To Maurissa Tancharoen and Felicia Day. Thank you both for all the awesome.

I'm on Twitter and I follow some of my friends and a handful of famous people whom I admire. Two of which are Maurissa Tancharoen and Felicia Day.  They are both strong women who are doing new and wonderful things in TV, Gaming, and the InterWebs.  I think they are both awesome females and now I feel they are even more awesome.  Maurissa Tancharoen has Lupus, and she is still leading a very active and powerful life! What a great example she sets for us.  You can do amazing things and still live a vibrant life while having Lupus.  This means a lot to me, and gives me hope.  Not only that but she is getting the word out about Lupus and raising awareness. How she has the time and energy for that, I have no idea but I am thankful, nonetheless.  Felicia Day is also strong and powerful female. Felicia Day may not have Lupus, but she supports her friend Maruissa who does.  She does it beautifully and in a big way. Felicia Day and Geek & Sundry are hosting a charity event to raise money for Lupus Foundation of America (Lupus.org), in honor of her friend, Maurissa Tancharoen, and to the benefit of the rest of us Lupies. If you are interested in finding out more about Lupus, the event, or how you can help, go to the website below and check out the event.

http://geekandsundry.com/view/geek-sundrys-twitch-channel-launches-march-3rd

To Maurissa Tancharoen and Felicia Day.

Thank you both for all the awesome.

Sincerely,

Tamra

A Lupie

The Rollercoaster and other stuff

In the career I now have, I see people healing from injuries, getting over or descending into disease or even just old age.  I see people who struggle with their identity when physical limitations change who they think they are, and I see that in myself as well. I now have some limitations that I'm learning about, changes I've had to make in my life to accommodate the things I need to do to stay as healthy as I can. 

I had "the penny drop" the other day when watching a person try to come to terms with their new limitations. In my situation, having Lupus, life is a lot like a rollercoaster ride; there are ups and downs, twists and turns, and a few scary parts. Sometimes it makes us exhilarated and sometimes makes us feel a little sick.  However, if we are brave enough, we can let go and put our hands in the air, let out a whoop, and enjoy the ride when we can.  I had a small attitude adjustment at that moment and started taking more joy in things, or enjoying the ride a bit more.  

So when I have to stay out of the sun, I have a crazy striped and polka dot umbrella with ruffles that I will be using for a parasol.  I'm going to wear cat ears once in a while, because it's silly and makes people smile.  I go swimming in an indoor pool to get exercise where I get to watch the kids play in the pool. When I can't go out in the sun, I sit in the window and let the sunlight warm me that way. My Dear Husband and I have been going out in the evenings together to avoid the sun and still get out of the house. I know these seem like small things, but I'm on the look out for more of my enjoyable Rollercoaster moments.  

Today, I'm going to get my hair cut, because it will make me feel pampered and I'll get the latest gossip from my hairdresser. 

*She puts her hands up and says Whoop!*

Here a few links that explains a little bit about Lupus and living with it.

http://gerberink.hubpages.com/hub/Lupus-Survival-Guide

http://www.lupus.org/answers/entry/explaining-lupus