Cancer Risk or Fringe Hype?

I started hearing a weird fringe warning about the risk of the aluminum in deodorants and antiperspirants causing cancer or contributing to developing Alzheimer’s.

Yikes wow right? I had never even looked twice at the warning labels these products contain. Now as I scanned shelf after shelf I was hard pressed to find any that did not contain it. 

Are we really doing these things to ourselves was the question in the way back of my mind or rather is this proof at last??? I could only find non aluminum deodorants no antiperspirants. Thankfully sweat production was not a huge concern of mine. 

Next I realized that not all these deodorants were working well against my body odor to minimize if not completely totally neutralize it. I tried the Crystal stick, next some Toms of Maine scents. Nothing worked until I happened upon Adidas which I have been loving.

A recent post came through a site where I moderate a handful of groups. The post was from a breast cancer survivor sharing a simple recipe for homemade deodorant that she has been using:
 

1 tablespoon baking soda 

                               6 tablespoons of cornstarch

Someone followed up adding that mixing the sifted powder into melted coconut oil would produce a solid applicator for easier use and less mess in application. Maybe we will give this a try. Convincing the teen age girl to get on board with all my seemingly oddball ideas has not gone so smoothly.

It seems the National Cancer Institute is still trying to figure out if there is really any thing to worry about. I am just happy not to have to hold my breath while we wait.

Procrastinating on a Rainy Saturday

I should be organizing and packing for my move at months end but I am you know “busy doing market research” which is code for procrastination on the internet and trying to find a way to relate it back to profit making and business.

I think I need to write a book. Something powerful and up lifting for others to read and be encouraged by. When in the world will I have time for that. The bigger question is should I just be myself and make it a self help or should I create a character and write fiction?

Hmm points to ponder. Meanwhile I flitter around on the internet experiencing life through the filter of my online sites and connections.

I have homework I could be doing but nothing pressing. The three page reflection paper that is due Monday morning @ 10:40am will probably get worked on no earlier than 24 hours from now.

A few interesting links to conversations I find noteworthy:

6 Female Myths

Church ain't safe for Christians?

Hormone Replacement Study Findings

Happy fall it started raining sometime after I woke up around noon and before I had coffee around 2:30pm. Only got a few hours of sleep seeing as I pretty much pulled an all nighter and laid down at 8am.

Bumping Heads

Ever bump heads with someone? Within a few weeks last year I literally bumped heads with two different women. It was slightly painful. It was embarrassing. 

We laughed and waved it off. All parties felt at fault if not a tad awkward for just a moment. 

The moment passed, the annoying sensation of pain subsided and life went on. In both instances I was in a friendly safe place interacting with another person I had warm feelings towards. Inadvertently however the person and I hurt each other.

After the second occurrence I began to wonder if there was something I could take away from these experiences to help me in my life. I decided maybe so. I am a strong personality type who notices fascinating things in my relationships and activities.

It appears at times that people resent others by their very presence or due to out of the box thinking. What accounts for this? Maybe it is like bumping heads: too close space, inadvertent movement, miscalculation of thought, momentum, activity etc.

This is where walking in love and forgiveness as well as communication skills come into play and can be beneficial. Disaster occurs when people assume the worse, nursing all hurts perceived, implied and launched. They stew quietly or to others also with close minded perspectives on life, living and the world.

Make a vow to give people the benefit of doubt in all cases. Commit to clear the air when ever possible. This can lead to a life less drama filled and anti social.

Brainylicious!

Yes I find these things fun fun fun. Call me geeky girly non obsessive.

I am just a social bug that went digital.

I'm Helpful To A Point

Another milestone is being passed and the jury is in. I do not want to help people who can't be bothered to help themselves. Yeah I said it. "Count up the costs" is a good adage. People who ignore good advice are like those who fail to know history. Doomed to repeat the mistakes that are clearly marked as results of their actions.

This comes about because Big Bold Fearless Leader that I seem to be I live on the edge. I do things that make others feel unsure of themselves and uncomfortable. I can be unconventional but my life is working for me. I do not ask for much help or hardly any advice. I know my limits and capabilities.

The longer I live the more other people I have time to notice and there definitely seem to be strong personality types who are not this thoughtful or put together. It is one thing to make a bold leap. It is another thing to have no idea what you are going to land.

I ran across a post on a social network I love from a newish member who wanted to get some information. The posed question seemed to come from an ignorant place. The information sought is out there and easy enough to find even for a newbie.

Upon inspection indeed the poster had circumvented the conventional methods of involvement at the least. I chattered along in the thread of the question not talking to the original poster since it didn't seem they really wanted help just to make noise.

People both agreed with what I was doing and decided I was mean for not just gushing up with help and support for the lost newbie. Said newbie admitted openly that she saw the instructions for how to interface with the site we are on but she didn't "buy it".

lol Wow give people time and space. They will reveal who they really are and even indicate which problems they are operating with. Suddenly I became the bad guy and antagonist to the crowd watching. Thankfully because of the crowd and the tension aside from me the whole mess was quashed.

Someone emailed me calling me out saying I was being mean and that I was making the newbie look bad. lol Yeah okay... Saw a shirt at the fair this month "I'm Grumpy because you're Dopey" maybe I need to get one for days like I just had.

Can the sky fall?

lol Anyone remember that childhood story? I think it was a chicken little who had like an acorn fall on their head and decided the sky was falling... Yeah something like that.

That is about how I feel for these predictions of the world as we know it coming to an end. Not that I believe it will continue on forever. I simply do not believe anyone who is out proclaiming they know exactly when it will cease to exist.

No one who has previously predicted it has ever been correct.

The biggest prediction up coming is the 2012 non sense. Gonna pass us by like Y2K folks I promise.

The last time the known world was put on notice that things as they knew it were going to change was at the flood. There will be no other clear universal specific sign. Live right and ready to exit because life is a death sentence that is not promised to any of us for more than the breath we last took.

I like a saying I see on buttons and bumper stickers: "If you are not living on the edge you are taking up too much space."

Yes sure you can call me a radical. We can discuss this further if you are intrigued or even want more information I don't mind sharing.

Just a friendly PSA for those tempted to be culled away by crafty entertainers. The good news I guess is that I haven't heard of any doomsday cults planning on sipping poisoned juice or anything to hasten their mass exit. The majority of those who will get sucked into these nonsense followings will live to get over themselves and their folly.

The sad thing is when false prophets are revealed in these days they are not forced into hiding much less repentance. Instead they recalculate and the sheeple just regroup and keep hanging on.

Please if you are going to head in a direction don't follow someone who has gotten you lost. Might as well strike out on your own if you can't find a map and read it well.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your life every day. Don't spend it trying to figure out things that are none of your business there are plenty of other things you need to be doing. Leave a legacy.

A sick dd

The darling daughter is ill this day. The saddest thing a parent has to tred through is doctoring a kidlet who is under the weather. She is taller than me and last weekend we bleached her hair before striping it with three different colors.

None of this matters when she starts the day early with "Mom I don't feel well." sigh

No matter what else is going on you are reminded how much you love and care for them as well as the fragility of life. So now she is resting. I had a very late nap from 11pm to 3:30 a.m. so I am wide awake!

She had a popsicle before drifting off and now I think I will too. The weird thing would be yesterday when I awoke around this time my tummy was grumbling and seeming upset. Later when I logged into Facebook one of my contacts also wasn't feeling well tummy wise. I suggested it was in the air 'cause I hadn't even had any water yet. lol sigh.

Sending out hope and prayers for others who are dealing with sick friends and family. I know a couple of people have some rather serious issues going on. It is a reminder to be really greatful daily for health and strength. As well as to take the best care of self one can.

We Are Blessed Do You See?

I have to be at work in 11 hours. I just cleaned my bathroom and started a load of laundry. It is 5 am lol this is my life. I am not up early...I just don't sleep much. A nap is scheduled between perhaps 7am & 11am....that is the plan.

hahahaha about plans. My plans anyway, some days I barely know why I make them. Maybe they are just an out line of how my days and life could go.

Sunday my plan was to attend church then pick up my daughter and head to the last day of the state fair. Weird Al was performing. Wanting to catch the show @ 8pm meant we needed to be there in time to see all the sites and enjoy some rides.

Saturday night was another like this one where sleep was rather elusive and my scheduled nap was interrupted by the daughter calling to get details on our days plans. Feeling a bit run down I opted to watch my churches service via the internet which let me sleep till 11.

Problems with the internet and computer meant I could not at all multi task like I wanted. Just to paint my nails and other small things like take some pictures to add here and elsewhere. Does this sound sacrilegious? Just keep reading....

The plan was to meet with the daughter or even be at the fair by 2pm. It was 4pm and I was leaving the house in Rocklin. Dropping by the trash bins to deposit some stuff I saw a nice looking vacuum sitting around with a sign that said FREE works well.

Stashed that in the garage and headed for the freeway which was a nightmare! Skirted on to surface streets. Had to pick up some groceries to bless the step family where my daughter has been staying and finally we were free to go.

Speaking of free as we walked and waited to enter Cal Expo having parked a block or so away a lady handed us two $2 off coupons for entrance. Before we got wanded & entered the gates a young couple in front of us turned and offered us half of their Poppy Pack. Entrance to the fair FREE.

The concert was sold out but just as good in the public seating surrounding the venue. We saw and heard everything. It went on past 10pm. The daughters step sisters spirited her away for a bit to enjoy a few more rides than we had time for. After the concert we bought some more tickets and enjoyed a few more.

These kinds of days filled with simple blessings are praise and SHOUT worthy to me.

Odd usual night

Last night was another one of those nights. As odd as it was ordinary for me anyway. I close up FTA right on schedule and head to one of the two week night services @ my church Nations2Harvest.

Service starts half an hour before I get off work so there is that, however when I arrive I almost feel like I did not need to be there since the message is more for the stragglers who need to step up their game and commit.

I notice a new gal watching intently sitting alone. After the message I stand around awkwardly during the transition. People come and go I say hi, bye and how ya here and there.

Stashing my purse, notebook and Bible I notice a member who has always been gracious towards me and head over to say hello. This seats me near the new gal and eventually we exchange greetings.

I chat with the member catching up, talking of future plans. Suddenly the daughter of the member I am speaking to, who is sitting nearby and has been chatting with the new gal, pipes up. The new woman I am sitting next to wants to learn to crochet.

All I could do was laugh and head back to my items to grab a business card. By faith she told me she had gone to the store and bought supplies just that day determined to learn the craft not really knowing where or how to begin.

Not sure how helpful my over load of info was linking her to Ravelry, telling her about Flickr, including my # & email. Lastly I mentioned YouTube for instant video help. lol sigh

I wonder if this was more the reason I needed to be there? It was nice to have praise & worship time following the service. I do miss that regular dance space. Something elegant and floaty happens in those moments it's like meditation but not. I could do this at home but come to think of it I never have.

I further wonder if I can move the hand of God with my faith....something about having not for asking not....ggrrr lol sigh

Last night was weird....lol sigh

Ok so I am leaving work hours after closing as usual. We have too much fun there and there is always so much to do. My boss and I work well together and she is gracious enough to give me a lift to my car since I have to park sometimes a block away and it is dark.

So like so many other times this was the case. Hopping from her car into mine I headed home. Tummy rumbling thinking of what to eat it was after 9pm so too late to stop by Trader Joe's to get a sample.

Ok well I have groceries still no big. Somehow however I am drifting to the exit lane and heading for Taco Bell. Really? Do I need this? Can I afford this? Why am I veering off? I actually pondered this question:
"What date with destiny could I have between the drive through and eating my food this evening?"

Zipping through the drive line receiving my order I decide to pull over to chow down. I like to mess with my order redistribute the sour cream and other such things. There I sit when I could have been on the freeway already moving through citrus heights.

I am munching away when my phone rings. Who is calling after 10pm? Must be my daughter. I am tempted to not answer and just get my grub on, however I look to check. It's my boss. That's curious we did not leave any pressing unfinished business and I know she left the building. I answer. "Did you realize you left your laptop bag in my car?" she asks me.

Yikes lol sigh had I been past her I probably would not have wanted to turn around to pick up my bag & computer. Unusually I came home and went right to bed rather than logging on.

This past calendar year has seen me eating much fast food between couch surfing and those handfuls of nights sleeping in my car. Will it happen again surely. Does forgetfulness also happen? Of course.

Still it gives me pause how things all played out. Fun fun fun

Rebalancing...

I finally had two days off in a row lol. I celebrated by being holed up here at home but not alone. The only place I went was to class for my summer final Monday night.

I had my dd (darling daughter) for one night and then a friend of hers too for another.

Thankfully things all went well. Girls are fun they weren't too crazy mine even cleaned my room a bit helping me get unpacked and organized since I have been moving in while working over time. They were so cute we went to Trader Joes on our way home for the sleep over night. The girls bought fruit for smoothies and salad stuff plus a meatless entree for their meal.

I am not anti meat but that is a kick they are experimenting with. They bought a tad of junk food but the balance was impressive.

Did we dodge a heat wave??? hahahahahaha yikes All I want when the temp creeps over 97 to stay is to stay by the pool or indoors eating ice cream.

Had some interesting experiences through the weekend. Not sure what I can do about a problem that I see...lol with the answers to prayers I have been seeing this year there is no way to predict how things will turn out. I just know things have come to my attention, I wouldn't mind seeing change, I care about all involved, I am not alone.

What do you do when you see a community nuisance?

Crafty fun @ work on the horizon trying to balance with the other things I think I should be doing.....grrr why can't it just be simple. Till I can figure it out maybe I can meet some yarny folks here in Rocklin where I am spending the next few months.

A Heat Wave & Babies

So what we have in abundance seems to be new life and a temperature on the rise!

My daughters step sister, my roommates daughter and my boss' son have all had baby girls of recent fun, fun, fun.

It's been a long time since I had so much baby fun. The heat wave I am less fond of tho it has been pretty mild and I am not too melty.

This has been the toughest year of my life so I am trying to remember to take things all in stride. I have moved half a dozen or more times. Am now out in Rocklin when my life is all over Sacramento.

I have been avoiding this place (blogger) because...it is just so over done and not cute. Find me on Rav, FB, Twitter, etc. Better yet connect with me over coffee or yarn @ work or out and about in public.

See me @ the River Cats cash give away night August 25th if not viewing Weird Al @ the state fair on the 1st!!!

My first scoop of a story

Update: The happy couple are enrolled in fall classes and doing well. Yeah!

(This was a scoop and article I wrote up for the student paper around the end of April)

I am doing the Christian single woman happy dance. Why, because another one of our Bible college students is getting married this summer! Formerly named Trinity Life Bible College (TLBC), (could that have stood for Trinity Life Bridal...), now called Epic will be expanding in the lovely year 2010 with a new student couple!

This whole subject of couples and pending weddings takes me all the way back through the Bible from Jesus at the wedding of Cana to Adam & Eve in the garden. Father God our creator is still intertwining hearts the way He has woven our inner most parts together.

The happy couple went to school together from 7th to 10th grade. He was her bully, until one day she put a stop to him messing with her. This sounds more like the bold, strong woman we know. Their lives went on separately until they were innocently reconnected on Facebook the social networking site (started by lonely college boys trying to connect with lovely co-eds).

I asked the bride to be if God specifically told her the timing of or the person whom she was intended to be joined with. She told me she only knew she was being preparing to become a Godly wife and nothing much more. One of the ways her future groom revealed his mature, changed heart to her was by asking for her forgiveness for being a bully all those years ago in school.

“How did you know this was right if it wasn’t love at first sight?" 

That is the all important question us single saints ponder looking at the beauty
of all our potential mates. 

The happy couples answer: A time of separate prayer and fasting.

Having been a single mom for 12 years now she told me she wanted to be sure she laid the relationship and all it’s implications before God releasing her own will and expectations. This is the only way to get past your flesh and hear through The Spirit. Get alone, get quiet and wait. Share with Christians you know and trust that know you. Give them permission to speak into your life from their perspective on the issue. If you don’t like what they say take it to God.

The happy engaged couple are both firmly planted and volunteering in active churches. Both sets of spiritual and or pastoral leadership are on board and approve of the pending nuptials. Family members are on line with the plan. Pre marital counseling is being provided by one of our very own professors. To think about getting married is to understand these and other points and issues. Having things line up to indicate what you are doing is being divinely guided.

This summers union will be the second for both parties and each come into the new relationship with children. Things are working together without X's causing drama. For those of us handling divorces, separations, custody issues and deadbeats or even those exposed to these traumas in the lives of friends this is clearly a visible all but tangible blessing indeed. For many who are
divorced it is also healing to see second marriages can be God designed.

Thanks & Congratulations to the pending couple towards your new blessings adventures!

Growling along w/ Cub

Gasp I am raising a daughter aged 13 please give me a glass of water ~fans self~. Some days I am just not sure what to think of her. How far is too far, am I making right decisions, will she be scarred for life???? ^_^ (0) - (0)

Sigh

Things have been awkward to say the least in the last few months. We were separated through the Christmas holiday. I lost my phone for a few days and then got seriously ill with some sort of bug that went through the household I am sharing.

This wouldn't have been so bad if we hadn't been planning on getting together it being Christmas and break after all. There was no set arrangement but it just seemed it would happen. Where she is, is where she has chosen to be. She doesn't want to stay where I am staying and had her calendar full of sleep overs and activities with friends so I let her be.

I have spent the past 12 years with her all but 24/7 365. It is a time for freedom and independence. She's pulling away and into her friends at school. This has all been an adjustment but it is so normal. Trying to just roll with the punches.

I even began to think this is exactly what God wanted a harsh break between us to force a crises in her life. Even being homeless having me near is incredibly stabilizing for her. The week that I had this thought I went to a prayer service @ my church and a minister who prayed for me said "The Lord says praise Him because the salvation of your family is due and released through your worship."

Don't quote me on that but it seemed to sort of gel. My dad died in 06 suddenly at only 52 or 53 years of age. My brother, my daughter and his sister (my aunt) are still not over it. My mother and I have released him. We are the only two walking in our salvation at the moment. The other three are still wandering in the world like little prodigals. My brother has had 3 people die this year connected to his life. The parents of two girls he went to school with. One of the girls just married our cousin in Sept and her mom died in Dec. Back in March my brothers God brother who was barely 31 with 4 little kids and a fiance went to sleep one night and did not wake up. Much pressure, stress and pain. I do not know as much about my aunt she lives in TX and I am in CA our families were never really close just due to distance.

These are just the situations of our lives but when we look closely we can see the hand of God behind our circumstances. To fully survive them in mental and emotional health we must rest in Him and look to Him in times of pain and stress.

All this being said the disconnect between my daughter and I for all these days was excessive. I guess I was waiting for her to tell me what she needed or just waiting for things to straighten themselves out and get back to normal so we can resume life as we prefer it.

Last night I went to see her and she was giving me the cold shoulder. eke Yikes okay.....

Mad at me and accusing me when she finally would give me a few moments. I had to really listen and hear what she was not saying. I apologized to her told her it was wrong to stay out of touch. I promised it will be better.

Then I told her to try and put this in perspective "You wouldn't be mad at me if you didn't need me and please use your words to ask for what you want instead of other things or being bratty." It is not like she called me to talk and I wouldn't. She would call me for things but never to hang out or just chat.

We are both strong women. Our Mamas raised us well as babies. Which enables a level of confidence and security the world can't touch because it is God given. Babies whose parents fail to meet their needs loose this ability to trust and connect with the world. They grow up instinctively feeling mistrustful and abandoned because something went wrong very early in life. My dd had no father to speak of in the first 5 years and is a bit more grouchy than I am because of it (to say the least lol sigh).

Well raised babies grow up to be strong adolescents. When they start complaining about things and how we treat them we need to listen, meet the needs and find balance. It further helps them navigate positively through life.

I am studying an over view of human development in a youth ministry class I threw on my schedule as winter quarter started. It has been so timely. God is so good. Some of this stuff I knew instinctively but it is good to hear it again as we go through these specific issues and trials.

I feel like what went wrong for me at this stage in my life was my parents failed to hear my complaints as needs. When I was old enough to talk and reason they assumed they could tell me how to feel and that would be the end of it.

The rift that caused in our relationship is the reason I decided to parent my daughter the opposite to what I was shown.