I enjoy Rob Thomas' music. His soulful voice and song writing appeal to me. With the release of his new solo album Cradlesong, fans of Rob are getting a rare and intimate look into his personal life. The first single, Her Diamonds, was inspired by Thomas' wife, Marisol, who in recent years has struggled with an autoimmune disease. Her battle isn't specifically addressed, but when interviewed about the song, Rob said "it's about how something like that makes you feel empathy. I like to write about universal emotions. Everything has a base emotion; it's just what triggers it that's different for … [Read more...]
I Am Feeling So Lucky and Supported!
Last night I had another great Fibromyalgia support group meeting. The structure of the meeting was new for the group; each of us brought books we have read that have had a positive impact on our lives in one way or another. Members brought books on topics from self-help and memoir writing to Lake Wobegon. A very clever member shared a book that has had the greatest impact on helping her with the dreaded fibro fog - a notebook! Seriously, everyone of us should have one close by at all times, and what ever you do, don't lose it like I did mine. Devastating! As each meeting does, last … [Read more...]
Fibromyalgia Affects Everyone: An Interview with My Niece
My niece Dani is thirteen years old. I have been living with the symptoms of Fibromyalgia almost every day of her life. This is the only way she knows me. With the guidance of her mother and a naturally compassionate heart, she has always been very loving and even nurturing towards me. We have a great relationship and I am so proud of the young woman she is becoming. I love spending time with her and have her at my house often. She sees firsthand the difference between a "good" and a "bad" day. She is with me today and it gave me the idea to interview her for my blog. I thought you might be … [Read more...]
Things I Love #6: My New Office
Comfort is key! That is what I learned after sitting at my old desk working from home for the past year. Although I love dearly the antique chair my husband surprised me with, it soon became clear that beauty and value do not equate with comfort. And my desk was entirely too small for the stacks of papers and books that I normally have spread out around me as I am writing. I cleaned things up a little bit for your visit today! So this is my new office. Thanks to a great sale and a couple of coupons, we were able to purchase both the desk and the chair for $149 each at Staples. The … [Read more...]
Secrets of My Soul
Every secret of a writer's soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind is written large in his works. - Virginia Woolf I am taking a writing class. It is a six week, creative nonfiction class on personal essay. Here is a short description of personal essay from my class syllabus: In his introduction to the definitive anthology on the subject, The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present, essayist Phillip Lopate writes, the personal essay “should certainly be celebrated, because it is one of the most approachable and diverting types … [Read more...]