BITOG was a lifeline for me what with a "terminal" diagnosis (a rare form of cardiomyopathy) with which I spent several years in decline. It yielded to a new test, surgery and recovery. I spent much too much time here at BITOG, but felt that I was jsut sitting at the back of the booth at the diner, listening, just listening.
I didn't have the energy to do much in the yard (digging, raking just too much) and used a lawn service to keep it up. I could still get out and do a lot of hand-watering, that sort of thing. Dallas' summers are miserable, so I hope you are getting the most out of yours.
In turn I taught myself a good deal about cooking as I only had a few hours of energy each day and that was to be saved for my wife coming home from work. Wound up with some nice recipes. Plenty of sites to compare recipes and to expand one's repetoire. Plus, the addition of onion, garlic and a variety of chile peppers made everything more palatable and digestible. The experimentation was a pleasure.
It was also nice to read a lot on politics leading up to the Congressional mid-terms last year. Had the luxury, so took the opportunity.
Had a harder time in applying higher level reading skills, so some books stayed on the shelf. Instead, crime novels were a pleasure (Ken Bruen and Ian Rankin for instance), and took the time with those big heavy photo essays, etc. Also, COBRA II on the Iraq invasion. That's seminal.
Hope you'll search out alternatives for pain relief, energy, etc. Found that several supplements were a huge help. I always started and ended my research at
www.eMedicine.com for terms, differentials, etc., and traveled pretty widely on others experiences. Made me glad, quite glad, to hear the words of others.
I'm sure you've heard from others around here in PM's as I did. I just finished one to a member to say thanks. It's a great thing.
