Today finds me-and the rest of Western North Carolina-in a very good mood. It has warmed up to above 40 degrees for the first time since the end of January and is even supposed to be up in the 50s (the avg for this time of year) over the weekend. Did I mention the sun was shining too?? Life just seems better than it did a week ago.
We didn't do much for Noah's birthday last Sunday (he actually worked 5 hours), although I did make pancakes and bread and soup and we got to sleep in. I like that his birthday can trump Valentine's Day, I've never liked the holiday much myself (shouldn't every/any day of the year be Valentine's Day? It shouldn't take a holiday for us to tell our loved ones that we love them...) but, problem solved! From here on out the 14th is a birthday celebration.
On Wednesday we went and redeemed an anniversary gift at the Laughing Seed Cafe in Asheville-a popular and scrumptious vegetarian restaurant. It was one of my top 10 experiences of the last four months. We were both a little grumpy and out of it because we needed to eat when we got there, it was the perfect remedy. I am still shocked at how much we ate (our waitress was too). It was all really satisfying and tasty. In fact, we ate so much delicious food that we were both in a food coma for about 24 hours. (We even forgot to bring the groceries in from the car when we got home. I remembered after we'd been in bed about 20 minutes...).
The last few weeks of school have been a bit of struggle for all of us in the course. We are at the midway point of the course; apparently the "burn out" is really common at this stage. They tell us we'll all get over it. I'm sure we will. Clinic hours start this coming week which will add a new dimension to the whole experience. Despite being a little "over it" the last week or two, I am still loving that I will get to do this as a job in four months.
Noah's schedule is now very busy with him working the full-time commission only job and a part-time job at the mall on the weekends. I am starting to consider finding work for the short-term to help us get by until Noah's first placement happens at Thurmond and Co. We both know that it will work out how it needs to though, whatever way that may be.
We are both readjusting to the schedule change and, although I am immensely enjoying more alone time at the house throughout the week, it is a different reality for us. Since meeting, the majority of our time has been spent with one another. I think we were ready for a change though and are both feeling good about where things are headed.
During my hours at home last week, I sat down one day and started another blog called Throw-Together Meals: Cooking stories, tips and recipes from my free-for-all kitchen. I'm not 100% sure where it will go, but have already put a few posts up and would love for you to look at it and/or pass it along to others if you think they may like it. Noah and I always talk about how I need to write down some of the stuff I make, so I figured I would try. If anything, it is sort of a fun project.
That is all for now. My forearm flexor muscles are getting a bit sore from being on the computer the last few hours. Guess it's time to go study for awhile...
Friday, February 19, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
What I Learned in School
Aspartame is evil. Or at least not something to be consumed. Did you know Diet Soda addiction is a recognized addiction and treatment centers for kicking the addiction actually exists? But, I digress a little.
When warmed up, the two acids and one menthol that compose aspartame break down into different components. One of these components is formalin-a member of the formaldehyde family. The same formaldehyde we preserve dead people in. When the aspartame cools back off, most of the particles rebind, but not all.
Let's talk diet soda (but the same happens to anything we ingest with aspartame). Regardless of whether or not that soda had ever been warm before, it warms up when it is ingested and breaks down into some amino acids, formalin, and some other things I didn't write down in my notes. Our body is inherently thrifty and, when there is something in the blood that is "extra" it puts it into storage-even if it doesn't recognize what that something is. The formaldehyde then? The body doesn't recognize it but put it into storage anyway. Just in case.
So, where is "storage?" Lipids-fatty tissue anywhere in the body. And, get this, the cell membrane of every individual cell in our body is made up of fat, so, not only does the formalin get put into the tissue around our mid-line, but also goes into the lining of our cells.
Keep in mind that a normal fat cell should be the consistency of a marshmallow-soft and gushy.
By definition, formalin/formaldehyde PRESERVES things (think cadavers). So, now that it is in the fatty tissue, it is essential a FAT PRESERVER! It starts hardening, turning the nice gushy marshmallow into something that is more like an M&M-everywhere that it is. The greater problems arise because all the cells in your body are affected by this, not just the fat ones. And, when the lining of the cell is like the hard part of an M&M, it gets a lot harder for your cells to do their job. Yuck.
On top of all that, aspartame is wildly addictive and has many other side affects. One google search comes up with lots of information I'd almost rather not know. On the bright side, as far as artificial sweeteners go, the PURE Stevia (not mixed with other stuff) that is gaining popularity these days actually comes from a plant and the body knows what to do with it. It doesn't turn marshmallows to M&Ms.
When warmed up, the two acids and one menthol that compose aspartame break down into different components. One of these components is formalin-a member of the formaldehyde family. The same formaldehyde we preserve dead people in. When the aspartame cools back off, most of the particles rebind, but not all.
Let's talk diet soda (but the same happens to anything we ingest with aspartame). Regardless of whether or not that soda had ever been warm before, it warms up when it is ingested and breaks down into some amino acids, formalin, and some other things I didn't write down in my notes. Our body is inherently thrifty and, when there is something in the blood that is "extra" it puts it into storage-even if it doesn't recognize what that something is. The formaldehyde then? The body doesn't recognize it but put it into storage anyway. Just in case.
So, where is "storage?" Lipids-fatty tissue anywhere in the body. And, get this, the cell membrane of every individual cell in our body is made up of fat, so, not only does the formalin get put into the tissue around our mid-line, but also goes into the lining of our cells.
Keep in mind that a normal fat cell should be the consistency of a marshmallow-soft and gushy.
By definition, formalin/formaldehyde PRESERVES things (think cadavers). So, now that it is in the fatty tissue, it is essential a FAT PRESERVER! It starts hardening, turning the nice gushy marshmallow into something that is more like an M&M-everywhere that it is. The greater problems arise because all the cells in your body are affected by this, not just the fat ones. And, when the lining of the cell is like the hard part of an M&M, it gets a lot harder for your cells to do their job. Yuck.
On top of all that, aspartame is wildly addictive and has many other side affects. One google search comes up with lots of information I'd almost rather not know. On the bright side, as far as artificial sweeteners go, the PURE Stevia (not mixed with other stuff) that is gaining popularity these days actually comes from a plant and the body knows what to do with it. It doesn't turn marshmallows to M&Ms.
Friday, February 5, 2010
This Winter Affair
Okay, enough already winter gods and goddesses. Why did you have to follow us to NC? Couldn't you have stayed in Driggs where you belong? The rain/snow/sleet ("wintry mix") of the last several weeks is starting to get a little old. The weather is not extremely intense by some standards, but enough that everything around here seems to shut down and/or freak out at least 2-3 days a week. The local school districts have been canceled so many times that the kids are going to have to start attending school on Saturdays and longer into the summer to make up time...It makes it worse because I don't know how many times I have heard, "this is the coldest/snowiest/worst winter I've seen here in 5, 10, 15 yrs." Yeah, thanks weather gods/goddesses. Guess I couldn't expect to get out of cold weather that easily...
At least our heat works.
This week Noah started a new job! He is working for an executive search firm (a head-hunting company) that specializing in placing executives in the construction and financial sectors. We are excited about the potential for the job-although being successful will be a lot of work on Noah's end, so far he seems determined to make it work. The unfortunate part is that he is only paid on commission so, until he makes a placement...He is looking for part-time work nights/weekends to help support us until this happens and has a second interview for a photo company called Owen Mills (I think) this coming week. We are crossing our fingers! I am considering finding part-time work but am also looking into collecting unemployment for a short time to help. I will not have much free time when Clinic starts in two weeks and would rather save my time not in school or at clinic for studying, taking care of myself and keeping the other parts of our life together. Time will tell if we can afford this though.
Also this week, we celebrated our first anniversary! It is pretty hard/easy to believe that one year ago we were newlyweds still in Australia. After Noah got back from work, we drove to a nearby down called Hot Springs (about 40 min away) where there are-you guessed it-natural hot springs. However, the hot springs are not free to the public but have instead been siphoned into different hot tubs that you pay to rent for an hour. We used some anniversary money and treated ourselves. It was SOOOO worth going! The water was only about 100 degrees, but we were outside, in our own tub and still sitting in hot water for an hour; I had made bread and we bought some cheese and wine and had a late/dinner snack while we were there. It felt like a much needed vacation. Plus it made us miss having a hot tub next door/across town to use whenever we wanted to when we lived in Driggs...ahh, luxuries of being close to family.
School is still going well. We started our General Anatomy and Physiology course on Monday-it will go through the end of March and will cover a lot of complex information in a short amount of time. The teacher is incredible and easy to learn from though, plus the stuff is interesting, so I am not too worried. Monday will be the last day of our Swedish Massage class that has been going on since the first of December and is basically the foundation of the hands on part of our massage career. It's definitely a milestone, but I feel ready to move on! I will start working 1 day/week in the student clinic in two weeks and will do so until graduation in May. We finally received our own massage tables and we moved around the furniture in our spare bedroom/office to that I can set it up down there and use it. Fun, fun!!
Here's to a short but productive February ahead!
At least our heat works.
This week Noah started a new job! He is working for an executive search firm (a head-hunting company) that specializing in placing executives in the construction and financial sectors. We are excited about the potential for the job-although being successful will be a lot of work on Noah's end, so far he seems determined to make it work. The unfortunate part is that he is only paid on commission so, until he makes a placement...He is looking for part-time work nights/weekends to help support us until this happens and has a second interview for a photo company called Owen Mills (I think) this coming week. We are crossing our fingers! I am considering finding part-time work but am also looking into collecting unemployment for a short time to help. I will not have much free time when Clinic starts in two weeks and would rather save my time not in school or at clinic for studying, taking care of myself and keeping the other parts of our life together. Time will tell if we can afford this though.
Also this week, we celebrated our first anniversary! It is pretty hard/easy to believe that one year ago we were newlyweds still in Australia. After Noah got back from work, we drove to a nearby down called Hot Springs (about 40 min away) where there are-you guessed it-natural hot springs. However, the hot springs are not free to the public but have instead been siphoned into different hot tubs that you pay to rent for an hour. We used some anniversary money and treated ourselves. It was SOOOO worth going! The water was only about 100 degrees, but we were outside, in our own tub and still sitting in hot water for an hour; I had made bread and we bought some cheese and wine and had a late/dinner snack while we were there. It felt like a much needed vacation. Plus it made us miss having a hot tub next door/across town to use whenever we wanted to when we lived in Driggs...ahh, luxuries of being close to family.
School is still going well. We started our General Anatomy and Physiology course on Monday-it will go through the end of March and will cover a lot of complex information in a short amount of time. The teacher is incredible and easy to learn from though, plus the stuff is interesting, so I am not too worried. Monday will be the last day of our Swedish Massage class that has been going on since the first of December and is basically the foundation of the hands on part of our massage career. It's definitely a milestone, but I feel ready to move on! I will start working 1 day/week in the student clinic in two weeks and will do so until graduation in May. We finally received our own massage tables and we moved around the furniture in our spare bedroom/office to that I can set it up down there and use it. Fun, fun!!
Here's to a short but productive February ahead!
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