New Things!

This weekend, I shopped a lot. Friday, I bought business-y clothes for my job shadow this week, and hopefully an internship/job in the future. Clothes I look great in, that look professional, but also are comfortable.

Yesterday, I got rugs for my office.

Today, after coffee with A and cameos of two of my favorite baristas, I headed to Charlotte with Bya and grad school friend Sara. First, we started out at Fuel Pizza for some fabulous gluten-free pizza. I got a pizza with spinach, ricotta cheese, sausage, and fresh basil along with the traditional mozzarella and tomato sauce. It was AMAZING! I ate the whole pizza by myself. I needed the energy for our major shop-a-thon afterward. I got a new sweater blazer, along with a mousepad journal (a mousepad that is 50 sheets of pretty paper with lines and a calendar at the top), and a pretty mug for my mom. Then, I got Crocs that are black flats to wear on dressy occasions, followed by our trip to Sephora. I found several new favorite perfumes/body scents, as well as a lipstick that is "the color of my lips only accentuated", as I've decided to call it, and some bronzer to help balance out the alternating bright red and ashy pale that come on due to the fibro. Unfortunately, I discovered a scent that I wished I had bought today at Sephora, but oh well. I was a little overwhelmed by the whole experience. Next time I go, I'll know a little better what to do :).

Easley

Today included yet another trip to Easley to see my favorite chiropractor. And today, my neck felt better than it has in a while. Like my head was just sort of floating on top of my neck, rather than strapped down with extremely tense muscles. That's why it's worth the drive.

Plus, I got to go to Trader Joe's and stock up on the best string cheese ever. And bought little baby brie cheeses :). Following that, I hit up happy hour at PF Changs, getting some $5 lettuce wraps. Mmmm, gluten-free chinese food. Then, I joined a mess of other people back on the highway back to Columbia.

Thankfully, the roads aren't icy, at least on the major highways. Kids in the upstate had absolutely no school this entire week. They'd been back from a 2 week break for one week, then got another 10 days off of school. Too bad it wasn't planned, so not much fun could happen.

This weekend will include: transcription, homework reading, shopping for business-y clothes preparing for my job shadow experience on January 20, and hopefully a games night. I want to play some games, but don't really have a place to host it.

Thoughts at the gym

Today, I finally got to go back to the gym. I'm hoping my cough and cold are gone for good now. It felt nice to move again, beyond a walk around the neighborhood or PT exercises at home. I had a few thoughts about living with fibro today, that I thought I'd write down...

- I will almost never have a pain-free day. I CAN learn to manage and limit the pain. My success will be measured at how little the pain interferes with what I want to do, rather than its existence.

- Many people will have suggestions or questions for me always. Whether they have expertise or not, I will always be getting advice. Some may help, some I'll just let pass me by.

- I will always be able to dance and do the things I want to. Maybe not when I want or for as long as I want, but I will be able to do it.

- I will have plenty of time for reflection, during the necessary quiet resting times. I won't be leading an unexamined life.

- My determination will be tested on those days where all I want to do is lay around and read a book, do a puzzle, watch a movie. I know that's only good for me in moderation, and certainly not as often as my body wants it.

- Exercise will make me feel better in the end, even if before and during it, all I want to do is quit.

- As alarming as it might be to have shooting pains, a tingling sensation, or a stabbing feeling, my body is ok. In fact, I will try to be in better shape than the average person, as a way to manage my pain.

- There will be people who have no idea the pain and struggles I deal with, since on the outside I look healthy and might be wearing a smile, even though I'm hurting.

I know God wouldn't give me something I can't handle, so I know I can handle this. I will try and make it a tool for becoming a better person, friend, and servant of humanity.

Something that came to mind tonight as I was reading a very awesome book called Forces of Our Time. An oldie but goodie, when it comes to quotes...

"Joy gives us wings! In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness. But when sadness visits us we become weak, our strength leaves us, our comprehension is dim and our intelligence veiled. The actualities of life seem to elude our grasp, the eyes of our spirits fail to discover the sacred mysteries, and we become even as dead beings.

There is no human being untouched by these two influences; but all the sorrow and the grief that exist come from the world of matter -- the spiritual world bestows only the joy!" - 'Abdu'l-Baha

Snow Day!

Well, today the city and county are shut down for a whole 2-3 inches of snow. Yep, inches ;). Welcome to South Carolina, unprepared for any amount of snow. In a couple hours, it's supposed to turn to freezing rain where we'll get a nice 1/2 inch of ice on top of this pretty snow.

This morning will include a walk (in which my mom wanted my snow boots, but those are in storage in Ithaca), some reading for class tomorrow (though it might not happen), and some reading for fun.

I do love snow, and it's nice to have a bit. However, the threat of losing power is less fun... the buried power lines in Ithaca were very smart.

I've been composing several blog posts in my head recently, but none of them made it to the computer. Here's what I've been thinking about:

-Trying to come up with a bit of a story about what it feels like for me to have fibro - what I experience on the bad days, the good days, and in between. (I plan on more to come on this one.)

- I went to my first class last night, on Investment Planning, and it was exciting and interesting! I've bought textbooks, and need to start playing catch-up as I didn't take one of the pre-reqs, but I think with a little extra time I'll be able to keep up.

-Working on my resume, job shadowing, and more informational interviews.

-Figuring out what role math is going to take in my daily work

-Going to hear Mr. Dunbar talk about his new book, Forces of Our Time, in Pensacola, FL on January 28-30. (Mr. Dunbar led a class for the youth, ages 18-30, serving at the Baha'i World Centre on Thursday nights. It was a significant part of my year of service, and his new book is a collection of some of the topics he often covered in his youth classes, over the 29 years that he gave them.)

-Starting to read Forces of Our Time - awesome

- Spending time with the family while they're off of school and work

- Recovering from this awful cold that I've had for a month, or perhaps since before Thanksgiving (I had about 4 days where I wasn't sick.)

Looking forward

I have discovered the deliciousness that is Mustard Seed in Charleston, SC. Had a lovely dinner with the Kustins and Kustin-Bovenders last night, along with my parents. Unfortunately, this horrible cough I've had now for weeks got in the way, but the shrimp and scallop risotto and southwestern torte were both incredible!

Lovely times with B on the beach - she and I walked, took pictures, chatted, and just enjoyed the moments.

I read the newest letter from the House of Justice - wow. I was humbled and in awe. What I took away from it was - how lucky I am to be a part of a community that is working for the spiritual empowerment of the world, with a diversity of methods that work for all sorts of people the whole world round. I'm excited.

The beach is getting warmer, temperature-wise, and hopefully the wind won't be so intense these next few days. Today, three little boys and their parents join us in as the next in our collection of guests.

I think I'm going to start taking a class on Tuesday - just once a week, for three hours. Taking steps to look into a new career path - I'm mostly excited but a little nervous. Plus, it's the first time I've had to pay for my education. I'm taking baby steps, and fortunately those aren't too expensive.

Beach-ing it

this is a world filled with love & other things that have the sense not to waste time talking about everything under the sun & see how it glows with no help from us whatsoever

So far this has been a wonderful beach trip. It started out a bit rocky, with horrible winds and snow/sleet/rain, but it's been great. We've seen: a sea otter, coral that looks like a brain, many starfish, the wind blowing on the sand, incredible stars, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

I'm enjoying reading, and discovered one of the things I love about reading "fluff" books. Occasionally, you stumble on a sentence or two that has some profound truth to it, that resonates with me and makes me go "Huh, that's right." I don't look for them (because I don't find them if I look), but it's nice when I find them. I found 2 last night. Plus my morning and evening reading of the Baha'i Writings has shown me quite a few passages that make me think.