I don't have much time to blog, but wanted to spread the word. I'm off to teach at a school in Tanzania. I need to be there by August 1st, so I don't have much time.
There are two related thoughts I've had. As with my move to Wellsboro, I wonder what people would think if they knew what I'd gone through. Recovery is recovery...I've not had the symptoms in over three years. I'm well. I suppose I'll share my story along the way.
My other thought is of the possibility of another piece of research. I do think the "scabies" documented as a symptom of extensive use of skin whitening creams is the same as Morgellons. So, I'm wondering if I might be able to get a better handle on how common it is and whether it completely mimics Morgellons.
I need to go finish my storage shed, start packing, and take care of a bunch. There's plenty here to read as well as on Mr. Commonsense. Grow in health and writers...keep on writing!
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Monday, July 19, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Words-How'd They Become My Life?
It's odd to think back through my history as a writer. I remember in my youth struggling to read, write and make any sense of my days at school. Somehow, I always felt alien. Given the chance, I'd always sit where I could watch everyone in the class (what this means I don't know). My elementary experiences with writing were often terrorizing; I couldn't get cursive down and was often asked to "Write each word 10 times" or some other lame approach to teaching.
In third grade, I was in a special room. To get up to Mrs. Bowen's room we had to climb narrow staircases up to our class; it seemed to float above the rest of the school. Our isolation was somehow earned and rumor had it we were kind of outcasts set to sea with a mad woman at the helm. Her approach to teaching was to pace behind us kids, ask a question, and physically choke us if we didn't answer quickly enough (see if you can get away with this in today's classroom!). Her mantra shouted in your ear was, "Answer me! Answer me!". I still nearly poop my pants thinking about her!
Through my grade school and up into high school, I can't say I ever had an "Aha!" when I thought I must become a writer. I had moments of brilliance hidden in unending crazies of home and school life. I actually saved a couple of pieces of writing from way back then. They're pretty fun to look at and, yeah, my handwriting sucked.
I did once promised a Beloit professor I would one day write a book. I sat across the desk from her. She was a serious writer. An aged New England woman, who shuddered to recall the McCarthy Era, shocked her freshmen students by dedicating one of her lectures to the history of the word fuck. Anyhow, I went to her office to explain why I was dropping her class, told her I would one day write a book, she nodded (I think) and signed my form; that was that.
I enjoyed very little of my graduate schooling. The anthropology department was hidden in a complex designed for student housing. We had plenty of room...but it was serious mouse maze! I quickly learned much of graduate level learning had to do with politics. I was never much for politics. I had difficulty with some of the staff. I found my long history of panic attacks started sometime in my first semester (if you read my entry "Morgellons Spectrum", this is where the spectrum began for me).
My writing experience in graduate school sucked. I enjoyed it about as much as a colonoscopy. Really, it was that bad! Four years of my life later my MA was published and likely read by a handful of archaeologists; I suspect most disagreed with my conclusions (who could blame them...it was a pretty lame piece of research). To make matters worse, the editor misspelled my name. Anyhow, I can't say I got excited about writing from those years!
So, when did writing begin for me? Interestingly, it came one morning when I was living at Crystal Boarding School out on the Navajo Nation. I woke up one morning from a dream and decided it made a great story. It felt cosmic. I started writing down this story (a mystery involving an old typewriter and clues rewriting Hitler history...silly stuff).
And I've been writing since. Yesterday, I signed two more book contracts. So, currently I am under three contracts for books and waiting for word on a fourth. This didn't come easy. I've been sending off manuscripts, synopses, and query letters for almost six years. It is work, but I love it! I'm especially keen on finishing a story or scene when I'm in the middle of it (I get motivated because I want to see how it turns out). I think everybody should write. Why not!
It may seem this post is off the Morgellons's path. Not really. I have used my writing to share, build and clarify my understanding of this condition. I can't say I'd even intended on writing extensively about a medical mystery. I feel it is my duty, my gift, and my reason for getting well. The "Big Bus Driver in the Sky" insist I write...and he doesn't seem to mind my penmanship.
In third grade, I was in a special room. To get up to Mrs. Bowen's room we had to climb narrow staircases up to our class; it seemed to float above the rest of the school. Our isolation was somehow earned and rumor had it we were kind of outcasts set to sea with a mad woman at the helm. Her approach to teaching was to pace behind us kids, ask a question, and physically choke us if we didn't answer quickly enough (see if you can get away with this in today's classroom!). Her mantra shouted in your ear was, "Answer me! Answer me!". I still nearly poop my pants thinking about her!
Through my grade school and up into high school, I can't say I ever had an "Aha!" when I thought I must become a writer. I had moments of brilliance hidden in unending crazies of home and school life. I actually saved a couple of pieces of writing from way back then. They're pretty fun to look at and, yeah, my handwriting sucked.
I did once promised a Beloit professor I would one day write a book. I sat across the desk from her. She was a serious writer. An aged New England woman, who shuddered to recall the McCarthy Era, shocked her freshmen students by dedicating one of her lectures to the history of the word fuck. Anyhow, I went to her office to explain why I was dropping her class, told her I would one day write a book, she nodded (I think) and signed my form; that was that.
I enjoyed very little of my graduate schooling. The anthropology department was hidden in a complex designed for student housing. We had plenty of room...but it was serious mouse maze! I quickly learned much of graduate level learning had to do with politics. I was never much for politics. I had difficulty with some of the staff. I found my long history of panic attacks started sometime in my first semester (if you read my entry "Morgellons Spectrum", this is where the spectrum began for me).
My writing experience in graduate school sucked. I enjoyed it about as much as a colonoscopy. Really, it was that bad! Four years of my life later my MA was published and likely read by a handful of archaeologists; I suspect most disagreed with my conclusions (who could blame them...it was a pretty lame piece of research). To make matters worse, the editor misspelled my name. Anyhow, I can't say I got excited about writing from those years!
So, when did writing begin for me? Interestingly, it came one morning when I was living at Crystal Boarding School out on the Navajo Nation. I woke up one morning from a dream and decided it made a great story. It felt cosmic. I started writing down this story (a mystery involving an old typewriter and clues rewriting Hitler history...silly stuff).
And I've been writing since. Yesterday, I signed two more book contracts. So, currently I am under three contracts for books and waiting for word on a fourth. This didn't come easy. I've been sending off manuscripts, synopses, and query letters for almost six years. It is work, but I love it! I'm especially keen on finishing a story or scene when I'm in the middle of it (I get motivated because I want to see how it turns out). I think everybody should write. Why not!
It may seem this post is off the Morgellons's path. Not really. I have used my writing to share, build and clarify my understanding of this condition. I can't say I'd even intended on writing extensively about a medical mystery. I feel it is my duty, my gift, and my reason for getting well. The "Big Bus Driver in the Sky" insist I write...and he doesn't seem to mind my penmanship.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
A Dam About to Break?
There's an energy in the air. It feels like something is about to happen. Answers to Morgellons and what it is all about...patterns...progress.
Those of you who follow Mr. Commonsense (http://morgellonspgpr.wordpress.com/), know some valuable pieces of research have been presented. Recently, an entry "Common Patterns Emerging From Testing Morgellons Sufferers" presented some outcome and interpretation. I don't qualify to critique this study, but find it a good thing when anyone is presenting common traits among sufferers. I also like to see the comments presented.
Mr. CS has also been kind enough to post the library research, patterning and speculation of my own efforts. He set aside a category under "Joseph Keleher", if you have the desire to read them.
Mary Leito and those at Morgellons Research Foundation published the results of their studies last summer. Patterns of physiologic effect emerge and clearly show Morgellons is anything but delusional!
Online I also see sufferers communicating patterns of their own. For example, Mr. CS made mention of being found to have low potassium levels on his blog. My ER visits showed the same and mentioned it. What does it mean? I'm not certain...but patterns are emerging!
I wonder about the CDC study at the cost of somewhere around $350,000 dollars. I'm not certain what has happened to this research. Did it get lost in the mail? Did they realize they were completely off on their approach? Do they need more money? Is this even "good enough for government work"?
I mentioned pubmed.gov as a valuable and free resource for any of us to tap into. Really, it is great! My own research was done during my spare time and at my own expense (I'll guess the trip to Europe to explore resources at noted locations of historic Morgellons symptoms cost somewhere around $4,000...I slept in a lot of hostel...some where pretty nasty). So, when I hear research can't be done because of "time and money" I don't believe it.
A recent blog entry mentioned a doctor in Florida taking on Morgellons patients. Evidently he doesn't like the term Morgellons...he prefers toxicity!
Are there cracks in the Morgellons's dam? Is it about to break? I hope so! I want to see crystal clear patterning and understanding of this condition. It really is the right time. And, while I have my own ideas of how I would spend $350,000 of taxpayers money on better understanding this condition, I wonder how you would spend it? Really, what do you think needs to be considered? Who are the experts you would want to include in such a study? What results would you want to see? I'm ready for some answers...and I think they're coming! If our knowledge of this condition continues to expand, eventually the dam has got to give!
Those of you who follow Mr. Commonsense (http://morgellonspgpr.wordpress.com/), know some valuable pieces of research have been presented. Recently, an entry "Common Patterns Emerging From Testing Morgellons Sufferers" presented some outcome and interpretation. I don't qualify to critique this study, but find it a good thing when anyone is presenting common traits among sufferers. I also like to see the comments presented.
Mr. CS has also been kind enough to post the library research, patterning and speculation of my own efforts. He set aside a category under "Joseph Keleher", if you have the desire to read them.
Mary Leito and those at Morgellons Research Foundation published the results of their studies last summer. Patterns of physiologic effect emerge and clearly show Morgellons is anything but delusional!
Online I also see sufferers communicating patterns of their own. For example, Mr. CS made mention of being found to have low potassium levels on his blog. My ER visits showed the same and mentioned it. What does it mean? I'm not certain...but patterns are emerging!
I wonder about the CDC study at the cost of somewhere around $350,000 dollars. I'm not certain what has happened to this research. Did it get lost in the mail? Did they realize they were completely off on their approach? Do they need more money? Is this even "good enough for government work"?
I mentioned pubmed.gov as a valuable and free resource for any of us to tap into. Really, it is great! My own research was done during my spare time and at my own expense (I'll guess the trip to Europe to explore resources at noted locations of historic Morgellons symptoms cost somewhere around $4,000...I slept in a lot of hostel...some where pretty nasty). So, when I hear research can't be done because of "time and money" I don't believe it.
A recent blog entry mentioned a doctor in Florida taking on Morgellons patients. Evidently he doesn't like the term Morgellons...he prefers toxicity!
Are there cracks in the Morgellons's dam? Is it about to break? I hope so! I want to see crystal clear patterning and understanding of this condition. It really is the right time. And, while I have my own ideas of how I would spend $350,000 of taxpayers money on better understanding this condition, I wonder how you would spend it? Really, what do you think needs to be considered? Who are the experts you would want to include in such a study? What results would you want to see? I'm ready for some answers...and I think they're coming! If our knowledge of this condition continues to expand, eventually the dam has got to give!
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