I was SO thrilled to see what was in the enormous box from Yenta!  The Peace Fleece is made from a beautiful fleece full of peace signs, butterflies, hearts and has a very 'retro' feel to it.  The reverse side is purple.  And the fringe is tied fringe from the two fabrics.  It is clearly made with love, and by someone who wears some nice perfume!  So now I know what Yenta smells like!  I'd not thought about that aspect of having such a tremendous writer on Lumigrate who I'd never met in person -- chatted with on facebook, on the telephone, emailed... but haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting in person.  

It was the week of winter solstice and look how dark it was, in the shadow of the Grand Junction Post Office building, at 5 pm.  Our tallest downtown building is shown in this photo, the Alpine Bank Building.  I'm pleased my car was at least clean for the photo! 

Ouray is famous for being 'the Switzerland of America" in terms of the mountains surrounding it, and there are hot springs, so that's what incentivises me to head that way frequently.  In the winter, they promote ice climbing there and it was a perfect place to take a photo of the Peace Fleece. 

In mid January, Rock Cesario, Lumigrate's informal 'Minister of Music' and his old friend from the 1970s, Chris Young (a.k.a. Dr Young, but not around Lumigrate, he signs off as Chris when posting in the Forum), Adam Cochran of talkingDigital.org, our podcast provider did a wonderful podcast about the healing power of music and I brought in the Peace Fleece.  You can hear what the guys say about it in the first moments of the podcast --- I'll set you up with the link as well; they're found currently on the Forums tab, second one from the top is podcasts but there will be a tab for podcasts in the near future.  This was Part 2 of Music and Health. 

http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/music-and-health-pt-2-chris-y...

... and to give you a sample of what you'll find if you follow the link, here you are! 

Music and Health Pt 2; Chris Young and Rock Cesario with Adam Entertain!

Mardy Ross

Title: GRATE Graduate Contributor

IP: 98.127.157.156

Joined: Feb 16 2009

Posts: 688

I had a wonderful time recording and now listening to the completed version of this entertaining and enjoyable full-length podcast (links below)!  Chris Young, PhD psychologist with neuroscience and pain management background and Rock Cesario, our "Minister of Music" here at Lumigrate from my calling him that on facebook on Sunday mornings when listening to his local radio show are powerfully wise and are old friends from their early 20s.  They've reconnect at Lumigrate to talk about music and it's place in life and health. 

Adam Cochran of TalkingDigital, provider of podcasting services for Lumigrate.com, does a wonderful job as always of chattin' in up, or 'rapping' as the 'old guys in the old days' would say.  As you'll hear him say, the music expert is quite insightful about psychology, and the psychologist knows a lot about music.  It made me think about all the people we spend our time resource with and what impact that has on us from that moment forward. 

Here are the links: 

Podcast feed is at the following link:

    (Again, follow the link, above, to get to the actual and complete topic on this on Lumigrate!)  Live and learn, learn and live better!  ~~ Mardy

We're having what I call 'the January thaw', and were having sunny days with highs in the 40s.  So my #1 priority on January 26th for the next day was to get out and go for a walk.  I'd gotten out on the 26th about the time the sun set and I was kicking myself the whole way. 

I was working away on the 27th thinking about the CHI meeting that evening and all I wanted to get done that day, when a friend called and invited me to meet up at the Riverfront Trail .... it sounded inviting going for a short walk and maybe just sitting on one of the benches overlooking the water and catching up.  So I went .. and took the Peace Fleece with me. There, I was asked about medications and fibromyalgia, as my friend's been trying to learn a bit about it as it's something that people around me end up having to understand.  I said that the pressure of my sitting was making my whole back and shoulders hurt because my brain misinterprets the pressure in an amplified way, so the medication that I chose not to take recently helps to even that out by affecting the brain chemicals that calm the nervous system.  They're also used to treat seizure disorder and mood disorder -- which is where the questioning and confusion was coming in.  "Well then let's walk a bit" and I said I wanted to sit in the sun and relax and listen to the river -- we could walk later.  I think it suprises people to hear that I'm constantly filtering out discomfort.  I like people to know because it does have a part to play in my frustration level, particularly when I'm tired.  After 15 years or so, I've learned to cope in my way -- it might be the same as others or different.  And so I work to educate.  Perahps this piece will be something useful to someone else needing to explain to someone around them. 

I took it later to the CHI meeting -- Collective Health Initiatives is becoming a trade association.  Last night was election of the board, which is the final step before submitting the paperwork to get the whole official status as a nonprofit association.  Everyone who saw it fawned over it.  I said I'd bring it back in March when Lumigrate is the featured business and I present. I regretted sitting in the afternoon on a metal bench -- we start meeting with a meditation and I had a real hard time tuning into what we were being guided about, which is unusual for me.  But a good reminder of how meditation can help, because by the end of the meditation I wasn't thining anymore about trading chairs to something more cushy or getting my gel cushion from my car.

Yenta's thoughtful gift is proving to be quite a conversation started and ambassador about peace and what Lumigrate is about.  I hope you continue to follow our journey and help us with ideas of how to utilize it for awareness and marketing!  Lumigrate clearly takes shape related to it's contributors of thoughts and content.  AND in this case blanket! If you've not yet read anything by Yenta, I encourage you to do so -- she's very funny and insightful.  (you'll see her above, and a link to her piece about Peace and then from there you can hit the link to see her whole Forum, which is in the fibromyalgia section at least through this Fibromyalgia Awareness Day season and then she might be ready to move on and talk about other things about life  We'll see.  It can't hurt!) ~~ Mardy

I stopped by to see my friends at La Belle Amie downtown Grand Junction on Main Street and asked Lani Wallace (aesthetician) and Annie Motzkus if they wanted to be part of our fibromyalgia awareness with Yenta's Peace Fleece.  I took these photos of them and then others finishing up for the day (FRIDAY) came and admired it.  "I have a daughter who would LOVE this", one woman said, remarking about how neat 'tie blankets' are. 

Sometimes I wonder how far out of the loop I am on things -- I observed the fringe was died but didn't know until Thursday at the CHI meeting I had it at that no stitching is done with the blanket at all.  What a wonderful craft idea and particularly for certain stages with childhood hand development.  Maybe they'd grow up to be talented stylists and facial estheticians like Annie and Lani. 

Thanks guys!  And everyone at La Belle Amie -- you have a beautiful salon and it's wonderful to be so welcomed with the PeaceFleece. To visit their website, it's at www.labelleamiesalon.com  ~~ Mardy

PS -- I've included the YOU model from the home page of Lumigrate.com to remind people that in integrative medicine, your aestheticians, hairstylists, massage therapists, nail techs can be part of your health care 'team' -- they see you regularly, will catch changes you might not notice daily, and can be tremendous networks to 'who's who about health' in a community.  Getting information into their hands and heads can help others.  The link to the Aesthetics Forum on Lumigrate.com is: www.lumigrate.com/forums/integrative-medicine-parts-make-whole/aesthetics/aesthetics-whats-outside-has-do-inside

Mardy dawlink!  The Peace Fleece needs to have an American Express card at this point, no?  Oy vey!  Everyone snuggling in the warmth of the blanket makes me feel as though I'm schlepping my cookies all over Colorado with you, meeting and greeting all those warm faces, giving hugs, kibbitzing; such FUN!  Next time I'll know in advance, I'll bake some cookies, perhaps rugalach, we'll listen to some Cat Stevens maybe, a little Bread, some Blood, Sweat and Tears... In case you didn't know, kindeleh, these are bands from the late sixties, early to mid seventies; you should Google them and listen.  I'm so impressed that everyone is receiving the Peace Fleece so openly and that has a great deal to do with you, Mardy.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I have something I have to do.  It's a little story I learned today and I must go write about it.  You know where to find me liblings.

Your

Yenta

Well, the PeaceFleece and I had a big day on Ground Hog Day, February 2, 2011. I was feeling festive as Lumigrate had given a gift to everyone of decreasing the $20 price on the videos we launched with two years ago of three local providers to $0 (aka FREE)in hopes it will allow nobody to be hindered from the complete education they provide on topics from detoxing to good nutrition, food allergies, and making change in your life last.  

We spread a little awareness around downtown Grand Junction.  First, I met with a local author who has a new book coming out and since we both appreciate the importance of food quality (due to my having had fibromyalgia bring me down in the past, she had cancer), and the owner and chef of "626 on Rood", Theo Otte (in the 600 block of Rood, downtown Grand Junction) was a good sport about going out in the cold to have his photo taken in front of his 'marquis' awning.  We go way back, that restaurant and I.  I actually was there for their 1,000th day celebration a couple of years ago and like to go there from time to time; it's a special place for special events, one of the nicer 'date night' restaurants in town, in my opinion.  They actually were part of eating establishments I liked up in Fort Collins -- some other people who had the grate idea to 'move west', as I did.                      

Then I was a block from Dr. Bryce Christianson's office at the Doc Shore House, which is just off of 7th and Grand, Grand being just north of Rood.  It turned out, he could meet with me in a half hour and work on my difficult and problematic neck and get started on some Active Release Technique on my arms as I have a little carpel tunnel syndrome which I keep in check with ART for the last five years or so).  That gave me time to buzz to Main street and 5th, where the construction's coming along nicely and well thought out with detours for people and cars, to pop in and get a photo with Rock Cesario at Triple Play Records -- I wanted to be sure to get a ticket for the Darden Smith concert at Roper Music Hall on April 2nd as Darden was so kind to give us his words of wisdom with Rock in an interview around the time of our initial podcast (and April 2 is my birthday, so that's where my party will be, whatever 'that is' going to be this year. 

He was accommodating and a good sport about bundling up in the PeaceFleece after having added to what we are promoting with the PeaceFleece by having these COOL sunnies to wear.  Wish I had them back at 626 -- that BRIGHT Colorado winter sun was making it nice and warm AND causing squinting before at 626. 

So the PeaceSunnies and PeaceFleece and I had FUN over at Dr Christianson's office, as you can see.  That's a new chiropractic table he bought from a place in Denver recently and they were doing construction in the building to add a second office for him across the call from where his first one opened just last fall.  Good to see he needs the space!  I believe it's the same space that I initially met Christopher Lepisto, ND (seen on 3 videos at Lumigrate's Videos tab, and in the Forums a bit in writing or a podcast about fibromyalgia in the Top Picks about FMS forum).  He's now in a different space downtown after having been at the IMC for a couple of years, one of which I had the pleasure to overlap with and learn a GRATE deal which is passed along to you here at Lumigrate.  I hope he'll want to pose with PeaceFleece soon, we've recently communicated about a common patient and I have a book to get to him.         

I did my best to pose like the anatomical chart on the wall.  I should have had him take a photo of me in the position I had to get into for the head/bodyshot I am now using for marketing where my neck and spine weren't allowing me readily to twist into the position required by the artist putting together the NEW landing page of Lumigrate.com (and all the related marketing headshots).  My neck was measurably less painful afterwards.  I'd put off a 'tune up' too long and last Friday paid the price, as I believe I'd referred to in my comment/response to Yenta's piece she posted about FRUSTRATION related to the hurdles we have from health care challenges. 

As I was waiting for him a few moments, I looked around to see where my long time colleague, and previous next door neighbor, Maria Wilder-Doyle's new office was in the Doc Shore House.  I didn't have to look long as she came in and gave me a personal tour.  Inspiring and lovely, all 'recycling' of things she bought or found other places.  She's an inspiration with her office space just as she was when living next door when she took on buying a house to remodel that I said 'no thanks, I'll just take this little one that's already fixed up'.  She's looking forward to a visit from the Peace Fleece; we didn't have time to take a photo yesterday with it as she was with grandson in tow and I was to get my time with Dr Christianson.

Maria's been with Behavioral Health and Wellness since I met her over six years ago. I know when someone shifts on from Lumigrate to pursue something else it leaves a temporary void but organizations are organic -- they change.  People grow and want to have different experiences.  I'm reading a marvelous book right now called Living in Process which talks about a therapists journey from one philosophy through others and to where she then created her own, unique concept of thought to profess and write about.  The number one preventer to professional burnout in the therapy world is continuing education, or at least it was the last time I researched it about a decade ago.  So please stay tuned from more on Maria. She's always astounded me with her insights into how people 'tick' and her knowledge about spirituality and incorporating that. She might just be the next great author to come out of Junction after the one whose book about her cancer, Leigh Fortson -- where I started this neat day at 626 on Rood with a healthful lunch and interesting conversation!

From there, I went to the veterinarian and that is another WHOLE story for another day, and then out to dinner with an aesthetician friend who is now working at Healing Horizons (the owner of which is April Schulte-Barclay, DOAM and writes for Lumigrate's forums). (Dr Paula King -- psychologist who has the Strategies for Lasting Change video here at Lumigrate and pieces in Forums sees patients at both at Healing Horizons and Behavioral Health and Wellness (Chris Young's co-owner with wife, Cheryl and they'll be bringing us more in the spring about adverse childhood trauma and chronic pain and disease in adulthood. They're looking forward to the PeaceFleece and bringing a podcast to us as part of our fibromyalgia awareness to ALL who can listen by computer or portable electronic device in the world).  

Carolyn Lampshire brought a most interesting young woman along to the table to join us through her son, as they are dating.  The young woman just started working at La Belle Amie with Lani and Annie, pictured above and she is studying kinesiology at the college and was talking about body/mind/spirit concepts she's learned in school.  I'm hoping she will be one who will make some inroads with the beauty industry to start making our inside health as important as our outside appearances.  Maybe the PeaceFleece will help, no? likely having something to provide to her from Mariluz's writing in the Aesthetics Forum on Lumigrate, perhaps. 

See how we're all connected here -- at least many of 'us' now have the PeaceFleece in common! I'll have to go back down there with the PeaceFleece and have HER join in the fun someday.  My grey hair is proving to be as good as the PeaceFleece at starting conversations which can educate people about chemicals and health and the environment, etc.  Going grey is the #1 Forum topic at More magazine's website, there's a big selling book on the topic too!  Hopefully I am making it FUN as I go.  Because that is crucial to the soul. 

Once again, Thanks Yenta!  You made an otherwise busy day a really FUN and busy day and brought a bright story and blanket into many lives on Ground Hog Day here in Grand Junction, Colorado.  Thank you to the following businesses for participating (and follow the links if you want find out MORE about them from their websites) ~~ Mardy

Theo Otte and 626 on Rood: www.626onrood.com/about

Rock Cesario at Triple Play Records: (and our Minister of Music, check out the podcasts he and I or he and Chris Young of Behavioral Health and Wellness have recorded this winter (right now in Forums, second one from the top).  www.tripleplayrecords.com

Brcye Christianson, DC at Colorado Chiropractic Care (notice the ART certification on the wall in photo .. good BIG stuff!) www.grandjunctionart.com/

Analii was so kind to invite me to join in class #5 of 6 of her FIRST group of cohorts coming through Women's Pelvis Wisdom.  So the PeaceFleece came in with me and after the OH SO GOOD class (yet challenging for my body), she took some time out of her busy day to admire the PeaceFleece and wrap herself up in it for a FUN FOTO!  Analii is quite public in sharing that in the past when she had a good sized garment manufacturing business, the chemicals in the imported fabrics -- perhaps hastiliy wrapped and shipped to her after the sprays were applied -- contributed to a chemical sensitivity illness.  So we have THAT in common.  And many other things much more optimistic and pleasant. 

I very much look forward to where SHE and this newfangled work she's basically 'come up with on her own' goes, as it's FANTASTIC!  That afternoon I knew something had 'gone on good in my body' which at the time meant fatigue from 'release of stuff', but that evening even I was aware my pain levels were much lower for night.  And that has lasted for days and days.  I look forward to working with her individually and with other guides with FMS to adapt what she does with a group of people with pelvic pain, as fibromyalgia is a little different, but it was really lovely to be in a room full of woman who had been through similarly difficult journeys with chronic conditions and pain.  I learned of a new book I'd not heard of from one of the attendees and felt the vibe of a room full of vibrant and learning women.  It was WONDERFUL, and I want to thank them all.  ~~ Mardy

One thing that I really enjoy seeing is health care providers having more respect for patients with fibromyalgia.  The patient will not get better until they're understood and cared for, and for someone with fibromyalgia they usually have seen many providers who haven't simply given them the respect they deserve.

Personally, I get very frustrated by my allies in health care that do not even touch their patients when doing a physical exam.  It's very frustrating. 

It's good to see providers gathering to share, learn and then apply ways to help this patient population.  It's good for the community and great for individuals.

On Saturday, February 12, the Peace Fleece and I helped out at the booth for Collective Health Initiatives, of which I'm one of 200+ members providing progressive, alternative, 'complementary' medicine to the public.  CHI which was invited to have a table/booth by Family Health West, the sponsor of a health fair and run at the NEW Fruita Community Center.

They were expecting 200 runners, which was the center of the event and had almost double that turnout. I had a feeling the event could be going 'wildly successful' so called before 10 and got the news about the registration, which changed what I needed to bring for handout #s.  Commotion is not my best venue these days, so I volunteered to take the noon to 2 pm/ending shift at the CHI booth, and things wrapped up on the early side but nicely from my standpoint based on the conversations I had with people who approached as the other booths were packing it in. One woman said she was totally healthy but in the conversation revealed things she didn't recognize as being potential signs of sleep apnea from things interfering with breathing! She went on her way with renewed direction for many options for providers and appreciative for CHI.

For the Grand Finale, a really neat young in 'energy, but 'elder' woman came up and said she'd not gotten home yet to get the $10 to purchase an aluminum water bottle, which are sold as a fundraiser for CHI.  She really wanted one because of the word 'CHI' on it, which some who had come to the booth pronounced like the Thai tea .... allowing for a little education about what energy/chi is in Oriental medicine and spirituality.  I responded that she looked trustworthy and I'd spot her the $10 -- I was going to lunch with a friend after who was due along any moment and could meet up with her there or elsewhere later.  She wasn't able to do that and just was NOT one to 'take' without giving, if even for a moment.  She kindly volunteered her talents and services in trade, so I'm going to hope to incorporate her into when I present next month at the CHI meeting.  This to ME, is as valuable a 'networking' connection as can be made -- it's so synergistic!  And we both guessed each others age 8 years 'high', and normally people guess our ages younger I'm sure, so that was kinda interesting.  She was just a bright ending to a really bright event in a wonderful facility.  KUDOS to the community of Fruita for having voted for the funding and created such a wonderful community center.  Maybe your big city neighbor will get it together someday and start putting their attention on PREVENTION instead of INTERVENTION.

CHIs handouts were long gone before I arrived and the woman at the booth before me had thoughtfully written the website on her handout so we could have something to send along with people.  I took names and email addresses of those who wanted my followup, and I had  my handouts as well, so could let people know to look for this piece here when I got it done and pick up the link for Collective Health Initiatives which I'd post for their following if interested. 

I look forward to more with both of these organization in the future, it is incredibly rewarding and interesting to speak with people in person who are out seeking information because you always learn as much from them as vice versa.  Everyone was 'into' what CHI is into and 'not into taking a bunch of pills' as one woman said.  So thank you, Family Health West and Fruita Community Center, I'm thinkin' some of the best of the west of Colorado is just east of the Utah border these days! 

To see what Collective Health Initiatives (CHI) is all about, please go to www.chi.groupsite.com OR find them on facebook at: www.facebook.com/#!/group.php. 

Family Health West's website is:  www.familyhealthwest.org and their facebook is: www.facebook.com/pages/Family-Health-West/174760013716. 

With special thanks to Angelina Salazar, of FHWest's marketing and community outreach team for providing me with some of the information for Mardy's List of providers for people in western Colorado who are particularly adept with treating the many aspects related to fibromayglia. (Note, there are some who work with people remotely through technology and shipping who are on the list, not all are located in the area.) All who wanted a copy of the list knew someone with it, and all 'got it' when I said that those providers, if good with fibromyalgia, likely are good with most anything, because fibromyalgia's simply a very extreme case of what many, many people have 'happening' to a lesser extent, in my opinion. 

It was a lovely event all the way around.  Happy Valentines to all the hearts out there ! ~~ Mardy

PS -- The handout I used to guide people is called Mardy's List and can be pulled up, emailed, printed and handed out by anyone interested.  All you have to do to find it on Lumigrate is type Mardys List or Mardy's List into the Search bar from within Lumigrate.  "Fruita" will do it as well, or "Grand Junction".  It was VERY well received, as it has several providers in the Fruita area on it!  

The photographer of the photo from last weekend, above, is not only a good sport for having posed with the PeaceFleece (and sunglasses) as well, she is the reason Lumigrate is here, essentially!  And how nice she's wearing pink, so it's SO perfect to post today, Valentine's Day.  

Helen's been mentioned in some of my writing and in the first podcast Dr Young and I did on Lumigrate.  She gracefully has said I can use aspects of the story of how she came to be on my schedule when I was an OT not at all focusing on patients with fibromyalgia, but I was glad to get to know her and route her to the two other providers in my building I thought she could benefit from, and one was Dr Young.  That revitalized his interest in chronic pain with the FMS population and we collaborated to formulate and get off the ground a Fibromyalgia Forum in our building which was largely successful.  But with difficulties of people getting out to get information and of scheduling space for groups and presentations, I thought a website was a good idea.  And then Lumigrate ended up by launch a year later being more about integrative and functional medicine concepts overall, with a core about fibromyalgia developing due to the demands of people who found Lumigrate initially.  And now we see the demands increasing to other things such as aging and adaptive equipment, mobility, and spirituality. 

Simply put, Helen is the wise elder behind the scenes of Lumigrate in many regards.  She's definitely a role model for me about keeping after finding what is causing things and doing something about it.  She walks the walk.  And I'm so very appreciative of what I have received in the years since she was the first patient of a new year on my schedule in 2007.  She also has one of the most fascinating life stories I've ever heard; I hope she will get it recorded somehow, somewhere.  And then if we're REALLY lucky people, she'll share it somewhere so others can learn and grow from it as well.  For now, I am proud to be one of those who knows at least some of it and the LOVELY 'elder' behind the story (and the peaceglasses!) who I thank for allowing me to include a bit about her here ~~ She's a blessing to share today as she has one of the BEST love stories as part of that life story I mentioned.  

To all those who have a component of loss with their love today ~~Mardy

I also posted this piece on the stream about the Grate Groove of Grand Junction in the Health Comunities area here at Lumigrate.

You've maybe read in another area on Lumigrate about the "Grate Groove of Grand Junction" Lumigrate is pulling together to grow into a bigger and bigger circle of providers that will have a 'groove' from one to the  other because of spending some quality time learning about what the other does and gradually growing with other committed individuals.  Since one of Lumigrate's core concerns is chronic illness along the chronic fatigue syndrome/ fibromyalgia spectrum, that is what we're focusing on FIRST.  And that's what the PeaceFleece is about as well .. Fibromyalgia Awareness 2011 via Lumigrate.  So it came together this week!  

With a foundation to start from this year of 'Mardy's List of Providers' in the Grand Valley area (see link at bottom/below), which I began preparing as needs and questions emerged in 2010, and integrating progressive providers such as the two pictured here -- Gwen Pettit (life coach forum contributor 'virtually' able to work with remote clients via technology) and Monica Cullinane (yoga instructor and life coach with new website and business,  Integrative Wellness Today, with national/international reach and focus on nutrition and foods), we're getting things going very nicely.  GRATEly you might say! Groovy, eh?

Please notice the fun shirt Monica is wearing -- that's an original work of art by Grate Groove's Analii Cunningham, who wasn't able to make the meeting but set us up with shirts with peace sign flowers to complement the PeaceFleece theme as well as Monica's community/school garden project at Wingate Elementary.  I'm finding this a tremendously easy group to move along with in such rapid fashion, most likely because of everyone's common viewpoints about collaboration in order to make an impact on medicine and health today, as well as the abundant passion related to their working aspect of it. 

I wish to thank everyone for getting this going so well. We're going with where the interest and conversations take us and that brought us around to sound therapy we hope for the next meeting.  And Monica already has a class outlined and targeted for late March related to cooking and foods related to fibromyalgia and fatigue. More on that in the Forums when we get exact information.

And we thank the Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado for having worked so hard for so many years to have made the wonderful space which serves so many in the community, including us at their Spoons restaurant where we met this beautiful winter day for a lunch meeting! Still like having that fleece on outside!  ALWAYS wanting to have peace! Continue thanking Yenta for the blanket for FUNdraising ~~ Mardy

Link to the Mardy's List (for W. Colorado BUT there also is a topic on how I went about the detective work on it for others in the rest of the country): www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/healthy-communities-referrals-ideas-more/mardys-list-providers-your-re

Link to the Forum on Fibromyalgia Awareness, where you'll see the Yenta/PeaceFleece for 2011 listed and the MANY popular topics covered in the last year.  www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibromyalgia-chronic-pain-and-chronic-fatigueexhaustion/awareness-outr

It was a beautiful 'springlike' late winter day when co-Presidents Allen Jolly (in the scrubs) and Gary King, central Colorado's "Good Humor" men, humored me and posed for a photo with 'The PeaceFleece' outside their 9,000 ft2 ITC Compounding and Wellness Pharmacy (with extensive order receiving and shipping areas) in Castle Rock, Colorado, just south of Denver. 

Between their efficient process and staff with their central US location near major transportation centers, every time I've ordered from them the products are on my doorstep the next day via UPS. AND everything's been correct! I've grown concerned over the multi-tasking people making medicines have when they also are giving flu vaccines or answering questions and not having a proper work environment for focus and concentration. I found their facility pleasant, efficient and non presumptuous while being state of the art.  Like they put their efforts into what really matters, so to speak.  I've asked for some expert checking out on their powdered vegetable/fruit anti-oxidant/nutrient I'd chosen on my own in months past and was confirmed about my choice by someone quite knowledgeable.

I intentionally cropped the photo to leave in the "honey" sign because it's so funny to walk through the doors by that sign for the first time and see the amazing shelves full of really impressive supplements, be greeted by their wonderful Pam who is literally the hub of things there, settle in meet with Gary, Becca/NP, Allan and Anne in an effortless team approach as they were all handing off the ball as they got on to other scheduled things, and then be given a tour by Allen of the order receiving and shipping processes/space plus the compounding 'lab' which was about as impressive an operation I've ever seen!

All the employees were consistently 'doing their thing' and that includes taking care of themselves with having time to eat and drink and go out for walks for their breaks to get exercise and sun. And they seem quite 'together' as a result.  Good rapport and comfortability abounded at ITC and at the top of the list is Richard who is their resident IT guru, much like our Adam with talkingDigital at Lumigrate, except I only get bits of his time as needed, they have a full timer.  He took this photo since my camera was M.I.Car (I don't travel lightly, mostly due to supplements and apparently books based on my friends' husband -- a bookmobile). So boy did I come to the RIGHT PLACE --- I'm all stocked up, including the book they include with orders about hormones -- it's a good one from what I can see. (Small, to the point, efficient.)

It's an honor to announce that they were equally impressed with Lumigrate, likely due to Yenta's PeaceFleece, and we're going to be collaborating related to education and support via Lumigrate to YOU.  Their expertise in hormones, including thyroid and supplementation exceeds anything I've ever seen, and I took advantage of what they do for everyone who comes through their doors or phone lines; Gary and Allen doing what pharmacists do best, which is answer questions about what they have the purvue to do. You can even consult with them for a reasonable charge if you have an extensive question. They guided me to products which I found to have an extremely good price, and I had enough discussion about what our business do to be very comfortable and confident they're in this to help people and keep the roof over their big space and brainy heads there in order to be there for more in the future. 

I look forward to where this goes! Thanks ITC.... here's their website/below. FYI: they have products with photos online and an area to email the three primary providers, Allan, Gary and Becca, NP who was not at ITC the second day when we took this photo, I'm sorry to say.  Hopefully I'll get her 'next time' when she rolls up her sleeves on my labs which I have the home test kit with me to do in the near fututre ~~ Mardy

www.itcpharmacy.com/index.htm

Pantusos Restaurant changed for a few hours to PanTEAsos -- and the PeaceFleece attended too!

Carolyn Lampshire of Healing Horizons and Mardy with the Peace Fleece (Who was the woman behind the camera at the ice falls for the Peace Fleece's FIRST photo on New Years Day, 2011 - coming FULL CIRCLE in under two months to be in front of the camera at her Skin Care Tea, February 26, 2011. We wanted to start 2011 off with a bit of a spiritual day trip to start the year off. 

I got out a special tea today (March 19) and brewed it with the intentions of having it inspire me with writing this piece.  I chose a white, flowering tea that you make in a glass teapot and watch open up and become something of beauty and nourishment.  Because that's what unfolded in February when the PeaceFleece and I went to Carolyn's skin care tea.  Pull up a blanket and a cup of tea and read this story, it's a blustery day here so I'm inclined to write it.  Besides, I think it will be good for my soul to share this, and good for those who take the time to read. (I asked Yenta and she said "My Dawlinks, have a seat, I'll make us some tea, maybe a little nosh, and we'll kibbitz.  I have a wonderful story for u about some very good friends of mine. Of course they're good friends, everyone's a friend if you're a Yenta."

This was a truly special day for me without my knowing in advance how much.  I'd looked forward to Carolyn's first tea of 2011, as she's done a really nice FIRST tea in December in a different environment.  She has returned to her previous vocation as an aesthetician but this time within the lovely, nurturing environment of Healing Horizons, and I 'just happened' to have been talking to the ever-busy owner April who said they were in need of an aesthetician.  I'd met Carolyn almost four years before, just as I was considering what my next move in my professional life was (which was "doing" Lumigrate a year later), and she very peacefully said after introducing ourselves that she was at the seminar to work towards what she would do after her husband, who had cancer, passed.  Just like that -- how refreshingly open and honest and 'healed'.  Plus she was planning ahead.  MY KINDA WOMAN.  And this day you see about the tea coincided to be about a year after he passed. She's been an example to me of how to be with someone in the time from when they know their time is not limitless through ... well, today, as I just got off the phone with her to see if she was okay with my telling this part of the story. I wish to tell this story because I hope it shares how G-d's worked through us -- and is working through all of us possibly (if you wish to believe and if not, that's certainly equally honored here), to bring Lumigrate to light for YOU and anyone else to has accessed it.

That early February day of 2007, we were to chose a balloon from the bouquet being brought around the room and there was one that was red and I had my eye on it, but we were the last two in the circle to choose and NOBODY was taking the one red balloon!  She said 'I'm going to run to the restroom, if it's still available could you grab the red one for me please?'.  

Anybody who has been friends with my circle of gal pals from my childhood knows THE story of when my first little friend got mad at me for not letting her have the flesh colored crayon until I was done using it so she started walking home -- which was 3.5 miles!  My mother stood and watched her walk out the driveway, down the road so she was on the other side of the creek from our front window and then plop down and think about it ... another 3.4 miles to go!  And then we went and retrieved her.  So I'm very good about sharing my crayons now!  

I actually look it as 'a sign' and it's not every day I meet someone who I just 'click with' around here.  I'm known and either loved or not for my honesty.  Turns out, Carolyn's husband's business was quite an interesting adventure for me as she invited me to their annual Woolgrower's Association FUNdraiser, as he was President of the chapter in our area.  Truly a western Colorado treat and VERY MUCH outside my comfort zone then, but they helped me get over my life-long fear of cowboys. I consider it a blessing to have gotten to spend two evenings over the next three years at those FUNdraisers -- I even helped them raise a ridiculous amount of money for a mariachi hat once when he asked me to come up to the stage area and be part of things. It was nice to do because not only did it help their organization but later when he asked me to dance and I am two left feet he had some forgiveness for me I hope! 

It turns out he lived a while longer than expected because he went to the same 'alternative MD' who helped get my health turned around a little before that. We likely were in the same IV room at the same time -- I remember being AMAZED at how many old ranchers were there for chelation for cardiovascular occlusions and then also women with cancer, MS and FMS.  It was an interesting mix and definitely made me appreciate the breadth of interest in alternative and complimentary medicine (CAM). 

The day prior to this was a Friday and I'd just attended my first meeting with the founding MD of what would later become the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado and I'd taken two other therapists with me who I thought might be interested in going in with me to provide a robust therapy component to the IMC -- but nobody else wanted to put in any resources so I was at the end of the day saying 'well, why is this opportunity presenting itself to me' and I spent some time and emailed a suggestion that aesthetics would be a good addition and was thinking my personal long-standing aesthetician might be considered.  I was thinking 'simple, good for your skin/mind/spirit' aesthetics such as facials and aromatherapy and education about what you put ON your skin and in your body meet to become you and your health. 

But that was not to be what happened as the year unfolded.  So I was perplexed about why Carolyn and I had met. Life went on -- we went in different directions and didn't stay much in touch but when we did we'd have a great talk and 'fabulous time' as she would say.  So it was an honor and a privilege to be at this tea and see her present so beautifully and see her blossoming, like the tea I just made in the glass teapot. I sensed a threshold had been crossed for her and we sat down after wards so SHE could eat and have some tea and we started talking about collaborating on education in this format -- teas at this lovely restaurant with a long tradition in Grand Junction.  Her husband was friends with the owner.  And, interestingly, I'd ordered takeout from them 7 years and 2 months prior when I pulled my dirty car off of I-70 and checked into my hotel. So this was the first place I'd eaten when I was coming 'just for three weeks' to Grand Junction 7 years before.

As you might have read or heard, Healing Horizons and Lumigrate go way back -- it actually was one of the many key 'clicks' that went on when I was getting the desire to 'go Internet' with my occupational therapy career.  (Refer to Lumigrate's Premier/first Podcast with Chris Young and me talking about our history and I'll refer to Healing Horizons' owner and DAOM, April Schulte-Barclay's igniting Dr Young's mind in our Fibromyalgia Forum education group as Dr April and Dr Young and I all were in the Primary Care Partners building for the first time after it was built). 

April was actually involved in meetings about formulating an IMC before I was, even and she started her own wellness center and had a satellite within the IMCofWC for the first calendar year.  I just though it was amazing that I happened to be talking with her about women's issues last fall and writing something about that (as she was pregnant with twins at the time, I thought that might be pertinent to her) and mentioned Carolyn and her always talking about women's issues -- The Shriver Report had just come out (A Woman's Nation Changes Everything, and I'd purchased a copy right away and was trying to get something going on Lumigrate to dovetail with it.  She had to have her babies early and it was a rough but happy ending, and Carolyn then got right to doing facials as soon as she was 'in' with them and actually missed the first day of our Grate Groove of the Grand Valley meeting on 1/11/11 at 11 because of the busyness for her that week.  But here we are, having sat next to each other at a Collective Health Initiatives meeting on St Patty's day, were Carolyn is now part of a 222+ member organization, and she hopped right into the FUNdraising idea related to having a tea for CHI at Pantusso's, so here, our integration begins as the Grate Groove of the Grand Valley is ALL about collaborating for CHI and about teas!

I think we've only just begun to see what happens on this side of the threshold --

I hope you're on your second cup of tea and have found this worth the read --  Today Carolyn expressed interest in sharing in writing on Lumigrate about how she got through her husband's illness and to where she is today.  She's networked with Lumigrate's elder who has more experience in such things than I would wish upon any one person but who stands as a living example for others in her footsteps.  I hope other might also contribute along those lines someday, when they're ready -- and we have the professional guidance and support of Beth Patterson, who is our spirituality 'crone' on Lumigrate (see Spirituality forum as well as the developing section with info for when we're in the transition with independence and life-threatening situations).

Here's what Carolyn had written for her newsletter about the tea.  Her website is still in the making so no link just yet for her website -- until then we have space, Carolyn, to post whatever you would like. 
 
     A skin care and tea workshop was held at Pantusos Restaurant on February 26, 2011.
     Owner, Chris Blackburn, created an elegant setting for the event. White tablecloths and antique tea cups added to the ambiance. The tables were positioned so that everyone had a view of the fireplace.
     Carolyn Lampshire spoke of the health benefits of tea and certain foods for health and healthy skin implementing an anti-inflammatory diet. The tea and foods she talked about were served at the luncheon.
     Two types of tea were served. Amaretto Apricot and White Ambrosia. Both by Tea Forte®.
     Pantusos homemade minestrone soup was the first course, followed by a colorful salad filled with healthy ingredients. Watercress for the greens, cucumbers and blood oranges infused with an apricot, apple cider vinegar dressing.
     Pantusos famous and award winning eggplant Parmesan was the main course.
     A Greek yogurt drizzled with honey and topped with chopped walnuts, a specialty in Greece, was a nice finish for a healthy and delicious dessert. 

FUN FUN FUN we had with Kohava's monthly YogaDance, which she holds downtown above Ruby Canyon Cycles in the Elite Dance Studio once a month.  (See Movement Therapies forum for Kohava's topic about Dancing Butterflies/YogaDance, and the schedule is there for anything upcoming open to the public or to contact her about holding a specific / private dance for you or your 'group'). 

Carolyn Lampshire, Kohava Howard, Nance Lofholm, Kat Blehm (owner of Elite Dance Studio).

Highlights for me were bringing together two of my gal pals who hadn't yet met and seeing EVERYONE have fun, then getting to know Kat and her husband and son who also attended the class.  It was the first time I'd been in a class with men and it was really interesting to see the effects on them as well as other women .... it's just very liberating.  Mostly because Kohava is just pure joy when she teaches, nothing is ever not right the way you do this type of dance. At the end after the closing meditation she has us share a little and also sends us home with a sentimental token and one of the guys chose something that had a butterfly on it because he knew she called it 'dancing butterflies'.  Those who believe in chakras think of it as opening the chakras, this form of dance.  Apparently it opened up my giggle chakra!

And naturally the Peace Fleece was a hit and when I brought it in, Nancy said 'oh, I've seen this on facebook!'.  Smart Yenta we have, sending that to me and saying 'Honey, I thought you might be able to raise awareness or money or something for fibromyalgia with it!'. 

Yes, in 2011 I schlepped the PeaceFleece around a LOT and you know, it's a whole different thing hauling a heavy blanket to things in the winter than in the summer when it is hot out!  Not only do I not like the heavyness / work/added calories being burned and making me hotter, but people don't say 'oooh, a warm fuzzy blanket!' as they do in the winter.  But the Peace fleece had a few GRATE times in the warmth.... 

www.lumigrate.com/forum/peacefleeces-first-summer-2011 has the whole story of this AND my meeting with our spiritual advisor at Lumigrate.com, Beth Patterson, who creatively draped the PeaceFleece around a downtown sculpture and shows her FUN side... 

Above, the short story is I am  with four of my best friends from childhood and our 'matriarchs', after a funeral for one of my friends' father; my father had passed nine months before but we had the funeral on a Friday to accommodate my brother in law's playing at a band function so only the gal with the long blond hair could attend as she lives, still, just minutes from where this photo was taken (I now am four or five hours drive away) as is the gal next to me in an opposite direction, so this was LOVELY to get together and the Peace Fleece and fibromyalgia awareness had a small moment before everyone scattered again. This was the first time I got to be comforted by my 'framily' -- in a way it was the first time I really had to feel at peace to grieve.  I shed many tears, which unfortunatly hit me when I got up to speak.    It was fine, now I don't fear crying in public

 This is Jimmy, whose band played at RockJam; he's cousins with the friends who travel from hours and hours away every year to see me and Rock out at Jam! It's one of my favorite things to do each year once I get there; we all have grown up jobs and responsibilities we have to tear ourselves away from and we're alwasy griping about the line up and the work and the time and the effort and then we get out there and say 'wow, this feels GRATE!'.  This was August 2011.

In September I headed for one night to meet up with Karen that writes about driving rehabilitation on Lumigrate.com and camp next to her and her husband and another couple and I broke out the PeaceFleece when Old Guy got his ATV out for them to take off on when it was time to head back to Grand Junction for me.    --- I'm not seeing that photo to include here so perhaps I can come back to that one. 

Then there was just nothing of interest going on, really, until mid December, when I had a nice meeting with Lynn Hellerstein and Beth Fishman (Lynn's on the right, below) related to brain injury/recovery and what Lynn Hellerstein's book and website have to offer for education when we link out to them and what Lumigrate is doing overall and 'about'.  It reinforced that even when you've known someone for a long time and they are savvy about the Internet and have also morphed into that realm, it's very worthwhile to talk on the phone or video/phone or ideally meet in person.  In my book, these two are the premier example of collaboration; they're sisters who studied to be OTR/Beth and OD/Lynn and then collaborated professionally basically their whole careers and now are authoring a book (Lynn) and co-authoring a workbook related to organizing your brain, something that is SO very needed today by increasing numbers of people, particularly those who frequent Lumigrate.com.  

Then the PeaceFleece has had a very uneventful winter season, truly was in my car the whole time and never came out because I was working intensively 'inwardly'.  There are seasons and going with that flow can be very powerful.  Now it is spring and the PeaceFleece is 'coming out' again for Fibromyalgia Awareness in May.  Stay tuned!