Heat Rash

I have a bad case of heat rash on my neck. In my 20's I had a bad case of it on my arms. Layers of skin began to peel and the itch was very intense. I worked with a summer camp in Long Beach, CA and was outdoors all day. But the camp was located in an older elementary school and it had a lot of dust and old paper smell. The combination of both dust and sweat created a terrible reaction. I still have scars from those days. What I know today will save me a lot of pain. 

Similarly, my skin is puffing up and is soft to the touch. It's all trapped sweat! (grossss) My sweat glands are clogged and don't let the sweat go through to the outside layer of the skin, instead trapping it in the middle. It is itchy! If you scratch it gets worse, it becomes more irritated and uncomfortable. 

Staying out of the sun is most definitely the number one way to control a heat rash, but that is not an easy solution. For example, not walking for me entails weight gain because I have less space to move my body at home. I have opted into covering my arms. I'm recalling the first sign of heat rash were my hands becoming itchy and getting  raised bumps under my skin. I am covering my self well, except for my neck. DUH!

What has worked for me has been ice packs. They help bring down the swelling and redness. They help make the rash less noticeable. I found that sleeping on the side with he rash makes the rash worse. When I have woken up with redness and itchiness but don't have an ice pack handy I use Costco baby wipes. The itch and redness are soothed. This afternoon, I am trying air drying my body after I shower, to give my pores a chance to "air dry?"  

Well after the shower I had to use an ice pack on both sides of my neck. Maybe some Aveeno soap would helps sooth the rash in the shower. I had a brisk walk yesterday and wore my head up with a hat. My neck was exposed (uuufff). Not really sure how to approach the next time I go out for a walk, but I'll keep you posted. 

It's Labor Day weekend!

Have a happy and safe holiday,

Kathy 

Setting Healthy Boundaries

 I told my brother I'd get back to him when I felt ready to. 

I was struggling with communicating with him, much like I was with my mom. I don't want confrontation, or misconstrued ideas. I want what is best for me, my family and them as well. But I cannot compromise the latter for the former. 

He text me first. He said he was sorry for his joke and that he knew I was "in a rough spot" and was sorry. That is not an apology. My emotional state had nothing to do with me thinking his "joke" was not funny. 

There is nothing wrong with you for disagreeing with someone else. That person should not use their words to make you the victim. No victims here. I'm looking out for myself. Normal human things we don't do enough of. 

I sent him information on mental health, but he said he'd read it when he has time. I don't have the time to wait for that. I don't want the type of energy he has at this time. It is dark. I almost feel like he enjoys talking about some things that I find triggering. I am here to help him, but he has to find himself. 

I told him I was not in a rough spot, but instead was setting healthy boundaries. 

As we all should. 

Love,

Kathy 

I think I'm paranoid? (A.K.A. nosy females)

Everyone has already heard about how men stare at women, well women do it to other women, too.

I know women can relate to this. 

Other women stare at you. 

They watch you come, and follow your every step. 

It's a habit some women have. 

It is creepy. 

If you are a woman and you do this to other women, we notice you. 

 

The heck with that nonsense...

Gals, what is going on with you?

Is your life so uneventful that you look forward to what someone else is wearing, doing?

That's appealing to you?

Time for a major life shakeup, don't ya think?

Get your hair done, get some nails, do your makeup, focus on yourself. 

We may act like we don't care or we don't see you, but we feel fucking uncomfortable by YOU. 

I've had a mom stare at me every afternoon for over a week. We stand in a line waiting for the bell to ring at the end of the day. I always managed to stay in the back of this particular mom. My son and her son are good friends, of course. This mom decided to stare at me, stealing glimpses of what I do, instead of introducing herself, like a normal human. 

I stayed quiet. I played with my child. I mind my own damn business. PERIOD. But she was so dang obvious about it. Looking at me. Staring at me. Watching me play with my daughter. UGH!!! I finally had enough. 

One afternoon, I was feeling good after a brisk 15 minute walk to my son's school. I enjoy walking and running on city streets. I have for the last three years, on and off, due to covid. Maybe I look like I'm in a rush, but I'm pumping my heart. I don't just wear athletic gear for aesthetic, I like to sweat. 

So as I am walking towards the line, this woman is just intently looking at me. So as I parked my daughters stroller and gave Jazzy her cars to play with (hoping this woman would look away) I looked at her & said, "What?" 

I used my hands, my body, my face (behind the mask) to convey my frustration. 

I will literally go as far from these people to walk and improve myself, because I care about me. I ain't a show for these folks. 

Toxic people are everywhere and you have to set healthy boundaries! 

The next day Captain Obvious was less interested in me. 

(haha these folks can be incredibly pathetic. They most definitely get to me. But in reading this, I can sense how much it bothers me. It bother me today, but I am so much cooler under pressure.)

Have a great day, 

Kathy