Just call me Trigger

The dreaded trigger finger has returned. This time in 2 fingers of my left hand. It makes typing very hard. Last time it was the thumb on my right hand and I was able to type with no problem. Right now, I'm using the pinky on my left hand to one finger type these letters.

And as if that was not enough ... the carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand is flaring. The doctor said the two are related. Both are the result of overuse of the hand ... as in too much typing at a computer. Duh! that's all I do all day!

So it's back to braces and steriods and ice and resting the hand.

Enough with the pity party! Back to work!

Musings on a summer day

In 2001, when I was first working as a software consultant, I spent a lot of time in Phoenix. By a lot, I mean that for about 18 months, I spent more nights in Phoenix than I did in Austin. I had more alone time during that period than I have ever had in my entire life. So in the evenings or on airplanes, I often turned inward and reflected on who I was/am. I realized that I was not exactly who I wanted to be. To be truthful, I'm still not. But back then, I started thinking about how to become, more closely, who I wanted to be. I started on a campaign to define who I am as a person. I would say to myself "I am a person who _______." to reinforce the definition. I don't want to say change, because sometimes it would be reinforcement of a small little part of my personality or id. One that maybe needed nourishing in order to move myself closer to who/what, I want to be.

Some definitions from that time and where I am in making them happen (in no particular order):

• I am a person who rides a scooter - I purchased my vino and rode it. Customized with bumper stickers that express who I am and what I believe.
• I am a person who plays guitar - I purchased a cheap (<$80) guitar kit and signed up for classes at the local community college. I have on occasion carried a guitar with me on my business trips. It helps to keep me from working too much in the evenings. Although I'm practicing less and less as I am now a person who suffers with trigger thumb.
• I am a person who takes time for myself - I could be better at this, still. I try to see a massage/Reiki master on a regular basis. I try not to work on the weekend. I take more sick time than I used to. If I'm sick, I take off work rather than working through it. Interestingly enough, I recover quicker ... go figure.
• I am a person who is not as concerned with the dust in my home. This has been a big change for me. I'm not a neat freak or germ-a-phobe (although I have taken to wiping down my hotel room with disinfectant cleaner), but I used to get really uptight about the dust and fuzz, but now I'm much more relaxed about it. There are more important things in life.