Blog changes

Thanks to everyone who followed Training Because I Can! over the last nine years. This blog started with Addison's Disease, hypothyroidism and a crazy idea of doing an Ironman distance triathlon. My life has changed and so has this blog. I am using this blog strictly for Addison's Support topics from here on out. I hope to continue providing people with hints for living life well with adrenal insufficiency.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Things that look like money

As some of you might know, I love to find money any time, any place and any denomination.  I haven't found any money lately BUT I have found a lot of junk that catches my eye and fools me!

A can lid.  It would have been a very large coin if it had been a coin.



A bullet shell glints in the light like a penny.



Beer cap looks like a quarter.



Airplane booze bottle caps look like dimes.  There are tons of these at the corner of 700 S and 50 W.  Someone has a problem.



This one always gets me.  It's some kind of survey marker in the road.  I ALWAYS think I've hit the mother load (50 cent piece or dollar) when I see these.



Boat plug looks like a quarter. 

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Yesterday



A partial view of the Teton Range from Pine Creek Pass and a nice, wide, muddy shoulder.  YAY!


Yesterday was finally a good day.  I've been feeling rotten for a week or so now.  Mostly due to some stress I'm having with my son and not upping my meds for it.  I asked for Wanda's advice and she suggested upping my HC.  I did up it and I'm quite glad I did.  The change was immediate and noticeable.  I went from feeling sulky, sore and ridiculously fatigued to feeling human.

Anyhoo...I ran up and down Pine Creek Pass yesterday.  It was a beautiful day and the sun poked out.  We had rain and warm temperatures for a week and the snow has melted an incredible amount.  Melted snow on the road side means exposed treasures!  My next post will be one called "Things that look like money".  Yesterday I found:  no money, a dead, mummified puppy with no legs (gross but compelling to look at), a femur and knee cap with no other body parts, 2 Spanish music CDs, a bottle of Nexium and a big car magnet, lots of beer bottles and cigarette butts.

Some pictures from yesterday...

Signs of spring.  The four foot high fence is melting out of the snow and the Spud Cellars are seeing some action.



More signs of spring.  Along the side of Pine Creek Pass there's some dirt.



An unconventional Osprey nest.  Next picture is a close up.



For years, this nest has been made out of baling twine.  One year, the Osprey got caught in the twine and was hanging upside down.  Fish & Game has to come and disentangle it.  Only in Idaho.




The neighbor's chickens taking a stroll on the newly exposed dirt.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

What does sick look like?


A suggested topic from Sue...

What does sick look like? I know this differs for all of us. I'll tell you what sick looks like for me.

Usually sick looks like my usual day to day life. The difference is that I might appear irritated or depressed to those who aren't expecting sick Dusty.

If others look closer or listen, they will notice that I don't answer "How are you?" or to those closer to me I'll answer that question with, "A little tired today." TRANSLATION: You don't want to hear what crap I feel like today, it would be a real downer for you if I answered this question honestly, besides, you're probably not listening and don't really care anyway." Let's get real, most people don't want to hear it if you don't feel well so we minimize or avoid the question all together.

When sick translates to irritation with others around us, it's usually something they interpret because your behavior is so different from normal behavior. For example, you're usually opinionated and passionate about something. When you don't feel well, you don't care. When asked a question, you might reply, "I don't care." For some crazy reason, that response is interpreted as irritation or bitchiness because it's such a different answer than you usually give.

You might appear depressed because you're using what little energy you have to get through the day, go through the motions, take care of your family, keep your job. As a result, you might not talk much, you might hide yourself in your office completing projects that you can do sitting down.

Physically, what does sick look like? If you're not flat on your back on the couch or in the bed and you feel sick, you're up and about trying to take care of business. You might not have had the energy to take a shower, you've got big, dark circles under your eyes that those closest to you can't see but acquaintances in public places seem to love to point out. Maybe you don't eat or can't eat because you don't feel well. You might find yourself staring blankly at your computer screen at work. Wondering what the hell you're doing sitting up. Basically, you might spend the day trying to look and act normal when every fiber of your being wishes you were in bed and/or had someone to take care of you.

Sick looks like you and me. Sick appears healthy at times. Sometimes you're the only one who can see the signs of the sickness. On days like this, it's hard as hell to look in the mirror and see that sick face looking back at you, pale with circles under the eyes, the ghost of you looking at you in the mirror. For me, I fantasize about what life would be like if I didn't have the diseases I have. I wish I had a cook, a housekeeper, a nanny, a personal assistant, a valet, a nurse, someone to feed me and bathe me. Then I realize, I've got to keep my wishes, tears and complaints about being tired to myself and keep on truckin'.