Don’t stop talking.

On an ice pack on the couch.

Some days, I feel like no one will ever understand my pain. It is so difficult to put into words the feeling of your entire body burning, as if you’re being torn apart limb by limb, every muscle screaming head to toe in desperation. I just want it to end most days. That’s the ugly truth. The internet, as terrible as it is sometimes, is a lifeline to people who exist this way. I’m thankful for the advocates out there who still find enough words to speak out when the rest of us are too tired to do so. I’m not entirely alone in this misery, even though it seems that way when I’m feeling my worst.

Your voice matters more than you can imagine, so please keep talking about it. Being heard and treated with empathy and kindness is the only hope some of us have left.

Somebody dropped an anvil on my head, and other ramblings

I'm on the tail end (hopefully) of one of the worst headaches of my life. I have a lot of headaches, but this felt like something crash-landed on my head. My blood pressure rose, my entire upper body was screaming, and much despair was had. I'm still in a great deal of pain (level 9 if I have to use a pain scale), but currently upright, so I wanted to give some sort of an update.

This is George the resident rooster.

He's loud.

Pretty, but loud.

I thought he liked me, but he gave me the side-eye the other day

when I told him to stop eating the neighbor's flowers,

so I'm unsure. I'd like to think we're friends, but you'd have to ask him.

Did I mention he's a bit loud?

Most of my stretched canvases in the closet found a home.

May they encounter happy trees on their new journey.

This is what the diet is looking like these days.

Feel free to ignore the condiments. They're not getting used.

The noodles are Gastroparesis-approved,

but killing me in regards to Periodic Paralysis.

Therefore, I'm having to keep them at a minimum.

I'm still trying to eat solid food occasionally, with mixed results.

The best case scenario, it seems, is low-sodium, low-fiber soup.

This one is a pretty good example.

It's not the best-tasting stuff, but it's acceptable.

I can hardly express how happy I was with this dish.

Patagonian scallops, Gulf shrimp and crab, Icelandic cod,

Vidalia onion, and red and yellow peppers in a tomato broth.

It was beautiful. I will make it again someday, and add rice.

I'm still sick in bed till my misery subsides. I posted an absolutely awful video blog on Facebook (friends only) mirroring this post, but with a little more detail. Time to lie back down with my ice pack. Tomorrow, I'll try to look presentable enough to promote Red Nose Day. See you then.

39.25 year old head for trade

For Trade: Head. Approximately 8 pounds, possibly fatter. Eyes don't see very well, but enough to get by. Mouth attached is anatomically small, but packs a punch when necessary. Carnivorous, but not cannibalistic. Sinus cavities are a bit wonky, and ears would have benefitted from tubes in their youth, but alas. The brain inside likes to repeat nightmares and scream in piercing agony for no known reason. It also fights sleep to an unruly and miserable extent. Kind of useless. In fact, I'll rescind my trade offer and give it to you for free. Just take it from me already.

No phone calls or solicitations, please.

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