Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

I haven’t blogged much of late. Still in recovery mode, what I amusing refer to as #hysterecovery – well, amusing to me.

My health is okay. I have one of two little possible sources of problems that I have to manage. I drove today for the first time, 1.6 miles to be exact. I couldn’t adjust my own seat or scrape the window. Or move the box on the seat. But otherwise – it was awesome. I’m going to do it again tonight when Laura comes home from work.

Hold your excitement.

Recovery is boring, fustrating, and slow. My abdomen hurts even with round the clock Tylenol/Ibuprofen. It is like a dull ache that only feels okay when I’m slouched on my couch in the corner at an approximate 135 degree angle.  Walking around a bit is fine. Sitting in a restaurant booth is hell on earth, but a plain chair is okay as long as I can wrap my ankles around the legs, you know.

Sleep is the worst. It takes just the precise amount of arrangement of my secondary pillows to prop up my abdomen from the side so I am not tilting into the mattress face first. At this point, the chihuahua is usually settled in her spot between me and Ledcat. We count to about 15 and up comes Simon, digging his claws into our tender bits as he wobbles his way to the space between our pillows where he licks our heads until someone sticks out a forearm for him to sleep upon. If we are really lucky, both Coco and Precious will assume spots at the foot of the bed. Coco likes to bite my feet until she gets the right amount of space.

I have 4 regular pillows, several throw pillows, a reading pillow and a pierogie pillow. None of them offer the right lift so I have to spend at least 20 minutes grumbling and trying to pretend I can shove a blanket under the pillow to achieve a pain free moment.

Ledcat sighs, but doesn’t say anything. Eventually, I give up and sleep on my back until I wake myself up snoring. Repeat process. The good news I’m no longer screaming in pain when I accidentally turn over.

We need a bigger bed. But then we’d need a bigger room because 1870 rowhouses are not super accommodating to king size beds. And somehow I suspect these cats would just continue to expand.

So I’m sleep-deprived, achy, fatigued, and basically on the mend.

I’m unsure when #AMPLIFY will return or regular blog commentary. I was hoping the first week of February, but I don’t want to promise too much.

In the meantime, I hope you will consider sharing your story via the Q&A. There’s a new study released by GLAAD that shows why

For the first time, the 2018 Accelerating Acceptance report found a decrease in acceptance of LGBTQ people. As in previous years, this year’s report examines issues such as comfort levels around LGBTQ individuals, reports of LGBTQ discrimination, and support for equal rights.

“In the past year, there has been a swift and alarming erosion of acceptance which can only be fought by being visible and vocal,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.

Visibility matters. Sharing your story about your experience as an LGBTQ person at the beginning of the 21st century in Western Pennsylvania matters.