Friday, July 9, 2010
Further Proof...
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Honolulu, Take II
Well, I had a seriously lovely surprise yesterday morning. Fortuitous. Serendipitous.
For the last couple of months, under the gun of possibly being laid off, I have been researching options. I am currently enrolled in an EMT-B program. Since I'm fairly certain that I'm going to be laid off, I needed a way to get a job in a crappy market; since Massachusetts is in the midst of a hugescandal involving paramedics/emts falsifying re-certifications, chances are good that I will be able to land one pretty fast.
I've been kicking around the idea of moving to Hawaii for some time, now. I'm quite serious about it, actually, which is a change for me. Arranging a cross-country move is hard enough, and the move is trans-Pacific. So I figured that returning would be a good idea to get a feel for the place outside of the scope of vacation.
That brings us to yesterday.
One of the few friends (seriously, like, 3) who lives in Honolulu sent me a message asking when I was coming back. I responded that I'd return when I knew what my vacation allotment would be. Out of boredom while standardizing the Karl Fischer autotitrator, I checked out flights at Orbitz.
I found a roundtrip flight from Logan to Honolulu for $587.
So, hot damn! I bought it, and am returning to check out apartments, employment, and education situations when I go there. (I almost typed 'home.' I should have left it that way!)
It's destiny!
For the last couple of months, under the gun of possibly being laid off, I have been researching options. I am currently enrolled in an EMT-B program. Since I'm fairly certain that I'm going to be laid off, I needed a way to get a job in a crappy market; since Massachusetts is in the midst of a hugescandal involving paramedics/emts falsifying re-certifications, chances are good that I will be able to land one pretty fast.
I've been kicking around the idea of moving to Hawaii for some time, now. I'm quite serious about it, actually, which is a change for me. Arranging a cross-country move is hard enough, and the move is trans-Pacific. So I figured that returning would be a good idea to get a feel for the place outside of the scope of vacation.
That brings us to yesterday.
One of the few friends (seriously, like, 3) who lives in Honolulu sent me a message asking when I was coming back. I responded that I'd return when I knew what my vacation allotment would be. Out of boredom while standardizing the Karl Fischer autotitrator, I checked out flights at Orbitz.
I found a roundtrip flight from Logan to Honolulu for $587.
So, hot damn! I bought it, and am returning to check out apartments, employment, and education situations when I go there. (I almost typed 'home.' I should have left it that way!)
It's destiny!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Rawing
So, for the last two weeks, I've been attempting to live the raw food lifestyle. It's been quite the adjustment, but so far so good.
I didn't go to Raw on a whim. It started with a rash. I have Celiac-Sprue Disorder, which is an autoimmune disease where the vili in my gut are damaged when I eat anything containing gluten (ie, anything delicious and worthwhile eating in the Standard American Diet). It is very, very painful thing for me to have to deal with, so I have avoided gluten since my diagnosis in 2004. Because of this, I am prone to other food issues-- allergies, sensitivites, etc-- and have to keep track of everything I put in my mouth in the event that I have an adverse reaction to something.
Which brings me to the rash. I was camping at Lake Champlain several weeks ago, and during my drive home, chewed half a pack of gum that contained sucralose. Sucralose is the generic name for Splenda. Sucralose was discovered during development of a new insecticide. (Who thought that would be a good idea to use as a food additive?!) I broke out in the most obscenely itchy rash from my ankles to my thighs, and from my wrists to my elbows. I had very small, bright red, raised welts everywhere I had a hair follicle.
This was the last straw for me. I had been toying with the idea of going raw, mostly because I was sick of the additives in regular food. Plus, its summer and heating up my house while cooking is awful anyway. So I bought a bunch of un-cookbooks, and a dehydrator and have been going to town.
The upside of Raw is that everything is natural. Cucumbers come out of the ground as cukes. Science doesnt add something to them to make them what they are, or how they taste. No additives? A much reduced risk of me having a reaction. So, while being Raw is very time intensive (the planning involved is much akin to a military operation) but it's been worthwhile. My rash is gone. I feel amazing. My skin looks good.
The Standard American Diet (SAD, how appropriate) is heavy on meat, processed food, and refined carbohydrates. The Raw diet is pretty much processed-food-free, meat free, and refined anything free. There is no "better living through science." At least as far as I am concerned.
Anyway, Rawing has been going well so far. Ill continue to experiment and check it out further before I fully commit to it 100%, but its helping with the skin issues.
I didn't go to Raw on a whim. It started with a rash. I have Celiac-Sprue Disorder, which is an autoimmune disease where the vili in my gut are damaged when I eat anything containing gluten (ie, anything delicious and worthwhile eating in the Standard American Diet). It is very, very painful thing for me to have to deal with, so I have avoided gluten since my diagnosis in 2004. Because of this, I am prone to other food issues-- allergies, sensitivites, etc-- and have to keep track of everything I put in my mouth in the event that I have an adverse reaction to something.
Which brings me to the rash. I was camping at Lake Champlain several weeks ago, and during my drive home, chewed half a pack of gum that contained sucralose. Sucralose is the generic name for Splenda. Sucralose was discovered during development of a new insecticide. (Who thought that would be a good idea to use as a food additive?!) I broke out in the most obscenely itchy rash from my ankles to my thighs, and from my wrists to my elbows. I had very small, bright red, raised welts everywhere I had a hair follicle.
This was the last straw for me. I had been toying with the idea of going raw, mostly because I was sick of the additives in regular food. Plus, its summer and heating up my house while cooking is awful anyway. So I bought a bunch of un-cookbooks, and a dehydrator and have been going to town.
The upside of Raw is that everything is natural. Cucumbers come out of the ground as cukes. Science doesnt add something to them to make them what they are, or how they taste. No additives? A much reduced risk of me having a reaction. So, while being Raw is very time intensive (the planning involved is much akin to a military operation) but it's been worthwhile. My rash is gone. I feel amazing. My skin looks good.
The Standard American Diet (SAD, how appropriate) is heavy on meat, processed food, and refined carbohydrates. The Raw diet is pretty much processed-food-free, meat free, and refined anything free. There is no "better living through science." At least as far as I am concerned.
Anyway, Rawing has been going well so far. Ill continue to experiment and check it out further before I fully commit to it 100%, but its helping with the skin issues.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Oof
Have a lot to update on, and not a lot of time.
Shorthand:
1. Am taking an EMT-B course in case I get laid off. Which is 80-90% likely.
2. Have been cleared to start running again by the end of June. WOOHOO!!
3. Am going whitewater rafting in July. CANNOT. WAIT.
4. Moved. Again.
5. Am movING to the West coast, hopefully by this time next year. (Decisions, decisions!)
6. Ended a very harrassing friendship. 47 emails, 12 texts, 6 phone calls, 2 facebook messages. All in ONE DAY from ONE PERSON WITHOUT RECEIVING A SINGLE RESPONSE. (Normal people dont do stuff like that. I have had my fill of crazy--- byebye, ex-friend.)
Shorthand:
1. Am taking an EMT-B course in case I get laid off. Which is 80-90% likely.
2. Have been cleared to start running again by the end of June. WOOHOO!!
3. Am going whitewater rafting in July. CANNOT. WAIT.
4. Moved. Again.
5. Am movING to the West coast, hopefully by this time next year. (Decisions, decisions!)
6. Ended a very harrassing friendship. 47 emails, 12 texts, 6 phone calls, 2 facebook messages. All in ONE DAY from ONE PERSON WITHOUT RECEIVING A SINGLE RESPONSE. (Normal people dont do stuff like that. I have had my fill of crazy--- byebye, ex-friend.)
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Relocation
So for a while I've been pondering picking up and moving. I'm leaning heavily towards Honolulu, HI, for a multitude of reasons, mostly stemming from it's lack of snow, ice, and nine months of winter.
I spent a week in Honolulu in March, and it was AMAZING. I have dreams that I am still there; that I never left, and that I'm working in a bakery (which is hilarious to me, because I can't eat anything in a bakery) and sharing an apartment with six other people.
While this pipedream is seriously not gonna happen, I am making moves to make the move itself actually happen. I'm downsizing my living expenses in a big way, and am looking actively for a position and apartment there. I have never really made a cross-country move like this, and am more interested in knowing if it's actually possible.
I'm not looking to stay permanently, but I am looking to stay for up to 5 years. Heres hoping for good times and success in my endeavour.
I spent a week in Honolulu in March, and it was AMAZING. I have dreams that I am still there; that I never left, and that I'm working in a bakery (which is hilarious to me, because I can't eat anything in a bakery) and sharing an apartment with six other people.
While this pipedream is seriously not gonna happen, I am making moves to make the move itself actually happen. I'm downsizing my living expenses in a big way, and am looking actively for a position and apartment there. I have never really made a cross-country move like this, and am more interested in knowing if it's actually possible.
I'm not looking to stay permanently, but I am looking to stay for up to 5 years. Heres hoping for good times and success in my endeavour.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Post surgery
Well, my knee surgery finally happened. Two weeks ago, I had the corrections made that were necessary so that I can walk around again. Kinda nice to be able to be vertical now, and know that I can start (SLOWLY) running again in June.
No more clicking, swelling, pain, redness, etc. I am looking forward to it. I did get told NO MORE MARATHONS, but I dunno... We'll see. I'll have to discuss at a later time with my doctors. That might just be for a while, not permanently. Here's hoping...
Go back to work on Monday; Im glad to return to the real world. Being stuck horizontal on the couch for the last two weeks SUCKED. Too much daytime tv. Ugh, I felt myself getting dumber by the minute.
No more clicking, swelling, pain, redness, etc. I am looking forward to it. I did get told NO MORE MARATHONS, but I dunno... We'll see. I'll have to discuss at a later time with my doctors. That might just be for a while, not permanently. Here's hoping...
Go back to work on Monday; Im glad to return to the real world. Being stuck horizontal on the couch for the last two weeks SUCKED. Too much daytime tv. Ugh, I felt myself getting dumber by the minute.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Next Adventure
The next adventure has been scheduled, booked, and paid for.
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu Hawaii.
Yeah, I am going with my sister. Should be a good time. I am really stoked to take a gander at Queen Lolokelaini's palace, learn about the history, snorkle, check out the nightlife, check out the delicious local cuisine, maybe look for a job... I can dream, right? There will be lots of gorgeous photos to be taken, and Im totally excited to get myself into a parasailing harness. Me and heights? Love!
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu Hawaii.
Yeah, I am going with my sister. Should be a good time. I am really stoked to take a gander at Queen Lolokelaini's palace, learn about the history, snorkle, check out the nightlife, check out the delicious local cuisine, maybe look for a job... I can dream, right? There will be lots of gorgeous photos to be taken, and Im totally excited to get myself into a parasailing harness. Me and heights? Love!
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