Time to Step Back and Breathe

I have been spending way too much time trying to stay up with current events and politics. Having MS makes it difficult to keep up. I have gotten to where I can't sleep at night. I seem to have developed a pattern of sleeping every second night. My MS symptoms are getting worse. I have constant tingling in my arms and legs and severe spasms in my lower back. I am having a harder time walking. I run into walls a lot more these days.

I am going to try to limit my time reading the news and commenting on Facebook, Myspace, Digg, et.al. As much as I would like to, I can't save the world. I need to get my own house in order first. I have very little energy for housework these days, but it has to be done.

Changing subjects, I harvested my brussels sprouts today. I have a great recipe for Brussels Sprouts in Wine:

BRUSSELS SPROUTS IN WINE

1 1/2 pounds small Brussels sprouts
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon medium dry white wine
1 tablespoon lemon juice

In a large bowl full of lightly salted water, soak the sprouts for 10 minutes to clean them, then rinse under running water. Trim off and discard any tough outer leaves. Cut each sprout in half lengthwise, and then thinly slice them crosswise.
In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium high heat. Saute the sprouts until they begin to turn golden, then add the salt, pepper and wine and cook for about 4 minutes more, or until barely limp (the wine will change the cooking method from sauteing to steaming). Stir in the lemon juice, taste for seasoning, and serve immediately.
Yield: 6 to 8 servings

I don't remember where I got this recipe. It was either Food Network or Cooking Light.

Information Overload

I have truly become an information junkie.  I have to break the habit now or I think I'll be lost forever.  It started with Facebook, then the Huffington Post, Washington Post, New York Times.  Finally I move on to Twitter, Alternet, Media Matters and others.  I receive newsletters from Newt Gingrich, and updates from the Rush Limbaugh show (I try to get feedback from multiple sources).  I have found that both the right and the left exaggerate their views.  Honestly though, the right-wing has the left beat on the exaggeration issue.  Rush Limbaugh tells outright lies.  Sarah Palin is clueless.

Multiple Sclerosis has made it very hard for me to keep up with the vicious news/non-news cycle, yet I persist.  It's like a drug, I know I need to quit, but it keeps calling me back.  I can't sleep at night.  I turn the lights out planning to sleep, then I roll over and check my Android for more news updates.  Once I finally get to sleep around 4 or 5AM, I don't wake up until mid afternoon.  I am letting my life pass me by while I obsess over current events.

I try to break it up with reading fiction, and playing Scrabble on line.  But I keep getting drawn back to the media world.  The way I see it, I probably have about 15 years left to live.  I really should be embracing these days and stop worrying so much.  I have a wonderful husband that is the epitome of patience.  I have 2 sweet grandchildren that I need to spend more time with.  I have a loving sister and lots of nieces and nephews.