Sibutramine

Brand names: Ectiva / Meridia / Raductil / Reductil / Sibutral

How It Works

Like SSRIs (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft), SNRIs (Cymbalta, Effexor, Pristiq), and DRIs (Zyban, Ritalin, Cocaine), sibutramine keeps the brain from reabsorbing serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This appears to help cells in the brain better send and receive signals.

Blocking serotonin and norephedrine reuptake seems to improve mood, reduce anxiety and compulsive behaviors (OCD). The increased dopamine has a stimulant effect which is believed to improve mood, reduce fatigue and anxiety, and suppress appetite.

What It Does

Although an SNRI like Cymbalta, Meridia was never proven to be an effective antidepressant. Its ability to inhibit reabsorption of dopamine (similar to the actions of amphetamines) does make it effective for some people as an appetite suppressant.

Several sources indicate that patients who lost weight immediately while taking sibutramine were most likely to continue losing weight. It was suggested, however, that those who failed to lose 4 pounds during the first 4 weeks of treatment may be advised to discontinue Meridia.

Why It's a Problem

Blood Pressure

According to the original documentation for sibutramine (see Pharmacycode link below), "Meridia substantially increases blood pressure and/or pulse rate" in some users. The WARNINGS section recommended: a.) frequent blood pressure monitoring and b.) careful prescription, possibly not at all for patients with uncontrolled or poorly controlled hypertension. By August 2010, two months before Abbott voluntarily pulled it from the market, the drug was contraindicated for anyone with heart conditions or blood pressure issues.

Interactions

According to information on Drugs.com, 804 drugs interact with sibutramine. Of those 800+ medications, more than 200 have major interactions.

Naturally, other SSRIs, SNRIs, DRIs, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, diet pills, and stimulants will increase the effects of Meridia. But many prescription and OTC allergy, cold, and migraine medications can also increase the risk of elevated pulse, blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke.

If that weren't enough, sibutramine increases the bleeding risks associated with NSAIDs (aspirin, Motrin, Aleve, Celebrex) and anticoagulants (Coumadin, Heparin). It may also add to the risk of emotional disturbances and suicidal thoughts associated with some central nervous system depressants.

Bottom Line

Now, this discontinued drug is showing up - illegally - in over-the-counter weight loss supplements. Sibutramine was risky enough, when patients knew what they were taking and were monitored by a physician. How much more dangerous will it be when people don't even realize they're taking it?

References:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_serotonin_reuptake_inhibitor
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin-norepinephrine_reuptake_inhibitor
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine_reuptake_inhibitor
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin–norepinephrine–dopamine_reuptake_inhibitor
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000097/
• http://pharmacycode.com/fda/Sibutramine
• http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/sibutramine.html

I hate using plastic bags, but they are (so far) the best option I've found for keeping produce usable longer. The key is getting it put away, properly, as quickly as possible. It's never going to be any fresher than the day you bring it home.

We wash, cut up, and bag most of what we buy immediately.

Photo: Wikimedia/Francinegirvan

Celery and Green Pepper: Clean and cut into strips about the width of a quart-size freezer bag. We divide into two or three bags. (If one goes, it doesn't take out the whole batch.) Squeeze the air out and they'll last up to a month in the veggie bin.

Carrots: Scrub (not peel) them well and trim ends. Cut into usable sizes: strips for snacking, larger pieces for cooking. Bag by size and, again, get all of the air out.

Fresh Greens, e.g., Spinach, Lettuce: Wash well and shake off excess water; core head lettuce. Bag carefully; don't bruise. Leaf lettuce, collard greens, kale, etc. need a damp paper towel in the bag. (We bag head lettuce in halves or thirds; no paper towel.)

Fresh Herbs, Green Onions: Common wisdom says store these in water. I wash them well, remove iffy leaves and fresh-cut the herb stems. (Don't trim root-end of onions.) A sturdy mug is less likely to fall over in the fridge.

Onions and Potatoes: The exceptions to the rules. These veggies need air or they rot. My absolute personal favorite storage method is wire mesh, three-tiered hanging baskets. Just hang somewhere that's not too warm, with good airflow. Should work just as well for turnips, rutabagas, parsnips and other root veggies.

Fruits are, naturally, totally different. If you cut them up before storing, they tend to turn brown or dry out. For almost all of our fruits, I like (again) those mesh hanging baskets. Or paper bags, in the veggie bin. Keep apples away from everything else; they give off gases as they ripen which accelerate ripening (and rot) in most other produce.

So, what did I miss? Do you buy, and successfully store, other goodies from the produce aisle? Please share your tips and tricks in the comments.

We all need to make our food dollars go as far as we can. Not throwing away half of what we buy is a darned good place to start.

Photo: Wikimedia/Michael Haferkamp

The existence of these natural cycles might lead one to believe that the Earth is going through a normal warming period. That man is not contributing, negatively, to the climate changes that we're currently experiencing. Undoubtedly, there are those who use that rationale to attack environmental beliefs.

A logical thought process that might even work, except for one minor detail: The Earth shouldn't be getting warmer.

Scientists have taken samples from a dry lake bed, the Valles Caldera in New Mexico. They developed a technique, analyzing sediment and soil bacteria, to determine temperature changes throughout the ages. Those studies tell them that, without man's intervention, we would be heading into a cooling period right now.

Perhaps we should begin with a few definitions. Just what drugs are antipsychotics and what are the problems?

Antipsychotics

There are, primarily, two 'generations' of antipsychotics: typical (older) and atypical (newer).

Typical or First-Generation

Typical antipsychotics, discovered in the 1950s, weren't considered or called typical until after the development and clinical use of the newer medications. They work by keeping dopamine from attaching to receptors; by keeping dopamine levels down. The problem with this first generation was the almost certainty of extrapyramidal symptoms^[1].

Part of this group, Compazine (prochlorperazine) is a potent antipsychotic, but is only used as a short-term treatment for nausea and vertigo.

Atypical or Second-Generation

These drugs were developed in the 1990s, with the hopes that they would cause fewer extrapyramidal side effects^[1]. They also work by blocking dopamine, but in different ways - not only from typical antipsychotics, but from each other.

Also atypical, but developed more recently: Abilify (aripiprazole) and Saphris (asenapine). Symbyax, a combination of Prozac and Zyprexa (fluoxetine and olanzapine), is also included in this group.

FDA Drug Label Changes

Evidence

Based on a review of adverse events reports, the FDA has concluded that when mothers were treated in the third trimester with any antipsychotic, there was a risk of extrapyramidal signs^[1] and/or withdrawal in their infants.

Symptoms included tremors, agitation, feeding disorders, drowsiness, abnormal changes in muscle tension, and respiratory distress. For many newborns, these effects subsided quickly; others required longer hospitalization.

Actions

Convinced that the risks apply to all antipsychotics, the FDA has modified the Pregnancy section of the labels for every drug in this class and notified healthcare professionals.

The new label offers more detailed information for psychiatrists, OB/GYNs, and their patients. It explains specific symptoms and that onset may be immediate or delayed. It reminds patients to not stop taking medications without consulting their physician and reminds physicians to closely monitor newborns.

1. Extrapyramidal signs/side effects include sustained muscle contractions, causing muscle twisting and repetitive movements (dystonias); inability to sit still (akathisia); muscle rigidity and tremor (pseudoparkinsonism); involuntary repetitive movements, primarily of the mouth and face (tardive dyskinesia).
2. About.com: Typical Antipsychotics and NIMH: Alphabetical List of Medications
3. About.com: Atypical Antipsychotics and NIMH: Alphabetical List of Medications

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Over time, the offerings started to expand. The number of imprints grew, as well. Today, they include: Carina Press (Suspense, SciFi, Fantasy, & Paranormal Romance), Kimani Press (African-American Intrigue, Romance, Passion, and Suspense), LUNA (Fantasy), MIRA (Suspense, Contemporary, and Relationship novels) and Steeple Hill Women's Fiction (Inspirational Romance).

Some of my old favorites are gone, which is a little sad. But there are so many new areas to explore, I doubt I'll have time to miss them. And being able to find SciFi, Paranormal, and Fantasy romances is pretty exciting.

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Back in the old days, you had to go to the store for your romance fix. Though, if memory serves, Harlequin (and Silhouette) did offer a subscription program where you could sign up to get the latest releases monthly by mail. It was, sometimes, a crapshoot; not all authors are created equal.

In 2011, life's a whole lot simpler. Can't sleep? Need something to read? No problem - download your favorite author to your favorite reader, from the comfort of your bed, without getting out of your PJs.

And, since I'm pretty much out of space, these eBooks may be just what I need.

I was going to say that I don't understand these attacks, and I guess deep down I don't. The money invested now will only save billions in the future. Funding for NIH and CDC is not a frivolous use of taxpayers' dollars. The risk is great, if this funding is cut off.

If the proposed $1.6 billion in cuts to NIH and $1.75 billion in cuts to CDC are enacted:

- Research studies funded through the NIDDK, which are essential to move us closer to a cure and better treatments for diabetes, will be jeopardized.

- DDT's ability to help people avoid diabetes and its devastating complications would severely be reduced. This would lead to more hospitalizations and more emergency room visits, which will add to the already high cost of diabetes.

- The DDT's effort to prevent diabetes through the proven community-based National Diabetes Prevention Program will not move forward. Studies have shown this program could save $190 billion over ten years.

I guess if you're a member of the House, with all the benefits therein, you don't worry about healthcare for yourself. And, apparently, if you're a Republican you don't worry about healthcare for your constituents.

Just recently, I heard Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro speak before a congressional committee. I sat in my chair and applauded as she pointed out the disparity between healthcare coverage available to the public and healthcare coverage available to the members of Congress. Hand-in-glove with that disparity are the proposed cuts to medical research and disease prevention across so many areas.

Diabetes is just one condition that needs support, research, and a cure. Don't let the House take that away.

The site that started this didn't really have any original information. They'd copied, verbatim and without attribution, from several sources: WebMD and Amazon.com, for two. Plagarism notwithstanding, there don't seem to be many issues with acetyl L-carnitine (ALC), and some interesting potential benefits.

What It Is

ALC is an altered (acetylated) form of L-carnitine, a form of an amino acid (lysine) that helps the body make energy. It is naturally produced in the body and, although found in both plants and animals, more concentrated in meat, poultry, fish, and dairy - animal sources. In typical metabolic fashion, the body converts L-carnitine to acetyl L-carnitine, and ... wait for it ... acetyl L-carnitine to L-carnitine.

What It Does

This converted form of L-carnitine helps fatty acids enter skeletal and cardiac muscle cells to produce energy. It also helps move other compounds out of those cells to prevent accumulation. Crossing the blood-brain barrier, ALC has been shown to act as an antioxidant on brain tissue. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, acetyl L-carnitine has the ability to widen blood vessels (vasodilation) and improve blood flow.

What It Means

One study found that, because it acts on skeletal muscle cells, "the major tissue of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal^[1]," ALC may improve insulin-resistance in type 2 diabetics. Increased oxidant production and reduced L-carnitine levels are believed to contribute to negative symptoms of aging, making supplementation with ALC a potential treatment^[2].

Additionally, due to its vasodilation properties, acetyl L-carnitine may benefit patients with conditions or risk factors related to restricted blood flow^[2], such as:

• Angina
• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Peripheral Artery Disease
• Diabetic Neuropathy

Caveats

Most of these studies and the information available are based on research with animals. Research on the effectiveness of acetyl L-carnitine supplementation in humans is limited and the results tend to be mixed. In addition, oral ALC supplements were often less effective than intra-venous injections^[2].

Lastly, due to the impact on blood vessels, ALC has known interactions with clotting medications, such as Acenocoumarol (Sintrom) and Warfarin (Coumadin). This could lead to excessive delays in clotting and an increased risk of bruising and bleeding^[3].

1. Acetyl-l-carnitine inhibits TNF-a-induced insulin resistance via AMPK pathway in rat skeletal muscle cells
   FEBS Letters, Volume 583, Issue 2, Pages 470-474
   Zhaofeng. Zhang, Ming. Zhao, Qiong. Li, Haifeng. Zhao, Junbo. Wang, Yong. Li
2. Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: L-Carnitine
3. WebMD: Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Just learning to trust in God, to give over her life to His wisdom, Gabby is thrown into emotional turmoil. The father of her children is in trouble, serious trouble. But the pain of her husband's betrayal threatens to harden her heart and close her mind to God's message.

Is this Gabby's chance to rebuild the family she once treasured? Or is God leading her toward something new? And how will she know?

This is the fourth book in the Yada Yada House of Hope series. Which I didn't realize when I offered to read and review it. But, the basic premise intrigued me and I was curious to see how the situation would be resolved.

Unfortunately, it was a difficult book for me to get into. The first-person narration felt awkward and the writing was rather simplistic. Perhaps because I haven't read the first three books, I found the characters one-dimensional and lacking individuality.

Nonetheless, I did respect Gabby's journey and found myself smiling at the end.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I will let the petition, and an esteemed senator from Arizona, speak for themselves.

In brief:

Dear [Decision Maker],

I am horrified and disappointed in the recent GOP attempts to restrict access to abortion by redefining the definitions of rape and incest. I urge you to protect the definitions and the women who suffer from these horrible acts and vote NO on the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act."

And in ignorance:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the use of federal funds to finance abortions. I appreciate hearing your concerns on this important issue...

... Over the past several months, it has become increasingly evident that the healthcare reform legislation included the most expansive, pro-abortion agenda ever put forward in law. For this reason, I recently cosponsored S. 3723, the Excluding Abortion Coverage from Health Care Reform Act of 2010, which will clearly and effectively guarantee that taxpayer dollars cannot be used to fund elective abortions.

In response, to the response, I plan to express my opinion - again:

I recently signed a petition on Care2, which you received.

The petition expressed my disgust with the Republican party and their attempts to redefine rape and incest, in order to further restrict women's reproductive rights.

I am contacting you to express additional disgust with the response that I received from your office: I did not, do not, and will not support any political agenda that attempts to legislate what I can and cannot do with my body.

Frankly, I am appalled at your (and your party's) attempts to turn back the clock to the dark ages when a woman's life had less value than the land and livestock her husband (also) owned.

I will soon be taking up a collection - for bail money. Feel free to give heavily. {grins - for now}

Digital Coupons

The main source of digital grocery coupons are the stores themselves. All you need is a store discount / saver / club card, whatever they call it where you shop. Then, go online to the store website, choose your coupons, and upload to your card. (If the shopping part was only that easy.)

Grocery Stores

I've listed these two stores, because they're in our area and I know they offer online ecoupons. Check your store for similar deals.

Safeway.com has a pretty extensive collection of coupons. Sort them by your purchase history (items you've bought before), best value, new offers, and deals about to expire. They're not region-specific, so you should be able to use them anywhere in the country.

Kroger / Fry's is another great source. The last time I checked, there were over 100 coupons available for everything from bread and soup to laundry soap and pet food. Again, you can sort by newest, expiration, popularity, or value.

Online Services

P&G eSaver is one of my personal favorites. They offer coupons for a huge number of Proctor & Gamble products and - love this so much - will upload them to your store shopper card. Just register your card and off you go - save away.

Shortcuts.com is a free service from AOL that has several different options. You can register a shopper card from a large selection of participating stores and upload your choice of coupons. They also offer printable coupons, cash-back savings, and online coupon codes.

Cellfire.com is another online service that lets you upload coupons to your store card. But, unlike other services, you can also get non-grocery coupons sent to your mobile phone. You'll never leave home without savings at your fingertips again.

Printable Coupons

Most sites offering printable coupons require that you download their special printer software. It's important, because the coupons' bar codes won't scan if not printed properly.

Grocery Stores

Albertson's, which may be a different online company in your area, only provides printable coupons. (At least, I couldn't find any electronic ones.) The offers seem to vary, somewhat, by store and region.

Whole Foods Market is located across the US, as well as British Columbia, Ontario, and the UK. The products look to be exclusive to the store, but there are a lot of available coupons.

Online Services

CouponBug and Coupons.com seem to offer the same (exact) printable coupons. There are also savings card options, as well as coupon codes for online shopping. (The majority of their deals seem to be in the printables, but they do work with several different shopper cards.)

Kingdom First Mom has some great coupon resources. Including a searchable database with information on - literally - thousands of coupons, deals, and offers. It took me a little time to figure out the lingo (for which KFM offers a glossary).

This is, by no means, a complete list of options. But, it should get you started saving on that weekly grocery bill.

Please feel free to share your favorite sites, pages, and online deals.

That's why I was really excited to discover BookSneeze®. I didn't know there was a place where, in exchange for an honest review, I could get free books. How fun is that?

Naturally, my first thought was Free books! It wasn't until I was choosing my first book that I realized there was a secondary benefit: stepping outside my usual genres.

Lately, I've been reading what I've got around the house. (Never quite seems to be enough for a new book.) Which means a lot of Nora Roberts and J. D. Robb. Nothing wrong with that, just due for a change.

It'll be nice to broaden my horizons. Heaven knows, I'm going to read and read and read anyway.

What It Is

Wikipedia says that Phenibut, commonly known as Beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid HCl, is a neuropsychotropic derivative of GABA with nootropic properties and anxiolytic benefits. Yeah, gave me a headache, too.

GABA Derivative

Basically, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a natural chemical that the body manufactures to help nerves communicate. It cannot, however, cross over into the brain or affect the central nervous system.

By altering GABA (I refuse to even attempt to learn how), scientists created Beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid HCl which can cross into and affect the brain and central nervous system. It was synthesized at the I. M. Herzen Leningrad Pedagogical Institute USSR and the Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences USSR.

Because Russian scientists determined that it relieved stress and anxiety, without adversely affecting performance, they made Phenibut part of every cosmonaut's medical kit since Apollo-Soyuz.

What It Does

It's a neuropsychotropic, with nootropic properties and anxiolytic benefits! Weren't you listening? Okay, don't yell; I'm working on it.

Neuropsychotropic

For those of us who don't have a degree in psychiatric medicine, Phenibut changes brain chemistry. It crosses into the brain and, by definition, alters how we see, feel, understand, and react to life. So do Zoloft, marijuana, and LSD.

Nootropic

Nootropics are also called 'smart drugs' because they are reputed to improve, or enhance, concentration and memory. Initially, the definition from Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea included the very important qualification of 'very few side effects'. Unapproved drugs or supplements may not be able to make the same claims.

Anxiolytic

Okay, this is actually a word I know! Woohoo! It's a class of drugs that work on brain chemistry to relieve symptoms of anxiety. They include Valium, Xanax, and Librium.

What It Means

Phenibut (by the above definitions) 1.) crosses into the brain; 2.) changes how we perceive and react to life, the universe, and everything; and 3.) makes us really, really relaxed about it. Doesn't sound all that bad, right? That's what Timothy Leary said, too.

Clinical Toxicology

Then, we have that scientific article about Phenibut withdrawal. Remember - The "Novel 'Nutritional Supplement'"?

The patient from this report used Phenibut for months, because he liked the way it made him feel. Three days before he came to the hospital, he stopped using (I can't think of a better term). His symptoms on arrival included agitation, psychosis (loss of touch with reality), and hallucinations.

According to the report, the patient required intubation^[1] and sedation with benzodiazepines^[2].

After 4 days, the breathing tube was removed; the sedatives were discontinued. He had "a normal mental status and his psychosis had resolved. He never developed seizures."

Why Should Anyone Care?

Okay. This patient used Phenibut. Some would say, he abused it. People intentionally use chemicals all the time - alcohol, marijuana, cocaine; even caffeine or tobacco.

Choice

If someone decides to indulge, it's a personal choice. They choose the chemical they're putting in their system. Right or wrong, they know what they're taking and do so intentionally.

It's an informed, if potentially foolish, decision.

No Choice

What if you just want to sleep through the night? Or lose a few pounds? Those Internet supplements claim to hold the solution to your problem. But what, exactly, are you taking? You can't always tell what - or how much of it - is in those magic little pills.

You aren't making an informed decision.

Knowledge

The more you know about ingredients, the more safe your decisions. We're all different; what works for me, might make Mark sick. That's why we let our doctors prescribe.

And read - a lot - about everything we take.

1. Intubation, inserting a plastic tube into a patient's airway, isn't only used when patients aren't breathing on their own. It is also used to protect the airway when the body is in, or might slip into, a coma.
2. Benzodiazepines are the opposite of anti-depressants. They are, chemically, designed to tranquilize.

Of course, not everyone feels the need to rewrite music that has inspired generation after generation of Americans. And - hey - quite a few of those Americans can even remember all of the words. For example:

This video, from a Super Bowl several years ago, combines choirs from all branches of the military. It made me tear up.

I have to admit, of all the renditions I've heard, Carrie Underwood consistently just sings the song.

And, just because I love precocious kids:

From The Experts

Depression

According to MedicineNet.com:

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts, that affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away. People with a depressive disease cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people with depression.

Depression, simply put, is not 'the blues' or a down day. It is a definable mood disorder, with causes and triggers that vary from person to person, which digs in and hangs on - like that poor kitten in the poster - by it's sharp, pointy claws.

Anxiety

The DSM-IV has a good, overall definition of Anxiety Disorders:

Anxiety Disorders categorize a large number of disorders where the primary feature is abnormal or inappropriate anxiety. Everybody has experienced anxiety. Think about the last time a loud noise frightened you and remember the feelings inside your body. Chances are you experienced an increased heart rate, tensed muscles, and perhaps an acute sense of focus as you tried to determine the source of the noise. These are all symptoms of anxiety. They are also part of a normal process in our bodies called the 'flight or flight' phenomenon. This means that your body is preparing itself to either fight or protect itself or to flee a dangerous situation.

These symptoms become a problem when they occur without any recognizable stimulus or when the stimulus does not warrant such a reaction. In other words, inappropriate anxiety is when a person's heart races, breathing increases, and muscles tense without any reason for them to do so. Once a medical cause is ruled out, an anxiety disorder may be the culprit.

An anxiety disorder is not sweaty palms and butterflies before a job interview or a first date. It is feeling like that little kitten in the poster - constantly poised on the edge of disaster, tense, frightened, shaking; crippled with fear, even when safely on the ground.

From The Layman

From where I sit, prescribing psychiatric medications without clinical evaluation is a bit like saying, "Oh, stubbed your toe? How about some Valium?" or "Hmmm? Broke a nail? Let's try a little morphine."

Rough Days

People can have a rough day; in fact, they frequently do. It's called life.

Yes, it's sad when the guy you're dating is also dating someone 20 years younger, and 20 pounds thinner. When you don't get an 'A' on that English paper you slaved over for three weeks. When the manufacturer discontinues your favorite moisturizer.

It's nerve-wracking, when the bill collectors keep calling. Or you've missed a work deadline and have to 'fess up. Or one of the kids gets into a fight at school. Or the cable goes out in the middle of the Super Bowl.

That's life and it frequently sucks. The only cure is to get up, get over it, and do what comes next. Eventually, the day ends and a new day starts, with the sincere hope that it won't be quite as crappy as the day before.

Really Bad Days

Some people also have really bad days. Days they wouldn't wish on their worst enemy; days that last for weeks, months, and years. Trust me, I know.

Bad days where the sadness and pain is so overwhelming that you hope and pray that your mind and heart will simply ... stop. Where you can find no reason to get up and go on. Where you know, through the chemical morass overwhelming your brain, that the entire world will be better off without you; that no one will miss you or notice your departure.

Days where the anxiety is so severe that you curl up in a corner and pray that your brain and heart don't simply explode. Where every noise triggers a fight-or-flight response that leaves you panicked and shaking from head to toe. Where there is no coherent thought; only fear.

That, too, may be your life; day after day after day. You can't get over it and do what comes next; you may not even be able to get out of bed. The knowledge that the day will end only fills you with the dreadful 'knowledge' that tomorrow will, somehow, be worse.

The Bottom Line

I'm no medical or mental health professional. Heck, some days I don't even feel like a mental health owner. But I know the difference between a crappy day and the crippling inability to function with no discernable cause.

Depression or Sadness

Sure, when your SO decides to move on, or you lose your job, it feels like the world has ended. You may even tell people, "I'm so depressed." Clinically? Not necessarily.

Sadness - serious, serious sadness - is a natural response in such situations. You react, mourn, and (eventually) get on with life. This is not the condition we define as depression, for one simple reason: it is an emotional reaction to a very specific problem. It runs a natural course and ends.

Of course, if both events hit within the same week, that could trigger a need for some counseling, endorphin-releasing exercise and/or chocolate therapy, or even a mild sleeping-aid. But, this is not run-for-the-Prozac depression. It's life being crappy, all over your hopes and dreams and plans for the future.

Anxiety or Nerves

I get nervous when I have to fly, speak to a crowd, or interview for a job. My palms sweat, my heart beats a little quicker, and my mouth gets dry. Anxiety? Absolutely, but not a clinical disorder.

For most of us, nerves in such situations are natural. We all have specific things we really, really hate to do or are naturally afraid of. If they aren't important, we ignore them and move along with our lives. If they can't be avoided, we suck it up and get it over with.

Concerns about driving in bad weather or anxiety over safety in a really bad neighborhood aren't over the top. Nerves are a normal and healthy response to new or potentially risky situations. They don't require medication; they require acknowledgment, analysis, and appropriate action.

This isn't the equivalent of taking an aspirin for a headache. It's more like chemotherapy, administered by a dentist, for a mosquito bite.

Chocolate Decadence Gift Basket

'Hang in There' Basket

One of our favorite treats is popcorn, with a side of fudge. Apparently, we're not the only ones who understand buttery salty crunch and rich, decadent chocolate go together like dill pickles and lemon meringue pie. What?

Okay, if you must stick with tradition - how about popcorn with almonds and pecans, and chocolate chip cookies?

Reusable basket with Premium Popcorn Factory® Butter, Cheese and Caramel corn, mini pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, Almond Pecan corn, fruit sours candies, chocolate frog, and more.

Guess I have to face it. Living with a chocoholic for over nine years has rubbed off on me. I have completely lost my self-control.

And do not intend to look for it.

And boring.

So, with a ruthlessness borne of a migraine (what was I thinking with all of that clutter?), I decided it was time to make everything much more simple. And, hopefully, a bit more interesting.

I fell in love with the flowers and really like the softer font for the blog title and the menu tabs. What do you think? Easier on the eye? more attractive than that mish-mash of colors?

Sadly, after driving myself crazy to find the twitter/facebook widget on the left, I'm not certain that I like it after all. The buttons are too big and it seems to really clutter up the look of the pages. Maybe something smaller, up on the right by the search bar?

Any opinions? Good or bad. Feel free to share heavily. I'm at the point where nothing looks right.

Guess it's time to take a break, have a smoke, and find something mindless to do.

Not to mention, I can crank down the heater, throw open a window, and sleep like a baby.

So, if you're tired of cold feet and outrageous heating bills, we'd be happy to help you thumb your nose at brutally cold days and sub-zero nights. (Our afghans are just as cozy for a nap on the sofa or a movie marathon in your favorite overstuffed chair.) And it couldn't be easier to get yours.

Quick Afghan 001 - Green

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Even here in good ol' AZ, we've got weeks of chilly nights ahead of us. For those brave souls who live further north or at higher elevations, winter has a much nastier attitude. Especially, it seems, this year.

Why suffer? Or spend a fortune on heating bills? We'll deliver a one-of-a-kind winter cure right to your front door.

According to an article I was reading today, online shopping is green shopping. How's that for tremendous news? Of course, you probably already knew that; I certainly did.

Shopping at your local mall or favorite store means that a shopper, and dozens like him/her, are increasing energy consumption and pumping more emissions (that we really don't need) into the air. By staying home, comfy and cozy in that favorite chair, and ordering what we need online, we aren't putting cars on the roads and crap into the atmosphere.

Of course, you can't quite get everything online. But for every trip that you don't make, you're doing the planet a favor.

Attempted Adoptions

Some sources tell of attempts to adopt out the sled dogs. No report I've found has any documentation that any adoptions took place. And many of those articles are highly critical of later claims that the animals were too old to adopt out.

A Rifle, A Knife, and A Mass Grave

Either way, on two days near the end of April 2010, the drafted employee - by fair means and foul - killed upwards of 70 dogs. Not all of the dogs died quickly or easily; some ran off and had to be shot again, long distance. Rumors tell of some dogs having their throats slit or being dumped into mass graves while still alive.

The BC SPCA is investigating.

Unfortunately, this time around, we aren't the subscribers.

There is simply no way for us to contact the service provider - to complain, to urge repairs, to hurl epithets and incredibly colorful phrases. We have to call the complex and beg for help. Some days it works. Some days it's like spitting in the wind: accomplishes nothing, but adds a whole 'nother layer of bad to your attitude.

So far, in the last week, we've had more downs than ups. But today took it to a whole new level. Every half hour, at ten before and twenty after, the wireless disappeared. Completely dropped off the list of connections.

So, if this is any indication, I'm really going to hate this month.