In October I caught a mild respiratory virus. Nothing big. I had a runny nose, some sniffles, a few aches. It came and went in a few days and I thought nothing of it. Two weeks later however, I developed a sinus infection. Not a big deal. I have sinus issues as do most older folks living east of the Mississippi.
I live in a rural area with lots of trees, leaves, flowers, weeds and all the dusty allergy type generating stuff common to the east. It was also a rainy …

The official definition of a third world country has to do with the country’s political stance or alignment with either capitalism or communism (first and second world) or non-aligned with either (third world).
Since the overriding common characteristics of both second and third world countries is poverty and economic dependence on capitalism or more advanced and wealthy countries, most people equate poverty and limited or non-existent resources with the third world.
Now, consider Orange County California—by all census and other standards, the richest county in the United States. Yet, there is an …

One of the trickiest things about personal boundaries for most people is understanding that other people have boundaries too.
I’ve noticed that people really love setting and enforcing their own boundaries, but when someone else’s boundaries conflict with theirs, they go ballistic. They either accuse the other person of trying to manipulate them, or they try to manipulate the other.
Case in point:
Last fall a friend of mine asked me to house-sit for her for a week. She lives about two hours away, a long drive. Her only request was, “No dogs.” …

For the past decade I’ve been battling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyaliga and skin problems ranging from Chronic Hives to mild psoriasis. This month I added pneumonia on top of all that. I finally understand what old people mean when they say, “I’m tired and ready to die.” I had nothing left to give, and still, really, don’t. I have moments where some energy finds its way into me, but mostly? I sleep a lot.
I recently learned that fatigue, joint pain, foggy brain, tiredness, muscle aches, and all these symptoms I’ve …