Fascinating stuff that I feel compelled to share...

From "tricky foods" (from Four Weeks Magazine, where else?)

"Smaller containers of orange juice give you more vitamin C! That's because ready-to-drink OJ rapidly loses its vitamin C as soon as it’s opened, according to an American Dietetic Association study."

Well, I don't like orange juice--I prefer oranges themselves and have gotten out of the habit of eating them. But I figure most folks have OJ for breakfast and that this would be an interesting bit of info.

Another tidbit: in the 2nd week (8-13 days) a woman's sense of smell is heightened for three things: "roses, male sweat and male urine. You can thank today's high estrogen for your nasal ability. In early cave days, during this fertile high-estrogen phase of your cycle your nose was important for sniffing out a man's health through his excretions. And the roses? Obviously, even cave girls couldn't resist a pretty long-stemmed bouquet..." (also FWM)

Roses--wow, it's been a long time since I've had a real one (I sometimes buy the miniature roses at Whole Foods.)

I had bizarr-o dreams last night probably due to the fact that I forgot my bedtime meds.

Over and out...

In the red...

Finally! I'm hoping the pedicure/massage chair experience will help cramps go bye bye. Last month I didn't get what I consider "Day Two" until Day Four...but just for insurance, I'm wearing one of those adhesive heating pads and I took two tylenols when I started work. My brain is very very tired. 25 minutes til I get to go to Targét! Yes, I need fancy things like toilet paper and dental floss...

Oh, and right when I need them, the folks at Four Weeks Mag are on vackay until Aug 6!!

Um, this doesn't really work until Sunday...

Sometimes you have to look reality in the face and deny it. Like when you have a day like today: Hot Dog Day from 11-1, Harry Potter party from 2-3 (thankfully I'm not running it, I just did some running for Laura, the YA librarian) and then at 9, the Harry Potter Ball at Borders. At 5, I'll go over to NH Sally's and hang out. And by hang out, I mean eat dinner and take a nap.

Week 3 (from Four Weeks Magazine)
Day 14 (or ovulation) to Day 22
Today's hormone-cast: Break out that biography you've been meaning to read, the indie film you've wanted to watch or your knitting needles. Sedating progesterone has you enjoying these and other mellow, solitary activities this weekend.

Sleepy blogger takes a nap...

Today's Hormone-Cast:

Week 3: Day 14 (or ovulation) to Day 22

Today's hormone-cast: Go ahead and take a nap—you know you want to. That's rising progesterone's fault. It's a sedating hormone that's slowing you down, wearing you out and making it hard to stay awake through Leno. Some good nap news? Siestas can help you live longer! Really! Harvard researchers recently found that people who take nap for at least 30 minutes three times a week slash their risk of dying from a heart attack by an impressive 37%!

This hormone thing is trickier than I thought...

Day 8 to Day 13

Today's hormone-cast: You may get frustrated with someone who hasn’t gotten back to you yet. You can't help being a tad impatient. High estrogen and testosterone are making you want a response instantly!

This was me the past coupla days. Now I'm copasetic. (Well, b/c I got a semi-response.)

As you were...

The paradox called me...

So today I had a "life assessment." Basically, I got to sit in the only air conditioned office at the clinic and answer questions like, "how has your sleep been?" and "have you taken any street drugs?"

So here's the paradox. My life has improved considerably in the past month:

• Two out of three lost friends have been regained
• I'm sort of seeing a normal very nice guy
• I'm going on vacation in less than four days
• etc.

But the low grade (very low grade, I assured her) depression is due to the fact that I'm processing the fact that my life has improved.

And to her, I was just a number. She didn't want to know that this is the most stressful time of the year for Children's Librarians. Or that a cute guy paid for my grilled cheese sandwich on Sunday. Or that I'm off to Montana in a few days.

And I get to go back and see her (or someone like her) again in three months! Yippee! Does that mean the study is continuing?

Off to wash hair, do dishes (they smell RANK) and possibly throw a load of wash before I go to work.

I got miniature roses at Whole Foods. They are (of course) pink. They are staring at me on the desk opposite my computer. I love them. If my camera was communicating with my computer, I might take a picture. I'll get back to you on that one...

Third week--pre-PMS

WEEK 3: Cautious & Caring (from FourWeeks Mag.)

This week lasts from Day 14 (or ovulation) to Day 22 of your monthly cycle. Your estrogen and testosterone start off by dropping, but by Day 18, they rise again. Progesterone, a sedating hormone that also boosts the urge to nurture, rises steadily throughout the week. This week's hormonal combination is increasing your desire to be safe, improve your health, cook (or order in), eat comfort foods, shop for items that make your home more comfortable, budget, stick to what's traditional and do quiet-low key activities either alone or with a special friend.

***************

Um yeah. I'm all worried about packing but also about my diet (not losing weight, but what to eat so that the PMS and UMS* symptoms are less, as I'll be in PMS during the Montana trip and UMS during July 4th week, when my parents come to Pgh.)

So now is the time to re-evaluate my supplements, etc.

And I'd so much rather be at home curled up with a book or a movie, eating bon bons than be at work...

*UMS stands for Ugly Mood Swings and is my personal euphemism for The Red Tent.