Tasty placebos

I laughed when I saw this. I'm such a psychology, scientific based evidence, double-blind research study, placebo effect nerd. The comic goes beautifully with the article I tweeted from CNN. Here is the article: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/16/are-antidepressants-glorified-placebos/

The article is interesting and worth a read (assuming the link still works by the time this post is read.) I have always been fascinated by placebos because to me they represent the pure beauty of psychology. Behold, the power of the mind. We can trick our mind to trick our brain to trick our bodies.

I recently started taking a multi-vitamin again. I tend to go through phases with vitamins. More accurately, when the bottle runs out I forget to buy more, then the pattern breaks, and then my healthy vitamin taking behavior is all shot to hell. 4, 5, 6...(8?) weeks ago I got a scrap on my hand. I'm not even sure it bled - it was just some skin scraped away from the other skin. (I hope that detailed, scientific description is appreciated.) Anyway, it is still healing. It has left a scar. What? Ugh, my body is old. I decided I must need more vitamins and thus purchased a bottle of multi-vitamins.

Do they work? Are they placebos? Can I will my body to heal itself more quickly? Would I get the same results if I just ate an orange tic-tac everyday?

Mmm. Orange tic-tacs. That would be a tasty placebo.

Taking in the rain.

Sometimes I stop to take in a moment. You’ve seen it in other posts if you’ve read my blog somewhat. You’ve heard me say it if you’ve been with me at the right time. I should say it more often because this life is filled with moments. “Stop and take in the moment,” worthy moments.

This is one of them.

It’s raining. I’m catching up on email. I’m watching a show that touches my heart and my youth. I’m sipping wine. I’m listening to thunder. I’m watching for lightening, (because maybe I need to turn off the TV!) I muted the TV, set down my wine, reclined on the couch, and am now taking a moment.

It’s raining. It’s cool. The windows are open. All I can hear is the rain and my fingers clapping along my keyboard. That’s it. This is it. This right here is why I moved away from the big city, to hear the rain.

Looking up from my laptop screen really solidified the moment for me. I’m looking at an unfinished painting by a friend of mine. She insists it’s not finished but I love it. I named the girl in the painting Clara. She might never be finished but I love her just the same. Maybe she is me. Perpetually unfinished. In my direct gaze is also my end table. My eyes go directly to the tag that is still hanging. It’s been 9 months but I might return it. No? Ok, the truth is I forgot the tag was there and I have long been committed to my cheap end tables. It’s not about tags or price, it’s about purpose. They are holding up my lamps and occasionally my water glass. Sometimes my phone. They have purpose.

It’s still raining. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the beauty of a blog. Stream of consciousness. My stream. And you have to read it because you can’t not. And you just got to the end and you’re realizing, there is no purpose to this post. You’re right. There isn’t. Except, that maybe there is.

Look up. Look around. Right now. Enjoy the moment.

Needs

Song of the day...circa 1999

All around me I see what weakness has made
Too much tomorrow I think I'll take all today
Am I a poison, am I a thorn in the side?
Am I a picture perfect subject tonight?

And I don't need nobody
And I don't need the weight of words to find a way
To crash on through
And I don't need nobody
And I just need to learn the depth
Or doubt of faith to fall into

Here I slumber to awaken my daze
Some find convenience in this savior I save
Am I a prison, am I a source of dire news?
Am I a picture perfect reason for you?

I don't need nobody
And I don't need the weight of words to find a way
To crash on through
I don't need nobody
And I just need to learn the depth
Or doubt of faith to fall into

And in this time of substitute
It's my needs I've answered to, all the while
And all the hope that I invest
Turns to signals of distress, all the while

I don't need nobody
And I don't need the weight of words to find a way
To crash on through
And I don't need nobody
I just need to learn the depth
Or doubt of faith to fall into

You're all I need
Yeah when the water runs deep
Yeah you're all I need
Now I cry my soul to sleep

You're all I need
You're all I need
You're all I need
You're all I need

"Needs"
Collective Soul

May...so far

I have more to say on May but wanted to capture what I have seen so far. It has been full of kids and mini-vans. You're hooked, I know.

Me being me at a neighborhood party. I'm not sure why the locals keep me around.

S. being cute.

H. also being cute.

My old house in Fairfax. Notice the solar panels on the roof. We were so ahead of technology! Or were we...?

Laura and D. in DC!

D. being bugged by his Aunt Cork.

At Oyamel in DC. Amazing everything.

My amazing Margarita.

Laura and I at the Smithsonian. The highlight was this Dodge Caravan with wood grain from our childhood. I think this means we are undeniably old.

Like I said, it was the highlight. It merited two pictures.

Seeing Risa and meeting C! Very exciting! She feel asleep on my lap later and it was a lovely visit.

I also got to meet N and I! So many babies to meet and greet this month!

And so it is

Sometimes, sometimes...a song enters my mind and I cannot get it out until I listen to it over and over and then post a lyric or two for me and the world to see.

(Jen H, I know you understand!)

And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?

I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind...
My mind...my mind...
'Til I find somebody new

"The Blower's Daughter"
Damien Rice

(He really is quite amazing if you are not familiar...give it a listen.)

Southern Living (aka: It's Hot)

That's right, I'm already whining about the heat. It's hot! It was 85 today. I've only seen 85 a handful of times over the past decade. A year ago I was complaining because it was May and 50 degrees and raining, (which by the way, is currently the weather in Seattle.) Apparently this is a bit of a heatwave and these temperatures are not normal for this time of year. It's pretty, it's nice, I am enjoying the thunderstorms, but I'm hot.

Today I did something I am not proud of. I turned on my air conditioning.

Ugh, already? I thought I would be able to hold off until at least July. I really enjoyed my April electric bill. My work loft and bedroom are upstairs and that old saying about heat rising is true. (Saying, scientific fact, whichever.) I think it was hotter in my "office" than it was outside. As my frustration and crankiness escalated I made my decision. Pride be damned, I choose to cool off the house.

It was worth it. It was.

I guess this means I am not a southerner yet. True southerners love this heat and are sitting outside right now drinking sweet tea with a sweatshirt nearby in case the temperature dips to 79 degrees. I'll never love the heat and I don't expect to like sweet tea anytime soon but I do live in the south now so I better get used to this life. And the heat. And air conditioning. There are worse things.

Like 50 and raining. In May. And June. Lest we forget.

The Angry Recruiter - Part 1

It's happening. The weather is nice. Spring is in the air. My thoughts are happy. Life is good.

And then.

Then, I go to work. And read resumes. And am reminded of how low my tolerance is for some things. (By "some things," I mean awesome* people.)

I'm thinking about starting a blog called, "The Angry Recruiter." Professionally I think that would likely be a poor choice and so I won't actually do it. Or maybe I will but I won't share it. Or maybe I'll wait until I'm a cranky, old man and then I'll share it. Or maybe I'll write it anonymously in the voice of a cranky old man. Yes! That is it!

One of the things I really like about myself is that I am a fairly practical person. Sure, I don't always make the practical decision but if I don't, I know I don't. I get it. I usually have a good idea of how the world sees me, for better or for worse, for crazy or not, for annoying or not, for oblivious or not. Ok, yes, I have done awesome things like cutting people off on the road, (I even received applause once which is way more humbling than the finger,) or sending emails I shouldn't, (do we all remember that day?) BUT, in general I am not an awesome person.

Are you? Are you awesome when you're applying for jobs? Because if you are, you need to read The Angry Recruiter, which I've heard a cranky, old man is working on right now. All of this is just a big lead in to some words of advice for you job seekers out there. Or let's be honest, I really just needed to use my blog as my outlet on this topic. That's what blogs are for right? Let it out! Capture the moment, whatever it is! Here are some awesome things to not do.

1. Don't not submit a cover letter if the application process asks for one. Following directions is the first step.
2. Don't use the Microsoft cover letter template for your cover letter. Angry Recruiters know it by heart.
3. Don't write a half-ass cover letter. (For example: "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa." No really, the field didn't ask you to fill it up, it asked you to put a cover letter there.)
4. Don't apply for a job you are not at all qualified for. Just don't. It is a waste of everyone's time.
5. Proofread. There is no excuse for a misspelled word (unless you are a blogger and have a disclaimer stating as such.)
6. Don't write a 12 page cover letter. Short and sweet. It probably won't get read anyway but if it does, it better be good.
7. Don't put all your personal information on your resume. Kids, health, marital status - really people? It's 2011. If you think that is a good idea you are out of touch.
8. Don't write your cover letter in the 3rd person voice. Don't do that. No really, don't. It's not cute, it's not creative. It's creepy.
9. Don't cut and paste discrimination language onto your cover letter. It is threatening. And scary. And you are probably crazy.
10. Don't list, "surf the Internet," as a hobby. In fact, don't list any of your hobbies. Nobody cares about your hobbies.

Alright, so maybe this post is a little harsh. Maybe people who do the above aren't awesome. Maybe they are just not practical. Maybe they just don't get it. If you've ever done the above...well, I'm sorry that I called you awesome. But maybe you are.




*by awesome, I mean stupid

City girl, mountain girl, girly girl

Right, so I am none of the above except I am a girl. Last week someone asked me if I'm a "mountain girl" now. Earlier someone had commented that I was a "city girl" because I was wearing boots. I promptly lifted my jeans to show that they were actually cowboy boots. So what am I? I am a little bit of everything I guess, which is actually kind of fun. I can wear my black ensemble and go for cocktails, throw on my boots for some live country or bluegrass, or wear sweats for two weeks straight. I grew up in the suburbs of DC, then the country, then Pittsburgh. I went to college in a poor, poor, small town, then moved to the big city for a decade. Now I'm in a happy place that is kind of a combination of it all. The best part? I can be myself, whoever that is on whichever day, because of course it changes. How could it not?

So wow, I am not a girly girl. I have known this but decided to write about it today. In general I tend to be a bit klutzy. With girly stuff, it's even worse. Sure, walking can be challenging for me so how about trying to paint my toenails - while actually keeping the paint on the toenail, not just the toe. It's tough. This morning I gave my toenails a spruce. It was after the first coat that I realized I hadn't put my jeans on yet...which gave me great reason to blog...as the paint dries and dries. Additional convincing evidence for my not-a-girly-girl case appeared this morning when I dropped lotion onto my brush. There is really no good way to remedy that. I have reigned in my tooth brushing which used to result in toothpaste down my entire arm...like to the elbow. Does/did anyone else in the world have that problem? I still have a gift of getting deodorant everywhere but it is not as bad as it used to be. When I was younger I consistently impressed people. "Wait, is that...? How did you get deodorant there?"

These days I have accepted myself for who I am. I wear makeup if I feel like it. I try to keep my nails painted in the summer. I attempt to not look like a hideous mess when I leave the house. Sometimes I fail, sometimes I don't. I've always refused to label myself but today I accept the label of non-girly-girl and that should cover me for awhile.

April Showers

It is hard to believe April is nearly over. Again. Overall it was a pretty good month, albeit a bit odd at times. Happy visits, fun roadtrips, unexpected twists and turns, and a few hearty showers. A year ago I was counting my pennies and fretting about quitting my job to move back east. Now I'm back east, saving my pennies, and I have an improved job. Better.

This morning I sorted my laundry only to realize, "Holy crap, I have no clean clothes and I will be doing laundry all day." The nice thing about laundry is that I'm doing it right now. RIGHT NOW. I can blog while my clothes get clean. And then I can fold them while I watch TV. And I can clean the bathroom or get rid of those leaves outside that are probably really ticking off my neighbor while the next load gets clean. Oh, most importantly, I can drink my coffee while I do my laundry.

Last weekend was Easter weekend. Now, I'm not much of a church-goer these days and Easter kind of snuck up on me. Candidates and coworkers kept talking about the holiday. Everyone was on PTO last Friday and Monday. Huh? Oh, right. Easter! Always the joiner, (never the rebel or difficult one don't cha know,) I made the weekend a holiday and went to visit my parents. We had a lovely weekend of chatting, shopping, and dinner out with some friends.

Friday night I drove up to Blacksburg and met Mom and Dad after they went to Good Friday church. They were dressed somberly in black for the occasion but I couldn't help and chuckle at Dad's "dress Carhartts." I think it made me laugh because when I was in high school I insisted my black, zipper sweatshirt from Old Navy was dressy enough for church. Years later I saw pictures of myself in my "dress sweatshirt" and cringed. (AJEM, you were right ok??) The dress Carhartts don't make me cringe, they make me smile!

You know I have been educated well when I get excited about the presence of an AED. This was also at the mall and I was impressed to see it there. (They save lives people. Don't be afraid to use one, just don't forget to "clear!")








At the mall in Christiansburg there is a huge mural with animals and sporting goods painted on the wall. I don't really understand it but insisted on taking pictures. Here is Mom with a buffalo (and a basketball? Wha?)










Dad being attacked by a bear. It was a wild weekend.
















Now this I just took a picture of because I didn't understand it and frankly, I was a little frightened.











Um, we went to Dairy Queen ok? It was a special family outing. You can tell by the sign that it is indeed Easter weekend. I snapped a photo because I was surprised to see this on a Dairy Queen sign. What happened to the separation of church and ice cream?











This is horribly inappropriate...but I took a picture of it anyway...because it made me chuckle. I know this is shocking, but a teenager was driving this car.












I bought some birthday whiskey for a friend and the bottle was so dang pretty I had to take a picture.












Post church. Oh we're so cute.

Pictures speak louder...

Here are the last few months in pictures because I can't seem to use words on my blog these days.
In February I went to Dallas and this is what I found while at DFW. Yikes.
In February I discovered my niece has her very own coffee shop in Asheville! Pretty impressive for a 3 year old.
My boss sent me flowers on my birthday. She is so sweet! What a nice surprise.
My first beer at the Bywater, my new favorite place.
I mean, I had to take a picture of it...
Birthday sandwich. Large birthday sandwich. Ah, but what kind of sandwich?
Only the best Shrimp Po' Boy this side of the Mississippi.
Oh yes, I did! And I survived too.
Kubb made its Asheville debut this spring! Looking forward to many more rounds, at the Bywater and beyond.
In March I finally traded in my Washington plates for North Carolina ones. It was not easy, let me tell you. I procrastinated as long as I could...washed, vacuumed, detailed the car and then finally changed my plates. I bought this sticker so I would have a little something to show for all those years with Washington plates.
Here I am safely taking pictures while I drive through heavy fog and snow in the Tennessee mountains in April.
What? It's funny.

Blech. Cincinnati, OH.
Michigan is pure. Who knew? Don't worry, they still let me in.

Driving through Ohio was worth it because I got to meet Nora!
And I got to eat cheese puffs.
Happy to be back in the mountains!
Post-hike food. A lot of food and the world's biggest beer.
Spring is here!