| For Endometriosis sufferers |
[15 Dec 2018|10:46am] |
I have created a website called Living With Endometriosis.
I update the site weekly with relevant news stories found on Google, and I am always adding content as I learn more. If you have a question or comment for me relating to Endometriosis, you can reach me at steph [at] livingwithendometriosis [dot] org, or you can reply to any one of my Endometriosis-related LiveJournal posts.
My personal diary of my own endometriosis battle is located at http://www.livingwithendometriosis.org/steph/.
Lastly, I have videos about Endometriosis on both YouTube and Yahoo Video.
May your day be pain-free!
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| Because sushispook is sad no one posts to LJ anymore... |
[11 Dec 2009|02:42pm] |
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Badger is taking me to the Brookdale Lodge this weekend, cuz he will be gaming with a bunch of other geeks, and the geeks thought it would be polite to also invite their partners/spouses along, since it is after all a nice little Inn nestled in the woods.
Rumour has it that: - Cell phone reception is spotty out there,
- the phone system in the lodge is on the fritz this weekend,
- the kitchen is shut down for renovations and/or for the winter,
- there's a huge storm coming in tonight, and
- the place is haunted.
Fact has it that I'm still slow/weak from having had the flu this week, and that girl doom could take me down during the weekend.
That said...
WOOOHOOOO! We're gonna have the best time ever!! It's like our very own horror flick in the making!!!
I'm seriously geeked over this unexpected spo0ky weekend!
I am so bringing a voice-activated recorder to capture me some EVPs.
...and I'll be arming myself to the teeth.
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[31 Oct 2009|08:20am] |
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HAPPY HALLOWE'EN!
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| Daily Mugshot |
[05 Oct 2009|11:04pm] |
I'm using Daily Mugshot to post an image a day to track how I look throughout the month when dealing with chronic pain.
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[22 Sep 2009|07:35pm] |
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As seen on Weather Underground a little bit ago...
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[17 Sep 2009|10:37pm] |
Thanks for all the birthday wishes on LJ and facebook, and for the phone calls and texts! I am loved!
Badger took me to The Cheese School for my birthday, and also got me this dress. :)
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| Help for a friend |
[15 Sep 2009|06:10pm] |
A friend is selling off his comics and collectibles - Check it out here.
This friend is also going through some tough financial times and needs your help to make rent this month. If you have the means, please drop a little bit of cash to my friend Evan. You can do so by clicking here.
Thanks for being nice to a friend, for those of you who know him, and thanks for being nice to a friend of a friend for those of you who don't know him! Evan is a sweetie and will be very thankful and will not forget your kindness.
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[12 Sep 2009|08:40am] |
YAY morning thunderstorm!!!
It feels like it's been years since I last witnessed a thunderstorm.
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[10 Sep 2009|07:36am] |
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 who was raised baptist fundie |
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Ahhh Baptists... the only thing is, you don't hold 'em under long enough.
Once-imprisoned Baptist pastor seeks office again
By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II, Associated Press Writer
September 10, 2009
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A preacher who went to prison for stealing millions of dollars from the National Baptist Convention USA will learn Thursday whether members think he deserves a chance to once again lead the denomination.
An unsuccessful last-minute effort by the Rev. Henry J. Lyons to get a court to derail the election underscores the long-shot nature of his bid to regain the presidency of the nation's largest and oldest predominantly black denomination.
Lyons was forced out as president in 1999 after an investigation revealed he abused his power to steal about $4 million from the denomination. He used the money to buy luxury homes and jewelry and support his mistresses. Lyons was eventually convicted and served nearly five years in prison.
Some National Baptists say his re-emergence now has reflected badly on the convention, which has roughly 7.5 million worshippers. About 40,000 are in Memphis for the convention's annual meeting.
"A crucial decision is before National Baptists as it relates to transition and leadership," said the Rev. Forrest Harris, president of American Baptist College. "They certainly do not need to recycle a period of convention culture that led to the way in which the convention was led by the previous leadership."
The Rev. James Thomas of Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville is a member of another national Baptist group, but he plans to be in Memphis to support Lyons' opponent, the Rev. Julius R. Scruggs.
Thomas went to theology school with Scruggs, pastor at First Missionary Baptist Church, in Huntsville, Ala., and vice president at large for the Nashville-based National Baptist Convention.
"If Lyons wins, every black Baptist will be looked down on in America because of the low standards that Lyons has had in the past," Thomas said.
Supporters of Lyons point to significant good done during his presidency. The Rev. Darin Freeman, pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Charleston, W.Va., praised Lyons for reducing the convention's debt by two-thirds in four years and said he was an effective mentor to the group's young ministers — including himself.
"I believe in reconciliation," another supporter, the Rev. Jesse Shaver, 49 of Sacramento, Calif., said Wednesday. "I believe in giving a person a chance and that we should restore that person. He (Lyons) just got caught up. All of us get caught up sometimes."
A District of Columbia court Wednesday rejected a petition from Lyons, pastor of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, to stop the election.
Lyons couldn't be reached by The Associated Press on Wednesday. He has previously acknowledged damaging the convention's reputation but said he's a changed man who deserves a second chance as president.
Scruggs shied away from discussing Lyons' candidacy this week but called the lawsuit "unnecessary and disruptive."
"It may have been (filed) just to be disruptive," Scruggs said.
Many in the denomination are willing to forgive Lyons but they can't forget what he did.
"God forgives, but he's scarred my mind," Thelma Peake, 54, of Philadelphia said of Lyons. "And it's hard for me to remove it. I can forgive him, but I don't trust him."
Current president the Rev. Dr. William J. Shaw couldn't seek a third five-year term under convention rules. He acknowledged "mixed feelings" about Lyons' candidacy, but he said the former president had a right to run again under church rules.
Scruggs said he hopes if elected to unite and grow convention membership and to increase revenue to support church mission work.
Lyons' downfall came after his wife Deborah set fire to a $700,000 waterfront home he co-owned with a mistress, and the resulting investigation revealed he'd stolen money from the organization. The Lyonses have since divorced.
Lyons was convicted of racketeering and grand theft in 1999. He resigned as president and pleaded guilty to federal charges of tax evasion, fraud and making false statements.
"All of us have fallen at one time or another in our lives and made mistakes," Freeman said. "And all of us deserve to be restored."
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[09 Sep 2009|05:20pm] |
I'm watching the President's special address to Congress on health reform. Are you?
President Obama is delivering a major address to spell out his vision for health insurance reform to a special joint session of Congress. You can watch live on most major television networks, or click to watch online: http://www.barackobama.com/splash/addresstocongress.html
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| Obama to address Congress about health insurance reform - Wednesday |
[08 Sep 2009|09:34pm] |
Reposting from BarackObama.com email:
"On Wednesday night, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, President Obama is delivering a major address on health insurance reform to a special joint session of Congress. It'll be a historic event -- and a turning point in our push for real reform.
So we've organized special watch parties that night for all Organizing for America supporters, their friends, neighbors, and families -- and a local volunteer has decided to host one in your area.
We'll gather together to hear directly from the President. And after the speech, everyone at these parties will be able to take part in an important conference call with former Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe about the work we'll still need to do to help pass real reform this year.
Will you come to a watch party during the President's address on Wednesday evening?"
Find a watch party near you:
http://my.barackobama.com/WatchParties
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[29 Aug 2009|01:39pm] |
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| Yoga |
[29 Aug 2009|12:26pm] |
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Many people think of it as a major accomplishment to get through an hour on the treadmill or heft a new barbell at the gym.
I'm ready to cry with excitement because I'm so proud to have finally made it through an entire hour of [Iyengar] Yoga For Beginners with Patricia Walden without having to stop the video and walk away, or stop and rest before continuing.
Also? The Warrior Pose kicks my ass. But I held it. I did it. I'm proud of myself.
Here is the first part of her video. If you can overcome her scaryclown-like face, then you'll be alright. ;)
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[28 Aug 2009|04:22pm] |
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It got up to 97°F today.
Currently, it's:
And I worked outside the entire time. Drip sweating and wiping my face as fans blew hot air around the outdoor classroom, and parents toured through, also sweating their asses off.
Two rooms in the school blew their fuses. The portable air conditioner in the outdoor classroom overheated twice and blew hot air. We are promised either more air conditioners or swamp coolers by Monday.
How's that idea for an outdoor classroom, now?
It's supposed to cool down by Monday, so says the weather 'experts'.
Despite the weather, I am really proud of our outdoor classroom created from scratch. My co-teacher and I are getting lots of compliments.
Despite being co-teachers, we are still regarded as 'assistant teachers' and are paid as such. I don't really like that idea, but at the same time I'm considering this a good trial period to prove to everyone there that no really, we ARE co-teachers. It won't be long now until my evil plans are realised and I'm in charge of a classroom again, muwahahahaha!
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| Rocket science? |
[28 Aug 2009|06:53am] |
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This is the 21st fucking century, people. I want to know why it is still so hard to predict weather.
Yesterday the temp outside was in the 90s. I was not expecting this, because wunderground.com had told me that it would be in the upper 60s to low 70s all week. As a result, yesterday was miserable at work, because I am now in charge of setting up an outdoor classroom from scratch. School begins on Monday. I drip sweated all day. Ewwww.
So this morning I checked the weather -
Wow 79°F eh? That's a little warm but I should be prepared for it, right?
BUT WAIT, WHAT'S THAT I SEE BELOW THE FORECAST?
"Today is forecast to be nearly the same temperature as yesterday."
Well yesterday wasn't no fucking 79 goddamned degrees. That's air conditioned compared to yesterday.
So I went and had a look at The Weather Channel's webpage:
85°F today?!??! That's quite a difference between a high of 79°F.
I have learned that when looking at wunderground, to ADD TEN DEGREES to their forecast.
Similarly, when looking at the weather channel, I have learned to ADD FOUR TO SIX DEGREES to their forecast.
Either way, today is going to be miserable again, AND it's open house, so parents will be traipsing through, which means I can't wear shorts.
I'm bringing shorts anyway, dammit, and seeing what the other teachers will be wearing when I get to work. I'll have nice clothes and practical clothes on hand. Open house is just supposed to be for a couple of hours, anyway. I hope.
Agreeing to work in the outdoor classroom - was this me being a team player or them being mean? :p
The management, to their defense, IS trying to secure portable air conditioning units, and they did give me several cyclone and box fans yesterday.
Bleh. I hate it when it's this hot.
Oh, and on the home front, did I mention we had two more large scale ant invasions through the interior walls? Yep, last night and this morning - they want what's in the garbage disposal, which is only scent and fragments of food as far as I can tell.
We've opted to allow the landlord do a full scale toxic spraying because nothing else we've done has worked. We'll have to take the cats out of the house for several hours, which means I have to be home that day. I'm not home at all this week during normal business hours, nor will I be home at all this weekend because I have to take a teacher training course again (going for head teacher cert at the insistence of the school director, which is good, means more pay).
I am not looking forward to today because of the heat.
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| My cat has renal failure. |
[19 Aug 2009|05:44pm] |
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I took my male cat Kiki to the vet yesterday for blood work. I had noticed a couple of months ago that his breath was REALLY bad. When I took him in for his annual checkup and shots, I had the vet look at his teeth. Sure enough, quite a bit of plaque had built up on his back teeth, which unfortunately could not be picked off by the vet. I was told he’d have to be put under anesthesia and they’d use a special tool to get the gunk off. They’d have to do some bloodwork before he could go under, to make sure his system was up for it.
The vet called this afternoon and informed me that Kiki's kidney enzymes are higher this year than last year. I was asked to rehash what all had been done in the past year and if he'd been put on any medication thus far.
I relayed that last year, I was told to put Kiki on a low protein diet, but he was not given any medication. I was given some prescription kibble and was told that if I find over the counter kibble that's low in protein, I could also do that, along with low protein wet food.
The vet told me that last year, Kiki was on the high end of normal for kidney enzymes, but this year he's fully in the 'high' category. She told me that there's still time to manage the renal illness, and in time he may need subcutaneous fluids on a regular basis. She said that she will get together some medication and prescription cat food, and that he is not to have any further kibble.
I asked if I should have stopped giving him kibble a year ago - that I'd found lower protein kibble and cleared it with the vet - and she replied that there's just no way of knowing if that would have helped or not. Basically, "don't beat yourself up over it."
She then approached the subject of his dental cleaning, scheduled for Friday. I told her no way, no how. I told her that I'd told the front desk person yesterday that if his enzymes were high again this year I'd not risk putting him under anesthesia ever again. I told the vet that I am aware that I only have a few years max left with my cat, and I definitely don't want him to be taken away earlier than that.
She was relieved and told me as much, and said she's so glad we're on the same page with this.
I told her my husband is working from home on Friday and can pick everything up, then, cuz I've got appointments before work this week, and I work past the time the vet is open.
There's been a lot of cats crossing the river styx in the past 18 months: my ma's cat, my chosen sister's cat, my friend C's cat, my friend G's cat, my friend A's cat, my friend JA's cat, my friend W's cat, and by tonight, our neighbor J's cat will be gone, too, having to be put down. :(
That's a lot of grieving parents going around. Looking at it one way, you could say we may have all gotten our cats around the same time in life, and it's just natural that they'd be passing on around this time. But still, even though we know one day our kitties will pass on, we still must grieve.
Kiki could be with me for a few more weeks, months or years. Who knows.
And I still haven't even gotten my other cat Zenaide's baseline blood work done - she wasn't the one having health issues to prompt the blood work in the first place. Kiki had been throwing up repeatedly in April 2008, that's why I took him in for baseline blood work and that's when they found the high kidney enzymes.
Now I have to get her tested, too, and if her kidney enzymes are also high, I have to get enough prescription food for two, for the rest of their lives.
For the past year, I've been sensing the finite time I have with my babies, and I've been trying to shower them with as much love as possible. I've even let them into the bed with me, especially when I'm bedridden. We're supposed to be vigilant in keeping the cats off the bed - my order - because of the dander, which upsets my husband's allergies, and because I don't like cat litter on my bedding. But they still get their way pretty often and end up on the bed with momma.
I’ve taken Kiki and Zenaide to the vet nearly every year for checkups and shots, missing their appointments only twice. They have been outdoors a few times, be it by leash, me holding them, or them escaping out the front door, but never long enough to get a REAL taste of the outdoors.
They are 13 years old, now. I've had them in my life since their birth at my Ma's house, and I brought them home to my apartment when they were four weeks old.
Meh. I never even got them a tall cat tree like I've been promising all of their lives. I can still do that now.
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| Questions |
[11 Aug 2009|01:52pm] |
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1. Who has a Wii Fit and what do you think of it after having used it?
2. Whether or not you have Wii Fit, what are your thoughts on it as an exercise program?
-ztepf, who does NOT own a Wii... yet.
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[02 Aug 2009|03:18pm] |
I just returned from Gaslight Emporium's fire sale on Halloween merch.
The sale is open only this weekend to people who got the email invite, but will be open to the general public starting tomorrow until their merch is GONE.
Please go check them out this week onwards!
1712 Lincoln Ave, Alameda, CA.
Tommie will no longer be doing the full Halloween extravaganza - just the chocolate shop and vintage goodies.
Please see her often to show your continued support!
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ztepfinat0r's journal
rambling
