Turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday night (11/1)/Sunday morning (11/2)!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
At Kripalu Yoga Retreat
It's so beautiful here. The leaves have changed but not everything is
gone. I spent the afternoon dozing on a couch reading. Hows that
different from home? It's a bigger couch.
gone. I spent the afternoon dozing on a couch reading. Hows that
different from home? It's a bigger couch.
Dinner was fantastic with the most amazing spelt bread I have ever
eaten. I also ate real vegetables. That may sound weird, but I
haven't had a fresh vegetable that wasn't a garnish in a while. Of
course the downside to that is I have to, well, go. Which I guess is a
good thing and THANK GODS I didn't have to do any serious yoga poses
tonight or there would have been some major consequences to deal with
in class tonight.
Namaste.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
bring on the good stuff
I try to limit the amount of bacon I have, and it's been a bit of a dry spell until this morning. And OMG, why don't i have bacon every day?????
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
MMMmmm, donuts.
I am so easily swayed. As soon as I saw this photo, I wanted a donut. Now all I want is a donut. The power of suggestion is upon me. Thank goodness I have DVR and can skip through TV commercials because otherwise I would own PedEggs, that weird foam stuff for kids, pet nail trimmers, and a ton of RonCo products.Unauthorized use of photo: photographer Melissa Hom
BACON CORN DOG ICE CREAM! YAY!
I heart bacon. And now there's bacon corn dog ice cream. Here's the full pork at Serious Eats by my fav blogger Robyn
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Happy Belated Birthday to Frandy and Happy Birthday to Freven!
HAPPY BORTHDAU to TOI
HAPPY BIRDJSAY TO YPU
GAPPY BIRTHNDQU TO ATVMWN
HAPPY BIERHSSAY RO YOU
Iphone keyboard stinks.
Have a great day!
HAPPY BIRDJSAY TO YPU
GAPPY BIRTHNDQU TO ATVMWN
HAPPY BIERHSSAY RO YOU
Iphone keyboard stinks.
Have a great day!
Friday, October 10, 2008
YUMMY GEEKS
Frannie sent me this awesome link for GEEKCAKES.Now I know Frannie would like an iphone cake.
My nephew, Fraham would like a Darth Vader cake:
And I want a Jabba cake.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Hawaiian BBQ chix. Yum.
It doesn't look like much, but the bbq is really good. This would have been more appetizing looking if I took a before-I-scarfed-it shot, but I was hungry. L&L Hawaiian BBQ is a takeout joint and I got this delivered. Overall, it's awesome. I tried their spam saimin (fried) yesterday and, although I am familiar with the spam oeuvre, that dish was way too salty. Inedible salty. However, yesterday I was famished and I ate it anyway.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
And yet another reason to love National Geographic...
I love National Geographic and have ever since I was a kid. But this particular article just slays me.Tuesday, October 7, 2008
If I was sitting in the round at the Presidential Debate...
I would totally be the one with their head nodding off to sleep. All those lights? All the rhetoric? I would be the head bobber in the front row. Definitely.
© All rights reserved. thiagoleon
My not so pretty qualities - UNLEASHED!
I was searching through my blog to see if I had written about my morning bed ritual before. It must have been in an email horoscope. Well, either way, I found this list of my analness from February 2003 and thought it was time to update it. http://girlladyfriend.blogspot.com/2003/02/ah-sweet-of-mystery-of-life-at-last.html#links
How Anal I Am: A 2008 Update
1) I wash my hands before I eat, after I eat, when I get somewhere new, when I am about to leave somewhere to go somewhere else, when I am about to touch food - well, basically all the time.
Now I only wash my hands before I eat and when I get somewhere new. All other times, I let my disgusting germy hands everywhere.
2) I do have a germ-phobia. I carry antibacterial Wet Ones in my purse.
Don't do this anymore. Except when I am around my mom, who is immunosupressed so it just makes common sense to keep the hands, nose, mouth, everything clean when I am around her.
3) I put two pillowcases on each pillow, as well as a pillow case cover on my pillows. I also put a mattress pad and two fitted sheets on my bed.This is my germ barrier.
OK - I still do this. I am not sure why I do this, but my mom made me do this for YEARS and I can't seem to or want to get out of the habit.
4) Most times, I pack several days in advance of a trip. This includes putting my clothes and under things in my Travel Space Bags(http://www.myspacebag.com/ ) as well as awell-stocked medicine bag (the bag is a Ziploc bag). Again, protectivebarrier.
LOL - I can't believe I used to pack in advance. Somewhere between 2003 and now, I have forgotten the art of packing. I think it was because back then I was traveling a lot for work and had gotten it down to a science. An evil, perfect science. But now? I am lucky to remember underwear or a toothbrush.
How Anal I Am: A 2008 Update
1) I wash my hands before I eat, after I eat, when I get somewhere new, when I am about to leave somewhere to go somewhere else, when I am about to touch food - well, basically all the time.
Now I only wash my hands before I eat and when I get somewhere new. All other times, I let my disgusting germy hands everywhere.
2) I do have a germ-phobia. I carry antibacterial Wet Ones in my purse.
Don't do this anymore. Except when I am around my mom, who is immunosupressed so it just makes common sense to keep the hands, nose, mouth, everything clean when I am around her.
3) I put two pillowcases on each pillow, as well as a pillow case cover on my pillows. I also put a mattress pad and two fitted sheets on my bed.This is my germ barrier.
OK - I still do this. I am not sure why I do this, but my mom made me do this for YEARS and I can't seem to or want to get out of the habit.
4) Most times, I pack several days in advance of a trip. This includes putting my clothes and under things in my Travel Space Bags(http://www.myspacebag.com/ ) as well as awell-stocked medicine bag (the bag is a Ziploc bag). Again, protectivebarrier.
LOL - I can't believe I used to pack in advance. Somewhere between 2003 and now, I have forgotten the art of packing. I think it was because back then I was traveling a lot for work and had gotten it down to a science. An evil, perfect science. But now? I am lucky to remember underwear or a toothbrush.
And forget the space bags. I now just throw crap in and hope for the best. The Ziploc medicine bag has been scaled down to some alcohol wipes and benadryl cream (see old posts about mosquito bites).
5) I always bring my Japanese wash towel. It's made of this fibrous tough plastic mesh that really does slough off dead skin cells. I really don't feel clean unless I have that with me.
This I still do. I just like the clean feeling after sloughing off dead skin cells.
6) I don't like sharing drinks.
I still don't like sharing drinks; however, I do share drinks especially if they are yummy alcoholic wonders.
7) If you need it, I might have it in my purse. Really, this is true.
No longer true. OK, maybe just a little true. But only if you need lipstick or Lactaid pills.
8) I cannot wear most clothes twice.
So over this one. I have gotten around to only doing my laundry every other week (and those of you who know me know that THIS is REALLY unusual) so I can wear my clothes more than once, dare I say even three times.
9) I smoke, but I hate the smell of smoke, especially on my hands (see No. 1).
This unfortunately is still true.
10) I wash my hair everyday because I hate the smell of smoke and fear that it is in my hair (see No. 9) - all the time.
This is no longer true. I started getting my haircut at Devachan, this curly hair place, and their philosophy (I know - what kind of snobbish freak am I if I go to a hair salon with a philosophy about hair?) is to not wash curly hair more than once a week if you can help it. Feel free to condition it all you want, but don't wash it. Well, I can get by for a couple of days (max: 4) without washing my hair, but after that, the suds are on.
Ah, too much information sharing again. That's what blogs are for, right? Verbal diarrhea?
5) I always bring my Japanese wash towel. It's made of this fibrous tough plastic mesh that really does slough off dead skin cells. I really don't feel clean unless I have that with me.
This I still do. I just like the clean feeling after sloughing off dead skin cells.
6) I don't like sharing drinks.
I still don't like sharing drinks; however, I do share drinks especially if they are yummy alcoholic wonders.
7) If you need it, I might have it in my purse. Really, this is true.
No longer true. OK, maybe just a little true. But only if you need lipstick or Lactaid pills.
8) I cannot wear most clothes twice.
So over this one. I have gotten around to only doing my laundry every other week (and those of you who know me know that THIS is REALLY unusual) so I can wear my clothes more than once, dare I say even three times.
9) I smoke, but I hate the smell of smoke, especially on my hands (see No. 1).
This unfortunately is still true.
10) I wash my hair everyday because I hate the smell of smoke and fear that it is in my hair (see No. 9) - all the time.
This is no longer true. I started getting my haircut at Devachan, this curly hair place, and their philosophy (I know - what kind of snobbish freak am I if I go to a hair salon with a philosophy about hair?) is to not wash curly hair more than once a week if you can help it. Feel free to condition it all you want, but don't wash it. Well, I can get by for a couple of days (max: 4) without washing my hair, but after that, the suds are on.
Ah, too much information sharing again. That's what blogs are for, right? Verbal diarrhea?
I got "Super Magic Finger-ed"
I know, that sounds so dirty. Well, I was desperate for a massage and last time I got a massage at Super Magic Fingers (description below), I couldn't walk for two days. Why, you may ask. Well, they do Tui Na there, which is essentially having someone massage each joint and vertebrae in your body. So why would I go there again? Well, even though the last time I went, I couldn't walk or lift my arms for two days, my muscles were extremely relaxed. A little swollen, but relaxed. They are such professionals that I didn't have any muscle spasms. You would think once your body has been tenderized and pounded into submission that your muscles would revolt, but I seriously was never so relaxed in my life. Which is saying something. Not sure what, but something.
So I went again. This time, I expressly asked for LIGHT massage, not too hard. And only asked for 30 minutes. At first, it was light and then it got harder and then i wanted to cry and scream in pain. But after 30 minutes, I actually asked for 15 more minutes. I know, I am a glutton for punishment. I left there tired but feeling great and I felt great for about two hours, after which I felt like I had been pummeled by a 500 lb sumo wrestler. But despite this, I was a in a great mood for the next three days. Sure, my neck and shoulder area were swollen, but I felt fantastic. Such a rush. I wish I could go back, but I need a few more months to completely forget the traumatic, torturous part.
Oh, and it only cost me $35.
From Citysearch description of Super Magic Fingers:Tui Na Therapy is one of the ancient arts of traditional Chinese medicine. It is a rigorous hands on body work that not only treats the muscles and joints, but more importantly, goes to a deeper level, affecting the flow of vital life energy in the body. In Chinese theory this life energy is Chi. Super Magic Fingers specializes in this type of deep, intense body work that will leave you feeling competely restored and revitalized. Accupressure, Acupuncture, Shiatsu, and Reflexology are also available.
Morning Ritual
I have a strange morning ritual that I think I blogged about before, but I am bringing it up again because I still can't seem to shake it. My alarm goes off at 6:30 am and I hit snooze until 7 AM. Then I get up and take a shower. I get out of the shower and then GO BACK TO BED for another 15-30 minutes. Technically I could get to work by 8:30, but because of this weird morning ritual, I get to work by 9:30. I have tried hard to stop doing this. I had tried making my bed after waking up. Doesn't work. I have tried not sitting down after the shower. Doesn't work. So far, this ritual hasn't gotten me into too much trouble but last week, I did go back to sleep and I woke up an hour later. Luckily, I had gotten up at 6:30 that morning so I wasn't too late for work. I am going to see if I can shake this habit this week. I'll let you know how it goes.
Card/celebration count for week of 10/6
2 cards, 1 party
Total cards as of 9/8: 10
Total team parties as of 9/8: 2
Total cards as of 9/8: 10
Total team parties as of 9/8: 2
If this doesn't give us another reason to vote for CHANGE (OBAMA), then I don't know what will.
Green card applicants mandated to get HPV vaccine
By ANABELLE GARAY Associated Press Writer © 2008 The Associated Press
Oct. 2, 2008, 1:32PMDALLAS — A new mandate requiring girls as young as 11 to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus before they can become legal U.S. residents is unfair, immigration advocates say.
The federal rule, which took effect July 1, added Gardasil to the list of vaccinations that female immigrants ages 11 to 26 must get before they can obtain "green cards."
The series of three shots over six months protects against the strains of the human papillomavirus blamed for most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. But the vaccine is one of the most expensive on the market and controversial.
"This is a huge economic, social and cultural barrier to immigrants who are coming into America," said Tuyet Duong, senior staff attorney for the Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program at the Asian American Justice Center.
At a cost of $400, Gardasil places an added burden on green card applicants already paying more than a thousand dollars in form fees and hundreds of dollars for mandatory medical exams, advocates say.
The mandate potentially affects tens of thousands of women and girls annually. More than 200,000 women and girls ages 10 to 29 were granted legal permanent resident status each of the past two years.
Past efforts to require the vaccine for American girls has stirred emotional debate and complaints that such mandates intrude on family decisions about sex education.
In Texas, lawmakers last year fought off an order by Gov. Rick Perry requiring the shots for sixth grade girls amid questions about vaccine's safety, efficacy and cost. Similar programs were proposed in many states, but only Virginia has signed such a mandate into law.
"What surprised us the most is that this requirement is for immigrant girls and women, but not for the general population of natural born citizens," said Jessica Arons, director of the Women's Health and Rights Program at the Center for American Progress.
Despite objections by immigrant advocates that the law is invasive and unfair, a spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said the agency must enforce it.
"With regard to this particular issue, it's in the law," said agency spokeswoman Chris Rhatigan. "We don't have the authority to hold off on the requirements."
The route by which the measure became law, however, was both roundabout and — according to the head of the committee that prompted the change — unintentional.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Gardasil vaccine, made by New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., Inc., in 2006. Then last year, an advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the vaccinations for girls 11 or 12.
For U.S. citizens, the committee's recommendations serve only to provide guidance on immunization issues. But a 1996 change to the nation's immigration laws required anyone seeking permanent residency to get all the vaccinations recommended by the committee.
Jon Abramson, who chaired the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, said the panel never intended to require Gardasil for immigrants and wasn't aware its recommendation would become mandatory.
"This is an unintended consequence," Abramson told The Associated Press. "We didn't even know about the law."
Abramson, chair of the pediatrics department at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, said he supports Gardasil for its potential benefits to women and girls, but believes it should be optional.
Gardasil should be removed from the list of required vaccines for immigrants, he added.
Unlike highly contagious diseases like polio, measles and meningitis that green card applicants must be vaccinated against, HPV is spread by sexual contact.
"It's not like when someone goes into a high school with measles," Abramson said.
Merck spokeswoman Amy Rose said the drug company did not lobby the government to require the vaccine for female immigrants and that it wasn't aware of the mandate until after the rule took effect.
By ANABELLE GARAY Associated Press Writer © 2008 The Associated Press
Oct. 2, 2008, 1:32PMDALLAS — A new mandate requiring girls as young as 11 to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus before they can become legal U.S. residents is unfair, immigration advocates say.
The federal rule, which took effect July 1, added Gardasil to the list of vaccinations that female immigrants ages 11 to 26 must get before they can obtain "green cards."
The series of three shots over six months protects against the strains of the human papillomavirus blamed for most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. But the vaccine is one of the most expensive on the market and controversial.
"This is a huge economic, social and cultural barrier to immigrants who are coming into America," said Tuyet Duong, senior staff attorney for the Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program at the Asian American Justice Center.
At a cost of $400, Gardasil places an added burden on green card applicants already paying more than a thousand dollars in form fees and hundreds of dollars for mandatory medical exams, advocates say.
The mandate potentially affects tens of thousands of women and girls annually. More than 200,000 women and girls ages 10 to 29 were granted legal permanent resident status each of the past two years.
Past efforts to require the vaccine for American girls has stirred emotional debate and complaints that such mandates intrude on family decisions about sex education.
In Texas, lawmakers last year fought off an order by Gov. Rick Perry requiring the shots for sixth grade girls amid questions about vaccine's safety, efficacy and cost. Similar programs were proposed in many states, but only Virginia has signed such a mandate into law.
"What surprised us the most is that this requirement is for immigrant girls and women, but not for the general population of natural born citizens," said Jessica Arons, director of the Women's Health and Rights Program at the Center for American Progress.
Despite objections by immigrant advocates that the law is invasive and unfair, a spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said the agency must enforce it.
"With regard to this particular issue, it's in the law," said agency spokeswoman Chris Rhatigan. "We don't have the authority to hold off on the requirements."
The route by which the measure became law, however, was both roundabout and — according to the head of the committee that prompted the change — unintentional.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Gardasil vaccine, made by New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., Inc., in 2006. Then last year, an advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the vaccinations for girls 11 or 12.
For U.S. citizens, the committee's recommendations serve only to provide guidance on immunization issues. But a 1996 change to the nation's immigration laws required anyone seeking permanent residency to get all the vaccinations recommended by the committee.
Jon Abramson, who chaired the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, said the panel never intended to require Gardasil for immigrants and wasn't aware its recommendation would become mandatory.
"This is an unintended consequence," Abramson told The Associated Press. "We didn't even know about the law."
Abramson, chair of the pediatrics department at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, said he supports Gardasil for its potential benefits to women and girls, but believes it should be optional.
Gardasil should be removed from the list of required vaccines for immigrants, he added.
Unlike highly contagious diseases like polio, measles and meningitis that green card applicants must be vaccinated against, HPV is spread by sexual contact.
"It's not like when someone goes into a high school with measles," Abramson said.
Merck spokeswoman Amy Rose said the drug company did not lobby the government to require the vaccine for female immigrants and that it wasn't aware of the mandate until after the rule took effect.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
MERCURY IS IN RETROGRADE, AGAIN?!!!!!
From my friend Frasha, aka astromuse.com:
Fall Equinox & Mercury Retrograde in Libra: Time to Find Balance
I don't know about anybody else but it feels like I've been on some sort of cosmic "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" from some nether region of the Solar System. The eclipses of August are still being felt it seems. Change and the unexpected, from the Presidential Race to Wall Street continues to be the norm. And now things are just going to turn even more upside down with Mercury going Retrograde this coming Wednesday the 24th of September.
I wish I could say I was going on vacation soon and could ride the three weeks of retrograde out on some Spanish speaking island far away where siestas rule, but no, I will be here to experience everything this retrograde has to show us. Exactly what it will show us will most likely be individual but as the sign this retrograde is occurring in is in Libra, everyone will have to figure out how to balance some big issue in their lives.
It could be in regards to relationships as Libra is the sign of partnership, but Libra is also the sign of justice and the law. The symbol for Libra is in fact a woman holding two scales and is almost the same as the symbol of the woman of justice holding a sword blindfolded while holding scales. Decisions will most likely be unable to be made until after the retrograde on October the 15th, although the "shadow" which has gone on since September 4th will continue until October 31st. Only at the start of November may we get real clarity on things that will happen in late September though mid October.
In addition to all of this the equinox, the exact balance of light and dark is coming up quick on September 22nd. Take this time to breathe in and let go of the massive changes that have happened over the Summer. Find a point of balance even if it's for a moment, for more change this Fall is likely to happen. Breathe in, breathe out, and let a new Season of Harvest, Reflection and turning inward begin.
Fall Equinox & Mercury Retrograde in Libra: Time to Find Balance
I don't know about anybody else but it feels like I've been on some sort of cosmic "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" from some nether region of the Solar System. The eclipses of August are still being felt it seems. Change and the unexpected, from the Presidential Race to Wall Street continues to be the norm. And now things are just going to turn even more upside down with Mercury going Retrograde this coming Wednesday the 24th of September.
I wish I could say I was going on vacation soon and could ride the three weeks of retrograde out on some Spanish speaking island far away where siestas rule, but no, I will be here to experience everything this retrograde has to show us. Exactly what it will show us will most likely be individual but as the sign this retrograde is occurring in is in Libra, everyone will have to figure out how to balance some big issue in their lives.
It could be in regards to relationships as Libra is the sign of partnership, but Libra is also the sign of justice and the law. The symbol for Libra is in fact a woman holding two scales and is almost the same as the symbol of the woman of justice holding a sword blindfolded while holding scales. Decisions will most likely be unable to be made until after the retrograde on October the 15th, although the "shadow" which has gone on since September 4th will continue until October 31st. Only at the start of November may we get real clarity on things that will happen in late September though mid October.
In addition to all of this the equinox, the exact balance of light and dark is coming up quick on September 22nd. Take this time to breathe in and let go of the massive changes that have happened over the Summer. Find a point of balance even if it's for a moment, for more change this Fall is likely to happen. Breathe in, breathe out, and let a new Season of Harvest, Reflection and turning inward begin.
Another card and a b-day party
Also on Monday, we received a card from a client. Therefore, this week's card count is up to 2. And we had a b-day party for a team member.
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