Shacking up with shingles

Life has been interesting this past week as I discovered from the clinic doctor that my "spider bites" from about ten days ago were either 1) jelly fish stings or 2) zoster virus better known as shingles. Well, I did go swimming the weekend before and the "bites" or rash didn't show up for 3 days after that! So, after a second visit to the doctor, it was agreed that it's probably shingles, or perhaps a sarcoidosis rash. So, we deal with it. Mixing shingles with sarcoidosis and diabetes has been a trip. Having been on prednisone may have minimized the symptoms and more severe pain. I am monitoring it carefully and while it's been playing havoc with my blood sugars, today is much better. I was headachy and feverish for two days, exhausted beyond reason yesterday and today, after my first full night's sleep without sweats and chills all week, I am feeling like myself again. Thank God! Hopefully, the rash will go away soon (I have two creams that seem to be doing the job) and I will not experience any more (or at least very little) pain and soreness now. For those of you who will ask: yes, I have an appointment with the pulmonologist in two weeks and will keep up on what's going on. Walla!

Nelson had an interview with the track manager last week and we are patiently waiting for some word so we can make our flight reservations ASAP. He waited this long to just TALK to the man, so who knows how long it will be before they make any decision and then, take action! :) It's so frustrating! This job would change our lives for the better in ways that I hesitate to contemplate for fear of jinxing the whole thing. Nuff said!

Our anniversary was this past week....14 years. In ways it feels like yesterday and in other ways, it feels like 40. Not in a bad way, just that it seems we must have always been together. Perhaps we were married in another life. :) LOL We splurged on a HUGE coffee table book as our gift to each other. Title? Horse. What else? It is huge....I will have Nelson take a photo of it and post it here so you can truly appreciate its size and magnitude. It's a series of photos of horses with and without people, in all shapes and sizes, engaged in a multitude of activities....some with celebrities (I love the one of Arnold Schwarzenegger in white breeches and no shirt, sitting on a big warmblood type white horse....marvelous photography) and some with nobodies.....we will never tire of looking at it. Besides, it will inspire us to take the photos and write the poetry for our own coffee table book. One last thing: Although I was home sick on the actual day of our anniversary, it was quiet and uneventful, just the two of us, and that's alright by me.

There are two weeks left to the semester. I can't go home for 49 more days. Depending on what happens with this job (or not), Nelson may be going home in mid-June. I need some horsey and grandkid time, that's for sure! Keep in touch, write or call when you can....Maggie