Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is caused by the same virus as chickenpox. The virus remains in the nerves and is reactivated by illness or stress (basically lowered immune system). You can't 'catch' shingles. It is a recurrence of the virus in your body. However, it can cause someone who hasn't had chicken pox to have chicken pox.
For this reason I moved back to our old apartment to be quarantined for a week. Though it wasn't nice to have the sore, the burning sensation, the numbness, I was thankful for this week of real break for me. Since this semester started, it's just been a long battle for me, fraught with housing and neighbours-related difficulties. Finally, nobody can touch me! in confinement, but actually, the most free i've ever felt for a long while.
a time for physical refreshment. so well-rested i got a headache. i have been sleeping but not well rested.
a time for psychological refreshment. to clear my head and think through issues. i have just been rushing about doing too many things.
a time for spiritual refreshment. as the storm clouds pass away i am satisfied with His goodness and amazed at His deliverance. there is no rush of passion and joy, but there's the sweet acknowledgement of a hope i clinged on to and fulfilled. He is faithful. let me not doubt, let me not fear.
a time to learn to be abased. to receive freely, with gladness, with simplicity.
a time to restore my connections.
time for some randomness:
i've been consuming more than usual amounts of citrus fruits (which are making really lovely smells in the cupboard) and since the trash is all just my leftovers now, it was starting to smell like it would make some wonderful compost. after reading so much about growing tomato from garbage it is so tempting to do it! ah if only i've got a garden and all the time in the world (and the right season). i even thought of digging a hole in drummond's garden for them to throw their food scraps, and probably chuck in some worms too to party and make themselves at home;) would be quite fun to have some messing around. would be more fun to be able to grow some massive plant out of garbage!
my back is starting to hurt from sitting down too much. i realise i really like the sun in my old place. to be able to wake up to the light. to be able to say 'oh, it's sunny today'. to watch the sunlight warm up the living area. however, i find it so hard to sleep. i wonder why.
anyways, the virus should be dead by now so i'm going to break out tomorrow! some fresh air finally! and weather forecast is looking awesome for the next week! my favourite 20+ deg :D