Fortnightly Update #19: A Syrinx-le in Time

In the past two weeks, I've again been busy with my own health issues- books and blogging haven't really been my priority. I'm grateful it's nearing the end of the growing season here, because although I love my flowers and plants, with my weird walking it's been difficult to get out and water all my flower containers.

Recent Acquisitions (or the Piling of the-Piles):

the-pile Additions:

None (yet- I have two orders of books coming soon-ish).

the-invisible-pile Additions:

The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth #1) by N.K. Jemisin
I think this was a Kindle Daily Deal- N.K. Jemisin is an author I plan on reading before 2016 is over- despite my procrastination. I have three of her books, now, and I've heard lots of buzz about this one in particular.

Parable of the Sower (Earthseed #1) by Octavia E. Butler
As I am obsessed with all things written by Octavia E. Butler this year, I added this one to my collection- it was also on sale at one point.

The Red Record by Ida B. Wells-Barnett
This was (briefly) a freebie for Kindle. This is a report on the prolific lynchings of African Americans in the late 1800s, a travesty which was unfortunately carried through well into the next century. As I haven't read much on the subject nonfiction wise, I figured this would be a good place to start.

A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz
I became interested in this memoir after I saw it took place in Jerusalem, and it sounded interesting as well. I don't think I've heard of this one before seeing it as a Kindle Daily Deal, but I'm always looking for memoirs of people whose experiences in life differ from my own. It is a Kindle Daily Deal for today.

Currently Reading:

Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle #1) by Diana Wynne Jones

I was in a really (really) bad mood yesterday when I started this one, but it managed to cheer me up somewhat, and I got 37% through in one sitting. It's charming, and the main character, Sophie, also undergoes trials that result in her using a cane some of the time. I watched the movie version of this, but I didn't recall much about it, so perhaps that's in my favor.

Finished These Books:

Ravished by Amanda Quick

Oddly enough, both of the historical romances I've read recently have heroes with scars who are semi-reclusive. Both Romancing the Duke and Ravished have similar heroines as well. I kind of felt like I read the same book twice. They were both good, but I don't prefer one or the other off of the top of my head.

No Quarter (Quarters #3) by Tanya Huff

This one didn't quite match the greatness of Fifth Quarter, but it was still a good read- it had some of the characters from Sing the Four Quarters as well. Overall, I think it just wasn't quite as cohesive as the last two due to the expansive cast of characters, which didn't allow for as much banter as the other two books provided.

Romancing the Duke (Castles Ever After #1) by Tessa Dare

As I mentioned, this one is similar to Ravished, with a more fairytale-ish twist to it. I was a bit disappointed with the portrayal of the hero, who doesn't have most of his vision most of the time, and also suffers pains similar to the ones I have from occipital neuralgia. Because he's spent so much time in seclusion in a castle, he knows his way around. However, the author didn't seem to address what happens when he goes outside of the castle when he can't see. I was also anticipating a few stumbles here and there- I've lived in my house for 3 years, and I still stub my toe on things/run into them in the dark. I guess I don't expect my romances to be "realistic", but it would've been nice if those things were addressed.

In the Blogosphere:

I, again, have been neglecting the blogosphere, instead looking up things about spines so I'm somewhat educated on the subject before I visit with my next series of doctors.

In My Life: (A Syrinx-le in Time)

Sunset from my back window

My cervical and thoracic MRI results came back and I was a bit shocked when my doctor announced they'd actually revealed something. My syrinx, which I mentioned last time, and my previous neurologist told me wouldn't be an issue, has grown at least twice its size. I used to have it just in my cervical spinal cord (if I recall right), but now it's almost to the end of my thoracic region. I can't exactly recall the reasoning behind it, but because of my new syrinx growth and neurological issues, a neurologist who was previously beyond the reach of my insurance now deigns to see me. In addition, they want to send me down to Salt Lake City's University of Utah Hospital because my spine's weird (for lack of a better reason). Currently, I have an appointment early next month for the in town neurologist, but we haven't yet heard from U of U (my doctor said it might take a few weeks).

The ice water on my parade part of this is, although the neuro in town isn't a syrinx/weird spine expert, he doesn't think my spastic legs have anything to do with my syrinx. Of course, he could be wrong. But I desperately want to walk without a cane/bounciness/falling again, and it irks me that the one (major) apparent thing wrong with me might not reveal the cause/cure for my walking. In addition to my newly expanded syrinx, I also have a small disk extrusion in my thoracic spine that's indenting my spinal cord. All of the things they've found on the MRI seem to have more to do with the pins and needles feeling I have in my feet and hands than my walking.

Due to all of the above, I may not be posting as frequently as I would like to in the future. I'm not sure if the doctors will say, "This is what you have, this is what to expect, here's some more pills for your troubles," or dismiss my symptoms as unrelated, or recommend something else entirely. Unlike my paranormal/fictional counterparts, I have no accurate predictions of the future, though I'm sure I'll still be reading books.

Happy Reading!