Because sleeping is such an important part of my life, having a comfortable bed is essential to my getting restful sleep. For me, the most important part of a comfy bed is the sheets.
It seems that these days, most people want soft, warm sheets. For people who are ill, I can understand wanting a warm, cocoon-like feeling surrounding you. Soft sheets are very easy to find, because the labels advertise softness. However, many people feel more comfortable in crisp, cool sheets....the kind grandma used to have. These sheets are hard to find since the blurbs on the package (or the description) rarely say that they are crisp and cool, probably because most people want soft sheets. There are several posts on the net from people looking for crisp sheets and a few of them have produced good leads for great sheets. However, I haven't been able to find any affordable sheets through these leads.
I bought a new mattress a few months ago and needed new sheets. I looked at all of the stores in the area and many stores on the web, but couldn't find any crisp sheets at a price I could afford, so I purchased a very reasonably priced set at the local home goods store and hoped for the best. They were soft...very soft. I washed them several times and they kept getting softer. They became gauze-like. I got to liking the soft feel for the pillows as they felt wonderful on my face. However, I just didn't love the sheets and I kept looking for crisp sheets at a reasonable price.
Two weeks ago while I was Christmas shopping at my local Target I saw some Shabby Chic sheets in the size I needed. They did have Shabby Chic sheets when I was originally looking for them, but didn't have them in my size. So when I saw that they had them in stock in my size at $39.99, I snapped them up.
I washed them as soon as I got them home and put them on my bed. They are fabulous! Crisp and cool like Grandma used to have. They feel clean and don't cling to me. I've washed them several times and they keep getting better. I use the soft pillowcases from the first set, though, as I love the soft feel of them. Now I have the perfect combination of soft and crisp on my bed and I'm very comfortable and happy.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Dreaded DMV
When the notice came in the mail that my drivers license was about to expire, I immediately started dreading having to go to the DMV. It probably came about a month before it was to expire, so I had plenty of time to think about how much I didn't want to go.
Going for a quick trip to the grocery store is hard enough, but factor in all of the lines, waiting, people, directions, and DMV employees and I was overwhelmed just thinking about it.
So on Friday I talked myself into getting off the couch, washing my hair and getting dressed to go to the DMV. The first part of my dread was having to borrow money so I could pay for a new license. I had to ask my estranged husband for some cash and it was almost as stressful as I had imagined. So I was already shaking when I got I the car.
Then I had to decide which DMV to go to. I've had really bad experiences at the one that's closer so I decided to go a little out of the way in hopes of having a better experience.
I got lost on the way there--I took the wrong ramp and ended up going way out of the way. Then there was a kid tailgating me (a huge pet-peeve) in a car with an already smashed up front end--not a good sign. As I turned into the parking lot where the DMV is, I felt like I had entered a parallel universe. Everyone was yielding to pedestrians and being altogether courteous. I realized that the proximity of the DMV was forcing everyone to be on their best behavior. I found a parking place with ease and hobbled into the building.
A very nice lady at a receptionists' desk asked what I needed and pointed me to the correct line. I waltzed right up to the front of the line, and the officer kindly took my license, attached a number to it and directed me to sit down in a specific area to wait until my number was called. In less than 90 seconds, my number was called. This was the only part of the entire experience that was a little sketchy. I have absolutely no ability to understand people with accents. Do you ever have this problem? I can't even understand native Americans half the time due to some quirk in my nervous system...so understanding people with accents is very difficult for me. I had to ask her at least four times to repeat herself and she was getting really irritated with me. We finally got through the interview and an eye test and I was directed to the Cashier. Once again, no one in line in front of me and I toddled up to the nice lady who took my borrowed $30 and directed me to the photo area. Oh, no. It's not time to update my picture is it? I don't have any make-up on! Well, I never wear it anymore so I guess the world should see me without it. The photographer was one of the sweetest people I've had contact with in eons. That job has to be monotonous; sign here, smile, chin up, wait, here's your license. Sign here, smile, chin up, wait, here's your license all day...urgh. I admired his ability to make the best of a really boring job by being as kind and interactive as possible to everyone who came his way. The bathrooms are just behind him, so he had the lovely job of pointing the way when he wasn't doing his "sign here, chin up" thing.
After a very short wait, I was given my license; leaving, I noticed once again that everyone in the parking lot was extremely kind. How restorative! I got back home in record time.
The entire experience was not worth all of the stress I put myself through for a month. It was actually almost pleasant! For someone who rarely goes out, it was a nice interaction with mankind.
I put myself through quite a lot of stress for a month for absolutely no reason. I once read that stress is caused by trying to do something about something that you can't do anything about.
I take my hat off to Jesse White, Secretary of State of Illinois. He has some great DMV offices and a great tumbling team! (No, I'm not up for re-election or stumping for Jesse.)
Going for a quick trip to the grocery store is hard enough, but factor in all of the lines, waiting, people, directions, and DMV employees and I was overwhelmed just thinking about it.
So on Friday I talked myself into getting off the couch, washing my hair and getting dressed to go to the DMV. The first part of my dread was having to borrow money so I could pay for a new license. I had to ask my estranged husband for some cash and it was almost as stressful as I had imagined. So I was already shaking when I got I the car.
Then I had to decide which DMV to go to. I've had really bad experiences at the one that's closer so I decided to go a little out of the way in hopes of having a better experience.
I got lost on the way there--I took the wrong ramp and ended up going way out of the way. Then there was a kid tailgating me (a huge pet-peeve) in a car with an already smashed up front end--not a good sign. As I turned into the parking lot where the DMV is, I felt like I had entered a parallel universe. Everyone was yielding to pedestrians and being altogether courteous. I realized that the proximity of the DMV was forcing everyone to be on their best behavior. I found a parking place with ease and hobbled into the building.
A very nice lady at a receptionists' desk asked what I needed and pointed me to the correct line. I waltzed right up to the front of the line, and the officer kindly took my license, attached a number to it and directed me to sit down in a specific area to wait until my number was called. In less than 90 seconds, my number was called. This was the only part of the entire experience that was a little sketchy. I have absolutely no ability to understand people with accents. Do you ever have this problem? I can't even understand native Americans half the time due to some quirk in my nervous system...so understanding people with accents is very difficult for me. I had to ask her at least four times to repeat herself and she was getting really irritated with me. We finally got through the interview and an eye test and I was directed to the Cashier. Once again, no one in line in front of me and I toddled up to the nice lady who took my borrowed $30 and directed me to the photo area. Oh, no. It's not time to update my picture is it? I don't have any make-up on! Well, I never wear it anymore so I guess the world should see me without it. The photographer was one of the sweetest people I've had contact with in eons. That job has to be monotonous; sign here, smile, chin up, wait, here's your license. Sign here, smile, chin up, wait, here's your license all day...urgh. I admired his ability to make the best of a really boring job by being as kind and interactive as possible to everyone who came his way. The bathrooms are just behind him, so he had the lovely job of pointing the way when he wasn't doing his "sign here, chin up" thing.
After a very short wait, I was given my license; leaving, I noticed once again that everyone in the parking lot was extremely kind. How restorative! I got back home in record time.
The entire experience was not worth all of the stress I put myself through for a month. It was actually almost pleasant! For someone who rarely goes out, it was a nice interaction with mankind.
I put myself through quite a lot of stress for a month for absolutely no reason. I once read that stress is caused by trying to do something about something that you can't do anything about.
I take my hat off to Jesse White, Secretary of State of Illinois. He has some great DMV offices and a great tumbling team! (No, I'm not up for re-election or stumping for Jesse.)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Living Life As A Zombie
Most people don't think twice about getting up in the morning, making coffee, going for a walk or run, going to PTA meetings, going to school, working a 12 hour day or keeping a house clean. These people are called "normal." People like me (definitely abnormal) are those with multiple health issues. I am usually not able to do any of these things with any regularity or clarity.
Being a prisoner in my own body is something most people cannot understand. Just the idea of the body and the person being two different entities is not a common notion. But for those of us with chronic pain or illnesses, we need to remember that we are not just our body. In my head, I am an active person who loves to dance, sing, walk, play, see and do. DO--now there's a notion! I cannot do. You do--you don't even have to think about doing. I long to do, but what I do do is more of a non-existence than a life. Unless you've been here, you do not understand.
What illnesses have made me such of a non-person? A nasty spine condition called DDD (degenerative disc disease) and an even nastier illness called Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. DDD is an accepted disease; it is basically an advanced deterioration of the discs in the spine. They are dry and crumbling. I am allowed to be in pain because of this. It is legitimate.
Fibromyalgia, on the other hand, is not a legitimate disease. It used to be considered a psychological problem for which doctors prescribed exercise and to "buck up" when you explained your symptoms. It is now accepted among many doctors in urban areas but I know many very sick people who are still being told that they need psychological help.
Researchers have made great strides in figuring out why some people (usually female) have so much pain, fatigue and myriad of other related issues. Almost two years ago, researchers found proof of genetic chronic fatigue, and now researchers have found a super-virus (a retrovirus, which is what AIDS is) in two separate studies of people with CFS and FMS. AH!!! To be validated...what a relief. Doctors have not yet accepted these studies because they have been unable to replicate these studies, but it is inevitable that researchers will find the reason for this illness as there are millions of us out here who will pay (the key word) to have our health and energy levels restored to some semblance of our former selves.
Fibromyalgia has turned me into a zombie more than DDD. The pain and many affects it has on my body are truly live-altering. There are no meds that cure it and few meds that really help. The real problem, fatigue, just isn't accepted in our society. We are made to feel lazy and negative. We are accused of not trying hard enough, not caring enough, not being involved.
It has taken a long time and many psychologists for me to accept (for now) being zombie-like, but those around me have for the most part not accepted my illness. They either say they don't understand what's wrong with me or they say I'm just not trying hard enough. I have become a recluse, a person who does as much as she can only during the hours of 3pm to 3am, when I am semi-awake. I think my nervous system is so messed up that I can't deal with the daytime crowd and so I am living life backwards.
That is my first rant. Now that I have that out of the way, I can talk about my day-to-day life which consists of my dogs, my bedroom and armchair, doctors' appointments, my mother, sister, and many friends. For those who suffer from chronic illnesses, hang in there as there are so many good moments in life to appreciate.
Being a prisoner in my own body is something most people cannot understand. Just the idea of the body and the person being two different entities is not a common notion. But for those of us with chronic pain or illnesses, we need to remember that we are not just our body. In my head, I am an active person who loves to dance, sing, walk, play, see and do. DO--now there's a notion! I cannot do. You do--you don't even have to think about doing. I long to do, but what I do do is more of a non-existence than a life. Unless you've been here, you do not understand.
What illnesses have made me such of a non-person? A nasty spine condition called DDD (degenerative disc disease) and an even nastier illness called Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. DDD is an accepted disease; it is basically an advanced deterioration of the discs in the spine. They are dry and crumbling. I am allowed to be in pain because of this. It is legitimate.
Fibromyalgia, on the other hand, is not a legitimate disease. It used to be considered a psychological problem for which doctors prescribed exercise and to "buck up" when you explained your symptoms. It is now accepted among many doctors in urban areas but I know many very sick people who are still being told that they need psychological help.
Researchers have made great strides in figuring out why some people (usually female) have so much pain, fatigue and myriad of other related issues. Almost two years ago, researchers found proof of genetic chronic fatigue, and now researchers have found a super-virus (a retrovirus, which is what AIDS is) in two separate studies of people with CFS and FMS. AH!!! To be validated...what a relief. Doctors have not yet accepted these studies because they have been unable to replicate these studies, but it is inevitable that researchers will find the reason for this illness as there are millions of us out here who will pay (the key word) to have our health and energy levels restored to some semblance of our former selves.
Fibromyalgia has turned me into a zombie more than DDD. The pain and many affects it has on my body are truly live-altering. There are no meds that cure it and few meds that really help. The real problem, fatigue, just isn't accepted in our society. We are made to feel lazy and negative. We are accused of not trying hard enough, not caring enough, not being involved.
It has taken a long time and many psychologists for me to accept (for now) being zombie-like, but those around me have for the most part not accepted my illness. They either say they don't understand what's wrong with me or they say I'm just not trying hard enough. I have become a recluse, a person who does as much as she can only during the hours of 3pm to 3am, when I am semi-awake. I think my nervous system is so messed up that I can't deal with the daytime crowd and so I am living life backwards.
That is my first rant. Now that I have that out of the way, I can talk about my day-to-day life which consists of my dogs, my bedroom and armchair, doctors' appointments, my mother, sister, and many friends. For those who suffer from chronic illnesses, hang in there as there are so many good moments in life to appreciate.
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