Kathy's Profile

I may be quiet, but I'm still here. Sometimes, saying "No" to one thing means saying "Yes" to something else. happy new year. Continue reading

Posted Jan 1, 2014 at Alter Everything

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An Invocation for Beginnings

The owls and the possums know me by heart.   As the sun sleeps, we mingle  over Earl Gray,   an occasional ice pack,   and assorted bits of cat food, laced with white, organic tortilla chips.   I wait for their coming like a  poppy for sun:   Face up,... Continue reading

Posted Jan 4, 2013 at Alter Everything

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What's Right with the World

"A small light brightens a dark space." --Unknown Lately, I can't help but notice all of the energy being directed at what's wrong with the world. A dog being choked by its owner, a political conspiracy, another death--unspeakable things darken my news feeds. It leaves me breathless. It leaves me... Continue reading

Posted Nov 20, 2012 at Alter Everything

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Rest In Peace

My dog Betsy has 12 hours to live. She's blissfully unaware, lying on the cool, kitchen tile. I am in my brown, corduroy-covered La-Z-Boy, under a blanket, crying. For three days, we've watched her disappear: releasing urine in the hallway after she'd just been outside, burrowing behind and knocking over... Continue reading

Posted Jul 14, 2012 at Alter Everything

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The Definition of Better

Art by Jim Benton A conversation with a friend: "Kathy, I read your blog post and, honestly, it was kind of depressing. Don't you think you'd feel better if you focused on good stuff?" The short answer...YES. The more complicated answer...NO. For 20 minutes, I tried to explain it....what it's... Continue reading

Posted May 20, 2012 at Alter Everything

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Feeling Gutted

The Neurosurgeon: What does the Neurologist say? Me: I don't he think he believes me. Him: Really? Then why is your eye drooping? I don't want to do this anymore. That's the main thought going through my head today. Over the past couple of months, I've seen a Chiropractor, Acupunturist,... Continue reading

Posted May 4, 2012 at Alter Everything

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Through the Looking-Glass

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat. "I don’t much care where--" said Alice. "Then it doesn’t matter which way you go," said the Cat. "--so long as I... Continue reading

Posted Mar 16, 2012 at Alter Everything

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Day 449: The Best Way To Give Yourself Methyl B-12 Injections

Source I'll admit it; I'm a chicken. For 20 minutes, I've been quivering, holding my meticulously clean thigh with my blue-gloved hand, staring at a needle. "It's just like darts," I rationalize. "You can do this." "It's just a pinch." Even in the most logical scenarios, THIS isn't happening. "What... Continue reading

Posted Feb 23, 2012 at Alter Everything

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Day 428: Thanks....For Everything

Do you hate me? Thank you. Have a new disease/infection/pain for my body? Thanks again. Doubt I'm sick? Muchos Gracias. Challenge me to my very core? I am grateful. YOU are my teacher. YOU are making me strong. YOU are causing me to appreciate. Your lessons are my presents. How... Continue reading

Posted Feb 1, 2012 at Alter Everything

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The Toe In The Day: Mark Nepo's Take On Pain & Chronic Illness

Source Imagine, you're outside walking down the sidewalk. The sun is shining. The birds are singing. The air is fresh. And YOU are completely aware life is a gift and a miracle to be treasured. Then, suddenly, without warning, you stub your toe ...not a small stub either. A BIG... Continue reading

Posted Jan 23, 2012 at Alter Everything

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Day 410: Can't Wait To See Where My Keys Turn Up

source I just found my oatmeal. I've been looking for it since yesterday. Me (to Angel): Baby, did you eat my bowl of oatmeal? Him: No-ooooowe??? Me (ensuing a 20 minute search): That's weird. I could have swore I had a bowl of oatmeal. Then, today, while putting my lamb/bean... Continue reading

Posted Jan 14, 2012 at Alter Everything

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Resistance is Futile

Source It's been a long time since I've watched a Nopalea infomercial. If you don't know it, it's a product sold on late night television as a "solution" for pain, insomnia, inflammation, and Lyme disease. They'll give you a free bottle...plus shipping. I've considered it: especially at four in the... Continue reading

Posted Jan 11, 2012 at Alter Everything

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Happy New _______

It's not an accident--the blank after new. 2012 is here and she's screaming...it's your time, get going, dictate your future instead of having it dictated for you. It's all an adventure. 365 days have passed. I've documented the process. I'm still healing. Now, new journeys await: hundreds of thousands of... Continue reading

Posted Jan 1, 2012 at Alter Everything

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Days 393-394: The World May Never Know

Question: "How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?" Answer: It depends who you're asking. If you ask me, three sounds like a reasonable number (I chomp, not lick). To others, 10 is far more likely (or conservative). Scientific experiments range... Continue reading

Posted Dec 29, 2011 at Alter Everything

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Days 390-392: Get In My Belly

Ooooohhhhhh, creamy, dreamy chicken pot pie. MAN...how I've missed you! Tiny parcels of petite potatoes, little slices of carrots, yummy gravy-like goodness, delicious biscuit/pie topping. If anyone's deserving of a sugar-free, yeast-free makeover it's you. Come here, come here, come here, come here and Get-in-My-Belly... If you are dreaming of... Continue reading

Posted Dec 27, 2011 at Alter Everything

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Days 386-389: What I Really Want For Christmas

You asked me what I want this year And I try to make this kind and clear Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days 'cause I don't need boxes wrapped in strings And designer love and empty things Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days -Better... Continue reading

Posted Dec 24, 2011 at Alter Everything

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Days 378-385: I Know What I Know

Alton Brown's talking about yeast on Food Network. He's discussing pizza dough: how slow rise is better than fast, how yeast needs time to ferment. To help, he's adding malted barley. Words like gluten, gliadin, and crisp leap from his lips. I am drinking a green drink trying not to... Continue reading

Posted Dec 21, 2011 at Alter Everything

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Day 377: At Least My Imagination's Healthy

Source Take one large screen tv, add some gel, a little ultrasound thinga majickey, an overtired, borderline desperate Lyme patient...there is a recipe for disaster. I'm not too catastrophic about medical tests (more que sera sera), but, with every click of the computer keyboard today, I became more and more... Continue reading

Posted Dec 13, 2011 at Alter Everything

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Day 376: Miss Cleo's A Bust

Sooooooo, in a desperate attempt to cure my chronic thrushy, mcthrush and wormy mcworms, one of my doctors recommended I visit another doctor who is said to have great "intuition" when it comes to figuring out complex health problems. "She's a miracle worker," I was told. "Knew my patient had... Continue reading

Posted Dec 12, 2011 at Alter Everything

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Days 366-375: Dragon Rider

source I was not dreaming. I was not awake. I was merely resting, staring at the purple lotus flower (whose insides look like a salt shaker), meditating. "What do you need to heal?" I asked myself, breathing through the Acupuncture needle zinging in my left foot. Images washed over me.... Continue reading

Posted Dec 11, 2011 at Alter Everything

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Day 365: Starting Over

525,600 minutes. 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes. How do you measure, measure a year? -Rent If you've ever seen the musical Rent, you know the Seasons of Love song. With just a few simple words, it captures the struggle we all have: to experience joy and pain and treasure... Continue reading

Posted Dec 2, 2011 at Alter Everything

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Day 364: More Stuff You Don't Want To Know About My Bowel Movements

Ok. Technically, I should have posted this yesterday. Can you tell this day to day thing is getting harder and harder to keep up with? I have this cat on my lap, a daisy growing out of my head, blah, blah, blah. Ohhh...and I crapped a whole pile of worms--I... Continue reading

Posted Dec 1, 2011 at Alter Everything

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Day 363: Pssst....Hey you. Yes, YOU! Go See the Muppets!!!

If you're sick.... If you're cranky.... If you're nostalgic... If you just like to smile... If you've given up completely... GO!!!! To refresh your memory... You could be here... Altered Today: Joy Continue reading

Posted Nov 29, 2011 at Alter Everything

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Day 362: Unexpected Benefits of My Lyme/Parasite Induced Colonoscopy

Benefit #1: EXTREME Colon Cleansing Seriously, I'm pretty sure I passed earwax, but I also passed TONS of toxins, candida, and other stuff. Thanks, Dr. A, for un-jamming my system. Benefit #2: FREE Lactated Ringer Electrolytes? Balance my ph level? Help my muscles/nerves function? Something I frequently pay for? Count... Continue reading

Posted Nov 28, 2011 at Alter Everything

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Day 361: Not The End Of The World, Butt...

Colonoscopies Aren't For Sissies. There's medication downtime, prescription prep, liquid diet supplies, hospital paperwork, next of kin promises. Did I mention medication downtime? Man, I'd kill for a muscle relaxer. Over the next 24 hours, I will eat broth and green jello, drink diet ginger ale, take 32 pills (in... Continue reading

Posted Nov 27, 2011 at Alter Everything

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