Writing, Shipbuilding, and Fibromyalgia

Status of submarine: With the cold weather, we've been working on projects inside the shop. Doug's been working on the CNC machine, Kay's been sewing covers, and Rand spent a day learning to use the plasma cutter and welder. I know her creations will continue to improve and we are all looking forward to see her artistic abilities displayed on our walls.

Status of sailboat: Still got the steel laying outside. With Carl's help, he and dad got the school bus bed plates laid down. Then Dad welded the left over beams into a work table to cut or weld on. It's nice - ask Randi, she's the first to use it.

Carpet Garden - All the pieces have been laid out

School bus salvaging operation - Complete! Salvaged seat covers, foam pads, metal sheets from the sides and top of the bus, deck flooring, wiper blade motors, rear-end transmission, brakes, axle, differential, mirrors, lights, and the front grill (for Carl). We sold the rest. And now the pad is empty! Wonder what the neighbors thought?

InfidelStrong.com - Randi is working on the web site on a daily basis. She's learning to more about it. However, sometimes it feels she takes one step forward and then two steps back. But she's getting better. I know creating websites are a pain in the ass. I did it once and not doing it again.

Aden: Nah, nanahnana, NAINAINAI! Ack! Ack! Ackackack! NSA is attempting to translate. We however, feel that has already been accomplished. All you need to do is watch "Mars Attack!" and you'll get it.

The Dogs: They are defining and redifining their roles and the pack's heirarchy. The big question is who is the biggest weenie - George or Tony?

Andie the Cat: Now referred to as Shadow Cat.

More to come later

Until now I've pretty much been employed as a white collar worker - public school teacher, hospital teacher, curriculum specialist, and writer. The most physical things I did was lift boxes and desks when I moved classrooms and at Laureate I didn't even do that because that was housekeeping job's to do. Now, however, I'm moving into a new phase of my life as a blue-collar worker.

As a welder, shop assistant, seamstress, sail maker, and steel worker (a little bit of one), most of my activities involve moving some part of my body, particularly my hands. And unfortunatly, unlike Doug and Carl I do not have a clear sense of body in space (as the physical therapists call it). Which means at times I have no idea of how to coordinate my body with my brain. I don't know where my feet are in reference to their environment. I am terrible at positioning my self when welding, cutting, holding on, lifting, etc. (there's lots in that etc.).

However, while frustrating at times, the positive aspects of physical labor is that when my pain level is high, I still have lots I can do. Sewing seams does not take a lot of brain power. Nor does sorting sockets, bolts, tools, and other clutter around the shop. And I think straight line, flat welding or plasma cutting doesn't take a lot of thought, though it does take attention to detail. And I think I can handle that job at a level 2 without having taken narcotics (probably not a good thing to use tools that create as much light and heat as the sun, in much smaller amounts, of course.)

So on the days I can't write or weld, I can clean and organize. My life hasn't diminished, which is one fear that people with chronic pain often face. In fact, building a boat has enriched it. I now do things that challenge me, yet provide a sense of satisfaction because there is concrete end product. I can watch my welding get better or faster.

Today, my pain level is at a persistent 2 after lots of sleep and valerian. We'll see how the rest of the day goes. And even if my pain level increases to a 3, I still can be a productive person. That sounds rather Stalinistic but it is accurate. :)