The Evolution of My Career

I’m taking an adoption break this week, and focusing on something I’ve never really talked about before: what I do for work and how that came to be. I went to Carnegie Mellon, initially intending to major in Professional Writing, but to try and get into the College of Fine Arts. I wanted to be an … Continue reading →

I Have a Disability

When I first found out I have CRPS, it was still being called RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). RSD was not on the list of disabilities that the federal government recognizes. If you were disabled by RSD/CRPS, you were SOL according to the government. I know some people have been successful, in the 11 years since … Continue reading →

Did You Know That CRPS Can Spread?

As I believe I’ve mentioned before, I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Essentially, I have nerve damage in my left knee. There is no cure. However, I am incredibly lucky/blessed to have found medications that control my symptoms, for the most part, and allow me to function as a productive member of society. I am … Continue reading →

CRPS: A Final Thought for the Week

Some people here and on Facebook have commented about not knowing how horrible CRPS really is. I feel the need to point out that, at this moment, I don’t know how horrible CRPS really is. You see, I suffered excruciating, debilitating pain for only three years. At the end of that three years, I found … Continue reading →

Speaking of CRPS…

While we’re on the topic of CRPS, I thought I’d share a couple of little known facts about this little known disorder. The first is that RSD/CRPS causes short term memory loss. It’s true. You see, your brain is used to routing messages a certain way. When, all of a sudden, those nerves are always … Continue reading →

Another Anniversary: 10 Years of CRPS

Towards the end of last year, I realized that 2013 marked another anniversary for me: 10 years of pain. I knew I had hurt my knee for good in January, but I had to look up the exact date. It was January 17, 2003. Three years to the day before Jackson was born. Obviously, I … Continue reading →

Hooray for Health Care!

“You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter and medical attention. Anything else that you get is a privilege. ” ~ Alcatraz: Inmate Regulations, 1956 (emphasis mine) Today, the Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. (Yes, Rand Paul, that does mean that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional.) While I am happy … Continue reading →

Family History: Anywhere But Here

Each Tuesday, Dede offers questions or ideas, which hopefully will spark a memory you can write/record so that it can be left for children/grandchildren/family/friends. This week, it’s: If I could live anywhere, where would it be? Why? As the subject of the post intimates, today, I would rather live anywhere but here. My house is … Continue reading →

Daily Post: What Would You Tell Yourself 10 Years Ago?

Because I have no shortage of blog topics, I haven’t been doing the Daily Post prompts. However, today’s was a really good one: If you could go back in time and have a 5 minute conversation with yourself ten years ago, what would you say? That would put me at February 13, 2000. I was … Continue reading →

Just Wanted to Remember

(originally published on LiveJournal) I had my first major pain day of the year today – 8 on the scale this morning, tapering down to about 5 or 6 for most of the rest of the day. Jackson is very into superheroes right now. He and Max are playing Lego Batman. I have to write … Continue reading →