Thirty-first, same as the first

[clevermanka]

HOLY SHIT THIS IS THE LAST DAY OF JULY, PEOPLE. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT.



In today's Hugely Annoying Column is that I received a bill for the biopsy of my mole. Which apparently wasn't covered by insurance at all. What the fuck. I'm going to call today to ask why Blue Cross doesn't cover a procedure to test for fucking skin cancer, but I don't have high hopes for the conversation. At least it's (barely) less than $150.

Costume update: I made some mojo bags/amulets for Pit Girl. mckitterick said they look like something the guys would use on Supernatural, so I think I did okay.

redheadfae gave me a hideous perfect denim jacket to use for Pit Girl. It's an acid-washed 80s monstrosity with painfully fake "tears" that are oh-so-obviously "frayed." She said it originally had contrast fabric sewn under the holes, like patches. Last night I cut the arms off, threw it in a coffee bath for an hour, and then baked it at 225F for about forty-five minutes (checking at five minute intervals!). It looks wonderfully wretched right now. I'm going to try burning some of the frayed edges tonight. Wish me luck that I don't turn the whole thing to ashes. I was thinking of painting some sigils on the back, but I don't think anyone will be able to really see them underneath my hair.

On the walk to work, I found a perfect blue jay feather to hang from my mojo bag.

So Pit Girl is coming along nicely. I still haven't found a (good, cheap, simple) solution for Dead Girl's scar. Hmph.

This morning, I sent a message to Trainer Andrew with the following concern: I've got a question about muscle fatigue. The past few weeks, my legs have been tired *all the time.* It's not DOMS--which I don't mind so much because it's a reminder I just did a lot of good work. This is more along the lines of "I spent twelve hours walking around Disney World today and it's exhausting to even put one foot in front of the other." The fatigue doesn't affect my strength, but it's tiring in general to feel, well, *tired* all the time. Is this normal for someone who is just starting to build muscle, or is this something I should talk to my doctor about? I have another analysis with him on August 9, so I can bring it up then. Thanks!

Has anyone else experienced something like this? It's a drag, but I wouldn't mind so much if I knew it was normal and could expect it to go away soon. Or at least eventually.

Comments

[djangodurango.livejournal.com]

What is a Pit Girl?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Pit Girl is what I've named one of the characters I'm doing for Crypticon (http://www.crypticonkansascity.com/) in August. I'm helping to promote my friend sdemory's book Zobop Bebop (http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/sean-demory/zobop-bebop/paperback/product-20675215.html). In that book, there's an area called The Pit where the lowlife occult practitioners live/congregate. Pit Girl is a random denizen of The Pit--she's not actually a character in the book, but she could be. Like a set extra, sort of.

[djangodurango.livejournal.com]

Oh, okay!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I decided to do Pit Girl at the last minute, whereas I've been planning Dead Girl (an actual, named character in his other book (http://www.amazon.com/Ballad-Wayfaring-Stranger-Whore-ebook/dp/B007SOW1SK)) for months. So of course Pit Girl is the costume I'm more excited about. *sigh*

[djangodurango.livejournal.com]

This is the PitGirl (http://mondaynightcombat.wikia.com/wiki/PitGirl) I knew of, but I figured that probably wasn't what you were going for.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Ha! Nope. Although considering my love of cars, she's certainly not outside the realm of possibility.

[renniemom.livejournal.com]

Alex (T'Ger's partner) has done some pretty decent scar work. You can definitely reach out to him via facebook (Alex Chang) or email tgertogg@hotmail.com for ideas.

I'll be interested to know what you learn about the muscle fatigue. I've not had that experience, though DOMS are simultaneously loved and despised.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the contact info on Alex. I'll drop him a line today.

[renniemom.livejournal.com]

Failed to mention they're at Pennsic through Sunday so I'm not sure what his response time will be over the next few days.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Got it.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

I'll also be curious to hear what Andrew says. Maybe it could be a question of how to feed growing muscles? Hrm.

Hooray for random perfect feathers!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Maybe it could be a question of how to feed growing muscles?

I've been wondering about that, too, which is exactly why I'm asking him before I ask Dr. Khosh. I've been so hungry lately, but I'm afraid to eat much more because of my ridiculously slow metabolism. Especially right now when I really really really want to lose even a inch around my middle before KCRF starts.

STUPID WEIRD ASS BODY PROBLEMS

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

Hey, now...let's not talk about your ass like that. Your ass is FABULOUS, not stupid or weird. :)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right.

STUPID WEIRDO BODY PROBLEMS

[fairgoldberry.livejournal.com]

Just throwing in the comment that this particular round of The Anemia didn't come with its usual 'cold, sleepy, brain-fog' symptoms, it came with what I call 'the lassitude' and shortness of breath. I felt exactly like what you were describing just about the time my hemoglobin hit a 7 and my free iron dropped 90 points: that deep-muscle weariness, heavy noodle-arms, 'I have hiked eleven miles and I feel *good* and *exercised* but I also feel like feet are really damn hard to move ALL THE TIME'. I was also starving constantly and craving specifically protein.

One of the things different *about* this round of The Anemia is that I've been Extremely Active since December, with a lot of hiking and workouts and building muscles, which may have contributed to why I was experiencing the fatigue instead of the exhaustion, and the shortness of breath (just on hills, though) instead of the constant cold. I think the reason I fell so far (my doctor informed me that I was 'pretty close to the point where we hospitalize people for anemia') before I started to really notice any symptoms was that I was so active, and I think that maybe one of the places my iron *went* was into new muscles I was building.

I'm not saying *you're* anemic, just that I am and I could have written your letter to Trainer Andrew almost verbatim, except I'd have sent it to a hiking buddy: "Hey, as I ramp up from four-mile to eight-mile baseline hikes, is this a normal transitional thing?" (apparently, it wasn't...)

Just another suggestion to throw into the mix of things to get checked out.

Love,
Rowan

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

This is super-duper helpful, and something I hadn't considered before. Thank you!

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

holy smokes! I hope you aren't anemic on top of everything else!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't surprise me, honestly. I'm running pretty low on red meat and won't be getting my next cow until September or October.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad that horrid jacket is going to be of some use. For the record, it was a gift to me from a former relative who knew nothing about me, and I can't believe it has hung in various closets for what? almost 18 years now. Hard to believe that shit was actually a crafting trend, isn't it?

Yay for Jay feathers, I always love finding them.

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

I am jealous of the costuming opportunity. It sounds so fun!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

As much as I weep and wail over certain aspects, I do enjoy building costumes quite a bit!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I can't believe it has hung in various closets for what? almost 18 years now

It was waiting for me!

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

And so "this will come in handy someday" is totes justified!