Off to NYC for consult with Neurologist and other docs for plan of treatment. Weakness in arms and shoulders along with more shaking has my wife worried. It's in God's hands, either way, but I have to admit I'm scared. Thanks for all your prayers and support. You dear ones mean the world to me. Thank you for your friendship. And a special shout out to my little sister for all her comfort over the weekend, along with my three adopted sisters as well. God bless and see you soon! 'drea

Please excuse my youthful exuberance in commenting twice on the same story; it was exquisite, though, wasn't it? Also, I added some things and edited some things in my latest chapter of Providence - The Valley to make it more cohesive and read better, I hope. My apologies to those who have already read the piece, and thank you so much for supporting me not only through my literary endeavors but my health problems as well.

Good News Bad News Good News. First, the Good News: Essential usually means "Gotta have it," but in my case it means Essential or Familial Tremors, which apparently is what I have. My difficult morning was not a surprise to the doctor, who explained that the more stressed I got from the initial tremors, the more it exacerbated the tremors. I've been prescribed another medication that is expected to be of immediate help and eventually mitigate the condition, but I also dealing with some sleep issues which we'll be dealing with as well. Second, the Bad News: It doesn't go away.

Being somewhat Bipolar (still being ruled in or out by doc) I have my moments. As you may have read from the previous few days, I can be glib and witty, or sardonic, and I apologize for my swings. Today I am devastated. I took a job for which I am vastly overqualified since I have been out of work for four years. I haven't been able to return to counseling as a career for a variety of reasons, and I have expressed my fear on more than one occasion that I may never get back.

The pellet with the poison is in the Flagon with the Dragon, and the Chalice from the Palace has the brew that is true. Oh no...the Flagon with the Dragon broke. The pellet with the poison is in the Chalice from the Palace and the Vessel with the Pestle has the brew that is true. Or something like that - Rent or buy the Court Jester with Danny Kaye!!!

"She was born for all the wrong reasons but grew up for all the right ones!" Dio ti benedicta! 'drea

I spent last night at the Epilepsy Center of the New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. After a delightful hour of getting hooked up to electrodes and such, I enjoyed and hour and a half of uninterrupted writing, and I was glad for it; I can't wait to write when I'm not writing, and I can't wait to finish when I am. The most curious thing; the technician was a nice young man who actually had the same kind of face as Ben Kelly, my counselor character and alter-ego of Katie Kelly.

Someone sent this to me; I think it's one of the darling administrators of the website, yes?

In the book of Genesis, Leah says, "Give me children or I will die." Our stories and our characters are our children. When Jill said that her stories sucked, it was said out of frustration and hurt, and likely borne out of the actions of others that were misunderstood or misinterpreted. Nevertheless, it does hurt when our children are ignored; try being a parent when your little girl or boy isn't invited to the party or included in kickball or tag.

I would once again like to thank everyone who has been so supportive of me during my recent health problems. My tremors have reduced significantly with the proper dosage of medication, and my doctor assures me things will be pretty much okay, even under the worst case scenarios, baring any new things they might discover with the EEG I'll be having on the 22nd of this month.