Why am I not Surprised?

I took a quick peek at Joanne's blog and found another survey. This is about as much time as I have for diversion these days! Sorry for the minimal content!

I did finish knitting my test knit project (shhh! it's a secret!) and I cast off my modular shawl - I'm hoping to block it tomorrow and I promise to take some photos. And then tell what's new on my needles!

You Are 87% Non Conformist

You're incredibly strange. And a weirdness like yours takes skill to cultivate! No one really understands you. And you're cool with that. You just hope you never have to understand them!

Are You a Nonconformist?

HP Rules!

The sorting hat says that I belong in Ravenclaw!

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Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose intelligence is surest."

Ravenclaw students tend to be clever, witty, intelligent, and knowledgeable.
Notable residents include Cho Chang and Padma Patil (objects of Harry and Ron's affections), and Luna Lovegood (daughter of The Quibbler magazine's editor).

Take the most scientific Harry Potter
Quiz ever created.

Get Sorted Now!

I have been following Annie Modesitt's blog and I found this link there today. It's a long quiz, but fun - if you like this sort of thing.

We did go to see the new HP movie, although I waited until after work on Wednesday - Ruby & Tori went to the midnight show and then saw it again with me. They are planning to attend a book party on Friday night, too. I guess I'll wait and read Ruby's copy when she's done, unless I get impatient. I can't see buying more than 1 copy!

But I do want to know what happens...

Sorry for the sporadic posting! It's easier to post from my office, but I've been juggling approx. 2.5 jobs since May and so I just don't have much free time for posting there, or taking photos, either. I am planning to buy a pc laptop, which will enable me to post from home, but there hasn't been time for that, either! Our summers tend to be pretty crazy - I'm lucky if I can work a 6 day week. This is what we are busy with: Bluemont Summer Concerts!

Health Issues

I have an immune system disorder called Reactive Arthritis. I was diagnosed in 1996, but apparently I've had it since 1976, and the diagnosis explained a series of seemingly unrelated health problems I had experienced over those 20 years- achilles tendonitis that appeared out of nowhere, several bouts of iritis, and other periodic arthritis symptoms. I had a particularly bad episode in '96 &'97 when I could barely climb stairs and lost the use of my right thumb for 6 months or more. My children were 7, 9 and 12. It was tough.

This condition was originally called Reiter's Syndrome, but apparently Dr. Reiter was a Nazi sympathiser and so they took his syndrome away. It is generally considered to have one major episode and then go into long term remission. I have had numerous minor episodes and 3 major episodes lasting for 18 months to 3 years.

It has really been kicking my butt for the last few years. Well, more than my butt - it moves around. This past 18 months or so, I've been dealing primarily with chronic neck and shoulder stiffness and pain, along with muscle spasms in my back and wandering hip and leg pain.

I have worked with a rheumotologist, but I prefer not to take drugs, especially type X drugs where they ask the serious questions, like if I am planning to have any more children anytime soon. I have worked with accupuncture, energy healing, massage and I have studied taijiquan for over 10 years. All of these things help, and sometimes help a lot, but I think for me that diet is the primary key.

When I am good, I am very, very good, and I don't consume wheat, oats, rye, barley, dairy, chocolate, coffee, white sugar, white flour, pork, beef, peanuts, fried food, alcohol... I think that's the whole list.

I have been very, very good since March 9th. I have lost about 15 pounds, and I hope to slowly continue to lose the 35-40 lbs I gained when I went on a drug called Arava a few years ago. But one of the problems with taking away allergens in your diet is that it tends to stir up inflammation before it helps, so I've been in as much or more pain for the first 3 months of this diet.

In the last week or two, I finally feel like I'm getting Better. I'm experiencing less pain, I can stand up straighter and walk more easily and I'm sleeping better. It's such a great corner to turn, and to feel that I'm well enough and strong enough to take on more things that will help me continue to heal. I haven't been going to taiji class for most of this last year because it hurt to participate in class, but I'm going to start back again. And I'm going to start exercising regularly soon.

OK - that's all I have to say about that today. I'd be happy to correspond with anyone who has questions about researching food allergies and alternative therapies. And next post, I'll tell you what I've been knitting!