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I’ve spent the morning “spring cleaning” – getting rid of stuff I no longer use – blogs I don’t write for anymore, links that no longer link anywhere and stuff like that.

This morning about 6:45 after my teenager got on the school bus, I was sitting here drinking my coffee and I just felt kinda bogged down. Not heavy bogged down, but just enough that it caused me to think about things. And I realized that in order to CREATE anything, I have to be willing to LET OTHER THINGS GO. (Of course, I knew that already really, but it was one of those moments like “Well, hey, no time like the present!”)

And so shortly thereafter, I got an email that reminded me about renewing my weight loss blogs domain name and even though I enjoy that blog and I really do intend to write there more often, I made the decision to let it go – to not renew it. Once I had that decision made, it just kind of snow-balled a bunch of other similar decisions and I’ve spent the last while letting go of all kinds of things that simply no longer serve my purpose.

I feel peaceful about this change and I think that’s really helping me feel peaceful about some other changes that I’ve been considering for quite some time. Some HUGE changes, actually.

Now it’s just simply time to get on with it. As much as these other changes will be difficult, I am feeling ok about them in the long run. I know the short term will be rough and I’ll have to make some adjustments, but in the end, I think it’s the choice I have to make.

And I know that’s pretty cryptic – sorry – but I’ll let you know about those things soon. I have to make them happen first before I can really discuss them. But trust me – when the time comes, I will NEED A LOT OF TALKING and I’ll be here saying all that needs to said.

Until then,

Be blessed,

I don’t often talk about myself – well, not truly personal things – here on this blog. Mostly because I don’t really like to dwell on things that are going on in my life. But I’m going to break that silence today.

See, what you may not know is that I’m “disabled.” I don’t like to label myself as disabled, though, because when I think of someone truly disabled, I think of my dad who not only had an artificial leg, but was missing several fingers on both hands. Yet, he never thought of himself as disabled either.

It used to bug me to no end when people would stare at my dad when we went somewhere. I used to get so livid that people could be so rude! Sometimes I even told them so! LOL (Yes, I was a feisty kid!)

I always think of someone in a wheelchair or someone who uses a walker or mobility scooter as someone who is really disabled. I think I’m doing pretty good most days when I see people using those devices!

And so, even though my doctor says I now must begin using a cane, I am not going to think of myself as disabled. So there! LOL

Last week when I was in the doctors office for my back and shoulder, she said I really should use a cane. Apparently the arthritis in my low back is really causing some degeneration in the spine that she’s concerned about. Especially since I lose feeling my leg quite easily. And when she couldn’t even get my leg to reflex when she tapped my knee with the little hammer, she decided we needed an MRI.

Hopefully the referral for the MRI for both my back and my shoulder (which she also decided was necessary) will come this week and I get those done. The doctor also thinks it’s time to get started on social security paperwork and I suspect that also will mean paperwork for a disabled parking permit.

The worst part for me is realizing that in the last 6 months, I’ve lost A LOT of motion in my legs and low back. It seems like no matter what I do, everything is getting worse. I feared that one day this would come. In fact, when I first hurt my back in 1997, the doctors told me then that it likely would occur at some point. I just wasn’t planning on it happening until I’d at least reached my 50’s or so.

Anyway, I’m not going to dwell on it – I will do what I always do – what my dad taught me to do by his example and that is to do the best I can and to take it one day at a time.

And when my cane arrives next week, I’ll post a picture of it for you! It shipped yesterday so hopefully it arrives by Wednesday or Thursday. I really hope Wednesday, though, because that’s usually when I go grocery shopping and it would make it so much easier! Even though my mom usually goes shopping with me to help push the cart and carry the bags in, I would like to be able to walk around the store without so much pain.

I also found a really cool walking stick last weekend but decided against buying as it was a little pricey. If it had been about $30, I probably would have gotten it. My mom thought it was a little high for me, though. Oh well!

I think maybe I’ll get a couple of other canes too. Maybe some fancy ones. I figure, if you’ve gotta use one, you may as well go all out, right? Be a little crazy, a little goofy. Have some fun!

Canes are the new shoes. I’ll have one for every occasion!

Be blessed,

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I thought the blood pressure medicine I take was causing me to gain weight. Since we don’t have a scale at home, I had no idea really how much. But I knew that my clothes just didn’t fit right and I felt different.

Well, last week was my doctors appointment to check how the blood pressure is doing on the meds and see if anything needs to be adjusted. I told the doctor about my suspicions (that the meds were causing weight gain) and at first, he thought I was just being overly sensitive. That is, until he actually went back through my records and realized I was right!

Between May when I began taking the prescription and August, I gained 11 pounds. And between August and now, I gained 13! And the meds were the only change I had made. Everything else is the same – food, exercise, etc didn’t change. Just the stupid medications!

So, he changed the medication and hopefully it will be better. I do feel a little different on these but I’ve only been taking them for 3 days so it’ll be a while before I notice any major changes. With any luck, the weight gain will reverse itself!

Let me just take a moment – again – to implore you to keep on top of your health. You owe your health to your family, especially if you have little kids. Health is not something to be taken lightly. Do your best to keep healthy. I generally don’t condone going to the doctor and using medications – I don’t think they are the “cure” – just a stepping stone, maybe, to get well enough to get off them if possible.

Obviously, there are some things that need constant medication like some forms of diabetes and what-not and I’m certainly not saying to never use prescription drugs. Just do your homework, ask questions, be informed and use your best judgment. And of course, I am not a doctor and I don’t play one on the internet, either. I’m just a mom, a writer and a graphic designer who has a few health issues. Take it or leave it but don’t substitute it for real advice.

Hope you had a great weekend! And thanks for all the birthday wishes! You all are awesome.

Be blessed,

Way back in the Spring of 2009, I found out I have high blood pressure. Not something I’d ever had problems with – even throughout 4 pregnancies (I’ve also never had heartburn) – and it came on pretty suddenly. My doctor still isn’t very sure why. I did have high cholesterol at one time (not anymore) several years ago but he doesn’t think that was a contributing factor.

In any case, I began taking some prescription medications for it and although they work quite well, they’ve caused me to gain weight. Weight that I had been LOSING up to that point. This does not make me very happy. In fact, I’m quite peeved about it – especially since 1) the doctor knew I had been losing weight pretty steadily and 2) he knew full well that weight GAIN was a side effect of this particular medication.

At the time I began the medications, I only had about 20 pounds to go until I was at a weight that is within the normal range for my height and body type. Now, I’ve gained enough back that not only is it frustrating but it’s also causing additional blood pressure issues and it’s quite possible he’ll want to raise the dosage.

Well, it ain’t gonna happen! In fact, on my next appointment to check the dosage levels and what-not, I’m going to talk his ear off about the weight gain issue and let him know that I’m not happy about it. Hopefully, there is another medication that can help just as well without the side effects this one causes.

And this is what loathe about modern medicine – it never really addresses any underlying issues and only treats what’s on the surface. Sometimes to the detriment of other things. Instead of doing that, they just want to add another medicine to the list or up the dosage of the current one. It’s a catch-22.

Really, I would prefer a more homeopathic or naturopathic solution to the blood pressure problem but unfortunately, our insurance doesn’t cover that type of treatment. So, I’m stuck on that point. I’ll tell you what, though – if the doctor doesn’t address my concerns, I will fire him as my doctor and find one who WILL!

I don’t have time to play games with my health. Neither does my family. Especially not with a health issue that could – quite literally – kill me if not taken seriously. That just isn’t worth it.

In the meantime, though – I’m going to begin an experiment to help lose the weight the stupid medicine has made me pack on. We already eat a pretty decent diet around here since we have so many allergies to things like eggs, milk and the like. We also eat many meals that are vegetarian or vegan so it’s not going to take much doing on my part. The biggest factor is that I’m going to cut out everything but vegetables and fruits for the next 3 months. I’ve already stopped eating bread, rice and stuff like that. Now I’m just going to stop eating meat and and cheese.

My only concern is protein, though. My metabolism and such is that my body needs protein. I can always tell when I haven’t had enough. There are alternatives, of course, like protein powders. In fact, I actually do use a vegan brown rice powder quite often. The problem is that it’s like eating bread. So I’m not sure it’ll have the effect I’m hoping for.

We’ll see what happens, I guess. Maybe I can lower my weight AND my blood pressure by making that one change. That’s my plan, anyway.

If you have any experience with this sort of stuff, do you have any tips, thoughts or ideas you can share? I’d love to hear them! You can always email me privately if you don’t want to leave a comment. Just go here to send me a message.

Be blessed,

A birthday isn’t special without the friends and family you truly cherish. You can have the most awesome cake, the coolest presents and the most spectacular party, but if it doesn’t include the people that light up your life, it doesn’t matter.

And since my birthday is coming up next week, I’ve decided that all I really want is a nice afternoon with my family and friends. The door is open – just stop by, say hi and have a cup of coffee or two with me.

Oh – and by the way – I’m not getting older this year.

Nope! I’ve decided I’m going to start getting younger.

In the arena,

Dance like nobody’s watching.

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.

When it comes to gifts for Christmas and birthdays, I usually have NO idea what I want. Every year when my husband asks me, I draw a blank and end up saying “I don’t know.”

But this year, I had a bright idea! And when he asked me, I actually had an answer. I told him I wanted a heated throw blanket so I could sit at my desk or on the couch and be warm without having to turn up the heat or spend all day wearing my robe. I told him it would also come in handy for the bed because then we wouldn’t need so many blankets and he wouldn’t have to spend half the night with most himself uncovered from being too hot.

So, being the great guy he is, he ordered one for me and it arrived today. He said I could have it early so when the FedEx lady arrived, I ripped it open.

And now here I am, sitting all nice and comfy in my big chair with a beautiful heated throw on my lap.

I think it’s the best present ever.

In the arena,

Want to work with an award-winning writer? Now is your chance! Hurry and book for the 2009 before the calendar is full. I still have some space available. Check out the Hire Me tab above for info on how to contact me and your reserve your spot now.

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.

Just wanted to let you all know I might not be around for a few days.

This cold is getting worse and my throat hurts very, very bad.

Can’t swallow. Can’t breathe. No energy.

Time to just rest every possible chance I get.

~ Annie