Another trip around the sun.

My birthday is this week and I can't believe I'm another year older. Yes, I'm struggling with it. I'm really not where I thought I'd be in life, but I guess that's what keeps it interesting. I've expereinced some life changers in the last couple months as well.

It was confirmed last month that I have Celiac Disease and can no longer eat/drink anything containing wheat, barley, oats or rye. It has been quite an adjustment but I have fewer stomach issues. Gluten is in just about everything and I have to read the label of all I consume. I've been surprised by some of the places I've found it (imitation crab, caramel dip, sour cream, soy sauce). "Modified Food Starch" is a wheat derivative. Who knew? They say it can take a year for your intestines to heal once you give up the gluten so I can't wait to see how I'll be feeling a year from now. I think I have been experiencing gluten withdrawal symptoms lately. Sort of feels like the flu but I feel like I'm starting to come out of it. It has been a trial/error effort to figure out what I can and cannot eat.

People try to be encouraging but the most common misconceptions I've been told are: "You're so lucky! There's so many gluten free items now" and "you're going to loose so much weight and get in amazing shape." Um, no. Yes, I am fortunate that I have an array of gf options today. However, those options that are formulated as a gluten free alternative taste awful, spoil quickly and cost twice the price as glutened equivalents. They also seem to have a chemical aftertaste. As to the second misconception, "gluten free" is not carb free. I can still consume sugar, rice and corn and I seem to want more of it now to compensate for the lack of wheat in my life. Not only that, but it seems gluten free manufacturers have replaced gluten with increased fat content. Gee, I'd really like to purchase those crackers, but at 12 grams of fat per serving, I'm going to pass. Undiagnosed Celiac sufferers often lose weight because the digestion system is not working. Now that my digestion system is up and running, I now absorb all the nutrients (and fat..and salt) I wasn't before. B'ahhh. It's just an adjustment. I really am grateful to find out about this now and not after 20 more years of fatigue/stomach issues. Undiagnosed Celiac Disease can also lead to various cancers. It's 100% preventable...just have to avoid consuming gluten for the rest of my life.

I also received and accepted an opportunity on the C5 program last week. As I've felt at the beginning of any new job, I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time. I wish I could fast forward 6 months to that point when you're starting to feel comfortable in your new job. I'm in for a challenge over the next couple months. It has been a wild and crazy 2 years on the program I'm leaving. I hate to leave the program I've been on, but this is a promotion opportunity I had to pursue.

I was able to squeeze in one last trip to Canada for work. I visited Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver in one week. I will miss my work funded trips to Canada and will always have a place in my heart for the country and the wonderful people I had the opportunity to work with. Because it was Labor Day weekend, I was also able to squeeze in a long over due visit with my family in Oregon on the way back. It was really nice to see everyone. I was also able to spend an evening having dinner with an aunt and cousins I had not seen in 20 years.

Hmmm, what else. I'm in the process of applying to two Masters programs majoring in Systems Engineering. I figure while I'm unattached and LM is willing to pay, might as well torture myself over the next 2 years and earn a technical masters degree. One of the programs I'm optimistic about getting into, the other is a long shot but I'm applying anyway. I hope to receive an answer from both programs within the next month. I'm excited that we're heading into the Fall season and I can't wait for all the holidays.