Walking, Walking, Walking

So I was getting it from all fronts -- my doctor; THE MIGRAINE BRAIN (book); my acupuncturist; my husband; my friends; THE WRITING DIET (Julia Cameron's book) ... all fingers were pointing at ONE THING to improve my health:

WALKING. Taking regular walks.

So - I started yesterday.

Rocky accompanied me on 1/13 and we did 1.4 miles in 40 minutes (we had to stop every few posts & bushes for Rock Star to 'take care of business').

{I park here and walk south - then back}

TODAY I walked 2 miles, sans Rocky, in 40 minutes -- and on the way 'out', I counted the steps (then doubled it for an approximate count): 4,000 total !!! Yay.

{and this is the view where I walk ... and this week, with a Santa Ana and temperatures reaching 80 here on the Coast ... it looked JUST LIKE THIS}

On the way home, I felt so good, I stopped to gas up & have the car washed, then stopped in to visit the CATS and KITTENS at The Rescue House 'facility' within our local Petco. HEAVEN.

Blood pressure normally WAY LOW -- today, almost non-existent. I'd better be careful how many endorphins I get flowing - my BP could drop to -0- !!

More updates to come. PLS POST A COMMENT to cheer me on. Please.

-- D.

The MIGRAINE Brain by Carolyn

My e-inbox this morning included the daily "top stories from NPR" message, and lo & behold, I saw this story: An Exploration Of The Migraine Brain. So if you suffer from migraines, or know someone who does, PLEASE read the article (click on this link) and / or share it with someone who needs it.

Davielle thought you would be interested in this story: An Exploration Of The Migraine Brain from NPR

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96562458&sc=nl&cc=es-20081123&sc=emaf

As a lifelong {since the age of 3} Migraine {and occipital neuralgia} headache sufferer, I can't use the word "SUFFER" ... enough. There is nothing like the pain of a massive headache, be it a Migraine or one caused by Occipital Neuralgia. When I say "nothing like it", I just about mean it -- I am sure there are exceptions, but like the girl in the interview who said childbirth didn't come close -- I agree, wholeheartedly. They didn't even HAVE epidurals when I had Kristi or Cara {they started using them at our hospital about 6 months after I had my youngest, Cara} ... and I did not have (or need) a saddle block {the old-fashioned way to do things!}.

Although I have taken a vow to not buy new books until I've read all the ones in my stacks, THIS BOOK is one that I am going to use a Barnes & Noble coupon to purchase - today. Which is saying a lot, given that I do not like to hear or read about stuff to do with headaches -- it's been a lifelong plague of mine, and the more time I spend LEARNING about them, the more time I seem to be "LIVING" the headaches. But THIS one, this one I will buy and I will read. I am sick of being ... sick.

By the way, I thank God all the time for not passing this insidious "disorder" {as I call it} on to my children or grandchildren. I would not wish it on my enemies, and I can't imagine seeing my offspring, and theirs, suffering like I have. It would tear me apart.

I don't want to go on & on about headaches on this Sunday morning, but I leave you with the book cover and the link to the interview with Carolyn Bernstein / excerpts from the book.

-- Davielle