GuitarBee

since I can't send you PMs, here's my reply to your message:

I just need a shoulder to cry on and a source of support if I need to vent because I'm going through a very tough time with PCOS. and you're correct in assuming that I've never been to North Dakota; however, I've been to South Dakota.

I haven't taken any photography classes or anything, I just enjoy taking random pictures with my digital camera and then warping them or mishmoshing them all together with Photoshop. I did take Beginning and Advanced computer graphics in High School and that's another thing I enjoy.

It sounds like you have your life pretty much under control--am I right? I am hoping one day I can reach that point myself. What kinds of things do you do to lift your spirits? Are there any places you like to go that make you feel at home (away from home)?

For me, it's kind of bizarre, but the salon where I go to get my hair (and occasional facials and massages) done is amazing. Everyone who works there is so friendly and accepting, the atmosphere is very inviting (makes me wish I could be there every minute of every day!), and not only that--they have a vintage clothing boutique on the upstairs floor, live jazz music on saturdays, and it is housed in an 18th century building that was once an inn where Martha Washington used to stay, so all the original hardwood floors are still in tact as well as an old fireplace that is there just for show. PM me for the link to their website if you want to see what the interior looks like. There are also pics and bios of everyone who works there. My parents think this is B.S. but I think BLue has changed my life because whenever I go there, I'm treated with the respect I feel I deserve, and mainly because my hairstylist and facialist believe in me and support my endeavors. One time I gave my hairstylist (whose forte is rock star hair, which is awesome because we're on the same page every time i show him a picture of a new rock star style that I want, and every time i see him we talk about music) a mix CD that I made for him for Christmas, and I pointed out that one of the artists on there started out as a rock singer and then moved on to do Broadway, so his reply was "That will be you one day, except you'd probably start out on Broadway and then become a rock star" To me, that was huge. and the fact that he didn't say "maybe" proved that he knew I could accomplish that--of course, my goal in life is not to become a broadway actress or a nationally recognized musician; however, I'd like to go a bit further with my music and one day do a tour in small venues around the US. Still, to have people like that who believe in me is a big source of hope. I just wish I could be there more often. Part of my mentally healthy self-indulgence plan is that starting this month I will be treating myself to a 1/2 hour massage.

Well, I just needed to get all that out there. There are very few people who understand what that means to me.

Tomorrow I'm seeing a reproductive endocrinologist whose specialty is PCOS so I'm hoping she will be helpful and understanding unlike the other gynos I've seen. My bad experiences have led me to build an aversion to doctors in general so I need to get past that; I'm hoping this will help.

Keep in touch and thanks for being my BigCyster!!