I’ve got a fun weekend planned. NewsML Feed Format Specification and HTTP Gateway Specification reviews. Awesome.

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Today is the first day in 4 weeks that I’ve been able to tuck in my shirt. (Thanks for noticing, Abby.) Bye bye shingles!

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Four people in the last four days have asked me about my blog. Perhaps it’s a sign.

Yes, I’m still here. Yes, I still plan to write and share but the last 4 weeks have been the most painful days of my life and blogging hasn’t been at the top of my list of things to do.

Several days after my last post, I contracted a particularly nasty case of shingles, leaving me in severe pain and unable to walk for several days.

Thanks goodness for antivirals like acyclovir.

The healing process has been even more difficult as I’ve suffered intense bouts of muscle pain and severe allodynia to the degree that anything touching me, including clothes, water, or even a light breeze from a fan felt like razors cutting my flesh from the inside out. My only peace has come in the form of ice, capsaicin cream, and a powerful combination of Pregabalin and Oxycodone.

I’ll spare you the remaining details (and disgusting photos) but will say that shingles aren’t something to fuck around with.

There is a vaccine available for it and if you’re over 60 (or have a compromised immune system like me), talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated because you don’t want to go through what I’ve been though.

[Thank you Anitra…for finding a a deep well of strength within you to keep the family strong and me in as much comfort as possible]

So yeah. That’s why I haven’t written for the last month. All the while though, the garden has continued to flourish.

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