Life is fragile . . . enjoy the time you have.

My beautiful Hootie

Life is so full of unexpected events and life is so fragile.  Last Tuesday I lost my robust and full of life kitty, Hootie.  I am grief stricken and so sad.  He was a gentle soul and he followed me around the house and out in the yard just like a good dog would.  Wills is grieving too and he misses his buddy that was always more adventurous and led the way with Wills 10 steps behind.  But is was Hootie's adventurous spirit that may have hastened his demise.  Hootie was outside with Wills and Gabbie and when they came in the house Hootie was full of dust.  He like to take dust baths in the loose Arizona mountain soil during this dry season so I didn't think anything of it.  Sid said that Hootie didn't look right and the fur around his mouth was wet.  I took Hootie outside to brush him off and check him over, but he ran away from me not wanting to be bothered.  I didn't chase him since I always give my cats their own control and I assumed he would be back on the porch within a few minutes.  But Hootie never came home.  I am thinking that he may have been stung by a scorpion and possibly went into convulsions and then died, although I haven't seen any scorpions around the house inside or out.  I will never know for sure.  It seemed logical that Wills, who is older and appears more frail and thin, would have been gone before Hootie.  It seemed that Gabbie would have been next since she is losing her eyesight to cataracts and lost her hearing at least a year ago.  But life frequently doesn't follow my logic and the orderly fashion I have designed.  That's when I am completely surprised by life events and I think, "But that's not the way I had planned it."

My precious Wills

Whenever life is snatched from those we love we try to make sense of it and think that if only we would have done something different the outcome would have been different too.  It's only human to believe that we actually have that much power.  The fact is we are quite powerless in many aspects of life.  The only power we have is the small amount of power we have to make decisions about our own life and about the attitude we choose to have.  That's all.  That's pretty darned pathetic when I think about it.  I like to think I have so much power over myself, but as I write my body is continuing to decline, which is actually true of us all.  Some maybe decline faster than others, but after age 20 our bodies begin their decline no matter what we do.  So the purest sense of power lies in our attitude and the manner in which we choose to live life.  It is important to me to live my life with courage and enthusiasm.  I have grieved my loss for several days, but then it is time to pick myself up and begin moving forward again.  Moving backwards or remaining stagnant is not my style.  I appreciate the time I have or have had with family, friends and all the living things that come into my life.  No matter how much time I have or how fleeting it may be, I am grateful and I let go of any personal agenda to control that time I have.  In that way my time is pure and it is quality time that allows each life the liberty that life deserves -- no controls, no possession, just being and enjoying each breath.

Cute Gabbie

I miss my little Hootie and I know I will miss him for a long time.  But I also know how important it is to let go and allow life to follow its own path rather than try to force a path that I have chosen.  Grief and stress are difficult, especially when dealing with a chronic illness.  Grief and stress always cause our symptoms to flare so it is important to manage and minimize the effect these two necessary and yet destructive forces can have.  We are survivors and we are warriors.  We have resilience and determination.  We may fall, but we always get up again.  I want to share a favorite poem.  I have enjoyed the spirit of this poem since I was in my 20's.

Edmund Vance Cooke

How Did You Die?     by Edmund Vance Cooke  (Born June 5, 1866; died December 18, 1932)

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
   With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
   With a craven soul and fearful?
Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,
   Or a trouble is what you make it.
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
   But only how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth?  Well, well, what's that?
   Come up with a smiling face.
It's nothing against you to fall down flat,
   But to lie there -- that's disgrace.
The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce;
   Be proud of your blackened eye!
It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts:
   It's how did you fight and why?

And though you be done to death, what then?
   If you battled the best you could;
If you played your part in the world of men,
   Why, the Critic will call it good.
Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,
   And whether he's slow or spry,
It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,
   But only, how did you die?

From 101 Famous Poems, Contemporary Books, Inc, copyright 1958, pg 44.


Blessings to my beautiful kitty, Hootie, and blessings to you as you face all the unexpected events that life has to offer.  Life is so fragile and every moment is a gift!

In the Darkness of Night . . .

In the darkness of night I walk alone --
  I hear the night winds as they howl and they moan.
And on and on the winds howl and they moan.

I have no control as I search for some sleep
   and the restlessness over my body does creep.
And I search for my sanity and for some sleep!

I look out into the void of the dark,
  but the images I see are really quite stark.
And all that I see is the void of the dark.


As the night slips away to yield darkness to dawn
   I pace and I prowl across the dew laden lawn.
And I pace and I prowl 'till the light's early dawn.

As night turns to day I know night will return
   and that is the time again I will yearn
For sleep that evades me . . . I continue to yearn.

As night falls again that feeling appears
   and the night drags along into years and more years.
And that feeling creeps into years and more years.


Although it appears that alone I do pace
  while "It" creeps and crawls all over the place!
I know that alone I never do pace.

There are others that fight this battle not won
  from first hint of dusk until the first light of sun.
This is a battle that cannot be won.

A flicker of light in the east does appear
   and heralds the day and dissolves all the fear
As sunlight dances away all the fear.

And "yes" I'm still here!


My earliest recollection of WED/RLS was in my childhood, but the symptoms didn't start in earnest until 20 years ago following an injury.  I have actively fought nightly with this disease for the last 20 years.  Blessings to you as you walk alone through the night!

Willis-Ekbom Disease (RLS) Nightwalkers beware of MSG!

The Willis-Ekbom Disease Foundation is an excellent resource for anyone experiencing the symptoms associated with this disease.  Formerly known as the Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation, the Foundation has officially changed their name to reflect the seriousness and more global symptoms people frequently experience with this disease.  The WED Foundation distributes their quarterly publication to their members, which always contains valuable, cutting edge information.  The WED Fountation also conducts Webinars that are open to their members.


In the WED Foundation Winter 2013 edition of "Nightwalkers -- In search of a good night's sleep" there is an article titled "Can MSG Affect WED/RLS?" authored by Norma G. Cuellar DSN, RN, FAAN, Professor, Capstone College of Nursing, University of Alabama.  In this article Professor Cuellar discusses the hazards of MSG, which most often can be found in Chinese food and in processed foods.  According to Professor Cuellar MSG contains the salt of glutamic acid, which is naturally found in many foods such as vegetables and seaweed.  It is possible to develop glutamic acid toxicity if too much MSG is consumed; the body also has the ability to produce glutamic acid.  In addition, MSG has been known to cause allergic reactions that include skin reactions, headaches, dizziness or more serious reactions such as irregular heart rhythms, seizures and depression.  Professor Cuellar goes on to say that "MSG has been associated with cognitive disorders, endocrine dysfunction, migraine headaches, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimer's disease, autism, obesity, addiction, and sleep disordered breathing."  Food manufacturers are required to list MSG in the ingredients list on packaging labels so be sure to read the labels.  MSG continues to be added to processed foods and Chinese food despite the evidence that this food additive can be detrimental to your health.

MSG intake has additional health implications for those of us that are 'Nightwalkers'.  Glutamic acid is a neurotransmitter that may impact dopamine metabolism; dopamine is linked to WED/RLS symptoms.  A number of studies have demonstrated losses of dopamine in the brain following the intake of MSG.  There are currently no studies that have included WED patients so there is no research supported evidence that MSG affects WED symptoms, but some patients have reported improvement in their symptoms after eliminating MSG from their diet.

MSG is a food additive that has long been known for adverse effects therefore it is beneficial for everyone to avoid processed foods containing MSG.  But for those people that are the 'Nightwalkers' the implications are even greater.  To be informed about the latest information about WED, join the Willis-Ekbom Foundation and get connected to a community of people that provide support to one another and provide leadership for cutting edge WED/RLS research.  Blessings to you as you search for a good night's sleep!


Cuellar, Norma G., DSN, RN, FAAN, Professor, Capstone College of Nursing, University of Alabama. Winter, 2013.  Nightwalkers -- In search of a good night's sleep, pg 9.

Owee Kazowee . . . It's a pain!

Arizona sunset in my front yard

I read a number of blogs and a frequent theme is related to pain and pain management.  Why wouldn't it be?  Pain, whether it is acute or chronic, is always in your face every day no matter how much you try to ignore it.  Many of us use a combination of pain medications throughout the day and night in an attempt to manage our pain, but new findings have demonstrated that using these medications are actually counterproductive.  Long-term narcotic use actually magnifies any pain you may have anywhere in your body.  (Jaret, Peter.  2013, April, AARP Bulletin, Fighting Pain, pg. 10 - 12).  I suspected there was a rebound effect from pain medication use, because I experienced this first hand after using Vicodin for only a short period of time.  Prescription opioid pain medications are now the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in America.  Despite decades of research on how to manage acute and chronic pain there still are no easy answers.  Most pain management clinics are now weaning chronic pain patients off their opioid medications and replacing those medications with a variety of strategies to manage their daily pain.  I use my pain medications judiciously, but I am personally terrified of the thought that I would have no access to pain medication.  I've been there, done that and it didn't really work all that well.  Managing pain every day throughout the day and night is already a full time job.  I can't possibly spend the entire day meditating in an effort to control my pain.  That was the suggestion I received from a pain program I attended 20 years ago.  The reality is that opioid pain medication won't eliminate pain completely and so a number of strategies must be used to get through each day.  For me, balancing pain management strategies with sensible pain medication use currently seems to be the best approach.

A javelina at my bird feeder!

It's a mistake to take larger and larger doses of opioid pain medications so I stick with a regimen that provides enough relief to take the edge off my pain and I resist the temptation to increase my dose in an effort to get additional pain relief.  It just doesn't work and that's the bad news.  The good news is there are other strategies that give me relief throughout the day and using these strategies have become second nature so it doesn't feel as though I'm spending my whole day managing pain.  There are some days that are so bad -- I feel so sick, am plagued with exhaustion, and have so much pain that functioning is difficult.  Those are the days when I lay low and do nothing more than pamper myself and rest.  It's important to listen to our bodies, because they give us clues (some clues are louder than others!) about what they need, and to ignore that gets us into trouble.  I save Vicodin for bedtime, because it's critical to get enough sleep.  Depending on my activity during the day, Vicodin may not be effective, but I have other "tools" in my pain management toolbox.  I have found that distraction is the very best medicine and is far more effective than any pain medication I have used for my chronic and unpredictable pain.  Not moving is the kiss of death.  The hazards of immobility is something nurses learn in their very first class in nursing school, because to keep people moving is critical to everything that ails them.  When people cease to move, their body starts to deteriorate immediately on many levels.  It seems so opposite that we must get up and move when we feel sick, exhausted and in pain, but that's exactly what we must do.  I tend to reject the workout program thing.  Instead I incorporate exercise throughout my day.  The key is to do what you enjoy and brings you joy.  I enjoy going for short walks with my two cats and my dog.  They are all getting older and my dog has two congenital heart defects and taking Enalapril so they all move at my speed!  I also enjoy gardening so I have trimmed down the amount I have to do so it isn't overwhelming, but keeps me moving.  Caring for my cats and dog, and feeding the wild birds also keeps me moving and I have my daily routine to provide them with what they all need to thrive and that brings me joy.  When I stop moving I have a tendency to have more pain and I have to be careful not to overdo.  While I was checking out the bird feeder the other day I was surprised to find a 40 pound javelina grazing on bird seed.  Now that was a distractor from pain!  Ha!  Listening to music while I cook or during other activity distracts me from my pain.  I spend time with my kitties and dog . . . I'm sure that rubbing my hands in a fur ball lowers my blood pressure, diminishes my pain and is very therapeutic in a meditative sort of way!  And they love it too.  I socialize as much as I am able and I love to read; both great pain distractors.  It's all about focusing my senses on environmental stimuli that are able to override the pain I feel.  Night time is the biggest challenge and that's why I save Vicodin for bedtime.  At night everything is dark and when the lights go out there is very little sensory stimulation to override pain, so my complete attention is on painful stimuli.  When I am having difficulty sleeping I go out to the living room and turn on the TV.  I may also do some reading while I'm watching TV, which engages a number of my senses and helps to override the pain.  When I feel sleepy I lay down on the sofa and watch TV and then I am able to fall asleep.  So for those nights I need additional environmental stimuli to override my pain and other discomfort.  Sound machines in the bedroom serve the same type of distraction.

A javelina mug shot . . . Harvey the Javelina!

Another important piece of the pain relief puzzle for me is to maintain my sense of humor and not to give in to this monster that threatens to rob me of my life.  One element in my life that helps me to keep going is trying to keep up with Sid.  When I can't keep up with him I make concessions and alter my level of participation in an activity.  I maintain a mental attitude of wellness rather than sickness.  There's that old saying that when you pick an attitude make sure you pick a good one.  And your attitude determines your altitude. I make a point of getting out of the house every day and interact with the people around me.  I also joined the local garden club to give me some activity that gives some of my time structure.  I may not be able to do the heavier work, but I have skills that will benefit the club in a number of ways.

A javelina mug shot from the other side . . . bristled up and ready for a fight!

All of these strategies may seem so simple, but they do work to provide relief for at least a little while.  Pain relief efforts are just that:  effort.  It requires planning, work and lots of determination.  But that's a small task for a warrior!  All of us would love to be completely pain free, but that just isn't realistic.  The most important component of my pain relief program is being connected to all of you.  Being connected with others that are struggling every day to manage pain gives me a feeling of comraderie and I know I'm not alone.  It also gives me hope too.  Never, never give up hope.

Current research is working on a variety of ways to manage pain.  One approach is to block the pain signals from their source.  The experience of pain is a very personal experience and finding pain relief strategies is personal too.  We can give each other ideas with the strategies that we use, but each of us must define what works for us.  Some people have found pain relief from accupuncture, accupressure, tai chi, meditation and massage.  Whatever works for you, do it.  I'm sure there are some very creative ideas on how to manage pain!  Please share your thoughts with all of us . . .

Meanwhile, I think of you all every day and hope you are finding pain relief for even the briefest of moments and that you have hope and peace and joy in your life.  Blessings to you on this difficult journey!

Advocating for yourself with complex, chronic illness PART 2 - Establishing a foundation for your healthcare

The first step in advocating for yourself is to establish a solid relationship with a primary care physician.  Internal Medicine physicians are specialists in adult healthcare so it is more beneficial to build your healthcare team with an Internal Medicine doctor as your co-pilot.  It is the responsibility of your primary care physician to coordinate your care with the input from doctors that specialize in other areas such as rheumatology, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, neurology, etc.  Doctors that specialize in body parts see patients as body parts and that isn't beneficial when trying to diagnose a complex illness that includes all your body parts.  Your primary care doctor should treat you with respect, listen to your concerns uninterrupted, and develop a plan of care that is focused on making an accurate diagnosis, providing you with treatment options, and working with you to find solutions to ongoing and new problems.  Your primary care doctor should be vigilant in monitoring you for a possible missed diagnosis.  There are many connective tissue diseases, autoimmune disorders, and neurological diseases that are very difficult to diagnose.  It can take years to make a definitive diagnosis.  These illnesses have similar symptoms to CFS and fibromyalgia.

Another critical component of developing a solid foundation for your care is an office staff that works well together, is responsive to what you need, such as a prescription refill, and doesn't serve as a barrier between you and your doctor.  I had a wonderful rheumatologist that was a partner in my care and we worked so well together.  But I always had great difficulty getting my prescriptions renewed due to the office staff not following through.  I attempted to work with this and I even talked with the doctor about the difficulty I was having.  One day I realized that I was running low on Ropinirol for RLS so my pharmacy faxed the office to get the refill okayed.  Two days later I attempted to pick up the prescription, but there had been no reply from the doctor's office.  So the pharmacy sent another request by fax, but when I returned to the pharmacy there was still no reply.  The pharmacy gave me extra Ropinirol to hold me over until they heard back from the doctor's office.  I called the doctor's office and the staff member told me I needed to be seen by the doctor before the medication could be refilled.  I attempted to explain why I needed the medication, but the staff member refused to give the doctor the message.  I made an appointment for the following week, which was the earliest appointment I could get.  I considered driving the 30 miles to the office to talk with the doctor since the staff were acting as a barrier, but the doctor wasn't in on Friday.  The pharmacy refused to give me any more medication until I saw the doctor.  I had to go without taking Ropinirol for 4 days.  By the fourth day I was unable to remain still for longer than 1 minute at a time and therefore I was up and moving for 27 hours straight before I could get to the doctor's office just to get a prescription filled.  The doctor was dismayed to find out that her staff had been a barrier in my care.  I made a decision to change doctors even though this doctor was a wonderful co-pilot.  If the office staff are a barrier it doesn't matter how good the doctor is.

An important concept for all of us to embrace is that we are healthcare consumers.  We hire doctors to give us an opinion -- essentially, they are our employees.  If the doctor's performance is poor we can fire them just as quickly as we hired them.  The doctor we choose to see is accountable to us and our expectations.  Take the time to sit down and write a list of expectations that you have for the doctor you hire to participate in your care.  When you see your doctor, present that list of expectations so that your doctor knows exactly what you want from him/her.  If your doctor doesn't meet those expectations, communicate that immediately to your doctor.  When you are disappointed in your doctor's performance let him or her know that.  Our power as healthcare consumers is the feedback we give our doctors and we share with one another.  I make sure I take the time to write a review of my doctor's performance on the various Web sites that provide customer feedback tools, such as Health Grades.  I check these Web sites out before I go to a new doctor.  For example, the reviews that were posted about the neurologist I have been referred to were not favorable so I discussed this with my primary doctor.  I told my primary doctor that I was not interested in seeing a doctor that has a bad attitude and I asked my primary doctor what his experience had been with other patients that he had referred to this neurologist.  It is important to have these conversations with doctors so they are reminded of our expectations.  Some people only write feedback when they are angry or when they are very happy, so take that into account when reading these reviews.  It is important for us to communicate a doctor's performance whether it is good, bad or indifferent.  Our ability to share our opinions with each other about the doctors we see ultimately improves the care that we receive.  I always inform the doctors I see that I read reviews about their performance on the Internet.

In preparation for an appointment with your doctor, make a list of concerns you want to discuss.  Doctors are busy and can only address 2 or 3 issues per visit.  Before your appointment review your list and select the most important issues you need to discuss.  You can always make your doctor aware of additional issues you have and then decide how to get those issue addressed, which may mean making another appointment.  If you go to your appointment prepared and organized you can accomplish a lot in a 15 minute appointment.  When the doctor walks into the exam room I communicate the number of concerns I have to the doctor and then I start with the most important concern.  I am aware of how much time I have and work through all my concerns within the time that is available.  It is difficult to address the many issues that patients have when a complex illness is involved.  If time runs out and there is another concern that you have, this can always be discussed with the doctor's nurse or nursing assistant and then they can get back to you with an answer.

When a doctor makes a rude statement to you, becomes annoyed when you want to talk about a new symptom or a persistent symptom, or oversimplifies your diagnosis, it is a sign that you have reached the end of that doctor's knowledge and it can be an exceedingly short trip!  A competent doctor that cares about patients has the ability to admit when he/she isn't sure about the diagnosis and avoids labeling or stereotyping a patient.  I have had a number of physicians write bogus comments in my medical record.  That's a lot of power!  Most recently I saw a neurologist for my peripheral neuropathy and he documented in my medical record that I'm "just depressed" and I have "skin sensations".  I am now in the process of challenging that doctor and having my medical record amended.  Remember that you own your medical record and you may request to review your medical record at any time.  If you do not agree with what is documented in your medical record you can challenge that documentation and request that the documentation be changed.  The content of your medical record has many implications for you both legally and medically.  This documentation is critical if you need to apply for disability and may have implications for a health or life insurance policy that you wish to purchase.  Your medical record is a legal document that follows you throughout your life and the tendency of anyone reading your medical record is to believe whatever a doctor writes.  Doctors have a great deal of power and that power is recklessly abused at times by doctors.  We must exercise the power we have as healthcare consumers and advocate for ourselves to ensure that our healthcare outcomes are favorable for us.

The next topic in this series that I will be discussing is how to speak the same language as your doctor and healthcare team.  Meanwhile, take good care and be well!  Many Easter blessings to you . . .

Advocating for yourself with complex, chronic illness PART 1

My 30-year career as an RN included a passion for patient advocacy.  People that are acutely or chronically ill are vulnerable and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.  Vulnerable people need supportive and trustworthy people on their healthcare team, and the patient serves as the captain of that team.  My personal experience as a patient suffering from a complex and poorly understood illness hasn't always been a pleasant one with regards to my healthcare team.  I know that others have had similar experiences.

Any illness is a very personal experience that is unique to that person.  As a healthcare professional it is a privilege to be a part of that experience and to be a member of that person's healthcare team.  Unfortunately patients don't always feel as though they are the captain of their team.  In fact, many times patients feel more like outsiders and as though they are an annoyance when interacting with health professionals.  It is those times when we feel most isolated and alone, especially if we have been discounted and prescribed treatments that provide little symptomatic relief, but lots of side effects.  Feeling alone and unsupported emotionally at a time when we are so vulnerable is a difficult place to be.  That leads to a myriad of emotions including anger, depression, anxiety, fear, frustration and more.  We desperately need an advocate to help us navigate a complex and sometimes seemingly hostile healthcare system that will only continue to become more and more complex.  The complexity increases even more when the patient has a poorly understood illness that presents with a long list of confusing symptoms and reliable diagnostic tests don't exist.  On top of all that our family members and friends have difficulty understanding how desperately ill we are because "we don't look sick".  That only adds to our feelings of isolation.

There are advocacy groups in the Fibromyalgia and chronic illness communities, but those groups work in the background on our behalf and cannot be there for us when we need them most.  What we need is our own personal advocate to stand by our side when the going gets tough and to direct a healthcare team that may be apathetic at best.  So where is that advocate?  That advocate lies within each of us.  We must arm ourselves with knowledge of how the healthcare system works and how to find a medical provider that will serve as a co-captain in our diagnosis, treatment and care.  That's a tough charge when we feel so sick and are in so much pain, but as healthcare consumers we have a lot of power -- knowledge and camaraderie are power.

Symbols of who we once were

Over the years I have sorted through my belongings and made decisions about what I should keep and what I should move along.  I have always believed that if I no longer needed something that it's a good thing to let go of it and allow it to go to a new home.  There seems to be no good reason to keep something I no longer use.  But as I have gotten older and this chronic illness has taken its toll on my body it has become more and more difficult to let go of certain belongings.  This recent move to a home with less storage than my previous home has presented the dilemma of purging more belongings than I was prepared for.  I have come to realise there are things that I cling to despite the fact I haven't used them in 6 years.  Even the 5 year test seems to be a little long.  If I haven't used something in 5 years it's unlikely I will ever use it again.  So why on earth am I so reluctant to part with these things that have no obvious use?  I haven't used my cross country skis in 6 years and I'm living in a place where suitable snow is not generally available.  Due to my health status it is unlikely I will ever ski again.  That's a stark reality for me.  So do I just accept that reality, sell my skis and move on?

I have always been so rooted in reality and I learn life's lessons from my life experiences and then keep moving forward.  It just seems that spending too much time reminiscing leaves people stuck in the past, which prevents them from enjoying the present and creating new life memories.  But when the future may not hold new adventures and physical decline is the expectation, what provides that quality of life that keeps moving us forward?  If I let go of my skis is that a statement of defeat?  Those skis are symbols for me.  They symbolize a time when I was able to overcome this illness in an act of personal rebellion and rise beyond its limitations and feel normal again for at least a short time.  Of course I always paid the price for the level of activity and effort required while cross country skiing, but it kept me sane and grounded . . . and hopeful.  But this day is a new day for me and going cross country skiing is no longer an option for me.  To let go of a symbol of a more vigorous time creates a sense of grief.  But isn't that something we all experience if we are lucky enough

The changing landscape of our lives

I recently changed the landscape around me by moving from north San Diego County to a delightfully wild area of the Arizona mountains near Prescott.  I am fortunately in the valley at 5,000 feet where the weather is warmer and the snow is an infrequent, delightful and transient visitor.  Decisions to physically move is an obvious change in our life landscape, but what about those insightful, aha moments that make our life appear so different than it did only moments before?  Many of these moments are so subtle that they may escape our attention and others are like a stick of dynamite that explodes right before our eyes and demands our attention.  Just when I think my life is on a steady course, an aha moment changes that course in a new direction toward uncharted territory and an adventure in discovery.  In the middle of the chaos that characterizes packing a house and moving 350 miles I had one of those aha moments, which was generated by my continuous quest for answers.  My diagnosis of Fibromyalgia has always raised questions for me as it may have for many of you too.  That unconscious part of my brain that works in the background, nags at me when pieces of a puzzle don't quite fit, and it prods me to keep asking

Beyond the winter solstice

Now that winter has officially arrived in the northern hemisphere I'm wondering how everyone is doing.  The changing seasons and weather extremes are known to increase Fibromyalgia symptoms and pain.  Couple the colder weather with more activity than usual through the holidays and the result can spell disaster in the weeks following.  Even if you paced yourself the disruption of your usual daily schedule may lead to increased pain and fatigue.  I'm thinking that most of you are probably wiped out.  In addition, the shorter days have an effect on our bodies as our brain receives less daylight, which triggers a hibernation response.  When shadows grow long a sort of melancholy sets in.  The lessened daylight signals to the brain has an effect on neurotransmitters, those chemical messengers responsible for our feeling of well-being.  I am reading more and more research studies involving the neurotransmitters.  Neurotransmitters are the focus for so many chronic illnesses, which may be the critical key that will unlock the mysteries associated with chronic illnesses that currently have no cure.  Meanwhile, we must manage our daily symptoms during these bleak winter months that follow the winter solstice.

Male Northern Cardinal

I have always celebrated the winter solstice with great enthusiasm.  Despite the fact that winter is in its full glory there will soon be signs that spring is emerging, promising new life.  In the northland where winter is long it is especially important to watch for those subtle signs of spring.  In late January the male cardinal begins to sing his song in the tallest treetop perch, already staking out his territory.  He is easy to spot in his lofty perch since all the trees remain dormant and are leafless . . . and after all he is a brilliant scarlet bird that dares to taunt the predator hawks and kestrels while in such a vulnerable position.  He sings urgently

The New Year 2013 begins with cars flexing their motor muscles!

Mike Hayden

Mike and his Pit Crew

A New Year's Day tradition that started as a small event hosted by Mike Hayden and The Shafters Car Club kicked off today at 10:00 am.  Over the past several years this event has quadrupled in attendance and the enthusiasm just keeps growing.  Mike builds race motors and he just happens to have a 600 ft drag strip at his house.  This is what you call a hard core car guy!  This event has grown to include a pit crew, an announcer and DJ, and lots of great food cooked outdoors on site.  In addition, the passion that many in the community have for our military men and women has been included in this event as a fund raiser for the Wounded Warriors.  Today $1,700+ was raised to support these courageous men and women.  Last but not least, people bring their cars to flex motor muscles on the drag strip.  This results in lots of smoke, lots of noise and lots of cheers too.  Several guys brought their drag cars, but no nitrous was used this year so we didn't have any wheels coming up off the strip.  A number of people smoked the tires of their family car and that always results in a good laugh too.

MOPAR Danny

There is nothing as rejuvenating as pretending that you're a kid again.  Many of the drag car drivers today are in their 60's, but they have no intention of slowing down yet.  That spark and spirit is what truly keeps people feeling and acting younger than their biological years.  And acting like a kid again helps to ease chronic pain and boost the spirits of those people with chronic illness.  The looming fiscal cliff and all the past year's worries and concerns of a sluggish economy have taken it's toll on people.  People all over the world are feeling a financial crunch, because we are globally connected to one another.  There is only one