Progress Report - Roll Call

[Patricia/Patty/herbalista]

Hi all,
I'm just checking in to see what's been going on for everyone. I have
to start by saying that it's been a really rough few months, but I'm
dong MUCH better. I spent most of August and September in bed with a
very nasty arthritis flare. Much swelling, pain and fatigue, couldn't
walk much for almost six weeks. I'm back on my feet now, getting over
a small cellulitis problem in one finger.(My Dino cat broke the skin
and infected an already swollen, inflamed knuckle.) The biggest
problem now is that my fingers are developing characteristic "knots"
on the joints. They're coming up fast and furious, especially my right
thumb, which isn't bendable anymore. (They're referred to as "Mickey
Mouse Ears" because of the shape the joints grow into.)
The good side: I'm back at my computer, writing, playing, visiting.
I've dropped out of school, gratefully so. I'm the sole member of my
new recovery group, People Who Thought They Needed a College Degree to
be Good Enough to Succeed in Life. Screw that. I realized that this
year I've made 10% of last year's writing income, because I was too
busy doing busy work for school, so I could learn to write. What's
upside down about that picture?! And I was exhausted and stressed
because of it.
So, I've done seven articles this week, which is more than I've done
in the past 4 months. And I'm writing this post, which is more than
I've been able to concentrate to do since early summer. It's good to
feel like myself again.
My new addiction is "Farm Town" on FaceBook. At least I can be a
farmer somewhere. Come find me and be my neighbor! And many of the
articles I'm writing are gardening how-to, so I'm still learning and
I'll use it someday. I still have my goals, Sonoma County, a farm,
chickens, a rural, green life in a rural, green place. I used to think
about Washington, but I've realized that I'm an unrepentant third-
generation Californian. Someone has to keep loving this place and
there's still plenty about it to love.
Sorry for all the detail, but I have a feeling that it's important
right now for us to share those details. We'll find our commonalities,
and maybe get more clues about what's happening around and within us.
I'm going to do a different post about that topic.
Meanwhile, I love you.
Stay in the light!