What the Heck, Chicken Neck

Last Monday I had a second MRI. This one was to see if there has been any damage to the nerves in my neck that might be causing some of my upper body symptoms. Guess what the results were? Yes, A OK! My neck is nearly perfect which is apparently all the more impressive given my age. (I didn’t realize 29 was such a milestone.)

Oddly, with everything looking so good with my neck, my diagnosis circles back to MS. The new doctor I have been seeing said that it is possible to have MS but not yet have any lesions on your brain. That would be why my CAT scan and MRI were both clear. To test for MS at this stage, you would need a spinal tap. Needless to say, I am not enthusiastic about this next step. In fact I am so unenthusiastic, I may not do it. (I have read posts from several people about their experiences saying that on a scale from 1-10, their pain was 100.)

My symptoms overlap both B12 deficiency and MS, but fit neither one well. I am generally considered old for MS, but the right age for a B12 deficiency. My symptoms are worse on the right (but also exist on the left) which is unlike B12 and more like MS. They affect my upper body more than my legs, but my legs are affected which is – well – both.

I have five weeks before my next appointment, and I plan to learn everything I can about MS and what treatment options are available. I had luck earlier in the year with CBD oil. Even though it is expensive, I intend to keep taking it. For some people I have talked to, that alone has worked better than any of the medications they have been prescribed for MS.

While this seems like rather stinky news, I did find a ladybug, a penny and a four leaf clover to balance out my luck.

I saved the clover from being peed on by Toby.

That was supposed to be my clover. I was marking it.

Anyway, your luck couldn’t get any better: you already have me!

**************************

If you would like to see what else my little stinky monsters have been up to, pick up a copy of Dream Our World. Inside, Bitey and Toby visit the museum of their dreams and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun.

20 Comments Leave a comment

Dandelion Fluff

Hey look! A closed door. Let's open it. Absolutely! Do NOT open this door!

Don't look at me! What happened? You always look normal when we see you.

Last August my hair fell out again. I have been drawing myself with a wig ever since. Why didn't you just draw yourself with hair?

Hmm, why didn't I draw myself with hair?

Did you know that psoriasis can make your hair fall out? Well it can! After falling out (again) last August, mine has finally started growing back and is maybe four or five inches long. When I stand in the light, I resemble a dandelion gone to seed.

I have a friend who is facing chemo and is rightly disappointed at the thought of losing her hair. I wanted to let her know that she is not alone. When I lost mine, I spent a good bit of time looking at chemo hats, and I found a company that I liked. It’s called Headcovers Unlimited, and it has a lot of options other than traditional chemo scarves.

Of course all their models have a healthy glow to their cheeks and don’t have tired eyes, but it is nice to imagine that I might look this cute in one of their hats. Some of the hats and scarves have hair in the back to protect your neck from the sun. (The hair is attached to the hat in this picture. )

So, if you are dealing with alopecia, you don’t need to send your husband beat up comedians. Instead splurge on some soft hats to make yourself feel better. And chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate.

Not my image, but I wish it were!

Mommy gets lots of compliments on her pink sunhat

…but she gets even more compliments on me!

****************************

Self conscious about the state of your hair? Then consider this dramatic hooded cape/cloak when you go out for the evening.

Made of light-drinking black pinwale corduroy and lined with soft as silk red acetate, this cloak is sure to make a bold statement wherever you go.

Ladies Cloak/Cape is available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

15 Comments Leave a comment

Frenzied Fall

Didn't make it to the bedroom, did she? Not even close.

On top of all the regular responsibilities that come with fall, I have been walking my neighbor’s pup while she is away. The little Schnauzer learned to blackmail me very quickly. She refused to so much as pee unless she got a walk.

Of course I got walks too. I’ll share you, but you’re still my human.

By going on so many walks each day, I got to experience some incredible things. I got to hear the cock crow three times in the morning. I got to watch the fawn twins frolic and play, and I got to see the most incredibly heavy fog that looked like something from a movie.

******************

You’re alright for a girl.

You don’t smell too bad for a boy.

***************************

Suitable for both foggy mornings and foggy evenings, Black Hooded Cloak/Cape can keep you warm while still looking stylish. Whether heading to an evening at the theatre or celebrating Halloween with ghouls and vampires, this satin-lined cloak is sure to make a statement.

Black Hooded Cloak/Cape is available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

23 Comments Leave a comment

The Yark and the Witching Hour

Electric mustard colored fungus growing in wood mulch

Luminescent pile of yark

gently glowing in the dark.

Yellow like a ‘nanner peel

Little doggie do you feel

better now the puke is gone

sitting outside on the lawn?

(Wouldn’t Mozart be proud?)

The other night, Toby managed to jump up to the counter and steal and eat a banana peel before I could stop him. At 3:00 am he kindly gave the peel back. The poem has a happier ending than real life because it happened outside unlike reality which required an early morning kennel scrubbing. Thanks Toby.

Anytime, mom!

*********************************

If you would like to know more of what Toby and his brother have been up to, pick up a copy of Dream Our World. Inside Bitey (Geordie) and Toby visit the museum of their dreams and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun.

Dream Our World is available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

21 Comments Leave a comment

A Haiku

I'm just as sick of how smelly this psoriasis is as you are. Says the woman without a dog's nose.

It makes you smell like a dumbster. Don't you mean dumpster? Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.

Warm autumn evening-
bee clouds swarm menacingly
around the dumpster.

Don’t believe these drawings. I’ve been really nice to mommy lately.

*************************

Handmade Butterfly Quilt. — In some parts of the world, the weather is already starting to cool. Be prepared for those chilly nights with a warm, handmade quilt. This twin sized Patchwork Butterfly Quilt is hand appliqued, hand embroidered and hand quilted. (If you’d like, you can tell friends and family you made it yourself in your spare time during the lock down!)

This colorful Patchwork Butterfly Quilt, and many other fine items, are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

16 Comments Leave a comment

I Always Thought Sunflowers Were Happy…

…but maybe not this one. It appears she did too much partying over the weekend, and on Monday I found her face down in the spinach.

Ha Ha!

Her sisters stood over her laughing at how she couldn’t hold her booze.

Can’t wait to get rid of those pukey flowers so I can get back to digging!

*******************************

School is back in session! Encourage your young student to combat covid apathy by wearing quality, classic attire instead of the ubiquitous T shirts and shorts/yoga pants. Also suitable for religious services, these handmade silk neckties show that your young person is serious about their future. (I think these days that passes for grammatically correct.)

Boy's Long Sleeved Shirt shown with optional Red Silk Tie

Silk ties and other fine items are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

9 Comments Leave a comment

Cotton Balls

Actually, that would have been more fun.

Today I got to experience nerve conduction testing. While not as bad as I was expecting, it still wasn’t much fun. Basically they stick needles into your muscles (while insisting that you remain completely relaxed as they do!) then ask you to flex so that they can check how your nerves and muscles are working. Some times they shock you with electricity (probably mostly for amusement). Where they stabbed me in the back, I developed some colorful goose eggs. I take turmeric, which acts as a blood thinner, so I ended up with cotton ball band-aids all over.

The take away? I can add Lou Gehrig’s Disease to my list of things I don’t have.

Another “you” post? This is getting boring.

********************************

Are you heading to a birthday party or shower? Consider using this festive, reusable Zodiac Gift Presentation Bag to present your treasured item! Colorful Zodiac themed bag is made of durable bottom weight cotton and lined with muslin and a stiff interfacing to give it its shape even after being washed. After the gift has been removed, the bag can be reused as a gift bag or repurposed as a tote.

This any many fine items are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

18 Comments Leave a comment

Woof, Woof Brown Dog

Have you any stool?

Yes sir, yes sir,

Five bags full!

Two for my mother.

Two for my bro

And one for the chippy-munk

who runs to and fro!

Oh dear heavens, where did you come up with the idea for such an awful poem?!?

Terrier looking up at basket of green beans.

Well, it is that time of year again. After a late start, the beans started coming in like crazy. Toby loooves green beans and begged and stole and whined and howled until he was finally full.

I am a very effective howling beggar.

The next day’s “end result” inspired today’s poem. (It’s your own fault for stopping by today!)

*************************

It’s hard to believe it is back to school season already. Some youngsters I know only had one day of class before catching the latest bug going around. Whether it is a virus or allergies, having a reusable handkerchief can save both your nose and the planet!

There are a number of hand painted handkerchiefs at my shop that would make a great gift for yourself or someone you love.

L Bowman Studios

12 Comments Leave a comment

The Dogged Beatles

You know, I believe the Beatles were really dogs. What makes you say that?

So many of their songs are about things that interest us. Like what?

Think about it. There are songs like "Hey Chewed" and Eleanor BigPee". Even "Norwegian Food". (What do you suppose Norwegian food is anyway? Pro'lly fish.) What about "Yellow Submarine"?

Poor Toby needs a hobby.

Don’t go blaming me for this nonsense. You’re the one who’s crazy.

******************************

What would two puppies do if left on their own in an art museum? Find out in Dream Our World! Inside the boys discover the world of art from a canine perspective and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun.

Dream Our World is available form my shop.

21 Comments Leave a comment

Unremarkable

Yes, once again I had a procedure that told me absolutely nothing about what is going on with me. I suppose I should be happy that this process of elimination is helping me to find the real problem, but this morning when doctor’s office called they pretty much said that after the nerve conduction testing next month, there is nothing more they have to offer. Great. Now I have another month and a half of falling down before going through more testing that will most likely have “inconclusive” results.

Coincidentally the night before the test I watched a bad movie where a running joke was one of the characters trying to break into the recording industry by composing House Music. The music was truly awful but was considered greatly improved when a nearly-dead man in his apartment started tapping a single note over and over on the composer’s keyboard. It turns out that MRI’s sound just like that awful House Music! It was all I could do to keep from laughing as that single repeating note kept being blasted through the tube to the counterpoint of musical sounds the machine made. (If you haven’t had an MRI, they are very musical. They don’t just make the ka-chunk, ka-chunk sound shown in TV medical dramas.)

I have a friend who has been very supportive and keeps encouraging me saying that it’s not that nothing is wrong with me but that the doctors haven’t found anything because they aren’t asking the right questions. In the meantime, my technical diagnosis still remains “bull sh*t lying hypochondriac bit*h”.

Oh my gosh, would you quit yammering about yourself already and tell a story about me?!?

Next time, puppy.

***************************************************

Could your day use a little magic? If so, consider adding a Royal Pillow to your decor! Available in a variety of colors and sizes, they can add a touch of whimsy to your life.

Royal Pillows, and many other find gifts, are available at my shop at L Bowman Studios.

28 Comments Leave a comment

The Adventures of Bitey Dog

Uncategorized