NHBPM – 3 Things I Love About Me

(Image via charlottesfancy.com)

Today’s is the last day of the NHBPM challenge. Our last prompt reminds us that we are awesome and to write three things we love about ourselves, are great at or just want to share.

Number One

I’ve kept my sense of humour. Having an invisible chronic illness can certainly take away a lot of the fun we used to have but I’ve managed to hang on to my humour. It’s has grown a little darker and a bit more twisted (in a good way) but when you are dealing with a chronic illness, a sense of humour is a lifesaver.

Number Two

I keep my mind going even though I have brain fog sometimes. Brain fog – another gift courtesy of your chronic illness, menopause and getting older. I have a variety of websites bookmarked that I check out on a regular basis. I don’t read all the articles but if something catches my eye, it’s usually a good read and makes me think and become more informed.

Number Three

I did it! I did the NHBPM Challenge. Even though I didn’t do each prompt I was able to post for all 30 days. It still amazes me that people make a living at writing every day, have so much to say and can come up with new things to write and discuss. I am in awe.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

NHBPM – Chronic Illness Links

(Image via rebeccaselove.com)

Cold and flu season is upon us. Here’s a reminder of the things we know to do, but sometimes we need a reminder.

What do you think? The job of a sexual assistant is legal in Switzerland They are helping disabled people with their sexual  needs but there is a stigma. Caring professionals or are they crossing the line to prostitute?

Pizza is now a vegetable? Does anyone know if popcorn is a vegetable or is it still a snack?

British scientists claim to have discovered the gene that controls chronic pain.

A fairytale that helps children deal with their chronic illness.

If you’re searching for some information on your chronic illness, try Medify.com which is a database of the findings of leading researchers, physicians and medical institutions worldwide.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

NHBPM – AM I WHAT? The Most Ridiculous Thing I’ve Been Asked

(Image by Andrew Dyson via drive.com.au)

ARE YOU PREGNANT?

That’s my answer to today’s prompt that asks what the most ridiculous thing was that I heard about my health or condition.

Yes, someone actually asked me that question when I first tried going back to work. I can’t even fathom why someone would think that, let alone ask the question. Maybe, when she was growing up, it’s what women in her family and their social circle first thought if someone got sick and there was no clear cause. Although it being a bad flu season should have been the elephant in the room that couldn’t be ignored. Seriously, how do you ignore that it was one of the worst flu seasons in a long time and that so many people were getting sick?

Maybe it was because she watched a lot of soap operas. I don’t know how the soaps do the “subtle hint” now. Back in the 70s and 80s when I watched them, when a single woman on a soap became pregnant, she usually started feeling sick and sometimes fainted. Me, I almost fainted at work and then got sick. See the correlation?

Help a girl out, I’m really trying to imagine why in the 21st century, someone’s first thought was to fall back on the pregnancy idea. But, that’s what happened. Don’t know why, can’t figure it out, not going to hurt my brain trying to figure it out.

But, no, I was not pregnant.

Some days you can only shake your head in disbelief and laugh.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

NHBPM – Sunday Quotes – Be Present

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If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future.
Winston Churchill

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Pick the day. Enjoy it – to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come… The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present – and I don’t want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.
Audrey Hepburn

(Image via great-inspirational-quotes.com)

In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
Lao Tzu

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

NHBPM – I Still Remember…

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I still remember one Christmas Eve when I was probably 7 or 8. I, for some reason, was given a race car set. I have no idea why this was chosen for me. I played with the typical girl stuff that little girls played with when they where 7 or 8. But, someone thought it would be great if I got this.

What I do remember is that, like so many people around the holidays, I had a cold or flu. I was usually allowed to open a small present on Christmas Eve. (You know what’s coming, don’t you?) That year, my father and brother took pity on poor, sick me and implored my mother that I get to open a present. Not just any present, but this big present. She finally agreed and… it was the race car set. My father and brother were so kind that night. They set it up for me and I even had a few races.

And that was it for me that night. I had to stop because I was sick and needed my rest, of course.

Then my father and brother played with it and had a blast having races.

I still don’t know why that was given to me because I rarely played with it. Maybe the guys wanted something to play with that year, I don’t know. Hope they had fun.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

NHBPM – Food Porn Friday – UGH! Leftovers!

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Another Thanksgiving Day meal is over and it was wonderful. Everyone enjoyed it, had seconds (and thirds), but there is still leftovers! You cooked and cleaned and you don’t want to even think about having leftovers. But, what to do with the extra food?

About.com has a list of recipes that you can choose from such as Mini Cranberry Filo Bites, Crispy Potato Patties and Pumpkin Satay.

(Image via allrecipes.com)

Allrecipes.com has a variety of recipes including TurkeyTetrazzini, Southwestern Turkey Soup and Monte Cristo Sandwich.

(Image via eatingwell.com)

Eatingwell.com has some healthy choices such as Braised Chicken Gumbo, Chicken Waldorf Salad and Moroccan Chicken Salad.

(Image via marthastewart.com)

Marthastewart.com has 35 recipes including Quesadillas with Chutney and Brie, Penne with Goat Cheese, Kale, Olives, and Turkey and Cranberry Pancakes.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

NHBPM – Happy Thanksgiving

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(Image via webdonuts.com)

(Image via isabellestravelguide.com)

(Image via sodahead.com)

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

NHBPM – Why The Hell Not!

Why The Hell Not!  are  posts  I’m going to do from time to time to remind, not only those of us with chronic illnesses, but for all of us to do something for ourselves.  Something you may not have thought of doing or something you have wanted to do for a long time. Nothing is too silly or frivolous. The time to do something for yourself is now because…why the hell not!

 

(Image via dis-dot-dat.blogspot.com)

Use Google Earth to play tourist.

You love your relatives, but sometimes you need to get away from everyone, especially when it’s a holiday. Save some money and your sanity by taking a break, playing tourist and maybe even finding your house.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

NHBPM – Summer Sunday Mornings

(Image by Rebecca Cooper via rebeccacooper.blogspot.com)

Today’s prompt asks us to describe something peaceful with as much sensory imagery as you can. What are the sights, sounds, scents, and feelings?

Summer Sunday Mornings are the best! It is blissfully serene. The sun is usually shining. Windows and the balcony doors are open and letting in the warm summer breeze. There is very little traffic except for those who are going to their Sunday services. It is time for a bit of relaxation.

(Image via lethbridgelodge.com)

Sunday seems to be the unofficial ” bacon for breakfast” day. The summer breeze brings the aroma from various kitchens as families gather at the table. After a while, children can be heard laughing and playing, couples chatting as they walk to the local coffee shop and gardeners are mowing their lawns and tending their gardens.

(Image via interiorsideas.com)

Everyone seems to be in a better frame of mind. They are happy, relaxed and ready to enjoy the day.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

NHBPM – Do You Know What SOPA Is?

Do you know what SOPA is? SOPA is the acronym for Stop Online Piracy Act.  Many sites are against it, including Twitter, Google, Reddit, Kickstarter, Tumblr, Mozilla, Yahoo, AOL, eBay, Zynga and Facebook. Below is the beginning of Lifehacker’s article that helps to explain what it’s about and includes a short video, some additional links such as American Censorship Day website which was November 16, 2011,  how to get in touch with your congressperson and a link so that you can get to know the bill.

 

All About SOPA, the Bill That Wants to Cripple Your Internet

SOPA, or the Stop Online Piracy Act, is another one of those bills that sounds like it’s going to do something mildly positive but, in reality, has serious potential to negatively change the internet as we know it. It puts power in the hands of the entertainment industry to censor sites that allegedly “engage in, enable or facilitate” copyright infringement. This language vague enough to encompass sites you use every day, like Twitter and Facebook, making SOPA a serious problem. Here’s how it works and what you can do about it.

How Does SOPA Work, and Why Should I Care?

The idea behind SOPA sounds reasonable. It came about in order to try to snuff out piracy online, as the entertainment industry is obviously not excited about the many people downloading their product without their permission. The issue is, however, that it doesn’t really matter whether you’re in support of piracy, against it, or just don’t care. SOPA makes it possible for companies to block the domain names of web sites that are simple capable of, or seem to encourage copyright infringement.

(Image via americancensorship.org)

 

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J