my mom was right!

even though people harrass me about not having a microwave in the house and make fun of me when i heat up my left-overs in a pan, i trusted and supported my mom's 15 year crusade against the microwave. turns out, she was right. she's so ahead of her time! the doctors are just catching up to her. thanks mom!

Cancer Update from John Hopkins and Walter Reed Army Medical Center

No plastic containers in microwave.
No water bottles in freezer.
No plastic wrap in microwave.
A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.

Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.

This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body.

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food... You get the same results, only without the dioxin So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.

He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.

Cover food with a paper towel instead.

under where?

my daily trip to the gym this morning was spicier than usual. as i came up the stairs to the cardio room, i saw a old man, not unlike the guy in this picture, coming toward me. unfortunately, unlike the one in the picture, the old man at the gym wasn't wearing any pants. seriously. he was wearing a white t-shirt and black underwear. i almost died. luckily, i made it past him without laughing out loud. miracle.

weekly disappointments and accomplishments

i have this habit of watching sportscenter and/or espn's first take in the morning while i'm running. i put in my headphones and switch my personal mini tv on the treadmill to espn; instantly, i'm in my own little world. combined with the endorphins, it's quite theraputic. however, i've encountered a little problem in my nirvana: i have no one to express my opinions to about the amazing/extremely ridiculous stuff i see on espn. so, i've decided to write a weekly list of the good, the bad, and the ugly of morning sports news. i know, i know, you're all thrilled!

accomplishments:

• TROY AIKMAN went back to UCLA this semester and finished his last two classes in order to graduate with a degree in sociology 20 years after leaving to play for the NFL. way to go troy! chalk one up for the importance of education...even if you're a bazillionaire hall of famer.
• ALEX RODRIGUEZ admitted to taking steriods while he was in texas and gave the most candid interview i've ever seen from an athlete accused of using. props. i hope this signals a change for baseball's best.
• PACKMAN JONES is finally being released by the dallas cowboys. his violent behavior toward his bodyguard and women is shameful, and i don't think he should be playing anywhere until he gets that "alcohol" problem under control.

disappointments:

• BRETT FAVRE is retiring...again. seriously, brett? i'm a huge fan, always have been. but i can't take it anymore. don't you think maybe you should take the off-season to think about it? you know you're going to change your mind again in march.
• ALEX RODRIGUEZ admitted to taking steriods, and while i gave him props in the accompishments, he also must be mentioned here for his excuse that everyone was using. probably not true. and, i wonder, a-rod, are you only admitting your use in texas, because they haven't caught you in new york yet?
• MICHAEL VICK is being released from prision sooner than expected, and espn reports that there is a market for him. teams are actually talking about signing him, if and when he gets released from that indefinite suspension put in place by the league. WHAT?!? he's in PRISION people, PRISION! how 'bout we don't just throw him back out there for little boys to worship. disgraceful.

por fin

ok ladies...you asked for it:

oatmeal

"my brain is like oatmeal! i yelled at kenny the other day for coloring outside the lines. me and megan are starting to watch the same tv shows, and i'm liking 'em. i'm losin' it!" -Mr. Mom

this is how i feel. my brain is slowly, but surely, turning to mush. i'm afraid that i don't have a literary brain cell that's still alive. and...i have to write a paper for pca this month. right.

coming to my senses

ok. ok. so, my hair crisis really isn't all that bad. i do love my hair. and, i decided last night that i just need to grow out my layers (like chelsea said) so that my hair looks like this (except deep red and dark brown):

ah, hair

frankly, one of my favorite things in the whole world is getting my hair done. i love the smell. i love the feeling. i love the results (like you just stepped out of a salon). yesterday was one of those lucky days.

so...i'm in love with the color, a sort of wine red violet color. ahhh. and, the cut is exactly what i wanted. (chelsea, you're amazing) but, recently, i have been in hair crisis, and i don't think i'm out of the woods yet. i feel bored with my hair. maybe it's because it's too long. or, maybe it's because i'm trying to do the complete opposite of what i had before. or, maybe it's just because i need to be in crisis about something manageable.

i'm thinking of cutting it all off. or maybe this. . .

blogging habits

i've figured out that i'm a binge blogger. i like to blog my whole month all at once, and then i get burned out and don't blog again for a long long time. i'm determined to stop this cycle and blog all the time, if only to meet tirza's challenge and out-blog her!