Eye of the Parasite

It's the eye of the tiger

It's the thrill of the fight
Rising up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all
With the eye of the tiger

For those of you who know me well, know that my mind is never at a standstill.  I always have a song or a chant or a beat going through my head.  While others may think I am listening or am engaged in whatever is before me, the rest of you know that there’s a good chance my brain is multitasking.  Even right now as I type I can't quit singing in my head and rocking in my chair.

Today my song is a good one.  "Rising up to the challenge of our rival......."

I think I  have beaten the freeloaders who have been living off of my intestinal track.  After a 7 month battle I might just be coming out ahead.  Even if it is a photo finish it feels good.  In my head, I run up a huge flight of stairs and then start doing air punches while accumulating massive sweat stains in my light grey heavy terry cloth cotton sweat pant suit.  I use a white towel and my headband to catch any excess sweat that drop off me.  THAT, my friends, it how good I am starting to feel again. 


I am adding these pictures as scientific proof that I am not crazy.  Although no one likes to see themselves in a full frontal shot exposing their less then defined 6 pack I feel the need to share my obsessive proof.  My stomach issues did become obsessional.  I would start the day by takign measurements of my stomach, then I would take pictures, log my daily data and begin researching what might be going on.  I was grasping at straws so keeping track of my daily progression was the only way I could feel somewhat in control.  

earlier am

late in the day

evening

If you can believe it, this is how my stomach looked for the last 7 months and it is now starting to get back to normal.  I would go from a semi-normal stomach in the very early am's to a very painful and dissented stomach throughout the day.  So not only did my stomach get bigger and bigger but it would fluctuate up to 5 inches in a day.  By the end of the day it felt like a sausage casing waiting to explode open.   The good news is that I believe it is finally "winner, winner, chicken dinner" time.

"And the last known survivor......."

The tough part about being a winner is not letting it go to your head.  Mat keeps reminding me to take it one day at a time.  I have been disappointed in the past when I thought I found a solution to my problem, only to realize it was just a lion in sheep’s clothing.   So instead of going on a wild rampage of celebrations we are taking it one day at a time by enjoying some paddle board surfing.



























Our new love.  It looks so calm and relaxing, and it is, as long as you stay out of the waves.  But it’s hard to resist playing in the water. 

We start by a nice little paddle in the early morning, when the sun has just come up. No wind, no people, just you, the ocean and the bright sun warming you up. 

Catching your balance is not as easy as it looks but one can get the hang of it pretty quickly by keeping you paddle in the water and having a little rhythm.  Break time requires lying down on the board in the middle of the blue.  Talk about a surreal moment.

Break's over.  It's time to head out to the waves to learn how to ride one.  Same principle as surfing; read the wave, paddle, get low and hope you can fall with some grace and dignity.  Although, as I have learned, keeping grace and dignity may not be an option, so cross you fingers and hope no one is looking.