Bear With Me - Sometimes The Brain Fog is More than I know...

LOL!!! I have to laugh at myself. As much as I know about e-mail, web sites, URL's, design, development, and all about anything internet wise... I just learned something "new" to me.  I have honestly "Not" learned all about "Google" + and the circles, groups and so forth as I should have. I began using Google" mainly due to wanting to start a blog. Rather than continue to post so much about the Realms of Autoimmune Arthritis, and Chronic pain issues on Facebook; I wanted to "blog" it and give a wide array over the world a chance to view what I write about. I know I can do that on FB, but I just feel a blog is much more "personal". Thus I began using "Blogger" several years back. Well, then of course I figured out there was "gmail" and I set up an account. It never dawned on me that it being an
email account, meant that all of the "comments", posts etc. on "Blogger" would go to that email address, until this morning!! All this time I have been "manually" going to my blog and viewing answering, comments etc. Well idiot me, "I am just a tad bit slow" ..... finally had an amazing brain happening, and it dawned in the light that everything was going to an email address THAT I NEVER LOOK AT!!! So, I really hate to admit something so ridiculously stupid on my part. But, for me an "Email" address was not what I was looking for back then, it was a "blog" that suited my needs. Now I kind of think I wished I would have done a "Word Press" blog, but I figure they are all about the same. I just hear a great deal about Word Press and wonder why the ordeal is about it.

Anyway, I truly belive I need to "update" my own "mind" about Google" circles, and remember to check my email here OR send it to one of my other email addresses so that I KNOW when I get posts etc...

One Line A Day!!! Lupus...

                                     Please Help Spread The word!!!!


                                         Alliance for Lupus Research 

                                                    ALR.org

Question??? Has anyone else had something like this??

I have developed a "new" problem, or I think it is potentially a problem. I have not mentioned it here, but now it is really beginning to scare me. About 3 months ago, I began to notice that it felt like I had a "lump" on my left lower abdomen. It kind of felt almost like it was "swollen". My right side is flat completely, so I noticed it because it was so puffy and my right side under the pain pump is so flat. I've been to the doctors, and even my PCP since it came up and I did not say anything. I have kind of blown it off until the past few days. Now it seems to be an oval lump that is getting larger I think. It seems to be protruding out more away from my abdomen and I can see it plainly in the mirror. Jim said he sees it also, so it has gotten bigger. I really don't know what to do. I have researched it, and it could be a number of things. I think I am just fearful about seeing the doctor about it... so I have just not said anything... has anyone else had something like this???

When you are "touched" by an "Angel of Inspiration"

Living with Autoimmune Arthritic illnesses can bring you down to your knees in many realms. Whether it be physical, mental, emotional, or all of them combined, it can be difficult to find "inspiration" to aid you in finding your way out of the "darkness" of these awful illnesses, and back into the light and fight.

Well, I have met someone lately who has done just that for me. This lady is such a blessing. As ill as she is with RA, she refuses to let it interfere with the tasks of life that she has in mind to spread awareness, to bring about patient centered research, to be a huge advocacy voice, and to include patients to do this research, run this global foundation, and bring aid to all around the world. Just when I felt I had lost my own way through the pits of illness and what it has done to my life lately... taken away everything that I felt like I was doing to help others, and honestly made me feel that I just needed to shut up, get off line, and stop writing.

I got to meet Tiffany Westrich-Robertson through a mutual online friend. Actually I have also met him in person. I had been reading some of his posts and decided that he was helping a FB community to really provide awareness about AI Arthritis and other AI diseases, and how they so often overlap one another. Well, I found out after just a few moments that Tiffany and her activeness and advocacy was much, much more than just Facebook oriented!

The more I read, the more I wanted to know. The more I knew, the more I wanted to help this incredible lady with this foundation. After a few weeks of really getting to know the whole story of how all of this came about, and how quickly she has grown into a non-profit Foundation to do just what I love to write about and spread knowledge about, my hopes were there would be some way I could be a part of her tremendous important work.

Thus I have! I am taking "classes" to become an "active volunteer" for the "International Autoimmune Arthritis Foundation" or "IAAF". The URL where the new website is can be found at:
http://www.ifautoimmunearthritis.org/Home_Page.html


Please take a look and you will also find inspiration and a renewal of hope from her amazing story.

I certainly know I have. :)

Rhia

"Award" Winning Blog! How does that happen?

This line as a "ring" to it.... "Award Winning Blog or Award Winning Blogger"... not that an award "makes or breaks" a blog, but I had never given thought to blog awards until today. I ran across this fact on a FB page that I frequent. I had to stop and ask myself first of all, how the heck do I get OTHER PEOPLE to read my blog? I have asked people on my FB page until I am blue in the face to please go there read and comment. Of course my husband, a few friends, and a few that find me out there in the realms of "googling" may come across my blog, but I still do not have the traffic I really want to have. My blog "rings" our about autoimmune illnesses and chronic pain for the most part. I also have a touch of my own "drama" in life, which for the most part involves the chronic pain and illness I deal with. Along with that, is the fact that doctors do not (in general) have enough "education" on these illnesses. There is also not enough education out there for patients, for caretakers, and professionals, friends and so forth about these "evil" diseases that take away the very essence of who you are.
They suck the life out of you, and spit it back in your face. Whether you are talking about Lupus, RA, CFS, FM (I happen to have the opinion of FM and CFS are also autoimmune related diseases also), Raynaud's. Sjogren's, MS, Mysathenia Gravis, Diabetes 2, and this list of 100's of these AI's goes on and on.
As a "patient", "suffer"... being inflicted terminally, being saddled with for life, which ever circle you find yourself in; or whatever way you want to describe yourself. This "nomination" called "Autoimmune Illness - Chronic" means that you have been "signed up" (not because you wanted to) for a life long, eternity of many, many symptoms, diagnosis, tests, doctors, quacks (at times), blood work, needles, IV's, possible hospitalizations, possible surgeries ( i've endured well over what I can count on my fingers and toes), massive insurance bull crap paperwork, more medications that your stomach can hold on many days, and endless lists and lists that you take to every doctor you see. Believe me, with one "bad" brain fog day at a doctor's without a list of medications, new procedures, new tests, blood work, Ct's, MRI's, surgeries and other new doctors, you will never remember or have enough room on their forms to write it all down.
So, now back to this "Award" winning blog! What do I do? Do I "advertise?" I already use the social media scene, Facebook, Twitter, of course my blog, which also posts to my Amazon.com Author page every time I post something new. I have hundreds of FB friends. Yet, trying to get them to the blog is like giving medication to a puppy... almost impossible. Why is that? I think I give them "too much information" on FB. So, they just avoid wasting time on my blog. So, maybe I should NOT say much on FB, but just post all on the blog, and a link on FB where the latest and greatest out of my brain fogged mind is written.

I don't have to have an "award". But, the idea of it sounds wonderful. So, what do I do? "Google" about "how to have an award winning blog".. Ah, and there it is... knowing people, social media, putting your blog information everywhere that is relevant or possibly irrelevant also.... anyway, anywhere you can get it out there for the world to see and read hopefully...

All I can say is, "I WANT ONE!"  Can I make "this one" Award Winning? Good Question.....