i am a 60+ yr old woman

I know that I am kind of an old lady.  I like old lady things:  tea, (many) cats, crafting, bingo, etc.  I however am not an old lady.  I am 27.  TWENTY-SEVEN!!!!

Why am I ranting about this you ask?  Because I developed a rash on my shoulder the other day.  TMI?  probably.  I went to the doctor and he informed me that I have shingles!!!!!  Really, only people +60 get this.  There is a shingles vaccine for people over +60 which clearly, I should've gotten earlier this year.

For all of those who are not familiar with shingles, it is the chicken pox virus which plays possum in your body and then strikes when you're most vulnerable.  It can be extremely painful (Matt and I read an article comparing shingles pain to child birth.  Yikes!) and can have some very terrifying side affects such as blindness.  Thus far I'm not very bad at all.  I feel overall uncomfortable, achy, and itchy.  I was told to stay away from people who haven't had the chicken pox because I could actually give  them pox!!!  Insane!  So, I'm working from home for the rest of the week.  It's making me a little anxious but I'm trying to relax.

I apparently got this from stress.  I guess I have lots of stress even though I don't feel stressed.  Although, I should know better because this always happens to me.  ALWAYS.  The moment I start doing too many things and not getting enough sleep my body revolts, but it's never been this bad before.

This is clearly a sign that I need a better work/music/life balance.  I have to be better about going to bed at a reasonable hour to get 8 hours of sleep.  This is difficult since at times since my schedule is so wonky.  For example, sometimes I have to get up to go to work at 5am meaning that I have to go to bed between 9-10.  I can't even think of the last time I went to bed that early.  (ie.  I'm writing this at 215am)  Other times I work at 4pm and I don't even get home until 230am.

Blergh.

I guess I'll go lay down now.

Send some good (pain free) thoughts my way, please!  I need them.