Autumn, Fall, call it what you will & win

It’s that time of year again, my favourite season, Autumn.
What a relief after the horrendous heat of Summer, a brief respite before the Winters’ frosts arrive.

This is our first Autumn in our new home, and it’s so lovely to see the changes in the area:
Late-blooming crepe myrtles all along the street in all different colours, the end of our first tomato crop, neighbours venturing out with the lovely weather.

Even the cat is loving it, sunning himself near the vegie patch as I write.

It also means I have more energy, which is great.
~Apparently the tiredness of CFS is exacerbated by high temperatures, which also includes hot baths, showers and overheating generally.

Explains why I’ve been able to catch up with my blogging & photography, doesn’t it? So hopefully we can all expect great things from me in the months to come.

Just let me win lotto, so that we can spend Summers in Tasmania, okay?

Which season is your favourite, and why?

The best answer wins a free blog button made by moi!

Okay, this is how it is for me…

I know I come and go here and it must seem that I’m the least reliable person on the face of the planet.

I say I’m going to do something & quite often nothing happens.

There is a reason, however, and I’ve had a pretty tough week, so I’m just going to go verbally diuretic and let it all hang out.

Sorry.

and yes, I know that grammar was awful. so shoot me.

~ For that, too.

So what’s the story?

You’ve probably seen the page link at the top of this blog; “What is CFS?”.

Well, it’s a real pain, to be frank. That’s one thing I didn’t put in the information on that page.

I actually thought that a detailed look at my past week might help people in understanding more about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, & how it affects the lives of those it touches..

To be brief, I’ve spent four out of the last five days sleeping.

And the nights. And I’m still tired.

The kidz have missed me, as I’ve gone to bed while they were still at the dinner table twice, and still been sleeping on two mornings when they both left for school.

Thank heavens for Grandma!

WonderHubby has missed me, for much the same reason.

My mother has seen quite a bit more of me than usual this week, but I’ve been kind of busy snoring, so the conversation has lagged a bit.

The cat has missed me too, and has spent each night curled up tight beside me to get maximum “oomph” from my drowsily-delivered strokes at 1.30am.

Tonight, I’m in one of my ‘productive’ phases.

This means that:

1. I will get a lot done in a short time. It’s a great time to finish unfinished jobs or write blog posts for the future,
2. I will probably be unable to sleep tonight,
3. I am in danger of burning out if I don’t manage to cool it soon.

My life is a continual roller-coaster of this cycle, sometimes more or less pronounced, but it’s usually there to be spotted by the keen eye.

This is why I come over all enthusiastic at times & start things I can’t possibly keep up with over the long term.

And before you ask, I’m not bipolar.
I’ve checked.
Several times, in fact.

It’s just the way my body works now, and I’ve pretty much made my peace with it.

Pretty much.

So next time I announce wild new plans and charge off with all guns blazing towards a new goal, please keep in mind that I do intend to see things through, but my body may well have other plans…

Pillow-friends

After a strenuous day yesterday, shifting a surprise delivery of soil
and digging out the grass to make room for it,
I was exhausted and slept for most of today.

So what do you photograph when you’re too busy snoring & drooling?

That’s right, your pillow.

(and a big hi to katef!)

Yo Ho Ho and a Gallon of Pee.

There are one or two tests that Dr Lewis (my new CFS doc) has asked me to have done and I did a couple on Monday.

One in particular was pretty awful, so of course that’s what I’m going to tell you about. I’ll try not to be too graphic.

When I rang to make an appointment for the tests, the girl insisted that I needed to come see them so that they could “explain things”.

I fursed about it to WonderHubby, and then went to see them.
Control freaks.

When I went in I learnt that it wasn’t to tell me anything, it was to give me something. And not an early birthday present, either.

The nurse took me into a private room and then disappeared into a cupboard. She reappeared holding a 4 litre bottle.

That’s right, US viewers, it held almost a gallon.

“What’s that for?” I asked innocently.

“It’s for your 24 hour urine test.”

“I beg your pardon? How much do you pee each day?” No, I didn’t say it, but I was thinking it.

I definitely fursed under my breath though. We buy milk in smaller bottles.

To make matters worse, the hole through which I had to pee was just over an inch across.

Who exactly designs these things? They never thought a woman would use one, that’s for sure.

I seriously needed a funnel, people.

In the end, I ended up with less than two litres in the bottle, which must have been a huge disappointment for whomever was doing the testing.

I still can’t work out which was the worst part.

Providing the… erm, liquid, or carrying a huge, sloshing bottle of it through the shopping centre in my shoulder bag.

Euww….