relief at last

this photo is of a beautiful fungus of some sort that marc found growing in the wood near where he works. he was quite proud that he had found it and took the camera into work to get the photo on his lunch break. within a day, some had kicked it and destroyed it (intentionally). how can someone not find beauty in this? i know marc did, and he wanted to share it with me.

i have finally found some relief in whatever this sinus thing is that i've been battling. i went to an ear nose & throat specialist today. although she thinks i probably had some viral thing going on last week, based on my symptoms the past several weeks, she believes my allergies are out of control and have royally pissed off my sinuses. she looked at them from every angle she could (don't ask, not fun) and has now put me on prednisone (steroid) for several days. she wants me off the other antihistamines as they are aggravating the condition. she gave me some nasal spray which will bring down the sinus swelling and also some cough syrup to take at night so i can sleep (and breathe) comfortably. thing is, i feel so much better since i took the prednisone & nasal spray this afternoon. it's remarkable. i think she's going to help me through this. then we will have to figure out how to best treat the allergies so they don't do this to me again. 

in the meantime, i felt well enough tonight to work on getting my supplies together for the artist workshop this weekend. i am so excited! i was worried the past couple of days (and this morning before going to the doctor) that i wouldn't feel well enough to go. i think i can do it now. this is truly the opportunity of a lifetime for me. i'd love to take other workshops at this studio as they have other wonderful artists coming there all the time... unfortunately, at this time anyway, my budget doesn't allow for it. maybe next year i can save up and do two workshops? that would be terrific. i do hope marc enjoys this trip and the b&b. i can't stand to be away from him unless it's absolutely necessary. he will be off doing the things he enjoys - driving around seeing sites and going antiquing while i'm in the workshop during the day. i will see him at breakfast, dinner and at night, of course! 

i am still waiting to hear if i'll be going to the fiserv conference in orlando in september. if i end up going, it will be without marc. we are going on vacation the week before, so i'll get to spend a week with him. i do believe i will, but it seems that every year i find out i'm definitely going just before it happens. i like to plan out things well enough in advance. i just like it that way if at all possible. anyway, enough for tonight. i need my beauty rest ;-)