My Year in Blogmoir

Life of a Migraineur: 

01.12.2021 It's the Cocktail for Me

01.19.2021 Deal With It

07.14.2021 NOT good 4 u

07.22.2021 The 4 Phases 

Blogmoir: 

01.14.2021 A Woman is Like a Tea Bag

01.20.2021 It's the Chucks & Pearls for Me

04.01.2021 So Hard to Say Goodbye

04.20.2021 Words Matter

04.21.2021 MasterClass Chick

12.16.2021 My Little Love 

Many Merry Blessings & Very Happy New Year❣️

  

Life of a Migraineur: The 4 Phases

Source: Cleveland Clinic

Life of a Migraineur: NOT good 4 u

So Hard to Say Goodbye

It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to this blog. For the past decade and more, I have enjoyed reviewing books, creating bookish memes, sharing my life as a migraineur, telling personal tales of this fuckery called life and connecting with authors, publishers and fellow readers. However, today is April Fool's Day and you've been fooled!

Funny Seeing You Here

01.25.2021 marked the 11th anniversary of www.LiteraryMarie.com ~ Blessings to many years more.

I am on blog holiday until Spring 2021 but I am still turning pages. Experience my real-time reactions while reading via Live Read and Goodreads. 

Readers are the best writers. Behind every good author is a good copyeditor. Email copyediting inquiries and requests to Editor@LiteraryMarie.com

Email book review requests, literary news to be shared and any inquiries to LiteraryMarie@gmail.com  Please provide an accurate summary of your book(s), include an excerpt, personalize and proofread the e-mail. Provide your preference of where the book review is to be shared (Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, etc.) Your request is usually the first impression. Make it a good one!

Want to know what I am reading next? Follow my TBR (to be read).

Who doesn't love a good bookish meme and reading challenges? Well I host and participate in a few. Check them out here and join me!

There is no guesswork if I like/dislike a book. All reviews include the title, author, publish date, number of pages, edition read, whether it is applicable to a challenge and my honest-to-heart rating.

I'm not just all about books, ya know! Follow my tweets about television shows, music and real life shenanigans. 

Speaking of other forms of entertainment, I am a co-host of Sistah Speak Podcasts where we discuss various television shows and give advice from a Sistah's point of view. Listen to us on your commute, at home or at work when you need a good laugh and hours of commentary.

Have you visited the Home of the Hustlers? Visit Spades Up to shop the Love Wounds and Cheat Code collections. Tis the season for hoodies, hats and joggers!

According to The Migraine Research Foundation, 12% of the population suffers from migraine. Morning migraine attacks affect 50% of us. Add in holiday migraine attacks and it's a triple doozy for me. I may not look it but am included in these statistics. Invisible illnesses are real! Follow my journey through Life of a Migraineur blogmoir that I publish periodically. I share candid information, attempt to translate the pain into words, discuss causes and effects, give status of my treatment and raise awareness.

2020 will forever be in history books. It is the year that everyone in the world became a homebody. It is my prayer that 2021 will bring good health, a strong sense of community, less police brutality, race and gender equality, respect, more recognition, sincere kindness, healing, self-worth and genuine love. Thank You for Your Continued Support. ♠️🖤

Stay Productive and Dominate Everything in Sight Until Prosperous❣️

Life of a Migraineur: Deal With It

It is a blessing to have all five senses; but it feels like a curse during migraine aura. 

• Sight ~ I've said this before but let me repeat: light hurts. The sun is an enemy. Sunglasses are a best friend. There is so much pressure behind my eyes that I feel like a living version of cartoon eyes popping out the socket. Shapes turn into little dots and jagged lines. Words on a page or computer are beyond blurry. Street signs are floating green blobs. Then the little dots multiply and take over my vision.
• Sound ~ I am not being funny when I keep repeating, "I'm sorry, I can barely hear you." Because I really cannot hear. It's like my ears selectively turn the volume down. Every sound is distant. Yet every sound is heard. It's weird. I can't hear someone talking to me but can hear a cotton ball land on carpet. 
• Smell ~ That Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume I put on this morning? It now stinks. The bacon I may have cooked earlier now smells burnt. The 3-wick candle and nag champa incense burning is usually relaxing and pleasant. But it instantly makes me nauseous now. I only have a few minutes left to take a whiff of lavender-scented Vicks VapoRub before that sickens me too. Oddly enough, I can only stand the smell of Murphy Oil Soap when experiencing migraine aura. Inhaling it settles my stomach too.
• Taste ~ A strong cup of tea tastes as bland as room temperature water. I could be in the middle of eating then whatever I am chewing might as well be air. Imagine my panic when loss of taste was found to be a proven sign of The RONA. Oh, the many times I panicked wondering whether a migraine was starting or if I was positive for COVID-19.
  
• Touch ~ Can't touch much with numb fingers. *insert black girl shrug here* Even worse, the thread count of sheets really do matter during migraine aura. I can feel every single thread prickling my sensitive skin. It makes the extremely cold bathroom floor and forehead compress feel super soothing though. 

This is all before the pain of the migraine itself! Not everyone who suffers from migraines experience aura; not every migraine comes with aura. Over the years, I have learned to appreciate the aura phase because it at least preps me for the attack. I usually have 30-45 minutes to stop whatever I am doing, take medicine, make my way to the nearest dark quiet room and prepare for battle. 

Please know that migraineurs are not being difficult or rude. We are simply trying to manage the pain when asking you to turn the lights off, stop talking, be silent or go away. So the next time you're around someone with a migraine, be considerate and help them deal with it. ♠️💜

Life of a Migraineur: It's the Cocktail for Me

In the Year of Our Lord 2021, there is still not a cure for migraines. However, it is often treated with meds that either ease symptoms or help prevent migraine attacks. In my case, it is a combination of medications called a "migraine cocktail." 

I have taken prescribed medication regularly for almost 30 years. Drugs on the market come and go. Some work, some don't, and sometimes it is a guessing game of "try this!" Luckily my current migraine cocktail is the best thing since hot-out-the-oven bread drizzled with cinnamon honey butter. Of course there are side effects but none are worse than the pain. Here are my ingredients:

• Aimovig ~ an injection taken once a month to help prevent migraines
• Amitriptyline ~ an antidepressant taken daily to help prevent migraines
• Propranolol ~ a beta-blocker taken daily to help prevent migraines & treat high BP
• Ubrelvy ~ an oral CGRP-blocker taken at onset of migraine to relieve pain and inflammation
• Goody's ~ an extra strength powder of acetaminophen, aspirin & caffeine for fast pain relief 
• Large McDonald's Fries & Large Coke ~ salt and caffeine for the migraine hangover 

Keep in mind just because the cocktail above works for me, it may not be an effective treatment for you. Please consult a medical professional to mix your very own migraine cocktail. ♠️💜

Memes & Reading Challenges of 2020

2020 Goodreads Challenge: Read 60 books in 2020. Already 9 books in!

2020 Page Count Challenge: Read 20,200+ pages in 2020. So far 2,725 pages turned!

2020 Popsugar Advanced Reading Challenge: Read 10 books w/prompts listed above. Shut the front door for three marked done!

Keeping Up with Patterson Challenge: Read books in the Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club, and Michael Bennett series by James Patterson.

Perpetual Kinsey Millhone Challenge: Continue to read books in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series by Sue Grafton.

Perpetual Jack Reacher Challenge: Continue to read books in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child.

Live Read: Post comments/reactions in real time as I am reading a book.

First Lines Friday: Share the first line(s) from current read(s).

Series Sunday: Share a review/recommendation of a book in a series.

Lit Tidbits: Share current literary news.

US vs. UK: Compare covers of books released in US/UK.

Life of a Migraineur: Share moments of my life with migraines.

View all of Literary Marie's Memes and Reading Challenges here.

 

Best You Ever Had

Friendly Reminders from the Best You Ever Had

01.25.2020 marks the 10th anniversary of www.LiteraryMarie.com ~ Blessings to many years more.

Readers are the best writers. Behind every good author is a good copyeditor. Email copyediting inquiries and requests to Editor@LiteraryMarie.com

Email book review requests, literary news to be shared and guest blogger inquiries to LiteraryMarie@gmail.com  Please provide an accurate summary of your book(s), include an excerpt, personalize and proofread the e-mail. Provide your preference of where the book review is to be shared (Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, etc.) Your request is usually the first impression. Make it a good one!

Want to know what I am reading next? Follow my TBR (to be read).

Who doesn't love a good bookish meme and reading challenges? Well I host and participate in a few. Check them out here and join me!

There is no guesswork if I like/dislike a book. All reviews include the title, author, publish date, number of pages, edition read, whether it is applicable to a challenge and my honest-to-heart rating.

Do you follow my live tweeting of television shows and music? I do the same for books! Experience my real-time reactions while reading. Visit my Live Read and Goodreads pages for updates.

Speaking of other forms of entertainment, I am a co-host of Sistah Speak Podcasts where we discuss various television shows and give advice from a Sistah's point of view. Listen to us on your commute, at home or at work when you need a good laugh and hours of commentary.

According to The Migraine Research Foundation, 12% of the population suffers from migraine. I am included in this statistic. Invisible illnesses suck! Follow my journey through Life of a Migraineur blogmoir that I publish periodically. I share candid information, attempt to translate the pain into words, discuss causes and effects, give status of my treatment and raise awareness.

Do you have time for a final friendly reminder? Because I don't know who needs to read this but...🗣 Be grateful for the good and hard times of 2019. Take heed to the lessons. Learn from the mistakes. Repeat the success. Create opportunities. Hustle. Get uncomfortable. Realize your purpose. Let me be among the first to say that 2020 will be a year of vision. It won't be perfect but look forward anyway. Stay Productive and Dominate Everything in Sight Until Prosperous❣️

Thank You, Smooches and Spades Up ♠️🖤

My Year in Blogmoir

Blogmoir: A memoir in blog format of events and people in this fuckery called life.

03.06.2019 Fake Smile

04.10.2019 Nonstop

04.12.2019 Break It Down, Bookiana

06.05.2019 Have for Half

06.19.2019 Juneteenth Dedication

07.24.2019 Last Time That I Checked

07.30.2019 Brown Skin Girl & The Door: A Memoir

Life of a Migraineur: Share moments of my life with migraines.

10.15.2019 Coconut Oil

11.19.2019 Rules

  

Life of a Migraineur: Rules

• Get 8-10 hours of sleep.
• Do not skip meals.
• No extremities.
• Beware of sensitive skin.
• Do not eat chocolate.
• Avoid strong smells and loud noise.
• Avoid bright light and sun glare.
• Stay inside if high barometric pressure.
• Not too much or too little caffeine.
• Take daily meds on time.
• Do not look forward to events.
• Be prepared to miss out on life.
• Appreciate every pain-free second.
• No stress...PERIODT.

Life of a Migraineur: Coconut Oil

Regardless of what Lizzo claims, everything cannot be healed with coconut oil. But thank God for prescription medication because AIMOVIG 💉 and Propranolol 💊 is still working wonders. The number of migraine attacks have decreased by half! If you suffer from chronic pain, do not give up. Do not give in. One of these days, you too will find a treatment method that helps you live your best life. Now excuse me while I do just that.

Memes & Reading Challenges of 2019

2019 Goodreads Challenge: Read 50 books in 2019. #Picky50 

2019 Page Count Challenge: Read 19,000+ pages in 2019.

Keeping Up with Patterson Challenge: Read books in the Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club, and Michael Bennett series by James Patterson.

Perpetual Kinsey Millhone Challenge: Continue to read books in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series by Sue Grafton.

Perpetual Jack Reacher Challenge: Continue to read books in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child.

Live Read: Post comments/reactions in real time as I am reading a book.

#2BooksUnder50Reviews Challenge by @reggiereads: Read and review two (2) books, published in 2017 or earlier, that have less than 50 reviews on Goodreads. Bring exposure to underrated gems!

First Lines Friday: Share the first line(s) from current read(s).

Series Sunday: Share a review/recommendation of a book in a series.

Lit Tidbits: Share current literary news.

US vs. UK: Compare covers of books released in US/UK.

Life of a Migraineur: Share moments of my life with migraines.

View all of Literary Marie's Memes and Reading Challenges here.

 

My Year in Blogmoir

Blogmoir: A memoir in blog format of events and people in this fuckery called life.

02.01.2018 I Love My Blackness

02.20.2018 Meet the Parents

02.21.2018 L Dot's Freestyle / We Family

03.21.2018 Top Off

04.19.2018 She Bad

05.01.2018 Turn This L into a Lesson

06.20.2018 Let it Breathe

08.28.2018 313

09.16.2018 Name Day

10.30.2018 V O T E

11.06.2018 Uproar

Life of a Migraineur: Share moments of my life with migraines.

04.19.2018 She Bad

06.06.2018 Wouldn't Leave

06.14.2018 Whole Lotta L

12.06.2018 What's Free
12.18.2018 Fanotlettinme Be Mice Elf