realized that I was at a different place in my mind and heart than I was when I first vomited up the bile through a pen onto page after page and realized that through words and through writing, I’ve always managed to keep some sort of balance in my life. It was the times I didn’t write when I would self-destruct and life got off kilter, no matter what the circumstance. I started reading old journals from high school, and from middle school all the way back to my very first journals that started in elementary school and through my own words I saw that I grew with each journal, and with each year, through each problem, with each heartache. I started reading my old poetry and saw my growth from the first one I’d ever written to the last one. Since all things happen for a reason, and they happen when they are supposed to, finding my biological family couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. It was the first time I felt I deserved to be happy.

With my newfound confidence that came from within I allowed myself to be happy, because I deserved to be. My glass when from being half empty to half full. Next thing I know, I’ve reconciled with my husband and even though he never really left my life or heart – he returned with a freshness that was new again and lovely. I learned acceptance, forgiveness, and the voids that were ever present the last 32 years of my life were full for the first time. I learned who I was, and allowed myself to love myself. I learned what unconditional truly meant and said goodbye to the haunting ghosts of the past so I could focus on the rainbows of tomorrow. I’ve also learned to listen better to life’s whispers instead of waiting for life to smack me across the head with a fry pan to get my attention. With that, I’ve learned to trust my heart.

Sure, I still have bad days and the occasional moments when I feel sorry for myself but as each day those times grow less and less and my focus is on what really matters. There has always been people in my life who have believed in me, but I don’t really think a person can accept that until they find that belief within themselves. So what holds me back these days? Only I can hold me back and with that knowledge I become a little more free. My focus now is completing that word free, and turning it into free-DOM and I know I’ll get there, someday.

I’m happy to say that today has been the most productive day I’ve had for a while, considering that I’ve had a lousy week. I digress, let me start at the beginning.

The last few weeks my asthma has been giving me fits. Colorado has been quite hazy lately due to the Arizona wild fires and because 2 + 2 = 4 it was a no brainer why I’d been having difficulty breathing. There were several times last week that I “almost” went to urgent care when my O2 levels started dipping down between 90-93. A few years ago when I still lived in Georgia I purchased my own pulse oxygenation gadget (if you’ve ever been in the ER or the hospital, it’s that little thing they put on your finger to monitor your pulse and the oxygen levels in your blood system) from CVS, recommended by my pulmonary doctor after my last asthma attack that landed me in the hospital for a few days and later on home oxygen for a month. Normal is between 93-100%.

Last wednesday my breathing was extremely labored to the point my ribs hurt and the pain was radiating to my back because I was having to consciously breath. I had been doing breathing treatments for a week and using my fast acting inhaler (ProAir) but neither were working. I texted my oxygen levels throughout the day and my numbers kept going down from 93%, to 90%, to 88% and I reluctantly made the decision to go to the ER once I got down to 86% when I started to feel faintish. I knew what would happen before I left since I’ve been hospitalized 3 times previously for this very same occurrence and brought my kindle with me expecting to sit in the ER for a few hours. I was pretty pale by this point and Momma K told me my lips looked white. WHen I got there I got yet another breathing treatment, they took down my history and decided to put me on 2.5 liters of oxygen. Once my oxygen deprived body got some oxygen I almost immediately felt better and the color started to return to my face. When they took the oxygen away an hour later I had dropped down to 85% in less than 30 seconds so they made the decision to admit me to the hospital because I was so hypoxic.

Out of the 4 times I’ve been in the hospital for my asthma, this last time was the most pleasurable. All the nurses were so nice and helpful, and most of all … sincere. When a person is so sick to where they need to be in the hospital the positive and kind energy of the staff makes all the difference between wanting to get well and staying hopeful or being at the other end of the spectrum of hopelessness and depression. With all my medical problems in the last 4 years there hasn’t been one single person as dedicated to helping me as my two nurses on duty, Rhonda & Shane. I’ve gotten so used to being let down, or not finding answers, or having the knowledge that I wasn’t important or worthy enough to invoke concern in both the people around me and especially medical professionals. It’s something I’ve been struggling with for years. More people have disappeared from my life once I got sick than any other time in my whole life and I didn’t fully understand why until earlier this year. With the exception of one person, my Aunt Martha, no one has experienced what I’ve experienced and struggled with so how could they possibly understand the change in me spending so much energy in trying to hide invisible yet very real pain (at least with my Chronic Fatigue and Fibro). I think it’s easier for a person to put distance between themselves and something they don’t understand out of fear. Often there is a lot of misunderstanding and frustration and I know and understand that. I’ve accepted that. I almost EXPECT that. It was a nice surprise to be treated like a real person those two days in the hospital instead of some disabled invalid. The disease is in my body, not my mind and it’s easy for people to pass judgement. I think that’s why I don’t talk much about my health anymore and it’s a big reason why dropped off the face of the earth. It’s hard to be dependent when I’ve been overly independent my whole life. The limitations have taken a huge toll on my self worth but I’m not anywhere near accepting defeat.

So I’m on home oxygen for the next 3-4 weeks tethered to a 50 foot tube connected to my oxygen concentrator. It’s almost like being on house arrest. Thank the universe for my kindle and the internet or I’d go nuts with cabin fever.

Father’s Day was another hard day. My sister was there for me (thank you sis for being sensitive about it and for “getting” it, you know what I’m talking about). I’m on the mend. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and even more worrying with trying to get Brendan moved here. I’m tired and exhausted, but I have my moments of motivation and today was one of those moments. I’m at the stage where I’m doing a lot of soul seeking, listening to my heart as much as possible even when I disagree with what it’s telling me and there are many things left to figure out, but I’m making a dent in that area of my life and will continue to do so. I even made an appointment down at the social security office to apply for disability. Part of me has put it off because it feels like I’ve given up. Only recently I’ve realized that I haven’t given up, my heart hasn’t, my body might think differently. I hate labels and I don’t want to be labeled as a “disabled” person. I don’t see myself that way even tho many others do. It only makes me want to fight harder so I can one day feel accomplishment and be proud of myself again. I’ve been grieving my old life before I got sick and I know it will never be the same as it used to be. Attitude makes all the difference so I try in every situation to see the good, to learn the lesson and to learn from my mistakes. I do believe that I can find fulfillment again, I just have a few more hurdles yet to jump over …

I’m a caged bird right now and I want nothing less than to fly free.

I’m getting ready to go down to the courthouse. After petitioning the courts, they have granted me access to my adoption records. I’ve been waiting for this day for as long as I can remember. I’ll have access to names of my birth parents, my siblings, and my original birth certificate. I will find out in a short time, within the hour, what my birth Mother named me.

I was anxious that my adopted Mother would feel threatened. All those fears went away when Mom told me she was excited and she’s looking forward to the new extended family we will be gaining.

I didn’t sleep a wink last night. My mind was running a million miles a second. Still is, it feels so surreal. I will write an update tonight about my life changing day.

I’m planning something big this year year. It’s not some lame New Year’s resolution list of goals that just set one up to fail. No, it’s not going to be something impossible either, like hoping for the cure for Fibromyalgia – It’s not going to be something that I can’t control.

The one person I have control over is me. I’ve learned some pretty hard lessons this last year I’m surprised I made it out with my sanity. I’m going to let go of the last horrible rotten year and leave it in the past. I will carry with me those lessons learned. They are the only stow aways that are permitted to come with me into 2011.

I will do everything in my power to kick myself. I’m going to kick my ass out of the pity parties that have been coming around more and more it seems. I’m going to get myself out from underneath this cloud of negativity. I’m not going to be afraid to fail – because i will from time to time and I can grow from it – at least I would have tried.

My first leap into making this the year of Yolospat has to do with my better half. My best friend and soulmate. My ex-husband. I know I know, you’re all thinking, “You’re best friends with your ex-husband?!” Well, we are a rare breed I suppose. In fact, we have better communication skills now with each other than when we were married. I would have not made it through this last year without him. It’s been a year and almost 4 months since I saw him last so this month I’m going to fly out to Georgia to see him. We are both excited, and it gives us something to look forward to. We never got to say goodbye when we made – in my opinion – too rash of a decision. Growth and good changes between us have happened, and also individually that couldn’t have happened had we still been together. Brendan is what smiles are made of, and I can’t wait to see him. We have agreed that I would bring his xmas box with me instead of shipping it so that we can open his presents together.

I have a few projects lined up for this next year. I will be focusing on my writing this year. This includes my blogs, articles, journaling, poetry, freelancing, short stories and a novel I’m working on at the moment. I’m also going to be focusing on my artwork and bring my portfolio into existence. I’m going to try and volunteer at the humane society. I also have house projects lined up, like painting a few rooms, my fence and my deck. I need to put the art studio back together too. I think I might bring the studio inside and put it int he basement for the winter so I won’t have to worry about heating the garage (which is detached from the home).

I have to remember to pace myself. Living with Fibromyalgia is a very tricky balancing act. If I have a good day and I use up more energy than I should have I’ll be in bed for the next 2 days exhausted. I have to remember that I can only do so much and the better I pace myself the greater my “good days” will be. I also want to talk about Fibromyalgia this year in detail to spread the word and to debunk the myths. I’ve talked about it briefly from time to time but it’s a very hard medical condition to understand. I want to help people understand, so anyone has questions please feel free to ask.

My Writer’s Market book came in the mail yesterday. It’s what every writer needs in reference to publishing, agents, writing idea’s, tips and tricks. You name it, it’s got it. It also has the updated 2011 list of all agents and houses, including what they specialize in and what they are looking for. I also got the Short Story Writer’s Market book too.

I hope everyone makes this year a better year. I know I am.

This last year has really shaken my faith in humanity. There has been a lot of trauma, a lot of broken hearts, a lot of words that should never been said, a lot of miscommunication and lack of understanding. There has been 2, nearly three deaths, one rape, a robbery and sickness. There has been a lot of pain, enough to make me want to give up on several occasions.

There is also that one moment, that one remembrance where hope peeks out, although much smaller in size, waving telling me it’s still here. To hold on. It’s not time yet. And right around the corner it happened. I gave hope one last chance, and hope came through in a big way. My hope grew a size or two that day. When I woke up this morning, it had grown once again. Today, I smiled.

A few items are on the plate this evenings (er, mornings, how’d that happen so fast? So little time so much to do) blog post. First off, World of Warcraft’s Cataclysm finally has a release date! December 7th. That’s a few weeks after I started playing WoW back in 2005. Wow, it seems like yesterday. I will probably pre-order. I wouldn’t be able to stand in the huge long lines. I’m getting too old or something. So what if I get the game a day late? Amazon is good about sending the game out so you get it on the release day. I haven’t played WoW for weeks, but I think it might catch up once Cataclysm will pick up my gaming time.

I’ve been gearing up for NaNoWriMo!! NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month where one has to write 50,000 words of their novel from November 1st through November 30’s. This will be my first year doing it. I’m excited. You can follow my progress at My NaNoWriMo page. I’m writing a lot of short stories this month, and practicing on some writing prompts I have been collecting over the last year since I missed it last year.

Speaking of missing NaNoWriMo last year, sigh. This is the month of October and in 4 more days will be the anniversary of the day I got married. It’s almost going to be a year since I’ve seen my husband ex-husband. It doesn’t feel possible, it feels like a decade. And the worst part about it is through all the hustle and bustle of getting packed and moved, we never got to say goodbye to each other. The other worst part is that I don’t know when I will see him again. I miss him more than any word I can think of in the English language. Its emotional agony, only worse. I lost my soul-mate and my best friend all at the same time. Adjusting to being a single female living by myself is an adjustment I keep fighting subconsciously. I feel scared much of the time, especially at nights knowing he’s not here makes everything seem empty, but through my art, writing, reading, crocheting, and now knitting, I’m trying to keep myself as busy as possible. I’m so grateful for our telephone calls nearly every night, and I’m thankful we keep in constant communication and we’ve both grown from this experience, and he will always be my soul-mate no matter what happens in the future. The distance is so hard though, just so hard. When incidents happen like they did with “Lance” a week ago it makes me wish I were still in Georgia.

Jonah is a lot better. His face is healing at a remarkable speed. The scabs are starting to fall off and new skin is fresh and pink underneath. My friend David got a new puppy. A miniature Chihuahua named taco. I was scared at first that taco and Molly would butt heads for dominance but it was amazing how fast she took to him. This is the first time she’s meeting a dog smaller than her, it was so cute. David made a funny joke. He said if Molly and Taco had puppies, they would have tamales. Hehe. Pictures coming soon of Taco. I’m also building a computer for David that he can use now that he’s gone back to school and kicking ass with his grades.

I’ve been using my iPad a lot for writing out my short stories and my writing exercises. For some reason I’ve gotten a talent for tying on it. It actually makes me write even more than I do already. I found a program on the iPad called Manuscript that connects to DropBox so I work on it no matter where I am.

Just got home from the vet hospital and a very scary few hours. 

Earlier tonight I was drawing and I kept hearing Jonah’s dog tags jingling over and over in the family room. I went to check on him and a 2 inch by 3 inch area of skin was hanging like a flap where his cheek used to be, and raw bloody muscle was left. I couldn’t tell you all the thoughts running through my head as to what caused this to happen but I didn’t have time to investigate. I grabbed my keys, then grabbed Jonah and rushed him to the front seat of the car. Somewhere between where I picked him up in the house to the front door the skin flap fell off, which I found when I got home.

I called Jonah’s vet and the after hours message said to go to the emergency vet hospital on 23rd by Bank of Choice. I didn’t even look to see if I parked between the lines, grabbed Jonah and rushed him inside. Luckily they were able to pull up his vet records since my vets office is their sister shop and took us right back to an exam room. 

The vet tech was super personable and Jonah warmed right up to her considering the circumstances. She explained to me that he had some sort of allergy to something which caused a bad rash on his skin under his fur. Because his ears cover that area and because that area is in a damp hot spot it made it the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow. Since the rash was so bad it only took one scratch from Jonah to pull all the skin off where the rash was to leave this open gaping wound. They had to shave off all the hair on the right side of his face to see how var the rash spread (about twice the size of the raw part) and sprayed a topical steroid spray on it after cleaning it up. I’m supposed to spray that topical spray right on the raw part every 6 hours for 2 weeks. The vet tech said at first it burns a little but to rub his ears right after so he forgets the pain sooner. He’s also on antibiotics and pain meds. 

The poor guy just doesn’t know what to do with the cone collar. He will just stand there and not move. He’ll get used to it eventually, but I feel so bad for him. He is uncomfortable and it’s written all over his face. I’m going to sleep downstairs on the couch so I don’t have to carry him up and down the stairs. I’m not sure how I picked him up so many time when I rushed him to the hospital due to the weakness from Fibro. I’m sure it was the adrenaline from the initial shock. 

So I have him home now and he is snoozing on the rug. The pain meeds mush have just kicked in. The open wound can’t be covered so it heals from the sides to the middle. It has to be so painful, I just feel so bad for him. 

I was worried at first if it was something I either did or didn’t do or I didn’t pay close enough attention to but the vet reassured me that there was nothing I could do to prevent what happened. She also said she could tell Jonah was very loved. When I asked her what she meant she Sid that when she did his physical exam she was guessing he was between 2-3 years old before she looked at his records and saw he was 6 years old and that’s the sign of a very loved very happy dog. That made me feel good. I’ve never questioned if I were a good furbaby Mom, but it’s nice to actually hear that sometimes. Continue reading to see pictures of Jonah’s wound.

Jonah's cheek where the skin fell off

Jonah looks so sad in his cone collar

I had the most uncomfortable, creepy, and downright scary night the night before last. I’ve been in communication with an old friend of mine the past month by communicating via Facebook message and text message. Let’s call this person Lance, to protect identities. He called my cell phone late Saturday night and left this creepy voicemail followed up by a text message saying he was coming over after I had already texted him letting him know I had a headache and was headed to bed.

There are a select few people in my life that are exempt from the “drop by without an invitation” rule, and Lance is not one on that list especially since he has never been to my house. I haven’t even seen him for over 6 years.

So when I find out he’s coming over I get back out of bed and change again from my nighty to a pair of sweat pants and sweatshirt. Lance finally shows up and kisses the back of my neck after giving me a hug. Red flags, bright hot pink flags, all the internal flags our intuition makes was waving frantically inside yet was hoping that it was a one time occurrence.

So Lance sits down on the love seat and takes his shoes off and pulls up his shirt and starts rubbing his chest while he is talking. My flags started waving frantically again. I knew I had to get him out of my house as soon as possible. I stood up and grabbed the keyless remote for my ADT security system for my house and put it around my wrist since there is a button on there that when pressed is a silent alarm to the police station. My thumb hovered over the top of that button the entire time.

I picked up a piece of drawing paper and started drawing waiting for him to wrap up whatever he was saying and told him that my headache was getting worse and I needed to go to bed. To my surprise he gets up and walks upstairs and disappears in my bedroom. Great. That was the last thing I expected him to do. I go outside to smoke in hopes he would get the hint but after the 3rd cigarette he still hadn’t come back downstairs. I call up again and tell him for the second time I really needed to go to sleep and he tells me from my bedroom to come upstairs. In my most stern voice I say, “ALONE.”

He walks out my bedroom door putting his shirt back on and holds up his hands and tells me ok, your the boss. Through the whole conversation throughout the night he kept making these crude sexual remarks that was totally inappropriate. He finally left and I locked every door and window in my house and turned on the house alarm. I was so digested and frightened I didn’t end up sleeping at all that night. Every sound that the house made put me on full guard and I’ve been jumpy ever since.

What really makes me angry and mad is this was supposed to be a friend, and he totally ruined it the friendship with what he did because all trust I had for him is gone. What makes me even more upset is he was my link to the local art community. Well, I don’t need him to become involved. I can do it on my own. Same way I’ve always done things.

I know it’s been a while. I think I’m officially going through my mid-life crisis. From the point it started until recently it’s been a negative experience. I’m got really tired of black and white and I’m including all shades of gray into the spectrum. Who knows, this time next year I’ll be at 256 colors, and in two years I’ll reach a million. It’s something fun and silly to look forward to. Perfect timing for a list of things I’ve learned in the last year:

1. Stop taking everything so seriously. There is a time and a place for serious matters, but that time and place doesn’t mean all the time, every place. Relax, unhook your shoulders from hanging off your ears like you were standing in a cylinder tube and let your hair down. Heck, just chop your hair off! (if you do chop your hair off, remember to donate it to Locks of Luv)
2. Stop worrying about everyone else and worry about yourself. Anything beyond the tip of my nose is the extent of what I have control over. Everything else is just compost and wasted energy better used in a more positive way.
3. KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid – Really, it’s not complicated. Always trust in your own Jiminy Cricket. Most times he’s right. Think about the times you didn’t listen to your intuition yet saw the signs afterwards of your intuition trying to get your attention.
4. Love – And keep on doing it.

It’s been a while I know, but things have been busy busy busy !!!!

I’m finally in my new house (I’ve been here for a few months actually) and life in my dream home is going great. The neighborhood I’m in is exactly where I wanted to be, and I couldn’t begin to explain how in love with my house I am. It’s on a fairly large lot, built nearly 100 years ago. If only these walls could talk. Most of the house is original, like the doors and the beautiful hardwood floors throughout both floors except in the master bedroom. The back yard is so big and Jonah and Molly can run and play as long as they want. I find out something new about this house every day. There are so many nooks and hidden little doors that go to other places in the house. I even found the original skeleton key that fits all the inside doors!!!! It’s been lost since the first owners had the house. I haven’t gotten to fix up my art studio out back yet but that’s a project I have planned for the summer. What I really enjoy is the spa room with the built in hot tub. It’s really been good for the fibro and back pain. I also go swimming twice a week with Tracey which really helps too.

I’ve been busy lately with my best friend Carrie and her little sister Tracey (and yes, you too Michael). I don’t know what I would do without them. They are a constant in my life, and I in theirs. They are like family to me. We took this picture just yesterday.

I’m heading to Texas in a little more than 6 hours so I can see Tiffany and my two nieces. I haven’t seen those cute little faces for about 2 years and I look forward to lots of hugs and snuggles. I’ll be staying a week and I’m looking forward to the warm weather as it just snowed last night after being 70 degrees the day before. That’s Colorado weather for ya. I caught a great shot of the sun setting over the mountains the other day. I really did miss Colorado, more than I had realized.

I’m still working on my art just as passionately as before but I’ve been slacking in taking pictures of my progress. Hopefully when I get back I can scan them all proper. I’ve also been working a lot on my music lately, another passion of mine that came back to me after a decade long hiatus. My writing is going great too, and along with that I’ve acquired a new love for fountain pens both modern and antique. Again, I’ll have to talk more about that when I return from my trip.

Brendan is doing great, he finally got full-time status at his job and got his own department. I’m proud of his progress, and he’s always there when I need a pick me up.

I’m learning new patterns with my crocheting too which has been a fun experience. I have so many projects lined up that I’m busy all the time. Busy is good and I’ve been pacing myself so I don’t get too worn out.

I know this is a quick update and there’s so much more to mention but time isn’t on my side today and I still need to finish packing. Depending on activities in Texas I’ll try to make updates when I can.

Leavin’ on a jet plane ……

I have been very negative lately about my divorce. Like the 50% that make it, I started and ended keeping true to my vows, yet I’ve been beating myself up for a failed marriage in which I as a person did not fail.

I wanted my marriage to last forever. Doesn’t everyone when they wisk off to their honeymoon? Time changes people, left over baggage changes people. So instead of staying in an unhappy marriage, I got out. I did that to give myself a chance at happiness yet I’m the most depressed I’ve ever been. Maybe until now, until I really thought this through, I did everything possible. I shouldn’t be beating myself up, but patting myself on the back because I wasn’t a perfect wife, but I was a damn good wife.

Everything has to do with attitude. Mine needs a huge overhaul. It would not only help my fibro, but my outlook on life, my future life. I don’t know what it will be like, but focusing on the darkness that may become doesn’t do me any good but will only lead to a self fulfilling prophecy in which my future WILL become that darkness. If I focus on the good things, my writing, my willingness to get better then my future looks a lot brighter than I ever thought it might be.

Only way I know this is I have good friends who have been there every step of the way, like Camille, like Tiffany, and especially my Mother who I know beyond any doubt, loves me unconditionally.

I don’t have to focus on the fact that I’m part of the 50% that failed, but I’m part of the 50% that might have made the right decision so that I can leave room for happiness and joy.

I have a doctors name on a piece of paper sitting here in front of me that has helped so many people I know personally. All I have to do is make the call. I haven’t done that yet because I was stuck focusing on never getting better. I’m going to call this doctor today, and start the journey of getting better because at this point I can’t get much worse. I don’t want to be bedridden next month and that’s where I’m headed. I have to stop this disease in it’s tracks and try to live while I have the ability.

Today, I want to try. I’ll have my days where my goals are fuzzy especially when that day is a bad fibro day, but if I can go back and read this post the haziness might clear a little even if the sun doesn’t shine.

I can do this ..

When it’s family. My Aunt called me to come over. Seems that Comcast has screwed up their wireless system. That’s what she told me over the phone, but when I got there I found the culprit. It’s that damn Link-sys router that doesn’t work with certain types of Comcast modems. I had the same problem in Florida and here at Mom’s house, and now they are having the problem.

So I’m headed to best buy to pick up a Netgear wireless router that will fix all their problems. My Aunt Donna and Uncle Don have a full Apple network (that tickles me to death, I love it) so it’s nice to finally be a tech for apple products.

I’ll be heading to BestBuy tomorrow to pick up the Netgear wireless router along with some blank DVD’s since Mom and I are running low. I feels good to be needed finally. I’ve felt like a wart on a toads back for so long, I forgot I was actually valuable to people. Plus, I was paid in yummy homemade soup and this homemade cracker spread, vegetarian of course.

No, I will not come to your house if you live in or close to the Greeley area to fix your home networks, but family is family and I’ve been sitting in the basement of my Mother’s house not getting much more interaction than talking to my fur babies and playing World of Warcraft.

I might have more jobs on the horizon. My Uncle Don’s son needs some consulting on a web design for his production company and I’m supposed to talk to him when he comes home from Christmas. Apparently he’s dished out a lot of money for a web site and got screwed. I hear more and more stories about that. It’s a shame.

To add to the geekiness, my friend Brett and I might have a web design project dealing with his band. We’d work together in providing a working web site to promote the band and I can continue to add to my portfolio. That’s exciting and just what I’ve been waiting for.

It’s been a good day so far. I hope it is tomorrow because my job at my Aunt’s house isn’t done yet.

I’ve been going through a tremendous tough time as of late, and for lack of a better term..I’ve never been so down in the dumps. Everything is a problem, everything is broken, I don’t feel good, my heart is broken, this divorce is hard, etc etc etc and just typing it makes me want to cringe and walk away the first exit I see because I don’t even want to hear all that whining myself.

What I realized today, it’s not getting me anywhere. It’s only making me worse and worse, and in turn it’s making my fibro as bad as it’s ever been. I can blame the -20 to -50 degree weather as of late, but I would be lying if I didn’t say it was my very own attitude thats keeping me in a pit of darkness.

Until this morning. This morning I had a small victory. I haven’t been able to keep down multi-vitamins for years. They come right back up within 30 minutes of taking them. I’ve tried every kind, from regular for men and woman, to woman only and I finally gave up.

Then my Aunt Donna suggested I try the children’s Flintstones Gummy Bear multi-vitamins with immune support and without iron. She told me to take two in the morning with breakfast.

:: drum roll ::

It’s been two hours and I haven’t had any problems at all. I also want to eat the whole bottle. It’s like eating candy for breakfast. Speaking of breakfast, I thought it would make my Mom’s day if I made breakfast in bed for her. She said that was the first time anyone has ever done that. I’m happy she was happy.

So what I have learned in only the first few hours today, a different way of thinking has already brightened my day and make me inspired and motivated. I need to remember to look at the bright side, instead of the doom and gloom. To find that middle balance.

Mom and I made it home safe and sound the day after we left. We left Georgia at 10:04am Friday the 13th and made it home on Saturday at 2:45pm. We made some insane miles in a short amount of time. My Mom drive and since she has a lead food we averaged 80-85 the whole way. I also had Jonah and Molly on my lap almost the entire way so by the time we both got home we were covered in animal hair and I felt like I’d been hit by a mac truck.

People come into our lives for a reason and who would have thought it would be my first love? The night before we left Vince called me to tell me good luck and to be safe on the road. We’ve been texting ever since and today he sent me a very supportive quote.

“A smile is a sign of joy. A kiss is a sign of love. A laugh is a sign of happiness. A friend like me, well that’s a sign of good taste.”

Like I told him Thursday night, he’s always made me laugh and that quality of his hasn’t changed a bit. He’s being a great friend to me right now which was completely unexpected but aren’t all great things when we’re in a time of need?

Laughter is medicine, I really truly believe that and I’m happy he’s back in my life.

We went to look at a house yesterday that my realtor thought for sure I’d love but the minute I was in that house, I felt repressed, closed in, and by the time I was leaving my panic attack started. Mom asked me if I like the house or felt peace about it, and I didn’t want to disappoint her with the truth, but I’m not a liar so I had to tell her what I really felt even though she liked it so much. She said I need to be honest in how I feel, and if I don’t feel peace in a decision then it isn’t time to make that decision. I love how she’s given me such good advice throughout my life, I only wish I would have listened to her more so I wouldn’t have made such bad decisions.

My best friend Camille sent me a link today that I can stamp as fact with my Jenny stamp for being true.

It was about the lack of mens commitment when their wife gets a serious illness. You can find it here.

When I got diagnosed with Fibro a lot of things changed in my marriage, and not for the good. It was around that time Brendan started to distance himself from me. I noticed he would spend more time in the basement, and less quality time with me. On my bad days he would take out his frustrations of my illness on me because he said he didn’t have anyone else to talk to. I noticed that I was walking on egg shells around him more, and his drinking gradually became more frequent.

It got to the point where we were not spending any time together, those egg shells I was walking on became glass, and the drinking had become a nightly occurance.

Toward the end of our marriage, I asked him if we could spend one night a month together. He said it was a lot to ask for and he didn’t know if he could commit to it because of work (he works part-time at Publix)

I guess a person just knows when it’s over and it was that moment I knew I had to get out of that toxic environment, and that my marriage was over.

Brendan and I signed the divorce papers on the 6th and turned them into the court. I have to come back January 7th to go to court to finalize the divorce. In Colorado you don’t have to go back to court. Sigh.

This has taken more than a toll on me. There were things said tonight that touched the very core of my heart. Not in a good way. It questions my very soul to the post important people in my life. The most important person in my life. I’m not sure what to do, or how to fix it. I thought things were completely opposite than the way they were presented. This goes back decades, even longer. I question who I really am as a person who has too big of a heart and so much love to share and I thought everything was understood and ok, but they aren’t. My very soul is questioned. Love is questioned.

I’ve been doing the right thing ever since 2003 and being the responsible adult doing the right thing, making the right decisions, and loving my friends and family for everything, but .. do they feel it like they deserve? It makes me feel that I’m damaged, that I have been, that it’s permanent. These things I will never forget tho they have been forgiven.

When games over ride a friend in need, where does one go. I don’t know anymore. When there is noting left to say, it’s simple. There is nothing left to say.

I never wanted this divorce. I did everything I could so it wouldn’t come to that, but it has. It’s not only hurting me, it’s hurting my Mom too and I feel that’s somehow my fault. I hate it. I hate all this.

Solution of being a hermit is starting to sound pretty good. I can’t hurt anyone that way. After tonight, I’m at my own breaking point, if it hasn’t happened already. Words are daggers, and they went straight into my soul, and hearts can be repaired. But the soul is a different thing altogether. Souls can just die. If my soul would be a person, it should be in ICU, but there is no such thing. It screams, burden. That’s stamped on my forehead for all to see. It’s what my soul screams and I’m so ashamed. There is no way of coming back from that.

Usually when I wake up in the morning I scroll through all the tweets I missed without really reading them. Not only did I go through each one this morning (I’m sure it was because coffee was still brewing) but I actually read each one. Before coffee!! HA!

Anyway, I found myself a little gem that will make a huge impact on my life. It was a quote. Not only was it exactly what I needed to hear, it was something I needed to believe. Sure, this divorce thing sucks. I’m selling the home I feel in love with without a future home (yet) in the future. I’m actually really trying to act normal as much as possible thinking it will help with the sadness and loss when really I want to curl up in bed and cry my eyes out for the next year with a good supply of kleenex. Can you imagine the monster of a headache you’d have after that? Whoa.

This came from Martin Allsop’s twitter page .. “We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us” – Joseph Campbell

Like I told my Mother, I want to get through this whole divorce, moving, etc. thing without any regrets which means I need to be unemotional for a moment to make rational thoughts. Good luck, right?

I was talking to Tiffany last night that I haven’t even heard from my in-laws in over a month. My Mother-in-law and I used to talk/email daily with lots of “I love you’s” and she would always start her letters with her nick name for me .. “Jenny Dear” .. it really hurts and makes me question the whole concept of “family” again. How can you love one of your family members one day, then never speak to them again? It just doesn’t make sense to me .. it just makes me sad, hurt, and in a way abandoned.

Moving forward .. the realtor will be out tomorrow to take pictures of our house and we’ll officially have it on the market with a virtual tour even, hurray!

This whole divorce thing gets harder everyday. What’s worse, my in-laws have completely cut off all communication with me weeks before divorce was even a thought. I don’t know how the words “love” and “promise” can be thrown around so lightly. I worked so hard to make this marriage work and days later he’s out washing his car that I’m giving him and “returning to his arrogant, sneering prick days, which he really seems to enjoy” to having the worst panic attack ever where I sit with him and hold him and help him feel better while he tells me that he’s always felt him and his ex were perfect (even tho she cheated on him?!) and that our relationship wasn’t even tho he went along with it anyway and strung me along those 4 years based on a lie. This is right after he spent an evening with his friends at an NR rated strip club getting wasted and flirting with the waitress.

Like I said, I’ve done everything I could do for this man, and it’s not like I’m asking for repayment, I mean hell, he’s getting way more than he brought into the marriage, but maybe a little respect or some sort of sensitivity at the situation. When we were talking the night of his panic attack I told him how I gave him my heart and how he used that against me and his reply was “That was your first mistake, never give anyone your heart” .. I thought the safest place to put your heart would be in your husbands hands. He’s right however, pretty stupid of me.

I’m weepy today (which is an understatement). When I said my vows, they were intended to be forever. I never wanted to be divorced. We were on the same path in what we wanted of life, but instead of settling down now he wants “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” … in other words, drop me off at the curb and don’t look back.

This really hurts.

It seems when it rains it hails. Not for a day or two, but for months on end. There is no positives going on in my life right now, except for my outlook which is quickly deflating like a flat tire who’s spent too many miles on country gravel roads.

I’m sure there are people who are going to say ha ha, serves you right. For them, well, who cares.

I want to end things as peaceful as possible. That’s my goal, who knows if it will turn out that way or not but I want to walk away knowing I did everything I possibly could to make things work. That way I’ll have no regrets in regards to this.

I do feel completely alone in this. I keep thinking of those stupid movies where one woman is getting divorced and all her friends flock around her trying to cheer her up and hook her up with every human with three legs. That’s not been the case with me. My Mother came as support and her hurt and dislike of my husband has been taken out on me which makes me feel like I’m getting ganged up on. I haven’t even began to deal with the love that is now lost and now I’m dealing with everything except myself. I’m pretty sure in situations like this I should be trying to keep myself sane. I haven’t even had a chance for that.

So, this hasn’t been fun. All my friends who have even heard my words the last month are busy with their lives, or whatever and I’m here stuck by myself to figure it all out. I’m wondering when I’ll stop pulling the short straw out of the bunch.

I can’t sleep. Mostly due to anxiety over tomorrow. I’m having the nerves in my lower back burned off since all forms of trying to elevate the pain has failed. To be perfectly honest I don’t think the pain in my back is the fibro talking. I’m getting to the point where I can tell the fibro pain from the arthritis pain and my back pain as well as my knee pain are definitely from the arthritis.

After saying that you might think of me as an old woman who’s had her kids which left the nest a long time ago and that my days are spent gardening happy humming in my retirement. When I was in high school I used to think that 30′s were the responsible adults who somehow grew lame and boring the minute of their 30th birthday.

To be perfectly honest I still feel like I’m in my early 20′s because I can’t wrap my mind around how time continues to go faster the older I get. I remember hearing this from my parents growing up and being a child there was no way I could understand it until now as I’m experiencing it. Sigh.

I sometimes feel that I hardly see the dust trails before the second lap is halfway through. I know it is something I’ll never catch again, like I could when I had tea parties with the mad hatter when I was once pretending to be Alice.

I watched the first episode of John and Kate plus 8 last night where they were interviewed separately for the first time. It was said. I’m pretty sure I’m being bias for siding with Kate (being a woman and all) but Jon has just been a dick. He’s always been a dick on shows, cracking these jokes that would make any woman feel like shit. Anyway, I see this so often. Its the male midlife crisis and it ends up hurting families more than anything. I’ve seen that happen in my own family, within my own group of friends, within my Mothers group of friends and there is just no reason to throw in the towel without doing everything possible. Jon said on the show that he has a hard time communicating. He’s right! He needs to work with someone on that. Kate is overbearing, but I think she’s overwhelmed, I mean, look at all her little responsibilities she has everyday. He has no idea the pressure she was being put through while he was at work. Or maybe he does, I don’t know.

What I do know is Kate is scared of being a failure, a static and just like any woman who are social nurturing beings, they DON’T want to raise a family alone. When they had kids, she saw Jon in the picture from beginning to end. She saw a partner, a lover, a best friend and it was so obvious in her face last night that she is still so in love with him. The way he talked, he couldn’t care less about her and is ready for the next adventure around the corner, leaving the adventure he already started and hasn’t finished. Sort of like he graduated from college and he’s ready for college.

It doesn’t work like that Jon. You IDIOT. You aren’t a kid anymore ready to start something new and exciting. You’re a grown man with a wife and family and you have to push those fears of getting older away because you are supposed to grow old with your family. Go buy a red sports car or something but don’t traumatize these kids because you can’t figure it out.

Their new hours is pretty, to be somewhat positive. I forsee goats and chickens and other animals like that in the future. Kids growing up on a farm have such a great advantage.

I’m sorry Kate. I’m rooting for you that you can get through this. You’re a woman, you can, but I hope time will heal wounds faster than usual and you’ll find the one that does want the job that Jon didn’t finish.

I just got an email from my boss and I’ve never felt like such a piece of shit which my work at this company than I do now. The emails I get don’t reflect anything relating to such. The emails I get back are “good job! Your great! We love you! Thank goodness your there! You are always there and always the most helpful”!

I don’t know what to do. I love my job 99% of the time. I live and breath my job. But then when your boss changes it goes from old boss saying “I couldn’t do it without you” to new boss saying “My way or the highway, I will not accept anything less” so everything I have learned in my job I’m having to unlearn in accordance to new boss.

New boss has never been in tech support. Fort the last 5 years I’ve lived and breathed tech support. I actually planned on living out my career here. Now I’m working harder not only here but at home and when I get a huge project done to help my team it’s shot down and I get 10 canines.

I’ve never been so confused.

Our whole family has been going through the grieving process this past week which in turn makes this past week, for lack of a better term, suck. After some talk, we’ve decided that Jonah needs a friend in which he can speak dog to. One that is smaller than him so he’s not intimidated. One that doesn’t want to play with my 11 year old Neves and scratch him up to the point that he hides most of the time (he’s really getting social without the fear of a kitten ready to pounce him at any minute). And one with girl bits, not boy bits because

I’ve always wanted a girl pet, and let me tell you, I’ve had a LOT of pets throughout my life. I don’t know how I always get stuck with boys. I’m not sure I planned it that way, I think it just happened but not this time. This time, Jonah is going to have a little sister, a best friend, and a life long companion. Jonah is damn near a perfect dog in all ways. He has such good manners and he would be the perfect role model for a youngin’ to look up to, and adopt those good mannerisms, like how to ask to go to the bathroom, and how to ask for more water or to let us know his food bowl is empty. How not to beg, but sit patiently while us humans are eating our human food even if he doesn’t take his eyes off of each and every bite we take.

We want a little mini wiener dog. Now it’s time for the search and to make sure we are getting a healthy dog. I already called the humane society and they don’t have any we could adopt. It’s always the first place I look.

This isn’t a replacement by any means … nothing can replace our dear Pepper, but just like humans, animals weren’t made to go at it alone.

We didn’t have him very long as his life was so short but in the almost year and a half since we’ve gotten to be his Mommy and Daddy he’s brought a lot of joy to our house and to our hearts.

Pepper passed away yesterday around 6:30 pm. Until we have the official results (heart murmur, aneurysm, etc) it doesn’t change the fact that our little guy is gone, Jonah’s little brother, and our bundle of joy.

Lots of tears have already fallen and I’m sure more tears are to come. I still have his scratches on my hand when we were playing the day before yesterday. The effects of him not being here have already been present in Jonah. They were so close, nearly hip to hip at all times. In fact here is the last picture that was taken of him.

We’re having him cremated and he will be coming home to us soon, just not the way we wanted him. We picked out his urn, one that is playful instead of sad.

Well, things might actually be looking up. Turns out I have a nice healthy heart with no problems. Couldn’t ask for a better report. I tried to get a picture of the ulta-sound but the lady didn’t have a printer. Bummber. I’m trying to get as many pictures of my insides as possible. So far I have my bronchial scope and the MRI of my lower back (it sort of looks like a staircase) .. that’s what I get for not taking care of it sooner.

I’m 80 pounds lighter since the first of the year. No, I’m not dieting, I didn’t have any radical surgeries (at least ones I wasn’t completely conscious for), I do for the most part eat really healthy but I’ll have the occasional junk food every once in a while. I’m losing it from being sick and losing my appetite. It’s amazing how much faster you move minus 80 pounds tugging along with you. I hope it keeps up actually. Everyone wants to lose weight without doing anything, but … I know they don’t want to suffer through the sickness the whole time.

I am, get this …. I am getting better. I’m taking half the pain meds I used to take. I haven’t taken Oxycodone for 2 weeks and I eliminated my morphine capsule at night. I’m scared because for long periods of time on narcotic pain meds, the pain subconsciously feels worse than what it is. That scares me. Not sure I can handle much more, but it has gone down a bit. i don’t walk through days with an 8 on the pain scale. Right now it’s about a 5.5. That’s progress! I’m also feeling good that every single thing I get out of my closet falls off me. It’s been a long time since that happened. I have to wear a belt with every pair of jeans I have. I can move better, my shortness of breath has nearly gone away.

Nothing with my disease(s)/syndromes are easy fixes. All of them are permanent, but the difference is, I got me some good doctors finally who actually care how I feel. My Pulmonologist took it upon himself to get me into a drug trial for severe asthmatics to try this preventive drug which is most importantly, steroid free. It’s not like I have an appointment wit him … this was an after thought on his point to make sure I’m getting the best treatment available. Finally, I found the right people.

In other news, my Mother is flying down on Saturday to spend the week with us. Since I have Monday off I want to drive to Savannah Georgia. Since I’m getting better I think I’ll be able to handle the car ride fairly well, just as long as Mom and I don’t start one of our fights (like last time). They never last long, I just hate them to begin with. I’ve missed her so much, and I want her to see Spring in Kennesaw. Can’t wait!

As for work, I had a bad few days obviously if you read my twitter. Confidence is back and I’m right there in the middle of he game again getting done what needs to be done. Today I’ve had to give my team a tiny push as the deadline I set for them is coming up and I’m still seeing a lot of tickets in their queue still which is only 50% of the way I’m expecting them to go. We had a 45 second quick meeting reminding them of the impending clock that keeps ticking by not leaving them much time to reach their goal. I have faith, however.