Checking in...

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone!

Electric still on, and we managed through the first part of the storm...it

wasn't bad, just a fair amount of rain. There is another storm right behind

it, that is supposed to hit us again, some time tonight, with hail the size

of quarters....sheesh.

I'm writing this in the 'lull' between the storms, although there is a fair

amount of breeze going on...the wind cleared up the sky for awhile after the

first storm, but it's blowing in the dark clouds for the second one.

I got up this morning, and have developed an ulcer on the base of my neck...

I'm doing my best to treat it...I know it's one of the symptoms of RSD, and

I've had them before, in various areas. It's just scary to get one. Or two.

..or however many you get.

This one I caught early, because I now know what they are. Mine begin by

looking like a rash of pimples in a circle...if I don't take care of them,

they'll open up, and begin 'weeping' which is difficult because they itch,

and are painful at that point. They take a long time to heal, if I wait

until the open like that. Right now, I've caught it in the 'rash' stage,

and it itches, but I have found something that works fairly well.

If any of you are old enough to remember the " Watkins Man', who came and

sold household products, spices, and various remedies...well, the products

are still sold, and you can get them online. I got a product I remembered

from my childhood that worked on nearly everything...it comes in a flat red

can, and it's called " Petro-Carbo Salve " . It's advertised as a 'drawing

salve' and can be used on everything, including when you have a splinter

that has gone deep....you put some on, and the salve 'draws' the splinter up

and out, where you can remove it. It also works well on the ulcerated spots

that spring up on me, and I remember it being used for boils, and even acne.

It doesn't have too many horrible ingredients, and it is very soothing. I

put some on at the first sign, and apparently, it opens the little ulcers,

and drains them, without me even knowing it...I just spread some on the area

cover it with a sterile bandage, and in no more than two days, they are

drying scabs.

So far, I have only gotten them in areas that are unseen by other people.

although I've heard of people getting them all over their faces, arms, legs.

...

I've had them on my legs, particularly on the right one, where the RSD is

centered... but they are in an area that I can cover...and this one is right

on the bone at the base of the neck...

The salve stopped the itching, which is a blessing..and I'll change the

dressing after I shower tonight.

Usually, I shower, because getting up and down out of the bathtub is a real

chore...although I indulge sometimes, and really soak...I have a tub chair,

so I can sit while I shower, and I can sit and let the hot water pour over

me...nearly as good as a hot bath...LOL...I'm very much into aromatherapy,

to keep the stress down, and I love lavender...so for Christmas, my youngest

daughter went to Bath and Body Works, and got me a basket of lovely bath

items, with body sprays, and lotions, and shower gels, and goodies..all

lavender. Very thoughtful gift!

I have two other daughters, but I can't communicate with them...my oldest is

into satanism....and my middle daughter became enraged when I converted from

the LDS religion to Catholicism..and so there is no communication with her..

between the two, I have 5 grandchildren that I never see....but my youngest

just had her first this past April 24..and I do get to see her, and have one

grandchild I can lavish with attention and love...and Kaylin is a girl, so

it's fun to go out and get all the pretty little frilly dresses for her..

LOL...and to make her things. I crochet, I sew a little (still learning)

knit, do cross stitch, and when she is here, I read to her all the time..

whatever I'm reading...I was reading " Moby Dick " once when they were here,

and I read that to her...she was fascinated just with the sound of my voice.

...plus, she loves to attempt to pull my glasses off my face, and to take my

head covering off...she's fascinated with the scarves, and with the Amish

style Kapps I wear...she likes to untie them for me...LOL...

My youngest daughter is also LDS, but is not active, and her husband is the

older brother of the middle daughter's husband...yes, I have two daughters

with the same last name! My youngest daughter's husband, , is not

active in the LDS church either...and my youngest daughter wants to attend

the Catholic Church with my husband and myself...she's attended before, but

when we were going to the one done in English..she's fascinated to know what

a Mass is like in Latin, where I attend now! She lives about 3 hours away.

so it's hard to go see her, because of the travel...it takes me at least two

days to recuperate from the trip....not much fun. But we talk on the phone

frequently, and keep in touch that way...

So...now that you all know more of my family history than you ever wanted to

know...LOL...I'll stop rambling and get out of the way so the rest of you

can talk...LOL...just wanted to let you know I'm okay, and staying warm.

Also, Janet....the candle is casting a warm glow...I know you know what I

mean by that....

May it cast it's glow all the way to heaven, to keep you safe and strong....

gustate et videte quam bonus sit Dominus....

le

Sr. St. of the Cross, OCDS

" I always feel I have to take a stand, and there's always someone on hand to

hate me for standing there. I always feel I have to open my mouth, and every

time I do I offend someone somewhere. "

--Ani diFranco, " What If No One's Watching "

Wife to Salvador, Mom to (7), our child of the heart in Ecuador, Manda,

our child of the heart in Idaho, and 6 wee babes in God's tender arms.