I have always treasured the art of not being seen. I prefer to work in the shadows and stay behind the scenes in all I do. I guess I figure this will happen if I step out into the light...........
Why I stay hidden........
Don't get me wrong, I am a huge attention whore........if I did it then I want the credit, I just don't want anyone seeing me do it. The fewer to witness the deed the better. That is all about to change.
Last year I started a local support group for people suffering from Fibromyalgia like me. We have been going along very well with only me and 3 other members. I show up, pass out some info and then we talk about how things have gone for the last month and go home. The group has since decided that they would like to grow and help others, but they are just as shy as I am, so as their fearless leader I stepped up. Unfortunately there are many people in this area who suffer alone and could use some support.
Last month I took a notice to the local paper to be put in with the community news to let others know that we are here and invited them to join. A week later the paper called and wanted to do an article on our little group  , so they sent someone to interview me and one of the other members. We had hoped that the article would appear before our scheduled meeting tomorrow and that we might have a couple of new members. We have been watching the paper for the last couple of weeks to see when the article would appear.
This past Saturday morning one of the paper's editors called me. She wanted to let me know that they haven't run the article yet because they would like some pics to put in the paper with it.  They are going to send a photographer to our meeting tomorrow to take pics of our little group in action.  OMG.........I can't stay behind the scenes now with my pic and name plastered in the paper. 
And so I step outside the norm for me and become a public figure. I have developed a website for our group and even started talking to the others about setting up a table at the local health fair and hospitals to bring more attention to our group and Fibromyalgia. I may soon find myself wearing a nice white coat with long arms in a padded room before this is all over. I am definitely entering new territory here and getting in to something completely different for me.
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read more blogs!
Blogs by cartay25:
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| And now for something completely different...... |
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JimNastics
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May 13 @ 9:35PM
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You deserve accolades. 
Hurray for Cartay ! 
K 2 U
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gunn12fan
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May 13 @ 9:48PM
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you done good 
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Dixielady67
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May 13 @ 10:05PM
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You'll do just fine and don't forget to smile real big for the camera  
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EmmeS61
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May 13 @ 10:09PM
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You deserve the recognition! Not just for this but for the person that you are!!
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JimNastics
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May 13 @ 10:10PM
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In answer to your questions that you e-mailed me;
#1) No, comments on blogs or forums do not count toward your 100 e-mail limit.
#2) No, you do not get an e-mail when someone over the 100 e-mail limit posts a comment on your picture, or your blog.
BTW, I love monty Python ! I have the ENTIRE series.
I also have all of Fawlty Towers, all of Bless me Father
and much of Yes, Minister. Great stuff !! 
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teddybearagain
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May 13 @ 10:12PM
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Cart, you go girl !!!
~b*~i*~c*
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ladykay488
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May 13 @ 10:18PM
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Fender
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May 13 @ 10:24PM
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Yay for you Cartcart!!!!!!!!!
I have alway's known you were a super great lady and I am sure everything will go great when the people from the paper are there taking pics.
I'm super proud of you!
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Sugar_Lee
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May 13 @ 10:38PM
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SunBabe
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May 13 @ 11:08PM
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Your new "activism venture" put a memory-smile on my face, Cartay.
I remember years ago when I was desperately searching for a local support group, I finally found a name and phone number in the newspaper. I thought, "Cool! A bunch of people just like me -- ones who won't think I'm exaggerating, a hypochondriac, or that I'm lazy or crazy!"
I called the organizer, had a wonderful chat, then asked, "When do you meet?"
She replied, "Oh, we don't have actual meetings. We tried that the first couple of months, but everyone was just too darn tired to ever make it." 
Luckily there's a lot of good (though still frustrating  ) info on the net these days.
I'm SO glad you're helping with awareness -- and support. Blondino posted a blog recently on the UK's efforts to promote M.E. (myalgic encephalomyelitis) Awareness (which is the European name for fibromyalgia/cfs/cfids/mps, more or less). She had some good links, as I recall.
Shoot, it's too bad they didn't get your pictures and print the article yet -- You need to let the reporter know that yesterday, May 12th, was International Fibromyalgia Awareness Day...maybe you can make it "Week" in your community!
Best of luck, dear lady. Pulling things like this together is always kind of scarey, but you're so capable that I'm sure it'll be a success with your publicizing approach. Afterall, a good share of your "audience" and the people you're trying to reach are likely to be hidden away in nooks and crannies living their "half life" on the cope they can muster for the day. Your educational campaign should also be invaluable for the friends and families of fibro sufferers -- a faction that's often left out, confused or frustrated, wondering "What the heck is wrong with Aunt Suzy? She used to be so full of life?"
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poeticcougar
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May 14 @ 12:38AM
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omg I laughed so hard at that video..thanks for sharing CartCart
oh and way to go...congrats on the group and the recognition so deserved by the newspaper
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ceecee1952
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May 14 @ 1:02AM
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good job! and the tie to the video was fun.... all the best,cc
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aFriendlyBlogger
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May 14 @ 7:58AM
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Now worship the Almighty Cartay ! 
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cancun1999
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May 14 @ 8:10AM
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I am so proud of you my dear friend..
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EternalFlame
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May 14 @ 8:53AM
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And now for something completely different......
I have always treasured the art of not being seen
I love Python! The Holy Grail is perhaps the funniest movie ever released, and Spamalot is HILARIOUS! I saw it in Vegas and couldn't stop laughing.
That being said....congrats, Cart! That is awesome!
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hunt4luv
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May 14 @ 11:41PM
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Aint that sumpin.an all this time I just thought
You was a normal old country bumpkin.
Yous a real live celebrity cartey.
Its time to stop munching hay!!!!
Smile!!! I'm proud of you!
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