It’s that time of year again—time for carving pumpkins, picking Halloween costumes, and eating lots and lots of candy. But it’s also time for something else, something unique to the chronic illness and disability communities, something far more sinister and frightening than your neighborhood haunted house. I’m talking about the October Slide, a spooky phenomenon …
There was a brief moment, as I lay in the back of my mom’s van, when it seemed like moving to a new house was going to be easy. Or if not easy, then it seemed like the move might at least be manageable. But soon after, things became increasingly unmanageable. The process of moving …
For years, I’ve been wanting to update my chronic illness and disability website. Partly because I’ve always envied people with websites that have fancy graphics and animations, and partly because, well, you and all the other lovely people who read my blog deserve a more modern experience. Until recently, I thought I could create (and …
Lately, I’ve been trying to sit-up without help at least once a day. Some days it’s just not possible, but on good days I’ve been able to pivot my body and hang my legs off the bed. Because it is on risers, however, my feet cannot touch the ground and I have to use the …
My head has been attached to a pillow for the last two years. Now, as I write these words my head is at last detached — bobbing around like a boat gently swaying in a harbor slip. Less eloquently put, my head feels like it’s had way too much to drink and is stumbling around …
Lately I’ve been posting more infrequently because, guess what? I have a cold. Another one. If only I had a sickness checker. Now, I know there’s just about nothing worse than someone complaining about being sick, so I’ll try to keep the whining to a minimum. This is the second time I’ve been sick in …
The pursuit of something more in life as a broad picture, and in the moment, seems to be something engrained in human DNA. I don’t like to speak for others, but in general, I think that wanting something more is not uncommon. I’ve always been a person to feel this way. This drive and motivation …
I’m not here to teach anyone how to become ambidextrous, but I will share how I did, however unintentionally and unconventionally. I suppose it answers the question, “Can you learn to be ambidextrous?” I did. It was not fun. But the result was kind of cool. I guess. “It was a shock to have …
“The output of energy, nervous and muscular, is enormous.” – John Steinbeck, Travels With Charlie I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions. Whether you want to make more money, spend less money, or conspire to take down an evil demagogue that somehow managed to swindle enough voters and is now going to govern the …
I’ve had some exciting things come my way recently. Men’s Journal published my essay, “Life Without Sex,” yesterday The Oregonian featured an Op Ed I wrote, and now I’m so incredibly proud to announce that the National Academy of Fictitious Accomplishments (NAFA) has named me The Healthiest Sick Person in America. I must say, after a …
The National Academy of Fictitious Accomplishments Read More »