migraine-ology
So, politics and history aside, I’m still doing research. I’m just researching additional information: migraines.
Before you think you know what migraines are all about, don’t. They’re not ‘really bad headaches.’ They are actually a neurological disorder. It sounds all creepy and horrible, and it can be, depending on the level that you’ve had.
Migraines are largely hereditary. Most people don’t just develop them out of the blue. And, they have more to do with than just head pain and nausea. I, unfortunately, suffer from a rather high level of pain, and a disorder aptly named ‘complex confusional migraines.’ Basically, what happens is that they are complex in that they can spawn from any minute pain and are complex in nature, causing a great number of side effects. They are confusional because they literally send crazy messages to your brain and cause debilitating side effects, such as temporary paralysis.
I can usually detect when they are coming on full-blown now, and have only experienced full-out CCMs 3 or 4 times in my life. The countdown to them, however, I have experienced more times than I care to count. The beauty is trying to prevent them, of which I have been through many medications (and still working on them) that will be the right fit. Onset meds are also helpful. The one that I lean upon heavily though is only in emergency situations, because I have to give myself a shot. The kicker? I hate needles. Since I’ve had to do this, I’ve completely had to sympathize for those that have to take insulin shots. Needles… ugh.
Anyway, part of the research that I’m doing has to do with food triggers. I’ve had more frequent and intense migraines than I’ve had before, and I eat much better than I did in high school. But, many of the food that I eat are on a suggested triggers list. Part of my history has been to kind of go the eat-good-carbs, don’t-eat-bad-carbs direction. But, I fear that artificial sweetners might be the death of me. So, after examining this list, I’m going to have to see a dietician it seems to keep from yo-yoing with the whole thing.
Or, I can go vegetarian. Or actually, to be more precise: vegan. Dairy and egg products are also on the trigger list. The thought of going vegan seems great to me, until I look at a menu at a restaurant or think about a family gathering and see how difficult it might be to actually do it in the South. The South revolves around good meat… I mean, barbecue is our claim to fame. And, I’m not gonna lie, I love it. I just don’t know if I can give it up. That’s my only beef with going vegan. Ahhh, puns.
Stress is also a contributing factor in my case. And because I’m not big on breathing exercises, I’m joining into the yoga classes at the rec. I mean, for me, the OCD schedule freak, it’s great. They meet at the same time 3 times a week. It’s fabulous!
But seriously. The migraines are seriously interfering with my reading and are part of the reasong that I headed back to Alabama, because they were literally putting me in the hospital every few months (ask Sassy). So, for now, I’m trying to find a good situation that will help minimize these monsters.
Just a peek into everyday life for me, the Muse.
spell-check, it’s everywhere
Seriously, people… If I’ve already said it once, I’ve said it a million times. I’m a graphic designer. I work with all of these programs. And, all of them, ahem, ALL of them have a spell-check, and even a grammatical check in them. Because if you paid attention, you could avoid embarrassing moments like the following on CNN:
Really, all it takes is a little proofreading before you air it… even if it’s immediate international news. Just take a second… I’m begging you.
point taken
It seems like this week was big for news. However, the news that was covered wasn’t of any great importance. Or, it shouldn’t be…
- The Arizona state police mistakenly pulled over the Wienermobile, thinking it was a stolen vehicle.
- Paris Hilton’s first post-jailtime interview on Larry King Live brought in more viewers than any and all of the 2004 Presidential Debates.
- Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman and former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy received sentencing yesterday.
- Current Alabama Governor Bob Riley has given up on doing the rain dance, and is asking for prayer for rain because of the drought.
There are several questions that are in my mind… and I believe they are all relevant.
- Seriously?? Who checks the plates of the Wienermobile? Don’t you think that even the employees required to drive that thing don’t want to drive it? I mean, it’s the Wienermobile.
- People, come on… it’s Paris Hilton. Boohoo, she suffered. I don’t think she did enough time in my personal opinion. And I think it’s crazy all of the media time that is spent on her release, when we’ve got a wacko VP in the White House hiding God knows what, and a war across the world that we’re paying out the noses for so many deaths. Paris Hilton is not that big of a deal.
- Finally, they’re getting sentenced. And I actually do believe Siegelman’s claim that he was part of a Rove plot to eliminate Democratic control. But, hopefully when it goes to appeals, Scrushy will still get more time. That man is the devil in a nice suit.
- When is anyone going to listen to Al Gore??? He’s a pretty smart fellow. It’s global warming, folks… we’ve done it to ourselves. God is probably laughing at us right now since we’ve not taken care of the planet. The U.S. is one of the worst at cutting corners to save a buck without care to the environment.
OK, enough whining and complaining.
you know you’re from alabama when…
Thanks to the kind e-mail forwarding characteristics of my best friend, I’m able to share a hilarious version of 20 ways to know that you’re an Alabamian… Enjoy!
1. You can properly pronounce Arab, Cahaba, Opelika , Sylacauga, Oneonta and Eufaula.
2. You think people who complain about the heat in their states are sissies.
3. A tornado warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel.
4. You know that the true value of a parking space is  not determined by the distance to the door, but by the availability of shade.
5. Stores don’t have bags or shopping carts, they have sacks and buggies.
6. You’ve seen people wear bib overalls at funerals.
7. You think everyone from a bigger city has an accent.
8. You measure distance in minutes. (It’s about 5 minutes down the road)
9. You go to the lake because you think it is like going to the ocean.
10. You listen to the weather forecast before picking out an outfit.
11. You know cowpies are not made of beef.
12. Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date.
13. You have known someone who has a belt buckle bigger than your fist.
14. You aren’t surprised to find movie rental, ammunition, beer, and bait all in the same store.
15. A Mercedes Benz isn’t a status symbol. A Chevy Silverado Extended Bed Crew Cab is.
16. You know everything goes better with Ranch Dressing, or ketchup.
17. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned how to multiply.
18. You actually get these jokes and are “fixin’” to send them to your friends.
19. You have used your heater and air-conditioner in the same day.
Finally: You are 100% Alabamian if you have ever had this conversation:
20. “You wanna coke?” “Yeah.” “What kind?” “Dr Pepper.”
secrets don’t make friends
You’ve always heard the same little snarky comment when you want to be included that ’secrets don’t make friends.’ Well, this time, it’s definitely not making friends, and the entire U.S. would like to know what’s going on. Well, I do, anyways…
Apparently, Dick Cheney has now claimed that he is not part of the executive branch, when ordered to produce materials explaining how he is classifying information. He’s not just hiding information; he’s hiding how he files it. And now, the government is ordering him to do so. But, he’s claiming because he is President of the Senate, he is not bound by any executive privileges or requirements. But, the Senate is saying that the statement will do more harm than good…
Today’s news story was handled best by Jon Stewart ‘The Daily Show’:
Dick Cheney stashes state secrets securely by the seashore; how many secrets does Dick Cheney stash?
That is also classified. CNN was of course referring to revelations that Dick Cheney’s office has for years, refused to comply with an executive order governing the handling of classified information for the past four years. In fact, rather than comply, Cheney attempted to abolish the agency in charge of the oversight. But, unfortunately, since you can’t shoot an entire agency in the face…
…Wait, I’m not angry as a taxpayer. I’m angry as an attention payer. I’m a little peeved as a country-liver, an air-breather.
This is just another one of what I believe will be an outpouring of scandals during the Bush presidency…
‘…and Cheney shall be known by his cry, ‘Wahhhh, wahhhh, wahhhhh.”
ranting on ravings
Today’s blog is brought to you by the letter ‘G’… as in, gee, anybody can read this blog. Unless you can’t read. Then of course, you have absolutely no clue what I’m saying… which is what most people have problems with, but I’m not judging.
Tada! I’m clean, even though I do get a little left of center. Or more lots of left of center.
Thanks, Sassy, for the link! 
Update: My blog has now been rated PG because of the latest post on VP Cheney. Wow, his first name just got my rating up’d… thanks alot Mr. Veep…
religion
Today as I was driving (now a mandatory part of everyday for me), I saw a billboard that simply stated:
I believe in football.
And all of the South’s great citizens say, amen.
You see, football is a completely religious experience in the South. Of course, I’m not preaching to the choir, just making an observation on the differences of the South to other parts of the country. I know that there are great football traditions all over the country (see: Notre Dame, Penn State, UCLA, Texas, etc.), but football is an altogether different type of experience.
In the South, rivalries are pitted based solely on the geographic region from which someone has been born. If you grow up in Tennessee, chances are you’ll root for the University of Tennessee, to which every Alabama fan will scowl by the third sentence of the conversation. If you were born in Louisiana, there’s a great chance that you’re an LSU fan, to which every other SEC team fan will become an enemy at first mention.
It’s amazing to see the contrasts once you’ve been out of the region.
I’m not saying that I’m apart from it either. Now that I am back in Alabama, I look forward to nothing more than being in Tuscaloosa for game day and cheering alongside 92,000 other die hard fans, hoping that Alabama will this year clinch its 13th National Championship. There is nothing like Alabama football.
To be honest, there’s nothing greater than SEC football.
The Southeastern Conference holds some of the greatest football traditions, players, and coaches. Once players are a part of the SEC, they come back to coach, to root, to pass on that love of the greatest sport alive to their children and grandchildren. And the fans are the same way: they spread the tradition to their heirs – and a rich inheritance it is to each recipient.
And while the teams are in summer workouts (in horrific heat, by the way), Alabama fans, players, and coaches alike look forward to that first weekend in September when the video will play, and everyone in the stadium will hear the words of former/late coach Paul W. ‘Bear’ Bryant as he says, ‘I ain’t never been nothin’ but a winner.’ Then, the elephant smashes through the logo and we all hear the powerful words, ‘This IS Alabama football.’ It’s a religious experience, sending chills down your spine, and it will make a believer of anyone in attendance.
I agree with that billboard, and I’m a proud follower, because I do believe in football.
seer-suckers
If you didn’t know, today is an eventful day in the Senate. No, it’s not set in stone each year, but it’s a tradition that has been introduced by current Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-MS).
Seersucker Thursdays. And this year’s event falls on June 21.
Yep, seersucker. It’s been a longstanding fabric of the Deep South because of its light color and thin sturdy texture. Tradition lies on seersucker… as does a sort of southern aristocracy. And, many members of Congress have participated in this fabulous tradition. See last year’s group…
Sadly, many members of Congress don’t understand the rules of seersucker. It’s best donned with white bucks (shoes) than dark shoes… and of course, light pastel colors to coordinate with the seersucker.
If you need any additional explanation, see the description of Lott’s beloved ‘Seersucker Thursdays’ in the past years. Even the women are included in the fun… the article mentions that Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) purchased suits for women that didn’t have a seersucker suit so that it wasn’t a male dominated event.
So, join in the fun! You’ll be sucked in by the material’s ability to breathe and inability to absorb the heat. And it’s a great way to show your southern pride and flair without pledging your loyalty (for those yanks that may enjoy the South and afraid to vocalize).
They don’t call ‘em suckers for nothin’!
political grammar
It’s not enough that I’m a freak about grammar (simply stated in the fact that I wish I had a red pen when I read… it’s probably good that I don’t; I’d concentrate on the bad grammar instead of the point of the book), but I believe that some areas should be given a greater deal of attention. Which areas? Those which are incredibly public: television and/or newspapers.
I’m not necessarily speaking of spoken grammar, though… more of the written grammar, especially those that have a stylebook as a standard. The following two pictures are exactly what I’m talking about…
OK… Here’s a presidential candidate, and so far, she looks like she has W for a spelling guru. Seriously people, even design programs have spell-check. It’s not THAT hard…
Here you’ve got an additional letter that could have been avoided had they checked their sources. Note that his name isn’t misspelled just once, but many. And not to mention that you could’ve killed off half of the Christian population by heart attacks thinking the second coming had occurred and they were left behind if this story didn’t have the picture included.
I know it seems elementary, but spell-check isn’t such a bad thing to utilize… even the best people in the industry make mistakes.
on the trail again
While I was only in D.C. for a mid-term election, it was fun to see the upstarts of many presidential hopefuls for the 2008 national election. Some candidates took resourceful and unique ways of announcing their candidacies, while others just followed and tried to keep up. No matter what, though, it’s all about getting a constituency larger than your opponent.
And sadly, some of these voters are going just a little far in my opinion…
At least you can say that these individuals are unique, I suppose. As for their campaign trail skills, who knows….
