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Jun. 8th, 2012 | 03:29 pm

Reading, though I haven't been posting much.

Part of this is because I am unable to post comments on peoples' entries due to a glitch in LJ's code ever since they went to S2 and stopped supporting S1. It's annoying, and they can't seem to fix it.

So, I've got comments to make; I just can't make them. =)

This entry was originally posted at http://alyska.dreamwidth.org/845229.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

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Other random updates.

Feb. 8th, 2012 | 02:17 pm

There's been a lot and not much going on since I last posted.

My weight loss/fitness goals stalled out a couple of months ago. I've been maintaining somewhere between 162-165lbs since the beginning of November (down from a starting weight of 223lbs.) I still need to take the time to get measurements, but clothing changes (as exact as women's clothes are) I've gone from a size 20 to a size 12 (sometimes a 10.)

I should make it clear that I'm perfectly happy with where I'm currently at, though the ability to get some sort of regular exercise, no matter how small, would be lovely.

My original goal was to start filling in more weight training/toning sorts of exercise once my weight got down around 160, but my body seems to have had other plans, especially my autonomic issues.**

I don't talk a lot about my health issues unasked these days, because they're numerous and complex, and trying to explain their interconnectedness (even to people who are trying to help) can end up just being incredibly depressing. My doctors have even finally fallen back into a holding pattern, because they seem to be at the limit of their capabilities.

My health issues have also thrown a wrench in my ability (and even my desire) to keep up with [profile] pkstudios. I don't know what direction I'm going with self-employment-wise when I can't even make it out of bed most days of the week.

But the intent of this entry was not to be a personal pity party. Continuous setbacks suck, yes, but I just need to keep finding incremental steps forward, no matter how small they might be some days. It is also no small blessing the number of fantabulous people I have in my life. And very snuggle-insistent kitties.

So. One foot in front of the other, even if some days by "foot" I mean "peeking out from under the bedcovers just long enough to snatch the [profile] apocalyptikitty and go hide again."


** There's a fairly good explanation of my autonomic issues and their symptoms (of which I'd cop to about 85-90% of) over here at DInet.org, but basically, because my autonomic systems don't function normally, it takes, for instance, about three times as much energy for me to stand as compared to a healthy person, like I'm running in place at all times.

Quality of life with my form of dysautonomia has been compared to those living with congestive heart failure or COPD. Yeah, fun, right? And that's just one diagnosis out of a couple dozen, all piled on top of each other..

And if you're really curious, yes, I'm happy to talk more about the entirety of my diagnoses, so long as you're respectful and selective in any urge to make suggestions.


This entry was originally posted at http://alyska.dreamwidth.org/844660.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

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Discussion.

Feb. 8th, 2012 | 01:33 pm



Click on the image to see the graphic at full-size.


This entry was originally posted at http://alyska.dreamwidth.org/844969.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

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Weekly Weigh-In & Exercise Log

Nov. 21st, 2011 | 06:53 pm

Weekly Summary for Week of Mon, November 14th:

  • 1,274 calories under budget for the week
  • .5 pounds lost for the week

    Nutrient Summary:
  • Fat: 42.9%
  • Carbohydrates: 29.4%
  • Protein: 27.7%

    Exercise Summary:
  • House Cleaning: 30 Min, 77 calories
  • Walking: 4 Hours 20 Min, 728 calories
  • Total: 805 calories

    Current Weight: 162 lbs.
    Intermediate Goal: 160 lbs. by November 30th.


  • This entry was originally posted at http://alyska.dreamwidth.org/842514.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

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    Weekly Weigh-In & Exercise Log

    Aug. 22nd, 2011 | 01:20 pm

    Weekly Summary for Week of Mon, August 15th:

  • 1,934 calories under budget for the week
  • 1 pound lost for the week

    Nutrient Summary:
  • Fat: 46.3%
  • Carbohydrates: 30.9%
  • Protein: 22.8%

    Exercise Summary:
    Walking: 1 Hour: 123 calories
    Total: 123 calories

    Current Weight: 172 lbs.
    Intermediate Goal: 165 lbs. by October 10th.


  • This entry was originally posted at http://alyska.dreamwidth.org/838895.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

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    Book meme

    Jun. 20th, 2011 | 01:08 pm

    I've done this one before, but it's always fun to look over them again....

    Partially read ones are italicized, fully read ones are bold.

    Partially read ones are italicized, fully read ones are bold.Collapse )

    Looks like 64/100 read, with an additional 6 partially-read.

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    For Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.

    May. 12th, 2011 | 03:16 pm

    "Having fibro/other invisible or otherwise unverifiable illnesses (including mental illness, with which I also have daily fun in several forms) means, for many of us, daily self-doubt and guilt on top of the judging and unhelpful assumptions made about us by other people - friends, family, doctors, random strangers. (We won't even get into the frustration and depression which come from being unable to have normal bloody lives with jobs and socialising and hobbies).

    "Our brains, like so many clueless people, tell us we're not really that ill. We're faking to get attention/avoid having to do any work. We've "embraced the sick role", whatever the shit that means. We hear it so much from others that we believe it ourselves, and we hurt ourselves, we make ourselves more ill, trying to behave as if all that were true, as if our illnesses were the convenient fictions that so many people seem to think they are, and as if we could just choose to behave like healthy, able-bodied people and we'd magically be better.

    "Unfortunately it does not work. No amount of wanting it to be that way will make it that way, and I did not - we did not - choose to have our bodies fail in this way.

    "If you're one of the people who didn't need to be told this - thank you for not making our lives harder and more painful. Thank you for believing us, because it's fucking rare when anyone does."


    (via redshira, from a post here.)


    In all the work I've done in all the years I've been ill, re-assessing my own standards for myself is one I still struggle with every day. I've come a long way in accepting my new normal, and adapting to living "in spite of my illness" instead of being sad or angry about not being able to live "how I used to," but it's not a static, or even a binary state.

    New quirks in my illness (or annoying little brain weasels) pop up or reappear, and I need to deal with them, suss out new coping mechanisms. I'm constantly questioning, re-assessing, and subtly re-shaping each nuanced bit to make it fit into something that works for me in the here and now, not the me from five years ago, three years ago, or even 12 months ago.

    I'd like to say I never have moments where I go, "damnit, it's just not fair!" but that wouldn't be realistic or true. It's moreso a matter of letting those moments happen, examining them, and saying "Unfortunately, no. It's not. So where to from here?" and moving forward.

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    Zoo-tripping.

    Apr. 3rd, 2011 | 11:59 pm



    I went on a photo walk this afternoon with jenx and abmann to Henry Vilas Zoo. Will had a serious moment, for once.

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    A Quick Update..

    Jan. 25th, 2011 | 01:58 pm

    The apocalyptikitty is doing well. He was at the vet today to vet his sutures removed, though when I woke up this morning, after a week of leaving his tail alone, he'd neatly chewed out all five.

    The biopsy results all came back negative, so the kitty is cancer-free! Now we just need to keep an eye on the surgery sites to make sure nothing grows back.

    I'm in the middle of dealing with my own health ick (one should not have pain enough to cause them to see spots hen they try to move around!) and trying to follow through with all of you lovely people who so generously offered to buy things to help me pay for his vet bills. My post got signal-boosted far beyond what I was expecting, and I've been having some trouble keeping up, so please bear with me.

    I think I have emails out to everyone who was interested in things, and just need to arrange shipping for those that want things mailed (and locate my box stash) so I can send out invoices and get things sent out.

    If I've missed anyone, please ping me here, or via email - alyska at gmail dot com.

    Thanks!

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    State of the kittenhead.

    Jan. 11th, 2011 | 04:15 pm

    I've been lurking here quietly for quite some time, I know, and have not had the time or energy to engage socially nearly as much as I would like. Life remains difficult on multiple fronts, and while I'm dealing as best I know how, blood and turnips and I are starting to become entirely too familiar.

    Recently, after taking the cats to the vet for their checkups, we found multiple masses on apocalyptikitty. He's no spring chicken, I know, but we can't not have him treated - I don't yet know if the masses are cancerous or benign, but one may well be a vaccine-associated sarcoma, based on its location. I've already lost one cat to VAS, and I really hope I don't have to do it again.

    He's scheduled for surgery Wednesday (tomorrow) morning, so I would appreciate any good mojo you could send in his direction.

    And now for the other part. Surgery is expensive. I have no appreciable income until the farmer's market starts back up in May. Finding creative ways simply to cover my bills has been difficult enough (the joys of being unable to work due to stupid health issues,) but the first estimate for the surgery has us looking at somewhere between $600-$1000.

    I'm not asking for a handout, but I am getting together a listing of things to sell, so if there's anything you've been meaning to pick up and I can help you out with, please let me know.

    This is what I have gathered so far, but I'm continually adding to the list. If there's something I've got that you'd like that you don't see here, let's talk.

  • Books & Graphic Novels - combo of new and used, all in v. good shape.
  • DVDs - Mostly new, some may have been watched once. Still working on this one
  • Toys & Games - mostly new, a few still in shrink-wrap. I'm working on a list of Lego sets to add, and if you need loose brick, please look at my Bricklink Store.

  • Beads & Findings - What's in my PKAdoptions store, plus whats at my studio (make an apt, or inquire!)
  • Yarn & Other Crafty Bits - What's in this Flickr album, plus others I'm working on.

  • Jewelry - As always, everything listed in my Etsy store, and the online store at pointykitty.net are available. I'm also happy to discuss custom work with any of you.
  • Photography - Working on it. I'm getting together prints for sale. If there are any in particular that you'd like to see included, let me know. If you'd like to book me as a photographer for any reason, please contact me.


  • Delivery: Pickup in Madison is fine. I'm also happy to mail things (let me know the method, and I'll get you a quote), or deliver them (I'll be at SuperCon in MN at the beginning of February, and hope to have a Bead Sale again there like I did last year.)

    Any questions, feel free to ask!

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    Wake up, breathe, keep breathing.

    Aug. 10th, 2010 | 03:04 pm
    mood: exhaustedexhausted

    Today is the first time I've had a chance to read LJ since sometime in April. It would only let me look back on my flist about 120 entries, which covered about two weeks for the lot of you.

    I know I rarely post here anymore. I have issues keeping up with something like Twitter, let alone LJ. I am/have been/hopefully won't always be ill. Worse than usual. Trying to make the most of it, with what I've got. And what I've got has been dwindling rapidly. I don't get out much anymore.

    I'm alive, yes. But I hurt, a lot. I see doctors left and right; I see my doctors more than I see my friends, and that's depressing. I've had more testing done than I care to recount, and even when I get answers (at least one new diagnosis in June, which is a sort of umbrella that explains the majority of my other illnesses) that's all it is -- a diagnosis. I have a name to put on it, and while labels are nice, unfortunately this one (like so many of my others) doesn't come with a cure, or even a treatment plan.

    So I keep on keepin' on, as best I know how. Some days this works better than others.

    And recently, my days have been mostly "others."

    I miss my life, even as it was only a few years ago.

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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 15th, 2010 | 12:00 am

    • 02:17 #ebz The Starveling Cat! The Starveling Cat! Why does it look at us like that? fallenlondon.com/c/153727
    • 17:28 PK Etsy Update! Mekhneta - sterling and African turquoise rondelle stick necklace ow.ly/188wKO
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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 14th, 2010 | 12:01 am

    • 01:26 PK Etsy Update! custom initial pendant necklace - sterling silver hand-hammered necklace ow.ly/186Vbd
    • 11:31 PK Etsy Update! Florens - Sterling and Faceted Rose Quartz Rondelle Stick Necklace ow.ly/187jqP
    • 12:41 Really really hate it when my brain has ideas and my hands say "no." Also need to track down the person who ran off with the intensity knob.
    • 13:32 PK Etsy Update! Morena - sterling and faceted green apatite stick necklace ow.ly/187pxo
    • 17:16 My talent this week seems to be minor injuries to my own person. I'm currently dangerously close to running out of band-aids.
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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 12th, 2010 | 12:00 am

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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 11th, 2010 | 12:00 am


    • 18:39 RT @thetart: One of the things I hate about fibro: how much it narrows my world. My buffet of experiences becomes an appetizer.

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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 10th, 2010 | 12:00 am


    • 10:25 Internets, oh, internets - one of new rx's from my Drs is to drink more Gatorade-like drinks (electrolytes) but I want less sugar. Ideas?

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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 9th, 2010 | 12:00 am


    • 23:18 Next door to our hotel: "full-service liquor store & gun shop" complete with drive-thru window. Ah, small town Wisconsin..

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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 8th, 2010 | 12:00 am


    • 17:32 Okay, tearing up all major pathways from obe side of the city to the other all at once was seriously poor planning on the city's part.

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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 7th, 2010 | 12:00 am


    • 03:24 PK Etsy Update! 1.5mm Sterling Ball Chain Necklace - Shiny or Oxidized - 16 or 18 inch ow.ly/1814fs

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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 6th, 2010 | 12:00 am


    • 00:19 Home safe. Will catch up on the internets and email backlog (studio and personal) after I've passed out for a few hours. Plus a few more.

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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 5th, 2010 | 12:00 am

    • 15:41 Tweeting from a show would be more useful if I actually remembered to hit send. Lots of seemingly 'queued' tweets sitting on my phone..
    • 15:42 Like this: tasty breakfast was tasty. ow.ly/i/2qet (I never said they were :interesting:)
    • 16:29 My gift-to-self for con-dealing gone decently: a fired ceramic trilobite pendant from booth neighbor Surlyramics! ow.ly/i/2qgz
    • 19:33 Food = the Enemy. I sincerely dislike this statement of fact.
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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 4th, 2010 | 12:00 am

    • 00:10 Fun Times at a Sci-Fi Con #2348: getting to listen to swanktacular music made by incredibly talented friends. ow.ly/i/2onk
    • 03:35 Fun Times at a Sci-Fi Con #6954: First, you roll up your sleeve. Then, you shape your hand into the bill of a duck.
    • 20:16 Fun Times at a Sci-Fi Con #7342: Costumes. To paraphrase LT, this year you can't throw a belly dancer at this con w/o hitting a Tony Stark.
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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 3rd, 2010 | 12:00 am

    • 17:11 QotD: "Is arguing with architects like tilting at windmills?"
    • 23:35 Fun Times at a Sci-Fi Con #3742: Daleks, rendered in fabric, make good daywear.
    • 23:52 RT @mmpantsless: How do you peace bond a cricket bat? I don't think the ziptie around the handle is very effective. #cvg2010
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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 2nd, 2010 | 12:00 am


    • 09:10 Only in Wisconsin: Lime green t-shirt for sale at a gas station in Mauston - pic of two deer ticks on front with "Nice Ticks!" underneath.

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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jul. 1st, 2010 | 12:00 am

    • 21:55 I would really like my brain to let me stop anytime now. Please?
    • 21:55 I've had two things left on my to-do list for the last twelve-odd hours & have been spectacularly successful at avoiding completing either.
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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jun. 30th, 2010 | 12:00 am

    • 14:05 Bad news still hurts, even when you pretty much knew it was coming. Round One: Fail. Yesterday was not a good mail day. Now, onward.
    • 19:34 Jeff calls it a "proof of concept." I call it taking spoiling the cats to an :entirely: new level. ow.ly/i/2kxF
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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jun. 29th, 2010 | 12:00 am


    • 03:02 'ts gotten bad enough it's keeping me up at night.. Attempting a hot bath to see if that helps. I have an apt at 10am I need to be at.

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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jun. 28th, 2010 | 12:00 am


    • 13:24 PK Etsy Update! Angaret - 3mm Oxidized Sterling Silver Ball Stud Earrings ow.ly/17Uf7s

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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jun. 27th, 2010 | 12:00 am

    • 00:11 Oooh... *Lovely* Weather we're having... Thank you, @sigridellis, for sending it our way!
    • 03:22 PK Etsy Update! Crystal and Gold Czech fire-polished bead Steampunk Hair Stick ow.ly/17TroA
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    helping me keep track of my life, because my memory fails me too regularly.

    Jun. 26th, 2010 | 12:00 am

    • 12:51 Much like not mixing up Kobe Tai and Kobe Bryant, I should also not reverse Kumihimo and Kumimonster in my head when reading in print..
    • 22:04 Watching the "Plants" episode of Discovery's Life series and fondly remembering my childhood fangirl crush on David Attenborough's voice.
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