2 pokes and 8 vials of blood

Could you please just let me know before you stick the needle into my arm so I don't have to be picked up off the floor?

A question I've asked all too many times in my life.  The last time being Wednesday November 30, 2011, at 3:05 p.m.  To the naked eye I am a healthy young woman.  (Side note: However if I were pregnant at my age they would consider me a geriatric patient!)  What the majority of my friends and acquaintances don't know... is that I live with a chronic illness.  I won't get into all the nitty gritty of how it all came to be simply because: 1) you won't really be interested, 2) I don't want your pity, and 3) I don't want your unsolicited advice.  The last one being the reason I blog about it tonight...

All too many times when someone finds out you live with a chronic illness they have a plethora of advice to share on how you should take care of yourself, what medications you should try, what life style changes you should make or what you should do from here.  For those of you who share in this experience with me you can appreciate the following blog I came across... and yes- humor is one way I help myself stay healthy.

As quoted from the article written by Amy-Beth Maran , © 2007 on the website: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com

"The top ten worst suggestions commonly given to someone with a chronic illness:
1)Have you tried holistic options? (Many. I’ll bring it back up with my doctor on my next visit, thanks.)
2) Could it be your stress? (My opinion is, it is my illness. I’ll bring it up with my doctor though, thanks.)
3) Could it have to do with the altitude? (I’ll bring it up with my doctor…thanks.)
4) I read in {insert any generic magazine here} about a new medication. Have you heard about it? (I was on it when it came out 17 years ago, but I’ll bring it up with my doctor. Thank you.)
5) Have you thought about being in a trial study? (I’ll ask my doctor. Thanks?)
6) WOW. If I were you, I don’t know what I would do. I might just kill myself. (Thanks?)
7) Have they found what is causing the problem? (No. My doctor is an idiot. I’ll remind him, thanks!) Have you tried hypnosis? (I’m still sick, but when the phone rings I bark like a dog.)
9) Have you googled your illness? (….no! thanks!)
10 Have you ever thought you were getting sick because you haven’t wrapped your house in aluminum foil because, you know, the aliens have been bugging our houses for the past 30 years and in some cases, making people really sick. I read on…..gee I lost the web site. but it’s true! I heard it from Sally’s cousin’s sister-in- law. And then every time you use deodorant you would think you would be warding off these bugging rays, but it still makes it worse, so you are not being pro-active to your health by wearing that deodorant. I can’t believe you! If you wanted to get better you would stop wearing deodorant..(voice gets fainter and fainter the further you just walk away.) THANKS!!!!!!!!!!"

On an ending note... all tests from the 8 vials of blood are normal.  What I am doing for myself, under the guidance of a wonderful physician, works.

Pluto is not a planet... and no I am not Uma Thurman

Things are not always what they seem; despite some evidence to say it is what it seems.

Time often provides clarity, as it did for astronomers studying the now demoted Pluto.  Having been once believe by all to be and being classified as a planet is now a 'dwarf' planet.  These are the requirements to be a planet...

As noted by the website www.universetoday.com "For an object to be a planet, it needs to meet these three requirements defined by the IAU:

• It needs to be in orbit around the Sun – Yes, so maybe Pluto is a planet.
• It needs to have enough gravity to pull itself into a spherical shape – Pluto…check
• It needs to have “cleared the neighborhood” of its orbit – Uh oh. Here’s the rule breaker. According to this, Pluto is not a planet

.... There are still many objects with similar size and mass to Pluto jostling around in its orbit. And until Pluto crashes into many of them and gains mass, it will remain a dwarf planet."

She is but Pluto when it comes to relationships.  She meets others' defined requirements to have a relationship...

• They should both be open minded, and willing to take a risk when it comes to new possible relationships.  Yes, She is often described as someone who is willing to jump and build her wings as she falls.  He, willing to take the risk of rejection.
• They should have a mutual interest and curiosity in each other.  Check... he gravitated to her, as unbeknownst to her she possessed many similar qualities of himself.  This having been noted also by their mutual friends.  
• They should clear each others minds of all other possibilities.  And as like with Pluto, here is the rule breaker.  She has yet to be noticed as a diamond instead of the ice chuck that Pluto is.  He on the other hand crashed into a different dwarf, promoting himself once again to 'planet'.

... So for now... she is and continues to be a dwarf, orbiting in space wondering if the cosmic signs will ever line up and crash her into another dwarf.

To 'She'-
I know it all seemed to be on the right path to a "relationship".  There was even evidence that it had great potential to be however; it wasn't as it seemed.  If it makes you feel any better, I too am a dwarf.

RL

p.s. On a side note... To the grocer at Rainbow Foods and to my Hollywood crazed client: To you I may appear or seem to be but; no, I am not Uma Thurman. I was born eight years later, and have a smaller shoe size.

Uma

Me

alexandrite

Alexandrite.   

Understated.  

Uniqueness and value are not readily apparent.   

Mysterious and fascinating.  

Given proper care; found are solutions to situations where logic fails.  

Alexandrite.  

Rare.  

Today I feel like an alexandrite.