Showing posts with label acupuncture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label acupuncture. Show all posts

Friday, June 16, 2023

Letters from Home: Friday June 16

The air cleared up from the smoke and that was nice, but now is heading towards trouble again, and will get a bit worse over the weekend. The midAtlantic region is getting a lot of the upcoming smoke, and even so, the mountains are as helpful as ever. I’m a little concerned about some periods Friday night and Saturday morning, but there’s nothing I can do about it except plan to be inside. Vivian and I are planning to go see a movie on Saturday evening, with possible dinner out afterwards.  I have an air quality app on my phone (it doesn’t give alerts or anything, which is a shame, but I feel certain something like that is being developed as we speak), and I check it before I go out. She of course wants to visit Mast again, and visit the barrels of candy. 

Acupuncture was great. My Uber driver on the way was the owner of War on Books, and we got to talking about bookshop owning and Industrial Society and how we have made our patchwork way in a capitalist world. He has an MFA in Poetry, and I started talking about how manifestos in general are some of the most overlooked specimens of persuasive writing — everyone wants to focus on the practicability of the ideas that are presented, and while that’s interesting, I really dig how any manifesto of any kind has to first and foremost be persuasive. I like looking at how the words and the whole work was crafted, like when did the reader find herself swept away by the ideas, and when did the writer lose us, and how and why was that — was it because the idea was too grandiose or too cruel or was it because the writer simply forgot to keep hold of our hand as we walked in this vision of a better world?

 

He was kind of blown away by the idea of deconstructing manifestos as persuasion, and asked if I wanted to do a workshop on that.
Of course I said yes.
We have no details beyond our enthusiasm, and that’s a lovely space to be in.

 

I told him I have a draft of a book proposal about Theodore Kaczynski, and how publishers for a long time wouldn’t touch it. He asked if we could talk more about it, since he thinks it would generate some serious interest now, not only because the man himself just died, but because the idea of the dangerousness of intelligent design is really hot, too, and this is of course the intersection of that.

 

And then we were at acupuncture.
Greg and I talked about things as we always do, and then also talked about how we are going to have a transition plan for my treatments while he’s out for a couple months in August and September. We’ll probably use Katie, not because she’s the best (she’s probably second best of the acupuncturists in Roanoke who are not Greg), but because she’s only three blocks away from the Loft. Greg said that he was thinking last year that perhaps we needed to add in a treatment acupuncturist supplement who can just “do the needles part” (this is called being a medical acupuncturist, while what he does is a full blown doctor of Chinese medicine) in between visits and on an emergency basis. We both think I would benefit from being able to be treated as soon as possible after those nights of hard sleep, or other episodes.

 

The treatment itself was really great, too.
And then I came back to the Loft.
I always find myself astonished that i am back in the workaday world after an acupuncture visit. Seems ridiculous, honestly.

 

I did the work thing, and nearly fell asleep at four, so I got up and walked to the roof and back and had a glass of milk, all of which helped. The release meeting went long since one of the operations engineers didn’t show and we ended up waiting an hour to make sure we weren’t starting an interdepartmental war by just doing it ourselves. In the waiting time, we ended up talking about the nothing things, including how amazing the 2004 Battlestar was and still is. 
 
I have read the remaining chapter and checked in with some of the responses for this half-week.
The video introduction is due tomorrow by midnight, which would have been true for my scheduled availability anyway.
I’ll probably do it tomorrow night, mostly because I hate them.
HatesThemWeDoes.gif

 

I have tea and knitting and I don’t know if I’ll watch something or just let the yarn be as fascinating as it is.
Life is good.

Monday, December 20, 2021

Reading Days

I miss reading, and I may have done a bit too much yesterday. I only read about 100 pages (what used to take me an hour or two), but it took all day, on and off, not that I minded. The difficulty seems to be in having done it at all, as I awoke this morning all muzzy-headed and disoriented and with a headache. I’ll have to remember to take it slower as I go.
 
I met with the neurologist about the recent neurological events, what works, what doesn’t, and some precautions to take since I live alone (SUDEP is a real concern, she always reminds me, complete with link). We again discussed medications, and she suggested Lamictal, since it can be started very slowly and increased as needed over time, and it typically doesn’t interfere with cognition. All that sounds great, but I have a very troubling history with black-label medications, and this has a big one. If black came in neon, this medicine would qualify, especially as it is typically used for psychological issues, and its anti-convulsive is considered an off-label use, which means that the mood affect is a huge part of what this medication is all about. So no. She did also look and find that there is an in-network acupuncturist, and she wrote a referral to that. Holy smokes, this is a (possible) game-changer. Even though i doubt I will ever give up my current acupuncturist, being able to get some maintenance acupuncture through my insurance, and to get rides scheduled (to an *official* appointment) would be great.
 
All in all, I feel more myself as a reader and a writer, and as a student and as a person than I have in over a year, and this makes me more inclined to pursue non-pharmaceutical therapies for as long as possible. Covid variants are doing a number on therapeutic offerings, of course, and I am not looking forward to giving up my regular salt float, so in light of today’s visit I’ll not cancel everything just yet. [Salt floats and the massage therapy were on the chopping block as I try to stay out of the path of the virus; it’s not the respiratory issues that concern me, but the neurological component that every variant has. The last thing I need is a hit to the neurological system.]
 
The book I’m reading is over 400 pages long, and I’m looking forward to spending the day with it before going to the storage unit with a friend to pick up a few items that will help with (deeply needed) organization in the Loft. Overall, I like how the current round of nesting is coming along, and the apartment has a sense of place. [Jenna calls it a vibe, but I don’t know that it’s either that interesting or that trendy. In any case I take it as a compliment, since she’s young and definitely means it that way.]
 
Today is a day for tea, and reading, and maybe a trip to the sauna before that, too, is closed down.

May you have peace this day.

Monday, December 21, 2020

Christmas Star Solstice

Today's acupuncture session was possibly the best I have ever had, and I left the clinic feeling floaty. At home, the crockpot had finished simmering the yams with ginger and cardamom, and I ate a bowl of yummy goodness while I sat and thought about how lucky I am. I'm also very glad that the housework was finished up this afternoon, because I doubt I will have the energy to do it for the next couple days.

When I opened my email, I found a notification that my proposal for an edited volume has made it to the final round and the publishers want a full proposal in the coming weeks. I now have two books in the final round for publishing. It might come to nothing in the final wash, but this is a message from the Universe.

Set your intentions, Friends.
The new year begins now.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

I was not captured by an octopus.

After a week-long migraine episode, I am starting to feel human-ish again. I had a protracted appointment at the acupuncturist and then an hour session at the massage therapist, who is basically another form of PT. We did cupping in the trouble spots, which ended up being everywhere, and now I look as though I have been kidnapped by an octopus.




Since I was out, I picked up milk and checked the mail -- a couple new books to review have arrived which makes me happy.  Today has been a Very Long Day, and I'm headed to a bath to soak before taking Tiu out for his evening walk.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Challenge 31: Frost

Frost, or Isa, the Rune of Ice

Attention to small things gives us real results in large things.
This is my Why, and the Tao is my Way. The Rune Isa indicates stillness and reinforcement, a great theme for me this round.

I'm going with a 3x5 (+1) for this, three goals with five elements each plus one life goal.

  1. Act (daily elements) - keeping in action to sustain the healthy foundation. Improvements are bonus, a happy accident of continued use over time.
    1. Morning walk -- 20 minutes
    2. Steam room and sauna meditation -- 20 minutes
    3. Hydrate -- 2+ litres throughout the day
    4. Sleep - 9p.m. to 5 a.m.
    5. Journal
  2. Connect (daily elements) -- nurture and be nurtured by my community
    1. Meetings daily
    2. Call Paula daily
    3. Call Vivian daily
    4. Friends group weekly
    5. Monthly newsletter thought of the day
  3. Sustain (weekly / monthly elements)- these are the things that keep me centered and whole, no matter what life throws at me. And trust me, life has a wicked curve ball these days.
    1. Katrina - weekly therapy
    2. Greg - weekly acupuncture
    3. Sunday - weekly reset routine
    4. Erin - monthly yoga therapy
    5. Candy - monthly hair appointment
  4. Freedom -- leveling up on financial freedom is a huge deal for a reason. It takes a lot of willpower over time, but it reaps long lasting rewards.
    1. Assess the landscape -- so much has changed since October that it needs a thorough reevaluation (Week 0-1)
    2. Plan (Week 2-3)
    3. Execute (Week 4)
      1. Weekly
      2. Monthly
      3. One-offs

Monday, November 28, 2016

Ice
Heidi’s Yuletide 2016 Challenge

The Big Why

Attention to small things gives us real results in large things.
This is my Why, and the Tao is my Way.

Objectives: What I Want

  1. A peaceful mind. I value balance in all things, but especially in my heart and mind. Peace of mind vanquishes all.
  2. A healthy body.
  3. Happy family time.
  4. A clean and orderly home.

Activities: What I’m Willing to do

  1. Attitude Awareness and Adjustment:
    1. Read the Tao daily, preferably with my partner, sharing our thoughts on the passage of the day.
    2. Go to work with a positive attitude, grateful wherever and whenever possible
    3. Sauna meditation daily
  2. Take care of the body that I have been given:
    1. Physical workout once a week
    2. Maintain a restful and restorative sleep schedule
      8+ hours, with a gentle buffer for falling asleep and waking up
    3. Make time for activities that help
      1. Walking
      2. Acupuncture
      3. Therapy
      4. Yoga Therapy
  3. Play with Vivian
  4. Uphold the house system in place with love and care
    1. Clothing set out each week
    2. Dinner prepared and dishes washed with love and mindfulness.

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Off Schedule, Off Kilter, On Track

Last night we were up late, and today's schedule was already thrown for a loop needing to reschedule an afternoon appointment, so the morning trip to the gym got rearranged. The universe must have had a completely different set of plans for us. The evening gym visit resulted in Vivian getting a chance spot in the swim lessons. She had a good time in the kid zone while I did arms in the weight room - ten different machines, with two or three sets on each - and finished with the back extension and glute machine. Yes, after four days in a row, my abs and butt are feeling it.

Some progress has also been done on the Onerous Tasks list last night and today: I have a new sponsor; I met with the guardian ad litem; I went to two new-to-me meetings.

Also, whoever came up with acupuncture was a complete genius.