My Friday 13th

I'll be traveling to CT to surprise one little girl, swim the day away, drink some beer w/ the coolest friend in the world and then watch her freak the heck out because we'll be at a DMB concert. :) Lots of other fun stuff planned for the weekend too, so unless something earth shattering happens (in which case of course I would have to blog) I won't be around...have a great weekend!!

Hyperhidrosis

I know that between my plus size rant and this post, most of you who once thought I was cute will now think I'm an ugly fat hag.  That'll be a shame because I am not-I'm an everyday normal woman who likes to look nice and usually does.  (Although I once told someone that my true personality comes out if you look closely or know me well-I'm the girl who looks all put together until the wind blows-then my hair gets stuck on my lip gloss and I fumble to get it off before anyone sees).  In any case, here's the deal:  I have something called hyperhidrosis.  Hyperhidrosis affects approximately 7 million Americans and millions more around the world according to the American Academy of Dermatologists-but this doesn't make me feel any better when my face is dripping with sweat for no apparent reason.

 

From what I gather, this is a hereditary disorder-and I can tell you 100% that I believe this, as all of the women on my mother's side of the family have the same problem (though affected in different areas).  My sisters both have it.  There's really no cure for it, though there are treatments and in most extreme cases, surgery.  No one knows why is happens either.  So, pretty much, I'm stuck with it.

 

This has been a problem my entire life-even when I was skinny.  (My littlest sister, incidentally is extremely thin and fit and it happens to her as well).  What's embarrassing to me is that when it happens in public, I feel like people see me and think it's because I'm overweight.  Of course, it's not because of my weight, it's because of the gene I have for this stupid disorder. 

 

It happens with sudden changes in temperature (going from cold to hot) or when I'm outside.  It even happens when I am nervous.  My face gets soaked and the back of my hair is drenched.  The rest of my body?  Not sweating.  Normal.  No worries, pit stains or swamp ass.  Just the face-the most visible and embarrassing (and I think my best feature) part of the body-out there for everyone to see.

 

I'm writing this post because I was so happy to find out about hyperhidrosis.  I knew it ran in our family, but I just thought it was a weird O'M@&@ trait.  I am finding comfort in the fact that millions of other people are suffering too. (That sounds horrible-let me rephrase.)  I am not alone.  And that feels good.

 

Recently (yesterday) I researched different topical solutions to the problem and found a highly rated spray that is specifically used on the face and neck.  You are supposed to put it on at night and wash it off in the shower the next day.  Within a week, you should see significant changes in your symptoms.  I haven't yet gotten it, but I can tell you that of all of the other things I've purchased online (new phone upgrade, present for someone) I am most excited about this.  Not only for myself, but for my sisters, friends and family who who this problem too.

 

I'll let you know if it works!

 

 

 

Shopping Rant

Yesterday after work I went shopping for Father's Day.  I got my Dad something that I think he'll like and my Mom will hate.  Which, I think, will make my Dad like them even more.  But this is not the point of the story.  The point of this story is that I am sick and tired of stores neglecting their plus size women's departments.

 

And this is going to sound rude-but for those of you who have never struggled with your weight-please don't come back with comments about how we should lose weight or how the majority of people buying clothing aren't big-or whatever.  My mother is skinny and has been her entire life.  She sometimes says things that come off as insensitive, but I think it's more of an ignorance thing-she's never known the feeling of walking into a room and being the biggest person there.  Or worrying about finding clothing that fits AND looks good.

 

Onto my rant.  Department stores that do not specialize in plus size clothing (such as Lane Bryant) seem to not care about women who have a little junk in their trunk.  I say this because when I shop for clothes I am either stuck in a tiny corner of the store (like at Target) or made to rifle through messy piles of clothes that have been thrown on the floor or jammed into racks (like at Kohls).  It's frustrating to enter a store knowing that your shopping experience is going to suck and that even without any human contact, the plus sized woman is going to feel like a less important consumer.

 

Here's a pet peeve of mine.  Stores tend to move the clearance section INTO the women's department instead of keeping it in the ladies department.  So not only do we have to deal with a small section of clothing (as opposed to a whole side of the store full of ladies clothes) we now have to deal with racks of clothes shoved into our space-clothes that we can't buy.  What are they trying to accomplish?  Are they trying to say, "Hey you-big girl-see what you could have if you just lost 20 pounds?"

 

People who are overweight usually know it.  This is something that I think some people don't get.  They somehow think that by telling someone they need to lose weight will open their eyes and the heavy person will have a moment of enlightenment and all will be right with the world.  Uh...sorry.  We know we're bigger than you.  In fact-almost everything that surrounds us tells us that.

 

But anyway-my point is that it's discouraging to see major stores neglect a portion of their customers simply because we don't fit into the magazine/tv perception of what beautiful is.  What's even more discouraging-the "big and tall" section in the men's department is tidy and clean.  It's usually just our section that ends up looking like a train wreck.*

 

*I'm talking about overall-not during a major sale or some crazy promotional time-all sections get like that at some point, I know.  But on a whole, the women's department is messy and cramped and stuffed with clearance clothing from another department.

Randomivity

It's kind of hard to use a word right when a respected name in dictionaries has the definition wrong.

I don't want a funeral b/c I don't really believe in them. But I know that people will give me one anyway. So, I've decided that I would like white doves released after all of the prayin' is done.

I see more and more police reports about the street I wanted to move to. Remember that apartment I really wanted but didn't get? Yeah-it's on one of the rowdiest streets in this area.

It's stressful keeping secrets. Especially when the people you're keeping secrets from are so nice to you.

Going to the beach 2 days in a row isn't the smartest thing for a very white girl.

It's not cool when your friends crazy girlfriend calls you up because she's going through his phone.

I am not going to miss sitting next to the office gossip.

I really hate the term "lovely lady lumps".

It's always fun to be in the bathroom when someone is 'pretending' to wash their hands after they went. What's the point? If you're not going to wash, just walk out. Don't go thru the trouble of turning on the water. I can tell the difference between just turning it on and off versus turning it on, getting soap, rinsing, shutting it off and getting paper towels. Who do you think you're fooling?

Wordless Wednesday

NATALIEDEE Comics

Toosdae ?'s

Last night I was sitting in my apartment with the windows wide open and there were birds singing right outside my window! It was so pretty-all was quiet except for the two birdies talking to each other...just beautiful! So...

1. What is your favorite sound of nature?

2. If you were a movie star and had enough money would you insure a part of your body like some people do? If so, what part and for how much?

3. Have you altered your driving habits since the gas prices have risen so much? What have you eliminated-visits, vacations, shopping trips?

1. Even though I just babbled about the lovely birdies, my favorite sound from nature is actually the sound of crickets in the summertime. (Exception: When one gets in your house and you can't find it and it won't shut up!!) It reminds me of all of the things I love about summer-fireflies, barbeque's, the beach, bonfires and s'mores and my birthday. :)

2. I can't even imagine insuring a part of my body, really-but I suppose if I were a celebrity chef I would insure my hands for a million dollars. If I did that, my bum finger wouldn't be an issue. (From the ball park)

3. Well, I would say yes. I got a new job for goodness sakes! I do drive less now-I don't visit home as often as I would like and I don't use the car at all during the weekends.

Manic Monday: Under

Monday's are MoMoLicous...and with a graphic like this, I almost feel like I don't even need to write anything! Phew-is it hot in here or it is just his abs? ;)



Why did it have to happen in the middle of the student union? And why on a Friday night? It was almost like he was planning it so that everyone would see her crumble under the two words she hoped she'd never hear him say, "It's over."



But he did say them and it was a Friday night, and so among groups of students and musicians she collapsed. An extreme reaction, that is for sure, but she had planned her life around him for five years and the sudden change of plans hit her violently. With tears streaming down her face and choking sobs escaping her body, she crashed into a partition and fell to the ground.



Somehow she picked herself up and ran outside.



It wasn't until she was under the cloak of night that the tears stopped and she could breath again. Her mind cleared and she thought about what people would say, what they would think. They had wanted so badly to prove everyone wrong-to prove that young love is real and that fairytales can come true. She wondered when his faith in their fairytale dissolved.



That night she sat for hours in the middle of the campus green where the lights couldn't reach and where she'd be hidden from the truth. And when morning broke, she picked herself up, glanced in his direction and walked the other way.

What's Cookin'? Pineapple Fritters

Do yourself a favor this weekend and get yourself some pineapples. Dress them up with lime and cilantro for a yummy salsa for chicken or, if you feel like really spoiling yourself, fry them up and serve them warm with vanilla ice cream.

Yeah-you read it right-fried pineapple with vanilla ice cream. It's easy to make and is without a doubt a fantastic treat for anyone lucky enough to be around you. Worried about the calories? Don't be! It's fruit, right?

Ingredients:
1/2 C. Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
1/4 C. Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/2 t. Cinnamon
8 Pineapple slices, cored
2 T. Flour
1 Egg, beaten with 1 T. water
3/4 C. Sugar
Vegetable Oil, for frying

Method:
1. Mix panko, graham cracker crumbs and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Set up 2 other bowls-one with flour and one with the egg mixture.

2. In a deep pan, heat oil to 350 degrees.

3. Dip the pineapple slices into the flour (shake off excess) then into the egg and last, into the panko mixture. Carefully slide the pineapple slices into the oil and fry until golden brown.

4. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with sugar. Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream.

Deal Breakers

It's pretty much assumed that I'm adventurous in the kitchen...get your mind out of the gutter Brian-I'm talking food! There're not many recipes that scare me away and though I do sometimes postpone making something for lack of time or money. I've always liked trying intricate recipes and see it as a challenge when it comes out right.

But then, this is my passion. I take great pride in making something that other people think is impossible. So it makes me wonder-what kind of recipes scare you? What's a deal breaker-something that you see in a recipe that will make you decide not to make the dish?