Holy Mother of Updates

I've said in several previous posts that I would expound on various subjects later and haven't gotten around to it, yet. Oops. Life has been throwing me curve balls and having me jump through hoops, lately, so I haven't had much chance to keep people updated on everything. I can barely keep up with myself, these days.

Here's the skinny...

I can:
-Regulate my own body functions performed by my lungs, kidneys, intestines, etc. (HUGE deal)
-Jump (sorta- I have the landing down, the take-off is still kinda rough)
-Run (it ain't pretty, but I can kinda, in a weird way, do it)
-Ride a bike (I rode all by my self on Monday!)
-Stand all day long
-Walk for a few hours
-Go weeks without throwing up, getting a bloody nose, or coughing up small woodland creatures
-Be outside for more than 10 minutes without my skin cracking and falling off

I don't have to:
-Measure out every thing I eat
-Manage my blood sugar
-Do blood filtering very often

I still:
-Get winded easily
-Feel a buzzing in my toe at all times
-Have to watch what I eat
-Get infections a lot
-Probably can't eat that
-Have hope that I'm going to beat this thing

I am:
-The least moldy I've been (my fungus is dying off!)
-Getting physically stronger
-On normal Candida levels (my yeast is back in check!)
-Exhausted
-Quitting my day job (tomorrow's my last day)
-Starting a company with my business partner (we've been working on it for about a year, now it's kicking off)
-Moving to TX for a bit and then moving to LA at some point I told you big changes were coming...
-Grateful
-Blessed

I'm headed to Texas for a wedding this weekend, for a week. Then I'll be back in San Francisco for a week. Then I'm off to LA for a week or so. Then to Texas indefinitely.

There. Consider yourself updated.

Ch, ch, ch, chaaanges

Rewind to about two years ago:
"Here have some of this (insert food item here)."
"I'm not allowed to eat that."
"Why?"

And so, this blog began...

We're rounding the corner on two year of blogging. Whooo, party! Given how much has changed during that time, and as a sort of celebration, I'm changing things up a bit around here.

First of all, this blog started out as a way to cope with my diet. It was meant to fend off being asked the same questions repeatedly; to cope with my new way of eating; to experiment with new foods; and to provide some levity to a very serious situation.

Then, it also became a place for updating people on my health. Again, it was a source of answering the barrage of questions in one place; a way to cope; to talk about experimental treatments; and for some escapism from the difficulties I faced.

Along the way if became a place of refuge; of hope; and of connecting with people who know me, or know similar situations, or who simply found a common bond.

I have used this space to rant, ask for help, rejoice, and laugh. I've grown and changed along the way, and now it's time for the blog to morph a little, too.


What's changing:

The name "Food Withdrawl"- While I'm always going to be experimenting with, and seeking out new foods and recipes, I'm not in withdrawal anymore. Also, not ONE person ever got the pun in the name, or even noticed that it was either a play on words or misspelled- which has bugged the crud out of me!

In his autobiography, pacifist and philosopher, Bertrand Russell stated, "This has been my life. I have found it worth living."

I chose to rename this blog after that quote. Despite everything that has happened thus far, and all the horrible things that I have been through: the pain, and surgeries, and organ failure, and struggle; the goodness, hope, love, and beauty I have experienced have far outweighed it. This has been my life. It wasn't what I would have chosen, but it has gotten me to where I am, and it has made me who I am. And I think it's been worth it.

The layout- I got tired of those vegetables. Really, can you blame me? If I never see another vegetable for as long as I live...

What's staying the same:

The recipes (hopefully I will post more of them), the pictures of what I'm eating, the updates on my health (hopefully less of them- no news is good news, yeah?), the quips and sarcasm, the refuge, the connections, the hope ("You gotta give em hope!" -Harvey Milk)...


So here's to another leg of this journey that started with a single step back in June 2010. Since that time, as of right now, this blog has been viewed 8,818 times. While a seemingly small number in the grand scheme of things, and blogs, I'm very thankful that people have cared enough about what I'm writing (other than my Mama, who probably accounts for about 1,000 of those views) to visit this page so many times. I really love when you comment, too- it makes my day, every single time. Thanks for being a part of the journey. It's been more than worth it.

Batter vs Bren