NotesFromtheVoices

After weeks of hard work, sweat and tears, I start my weeklong vacation Sunday.  I am looking forward to not having to interview anyone or write down their story. For one week, I want to immerse myself in being a mom. I will go from being Jacqueline Hough, reporter to Mom. I am headed to a place where I will be known as JJ’s mom.  I will post some updates on our activities, which will include back-to-school shopping, seeing Wolverine, having overnight visit wiht my nephew and just hanging out.  It will be full of fun, hugs and kisses from my favorite person in the whole wide world. Have a good week! I know I will. DAILY DOSE 1. To get to use my vacation time. 2. Looking forward to seeing JJ. 3. Being able to wear flip flops, shorts and t-shirts 24/7. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Today, I am living "The Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars . Today I don’t feel like doing anything I just wanna lay in my bed Don’t feel like picking up my phone So leave a message at the tone Cus today I swear I’m not doing anything My biggest accomplishment right now is showering and going out to buy the Sunday newspaper. And soon, I am going to kick back on the couch and read it while sipping on an eight-ounce can of orange soda and eating barbecue chips. It is nice to not have to interview anyone and write a story about it. Today, I get to be Jackie and it is soooooo nice. I’ll be lying on the couch just chillin in my snuggie Click to MTV so they can teach me how to dougie Cus in my castle I’m the freakin man Oh Oh Yes I said it I said it I said it cus I can I am not in a snuggie because it is too hot but I am wearing a tank top and shorts. Just enjoying a lazy Sunday. Today I don’t feel like doing any...

For three years, the dress I am wearing hung in my closet. For various reasons, with ED’s nagging voice playing a large role, I never wore it. As I was going through my closet Tuesday  morning, I saw and put it on.   I wore it proudly. It illustrates how far I have come. I looked awesome. And I felt good. I am tired of hiding in shadows.  I am tired of beating up myself for real and imagined faults. In a few weeks, I will celebrate 4 years in RR and in three months, I will be 40.  Four years ago, I arrived frail and broken to RR. This person no longer exists. At the time, I was deep in ED and didn’t care about life because I figured I would die. Now I have made great strides in my recovery. I am enjoying life. Tuesday was an awesome day with everything coming together with my body, clothes, hair and career. And I am still feeling good today.  DAILY DOSE 1. Feeling good about myself! 2. Vacation starts on July 29! ...

It has been an 80s kind of day for me. I love eighties music. It takes me back to when I was a teen wearing crazy colors, acid wash jeans and colorful sneakers. It was a time when all I had to worry about was getting good grades and making sure dinner was on the table. It was during the 80s that I realized I didn’t have to be like everyone else in my family and school. I loved Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Whitesnack along with Michael Jackson, Prince and the Jetts. The hair bands made my mother and grandmother wonder about me but as long as my headphones were on it was okay. My hump day 80s list would include: You Spin Me Round Like a Record--Dead or Alive Beat It-- Michael Jackson Rapture-- Blondie Out of Touch-- Hall and Oates Everyday Is Like Sunday--Morrisey Maniac--Michael Sembello I Feel for You--Chaka Khan Roxanne-- The Police Girls Just Want to Have Fun-- Cyndi Lauper Animal-- Def Leppard I think what kicked off this 80s mood was watching Pretty in ...

I should have known that drinking 2 (2 liters) of orange soda along with several 20 ounces of it and tons of caffeine each week would catch up with me. It did Sunday night when I drove myself to the ER in pain. Before that, i was having a pretty good day. But by 9 p.m., my stomach started hurting and by 11 p.m., I was on the floor in a fetal position. With most of my friends asleep, I sucked it up and drove myself. It  would prove to be quite an adventurous, painful and expensive night. 11:30-- I arrive and am told the ER is backed up. I am weighed and give urine sample. Then the vomiting started. This does not move me up in the queue. I am given a pan to throw up in. 12:30-- Still waiting while in pain, feverish, nauseous and vomiting. Had a chance to eavesdrop on several situations in the ER that made me thankful for my life. 2:30-- I am finally allowed to the back. It is so busy. I am put in a bed in the hallway. More vomiting. At one point, I stood up and fainted. Thi...