See the winners on Etsy. They're great.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Heros in Hartsdale?
Sorry, I meant to write something about this a couple of weeks ago but I had other things on my mind. So, I'm watching Heroes and I Mohinder is taken to the secret lab in Hartsdale? Have you ever been to Hartsdale? I'm from Scarsdale (yes, THAT Scarsdale) . We're neighbors of Hartsdale. Hartsdale is not even a town, according to Wikipedia, it's a Hamlet. It's home of America's first pet cemetary and the world's first Carvel. Joan Crawford is buried in Hartsdale. Let me tell you, there are no secret labs there. Labs maybe, secret labs, I don't think so.
It's a (goodbye) CPAP Halloween
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I do not work in a sleep lab. I do not work for (or against) any CPAP machine companies.
You may or may not know what a CPAP machine is. I'll enlighten those of you who do not. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP machines are used for people who suffer from sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for brief periods throughout the night, waking up-sometimes hundreds of times. Apnea sufferers wake for such brief periods that they rarely remember waking up. You probably wouldn't know you had sleep apnea unless you did a sleep study of some sort.
I was lucky enough to take part in not one, but two sleep studies. By lucky, I mean not lucky. You cannot even imagine how many wires they hook up to you and how hard it is to get all of the glue out of your hair. Here's an image to give you some idea...the black "tape" across his eyes is to protect the innocent. They did not do this to me. This isn't me (by the way). Add the same amount of wires to your legs and you've got the picture (except, I didn't have to take my shirt off). Anyhoo, I do this torturous test (and no, I've never been tortured so I'm sorry to anyone who has been I'm sure this is a walk in the park comparatively), and then go home back to my regular life and await the results. The test shows I have mild sleep apnea. My dr. recommends another study to be test how the CPAP machine would work for me. The lab was supposed to try it the night I was there but never did, for some reason (because they hate me, is what I think). Since my apnea is mild, I politely decline. No thank you. (You are the weakest link) Good bye.
Another year goes by and I think, maybe I should just try the machine. Obviously time has made the memories of my sleep study hazy. I go back for another study, this time I'm all wired up (like that guy but better looking, of course, no offense) and they add the machine. Here's a nice image of the machine from the company that makes it. Keep in mind, this is JUST what you wear, it doesn't include the 300 ft long hose that attaches to the humidifying machine that sits on your bedside table which, incidentally has a chip in it that tracks how often you use it...can you say scary? I'm getting ahead of myself though. I make it through this sleep study. CPAP mask and all, I have to say it was one of the worst nights sleep I've ever had. Not for nothing, the lab assistant told me "you don't go to a sleep study to get a good night's sleep" ain't that the truth.
Again, I go home and await the results. While waiting...I learn I'm pregnant. YAY. OK so the results are that the mask decreased the number of times I awoke throughout the night, increasing my blood oxygen level. My dr. recommends, for the sake of the baby, I should try it...even though my apnea's still mild and the improvement was not tremedous (I'm saying this so you don't think I'll be a bad mother).
I finally get an appointment to get fitted for a mask. The technician shows me how to put it together, to use (distilled) water in the humidifier, how to clean it (every morning,with unscented dish detergent, which incidentally is pretty hard to find), gives me the travel release so I can bring it on a plane (are they out of their minds?!) and sends me on my way after making a follow up appointment for today (Halloween...creepy).
It takes me 3 days to get distilled water and unscented detergent (because that's just the way I am) and another night just to get used to the idea that along with having to sleep on my left side (for the baby) and having to sleep with a wrist splint (for my pinched nerve, yes, I'm a mess) I now have to sleep with this thing! I finally put it on...and start to cry. Yes, cry. Should I not be admitting this online? Let's blame it on the pregnancy. Who cares.
This thing was insane. First of all where does that extra long tube go, and while we're on the tube, why the hell is it so long? Do people put the machine in another room while they're sleeping? The technician told me to tuck it under my pillow...um, hmmm. Who the hell can wear these?! I mean, I'm happy it's helping people (and apparently it helps a lot of people) but I put that thing on and well, there is just no way. I didn't even turn the machine on.
Today I dropped off the machine. Bye Bye. :)
I feel good!
You may or may not know what a CPAP machine is. I'll enlighten those of you who do not. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP machines are used for people who suffer from sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for brief periods throughout the night, waking up-sometimes hundreds of times. Apnea sufferers wake for such brief periods that they rarely remember waking up. You probably wouldn't know you had sleep apnea unless you did a sleep study of some sort.
I was lucky enough to take part in not one, but two sleep studies. By lucky, I mean not lucky. You cannot even imagine how many wires they hook up to you and how hard it is to get all of the glue out of your hair. Here's an image to give you some idea...the black "tape" across his eyes is to protect the innocent. They did not do this to me. This isn't me (by the way). Add the same amount of wires to your legs and you've got the picture (except, I didn't have to take my shirt off). Anyhoo, I do this torturous test (and no, I've never been tortured so I'm sorry to anyone who has been I'm sure this is a walk in the park comparatively), and then go home back to my regular life and await the results. The test shows I have mild sleep apnea. My dr. recommends another study to be test how the CPAP machine would work for me. The lab was supposed to try it the night I was there but never did, for some reason (because they hate me, is what I think). Since my apnea is mild, I politely decline. No thank you. (You are the weakest link) Good bye.
Another year goes by and I think, maybe I should just try the machine. Obviously time has made the memories of my sleep study hazy. I go back for another study, this time I'm all wired up (like that guy but better looking, of course, no offense) and they add the machine. Here's a nice image of the machine from the company that makes it. Keep in mind, this is JUST what you wear, it doesn't include the 300 ft long hose that attaches to the humidifying machine that sits on your bedside table which, incidentally has a chip in it that tracks how often you use it...can you say scary? I'm getting ahead of myself though. I make it through this sleep study. CPAP mask and all, I have to say it was one of the worst nights sleep I've ever had. Not for nothing, the lab assistant told me "you don't go to a sleep study to get a good night's sleep" ain't that the truth.Again, I go home and await the results. While waiting...I learn I'm pregnant. YAY. OK so the results are that the mask decreased the number of times I awoke throughout the night, increasing my blood oxygen level. My dr. recommends, for the sake of the baby, I should try it...even though my apnea's still mild and the improvement was not tremedous (I'm saying this so you don't think I'll be a bad mother).
I finally get an appointment to get fitted for a mask. The technician shows me how to put it together, to use (distilled) water in the humidifier, how to clean it (every morning,with unscented dish detergent, which incidentally is pretty hard to find), gives me the travel release so I can bring it on a plane (are they out of their minds?!) and sends me on my way after making a follow up appointment for today (Halloween...creepy).
It takes me 3 days to get distilled water and unscented detergent (because that's just the way I am) and another night just to get used to the idea that along with having to sleep on my left side (for the baby) and having to sleep with a wrist splint (for my pinched nerve, yes, I'm a mess) I now have to sleep with this thing! I finally put it on...and start to cry. Yes, cry. Should I not be admitting this online? Let's blame it on the pregnancy. Who cares.
This thing was insane. First of all where does that extra long tube go, and while we're on the tube, why the hell is it so long? Do people put the machine in another room while they're sleeping? The technician told me to tuck it under my pillow...um, hmmm. Who the hell can wear these?! I mean, I'm happy it's helping people (and apparently it helps a lot of people) but I put that thing on and well, there is just no way. I didn't even turn the machine on.
Today I dropped off the machine. Bye Bye. :)
I feel good!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Krauss and Plant
Interesting interview of Plant and Krauss on NPR. Includes samples of songs from the new CD Raising Sand.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
The weird soundtrack to my afternoon
I have no idea how I got to this place but it's kind of keeping me happy.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Mustache Envy
Hysterical. As seen on Something's Hiding in Here available where else? Their Etsy shop. Just in time for Halloween.
Soul Meets Body Cover
Great cover of Soul Meets Body by Rose Polenzani on her My Space page. She's performing tonight at Club Passim.
Mahar Arar
We saw Rendition last weekend. I was disappointed. I had already read about Mahar Arar's experience and it was sad to see it "hollywood-ified". I recommend reading the real story. Why do movies always need heros and love stories? OK, don't send me lists of movies that don't have those things, I'm just saying...
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Protien Synthesis - Groovy man
Thanks to Matt for sharing this with me. I learned a lot (about a whole lot of things). 50s Ribosomes (baby)!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Hermenautic Circle
"The Hermenautic Circle is a select and secretive web enclave of 100 thinkers, writers, editors, journalists, bloggers, artists, designers, musicians, multimedia producers, activists, grad school refugees, and other friends." The Hermenautic Circle (a blog aggregator) is an aggregation of many of the blogs of the members of this group (me included). It feels good to be part of this group. Check it out!
Etsy Costume Contest
Yes, Etsy is having a costume contest. Categories include: Pet, Kid & Baby, T-Shirt Costume, Sci-Fi, Green, and General Awesomeness! Big prizes for those who win! Speaking of costumes, I found these really weird baby costumes on Martha Stewart.
Dress your baby as a pie or a turkey....curiouser and curiouser.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Snoozer
Holly Becker at decor8 wrote about a new shop by Susie Ghahremani called BoyGirlParty.com. 
Susie's got some great stuff including this great limited edition Starry Owl Tee for $20. I also listened to the music of Snoozer, which I LOVE. Unfortunately, the CD is now out of stock. 
So sad. But you can listen online anyway and get excited for the future of Snoozer.
Susie's got some great stuff including this great limited edition Starry Owl Tee for $20. I also listened to the music of Snoozer, which I LOVE. Unfortunately, the CD is now out of stock. 
So sad. But you can listen online anyway and get excited for the future of Snoozer.
Breakfast by Jon Huck
Thanks to Michael for passing the breakfast portraits of Jon Huck. It's amazing how people match their breakfasts.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade
Even though it's 11 days away (yes I'm counting), I'm SO excited for the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade (my favorite event of the year). I'm saving my bottles! Check out this great Flickr set by donayer, the images are beautiful!
Art, Apples and Bread Euphoria
This past weekend we went to Northampton for the opening of Way, Shape, Form (recent works of Heather Kasunick, Michael Lewy and Craig Lupien. There was a great turnout.
way, shape & form from michael lewy on Vimeo.
On Saturday we went to Bread Euphoria (right off of RT 9 in Northampton) .
We pick up a delicious (and healthy, ehem) breakfast of sticky buns, brioche and scones, and then it was on to apple picking.
Michael and I stopped at the UMass Cold Springs Orchard where we picked so many different types of apples that I don't even know the names of the kinds we have. I've been eating them every day and they are gooood. 
The last image is for friends L & I. We saw it on the way home.
way, shape & form from michael lewy on Vimeo.
On Saturday we went to Bread Euphoria (right off of RT 9 in Northampton) .
We pick up a delicious (and healthy, ehem) breakfast of sticky buns, brioche and scones, and then it was on to apple picking.
Michael and I stopped at the UMass Cold Springs Orchard where we picked so many different types of apples that I don't even know the names of the kinds we have. I've been eating them every day and they are gooood. 
The last image is for friends L & I. We saw it on the way home.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Tracy Hedger - Where are you now?
Probably hiding under a rock...thanks to Matt for sharing this with me.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
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