songs in the key of ow

I've been loading up on the strongest virus-fighting, immune-stimulating supplements I currently own (cayenne extract, ashwagandha, trikatu, neem, vitamin C, oil of oregano). This could be PMS combined with a particularly vicious fibro flare combined with achiness due to weather combined with allergies; but it also feels like an oncoming cold virus. My throat is slightly sore, my eyes are itchy and burning, I'm weak and achy all over. It could be anything. But I am preparing to battle it, whatever it is. I refuse to succumb. I have too much work and life to do.

Last night, I dreamed that I wrote lyrics for a song and gave them to my roommate, so he could create music on his guitar. He told me he'd work on it. In the dream, I did some yoga exercises. After a while, Jason called me into his room and told me to listen to the song. He was sad for me, and I told him it was okay, I just hoped the song got the point across. He began to play:
( Joanna's Fibromyalgia Song )

And I woke up in so much pain I felt like I'd been beaten up by a group of skilled martial artists. The cerebral palsy and sciatica had done quite a number on me, too.
Yay, life with chronic pain!

It tastes like a liquid brownie

My new favorite coffee beverage: A vanilla mocha latte. I get raised eyebrows from baristas occasionally (take that, weird Starbucks drink names). But they seem to know exactly what I mean. A latte, with both vanilla and chocolate.
(Although, apparently, mocha has nothing to do with chocolate. But if I ask for a chocolate vanilla latte, I get even stranger looks, and a "You mean a vanilla mocha?" query. So, sure, vanilla mocha. Still tastes amazing, whatever the name.)

I'm drinking one now. My boss needed his triple espresso fix and offered to pay for my coffee too, so he sent me down to the Korean deli next door, where they make Douwe Egberts coffee. Yummy coffee.

photo studies in light

Hi!
( Close-ups )