Blogs worth reading: Know your products

I found this blog called Beauty Brains while searching for the purpose of parabens in my organic shampoo. Beauty Brains has been mentioned in Chemical and Engineering News, and many of the writers claim to be card-carrying members of the ACS, so they have the scientist seal of approval. Even if you hated chemistry in high school, you can expand your consciousness about the junk you pile on your person while you primp and preen, and consciousness is beautiful. I also like how they debunk the vacuous claims of popular (new agey?) beauty treatments and were moderately helpful in convincing me that I needed to rely on the trace parabens in my cruelty free hair care* to kill bacterias, molds, and fungi.

*Trader Joes has been the best cruelty free organic shampoo and conditioner I have used since making a conscious attempt to go the route of liking animals a little better. Before that it was Herbal Essences, but they changed the formulation and took off the cruelty free label once Clairol was taken over. The only thing that makes me uneasy about TJ's is the capriciousness of product changes they go through on a regular basis. Maybe I will buy something like ten bottles of that stuff and see what happens.

That Ole Yasmin is a Bitch

Everything from software issues at work to traffic en route to Marin today has made me emotional. However, I am a little upset by the fact that I lose my stability at the most inopportune times. Case in point, I was playing poker tonight and musing over how convenient it would be for me to lose my shit emotionally and start crying during a particular hand. I call this tactic the Hillary Bluff. However, I could not summon my lachrymal forces until the 11th hour, when I lost hands to the squeaky ditzy girlfriend of someone whom I had just met. Only then did my ducts start to water and I decided that maybe it was time to go home.

Aside from that, I am eternally in a struggle with Hormonal Birth Control in pill form. I feel like a train wreck at particular times of the day, I pee constantly, and I wish I could seize control of my digestive system, which acts like some defunct financial institution and give my bowels a big stimulus package. I am sure that is more info than what you need to know.

On the other hand, my skin is finally starting to clear up after a stalemate of acne removal from impeccable hygiene. I will finally start a course of Clindamycin on Monday after the debacle where my insurer refused to fill the prescription but did not bother to tell my Doctor that she needed to switch the brands until I frantically called ten times.

The only thing that has not made me negatively emotional in the least bit has been my man. He is making me happy..reasonably so. I even upgraded him to relationship status (in my mind and not on facebook). Last night we drank beer, ate tacos, and watched the debates. Then we collapsed tangled in a fit of sexual activity and exhaustion where I told him he needed to touch me more like a woman. I am glad he appreciates this sort of banter and doesn't think I am crazy. in. the. slightest. bit.
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Sarah Palin Has Nothin' On Me!!!



Actually, I was trying to make a book safe here--like the kind Bre Pettis made in his Maker video blog series. Tearing out the book got a little messy, but creating the hole was rewarding.

I hope to fill the middle of this Greek Grammar book with a bag of cookies.

Later that evening, my friend Nomi taught me how to knit continental and we drank Margies at La Pinata in Alameda. I hope this productivity translates into actual gifts for the holiday season.