It has been one week since I have gotten my blood results back. One week of an utterly reduced diet. One week when my sense of humor has sky-rocketed because I have no choice.
Perhaps, I should explain: I found out that I have food allergies. This all stemmed from a violent reaction to wheat beer a couple of weekends ago, which in turn caused me to do some research. Research that led me to information on wheat allergies and celiac disease.
I had been at this same spot before last spring, when I was trying to figure out the source of my continuing fatigue. I had everything checked: thyroid, diabetes, hypo and hyperglycemia, infections, etc. All I found out then was that I had a B-vitamin deficiency. I upped my b-vitamin intake and didn't notice any changes.
I had another set of blood work done over a week ago and in the basic allergen profile found out that I had abnormal reactions to the following: wheat, corn, peanuts, soybean, and chocolate. I still have to seek an allergist to find out if I have more allergies or if I'm a celiac (can't digest gluten).
So, this past week has been an eye-opening experience, to say least, in researching what I CAN eat. Overall, I'm trying to stay positive on the whole ordeal and as I've cut out the suspecting foods, I've been feeling less lethargic and just plain better and happier.
I have found the following: I can have bubble tea still (!), pho (thank god), I found rice flour tortillas (actually quite yummy), and a large selection of gluten-free and allergen-sensitive products in most grocery stores.
In the end, I will have to become a more creative cook and basically cut out all the processed stuff. For example, I can't have regular sodas because most have corn syrup in them. Most products use soy fillers, so I have to avoid those. As for chocolate, I might have to sneak a piece now and then (you know, to make sure if it's ok).
I think the most shocking thing of all is that this entire time I've had these aversions to the foods above and never knew or at least never connected how I felt to what I ate. Not once did a doctor ever think to check food allergies. Granted, my abnormal reactions aren't as severe as some people, since I have eaten these foods for awhile now. Despite this, my doctor recommended cutting out as much as possible.
Come my birthday I just might be presenting some very interesting cupcakes :)
Friday, February 20, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Oh a New Year...
At my work, we have a table that goes up at the beginning of every year titled: "New Year, New You". Typically, there are self-help books and fitness titles on it. I have always deemed this a bit too simplistic, since you can't be an entirely new person. Plus, it seems like so much force put in New Year's Resolutions (which I stopped making years ago) and change. However, in the past couple of weeks, a lot of new things have occurred.
I have a new car and new cellphone (named Ivy I and Ivy II since they are green).
I cut off all my hair and have a chin skimming hairdo.
I have enrolled in an alternative certification program to become an art teacher. I do the state art test at the end of January and complete training in February and March. I hope to be in a classroom by autumn of this year.
In retrospect, 2008 seemed a bit stagnant, as it was the year of post-graduation. It feels good to finally move forward a bit in 2009. As far 2009 goals go, I hope to stay connected to friends and keep working with art.
I have a new car and new cellphone (named Ivy I and Ivy II since they are green).
I cut off all my hair and have a chin skimming hairdo.
I have enrolled in an alternative certification program to become an art teacher. I do the state art test at the end of January and complete training in February and March. I hope to be in a classroom by autumn of this year.
In retrospect, 2008 seemed a bit stagnant, as it was the year of post-graduation. It feels good to finally move forward a bit in 2009. As far 2009 goals go, I hope to stay connected to friends and keep working with art.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Art Conspiracy: C'mon down!
Just a reminder for everyone that Art Conspiracy is coming up this weekend! Area artists, including myself, are creating pieces all day Friday, December 5th. Those same pieces will be up for auction on December 6th during a reception starting at 6:30 pm.
Here is the important information:
2 DJs
3 Bands
150 Artists
10 Bucks
3011 Gulden Lane
Dallas, TX 75212
Proceeds benefit Preservation Link.
http://www.artconspiracy.org
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Second Annual Art Chicas Unidas
An application, a resume, a portfolio, and a proposal was sent via snail mail to the lovely people of La Reunion TX about a month and a half ago. In fact, I was preparing all the information as I was sitting at the kitchen table in Lubbock the week I visited my boyfriend. It was raining outside and I was doing some mad-typing.
The mini-package was sent to participate in the event called Art Chicas Unidas, a chance to unite local artists with junior high and high school girls in artistic endeavors. La Reunion TX collaborated with the Dallas Art Dealers Association, the Deaf Action Center, and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas to make the event happen.
I was asked to be one of the artists involved. With a bit of trepidation and a lot of excitement, I gathered materials from the future site of LRTX and things around my house in the weeks before the event.
A day-long workshop was held with 3 other artists this past Saturday, each of us doing a different project. I had 9 girls in my group, of varying ages and varying backgrounds. We created sculptural assemblage after discussing the works of artists important to me: Eva Hesse, Anselm Kiefer, and Andy Goldsworthy, who was the inspiration for the project. The pieces were put on display and sold at an evening reception, with the money funding next year's Art Chicas Unidas, also giving the student artists an opportunity to talk about their work.
I have to say, despite the long day, the chance to work with amazing individuals, both peers and students, was fantastic.
As pictures surface from the event, I'll add them on.
Otherwise, for now, check out this link:
http://www.lareuniontx.org/
The mini-package was sent to participate in the event called Art Chicas Unidas, a chance to unite local artists with junior high and high school girls in artistic endeavors. La Reunion TX collaborated with the Dallas Art Dealers Association, the Deaf Action Center, and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas to make the event happen.
I was asked to be one of the artists involved. With a bit of trepidation and a lot of excitement, I gathered materials from the future site of LRTX and things around my house in the weeks before the event.
A day-long workshop was held with 3 other artists this past Saturday, each of us doing a different project. I had 9 girls in my group, of varying ages and varying backgrounds. We created sculptural assemblage after discussing the works of artists important to me: Eva Hesse, Anselm Kiefer, and Andy Goldsworthy, who was the inspiration for the project. The pieces were put on display and sold at an evening reception, with the money funding next year's Art Chicas Unidas, also giving the student artists an opportunity to talk about their work.
I have to say, despite the long day, the chance to work with amazing individuals, both peers and students, was fantastic.
As pictures surface from the event, I'll add them on.
Otherwise, for now, check out this link:
http://www.lareuniontx.org/
Sunday, November 2, 2008
I've become a Red Raider by proxy
I have been to Lubbock three times this year thus far. This past weekend was perhaps my last (since working retail does not bode well for November/December vacations). However, not only did I dress up as Askadelia from the Tin Man series (with my partner in crime as the Tin Man himself), I became part of the football game called Texas Tech vs. Texas.
Scott and his brother live pretty much across the street from the stadium that was lined up with tailgaters beginning Thursday afternoon. By Friday, the smells of grilling meat, the shouts of glee, and the colors of scarlet and black, were becoming closer and closer to the apartment grounds until the big day.
The stadium was packed to capacity and alas, I did not have a ticket to see it live. However, with chicken wings, pizza, and beer in tow, five of us watched the game on TV. We occasionally paused to open the door and hear the shouts of the nearby stadium.
We were jumping up and down on the carpet, on the chairs, and even on each other with each tense moment. Until the last quarter, when it seemed damn near anything could have happened, Harrell's pass to Crabtree made the touchdown that made even Colt McCoy go "wha?". With one second on the clock and Tech fans already assuming the win by beginning to tear down the goal post, we waited with bated breath.
Fans cleared after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and a squib-kick was played. Texas Tech had won.
Ironically, I don't follow that much football. I'm not a big fan of Pro and while I do like college football, my alumni team of North Texas never did much to keep me glued to my TV or waiting for a ticket at the stadium. I've been keeping track of Tech this season since the first game when they played SMU. Somehow in the process, I became a fan.
It was an amazing moment, witnessing the defeat of the number one team and catapulting the underdog team into the possibility of the Bowl Championship Series.
For now, I say paint the town scarlet and black.
Apparently, this Mean Green has become a Red Raider.
Scott and his brother live pretty much across the street from the stadium that was lined up with tailgaters beginning Thursday afternoon. By Friday, the smells of grilling meat, the shouts of glee, and the colors of scarlet and black, were becoming closer and closer to the apartment grounds until the big day.
The stadium was packed to capacity and alas, I did not have a ticket to see it live. However, with chicken wings, pizza, and beer in tow, five of us watched the game on TV. We occasionally paused to open the door and hear the shouts of the nearby stadium.
We were jumping up and down on the carpet, on the chairs, and even on each other with each tense moment. Until the last quarter, when it seemed damn near anything could have happened, Harrell's pass to Crabtree made the touchdown that made even Colt McCoy go "wha?". With one second on the clock and Tech fans already assuming the win by beginning to tear down the goal post, we waited with bated breath.
Fans cleared after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and a squib-kick was played. Texas Tech had won.
Ironically, I don't follow that much football. I'm not a big fan of Pro and while I do like college football, my alumni team of North Texas never did much to keep me glued to my TV or waiting for a ticket at the stadium. I've been keeping track of Tech this season since the first game when they played SMU. Somehow in the process, I became a fan.
It was an amazing moment, witnessing the defeat of the number one team and catapulting the underdog team into the possibility of the Bowl Championship Series.
For now, I say paint the town scarlet and black.
Apparently, this Mean Green has become a Red Raider.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Spontaneous Human Combustion
My family has a great number of interesting conversations at the dinner table. During a recent dinner, my mom brought up a show she had watched in the last day or so on spontaneous human combustion.
I had read articles about this phenomenon in the past and had always been startled by the comically gruesome photographs of remaining limbs of people who had just incinerated from the inside-out, leaving nearby articles of clothing and household items unburned.
As if living daily life wasn't filled enough with fears about accidents and being a general klutz (such as myself). Now we have to worry if our bodies are going through a nuclear chain reaction to reach an immediate heat level of 1600 degrees Fahrenheit (the heat of cremation) to just plain explode into flames.
On the other hand, it seems that SHC could almost be a psychological phenomena, even though this is actually disputed by scientists. It would seem like a simple metaphor to go through an instantaneous combustion, almost like the culmination of thoughts and ideas. And what of physicality?
There are so many things to ponder on this topic, such as the thought of lightning striking a forest, only for it to go a-blaze and cleanse the land.
Is Spontaneous Human Combustion related to natural phenomena seen in nature? Is it a manifestation of body and mind? Is it merely a freakish scientific accident?
Will it ever be resolved?
I had read articles about this phenomenon in the past and had always been startled by the comically gruesome photographs of remaining limbs of people who had just incinerated from the inside-out, leaving nearby articles of clothing and household items unburned.
As if living daily life wasn't filled enough with fears about accidents and being a general klutz (such as myself). Now we have to worry if our bodies are going through a nuclear chain reaction to reach an immediate heat level of 1600 degrees Fahrenheit (the heat of cremation) to just plain explode into flames.
On the other hand, it seems that SHC could almost be a psychological phenomena, even though this is actually disputed by scientists. It would seem like a simple metaphor to go through an instantaneous combustion, almost like the culmination of thoughts and ideas. And what of physicality?
There are so many things to ponder on this topic, such as the thought of lightning striking a forest, only for it to go a-blaze and cleanse the land.
Is Spontaneous Human Combustion related to natural phenomena seen in nature? Is it a manifestation of body and mind? Is it merely a freakish scientific accident?
Will it ever be resolved?
Monday, October 20, 2008
Metalhead
I flew to Lubbock this weekend on a whim after I found out not 4 days before that Texas Tech was holding a symposium on concept in metalsmithing. If you know me well, you could see that I could not be denied this chance; especially for a place reasonably close to where I live.
I ended up flying since the drive out either late at night or early in the morning terrified me because 1) there are too many deer crossing signs for comfort, 2) my night vision is not so good (years of looking at an open flame while working in metal is beginning to take its toll, I suspect or genetics is the culprit), and 3) flying would maximize my time in Lubbock.
The symposium was quite interesting and well worth it: four lectures by internationally known metalsmiths, a tour of the new art building just for the 3-D arts, and an opening reception for a metals/jewelry show in the old art building.
I was also able to see The Full Monty, the play put on by Tech's theatre department, which was both entertaining and hilarious. This included seeing my boyfriend's brother and his theatre friends in various states of undress, even some red thongs by the end (oh dear).
However, the best moment of the weekend: post-reception, Scott and I explored the campus, trying to find all the sculptures and site-specific art as the sun was setting. Absolutely stunning autumn sunset and evening.
I've decided some spontaneity is highly rewarding :)
I ended up flying since the drive out either late at night or early in the morning terrified me because 1) there are too many deer crossing signs for comfort, 2) my night vision is not so good (years of looking at an open flame while working in metal is beginning to take its toll, I suspect or genetics is the culprit), and 3) flying would maximize my time in Lubbock.
The symposium was quite interesting and well worth it: four lectures by internationally known metalsmiths, a tour of the new art building just for the 3-D arts, and an opening reception for a metals/jewelry show in the old art building.
I was also able to see The Full Monty, the play put on by Tech's theatre department, which was both entertaining and hilarious. This included seeing my boyfriend's brother and his theatre friends in various states of undress, even some red thongs by the end (oh dear).
However, the best moment of the weekend: post-reception, Scott and I explored the campus, trying to find all the sculptures and site-specific art as the sun was setting. Absolutely stunning autumn sunset and evening.
I've decided some spontaneity is highly rewarding :)
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