I've got lots of good news to share!
First bit of good news is that I've now been well for a month. I haven't had any flare ups since mid October and most of the spots on my legs have healed. I've got no more blisters left healing, but my legs are still covered in purple marks where the worst spots were. Its possible some of these could take several months to heal. Its a good thing I'm not a Rockette!
The second bit of good news is that I GOT A JOB!!! I applied to be a Demonstrator for Dyson and got the call a week ago Friday that they chose me! They've been recruiting up and down the country to put brand reps in some of the 100 biggest Dyson retailers around the UK and I will be a sales rep in the best performing Dyson retailer in my area.
I'm very excited about this opportunity, so far I'm so impressed with Dyson. They are so organized and the company seems to work like clockwork, something that I really appreciate in an employer. They also have great benefits for their employees. I will only be working 13 hours a week but its exactly the little financial boost we need and I will also still be able to continue my volunteer work for the time being.
I have a two day training session down in Wiltshire (its about a 6 hour train journey to the South West of the country) which is a week from Monday, then I start work on December 4th. This is a permanent position but I suppose it will be trial by fire as I will start the first weekend in December in the biggest retail park in the area.
I've got a really exciting holiday season coming up with a swing-themed fundraiser Christmas show for Red Dreams. One thing the charity organizers have wanted to do is put the mentors and vocal coaches in the shoes of the students. That means public performances and recording. Its actually been a huge help to me preparing for my own pieces in the upcoming show and also recording a song for the Christmas charity CD. My students all have gone in and recorded songs and now that I've done it I know how terrifying it is, I recorded my song right after one of my students finished and she was giving me pep talks and pointers since she's an old pro at recording. It was a great little role reversal for her to be able to share some experience and knowledge with me.
I've really enjoyed preparing for this swing show. I love swing and jazz, but its definitely not my students' preferred style of music but I've been so impressed with the way most of them have embraced this new style of music. Usually they like to work on pop songs and things that are in the charts, so I thought I'd have a lot of push back from the students about learning songs that were written over half a century ago. Most of them have surprised me and are enjoying this style, putting their own stamp on it, and also because this style is much more challenging since they don't hear these songs on the radio constantly and are learning from scratch, some of my students are making leaps and bounds in their vocal abilities. I've seen some of my students really blossom in this process and its been really amazing and built up their confidence so much that they are doing things they've never been able to before. I'm really looking forward to the concert and joining my kids on stage.
I'm also looking forward to taking my Show Choir kids to Asda (a British supermarket owned by Wal-Mart) the week before Christmas to sing carols in the main entry way for shoppers. We'll be fundraising for Red Dream but it will also be lots of fun and for many of them it will be their very first public performance.
I'm also looking forward to having my own family Christmas meal in my own house this year. I love going around to Jason's family and spending Christmas with my family but I'm really looking forward to cooking a nice Christmas dinner and doing most of the celebrating right here at home. I'm already brainstorming about what I want to make, and Jason has taken up a baking hobby lately so he will hopefully be lots of help as well!
4 comments:
I'm so happy for you! Things are really lookin up Coulson!
Hi I have been keeping in touch with your blog, I too have been diagnosed with vasculitis and your story sounds just like mine, as of now my open wounds have healed but my lower legs still have very red and purple scars which get darker as the day goes on. I am on Prednisone still (low dosage) and still get spots on the top of my feet if I do too much. Just wondering how you are doing? Any new spots? This is so hard because I can't get too much info, I have read all there is to read but I still try and find new things on the internet every day. I have a great doctor (rheumatologist) in NYC and he tells me this could be chronic. I still try and be as normal as possible every day, going to work dinner etc. Shoes are still a problem but I'm getting creative. I was so happy when you posted the last blog because I so wanted you to get better, so happy. I was just wondering if your legs and scars get darker as the day goes on? Do you get red spots on your feet?
thanks for any feedback you can give me and again, so happy for you.
I haven't had a single spot since late October, but some of the big blisters that have healed are taking a long time to fade. I still have bruise-like marks all over my legs, but they aren't sore or itchy or anything. I don't know how long it will take for these "bruises" to fade, but its been nearly two months and they are still quite purple although some of the smaller ones have turned brown and are fading. My doctors here have told me its most likey not a chronic thing in my case. They said that some people with HSP will have a recurrence but the cases are so few any percentages are really unreliable without a sizeable enough sample group. So far so good though and not even the slightest sign of any recurrence.
Hi Lisa, I just found your blog and hope to read more about your adventures in England. I hope you DO feel better soon!!
I live in NY state and have a boyfriend in Northumberland (yes, very long distance!) I'd love to talk more about how you came over to England, it's my goal, we're trying to figure it out. We're starting a tour company together. I'm also an artist and love doing landscapes while I'm in England.
Love to hear from you, I couldn't find an email for you.
Mary
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