Welp, a lot has happened since my last non-book update, hasn’t it? For one thing, the world has changed irrevocably and, as they say, turned completely upside down, but I’ll get to that. Here’s a brief update on what’s happened since that last post:
Tag: old lady aches and pains
I’m chronic, y’all #SOL2019
As part of the IBS Audio 100 program that I’m doing, the author asks that you rate your symptoms before starting, at the 27-day mark, and then again at the 100-day mark. After I completed the first 27 days, I decided that I should probably actually track my symptoms every day since I was mostly going by how I felt that week (which was fine), but I didn’t really have an overall sense of what I was feeling. There are a couple of apps specifically for IBS, but the one I chose is Cara because it’s pretty comprehensive.
Right, so, I have been tracking my symptoms and food for 38 days now, and here’s what I have discovered:
- I am always stressed out
- I always have a headache
- My stomach always hurts/is bloated
The last one wasn’t that big of a surprise since that’s why I’m using the app in the first place. No, the big surprises for me were the first two. First of all, how am I stressed out EVERY DAY even right now when I’m on vacation? Second, I thought my headaches were under better control than that.
It’s Monday! What are you reading? on an actual Monday! + #AMonthofFaves
Wow, so much happened in the past week that I don’t know where to begin.
1. The big thing is that the semester ended! I gave final exams, I graded graded graded and then graded some more.
My friend sent me the end of semester bingo card from social media, and I asked her if every square could be “Grading until you cry” and “more grading.” Because that was my main mood.
Oh, and also this:
Continue reading “It’s Monday! What are you reading? on an actual Monday! + #AMonthofFaves”
All I can think of is Bob Barker in Happy Gilmore
`I was going to try to write a separate IMWAYR (It’s Monday! What are you reading?) and Slice of Life Tuesday post, but then I realized I haven’t worked on my NaNoWriMo project in a week and also the thought of opening the editor to post again wore me out, so I’m just back to my once a week post instead. It’s probably better for everyone this way.
At any rate, for the past few days, I kept considering canceling my Thanksgiving Day plans so that I could sit on the couch and feel sorry for myself, so I should have known I was about to have/in the middle of a flare up. It has been pretty bad in that it’s not more terrible than usual but in that I had some symptoms I hadn’t had before, which left me feeling pretty awful last night–bad enough that I went to the doctor today. Turns out it’s probably gastritis. So I am treating that (or will be once my prescription is filled), and, if it doesn’t clear up within a week, I get to make an appointment with the gastroenterologist.
While I was dealing with all of that today, I also got tickets to a taping of The Price Is Right in December, so, you know, that’s one way to turn your day around.
Continue reading “All I can think of is Bob Barker in Happy Gilmore”
Something on a Sunday: Headache Relief
So, the delightful Jenny from Reading the End has started Something on a Sunday to celebrate wins (no matter how big or small) in an effort to help temper or at least relieve some of the intense anxiety, anger, and/or pain a lot of us have been feeling lately.
Rules, man. Here they are:
The only guidelines are that you write about something that kept you on your feet that week, whether that’s a person that inspired you, an action you took that you’re proud of, a book or movie or TV show that nourished your heart, a self-care strategy that worked for you, a goofy event or moment that brought you joy. Whatever it is, every Sunday, I want you to tell me something that matters to you. If you don’t have enough energy for a post, tweet it at me (you can use the hashtag #SomethingonSunday).
My something for this Sunday is this here acupressure mat.
That, and sobriety from ibuprofen. I wish I were joking about the latter thing, but I’m not.
B is for Birkenstocks #AtoZChallenge
So I was looking at my sandals that are beat all to hell, and I realized that they are in such terrible shape because they are so well-worn and well-loved.
When I started grad school, I lived in a cold climate, and I kept having issues with my right ankle. The ankle issues weren’t exactly new–I’ve had problems with my legs for years. When I was younger, it was attributed to growing pains. But I knew, for instance, at a very young age to elevate my leg if it were giving me trouble. I can vividly remember spending the night at my friend’s house (when I was 9? 10?) and being in tears because my ankle hurt and having to elevate it to go to sleep.
Right. So not new to ankle pain.
Anyway, I thought it had been acting up because of the cold, but it was bad enough that the doctor prescribed me orthotics. The orthotics were all well and good until I moved to the balmy clime of Florida, land of the flip flop and sandal. Oh, and I could no longer blame the cold for my ankle issues.
More doctor visits, and this time I was instructed to get some sandals/shoes with good support. More specifically, it was recommended that I get some Birkenstocks.
Doing so changed my life. I can teach in my Birkenstocks and not be in pain at the end of the day. This is HUGE. I can also walk around theme parks without wanting to throw in the towel before the day is over.
It’s pretty great.
It also showed me that I had to invest in good footwear. My personal budget for footwear was around $50-60, and that was for sneakers. I never wanted to spend more than $20 for sandals. And that was a lot! And it also meant no more flip flops. Or whatever other super flat sandal is in style and adorable and that I want. But to kick it back to yesterday’s letter A post, I had to accept that those types of shoes would not serve me. Even if they would look amazing.
Oh well.
So, yes, I am grateful for Birkenstocks, the sandals that helped save my ankle.
For the Blogging from A to Z Challenge this year, my theme is gratitude. Every day, I am going to post about something I am grateful for. Tune in tomorrow to see what I pick for C.
It’s Monday and I have a theme #sol17
This weekend, I had the opportunity to sit with two groups of people, and we spent 20-30 minutes talking about different foods and the gastric distress they now cause us. You know, foods we once loved that no longer love us back.
I was struck by two things during these conversations:
1. Everything starts going downhill at 35 (or 33, I guess, depending).
2. I am officially an old person.
The Englishist 