Oh, I remember what I wanted to bitch about now: fucking menopause. Dr. Jen says we don’t talk about it enough, and she’s right: no one warned me about any of the bullshit I’ve dealt with for the last 5? 10? years. I’ve never (ever, ever) had a regular cycle, so as I obsessively read every resource I can get my hands on re: menopause, I’m also learning just how not-normal my insides evidently are. I mean, of course they are, because I am a fucking special snowflake princess unicorn mutant to HAS to go against textbook normal like a Mary Sue in a YA novel, but just once I’d like to be the textbook. It seems peaceful.

Anyway. Menopause. It sucks. I’m assuming it’s responsible for my latest round of medical mystery: drastically increased pain sensitivity.

I’ve spent the last year and a bit getting some really colourful tattoos. It’s been fun and satisfying, and for the last four appointments, RIDICULOUSLY PAINFUL. I had to tap out of the last two pieces after the initial line work and return another day for the shading. I used to be able to just grin and bear it for the entire piece, but for the last six months or so my entire body twitches during the tattoo and it feels like I’m trying to jump out of my skin to get away from the sensation. I have another biggish piece planned, but I don’t know if it’ll happen any time soon. My plan post-pandemic was to travel to get tattoos from specific artists. Looks like I’m going to need a Plan C.