Oh work, you silly thing...

Alright, I'll admit it! I'm slower then everyone else! HAHA Kidding, seriously I'm not slower then everyone else... a process that takes about 3 hours takes me 3 hours and 15 minutes... ooohhhh that 15 minutes is SOOO much.
My manager at work commented that I never reach the "closing goals" (the time we have our whole area cleaned up) he sets for us, I wanted to explain why it takes me a little bit longer than everyone else, but I kept my mouth shut, just didn't feel up to having someone look at me like I'm crazy.
It takes me a tad longer because I have to be careful about how I carry things, wash tables (if I try to hurry my shoulder repeatedly pops in and out, not pleasant and hurts over time), and when I try and hurry around, I have a tendency to injure myself. So, a question for you, would you take the time to explain to your boss that you work a little slower to avoid injuring yourself? or would you just let it be and ignore little comments like these when they happen every time you work?

busy, busy, busy...

I've been crazy busy with work and babysitting and shopping, sorry I've been gone.
I've been exhausted the last few days and yesterday I made myself go to the cities (about 45 minutes away) to go shopping in Maplewood, Minnesota.
The mall is great, even though parts are currently under construction due to remodeling, though the new architecture should make the mall even better.
The roads were awful though. They are doing a ton of construction right now and there are "road closed" signs on roads that are still being used. It makes it hard to get around if you aren't used to the construction, which I most certainly am not, though it wasn't too terribly bad, just confusing.
Burlington Coat Factory, was a whole other story! Usually you expect some mess in a discount department store, but this was ridiculous. I almost tripped at least 10 times trying to walk down ONE shoe isle. There were boxes and random shoes all over in the isle. (When you have unstable knees and ankles and hips like me, this becomes a bit of a problem and safety hazard, not to mention it would have been completely impossible if someone was in a wheel chair.) Usually I don't like to fill out the surveys online, but I made sure to do this one as soon as I got home. I figured someone might want to know about all this. Even though I went there for a coat, I couldn't find one i actually liked, but I did find a lovely scarf which is super soft!
I will never be returning to that Burlington Coat Factory. It was awful.
I also found a great new sweater on sale at the mall, bought some books at half priced books (my all time favorite book store) and walked into Michael's Craft Store literally one minutes before they closed. not much you can find and buy in 60 seconds.
And I ate at Panda Express, wasn't very impressed, usually they are okay, this time they just sucked.

I'm having an interesting problem with being crazy tired today after so much walking and moving yesterday, and things keep partly dislocating, it doesn't hurt until i try to pick something up or use my hands (my wrists are doing it most).
I don't get mad or upset about these little things happening, sometimes I get frustrated when things simply WILL NOT stay in place, but I never get depressed or down about these kinds of things.

Sorry this isn't very crazy and exciting. I'm so terribly tired still, and a bit upset because my kitty died this morning.

"Spoon theory"

"Spoon Theory" is a way of explaining how much energy one has in a day and how much each activity takes for them to do. A wonderful woman with Lupus thought this up, her name is Christine Miserandino. Though she has Lupus and not EDS like me, her explanation is a wonderful way of explaining this.
I encourage you to please watch this video, it truly does explain a lot.




With spoon theory in mind I think of my daily life differently. I can't go to the mall, and go to work all in the same day. For me it's too much pain. I can only do so much before my body fights back. I was realizing that I spend a great deal of my time and energy working, which doesn't bother me at all. As I have said before I love my job. It allows me to spend time with my great group of co-workers and allows me to see so many customers a day.
Some days though I wish I didn't have EDS. It would be nice to be able to go do everything I want all in one day, but I can't anymore. So I find joy in the little things in life. Spending time with my family, talking with my friends, going to a movie instead of walking around the mall. I still use most of my energy and time that my body feels okay, for work, but it's what I have to do. I can't afford to not have a job, so I do what I can to enjoy it and make the best of it!

College

I've been thinking a lot about college lately, lately being the last three years (even longer if you count the time since fifth grade when I dreamed of going to college). I'm 19, will be 20 in January, and some days I feel no closer to getting to school than when I was in fifth grade. Not to bother you with the woes of my life, but if you have the opportunity to go to school, take it. Two years in a row I have tried my hardest to get to school. I was accepted, that wasn't the problem that has gotten in my way. What got in the way was money. With no one to co-sign loans and no credit history, it's basically impossible to go unless you have most of it saved, grants, and scholarships.
I want to go to school, it has been my dream since I was at least 10 or 11. I dreamed of going to school where the students were there to learn, not goof off. Where I could go back to my own dorm without parents looking over my shoulder. Where I could be the independent woman I need to be in order to succeed.
My EDS doesn't stop me from learning, actually I think it has helped me. I haven't gotten distracted with sports teams, partying (my body doesn't handle alcohol well at all, so I simply don't drink), and I have had to learn to be very determined and responsible about my decisions.

If you get to go to school, do it. I've heard its a wonderful experience that teaches you a lot about yourself, and I hope you enjoy the experience.