Well as most of you who read this know, I have not been the healthiest of people for several years now. I have been desperately searching for a reason that I feel so awful most of the time. I had hoped that my surgery in September of 2007 would help me, but alas that was not the case and since my nervous breakdown in October of last year (more on that on a day when I feel like getting into it) things have gotten worse, a lot worse. There have been more than a few days when I didn't see the point in going on. It's hard to admit that, being a proponent of living life to the fullest and all. So.... in summary I finally received a diagnosis last week. I have Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). While having a name for what ails me was comforting, turns out the causes and cures for FMS are unknown and underfunded. Yay. They do know that it is most likely hereditary, and as my mom had Lupus it is no surprise that I was susceptible to it.
I am still learning about the condition myself but have found the Mayo Clinic's website helpful. There are a lot of symptoms associated with the illness and some people have all of them or just a few. These are the ones that I have (from the American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association):Fatigue - This symptom can be mild in some fibromyalgia patients and yet incapacitating in others. The fatigue has been described as "brain fatigue" in which patients feel totally drained of energy. Many patients depict this situation by saying that they feel as though their arms and legs are tied to concrete blocks, making physical activity more difficult.
Sleep disorder - Most fibromyalgia patients have an associated sleep disorder called the alpha-EEG anomaly. This condition was uncovered in a sleep lab with the aid of a machine that recorded the brain waves of patients during sleep. Researchers found that the majority of fibromyalgia patients could fall asleep without much trouble, but their deep level (or stage 4) sleep was constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity. Patients appeared to spend the night with one foot in sleep and the other one out of it.
Sleep lab tests may not be necessary to determine if you have disturbed sleep. If you wake up feeling as though you've just been run over by a Mack truck—what doctors refer to as unrefreshing sleep—it is reasonable for your physician to assume that you have a sleep disorder. Many fibromyalgia patients have been found to have other sleep disorders in addition to the alpha-EEG, such as sleep apnea (as well as the newly discovered form of interrupted breathing called upper airway resistance syndrome, or UARS), bruxism (teeth grinding), periodic limb movement during sleep (jerking of arms and legs), and restless legs syndrome (difficulty sitting still in the evenings).
Dyscognition (or fibro fog) - Patients may describe this brain fogged feeling in a variety of ways, such as difficulty concentrating, disorganized thinking, memory problems, and inability to stay focused or alert. Minor distractions may greatly impair cognitive functions in people with fibromyalgia.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain, abdominal gas, and nausea represent symptoms frequently found in roughly 40 to 70% of fibromyalgia patients. Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) also occurs with the same high frequency.
Chronic headaches - Recurrent migraine or tension-type headaches are seen in about 70% of fibromyalgia patients and can pose a major problem in coping for this patient group.
Add those to :Other Common Symptoms - Premenstrual syndrome and painful periods, chest pain, morning stiffness, numbness and tingling sensations, muscle twitching, irritable bladder, the feeling of swollen extremities, skin sensitivities, dry eyes and mouth, dizziness, and impaired coordination may occur. Fibromyalgia patients are often sensitive to odors, loud noises, bright lights, and sometimes even the medications they are prescribed.
So yeah, no barrel of monkeys. But I have decided that now that I know what is wrong with me, and that there is no quick fix. There are however, things that I can try to do to control the "flare ups". I am going to stick to my yoga routine, try to walk more often and stay away from environmental factors that have been known to cause flare ups, like chemicals,stress (HA!), and anxiety (again, HA!).
I have been put on a mild medication to help with my Generalized Anxiety Disorder so as to hopefully control more of the potential flare ups. I start my highly intensive training program on June 1st. Which will consist of 12 hour work days plus three plus hours a day of homework. So it will be flare up mine field this summer. However, I am determined to not let this get the better of me. I am choosing to try to stay as healthy as I possibly can so that I can follow my heart and fulfill my dreams. I just hope that I don't get in my way too much.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Just another reason to let Bessy and Wilbur live
This article is from The Week Magazine, April 10, 2009 v. 9 issue 407. "Red Meat Will Kill You"
"The more steak, burgers, and bacon you eat, the sooner you'll die, says a new study of more than 500,000 people. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland compiled data on the intake of red and processed meats over a 10-year period, then cross-referenced data on deaths over the same decade. They found that both men and women who ate a lot of red meat and processed meats such as hot dogs and bacon were more than 30 percent more likely to die than people who rarely consumed these foods. "You eat a hot dog a week you're going to up, quite a bit, your risk of death in a 10-year period," epidemiologist Barry Popkin tells The Washington Post. Most of the premature deaths were the result of heart disease and cancer. Red meat contains high levels of saturated fat, which pushes up levels of bad cholesterol, and cooking red meat is known to produce carcinogenic compounds. Hot dogs, salami, and other processed meats contain enormous doses of salt and are preserved with nitrates, a known carcinogen. Health experts recommend that you eat red meat no more than once a week, and that you eliminate processed meats from your diet completely."
"The more steak, burgers, and bacon you eat, the sooner you'll die, says a new study of more than 500,000 people. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland compiled data on the intake of red and processed meats over a 10-year period, then cross-referenced data on deaths over the same decade. They found that both men and women who ate a lot of red meat and processed meats such as hot dogs and bacon were more than 30 percent more likely to die than people who rarely consumed these foods. "You eat a hot dog a week you're going to up, quite a bit, your risk of death in a 10-year period," epidemiologist Barry Popkin tells The Washington Post. Most of the premature deaths were the result of heart disease and cancer. Red meat contains high levels of saturated fat, which pushes up levels of bad cholesterol, and cooking red meat is known to produce carcinogenic compounds. Hot dogs, salami, and other processed meats contain enormous doses of salt and are preserved with nitrates, a known carcinogen. Health experts recommend that you eat red meat no more than once a week, and that you eliminate processed meats from your diet completely."
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Finuhh
I guess a year of ignoring my blog is long enough. I just don't think I have much to write about lately since I mostly sit on my butt waiting for June. But since it was requested I shall post the following information:
Sources of Vegetarian Protein:
Eggs
Beans (such as kidney, black, and pinto)
Tofu
Soy milk
Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk, yogurt, etc.
numerous protein drinks and supplement options
quinoa
seeds (sunflower, pumpkin)
seaweed
nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts and of course my personal favorite, peanut butter
some vegetables such as brussel sprouts and potatoes
For more information and a list of helpful sources of complete proteins please visit the veggietable (clever, huh?)
Sources of Vegetarian Protein:
Eggs
Beans (such as kidney, black, and pinto)
Tofu
Soy milk
Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk, yogurt, etc.
numerous protein drinks and supplement options
quinoa
seeds (sunflower, pumpkin)
seaweed
nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts and of course my personal favorite, peanut butter
some vegetables such as brussel sprouts and potatoes
For more information and a list of helpful sources of complete proteins please visit the veggietable (clever, huh?)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Happy Earth Day!!!
Got this from Low Impact Living Blog, great site to begin with and a great article below:
Well it’s a magical day here on our planet– it’s Earth Day. We hope you are all planning to do some serious celebrating. Perhaps you are going for a hike– or even doing something outstanding like a beach clean up!
But we have to admit that here at Low Impact Living we’re a bit conflicted about Earth Day. It’s excellent that we all take this day to give praise to our planet, of course. But shouldn’t we all be living an “Earth Life”? We’d like to encourage all of us to move from celebrating one day on to embracing a year-around approach to living that gives Mother Nature a big high five of support.
To quote a popular election refrain these days, “Yes we can.” Here are seven things we hope you’ll agree are pretty easy to do on an on-going basis. If we can all integrate these seven simple steps into our “Earth Life” we will really be friends of our favorite planet.
1. Give up bottled water– for good. Drink from a glass at home, take your own reusable jug or bottle to the gym, and encourage your office to get a water filter or a water service. Americans throw out over 40 million plastic bottles each year and over 80% end up in landfills. If everyone on your block stopped using bottled water you could probably cut out 5000 bottles each year.
2. Buy green power from your utility. You can pay a few extra dollars each month and support power generation from renewable, clean sources like wind, water and biomass. Click here to learn more about programs in your area.
3. Eat meat (at least) one fewer day per week. Raising animals for meat (particularly beef) places an incredible strain on our natural resources. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, one pound of red meat is responsible for 20 times the land use, five times the water use, and three times the greenhouse gas pollution compared with a portion of beans or pasta.
4. Take reusable bags to the grocery store. No more paper or plastic. Just good old canvas. The average American uses over 500 plastic shopping bags a year– but you are not an Average American!
5. Fly one time less each year. Plane travel is one of the greatest sources of carbon emissions (and global warming). Maybe you could drive or take a train to your destination. Or consider planning a vacation closer to home. To learn more about the impacts of flying, click here.
6. Buy less stuff. New products require the destruction of trees, the use of petroleum for plastics, shipping, packaging…our incessant chain of production and consumption chain is one of great threats to the sustainability of our planet. Can you use that sweater another year? Maybe you could swap some furniture items with a friend. Perhaps you can you get something on Craig’s List rather than at Toys-R-Us?
7. Make sure you are recycling as much as possible. You need to know your city’s rules. We’re amazed by the number of people in our city, Los Angeles, who don’t know they can recycle ALL types of plastic and styrofoam. You may be able to recycle more than you think!
http://www.lowimpactliving.com/blog/2008/04/21/celebrate-earth-day-embrace-earth-life/
Monday, April 21, 2008
I am a horrible person
This has been a rough month for me and in order to get everything else done in my life the blog had been put on the back burner.
I promise the 10 days of health with come, just not sure when. Not to make excuses for myself but here is what I have been doing:
-My husband left me in Ohio all alone for AF training in Alabama. He has been gone 2 weeks and will be gone for another 4. This in itself has been VERY hard to deal with, and having the movers come 2 days after he gets back means that getting the house ready to go falls on me, as does everything else. ughhh.
-I have been "sick": having weird heart palpitations. I now have an ultra stylish heart monitor strapped to my side and itchy pads on my chest and have to push a button that makes the device screech like a banshee when I have an "episode". There is a whole mess of issues associated with the logistics of this little thing and I don't want to get into it, I will say that the phone company we use SUCKS!!
-I graduate in about 6 weeks, not sure if I have senioritis or what but I have been slacking majorily with course work, and now feel overwhelmed, which of course doesn't help my heart issues.
-On a plus side I have a wonderful new friend (yes, amazing as it is, Nicole made a friend, all by herself). Sad that I have to leave her after we have grown so close. I am watching her dog for a week while she is in Hawaii, and the cats hate the dog (which is a major understatement) but luckily he does not mind them (or want to make dinner of them).
-I have been chairing a number of panels at school, which are always at the ass crack of dawn, so I am sleepy and cranky the rest of the day.
-Relay for Life was this weekend, I managed to tough it out for 12 hours despite my heart freaking out for most of the night, and I got sunburned and bit by a spider... inside of my shoe... not sure how that happened exactly.
So there it is, my sorry excuses for letting my blog go to poo. I promise that when I start feeling normal again I will be more diligent. Until then, you will just have to wait on the edge of your seat for Nicole's next stimulating post. =)
I promise the 10 days of health with come, just not sure when. Not to make excuses for myself but here is what I have been doing:
-My husband left me in Ohio all alone for AF training in Alabama. He has been gone 2 weeks and will be gone for another 4. This in itself has been VERY hard to deal with, and having the movers come 2 days after he gets back means that getting the house ready to go falls on me, as does everything else. ughhh.
-I have been "sick": having weird heart palpitations. I now have an ultra stylish heart monitor strapped to my side and itchy pads on my chest and have to push a button that makes the device screech like a banshee when I have an "episode". There is a whole mess of issues associated with the logistics of this little thing and I don't want to get into it, I will say that the phone company we use SUCKS!!
-I graduate in about 6 weeks, not sure if I have senioritis or what but I have been slacking majorily with course work, and now feel overwhelmed, which of course doesn't help my heart issues.
-On a plus side I have a wonderful new friend (yes, amazing as it is, Nicole made a friend, all by herself). Sad that I have to leave her after we have grown so close. I am watching her dog for a week while she is in Hawaii, and the cats hate the dog (which is a major understatement) but luckily he does not mind them (or want to make dinner of them).
-I have been chairing a number of panels at school, which are always at the ass crack of dawn, so I am sleepy and cranky the rest of the day.
-Relay for Life was this weekend, I managed to tough it out for 12 hours despite my heart freaking out for most of the night, and I got sunburned and bit by a spider... inside of my shoe... not sure how that happened exactly.
So there it is, my sorry excuses for letting my blog go to poo. I promise that when I start feeling normal again I will be more diligent. Until then, you will just have to wait on the edge of your seat for Nicole's next stimulating post. =)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
For the Next 10 Days:
This site will be dedicated to vegetarianism and an organic lifestyle!
I am reading the most fascinating book I have ever laid eyes on (which is saying a lot). It is called Harvest For Hope and was written by one of my personal heroes, Ms. Jane Goodall. Here are some quotes to get the 10 days of veg-o started!
"There are so many, many ways in which we are destroying the planet. And once we understand, once we care, then we have to do something." (xix)
"If we continue to allow the corporate world to control our food supply, we could devour or poison, within the next half century, all the food resources that sustain us." (xxiii)
"It is desperately imortant to cut back on the current greedy consumption of meat that is the norm for many around the world." (104)
I am reading the most fascinating book I have ever laid eyes on (which is saying a lot). It is called Harvest For Hope and was written by one of my personal heroes, Ms. Jane Goodall. Here are some quotes to get the 10 days of veg-o started!
"There are so many, many ways in which we are destroying the planet. And once we understand, once we care, then we have to do something." (xix)
"If we continue to allow the corporate world to control our food supply, we could devour or poison, within the next half century, all the food resources that sustain us." (xxiii)
"It is desperately imortant to cut back on the current greedy consumption of meat that is the norm for many around the world." (104)
Monday, March 17, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Update
Adam finished his thesis and defense and turned in his final work for publication. He had a sweet blurb in his acknowledgement section about me. Kinda made me teary eyed =). His actual graduation ceremony is on the 27th. I will do my best to remember to bring the camera, boys in blues photograph well =).
We have rented a cabin the Hocking Hills state park for a few days next week. I am super excited. We are going to eat, play games, and hike. Basically enjoy our last bit of time together before Adam leaves me for ASBC (training in Alabama for 6 weeks).
I have one more final and winter quarter will be complete! Whoo! One more quarter and I will be a college graduate! yeah me!
I have now lost a total of 15.6 pounds and one pant size. I am super happy, and excited to lose the rest.
We have rented a cabin the Hocking Hills state park for a few days next week. I am super excited. We are going to eat, play games, and hike. Basically enjoy our last bit of time together before Adam leaves me for ASBC (training in Alabama for 6 weeks).
I have one more final and winter quarter will be complete! Whoo! One more quarter and I will be a college graduate! yeah me!
I have now lost a total of 15.6 pounds and one pant size. I am super happy, and excited to lose the rest.
Cats are not big fans of the vet
We took both Charlotte and Maya to the vet today. It was an adventure. Charlotte about clawed the assistant to death when she picked her up to trim her claws and weigh her. Then the hair started flying. I swear there was an inch on the floor of the exam room by the time we left. Maya was an angel, of course, but was still not a happy camper.
Both girls are now up to date on all of their shots and are healthy. Apparently Charlotte had ear mites from the shelter we got her from and gave them as a present to Maya. That was gross. The people we got her from lied to us, they SWORE she had just been checked for mites and just had some dirt in her ears. Filthy liars!! =) So now we get to put two drops of smelly yuck in both kitties' ears for 7-10 days. If you have a cat or have had a cat you know just how fun trying to put stuff in their ears can be. ughhh.
The vet also said they are both fit for the journey to Arizona and will most likely not require any type of tranquilizers. She gave us some good tips on what to do to make the journey easier for them. It is still going to be a nightmare but worth it to bring them with us!
Both girls are now up to date on all of their shots and are healthy. Apparently Charlotte had ear mites from the shelter we got her from and gave them as a present to Maya. That was gross. The people we got her from lied to us, they SWORE she had just been checked for mites and just had some dirt in her ears. Filthy liars!! =) So now we get to put two drops of smelly yuck in both kitties' ears for 7-10 days. If you have a cat or have had a cat you know just how fun trying to put stuff in their ears can be. ughhh.
The vet also said they are both fit for the journey to Arizona and will most likely not require any type of tranquilizers. She gave us some good tips on what to do to make the journey easier for them. It is still going to be a nightmare but worth it to bring them with us!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Green Tip #4
This one may not be a real simple one for most people, but I made the transition easily and haven't looked back. If you do it for the right reasons it can be very satisfying:
BE A VEGETARIAN!!
There are several sites for the many, many reasons to do this but here are a few of my favorite:
People:
If all Americans became vegetarian, it would free enough grain to feed 600,000,000 people (the population of India)
Land:
If they continue to clear American forests to raise cattle at the present rate, in 50 years there will be none left
Air:
The destruction of the rain forest by cattle farmers is destroying the lungs of the planet & reducing the worlds capacity to replenish our oxygen supply
Water:
25 gallons of water to produce 1lb of wheat & 2500 gallons to produce 1lb of meat
Health:
Vegetarians have a 20% lower rate of mortality from all causes (ie. they live longer & don't get sick as often)
Meat contains absolutely nothing - no proteins, vitamins or minerals - that the human body cannot obtain perfectly happily from a vegetarian diet.
(from: 101 Reasons to go Vegetarian)
The list goes on and on and on, here is another site if you are interested in more info.
BE A VEGETARIAN!!
There are several sites for the many, many reasons to do this but here are a few of my favorite:
People:
If all Americans became vegetarian, it would free enough grain to feed 600,000,000 people (the population of India)
Land:
If they continue to clear American forests to raise cattle at the present rate, in 50 years there will be none left
Air:
The destruction of the rain forest by cattle farmers is destroying the lungs of the planet & reducing the worlds capacity to replenish our oxygen supply
Water:
25 gallons of water to produce 1lb of wheat & 2500 gallons to produce 1lb of meat
Health:
Vegetarians have a 20% lower rate of mortality from all causes (ie. they live longer & don't get sick as often)
Meat contains absolutely nothing - no proteins, vitamins or minerals - that the human body cannot obtain perfectly happily from a vegetarian diet.
(from: 101 Reasons to go Vegetarian)
The list goes on and on and on, here is another site if you are interested in more info.
Quote of the week
To add to my endeavor to post a green tip every week I am also endeavoring to post a quote every week as well. I will post things that I think provoke thought, amusement, or simply alleviate my bordeom.
So here is the first quote, take from it what you will, I love it:
People in the West are always getting ready to live.
—Chinese Proverb
So here is the first quote, take from it what you will, I love it:
People in the West are always getting ready to live.
—Chinese Proverb
People
I try hard to tolerate all sorts of people. I have no problem liking, respecting and even adoring people who are of different physical appearances, orientation, religion (well most of them... =)). But I have a really hard time liking people who have a pile of dog poop for personality. I can get past most anything except the following list, these people boil my blood and make me run for the hills:
-People who thrive on confrontation and making other people feel bad . I mean the type who go out of their way to see others cry, just because, with no provocation at all. I despise senseless confrontation, I can't for the life of me understand why it makes people feel good about themselves. (Note the "senseless" qualifier, sometimes confrontation is a great thing, but it absolutely should have a reason, any reason at really, not just "oh I think I am better than you so watch me hurt you")
-People who think they live on an island. I mean this metaphorically of course. These are people who think their behavior will in no way affect anyone else on the planet. I have news for you "islanders" EVERYTHING you do affects some other organism, be it human, ape, tree, crustacean, or even future living things. We live in an extremely interconnected ecosystem. Conscientious awareness is a spectacular thing, if you are not doing it, you should give it a try, it can make you understand the world better if you view it as an interconnected system. Once I realized this I became a much happier person, it makes everything you do have a purpose (that is if you choose to contribute in a positive way to the ecosystem, which can sometimes mean doing nothing at all). Being a part of something bigger than yourself is an awesome thing.
-People who practice violence as their ONLY means of portraying their thoughts, feelings or emotions. Hey, sometimes people need a nice kick in the ass when they are being stupid, but if punching someone in the mouth is the only way you can express yourself you are going to have some serious problems functioning on this little blue marble.
In the words of my very enlightened Uncle, "I like all kinds of people as long as they are good people".
Luckily I am one of those humanist types that thinks just about everyone can choose to be a good person (despite past transgressions). There are those who I don't have much hope for, but it is a very small number and I have yet to actually meet a person who fits this description, though I know they probably exist (i.e. Stalin, Hitler).
-People who thrive on confrontation and making other people feel bad . I mean the type who go out of their way to see others cry, just because, with no provocation at all. I despise senseless confrontation, I can't for the life of me understand why it makes people feel good about themselves. (Note the "senseless" qualifier, sometimes confrontation is a great thing, but it absolutely should have a reason, any reason at really, not just "oh I think I am better than you so watch me hurt you")
-People who think they live on an island. I mean this metaphorically of course. These are people who think their behavior will in no way affect anyone else on the planet. I have news for you "islanders" EVERYTHING you do affects some other organism, be it human, ape, tree, crustacean, or even future living things. We live in an extremely interconnected ecosystem. Conscientious awareness is a spectacular thing, if you are not doing it, you should give it a try, it can make you understand the world better if you view it as an interconnected system. Once I realized this I became a much happier person, it makes everything you do have a purpose (that is if you choose to contribute in a positive way to the ecosystem, which can sometimes mean doing nothing at all). Being a part of something bigger than yourself is an awesome thing.
-People who practice violence as their ONLY means of portraying their thoughts, feelings or emotions. Hey, sometimes people need a nice kick in the ass when they are being stupid, but if punching someone in the mouth is the only way you can express yourself you are going to have some serious problems functioning on this little blue marble.
In the words of my very enlightened Uncle, "I like all kinds of people as long as they are good people".
Luckily I am one of those humanist types that thinks just about everyone can choose to be a good person (despite past transgressions). There are those who I don't have much hope for, but it is a very small number and I have yet to actually meet a person who fits this description, though I know they probably exist (i.e. Stalin, Hitler).
Friday, February 29, 2008
50 Days
Yesterday marked 50 days on Nutrisystem for me. I have hit a bit of a stall after the rapid weight loss in the beginning. I have lost 13.8 pounds total. The last 7 days I lost zero (but didn't gain!) and this morning I started to go down a bit again. I have not been faithful with my exercise because of school, but I have scheduled my classes for next quarter in such a way that I should have more time.
I spent four hours yesterday doing a total overhaul of my living room/dinning room/what used to be the bunny area. I got rid of a lot of furniture and thew away a bunch of junk, and put my "office" in the dining room where the bunnies used to be. It felt great to clean up and clear out and since I did all of the moving and heavy lifting on my own (shoulda taken pictures, it was a disaster area before) I am sure I burned a bunch of calories.
Still have not gotten orders from the AF. I bug my husband everyday to bug the people who issue them but alas, no orders. There is little I can do to prepare for the move without dates and orders. We are looking to rent a house in the Queen Creek area, I decided I needed to be wayyy out of town and away from the noisy, scary people in order to be happy in Phoenix. So I am going to take the free shuttle from the ASU east campus to the main everyday. The east campus just happens to be across the street from where Adam will be working.
Old news: I was too sad about it to share earlier but I think I made it clear from the previous statements that we no longer have Oreo and Fiona. We found them a great home with kids and a mom who loves them. Ever since we found out we would be moving to Phoenix we knew the girls would not be able to go. The 2,000 mile journey in the hot summer alone would most likely have killed them and the hot dry air of the desert would not have been healthy either. We miss them a lot but know that they are loved and being well cared for.
I spent four hours yesterday doing a total overhaul of my living room/dinning room/what used to be the bunny area. I got rid of a lot of furniture and thew away a bunch of junk, and put my "office" in the dining room where the bunnies used to be. It felt great to clean up and clear out and since I did all of the moving and heavy lifting on my own (shoulda taken pictures, it was a disaster area before) I am sure I burned a bunch of calories.
Still have not gotten orders from the AF. I bug my husband everyday to bug the people who issue them but alas, no orders. There is little I can do to prepare for the move without dates and orders. We are looking to rent a house in the Queen Creek area, I decided I needed to be wayyy out of town and away from the noisy, scary people in order to be happy in Phoenix. So I am going to take the free shuttle from the ASU east campus to the main everyday. The east campus just happens to be across the street from where Adam will be working.
Old news: I was too sad about it to share earlier but I think I made it clear from the previous statements that we no longer have Oreo and Fiona. We found them a great home with kids and a mom who loves them. Ever since we found out we would be moving to Phoenix we knew the girls would not be able to go. The 2,000 mile journey in the hot summer alone would most likely have killed them and the hot dry air of the desert would not have been healthy either. We miss them a lot but know that they are loved and being well cared for.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Scary Statistics
I am studying for a test in my Environmental Law and Policy class tomorrow and read the following rather alarming statistics in my text book:
-Chronic diseases and conditions affect more than 100 million people in the United States alone (this includes things like cancer, asthma, Alzheimer's, endometriosis, infertility, multiple sclerosis, autism, Lupus, and Parkinson's disease).
-Nearly 12 million (17%) children in the U.S. alone suffer from one or more developmental disabilities.
-Breast cancer now affects more women worldwide than any other type of cancer with rates of occurrence increasing 50% over the last half century. In the 1940's the lifetime risk of breast cancer for a woman was 1 in 22, now it is 1 in 8 and rising.
"Environmental Issues", Thomas Easton, 12th ed.
Granted, one must factor in that the number of people on the planet has grown exponentially. Still, this scared me, I personally know people that suffer from M.S. (my Dad's brother died from it, my good friend's mother is currently suffering from it), a few family members have been lost to cancer, Adam's close friend is currently fighting it (he has an advanced form of testicular cancer, which has spread throughout his abdomen and is fighting for his life in the second cycle of chemotherapy as I type this), I have family members with autism, bi-polar disorder, Lupus, developmental disorders and have lost more than two people to Alzheimer's and dementia in the last 10 years alone (my grandmother just recently).
These statistics aren't just statistics to me, they are very real. These people are just some of the reasons I am interested in alleviating any environmental factors which may be causing these problems. Its why I get out of bed and go to school everyday, with the hope that I might contribute to helping the world (and those I love) in some small way in the future. Not a bad reason to get up in my opinion, well saving the world and coffee... ;). Hey, gotta keep a sense of humor about life or might just want to give up on it.
-Chronic diseases and conditions affect more than 100 million people in the United States alone (this includes things like cancer, asthma, Alzheimer's, endometriosis, infertility, multiple sclerosis, autism, Lupus, and Parkinson's disease).
-Nearly 12 million (17%) children in the U.S. alone suffer from one or more developmental disabilities.
-Breast cancer now affects more women worldwide than any other type of cancer with rates of occurrence increasing 50% over the last half century. In the 1940's the lifetime risk of breast cancer for a woman was 1 in 22, now it is 1 in 8 and rising.
"Environmental Issues", Thomas Easton, 12th ed.
Granted, one must factor in that the number of people on the planet has grown exponentially. Still, this scared me, I personally know people that suffer from M.S. (my Dad's brother died from it, my good friend's mother is currently suffering from it), a few family members have been lost to cancer, Adam's close friend is currently fighting it (he has an advanced form of testicular cancer, which has spread throughout his abdomen and is fighting for his life in the second cycle of chemotherapy as I type this), I have family members with autism, bi-polar disorder, Lupus, developmental disorders and have lost more than two people to Alzheimer's and dementia in the last 10 years alone (my grandmother just recently).
These statistics aren't just statistics to me, they are very real. These people are just some of the reasons I am interested in alleviating any environmental factors which may be causing these problems. Its why I get out of bed and go to school everyday, with the hope that I might contribute to helping the world (and those I love) in some small way in the future. Not a bad reason to get up in my opinion, well saving the world and coffee... ;). Hey, gotta keep a sense of humor about life or might just want to give up on it.
Favorite Books
I liked this quote I read on Merc's site: "A man is known by the books he reads." — Ralph Waldo Emerson. I think it is very true. So I thought it fitting to list my top three favorite books (granted this is on a list a mile long, I am a nerd and proud of it).
1) Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn. This book is responsible for (to use my husband's term) "waking me up". I first read it in high school after a friend, who was more "awake" than I was at the time, allowed me to read his copy. I of course own my own copy now and have read it multiple times. I always turn to it when I feel I need a little motivation for my continued quest of saving the world. It is now sufficiently written in and dog-eared, the way all good books should be.
2) Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte. Not entirely sure why I love this book so much, but I do. It may be the classical, romantic (as in time period and style not mushy) elements, as well as the hints of feminism. This spot could be tied with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. If you have not read it, you should. I would also recommend reading any cliff notes or study guides with it, as I read it for two different classes and believe you need to know all of the background of this great novel to get the full effect of it beauty.
3) Beyond Civilization, also by Daniel Quinn. Another book which is written in and dog-eared. Short read but well worth the time. May be necessary to read Ishmael first in order to grasp what he is getting at. I guess I should just say that I adore Daniel Quinn and everything he has written.
3)b) Again there is a tie here, with Jared Diamond's Collapse. I had the extreme pleasure of hearing Dr. Diamond speak last month and I certainly agree with the President of my university calling him "one of the greatest minds of our time".
Some day I shall make a full list of all the wonderful books I have read as well as categorizing my thoughts and feelings about them. By someday I mean before I turn 80, because that is when I assume I will stop taking college courses and will have some free time =).
1) Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn. This book is responsible for (to use my husband's term) "waking me up". I first read it in high school after a friend, who was more "awake" than I was at the time, allowed me to read his copy. I of course own my own copy now and have read it multiple times. I always turn to it when I feel I need a little motivation for my continued quest of saving the world. It is now sufficiently written in and dog-eared, the way all good books should be.
2) Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte. Not entirely sure why I love this book so much, but I do. It may be the classical, romantic (as in time period and style not mushy) elements, as well as the hints of feminism. This spot could be tied with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. If you have not read it, you should. I would also recommend reading any cliff notes or study guides with it, as I read it for two different classes and believe you need to know all of the background of this great novel to get the full effect of it beauty.
3) Beyond Civilization, also by Daniel Quinn. Another book which is written in and dog-eared. Short read but well worth the time. May be necessary to read Ishmael first in order to grasp what he is getting at. I guess I should just say that I adore Daniel Quinn and everything he has written.
3)b) Again there is a tie here, with Jared Diamond's Collapse. I had the extreme pleasure of hearing Dr. Diamond speak last month and I certainly agree with the President of my university calling him "one of the greatest minds of our time".
Some day I shall make a full list of all the wonderful books I have read as well as categorizing my thoughts and feelings about them. By someday I mean before I turn 80, because that is when I assume I will stop taking college courses and will have some free time =).
Music
I discovered a fabulous British artist named ADELE. So far she only has two singles released in the U.S. but I will definitely be one of the first to buy her full C.D. when it hits the States. I found her on itunes, as a free download and have listened to both of her songs 20 times.
John Mayer, one of my all-time favorite artists released a new single, SAY. You can listen to it for free at his website www.johnmayer.com. It is fabulous. Apparently it was on the movie "Bucket List" which I didn't see but have heard good things about. We saw John Mayer in concert last year and it was just amazing, he is a great performer and has immense talent. This new song can bring tears to your eyes and make you smile all within three minutes.
John Mayer, one of my all-time favorite artists released a new single, SAY. You can listen to it for free at his website www.johnmayer.com. It is fabulous. Apparently it was on the movie "Bucket List" which I didn't see but have heard good things about. We saw John Mayer in concert last year and it was just amazing, he is a great performer and has immense talent. This new song can bring tears to your eyes and make you smile all within three minutes.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Helpless
Watching someone you love hurt their body and refuse to seek help could possibly be one of the most difficult things to deal with. How do you convince someone that the way they are living... well they won't be living for long. The only word I can find for it is helpless. It is despair, sadness, pain, all with no relief in sight.
I'm not going to give up the fight. Other people have cast her aside but I won't do it. I don't want to live with regret, with "if I had only...". I know what it feels like to feel you have no one to turn to at your darkest hour, to have no comfort, to have no one there to help brush off the dust when you fall. I will be there for her, she deserves better than what life has handed to her. I will dig deep and find the strength within me that helped me pull myself out of the darkness. I just wish I knew what she needed, wish I didn't feel so helpless.
I'm not going to give up the fight. Other people have cast her aside but I won't do it. I don't want to live with regret, with "if I had only...". I know what it feels like to feel you have no one to turn to at your darkest hour, to have no comfort, to have no one there to help brush off the dust when you fall. I will be there for her, she deserves better than what life has handed to her. I will dig deep and find the strength within me that helped me pull myself out of the darkness. I just wish I knew what she needed, wish I didn't feel so helpless.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Green Tip #3
Make a small investment in reusable shopping bags. These bags are fantastic, not only will you help to reduce waste and the use of virgin materials but your house will be neater without 50,000 plastic grocery sacks hanging around. =)
Here are some good sites for reusable bags:
www.envirosax.com
www.reusablebags.com
www.baggubag.com
* Also, some stores like Target are selling their own reusable shopping bags made from recycled materials and are usually around $1.00.
Here are some good sites for reusable bags:
www.envirosax.com
www.reusablebags.com
www.baggubag.com
* Also, some stores like Target are selling their own reusable shopping bags made from recycled materials and are usually around $1.00.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Interesting
I took the Myers-Briggs personality test and thought the results were very interesting:
I am an INFJ, Introverted 67% (no surprise there), Intuitive 100% (shouldn't I be able to read people's minds or something?), Feeling, 50% (really thought it would be more), Judging 44%.
Detailed description: of a "Counselor"
The Portait of the Counselor (INFJ)
The Counselor Idealists are abstract in thought and speech, cooperative in reaching their goals, and enterprising and attentive in their interpersonal roles. Counselors focus on human potentials, think in terms of ethical values, and come easily to decisions. The small number of this type (little more than 2 percent) is regrettable, since Counselors have an unusually strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others and genuinely enjoy helping their companions. Although Counsleors tend to be private, sensitive people, and are not generally visible leaders, they nevertheless work quite intensely with those close to them, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes with their families, friends, and colleagues. This type has great depth of personality; they are themselves complicated, and can understand and deal with complex issues and people.
Counselors can be hard to get to know. They have an unusually rich inner life, but they are reserved and tend not to share their reactions except with those they trust. With their loved ones, certainly, Counselors are not reluctant to express their feelings, their face lighting up with the positive emotions, but darkening like a thunderhead with the negative. Indeed, because of their strong ability to take into themselves the feelings of others, Counselors can be hurt rather easily by those around them, which, perhaps, is one reason why they tend to be private people, mutely withdrawing from human contact. At the same time, friends who have known a Counselor for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that they are inconsistent; Counselors value their integrity a great deal, but they have intricately woven, mysterious personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.
Counselors have strong empathic abilities and can become aware of another's emotions or intentions -- good or evil -- even before that person is conscious of them. This "mind-reading" can take the form of feeling the hidden distress or illnesses of others to an extent which is difficult for other types to comprehend. Even Counselors can seldom tell how they came to penetrate others' feelings so keenly. Furthermore, the Counselor is most likely of all the types to demonstrate an ability to understand psychic phenomena and to have visions of human events, past, present, or future. What is known as ESP may well be exceptional intuitive ability-in both its forms, projection and introjection. Such supernormal intuition is found frequently in the Counselor, and can extend to people, things, and often events, taking the form of visions, episodes of foreknowledge, premonitions, auditory and visual images of things to come, as well as uncanny communications with certain individuals at a distance.
Mohandas Gandhi, Sidney Poitier, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jane Goodall, Emily Bronte, Sir Alec Guiness, Carl Jung, Mary Baker Eddy, Queen Noor are examples of the Counselor Idealist (INFJ).
Here is a second description:
Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life. Those who are activists -- INFJs gravitate toward such a role -- are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power.
INFJs are champions of the oppressed and downtrodden. They often are found in the wake of an emergency, rescuing those who are in acute distress. INFJs may fantasize about getting revenge on those who victimize the defenseless. The concept of 'poetic justice' is appealing to the INFJ.
"There's something rotten in Denmark." Accurately suspicious about others' motives, INFJs are not easily led. These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time. Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.
INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately.
Writing, counseling, public service and even politics are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche.
* I take it as a very good sign that two people whom I have great respect for (Jane Goodall, Eleanor Roosevelt) and one whom I just about worship (Mohandas Gandhi) are the same type that I am. This was frighteningly exact of how I feel and apparently act, my husband actually said "you didn't know that about yourself?". Wow, what an amazing thing to read something that understands you so well. I think people should carry around a little card describing themselves, perhaps people wouldn't be so weirded out by me if they knew that my intentions were good =).
Here are my career prospects:
Literature/Writer, Humanities,Web Design (??) Philosophy, Archaeology, Social Service, Religious Education, Psychology/Counseling
*With the second description, "Public Service" I guess I am on the right track with environmental planning! Whoo, I made a smart choice!
How very awesome this info is. Thanks, Merc.
I am an INFJ, Introverted 67% (no surprise there), Intuitive 100% (shouldn't I be able to read people's minds or something?), Feeling, 50% (really thought it would be more), Judging 44%.
Detailed description: of a "Counselor"
The Portait of the Counselor (INFJ)
The Counselor Idealists are abstract in thought and speech, cooperative in reaching their goals, and enterprising and attentive in their interpersonal roles. Counselors focus on human potentials, think in terms of ethical values, and come easily to decisions. The small number of this type (little more than 2 percent) is regrettable, since Counselors have an unusually strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others and genuinely enjoy helping their companions. Although Counsleors tend to be private, sensitive people, and are not generally visible leaders, they nevertheless work quite intensely with those close to them, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes with their families, friends, and colleagues. This type has great depth of personality; they are themselves complicated, and can understand and deal with complex issues and people.
Counselors can be hard to get to know. They have an unusually rich inner life, but they are reserved and tend not to share their reactions except with those they trust. With their loved ones, certainly, Counselors are not reluctant to express their feelings, their face lighting up with the positive emotions, but darkening like a thunderhead with the negative. Indeed, because of their strong ability to take into themselves the feelings of others, Counselors can be hurt rather easily by those around them, which, perhaps, is one reason why they tend to be private people, mutely withdrawing from human contact. At the same time, friends who have known a Counselor for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that they are inconsistent; Counselors value their integrity a great deal, but they have intricately woven, mysterious personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.
Counselors have strong empathic abilities and can become aware of another's emotions or intentions -- good or evil -- even before that person is conscious of them. This "mind-reading" can take the form of feeling the hidden distress or illnesses of others to an extent which is difficult for other types to comprehend. Even Counselors can seldom tell how they came to penetrate others' feelings so keenly. Furthermore, the Counselor is most likely of all the types to demonstrate an ability to understand psychic phenomena and to have visions of human events, past, present, or future. What is known as ESP may well be exceptional intuitive ability-in both its forms, projection and introjection. Such supernormal intuition is found frequently in the Counselor, and can extend to people, things, and often events, taking the form of visions, episodes of foreknowledge, premonitions, auditory and visual images of things to come, as well as uncanny communications with certain individuals at a distance.
Mohandas Gandhi, Sidney Poitier, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jane Goodall, Emily Bronte, Sir Alec Guiness, Carl Jung, Mary Baker Eddy, Queen Noor are examples of the Counselor Idealist (INFJ).
Here is a second description:
Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life. Those who are activists -- INFJs gravitate toward such a role -- are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power.
INFJs are champions of the oppressed and downtrodden. They often are found in the wake of an emergency, rescuing those who are in acute distress. INFJs may fantasize about getting revenge on those who victimize the defenseless. The concept of 'poetic justice' is appealing to the INFJ.
"There's something rotten in Denmark." Accurately suspicious about others' motives, INFJs are not easily led. These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time. Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.
INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately.
Writing, counseling, public service and even politics are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche.
* I take it as a very good sign that two people whom I have great respect for (Jane Goodall, Eleanor Roosevelt) and one whom I just about worship (Mohandas Gandhi) are the same type that I am. This was frighteningly exact of how I feel and apparently act, my husband actually said "you didn't know that about yourself?". Wow, what an amazing thing to read something that understands you so well. I think people should carry around a little card describing themselves, perhaps people wouldn't be so weirded out by me if they knew that my intentions were good =).
Here are my career prospects:
Literature/Writer, Humanities,Web Design (??) Philosophy, Archaeology, Social Service, Religious Education, Psychology/Counseling
*With the second description, "Public Service" I guess I am on the right track with environmental planning! Whoo, I made a smart choice!
How very awesome this info is. Thanks, Merc.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Green Tip # 2, Valentine's Day
Valentines Day rivals Christmas for its wastefulness. Here are some tips to make your red day more green:
Fun Flowers
Valentine’s Day is the biggest event of the year for the floral industry, but unfortunately that can mean clouds of toxic pesticides sprayed upon fields far and near, harming waterways, soil and air quality and worker health. Luckily, a growing number of organically raised flowers are becoming available online, in health food stores and at better florists
Sweet, Sweet Chocolate
With its rich flavor and purported mood-enhancing ingredients, real chocolate is truly a divine treat. When you shop, aim for organic and fair trade brands (found at natural foods stores, online and now at major groceries), which ensure that tropical forests and workers receive important safeguards. You don’t want your bon bons to be responsible for loss of bonobo habitat.
Sparkling Jewelry
The good thing about jewelry is that it can last for generations; the bad thing is that it can result in strip-mined, toxic earth and poisoned workers. Buy vintage to cut out that impact, or shop from fair trade dealers, which ensure worker rights and protections.
Care-free Cards
The original and classic “I Love You” is the paper Valentine. So make yours out of recycled content! Not only is recycled paper widely available, but you can also get tree-free versions made from hemp, kenaf and other fibers. Beautiful cards are now preprinted on the greener material, or get crafty and make your own. E- Cards are always a great option too, especially for those long distance Valentine's.
Source: E-The Environmental Magazine
Fun Flowers
Valentine’s Day is the biggest event of the year for the floral industry, but unfortunately that can mean clouds of toxic pesticides sprayed upon fields far and near, harming waterways, soil and air quality and worker health. Luckily, a growing number of organically raised flowers are becoming available online, in health food stores and at better florists
Sweet, Sweet Chocolate
With its rich flavor and purported mood-enhancing ingredients, real chocolate is truly a divine treat. When you shop, aim for organic and fair trade brands (found at natural foods stores, online and now at major groceries), which ensure that tropical forests and workers receive important safeguards. You don’t want your bon bons to be responsible for loss of bonobo habitat.
Sparkling Jewelry
The good thing about jewelry is that it can last for generations; the bad thing is that it can result in strip-mined, toxic earth and poisoned workers. Buy vintage to cut out that impact, or shop from fair trade dealers, which ensure worker rights and protections.
Care-free Cards
The original and classic “I Love You” is the paper Valentine. So make yours out of recycled content! Not only is recycled paper widely available, but you can also get tree-free versions made from hemp, kenaf and other fibers. Beautiful cards are now preprinted on the greener material, or get crafty and make your own. E- Cards are always a great option too, especially for those long distance Valentine's.
Source: E-The Environmental Magazine
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