Dairy Saga

Alright, well, it's more of a saga for me than anyone reading this. I've been doing the no dairy thing for a few weeks now and it is proving to be much more difficult than that I thought. Admittedly, the hardest part is not avoiding the obvious dairy products, but the products that have dairy in them. I've had two bad experiences because of this, one intentional and one not. The not one was just my ignorance.

One night I had a big piece of chocolate cake w/chocolate icing. While I'm sure the cake mix took oil (I did not make it), it being chocolate, there was probably some form or milk in the cake and/or frosting. At the time, I didn't care, because I figured it wasn't a straight dairy product, so why would it matter? Well, and maybe it's a coincidence, but I woke up the following morning congested w/a really bad sinus headache. And I hadn't had a sinus headache for about two weeks prior to this happening. Interesting.

Then, this past Saturday, I went to the grocery store. I was mindful of everything I bought except for one thing: frozen waffles. Once in a while I get into this habit of toasting some waffles, putting butter on them and eating them that way for a snack. I was in the freezer section, saw the waffles and thought they sounded yummy. Not only did not not cross my mind that I bought waffles, that normally contain milk, but I bought buttermilk waffles. So, I did not clue into this fact until AFTER I hate them. Um, hello Amanda. So, I woke up yesterday morning with a massive sinus headache and this one was bad enough for me to stay in bed until the early afternoon.

So far two things have seemingly caused a sinus reaction. I find it interesting because, I have been eating biscuits, which according to the ingredients, have milk, but they have not bothered me. My ultimate experience will come before my follow up appt. w/my doctor next Friday. I bought a 12 oz. container of milk and I am going to drink it one night before bed and see how I feel in the morning. I'm a little concerned, part of me is thinking that if the stuff I ate w/just some milk in it caused bad sinus headaches, what is the actual product going to do. And mind you, these two headaches I've had were far worse than "normal" sinus headaches I have. I really think this will be the only way to dry and definitively tell. Though, I guess it won't be too definitive unless I'm actually tested, but it'll be the closest thing so far.

Yep, there's my saga. I'm actually very saddened that I may be allergic to dairy. I'm a big fan of dairy products...and ya know what makes me the saddest? No cheesecake. :( *sigh*

Music: The White Stripes - I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet)

Water in the Trunk

I am pretty frustrated at myself. A few months back when I made a trip to Tulare, I decided to unscrew my antenna from my car because it was starting to bend and break (it's a rubber antenna and not the one that came on my car). Last month it rained for a day or two and I remember afterwards getting into my car and noticing a moldy type smell. I got into my trunk one day and noticed that the corner of the trunk where my antenna is was wet. I had a roll of paper towels that was soaked and the carpet in the trunk was wet. At the time I assumed the water was coming in through the screw hole that the antenna screws into.

So, for some idiotic reason, I never put my antenna back on and having the down pours that we had last week, I now have a ton of water in my trunk. Well, it's not puddled, but the carpet is soaked. I was able to pull the top carpeting out (Thanks to Ong for giving me that idea) and it is now sitting my balcony so it can dry out. There's some padding around and under my spare tire that is soaked and when you press down on the padding, water puddles up. I'm also a little concerned because my battery is in my trunk, but everything seems okay with that. The plan is to leave my top carpeting out to dry and I am hoping with that being gone, it will give a chance for the other padding to dry. Oh and there's also the funky ass smell - though, I think it was mainly coming from the top carpeting.

I called my dad because I wasn't sure what to do, he suggested I go buy some silicone to put around the base of my antenna where it attaches to the car just in case that is where the water is leaking. I did that and I also put some around another part of the antenna. Oh and I also put the antenna back on my car. I am fairly confident that the water is coming from the antenna area because I initially felt dampness right underneath there. I've also had this antenna for over 2 years and I've only gotten water in my trunk when the antenna was unscrewed from the car.

Since my antenna is starting to break (it's wrapped in electrical tape right now), I figure I will contact the dealer at some point and get an estimate and see how much it would cost to get the right antenna back on my car. But if this works for now, I am in no rush.

But, yeah, can only be mad at myself. I was the dumb ass who didn't put the antenna on after the first time. *sigh* Sometimes I wish I knew what I was thinking.

Also, thank you to my dad is who is always there whenever I am having an issue, especially when it comes to my car. It is much appreciated and means a lot.

Music: No Doubt - Ex-Girlfriend

Rain Weenie

It's been quite the wild weather week in Southern CA. I have always chuckled a little at Southern CA because anytime there is a slight sprinkle, everyone freaks out and it's the top news story on all of the stations. Last week when they were talking about Southern CA having 8in. of rain, I kept thinking they were exaggerating. Yeah, I don't think they were.

I hate the rain, I really do. Actually, I think the rain is good - I definitely understand the importance of it and I know we need it. I just hate being out in it. I hate that feeling of being cold and wet - shoes wet, feet wet, pants wet up to my ankles. And, half the time, having an umbrella doesn't do any good. I have yet to master getting gracefully in/out of my car w/an umbrella without getting wet. I also hate lightning/thunder storms. There's no real logic there, I just do.

I also hate driving in the rain. It just makes me so uncomfortable. I already don't trust anyone else on the road, so I really don't trust them when it's raining...and some people are just plain stupid when it comes to driving in the rain. Yeah, go ahead and tailgate me...if I have to stop suddenly, you probably won't have enough traction to stop before hitting me. Jerks. I'm not one of the slow pokes, but I am careful.

So, I am quite enjoying the break in the rain and it's nice to see the sun. Don't suppose it will last long though, I hear it's supposed to rain at some point next week. The one thing I enjoyed about this last week? The cold air and actually having a winter.

Music: Sheryl Crow - Diamond Ring

Nine

I just got back from seeing Rob Marshall's film Nine. The minute that I heard he was directing a new film, a musical, I knew I wanted to see it. Rob Marshall directed Chicago and Memoirs of a Geisha, both of which I really loved.

The movie is about a famous Italian director who is having trouble writing his next big movie and looks for inspiration from his wife, his mistress, his colleagues, his starlet and other various women he's had previous contact with, but it's only when he separates himself from his life, that he gains his true inspiration.

Nine wasn't glitzy like Chicago, but just like Chicago, it had some gorgeous shots, awesome choreography (which Rob Marshall does himself), great actors and singing. One of my favorite shots starts off looking at water washing up on the beach and has it slowly recedes you see the figure of a man reflected in the remaining water on the sand. Ugh, it was beautiful. The musical numbers were also done in the style of Chicago, as a part of the characters imagination, which works very well when turning a Broadway play into a film. I really enjoyed the music as well and as I mentioned, the singing was great. I'm pretty sure I will be buying the soundtrack.

From what I've read, I think the movie wasn't as great as people/critics anticipated and I think a few people in the theater weren't too happy with it. Or the ending. I liked the ending myself...and while I admit, the movie wasn't as good as I hoped, I still really loved it and got right into the middle of it. For me, that's how I know a good movie...the emotion vested into it.

I say, if you're a fan of Chicago and/or Rob Marshall, go for it. It's not as good as Chicago, but it's good.

Music: Rob Thomas - All That I Am

No Dairy, What?

After being sick for 2 weeks and my sore throat never going away, I decided to make a doctor's appointment. He's treating me for a sinus infection. Thinking back, I probably didn't have a cold, it was probably sinus the whole time. Most of the time when I get a cold, I get major chest congestion. This time I didn't, I barely had any and most of my coughing was a hacking, throat tickles cough. He also thinks my eye infection was attributed to my sinuses as well.

So, he starts the appointment talking about my sinus issues. I saw him back in March 2007 and complained about my sinuses - he mentioned something about cutting wheat out of my diet and then sent me for an xray to make sure I didn't have a cyst in my sinus cavities. Um, okay. This time, he brings up the wheat again, but also mentions dairy products. He informed me, which I did not know, that all people lose the ability to digest dairy - he said some stop at 10 years old, some stop at 100 and everyone is in between. He suggested that I stop eating dairy for two weeks and see how I feel. I do find this interesting because not too long ago I was wondering if I was lactose intolerant and I cut out dairy for a little while. Unfortunately, I can not remember how my sinuses may have reacted. I suppose he's considering an allergy to dairy, not just intolerance, but maybe it's all the same?

I'm a little nervous about cutting out dairy, but I know I can do it. I guess it just sucks - no milk, ice cream, cheese :(, yogurt, etc. I figure I am going to focus on the main dairy products (i.e. the ones I mentioned). A lot foods seem to have milk products in them, but I am just going to cut out the dairy products themselves, if that makes sense. I think If I went hardcore, I'd have a hard time finding stuff to eat - though, might not be a bad thing?

So, I guess I'll see. It's all in the name of my health and in recent months, more than ever, I've been more aware of my health and what I need to do to better it. I've taken small steps forward and big steps back, but when I am feeling back to par, things are going to happen. They have to. And I'm sure cutting out dairy will be more healthy anyway.

Oh yeah...I will decrease my chocolate consumption, but I can't cut it out completely. OMG can you imagine? No chocolate? Scary thought.

Music: Rebekah Del Rio - Llorando

Softsoap

Not sure if you are familiar with the Softsoap brand - they mainly produce hand soaps and body washes. I have always loved one particular type of hand soap they make, it looks like this:



I was introduced to this soap when I first moved to Fullerton about 7 year ago. I moved to go to school and was moving into a dorm on campus. I happened to live w/the RA and she bought this soap for our bathroom and I fell in love with it.

I don't recall ever buying it on my own - I always bought the generic brand of soap because it was a few dollars cheaper. Through the years, I've come into contact w/this soap and I would always tell myself that I needed to break down and spend a few more dollars to get this soap because I loved the scent. Truth is, the scent takes me back to 2002 when I first moved. I find it comforting and smelling it makes me smile. Honestly, I do find it odd that I have this attachment to this soap because of the three years I lived in the dorms, the first year was my least favorite I think. But perhaps the scent reminds me of my first experience of independence in my life - of being on my own, being younger and having a plan. On my last shopping trip, I finally bought the soap.

It's very interesting how scents can take us back to a moment or time in our lives. Definitely shows how complex our brains are, associating a scent with a certain place and time. I have an old perfume at my parents' house that, if I smell, takes me back to 7th grade and the crush I had at the time. Or the Sun Ripened Raspberry body spray that I have from Bath & Body Works takes me back to my early high school years.

I guess scent is a nice way to remember a former time.

Sick Habit

First, let me clarify that this post will be about a habit that I have when I am sick - not a disgusting habit that I have.

So, being sick sucks and being sick and alone sucks even more. There's one thing I always do when I am sick - it helps me feel better, it comforts me and helps me not to feel so alone. I will always pick about 4-5 movies and watch them over and over.

When I know I will be napping or at night when I know I am hitting the hay for good, I will pop a movie in and put it on repeat that way the same movie plays over and over all night long. Sometimes I will turn it off, but often I leave it on until I wake up. And, a lot of times after I wake up, I will watch the movie till it's over and THEN watch it again in it's entirety.

When I am not repeating the same movie over and over, I will still watch the same movies over and over. So, instead of watching the same movie over and over, I will watch the same 4-5 movies back to back.

This particular time, I set up my 13 in. tv, which used to be in my living room, in my bedroom area on top of my dresser. I then brought my dvd player from the living room and set it up. And for 4 1/2 days straight, I laid in my bed and watched movies. These were the movies I watched over and over: The Adventures of Milo and Otis, You've Got Mail, Jurassic Park, Grumpy Old Men, A Christmas Story and War of the Roses. For some reason, watching these movies over and over never bothers me. I love it and find it very comforting.

Now, I also watched these movies while being sick, but only watched them once: Catch me if You Can, Public Enemies, The Object of My Affection, First Wives Club, The Shop Around the Corner, Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers.

The last two nights, I've slept w/Jurassic Park playing all night. I don't know, I guess it might seem weird, but when you don't feel well, you do what you can do to help yourself feel better.

Oh and overall, I am feeling better - I'm still a mucus factory and my throat and head hurts from hacking up a lung, but I am at least able to function. And my eye infection appears to be gone. I'm still using the drops to make sure.

Now, I think it's time for bed...not sure which movie I will have on tonight...

Music: Johnny Cash - In My Life