Author Archives: tbavendam

When I selected the title of my blog early 2021, I thought those were 3 words that reflected who I am. I assumed they would be relevant for the next stage of my life. Unleashed was because I felt so constrained by the restrictions on what I could say to whom as a government employeeContinue reading “Nailed it”

I have started many posts over the last several months. They serve as a bit of a diary for me. I am not entirely sure why I never finished them. It has been almost 2 years since I moved to Nashville and it has become my home. I have mentally constructed a bubble so IContinue reading “Not another f*#cking hill”

During my 4 weeks of being homebound, I had too much time on my hands to observe Carli’s eating and digestion. Her first episode of “being unwell” was in August. She spent about 12 hours lying on the couch sleeping and not being interested in eating or drinking anything until she suddenly jumped up andContinue reading “Munchausen by proxy – too much time observing Carli”

Today my temperature was “normal for me” for the first time in a month. A very depressing 4 weeks of feeling unwell, being fearful that my body would not be able to fully recover “this time” While I never recovered most of my taste and smell from one year ago which means I do haveContinue reading “What I learned from The Sopranos….”

I didn’t intend to not blog for over a month. I am not sure I feel like it today but I want to reflect a bit before 2022. I have really enjoyed blogging – until December hit and I temporarily lost my voice. I was incensed by the Supreme Court case that looks like itContinue reading “Ending 2021 much as it started”

I am laying propped up on my sofa with my computer on one leg creating space so I do not disturb Carli’s nap. She was not inclined to be moved right now. She has the most entertaining moans – some of contentment and some of resentment. To my ear they sound pretty much the sameContinue reading “Being Thankful”

Katherine and I cycled to Overmountain Winery on Thursday about 11 miles from her home in Columbus NC. She said we were going to take the least hilly route to get there. I had ridden with her to the winery 2 years ago and remembered it to be challenging but not bad. It was aContinue reading “You never know what you are going to see while cycling”

I drove to Columbus, NC yesterday for a few days of fall biking with friends. It was a pretty easy drive and while trees were past peak colors the drive was still enjoyable even with a significant traffic back up because of an accident about half way between Nashville and Knoxville followed shortly by aContinue reading “You gotta love small towns”

I am pretty sure I know which night the diaphragm failed – and by failed I mean I was too exhausted to get up and put it in. My quick determination that I was in “safe” time of month was flawed. My periods were regular so when my period was late and I began toContinue reading “You can survive anything: pregnancy as an intern in 1982”

I am visiting family in Denver with time to write. The flight to Denver was uneventful. It was my first time since Covid and the Nashville airport seemed pretty normal except everyone had a mask on. The flight was the same. It was full and everyone had a mask on and I felt OK aboutContinue reading “Re-emerging is a gradual process”