I have discovered that I really don’t like the holiday season. I used to… but for some reason, the time between and including Black Friday and Boxing Day really bums me out, mostly because it just causes me stress.
It also robs me of time. I had really planned on writing more here during the holidays.
Also – I took pictures, and will be posting them as soon as I can friggin’ figure out how to do it without the formatting looking all stupid. I discovered that since the birthmark is all on the back of my leg and the bottom of my foot (exception being the toes, two of which are covered), it’s really hard to take a picture of! I guess I could get my boyfriend to do it… but the holidays were even more crazy for him, and so I was stuck in December doing it myself. I might still have him take some pictures of the very hard-to-reach spots on my leg.
Or not. Because another reason to be grumpy about the holidays is the extra weight in January. Only a few pounds, but it’s a few pounds that makes the difference between feeling decent and feeling pudgy. Definitely feeling pudgy. Maybe will get better pictures when not feeling quite so whale-like. To that end, I am considering going back to dance classes – but I need to be careful with this as it can get very expensive very quickly, and if I’m going to dance, I’ll have to choose one discipline, probably. Right now, it’s between tap and bellydancing, my two favorites. Ballet is out of the question; I love it, but it’s one of those cases of wanting what you can’t have. I look awful doing it as my turnout sucks and my jumps are terrible. I’m definitely an earth-bound lady!
Minor leg pain here and there, but mostly when I’m on it for too long. Going to take the suggestion of wrapping it tightly with an ace bandage until my doctor’s appointment. Only about four weeks to go! Over the holidays, I told my father what was going on… and I think he was a little shocked to hear that my birthmark was not just a birthmark. I told him about all the articles I’d found, about birthmarks.org, about the potential risks and what exactly a port wine stain is. Shocking that my own father didn’t know all this, even the basics; but again, when I was born, they just told my folks it was a “birthmark” and so they thought it was innocuous. Thank G_d medical professionals today know more about it.
Okay – I’m crunched for time here, but hopefully I’ll have a nice, early night tonight. I’m meeting a friend tonight at Feby’s for dungeness crab night (yum – and not terribly bad for me!), and then after that I hope to get home to do a little laundry, a little writing, and a little reading. I got some good books for presents at the holidays, and I’ve cracked into one and am already hooked! (The Torah for Dummies, in case you were wondering!)
Anyway, just wanted to drop a line and say I’m still here. To everyone who’s stopped by, read, commented and/or sent encouragement, advice, commiseration and information, I’m so happy and grateful to hear from you, and amazed – perhaps relieved, too – that it’s resonated with others. Generating dialogue is a great way to raise awareness!
Take care – more later, I hope.
