Apparently, 12th May 2008 is International ME Awareness Day - I’ve used a question mark, as it seems as though only people who have ME/CFS or work in the field are actually aware of it. I thought the aim was to raise awareness among the population as a whole, but there’s not a great deal on the internet. I tried to find out more and came across this calender, which is actually quite effective at explaining some of the problems sufferers encounter.

This leads me on to writing, strangely enough, as due to my current CFS-related eurghhh (the result of me daring to think I could meet a friend for coffee and a chat without consequence), I can’t stand to have the laptop on my lap for long (nor can I sit at a table). I saw a very small laptop by a company called Asus on The Gadget Show a week or two ago, and it weighs less than a bag of sugar. Surely this is the answer, and will enable me to finally get these books and characters into print. Nope…my CFS-related lack of money is a fly in that ointment!

Finally, and this is just something that’s been bugging me while I’ve been stuck in front of the TV: why does the woman on the HSA advert worry about paying her young children’s dental costs - are they not covered free under the NHS?

I’ve been trying not to think about the abseil, but it seems that I cannot escape reminders. The Tyne Bridge is such an iconic image of the North East, that it appears all over the place. Yesterday, I was watching the Hairy Bikers’ programme, and there it was in all its glory: high (oh so high) above the Tyne. I haven’t had much response from my emails which were sent to ask for sponsorship (and it’s a horrible thing to have to do, for some reason) so I’m now worried that my efforts won’t do much to help the charities concerned (although the others involved are doing far better, thank goodness). I can’t say it’s just the lack of sponsorship that bothers me, but also, the lack of a response makes it feel like not many people are supporting me.

I’m still full or cold, so am unable to do much. Can’t stay on the computer long, can’t read, and there are only repeats on TV. Speaking of TV, what do these people have in common, from the programmes I’m watching today: Paul Gross (Benton Fraser, Due South), David Boreanaz (Angel, Angel) and Dean Cain (Clark Kent, Lois & Clark)? Answer: I had a crush on them all, at one time or another, but not particularly because of what they look like - more so because of the characters they portrayed. Does that mean that I’m slightly less shallow than if I just liked them for their appearance?

I’m off for a lie down now, as I think that if I keep on typing, it may descend into gibberish…well, more gibberish!

I’m spending my 12th wedding anniversary in bed…on my own, with my dogs and my laptop. It started off so promisingly (except Match of the Day at 7.35am) with a nice breakfast in bed, but now hubby is off to baseball. To be fair, he did say he would stay home, but in the bloke way that means I will if I HAVE to and I’ll be in a right mood if I do! “I will stay home, if you want me to,” or “I won’t go, if you don’t want me to.” What men often fail to understand is that if THEY wanted to stay home, they just would, and us women are well aware of that fact. It’s very similar to another thing that irks me a little: “I’ve done the dishes, FOR YOU.” Grrr!!!

Anyhow, the past twelve years have gone by pretty quickly. We’ve had ups and downs, downs and downs, and some sheer drops (that was the, “…for worse”). We joked about marrying, “For poorer, for poorer,” and that was proven correct. I don’t know what happened to, “For richer…” but I wouldn’t mind giving it a go! Our vows said, “In sickness and in health,” and we’re still waiting for the “in health”. If I could go back in time to the day of my romantic proposal (”Are we going to get married, then?”) I would still go ahead, despite knowing what I know.

Think I’ll treat myself to a nice bath and maybe I’ll download myself a song or two from Digital Locker (70p shouldn’t break the bank). Just wish I could get the song ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies’ by Panic At The Disco out of my head - it’s driving me nuts, as the man with the steering wheel down his pants told his doctor!

Just been cleaning up my Facebook profile and have decided to get rid of the ‘Compare People’ application. Basically, you are compared, by your friends, to their other friends in many different categories. It’s interesting, from one perspective, as it’s amusing to see how people ’see’ you (especially those who don’t know you well…or at all). However, it’s also a great way to enhance your own insecurities.

As I’ve said before, I feel that I have a “face for radio” and after seeing my ratings on CP, other people obviously agree. For example: each time I was compared in the categories ‘Prettier’, ‘Cuter’, ‘More Attractive’, ‘More Cuddly’, ‘Hotter’, ‘Would rather marry’, ‘Better body’, and ‘Rather date’, I scored zero votes. I also scored a bit fat nothing in ‘More Creative’, ‘Funnier’, and ‘More Likely To Succeed’. Apparently, my finer qualities (according to Facebook users) are that I’m ‘More Artistic’ and a ‘Better Dancer’ (pause for laughter). Also 100% of those asked would ‘Rather Be Stuck In Handcuffs’ with me - I have actually been stuck in handcuffs and it ain’t all its cracked up to be (before you start getting the wrong idea, it was at school, and someone thought it would be funny. It wasn’t.)

Despite all the negativity, which categories am I most upset I lost? ‘More Techno-savvy’, for a start, and ‘More Organised’ and finally, ‘More Likely To Win in a Fight’.

It’s all a bit of fun really, but when you feel sensitive about an aspect of yourself and then feel it is clarified by those who see your profile, it’s best to quit while you’re behind. So goodbye to Compare People and hello again to Scramble, the highly addictive Boggle-like game. I know how I’m going to spend my afternoon…