Allow me to introduce Koopa, my four year old pet budgie, emotional support animal, and pint-sized travel companion. She is named after Koopa Troopa, a turtle-like character from the Super Mario series. She loves to eat corn and climb in my hair. Koopa also loves to fly laps around our home and requires constant supervision. I love her so much it hurts. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Koopa is that she travels with us! People, especially dog or cat […]
Tips for Cooking with Chronic Pain.
One of the most difficult things about living with chronic pain and illness is that life must go on no matter how terrible you feel. We must eat, drink, and have shelter – these things are fundamental requirements for living. (Along with coffee, yes?) Yet, those of us that are chronically ill know that cooking with chronic pain can be extraordinarily difficult, especially if you also have dietary restrictions, suffer from appetite loss, or are trying to feed a family. For […]
The Stecoah House – Luxury Cabin Rental in North Carolina.
The Stecoah House is a two story luxury cabin rental located 20 minutes from downtown Bryson City, North Carolina. Its stunning floor to ceiling windows, open loft design, and 180 degree mountain views create a dreamy atmosphere. The cabin is situated on a ridge not far from a yurt glampground and it’s one of my favorite places in the world. The Stecoah House, owned by Sky Ridge Yurts, is unmatched in location, design, and personalization compared to other luxury […]
Visiting Clingmans Dome in North Carolina.
Clingmans Dome is a distinctive mountain located on the state line ridge of North Carolina and Tennessee. It’s a popular destination as it is the most accessible mountain top in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). Visitors can drive to the parking area near the top of the mountain and then hike a paved trail to the summit, where the well-known observation tower provides incredible 360° views of the Great Smoky Mountains. At 6,643 feet tall, Clingmans Dome holds […]
The Chronic Disappointment of Chronic Illness.
We were supposed to have an adventure today. I had it all planned – the directions, the hike, even the post-trip burger indulgence. Lupus had a different plan for today. One that included a 24 hour headache, extreme fatigue, and a nearly non-functional body. So I’m sitting at home – probably giving myself a first degree burn with my heating pad – instead of going for a hike. And I’m thinking about the sudden, inevitable, disappointing side of chronic illness. I […]
Grocery Shopping in Germany (Compared to the USA).
Going grocery shopping in Germany has always been a stressful event for me. On my first visit to Kaufland, a few days after moving to Germany, I unintentionally made a cashier very angry because I didn’t weigh my bananas before checking out. Even after living in Germany for 13 months, it seemed like I always managed to do something wrong on each trip to the grocery store. So I’m sharing 20 ways that grocery shopping in Germany is different so that you can be […]
Why Sweden Felt Like Home.
I realized that Sweden felt like home only a few hours into my trip. I was actually rather startled to discover that Sweden was so similar to the USA, although the comparison was likely exaggerated because I had been living in Germany for a year. Experiencing Sweden – the people, the culture, the food – was like coming up for a desperately needed breathe of fresh air. My love for Sweden grew quickly and unexpectedly during the four days Mr. Meena […]
On Being Thankful for My Spouse as a Chronic Illness Sufferer.
Mr. Meena: husband, engineer, son, roller coaster fanatic, birdy daddy extraordinaire. My spouse is all of these things and more. But his most recent title is “carer”. My husband cares for me, but not just in the usual manner of a husband caring for a wife. He is a carer; he takes care of me because, as a chronic illness sufferer, I can’t always take care of myself. While any chronically ill person has huge burdens to bear, it may […]
Visiting PortAventura Theme Park in Tarragona, Spain.
PortAventura World is an entertainment resort located along the eastern coast of Spain next to the Balearic Sea. In fact, you can see the blue water from many rides. The resort is comprised of five hotels, two golf courses, and three parks: PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park, Ferrari Land (opening April 2017), and PortAventura Park (which we visited). The colossal PortAventura Park has six themed areas within, and each is inundated with warm Spanish culture. It is certainly one of Europe’s most […]
A Lovely Blog Award + More of My Favorite Bloggers.
I am delighted that Rhiann from My Brain Lesion and Me found my blog worthy of A Lovely Blog Award. Rhiann is a fellow chronic illness blogger from the UK who lives with a neurological condition. I’ve found her blog to be very relatable and also lovely. One of my favorite posts by her is 2017: A Year for Grace, where she talks about showing kindness to yourself as a chronic illness warrior when it’s hard to follow through. A Lovely Blog […]