New ABC Ramp Up article written by me!!

So I have been away without bare essentials (mobile phone and internet access) for three days. While I was away, my second ABC Ramp Up article was published. Hurrah! The picture above shows my article on the front page. And the one below is a preview.

Go read it. You'll laugh. You might cry. And you'll think twice about commenting on someone's appearance.

Read Did You Just Say That on ABC Ramp Up.

I still can't believe I'm writing for The ABC!

While you're at it, check out Stella Young's editorial.

ABC online's Ramp Up launch + International Day of People with Disability

It is quite fitting on this International Day of People with Disability that my own chronic illness has somewhat disabled me. I am writing this from under the covers (even if you imagine really hard, it's not a sexy situation I am in). I am sore, finding it hard and very painful to walk, a little bit miserable, and unable to go to work. The chemist gave me a doctor's certificate, and suggested home-based treatments. I am now on a second dose of antibiotics and nauseating pain killers. If I am not better by Sunday I will take myself to the emergency ward for a consult with the dermatologist, to receive IV antibiotics rather than a hospital stay. And I'm concerned that I'll be too unwell to go to my own birthday party tomorrow night. It sucks.

I had a shower at my friend's house this morning. As I mentioned, I never look my best first thing in the morning, so to have kisses blown to me and smiles from her beautiful one year old daughter made me feel good about myself. There's nothing like the unconditional love from a baby to cheer you up when you're feeling your worst.

Something else that's put a smile on my face today, and made me very proud is the launch of the ABC's disability portal, Ramp Up.

Ramp Up is a website dedicated to news, opinion, broadcasts and discussion about disability.

My introductory article has been published.

You can read it here.

My online friend Todd has also written an article which I recommend reading. And check out my real-life friend Pauline's article too.

I've not had a lot to do with International Day of People with Disability until very recently. I never thought it applied to me. But it does, and even if I didn't have a chronic illness, it should apply to me. This day is very important to raise awareness about disabilities and chronic illnesses, and to celebrate ability.

For the past three years I've had greater involvement in International Day of People with Disability. I coordinate events for it in my workplace. I've spoken at some of these events in 2008 and 2009. This week I have coordinated and assisted with two events at work - giving the opportunity to young staff and friends to share their stories about their disabilities. Hearing their stories - some struggles but mostly triumphs - moves me to tears.

In her editorial welcome on Ramp Up, Stella Young writes 'In a lot of ways, International Day still doesn't mean a great deal to me. It's just a day. I'm proud of who I am every day, and I know dozens of other disabled people who feel exactly the same way.'

I feel a bit the same. But this year International Day of People with Disability feels more special for me because I am now a contributor to Ramp Up, in the company of many other talented writers.

I am going to rest up now, under the covers. Read the newspaper and sleep. And hope that my infection heals soon.

The rainy days ain't so bad when you're the king

I am really sore. On my legs. Like hospital sore. I went home from work early, sick. My manager asked if there is anything she could to to help me. 'Stand for me', I suggested. So, so sore. It's thumping and stinging and burning all at once. I've also had to postpone a catch up dinner with a friend tonight so I can have a salt and oil bath and rest up. I want and need to be well for U2 and my birthday party on the weekend.

My shower needs replacing. I may be without a shower for two weeks. It is a medical need that I have a shower at least twice a day. A bath in the morning doesn't cut it. If I don't have a shower there is a risk of infection. Plus I don't wake up looking like you usually see me on this blog and in person.

I literally have to put my face on. I have to wash off the old skin to make way for the new. On a bad day, I wake up looking a like Freddy Kruger. On a good day, I wake up dry, scaly and scrunchy-eyed/faced. I don't let many people see me before my shower in the morning - I have to really love and trust them. So it's imperative I have a shower to start the day. Fortunately I have a very good friend nearby who is kindly letting me use her shower as much as I need to while mine is out of order. I hate to be a burden though. I think the thought of the shower situation is stressing me out and making my skin sore. Ironically, this sore skin on my legs requires a bath.

Glum, glum, glum.

On the upside, and there is always an upside...

The shower and tiles have been pulled out today. It's actually not as bad as I imagined.

I really love the outfit I wore today, despite how sore I am. This humidity is making my hair nicely curled too.

The photo was taken in the chemist when I picked up my cream (Vaseline) and some much needed Panadol. The girls in my chemist always make me laugh no matter how sore I am. There is three kilos of Vaseline in this box. I lather myself in it. It's not as sexy as it sounds. But come hither, boys...

I wrote an article on surviving the party season. It was published on DiVine. You can read it here. I think it's one of my more fun pieces.

I'll be featured on 3CR radio tomorrow talking about dating.

Tomorrow the ABC's Ramp Up website is launched. It will feature one of my articles. To see my writing in print on the ABC will be one of my proudest moments. Like their (previous?) slogan 'it's your ABC', a small part of it is now my ABC.

I got a standing room ticket to the Kings of Leon concert for March 2011 too. Hurrah!

(source)

And Rush is on tonight. These boys will be nice to look at.

(source)

As Kings of Leon sing, 'the rainy days ain't so bad when you're the king'. Today is a rainy day for me, literally (it's been raining sideways in Melbourne!) and metaphorically. But there continues to be good things happening which outshine the bad.

Yooralla Media Award and another announcement!

Today I was honoured and humbled to be presented with a Yooralla Media Award for the online media category. 

I won the award for a body of work that I wrote for DiVine. 

The articles I received my award for were:
In Control and telling my story 
Someone will come along 
Love the skin you're in 

It was a surprise to win this award because of the calibre and prestige of winners (including journalists from the ABC, The Australian, SBS and Triple J) and judges (including senior staff from The Age, Channel 7 news, The Australian, and Herald and Weekly Times, and Rhonda Galbally and Stella Young). Wow. Seriously, wow.

 

As I said in my speech, the others who have won, or received a highly commended, or who entered and didn't win, are prestigious journalists. And I am merely a writer. Telling funny stories.

I was perhaps the only winner who told my own story. The other entries told stories of hope, determination, the every day, and the confronting. I will showcase the winners when the Yooralla page is updated.

I thank DiVine for giving me the opportunity to write, and my blog readers, family, friends and colleagues for encouraging me to write for a bigger audience. Who would have thought, the internet is so big, and I was chosen as the winner!

It was a lovely afternoon. My Mum, my manager and my friend from work came with me, plus the editor of DiVine and a staff member. There was wine and canapes. And I have a beautiful certificate. And I got to wear my new dress! 

 
In other news, I have been asked to write for the ABC's online disability portal. It launches on 3 December 2010. It is such a big honour to be asked to write for the ABC! The ABC. Wow! Seriously. Wow.