Puerto Rico, The Caribbean, Nepal, Mexico, and Oregon...how to help.

Click here for a few ways to help Puerto Rico.

Edit 9/28: Here's another great list for PR and the islands.

A few more organizations involved in assisting people through various disasters:

http://www.portlight.org/

https://adra.org/emergency-adra-responding-to-multiple-major-disasters/

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/about-us/

https://hispanicfederation.org/donate

https://www.convoyofhope.org/

United States Postal Service is back up and running in the territories. If you want to send something directly to someone who lives in and is assisting St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands:

Drew Alston
9715 Estate Thomas PMB #115
St.Thomas, VI 00802

He can be followed here.

I've confirmed that this is a legit funding page for the Oregon wildfire:
https://www.gofundme.com/PNWOWgivesbackOR

And here is a GoFundMe for Puerto Rico:
https://www.gofundme.com/dontforgetpuertorico

Please note that I am not personally affiliated with any organization I've listed here, but I believe they are doing something to help those in need during these hard times.

Thanks for reading.

Thank God It's Not Me

Every time I run into relationship drama on Facebook, I say to myself, "Thank God it's not me."

Every time I see a photo of a happy family in white buttoned shirts and blue jeans on the beach, smiling or striking a pose, do you know what I say to myself?

"Thank God it's not me."

This is not a front. It is who I am.

The world will just have to learn to accept that.

Let's Help Florida and the Virgin Islands

Irma is gone, but there is much to be done. While some areas were lucky, others were definitely not. There is plenty of wind and water damage. Many people lost homes, businesses, and vehicles, and sadly I've learned that there have been some lives lost as well.

Here are some places who could greatly use donations:

SOS Children's Village received damage, affecting 70 children in foster care. Their site is here.

St. John Rescue covers the island of St. John and surrounding areas. You can donate directly on their site or their GoFundMe page. 

Operation BBQ Relief is serving meals. See their efforts here.

Next Level Church in Ft. Myers is accepting donations for community relief efforts.

The Salvation Army

I don't support the Red Cross for personal reasons. Do what you like.

Thanks for thinking about those affected by natural disasters. It looks like we have another one, Maria, headed this way. I'll keep you posted.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Such a silly overused pun, but I couldn't resist.

12 inch donation, a new record! :)

Health Assessment 8/24/17

I took a digital health assessment today, and almost burst into tears over the results. In my defense, it doesn't take much right now as I just said goodbye to one of my dearest friends. I miss her, and loss has a way of reminding us of our own fragile mortality, doesn't it?

Today is the first time I've documented my BMI in an unacceptable range, and I am currently at my highest weight. It says I am about 9 years older than I am, but it doesn't know how poor my health is so I imagine I'm physically quite a bit older.

Certain types of Muscular Dystrophy can cause significant weight gain (whereas other types result in being underweight), and the high protein/fat diet I'm on because of MD is not helpful in this regard. At any rate, something must change. I'm headed down a road that will destroy me if I don't turn around. I have to find a happy medium, or at least a medium, even if it's not the "happiest" one. Here's the plan so far:

• I put a battery back into my bathroom scale so I can use it again.
• I'll buy a food scale when I get paid so I can monitor portions.
• I will reassess my grocery list and menu asap.
• I've installed multiple apps to help me keep track of my numbers.
• I need to continue to look for distractions so I'm not cooking or eating out of boredom.
• I absolutely must get over my desire to try to cook everything and feed others (Let me love you! Eat this feast I have prepared! Literally me. I have to stop even though it pains me to do so.)
• Somehow, some way, by magic and determination, I really gotta give up caffeine.
• To be honest, I should go paleo, but I am currently kicking and screaming every step of the way.
• My body falls apart into HKPP mode every time I attempt to exercise. Even PT is a problem. This has always been the case, even in young adulthood. There is no solution for it, and I have no choice but to acknowledge that fact.

Life is sad and frustrating lately, but I know I can't let myself be consumed and I strive to "pull myself together", as I often put it, and carry on. It's hard, but I'm trying. Always.

I'll share a new assessment at the end of the year to see if things have changed.

I have lost a wonderful friend

She died in her sleep. No cause known at this time.

I had talked to her mere hours beforehand.

It seems so impossible. I am sad, angry, shocked.

She was a funny, empathetic, loving and kind person.

The loss is immense for everyone who knew her.

Funeral tomorrow. Please spare a thought for her children.

August So Far

The neighbors gave me some of their beautiful hot (and I mean HOT) peppers.

I haven't decided what to do with them yet, but I'll be using gloves!

I dropped my first #MobRox!

Someone offered to make a safety pin decal for my car, but didn't follow through (she's plenty busy I'm sure), so I bought a shirt. It represents solidarity with those who have been victimized. Safety is a human right, and I will speak against abuse and oppression until the day I die.

I'm struggling with severe pain, photo sensitivity, and social anxiety, but I went to the local game store to play Pokemon in person. I have been doing this off and on for a few months. I don't get to go very often, due to my sucky condition, and I pay the consequences each time as symptoms inevitably arise from sitting up for a few hours in a stuffy room under florescent lighting. Sometimes, I don't handle it well, at least in my opinion. I don't know how noticeable my physical meltdowns are to anyone else. As long as I don't annoy anyone or overstay, I think I'll survive every so often. The folks there have been nice, and a few customers even helped me break into my car when I stupidly locked myself out the other day. I'm an idiot. Anyway, it's a decent geek hangout.

P.S. - I'm terrible at the game in person. Just terrible.

I'm more successful online. Most recently, I had a 10 game winning streak, lost game 11, then returned a couple of days later and won 15 times in a row. Go me? Sylveon GX, if you care.

I booked my room for MDA clinic in 6 weeks. I used Airbnb last time with great results. Hopefully, this time will work out just as well. They even have a pool (which I won't use, so I don't know why I just mentioned it). It's a nice house in a safe neighborhood 10 minutes from the hospital. The joys of being an outpatient, out-of-state patient, I guess.

I am continuing free, non-credit courses through Harvard. If you're new here, I am too ill to attend actual college, even online. I confirmed that by almost dying while in community college 7 years ago. At any rate, these work-at-your-own-pace non-credit courses are a challenge, but I love learning. Biochemistry was a big NOPE, and I dropped it, but I'm currently in Cell Biology and doing well. More than well, I guess, since I started it on the 8th and I'm 3/4 of the way finished already. I'll wrap up the course material on the 10th (that's today), and start studying for the final.

As usual, forgive the wonky blog formatting. It's stupid. Or perhaps I am. Everything wrong with this blog is probably user error, to be honest. Talk to you soon.

I'd like for my patronus to be a wise owl or a beautiful zebra, but let's face it, it's probably a fat panda with Narcolepsy.

If you're one of the few people on Earth who does not know Harry Potter, and don't want spoilers, exit the page now.

You probably think this is absolutely nuts, but I introduced myself to Harry Potter in July.

Yep, it was my first time.

Ever.

Crazy, right?

I've never read the books, and I'm not sure I'll get through them with my vision impairment and adult ADD, but I'll give it a shot someday. The movies, though...the movies. I was so so so impressed by everything: the acting, the storyline, the special effects, it was all fantastic. I honestly think I like it more than Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit, and that's big. Really big.

Harry has a lot of empathy, and there's nothing better in my opinion. I hated how mistreated he was; what a burden to be "the boy who lived". I wanted to give him a hug. Great character, and Daniel Radcliffe did an excellent job. Of course Emma Watson is superb as both a human being and in the role of Hermione. I loved her. Harry and Hermione are serious friendship goals, people. To have that level of platonic intimacy - yes please!

I have to say I am shocked that I managed to avoid the massive spoiler concerning Severus Snape for 20 years. It took me by surprise, and I wept and wept. Then I watched it a second time and wept again. If you are unaware, Alan Rickman has been a beloved favorite of mine since Junior High School. It's a shame that I had not seen his role in Harry Potter until now, but I'm glad I finally did. Needless to say, it only reinforced my affection. Nobody portrays a hardened man painfully in love like Alan Rickman. Damn, he's good. And he is so missed.

It was also a joy to see Maggie Smith and so many other British actors that I am familiar with from film and television. There's a running joke that the UK has the same 12 actors in everything, ha. That's a slight exaggeration, but I get it. It's fun to me, though, to see the same folks pop up again and again. It feels like we get to know them after awhile, doesn't it?

I wanted to explain why I was unfamiliar with the stories, but I don't want to turn this post into a downer, so I've decided not to get into that. I'm glad I've enlightened myself and now I finally understand years of my friends' and siblings' Harry Potter references. Yay!

I plan to marathon it again soon.

Ancestry DNA

I was excited to be given the opportunity to send my DNA to Ancestry for heritage analysis. The process was easy, and they didn't keep me waiting very long. I'm happy to share the results:

I am 99% European and 1% Native American! Here's how it breaks down:

64% Europe West

Primarily located in: Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein

Also found in: England, Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic

I already knew this would be the biggest percentage, since I am primarily French and my maternal grandmother's mother was German.

15% Irish

YAAAAAAAY! I knew I was Irish because my paternal great grandmother was full-blooded Irish, but I didn't know it would show up as 15%. Awesome!

8% Iberian Peninsula

Primarily located in: Spain, Portugal

Also found in: France, Morocco, Algeria, Italy

Important to note that although IP is primarily Spain and Portugal, it also includes Southwest France, and that is exactly where one of my French ancestors is from. I will be genuinely surprised if I ever find an ancestor from Spain.

6% Great Britain

This is strictly England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland (however, I don't think NI is a part of this percentage, since Ireland is its own category).

I was expecting a higher percentage, but I don't doubt their findings now that I know I'm 15% Irish!

1% Americas (I am specifically Mississippi Choctaw)

This includes all of the Americas, and refers to Native/Indigenous ancestry. I agree with this percentage because my full-blooded Mississippi Choctaw Great Grandmother is from 7 generations ago. I'm just happy they recognized it at all!

Additional information:

As you can see in the first photo I shared, I am related to the first settlers of the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts. This information is spot on. Important note: The Alabama coast is included in this category, as you can see on the map.

It also tells me that I am possibly related to first settlers in North Carolina, which is accurate because that is exactly where my confirmed ancestor Alexander Elliott Clark was born. If only anyone knew who his parents were, I could close the gap in my family tree!

It also tells me I am possibly related to first settlers in the deep south region, which includes much of the Southeast. This of course is accurate also, not just because of the Gulf Coast settlers, but my German ancestor George Heinrich Seibel migrating to east central Mississippi. The family grist mill where my grandmother grew up, Sciple's Water Mill and Opry, still exists today.

I have absolutely nothing to contest, and that makes me happy.

If interested, my genealogy blog is in the beginning stages and can be found here.

2017 Goal: MawMaw's Gumbo

If you've been following long enough, you know one of my goals for the year was to nail my late MawMaw's seafood gumbo. I decided today would be the day. You should see my kitchen right now...total carnage...but the gumbo is darn close to MawMaw's, and may very well be spot on tomorrow after the flavors mesh a little more. I'm happy to finally cross this off of my bucket list.

I miss you MawMaw, and I hope my attempt made you smile.

Mario Marathon 2017

My pals in Indiana have currently raised over $40K for Child's Play Charity this year.
Check out the shenanigans and donate to the kids at MarioMarathon.com!

I'm a Burrito

I'm too tired to live, so I've decided to be a burrito this week. I don't have much of a choice. My spoons, as they say, are few. The weather is a big factor, but life in general is just plain exhausting these days. There's plenty that I wish I could do, but it'll have to wait. I have Internal Medicine on Monday. I'll give a health update after test results and such. Back to my blankie until then.

Getting Too Old

39, and I'm already there.

TBN Rape Scandal

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/07/us/trinity-broadcasting-verdict.html

I believe Carra 100%. Some of the Crouch's devoted followers, who were my peers/mentors as a teen, tried to blame and shame me when two people committed sexual battery against me. They demanded that I never speak of it again, and they have covered it up to this day. I'll never forgive them.

Both the TBN (Crouch) and CBN (Robertson) empires are disgustingly scandalous. Due to the fact that I used to be involved in charismatic ministries, I'm aware of more behind the scenes garbage than the average viewer. I have no intention of giving details, at least not here on the blog, but I will say this: in a perfect world, all of these creeps would be held partially responsible for the abuse of countless women and children, and crumble into poverty.

Rainy Day Ramble

It has been raining for days. I'm always sleepy.

I'm at level 29 on Pokemon TCGO. Thirty (30) is the finish line where Challenges are concerned, so I'm very close. I've also started playing TGC in person at a game shop in the city about once a month. It takes a lot out of me physically to sit up that long, so I can't be there often. It also gets extremely busy and overwhelming, which is draining. But the people are cool, and it has been a mostly good experience so far. I'm being cautious, and if I ever get to the point where I'm feeling more stress than not, I'll stop going.

This is one of those weeks where I'm forcing myself to eat. I said I wasn't going to do that, but I can't fast for very long without serious symptoms, so I have to find some sort of happy medium. I bought a lot of protein drinks, and I've made a couple of decent meals, but I'm not feeling it. Any of it.

Not feeling social media lately, either. Twitter has been a riot with the "covfefe" thing, but it's back to being an angry cesspool again, so I've deactivated for now. Make no mistake, I'm definitely on team angry, but I'll spare you the details. Facebook is a different monster altogether. I use Social Fixer to filter out a lot of crap. If I didn't, I'd lose my mind over the politics and general stupidity. There are also people who act like their goal is to misunderstand everything I say. They don't detect humor or sarcasm, or they think I meant something I didn't mean, or whatever. Not many people get it wrong, but the few that do make me want to throw up my hands and walk away. I have no patience for this anymore. I guess it's a part of being sick, or tired, or in pain, or simply getting old.

Things have calmed down at the apartment complex for the most part, so that's a plus. I don't really understand what's going on across the hall anymore, but I've decided I don't care. Sometimes, not caring is for the best.

Miss Crankypants, over and out.

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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My Favorite Salad

Tis the season for my beautiful red, white, and blue salad!

Spring Mix

Romaine

Strawberries

Blueberries

Goat Cheese

Sunflower Seeds

Poppyseed Dressing

I make it every year during Spring and Summer.

My sis in law loves it too, so we make it whenever I visit.

Pair it with a chicken breast for a wonderful, balanced meal.

Oh my goodness. Hi.

I rarely or possibly never wait this long to blog...it has been two weeks! For the record, it has been incredibly hectic and unexpected, and I will explain as soon as I have time to sit down and share the details.

In preview: multiple burglaries in my apartment building, and lots of out-of-town family time.

Talk to you soon!

Tamale Day

They turned out pretty great.

I shared with the neighbors.

I had extra masa dough left over,

so I made tortillas for the freezer.

It is definitely a labor of love, and not one I can conquer often.

I'll have to rest for a few days. Thankfully, I have leftovers.

2017 Goal Update (April)

So you don't have to click on another page, here's a screenshot of the list:

#3

I've continued to declutter my apartment. This piece of crap bookcase from Walmart decided to help by collapsing in one fell swoop. It's torn up and too heavy to hang as wall shelves, so in the dumpster it went. Take it from me, save $40 and your sanity and go buy furniture somewhere else.

As for actual decluttering, I'm making progress. It's not really that bad, but I tend to hang onto things, especially paper things like receipts, and they add up. I'll post more pics later.

 #4

I ran out of room on the Mac, so I finally took the time to deal with it. I zipped thousands of photos and deleted thousands of files, in fact, I have 66 GB of space again (which I will proceed to fill with episodes of Doctor Who, probably).

It is a dinosaur...almost 8 years old...but it has been a great system. Thanks for hanging in there, Bessie Mac.

#7

I've been watching a lot of watercolor tutorials online, and I'll eventually sit down and participate in a free course. I'll post pics here when I do.

#1

Sad fact: I don't understand the tin whistle. I move my fingers and blow into the thing, and all notes sound the same. I'm obviously doing something wrong. I'll talk to a variety of music professionals about this at a later date. YouTube hasn't been helpful thus far, but I'll continue to browse there as well. Although my oxygen is almost always in normal range, I don't breathe that easily. It takes more effort than it should, and at times it's painful. This goal isn't a priority for that reason, but I intend to pursue it at some point before the end of year.

Numbers 2 and 5 are in progress. Technically, #3 still is too. I completed #6 at the beginning of the year, as you may have read in a previous post. #8 will be attempted again soon. Even though a shop less than a mile from my apartment sells gumbo that tastes like my late MawMaw's gumbo, I'm determined to figure out the exact balance of flavors for myself. My gumbo is good, but it's not hers. Hers is the goal.

Enjoy the rest of your month, readers.