Our vacation in Port Townsend, Washington

Joe and Robin in front of the cottage.

Joe and I took our long overdue honeymoon (two years) and vacation in April 2006.  We had a wonderful time!  We went to Seattle and did the site seeing thing for five days. 

We stayed in Port Townsend at “Aunt Jenny’s Guest House” for the other five days.  I wish we could have stayed there the entire ten days!  Visit the web site for more info and to see photos of the guest house.  When we got back to Seattle, we’ll be staying at Aunt Jenny’s again!  *

*

*

Being Bipolar in a Bipolar Unfriendly World

If you watch much television – especially crime dramas and even the news, you will find that many folks, seemingly downright crazy – as they are labeled – are cast as very bad people, just because they are bipolar. Bipolar is a very hard condition to live with and an even greater challenge to spouses, family and friends.  Being properly diagnosed, medicated, and staying on your medications without fail do make a difference.  Communication with your medical providers when changes occur are critical, too. Some of the not too desirable things bipolar people experience – note I said some – are increased and inappropriate sex acts – irresponsibility with things like spending – and showing little to no compassion to others when they are in the midst of a serious manic phase. Some of the good things – at least to the manic person – but not to their caregivers – is an increased drive to get things done and staying awake as much as possible to accomplish more and more.  Who wouldn’t like to get more done in a day?  But the drawback is that you will crash at some point and that is not ever pretty.

I was diagnosed as bipolar in 2002 and have tried to educate the people around me and others I encounter in my life.  I’ve lost some best friends that could not get their head around the mood swings and the inability to “snap out of it” as I’ve been told.  Being deeply depressed, especially when a situation occurs that would make anyone a little depressed can send you spiralling into a bad place.  Suicidal thougths have been on my mind many times.  I get through them by reminding myself how fortunate I am to have my family and the best man on earth as my husband.  How could I hurt those people that love me and accept me for who I am?

If you would like to know more about being bipolar, I’ve added some good links to my categories list and you can certainly ask me if you have questions.  I am as open as a book when it comes to this permanent disabling condition.

*

Family Communication

As we all know, communication with anyone is an important part of life, and it’s critical with family.  So many emotions, feelings, misunderstandings…  Sometimes you’re automatically playing in a mine field or walking on eggs.

Recently I went through this with my younger sister and her daughter, my niece.  My sister asked a question and things I felt for a long time became part of my answer, because I really needed to say them and didn’t want to cause ill will.  So after that explosion settled down, things were said and forgiven, understanding occurred for everyone, and it’s all good.  Great in fact.  My niece and I are closer than we’ve ever been.

How cool is that?

*