Never happier to be stuck!

With a needle that is!

In my line of work as an Elementary School Secretary and unofficial nurse, the flu shot is essential. Add in the fact I have an auto-immune disease and it's an absolute must.

I was supposed to get it last week at Walgreens, they had Dr authorisation and then I got sick. So when I could finally get there, they informed me they were out of vaccine and weren't getting anymore this year! In fact our whole county is a completely vaccine free zone, with no definite date for shipments.

I thought I'd just stick it out until the end of the month, but then things changed today. A neighbouring school where I live had 20 out yesterday with flu, a school 50 miles away has 2 confirmed H1N1 cases and we had 3 out with flu symptoms.

So I took a 1/2 day to make a 200 mile round trip to the only known Walgreens in our part of the state with any shots left! And they advised me I would be getting one of the last few shots they had. I have to say I was very happy to make the effort and am relieved I now have some protection.

On the bright side, a good friend went with me today and we turned it into a fun retail therapy trip too!

Now I have to decide whether to have the H1N1 shot, as I will be in the high risk group and offered it soon, right now I think I'll go ahead. So have you made more of an effort to get the flu shot this year and what are your thoughts on the H1N1 vaccine?

Changing Priorities

This year I took the very necessary decision to take decisive action against my thyroid gland. For over two years I have battled with the auto-immune condition Graves Disease, and it was becoming clear the drugs were never going to work.

I chose to keep this decision to myself and only a handful of people knew when I had the procedure done. The months immediately afterwards were a major trial. I was taken off all medication except blood pressure meds and left to work through the aftermath, whilst still working full-time. The new drugs were introduced and 'finding the right dose' started. This has not been easy to say the least!

In fact I will always remember 2009 as my 'lost year'. Until the middle of September I was little more than a zombie on the evenings and weekends. July and early August were the very worst months, I quite literally did nothing but sleep, sit in a daze and sleep some more. Hypothyroidism had set in, plus for awhile I was taking blood pressure meds I no longer needed.

I know many friends have felt neglected or wondered why I was suddenly so unsociable. I think some I lost along the way, but other friends just understood, even when they'd had no explanation. Well it's hard to do anything when your pulse is running at 60 or below and you have no energy! The Hubster was a pillar of strength, never complained about my lack of conversation or activity and just waited patiently.

Well finally everything started to level out in mid-September, the Hubster got his wife back and I finally got some energy back.

But having that time to think has changed my priorities. I no longer find myself inspired to blog regularly, now I want to spend time going in a different direction.

I want to concentrate (when I'm not working) on my fiction writing and developing my passion for photography to it's full potential. I want time to explore yoga and meditation, to help my physical and spiritual being recover from two years of sickness. I need to give time to restore my fighting spirit, 'joie de vivre' and reconnect with friends. And last but definitely not least, I need to spend time with the Hubster enjoying life to the full again.

I am not giving up my blog, I am just reorganising my priorities to where they need to be. There maybe more activity on my photography blog and I will blog here only when I feel the need or get inspired. It may well be more sporadic, but I hope it'll be worth the wait and some of you will still come visit.

Skywatch Friday

'Endless Horizons'

Double click to get the full effect

To see more wonderful skies from around the world or to join in, go to the Skywatch site.

Where are y'all coming from?!

In the past few days I have had a big noticeable jump in the number of visitors I get a day here! I can't track down where or why this has happened suddenly, but I am intrigued.

So if your a newbie, please come out of lurking and tell me what brought you to my blog. And even if you're not, I'm still interested in how you got to me?