Viva [insert inappropriate reference here]!

1. State of the economy - another recession? Already? what?

This is how I know that I am still a youngin'. The reality is that the economy cycles. It is not completely whack that we are on the brink of another recession because the last one was nearly 7 years ago (and the one previous to that was somewhere in the 92-94 timeframe from what I've been reading, so 7-10 years, about right). But to me, it feels like it just happened - and boy, do I remember the last one. Everything is all bright and shiney, all dot-com-ey, yay! there was Webvan and Kozmo, Yahoo stock was $400 a share, and then WHAP! all to crap. Laid off 6 months out of school. And then laid off again 1 year after that. So, understandably, recessions give me serious agita, like a pavlovian response. I already have a predisposition of imagining the absolute worst outcome of every situation, so this looming recession compounded with starting the new job soon, is not ideal. Luckily, I am pretty good and talking myself out of the illogical. Sometimes. (see #3)

2. Soy Industry= Evil Empire. Right.

The last time we went to Trader Joe's they were all out of the TJ's brand vanilla soy milk. Now, I am lactose intolerant, mostly with milk, cream, and ice cream (yogurt and cheese thankfully are ok) so I generally use soy milk for cereal. And I will have tofu on occasion and tempeh. From what I have read, soy can be excellent for heart health, lowering LDL (bad cholesterol), and triglycerides. The list goes on, but I figure, hey, why not eat some more soy, sounds like it's good for me.

Anyway, so, like usual, the cashier asks if I was able to find everything I needed. I mentioned that yeah, but all the TJ's brand vanilla soy milk was out. She says that it's not really good for you anyway and goes on a monologue about it's all going to come out that soy is bad for you, it caused her to have pre-menopause, her chemist friends have said it's bad, etc, etc, etc, and etc. I mention that there is alot of research out there indicating there are many benefits to soy. She says that it's the soy producers/industry (like it's a huge money industry) creating the hype and it's all going to come out, and that people in Asia really don't eat that much soy, it's an exaggeration. (Now, the pre-menopause comment is really curious to me because soy generally increases the levels of estrogen in your body, and menopause is the decrease of estrogen, so usually, people will intake soy to HELP their menopausal symptoms. So I didn't get that one, that soy caused her pre-menopause, unless the estrogen level increase caused her body to respond with higher levels of testosterone, but that seems like a stretch. Anyway, I digress)

Now, I did not ask for Trader Joe's cashier opinion of the true health benefits of soy and generally, when I hear this type of alarmist argument I tend not to take seriously the words spewing from the person's mouth. To me, it's similar to the discussions I would have with Atkin's diet fanatics, that the sugar industry is so huge and it's putting out bad press about atkins, suger is the devil, etc. To me, when it comes to food - it's moderation. If you overdo anything when it comes to eating, you are asking for trouble. I am not going to cut any food group out of my diet because of some study funded by biased groups with hidden agendas. I will eat soy, salt, bread, carbs, candy. All in moderation. Whatever. (unless of course, said food item gives me gastrointestinal distress - like whipped cream. We all want me to avoid whipped cream, at least if you are within 20 feet of me).

3. Mild Pancreatitis or Moderate Hypochondria?

I had some weird discomfort on the left side of my back around the bottom of my ribcage last night. I went to bed, woke up and it's worse (more like pain when I dip my left shoulder down - shortening the left side of my torso). Well, this made me think of all my internal organs and narrowed down the pancreas on the left side. I mean, the symptoms, the risk factors, causes, I don't really fit the bill entirely. I am not an alcoholic (though I did have a few miller lites last night), I am not overweight, I eat alot of fiber, have a low-fat diet high in carbs, low in meat, my glucose levels have been fine the last 4 years of blood tests at work. But I can't help wondering if I have pancreatic cancer or something. I know, talk about finding the absolute worst case scenario to dwell on (it's probably the worst cancer you can get along with esophageal cancer).

Anyway, it's still possible I pulled something yesterday and I'm sore, or I have something milder like gallstones causing very mild pacreatitis. Either way, I am well overdue for an all-out physical (it's been something like 10 years), and if this pain gets worse or stays the same over the next few days, I will probably hit a walk-in or something. But for now, I am just going to plan on getting a standard physical in the next couple of weeks (after I start the new job), bring my company bloodwork in, and get some of my likely absurd conclusions cleared up.

4. The Ridiculousness of Viagra Commericials. I mean Really.

I turned on CNN the other morning (tangent: because I am trying to get with the program and know a little about what's going on in the rest of the country and world) while unloading the dishwasher and feeding the dogs. I see this commercial on where they are singing verses set to "Viva Last Vegas" and it's like a bunch of dudes in like a garage-blues-rock band. One guy is playing the piano on a Story & Clark upright grand. I'm like, "interesting, cool instruments". They get to the chorus: "Viva Viagra!"

What? Seriously?

I don't get that. Why in God's Holy Name would you sing "Viva Viagra". I mean, all that makes me think is that you guys are a bunch of losers who can't get it up. It's not flattering. At All. They all need to stop. Viagra, Cialis, the other one with the stupid 50's commercials with the dude in the pool who loses his shorts and then all the ladies look at his weiner and smile.

It's getting a little much all this tv promotion relating to erectile dysfunction. For the love of Pete, just quit it already. We all know it's an issue - so is my hypochondria or pancreatitis, do you see a bunch of commericials on that? Throw me a bone here, people.

5. And, finally, I love DMB's #41

I had forgotten how much I loved it until it just came on now courtesy of Hubby. Definitely my favorte Dave Matthews song.