The book just came out in the UK -- how cool is that! They've changed the subtitle to "A Modern Woman's Search for Happiness, Fulfilment, and Her Very Own Mr. Darcy"
Also, I'll be speaking Monday, Sept. 22 at the George Mason Fall for the Book Festival. This is a wonderful week-long literary event. If you're in the DC area, check it out! I'm on at 2pm in Dewberry Hall South on the GMU campus.
Dear readers,
I can't believe I'm here writing this! I've wanted to post so many times. Thank you all for your kind words and prayers. Can't tell you how much they mean to me.
It's been an incredibly difficult summer. Lyme disease is tough to explain. You would think you take a dose of antibiotics and get better, but it's not that simple. Once you've had it for a while (it was 5 and 1/2 years before I was diagnosed), it works its way through your body and gets entrenched, so to speak. The only way to get rid of it at that point is to take lots of antibiotics for a *long* time. And the antibiotics make everything worse for a while, as they kill off the Lyme and flood your body with dead bacteria. (Ugh...)
I can't remember how much I've told you in the past, but after being diagnosed I was on antibiotics (strong, 2 or 3 at a time) for 18 months. At that point, we were seeing some progress, and my doctor wanted to give my body a break because the antibiotics themselves can be so hard on the body. So I went off for 6 months and took herbal antimicrobials to try to hold everything at bay. But that wasn't enough.
So, at the beginning of the summer, I started the process all over, with a new round of antibiotics. It seems that there are co-infections as well (deer ticks, which spread Lyme, are like little sewers, and can also infect you with babesia, bartonella, ehrlichiosis...). Because the antibiotics are rough, I had to start with small doses and work my way up (you take a small amount, get knocked out for a few days, up the dose, get knocked out for a few days... on and on). Just last week I reached the full dosage.
So I spent a lot of time flat on my back this summer -- and a good bit of time praying desperately that the anti-nausea meds would kick in. I'm so thankful for the friends and family who help take care of me, especially my parents. I couldn't do this without them.
Just in the last week or two I've started to notice a difference. I can do a little more, my brain is a little clearer, I don't have to go back to bed until noon every day and rest for hours every afternoon and evening. I'm so thankful. I'm hopeful that the new meds are working and will continue to work, that I'll continue to see improvements. I'm guessing I probably have another year left in treatment at least, but I pray that I'll continue to be able to do a little more and remember what it's like to be able to live life rather than laying on the couch and watching it go by.
And I hope to be able to resume these daily quotes!
I covet your good thoughts and prayers. Thank you!!
best,
Lori
For more info about Lyme, check out the wonderful documentary Under Our Skin. Also, read about Amy Tan's experiences.
I'm thrilled to post this! (Thanks, BajaJaneite for sending in the link -- I've been wanting to share it with you all.)
I did a gallery for BeliefNet with pictures from my trip and thoughts on the spiritual Austen places I visited -- spiritual being rather loosely defined, as in perhaps relating to (ahem...) the cult of Colin Firth. ;-)
Check it out! The pics are some of my absolute favorites. They're also running an excerpt from my book.
Photo of the Roman Baths (copyright Lori Smith 2005)
How did you like Emma last night? I only saw a tiny bit, but enough to remind me how much I love that movie. Next week, the one I've been waiting for, the new Sense and Sensibility. Whoo-hoo!
I'll be speaking tonight at Sherwood Library in Alexandria, Virginia. Hoping everyone who braved the ice last time will be able to make it out again! Tea at 7:00, and the program will start at 7:30.
The next event will be Kingstowne Library on Thursday, March 27.
Just a quick reminder that I'll be speaking at Patrick Henry Library in Vienna, Virginia tonight at 7:00 pm. Would love to have you join us if you're in the area!
Today's the last day for the icon contest at Jane Austen Today. There are some lovely entries.
The first is from Dina, the second from Raisah, and the third from Sawcat. Gorgeous!
Send in yours for a chance to win a copy of the Becoming Jane DVD!
There's a lovely interview with Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club, at Tina Ann Forkner's blog. I've posted a few snippets at Following Austen as well.
I watched Miss Austen Regrets last night, and I'm not entirely sure if I liked it. Posted some thoughts over at Following Austen. Would love to know what you thought.
I'd love to know what you thought of Northanger Abbey. I thought it was sweet, and well done. More here.
Felicity Jones as Catherine Morland. ©ITV plc (Granada International) for Masterpiece™
