*****

Today, April 18, is my birthday. How old am I turning? There’s a hint is on the left. A year ago my birthday faded somewhat into the background, as rheumatoid arthritis seemed to be the center of my universe. Not this year! The celebrations started on Thursday, and finally tapered down last night.

*****

But today, it’s actually back to work. Tomorrow I start teaching a second class at the university where I am currently working, and must finalize the syllabus and prepare my presentation for the first lecture. My current class has exams midterms this coming week, so needless to say it’s going to be a busy week!

*****

The dvd case was supposed to have Mel Brook’s History of the World, but instead has Woody Allen’s Love and Death. I had never even heard of this movie, but went ahead and popped it into the dvd player to see what is was all about. I loved it, and hadn’t laughed so much in a long time.

*****

Toblerone and Almond Joys. Yum.

*****

Stay tuned…for the next adventure of Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy!

*****

Many of you have met them before, but these are my three sidekicks here around the house. Lily (left) is a 12 year old Cairn Terrier that I got during my last year of grad school. Alva (center) is a 7 year old Chihuahua/Terrier that I adopted from a dog rescue organization, an Oliver (right) is a 2 year old Pug – looking anxious just how pugs know how to do.

*****

For the first time in probably more than 1 year, I not only went to the market but I also spent all afternoon cooking in the kitchen. Cooking was one of my favorite hobbies before my rheumatoid arthritis worsened over the past couple of years, so it’s an extra-special treat to be able to return to some of my old habits. I’ve also traded open-air markets with the freshest produce imaginable for higher-priced grocery stores (and the convenience of their shopping carts), so being able to shop in the market and carry my groceries back home is another indicator of the recent spurt of wellness that I have been experiencing.

*****

In first (or third?) grade my class was treated to a showing of the video for Watership Down…I guess the fact that it was an animated movie led my teacher to believe that is was a movie for young kids. Wrong! The frightening visuals have stayed with me to this day, all the more reason to read the book and see if for the great work of fiction that it is. I’m currently mid-way through reading Watership Down, and am really enjoying it. (I plan to also see the video again afterwards.)

*****

As many people are beginning to experience the first warm days of spring, here in South America the chill of autumn has arrived. At 13,000+ feet above sea level, winters can be quite rough. Promise me that you all will send me warm thoughts in the coming months!

*****

Stay tuned…for the next adventure of Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy!

*****

Today (January 24) is Alasitas, or festival of the Ekeko. Don’t know what an Ekeko is?

“In the mythology and folklore of the Aymara people of the Altiplano, a high plateau region which spans parts of Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina, Ekeko is the god of abundance. Its origin predates the arrival of the Spanish people to America, as one of the gods of Andean culture, but its current form was born in La Paz, Bolivia. Antonio Díaz Villamil included the Ekeko’s legend in his work “Leyendas de mi tierra”. Ekeko is depicted as a man with a mustache wearing traditional Andean clothes (especially the poncho) and completely loaded with bags and baskets with grain and food, (compare with the cornucopia of some Greco-Roman deities), household objects, and currency bills, and basically anything that a person is thought to want / need to have a comfortable and prosperous life ; he is commonly found as a little statue to be put in some place of the house, preferably a comfortable one, but also as an amulet holding from key rings; modern statues of the god include a circular opening in his mouth to place there a cigarette (better if lit) for Ekeko’s pleasure. Latest tradition has the ekeko “smoke” a lit cigarette (hence the rounded mouth) once a year to ensure a full year of prosperity.”

Read More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekeko

*****

Since the Dallas Cowboys are out of the playoffs, I don’t know who to cheer for now. I think I’ll hope for an underdog Superbowl: New York Jets versus Minnesota Vikings.

*****

I’ve been having a lot of Hobbit-esque adventure dreams this past week. (Yes, I am reading the book.) It’s been good to have something other than my RA get to my sleep dreams!

*****

Stay tuned…for the next adventure of Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy!

*****

RA Guy has been sighted.

*****

We’re enjoying the last few days of my parents’ visit – this Thursday morning they make the long journey back to their home in Texas.

*****

Speaking of Texas, here’s hoping that the Dallas Cowboys win this afternoon!

*****

One of the best things about tutoring younger kids is that I get to read books that I myself have not read since high school. At the moment, I am currently starting to read The Hobbit once again. Funny thing, I still remember visualizing the characters the first time I read it. Now, all the pops into head are the characters from the Lord of the Rings movies.

*****

Enjoyed watching Sherlock Holmes this weekend.

*****

Stay tuned…for the next adventure of Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy!

*****

Sunset on the Andes Mountains, taken during our recent trip to Lake Titicaca.

*****

Midway though Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System—and Themselves. Reads like a thriller. Too bad everything that is mentioned actually happened.

*****

Glad to see the Dallas Cowboys win last night; already looking forward to their next playoff game!

*****

Stay tuned…for the next adventure of Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy!

*****

Yesterday afternoon at around 3:00 in the afternoon the worst of my flare finally broke, and we decided to put up the Christmas tree. We also set out the holiday decorations and candles.

During the evening, as we watched television, it was really nice to have the sparkling lights of the tree and the flames of the candles brightening up the living room.

The tree still does not have any ornaments – my sister and her husband are arriving in town tomorrow, so we decided that we would wait until we were all together to hang the ornaments.

This corner of the living room usually holds the toy chest of Oliver, our youngest dog (pug). It has since been transferred to the home office. Here’s hoping that he doesn’t confuse low-hanging tree ornaments for chew toys!

*****

My flare continues, although at slightly lower levels than yesterday. I did sleep in until 1:00 pm today…the extra rest was wonderful. My hands are slightly less red and inflamed than they were yesterday. I think all of this started this past Tuesday…and then on Thursday when I was at physical therapy I was told that my wrists were dislocated due to the inflammation. Here’s hoping that the worst has passed.

*****

Tomorrow it’s going to be an early morning! My sister and her husband arrive at the airport tomorrow at the break of dawn. Can’t wait for them to get here!

*****

If you have sent me an email or personal message in the past ten days, please know that I have fallen way behind in regards to responding…I appreciate your patience!

*****

Stay tuned…for the next adventure of Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy!

*****

Tiwanaku is an important archaeological site a few miles south of Lake Titicaca, which to this day contains many remains from the Tihuanaco culture. This culture existed before the Inca Empire, during the years 300-1000. I love all of the stone carvings in the red stone. With family coming to town, I will more than likely soon be visiting once again.

Read More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiwanaku

*****

Once again my stomach is taking a beating from all of my medicines.

*****

If only every day were as good a football day as yesterday! There is a tight three-way race for the season leader in my football pool, and I am one of those up there fighting for the lead!

*****

My parents are leaving the U.S. this morning and arrive here tomorrow morning at the break of dawn. Next week on the same day it will be my sister and brother-in-law who are repeating the trip down here to South America.

*****

Stay tuned…for the next adventure of Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy!

*****

Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy is the fourth of five children. For our first Christmas, my mother would make each one of us a stocking with our name and felt cut-out designs. When we would woke up on Christmas morning, there was never any confusion about which stocking belonged to who.

My stocking got many years of actual use…but around two years ago – when I was nearing my 35 years – it started showing some wear and tear (just like me…and come to think of it, the worst of the wear was right about the heel and the toes!). It was time to protect it for many years to come, so I got it mounted in an archival frame. Each December, I continue to hang it on my wall with pride.

*****

I am getting ready to re-read The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. I have always been interested in examining the role of all of the senses and how they relate to the architectural experiences. Some of my clearest remembrances of built space invoke not only visual memories, but also auditory and olfactory memories.

I also really like it when the sense of touch is present. If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, next time you visit Louis Kahn’s Kimball Art Museum be sure to to enter from the park in the back and not the parking garage in the front, and you will know what I mean. (You will also be approaching the museum in the way that the architect had intended for people to enter.)

*****

All six volumes of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower are headed my way. I am also thinking of purchasing a copy of Under the Dome: A Novel (which is discounted 59% at Amazon!). Has anyone read this latest book yet?

*****

A week from today next Sunday morning, my parents will be starting their long journey to South America for the holidays…and won’t arrive until Monday morning. I can’t wait. There is still a lot that we have to do this coming week, including renting a portable oxygen tank for my father!

(Have I ever shared that I live 3,640 m/11,942 ft about sea level? Water takes absolutely forever to boil…and even then, it only reaches about 90ºC, as compared to the 100ºC at sea level. Don’t even get me started on baking. And the local airport is the highest commercial airport in the world, with an extra long runway that is needed for planes to land and take-off in the thin air.)

*****

Stay tuned…for the next adventure of Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy!

*****

This coming Thursday is Thanksgiving Day – lots of eating and lots of football! Here is a photo of a previous year’s pumpkin pie…I wonder what this year’s pie will look like?

I continue to hear from many friends that they and/or their children have the entire week off. That’s pretty cool, but when did this start? All through college and grad school, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was still an official day…although I don’t think anyone, including the professors, ever attended.

*****

Last night, before going to sleep, I pulled out one of my art books and spent a couple of minutes looking at a work of art. (The page I flipped open to was Nicolas de Largilliere’s Family Portrait, c.1710?) I think I am going to try to make this a nightly habit from now on.

*****

A few years ago I was on a long flight, where they showed the pilot episode of Big Bang Theory. (You know, when they give you hours of television programming from a certain network…usually CBS.) I didn’t really find the new show interesting…but after catching a few re-runs the other day, I am loving it. Ready for another marathon viewing session are dvds of The Big Bang Theory The Complete First Season and The Complete Second Season.

*****

Fired for distributing Avon catalogs and products during work hours? Sounds fishy to me. Read more.

*****

Stay tuned…for the next adventure of Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy!

*****

Before my recent break at the end of October, I mentioned that I might travel into the countryside and photograph some Inca ruins. I ended up not doing so during this time, instead deciding to give my body some extra rest as it recovered from the most recent flare. I have, however, made this trip many times in the past and wanted to share some photos from those trips. These stone ruins are found on islands in the middle of Lake Titicaca, where members of the royal Inca family used to live.

*****
I tutor my homeschool nephew a few hours each week. For our language arts lessons we are reading To Kill a Mockingbird. For our science lessons we are reading The Tracker. (By the way, I love all the discussion about homeschooling that I find on many other RA blogs!)

*****

I roasted a pumpkin last night, so pumpkin pancakes are on this morning’s brunch menu!

*****

Stay tuned…for the next adventure of Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy!