October is finally over.  It’s been a whirlwind of activity and unexpected challenges, and I’m glad to have it behind us.

The move is done except for unpacking boxes, and we’re determined to not let that linger too long.  We’re taking our time to carefully choose the furniture and decor items we want in our space and so far we’re very happy with our choices in feathering our nest.  Our new adjustable bed is fantastic, and while I’m still in the adjustment period for it, I think it will be very good for my chronic conditions.

The Bell’s Palsy has mostly resolved, thank goodness.  My doctor can still detect some very slight droop in the eye and mouth, I still have to be careful when applying makeup or moisturizer to that eye because it doesn’t close all the way unless the other eye is also closed.  But my speech is normal again, and my vision is almost back to normal.  The eye gets twitchy sometimes, but that’s normal due to the nerve regenerating.

I had said I was going to start doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) once I was done with grad school.  Last year I was having flares of my conditions too bad to manage to keep up with the writing.  This year I am coming off a really stressful period and just feel like it’s too much to put myself under the pressure of a deadline right now.  I think it’s the better part of valor to decline yet again.  I will have opportunities for NaNoWriMo camps in the spring and again next November.

Besides, it’s not like I’m going to stop being creative.  I am going to work to start putting more content here on my blog on a more regular schedule.  Now that I can speak normally again, I also want to start work on a project I’ve had in mind for several months which is a YouTube channel/vlog focusing on awareness of chronic illness and disability.  I don’t expect to get rich, but I hope to get enough of a following to raise awareness of chronic illness, and the challenges we Spoonies face.  Especially we Spoonies who are “well enough” to work, but there are trade-offs in other parts of our lives to carry it off.  If I can manage to get enough followers and supporters to justify upgrading my equipment beyond my new iPhone (there’s another story in that) and my iPad, that’ll be cool too.  So I’m working on several initial scripts for that endeavor, not sure when I’ll have enough material to feel comfortable starting that off, but I’m hoping by Thanksgiving and definitely before Christmas.

So ‘bye for now, and be well.