It was full of the aftermath of having an insane secretary who thought a llama dairy farm is a great investment. It was a light, fun-filled but brain-hurting game as we get ready for...dum, dum, dum Beyond the Mountains of Madness, a very thick campaign set in Antarctica. After the game I watched the 4400. The season finale is next week and it promises to be exciting. I'd like to go back and watch the early episodes, which I missed. It looks like Sean's brother has the exact opposite power to Jordan Collier--he can induce promicin in others, and just like the injection, it can kill half the people exposed, including his mother. Ack! There's no way I would take a drug that half the time would mean I'd bleed from all my orifices and die, even if it could mean I had a special ability. And it's not like you're guaranteed a good ability. One woman caused her whole town to die of plague. I have to admit though, I'd be awfully tempted if the rate of death was low. I've always wanted to be special, which has often led to my downfall.
I enjoyed the game despite the fact that I had a horrible headache earlier, started my period with much cramping, generally felt under the weather, and am having a great deal of pain in my right foot. It feels like one of the top bones has been broken, even though I know that's probably not the case. I was stepped on by a very large person years ago and had trouble then. Maybe it's arthritis left over from that injury. I'm thinking of going to my podiatrist, though. On a good note, my shoulder, which was also causing pain seems much better. I've tried to protect it during lifting at work and generally give it a rest. I think I had tendonitis (or so my friend with some medical training diagnosed it as). I'm glad it cleared up.
Okay, enough with my litany of complaints.
Cerys and I scared a frog half to death when we went out tonight. Later, I gave my monthly libation to Hekate. All in all, it's been a pleasant day. Have a good night. It's almost time for me to turn in.
Born, like other comic book characters, out of an otherwise trivial but life-changing animal bite, the Rabid Librarian seeks out strange, useless facts, raves about real and perceived injustices, and seeks to meet her greatest challenge of all--her own life.
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Monday, September 10, 2007
Sunday, September 09, 2007
I heard Rob Thomas singing
'How Far We've Come' a couple of weeks ago, knew it had to be Thomas, yet couldn't find any evidence of him having a new album...and then searched on the lyrics and lo, it's new Matchbox Twenty. Yay!
Requiescat in pace
Madeleine L’Engle, Writer of Children’s Classics, Is Dead at 88
I was saddened to read of Madeleine L'Engle's death. I love the Wrinkle in Time series. I think I may re-read it, this time in her memory.
One thing about being an author is that after you're gone, your words still touch people's lives. I suspect L'Engle is firmly set in the canon of children's literature so that new generations of children will grow to know Meg and her family and follow their adventures.
I was saddened to read of Madeleine L'Engle's death. I love the Wrinkle in Time series. I think I may re-read it, this time in her memory.
One thing about being an author is that after you're gone, your words still touch people's lives. I suspect L'Engle is firmly set in the canon of children's literature so that new generations of children will grow to know Meg and her family and follow their adventures.
Today's fortune
I opened up a fortune cookie, and it said this on the paper: 'The whole world is a narrow bridge; the important thing is not to be afraid.'
Something I need to keep in mind, as I'm naturally afraid to take risks or leave something comfortable. I'm afraid to do a lot of things, and I can't trust easily either, because of fear. So that's definitely something to work out with Craig, my counselor.
Today was long, working from 11-8 and doing a lot of lifting, etc. Plus notes. I'm glad to be home, and I'm heading off to bed after this post to cuddle with my dog.
I was wily today. I only have about $4 now in the bank and putting in $5 of gas each day for the last three days has barely put my gauge above empty and I've been afraid to drive very far not knowing how much I really had (I'm good for 26-32 miles once it comes on--but I fueled up with the gauge already on and not knowing how many miles were added by the new gas.) What I do have is a Speedy Rewards card and enough points to get a $10 cash card that can then be used for fuel. Yipee. Between that and some coupons I'd have plus a real dollar I got $12.50 worth of gas.
Okay, I'm falling asleep at the computer. Good night.
Something I need to keep in mind, as I'm naturally afraid to take risks or leave something comfortable. I'm afraid to do a lot of things, and I can't trust easily either, because of fear. So that's definitely something to work out with Craig, my counselor.
Today was long, working from 11-8 and doing a lot of lifting, etc. Plus notes. I'm glad to be home, and I'm heading off to bed after this post to cuddle with my dog.
I was wily today. I only have about $4 now in the bank and putting in $5 of gas each day for the last three days has barely put my gauge above empty and I've been afraid to drive very far not knowing how much I really had (I'm good for 26-32 miles once it comes on--but I fueled up with the gauge already on and not knowing how many miles were added by the new gas.) What I do have is a Speedy Rewards card and enough points to get a $10 cash card that can then be used for fuel. Yipee. Between that and some coupons I'd have plus a real dollar I got $12.50 worth of gas.
Okay, I'm falling asleep at the computer. Good night.
Glad to be a (for the most part) non-drinker
I'm still premenopausal, and I drink maybe one alcoholic drink every 3-5 years (and usually drink those silly fruity drinks because I don't like the taste of alcohol, although the only beer I can stomach is stout.) But if you do drink regularly, and you're a woman, take note:
Frequent Alcohol Consumption Increases Cancer Risk In Older Women
Research: Drinking May Lead to Increased Risk of Endometrial Cancer
Frequent Alcohol Consumption Increases Cancer Risk In Older Women
Postmenopausal women consuming two or more alcoholic beverages a day may double their risk of endometrial cancer, suggests a study led by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC).
Research: Drinking May Lead to Increased Risk of Endometrial Cancer
I've been following this, just not blogging on it
Black Hawk helicopters comb Nevada desert for missing billionaire
Steve Fossett demonstrates a true explorer's heart. I do hope he's okay. But it is like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially without a flight plan on file--and it's been five days since he disappeared.
Steve Fossett demonstrates a true explorer's heart. I do hope he's okay. But it is like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially without a flight plan on file--and it's been five days since he disappeared.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Bibliotherapy in Scotland
Patients sent to the library for help with mental health
Doctors in East Lothian are prescribing books for patients with depression both as monotherapy and in conjunction with antidepressants or talk therapy. Librarians in the participating libraries have been trained especially to help those with depression, including confidentiality issues. Books are prescribed from an approved list of over 600. This follows an earlier trial programme.
That sounds wonderful. The only disorder I've ever heard of anyone specifically asking patients not be given books for is for eating disorders--something about how information on eating disorders can become a 'how to' manual for those seeking to control their food intake(not an order for me personally, just an anecdote from a colleague, and also I've heard the same from someone with an eating disorder that even the mentions in the media can exacerbate the problem). I guess there you really have to balance education with 'do no harm'. But for most disorders--and certainly for depression--I think bibliotherapy is wonderful. I'd like to see more studies done on the efficacy and what methods work best.
Doctors in East Lothian are prescribing books for patients with depression both as monotherapy and in conjunction with antidepressants or talk therapy. Librarians in the participating libraries have been trained especially to help those with depression, including confidentiality issues. Books are prescribed from an approved list of over 600. This follows an earlier trial programme.
That sounds wonderful. The only disorder I've ever heard of anyone specifically asking patients not be given books for is for eating disorders--something about how information on eating disorders can become a 'how to' manual for those seeking to control their food intake(not an order for me personally, just an anecdote from a colleague, and also I've heard the same from someone with an eating disorder that even the mentions in the media can exacerbate the problem). I guess there you really have to balance education with 'do no harm'. But for most disorders--and certainly for depression--I think bibliotherapy is wonderful. I'd like to see more studies done on the efficacy and what methods work best.
I forgot to mention
I went to Dr Nesbitt the other day and got basically a clean bill of health; the diabetes is much better (okay, so I'm on three meds/two pills to do that). They checked cholesterol, thyroid, CBC, A1C, etc., too. I don't have to go back for six months. He did refer me to a dermatologist for an appointment in early October. I was concerned about a mole that's popped up over the last few months and is changing colours. It's on my upper chest, an area that got sunburnt a lot when I was a kid. Did we even have sunblock back then, or was it just tanning oil? I do not remember ever having sunblock on as a child. The mole's not really big, but I don't want to ignore possible skin cancer. I've known two people who have had skin cancers removed when they were much younger than I.
The truck came tonight at work (due to the holiday; I forgot about that yesterday) and there were a lot of issues that came up so I left pretty frazzled and a half-hour late. Tomorrow I work from 11 am-8 pm. At some point I have to remember to go by the pharmacy and pick up my Janumet. I'm really starting to like one of my co-workers. He's easy-going and competent, two plusses when working with someone.
I guess that's all for now. I need to go to bed; I need to be up by 9 am to run an errand for someone before work. I just thought I'd blog whilst drinking some delicious Highbridge Spring water. Good night.
The truck came tonight at work (due to the holiday; I forgot about that yesterday) and there were a lot of issues that came up so I left pretty frazzled and a half-hour late. Tomorrow I work from 11 am-8 pm. At some point I have to remember to go by the pharmacy and pick up my Janumet. I'm really starting to like one of my co-workers. He's easy-going and competent, two plusses when working with someone.
I guess that's all for now. I need to go to bed; I need to be up by 9 am to run an errand for someone before work. I just thought I'd blog whilst drinking some delicious Highbridge Spring water. Good night.
Troubling
Teen Suicides Up Sharply for First Time in Years
For girls, especially, the rates have skyrocketed. There is much speculation on whether the black box warnings that were put into place in 2004 warning about SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), a class of antidepressants that were thought to potentially increase suicidal thoughts in teens--which led to a drastic reduction of prescriptions for those drugs--might be related. After all, if fewer people get treatment that in most cases does work, then the rates would be expected to rise. This new information comes as the FDA considers expanding the black box warnings to the mid-twenties age group.
Another disturbing statistic was that girls 10-14 had a 119% increase in the use of hanging/suffocation as a means of committing suicide. Guns remain the most popular form for boys (which is one reason why there are more boys who die of suicide even though more girls try it).
Sad. I have to admit, if my child were severely depressed, I'd opt for the antidepressant. Doubling a small chance of suicide compared to placebo seems scary till you see these rates. On the other hand, statistics fail to capture the true story--every child counts, every death matters. But when looking at the greater good vs a possibility, well, maybe it's best to err on the side of the greater good. More studies will no doubt tackle the question of causation and whether this is an aberration or the beginning of a trend. In the meantime, I find it troubling.
The suicide rates for these age groups had been trending downward, falling 28 percent from 1990 to 2003. However, between 2003 and 2004, there was a 75.9 percent increase in the suicide rate among 10- to 14-year-old girls, a 32.3 percent increase among 15- to 19-year-old girls, and a 9 percent increase among 15- to 19-year-old boys
For girls, especially, the rates have skyrocketed. There is much speculation on whether the black box warnings that were put into place in 2004 warning about SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), a class of antidepressants that were thought to potentially increase suicidal thoughts in teens--which led to a drastic reduction of prescriptions for those drugs--might be related. After all, if fewer people get treatment that in most cases does work, then the rates would be expected to rise. This new information comes as the FDA considers expanding the black box warnings to the mid-twenties age group.
In a December 2006 study, The American Journal of Psychiatry said that a decrease in antidepressant prescriptions to minors of just a few percentage points coincided with a 14 percent increase in suicides in the United States; in the Netherlands, the suicide rate was 50% up, upon prescription drop.
Another disturbing statistic was that girls 10-14 had a 119% increase in the use of hanging/suffocation as a means of committing suicide. Guns remain the most popular form for boys (which is one reason why there are more boys who die of suicide even though more girls try it).
Sad. I have to admit, if my child were severely depressed, I'd opt for the antidepressant. Doubling a small chance of suicide compared to placebo seems scary till you see these rates. On the other hand, statistics fail to capture the true story--every child counts, every death matters. But when looking at the greater good vs a possibility, well, maybe it's best to err on the side of the greater good. More studies will no doubt tackle the question of causation and whether this is an aberration or the beginning of a trend. In the meantime, I find it troubling.
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