So Small

So Carrie released her new single yesterday...it's called "So Small" and of couse being that I am a Carrie fan it's obvious I'm going to love anything that has her name attached to it, but when I heard the song it was different. It's so true, and if you know me at all you know that it fits me almost perfectly. It brings tears to my eyes...so even though you can't take a listen to it right here and here how it's supposed to, take a look at the lyrics...beautiful...

What you got if you aint got love? The kind that you just wanna give away It's okay to open up Go ahead and let the light shine through I know it's hard on a rainy day You wanna shut the world out And just be left alone Don't run out on your dreams

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing Is just a grain of sand What you've been out there searching for forever, Is in your hands When you figure out love is all that matters, after all It sure makes everything else Seem so small

So easy to get lost inside A problem that seems so big, at the time It's like a river that's so wide And swallows you whole While you sittin round thinking about what you can't change And worryin' about all the wrong things Time's flying by, moving so fast Better make it count, cause you can't get it back

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing Is just a grain of sand What you've been out there searchin for forever Is in your hands Oh, When you figure out love is all that matters after all It sure makes everything else Seem so small

Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing Is just a grain of sand What you've been out there searchin for forever Is in your hands Oh, When you figure out love is all that matters after all It sure makes everything else Oh it sure makes everything else Seem so small

Stress...

So I told you I'd try to check in more often...how am I don't so far? lol...well a lot has been going on with me lately...mainly stress related. Haven't been feeling well lately and the only un-related stress item in my life is hardly ever around...and it gets kinda iritating that I can't get what I want at times. It feels like I'm not supposed to or something. Or it's a trial on my part to see how I will deal with it. Anyway, with all this stress and wicked headaches I have been trying to come up with things to do to de-stress me, since my stress-reliever is hardly around. So came across this article, stress is a growing trend among people so this might help you as well, wanted to share it with you. It's from Ladies Home Journal...

What's Your Stress Weak Spot? By: Susan Seliger

Unless, perhaps, you make your permanent home on a beach in Tahiti, stress will affect your body sooner or later. But it may not affect your body the same way it does someone else's. Each of us has a characteristic way of reacting to stress - our very own stress weak spot or place in the body where igns of stress first pop up.

One person may get indigestion under stress, another may have back pain. Some people react by getting a pounding headache or acne. Your particular stress weak spot has a number of possible sources. Genetics is one predisposing factor, says Kenneth R. Pelletier, Ph.D., a clinical professor or medicine at the University of Arizona School of Medicine. For example, you may have a family history of gastro-intestinal disease, heart disease or migraine. Or you might have habits that predispose you to experiencing stress in a particular spot, such as tensing your neck in a rigid position (which can cause a tension headaches.) Being out of shape might predispose you to feeling stress in the form of a backache.

These different health effects all stem from the flood of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, that your brain tells the body to release when you feel threatened. These speed up heart rate and breathing, constrict peripheral blood flow (in your hands and feet) and slow down digestion and immune functions so the body can fully devote itself to action, says Beverly Thorn, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Alabama. "Stress challenges all of our organ systems and eats away at our immune system."

A short-term stress response is healthy, unless you trigger it so often that your body has little chance to recover. Chronic stress results in the body breaking at its weakest spot first-like a chain giving way at is weakest link.

But people don't always make the connection between the pain they're feeling and the stress that caused it. When recurring headaches or backaches drive them to seek medical care and the physician can't find a physical cause, patients sometimes wind up being told, "It's all in your head," without being offered solutions to handle the stress triggers or the genuine pain they're in.

In fact, self-care solutions exist, through many are known chiefly to stress experts. The latest research shows that all of us can learn techniques that significantly reduce the physical and mental impact of stress as well as the release of stress hormones. What's more, these can be targeted to your individual stress weak point.

We asked stress experts to recommend doable remedies for the most common stress weak spots. Most of these techniques are twofers: They are effective not only in treating their primary target but also in causing stress throughout the body. None of them preclude resorting to physical remedies as well, such as taking aspirin for a headache. The more skillful you become with these stress-fighting techniques, the close you can get to a healthier, more pleasurable, stressless life.

Number 1: Stomach

Stress Symptoms: Queasiness, Heartburn, Abdominal pain, Diarrhea

When people see a doctor for GI (gastrointestinal) distress, chronic stress is frequently the underlying cause, says Wendy Warner, M.D., an ob-gyn in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and president of the American Board of Holistic Medicine. Treating the pain won't solve the problem more than temporarily.

Your Stress Response: Stress hormones temporarily slow down digestion of food in the stomach, then increase the secretion of stomach acids. They also increase the speed at which food moves through the intestines. The result can be various upper GI complaints, increased inflammation of the stomach lining, diarrhea, or intestinal spasms that worse irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or ulcerative colitis in those who have it. Stress hormones also make the body release glucose, which can raise blood sugar, especially if you already have increased insulin resistance. If this occurs repeatedly, it can bring on or aggravate diabetes.

Health Check: If you experience acute or chronic stomach distress, see a doctor to rule out a serious condition such as ulcers or heart disease.

Stress Relievers:

• Yoga for IBS: Yoga has been shown to be effective in helping treat distress from IBS that can come about with chronic stress. In one study from the department of physiology of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, in New Delhi, doing yoga poses plus right-nostril breathing twice a day was even more effective than conventional drug treatment for people with diarrhea resulting from IBS. One of the poses used in the study is shashankasana (sometimes called the hare of moon pose). To do this you can sit on the floor or bed, knees bent with your feet tucked under your buttocks, so you are sitting on the soles of your feet. Hold on to your ankles and bend forward while exhaling and let your forehead tourch the ground in front of you (while keeping your buttocks on your heels). Hold this position for as long as you feel comfortable, then slowly and gently come upright. Repeat 10 to 15 times.
• Focused Meditation: Meditation can help reduce the symptoms of abdominal pain (bloating, gas and diarrhea) that can result from stomach distress, according to two studies at the Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders at the University of Albany State University of New York. It can also potentially ease the discomfort of excess acid, says Dr. Thorn. Sit in a quiet place, breathe deeply and regularly, and repeat a simple calming phrase, over and over: My stomach feels warm and calm.

Number 2: Head

Stress Symptoms: Tension headaches, migraine headaches

Stress is one of the commonest triggers for both types of headaches. "I have migraines myself," says Dr. Thorn. "I was born with the predisposition for the blood vessels to squeeze shut and then dilate, which causes the headache pain. But stress is absolutely what starts the process." But you-not your genetic endowment-can have the final word. "Too often, people ignore the warning signals," insists Dr. Thorn. "They don't respond to the cues before they get out of control such as by taking a break or relaxing."

The same holds true for people who get tension headaches, Dr. Thorn says. They do nothing to counter the eyestrain, clenched jaw, teeth grinding at night or tightness in the head and neck that often precedes a painful tension headache.

Your Stress Response: If you get tension headaches, you probably tend to clench the teeth or tighten the muscles of the brow, jaw or eyes. For migraine sufferers, the blood vessel expansion that's part of the stress response causes the arteries in the head to spasm, resulting in severe pain, usually on one side of the head, negative response to light and/or noise and often nausea or vomiting.

Health Check: In rare cases when a headache comes on suddenly and is very severe - or doesn't go away - it could signal a stroke or brain tumor. Consult a doctor pronto. It's also the best way to get access to powerful medications to ease the pain.

Stress Relievers:

• For tension headaches: Temple and Scalp Massage: At the first signs, breathe slowly and deeply, then place your thumbs on your cheekbones close to your ears and use your fingertips to gently apply pressure and rub the temples, advises Dale Grust, a licensed massage therapist in New Paltz, New York. Next, using firm pressure and a tiny circular motion, inche your fingertips along the base of your skull.
• For migraines: Cool Head, Warm Hands: Dr. Pelletier recommends this autogenous technique: "Think of your limbs as heavy and warm and your forehead as cool." After training with a therapist and using bio-feedback equipment, many patients learn to relieve pain by redirecting blood flow from the brain and head to the arms and legs.

Number 3: Neck, Shoulders and Back

Stress Symptoms: Neck and shoulder tightness and pain, lower back pain.

Not all back pain is caused by stress. But stress makes nearly all back pain worse, Dr. Thorn says.

Your Stress Response: If you routinely tense the muscles surrounding your neck, shoulders and back when you're stressed out, you're a candidate for stress induced back pain. "When sitting, many people under stress tend to slump from the waist and hunch their shoulders," says Dr. Warner. "They walk and drive that way, too, and then they wounder why they get neck and shoulder tension and backaches." Try the following messures to counter the tendencies:

Stress Relievers:

• Posture Adjustments: Correct your posture many times throughout the day. Gently stretch-shaking your head (yes and no) and rolling your shoulders forward and back. Cross and uncross your legs. Don't always sling your purse over the same shoulder. Shift your weight often when standing. Get up every 30 minutes to stretch or take a walk.
• Chest-Muscle Strenghtening: Weak chest muscles make your back muscles tighten to compensate, says Dr. Warner. Do this exercise for your pecs several times a week: lie down. Hold a one to two-pound dumbbell in each hand with arms straight up in the air, palms forward, toward each other. Slowly lover your arms to chest level, then slowly raise them straight into the air again. Repeat 10 times.
• Progressive Relaxation: Hunch your shoulders to tighten shoulder and neck muscles, hold for three seconds and release. Repeat five times. This works on the physiological fact that a muscle has to be tensed before it can be relaxed, says Dr. Pelletier.

Number 4: Skin and Hair

Stress Symptoms: Exzema, Acne, Hives, Hair loss, Dandruff or an itchy scalp

Although it is a link doctors often fail to make, stress is actually a major trigger of skin and hair problems.

Your Stress Response: When your brain registers a stress alarm, one effect is heightened sensitivity in every organ, including the skin. Unfortunately, if stress becomes chronic, it can spark a host of responses in susceptible indivudals, including inflammation, allergies and imbalances that lead to acne, rashes, hives and eczema. Inflammation affecting the scalp can produce dandruff and itchiness. And stress-induced hormone charges can cause hair loss.

Stress Releivers:

• Visualization: Deep breathing while visualzing something cool can reduce blood flow and inflammation in that area, Dr. Pelletier advises. "Try imagining an ice-pack or a cool breeze or cool water flowing over the irritated skin," he says.
• Skin-Soothing Excercises: Vigorous excercise encourages sweating, which can help clean out pores and stimulate blood circulation, another way to promote skin healing. It also stimulates the release of endorphins, which elevate mood and enable your entire body, including an overactive immune system, to calm down. "Excercise cures a lot of stress-related ills because it makes you feel good," says Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., founder of Mind Body Health Sciences and cofounder of the Claritas Institute for Interspiritual Inquiry.

Ok - that's the article, and if you're prone to stress like me, hopefully this will help you a bit. I don't know if it will help me or not, but I guess it's worth a shot.

Top 10

Well I'm back again. Haven't felt well for about 2 weeks now. Can't call out of work because everyone is on vacation and it leaves me watching them all go andme just waiting waiting and waiting for my damn vacation in September. Anyway...found something here that I thought was interesting and thought I would share...kind of interesting... Top 10 "Bad" Things That Are Good For You

• Number 10: Beer: The newest bad kid on the block, beer has long been overshadowed by its healthier alcoholic cousins. While no one's suggesting you switch that glass of antioxident-rich Pinot Noir for a tall glass of lager - there's still that beer gut to worry about - new research has suggested that moderate beer intake can actually improve cardiovascular function. Now if only a scientist will discover the health benefits of ballpark franks and chicken wings. Heaven. (Comment: Not a beer drinker, but hey whatever works)

• Number 9: Anger: If you're one of those people who tends to bottle things up, only to explode...don't hold it in so long. Studies show that bursts of anger here and there are good for the health, and can be an even more effective coping mechanism than becoming afraid, irritated or disgusted. Anger, like the consumables in this list, however, is best in moderation: stay angry for long periods of time and you'll be plagued with a host of health issues, like blood pressur, sleep disorders and lung damage. (Comment: so maybe I souldn't bottle up my anger all the time? That one will be hard...I don't confront many people when I'm angry)

• Number 8: Coffee: Java is one of the most debated substances around. Is it good for you? Is it bad for you? Both? The consensus, now anyways, seems to favor those who enjoy their morning jolt - unrelated studies claim coffee is a major source of antioxidants in our diet and can help lower your risk of diabetes. Something in the beans is also thought to ease the onset of irrhosis of the liver and pancreatitis, good news for those who like to party hard all night before their morning caffeine boost. (Comment: Coffee!! My life!!)

• Number 7: LSD: We're definitely not in the business of advocating drug use. But check out this interesting science: In heavy drinkers, small doses of LSD have been thought to help bypass the rock-bottom stage of alcoholism and prevent relapses. These studies - some decades old - were done in closely monitored, clinical settings; many patients haven't had a drink in the many years since. It's an interesting finding that needs a lot more investigation, and not a remedy that should ever be tried at home. Meantime - and this may come as no surprise - a recent study of 36 volunteers who took an LSD-like drug in a lab setting had them reporting mystical experiences and behavior changes that lasted for weeks. (Comment: No LSD for me)

• Number 6: Sunlight: Exposure to the sun's rays is necessary to survive, but can also kill you in gross, cancerous quantities. Asthmatics, at least, could benefit from measured doses of ultraviolet rays, according to scientists. Sunlight suppressed the immune reactions that cause asthma in some lab studies with mice and could be used to treat humans afflicted with the disease in the future. And sunlight - even if indirect, such as on a shaded porch - is known to boost the mood. Extra sunlight can help office workers avoid afternoon drowsiness, a recent study found. There's still no excuse to head outside and bake, however. (Comment: I love my sun!! Can be bad for me since I burn quite often, but sunlight is my friend)

• Number 5: Maggots: They're creepy, slimy and altogether ooky, but maggots can save your life. These squirmy larvae are science's newest wonder-cure and were approved in 2003 as the Food and Drug Administration's only live medical device. Placed on serious wounds, maggots mimic their "wild" lifestyle and munch on bacteria and dead tissue, stimulating healing and helping to prevent infection. (Comment: That's just disturbing and disgusting on so many levels)

• Number 4: Marijuana: It's medical, we swear! Marijuana, often associated with memory loss, is ironically now being hyped as a way to stave off the ultimate form of memory loss- Alzheimer's. Recent studies on mice suggest that anti-inflammatories found in the drug prevent the clumping of brain proteins, one major cause of the disease. So when should you start preventative therapy? We suggest waiting for the human studies to wrap up. (Comment: It really is supposed to help when you're in pain, even though it's not legal yet)

• Number 3: Red Wine: A crucial ingredient in the diets of the world's heart-healthiest populations - like those Bordeaux-guzzling French - red win has long been known to have potent anti-cancer and artery-protecting benefits. The key, some studies indicate, is an antioxidant found specifically in the skin of red wine grapes, called resveratrol. The latest studies even link resveratrol to greater endurance, a reduction in gum disease and Alzheimer's. White wine, which is fermented after the skins are removed, is less beneficial according to some studies. (Comment: Wine is good...but I don't care for red wine, too dry)

• Number 2: Chocolate: Chocolate lovers rejoice: study after study lately has touted the magical benefits of the indulgent treat, which is packed with the antioxidant flavonols that prevent certain cancers and keep your arteries from clogging. The most recent news? These powerful chemicals may even increase blood flow to the brain, warding off dementia. Just stick to the highest cocoa content possible - the bars packed with sugar don't help your health one bit. (Comment: Wish I could actually have chocolate)

• Number 1: Sex: Scientists have found that the benefits of sex go beyond immediate, ahem, gratification and satisfying the goal of procreation. Besides the obvious evolutionary purposes, we can all take pleasure in the news that having sex is an easy way to reduce stress, lower cholesterol and improve circulation throughout the body. As if you needed another excuse. (Comment: Need I say anything? Stress reliever for sure!!)

Enough said...think it's all been said :)

Ramblings of a journalist/DJ

Well its been a long time since I've written one of these, so I kinda just thought an update was needed. That's the general reason for this. I'm keeping way too busy working, and have kicked off another job search. I thought this was over after I got a full time job at the Telegram, but ask everyone around you and they will agree that I am extremely stressed and in need of time off yet again because I work twice as much as I'm home. It's insane. Probably most of it is because we are short a reporter and Eric (my fellow reporter) and me are stretching ourselves thin trying to cover all night meetings and events along with other important Herkimer County news. In addition to that, I'm working typically 6 days a week at the station since I'm the overnight voicetracker and I keep wondering if it's worth it. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the radio station, I have determined that's where my real passion lies. But I feel underappreciated in some sense. I know you're not in radio for the money, and that's fine, I don't do it for the money, but making minimum wage to me is insane! People working at fast food restaurants make more then me...tell me that's not wrong. That's been bothering me lately, maybe it's just because I'm there so much more now. I work a full day at the paper and have to go in to voicetrack the overnight. For the most part I'm just trying to keep my foot in the door at the station in case something happens to open up. So I'm stressed most of the time, tired all the time, and kinda snippy at most people most of the time. I've learned to keep my mouth shut lately 'cause if I don't I snap at people because I get irritated and upset for sometimes no reason at all. Maybe it's the fact that I have no way to unwind or no one to really turn to for comfort. I don't know what it could be...other then the fact that I am working way too much. I keep hearing 'you're young you can do it.' Well...to all those that will say that...I challenge you to work all day and only spend 3 or 4 hours, if that, at home, not including sleeping time. I just keep wondering why the hell I do it. I'm not happy anymore. I used to love to write. Now, I don't get to write for fun anymore because by the time I get home I've spent all day writing and I don't want to do it when I get home. I miss writing for fun. I unwind when I write...but at work it's full of stress and pressure having to come up with at least two stories a day, and if you don't you get a freaking disappointed look by the editor and you wanna say, 'why the hell don't you try to come up with a story when no one calls you back.' I've been talking to the reporter who left a couple months after I started and she sited the same thing as one reason she left. She told me to give it time and if I still feel like I need to leave, then do so. Well if they don't hire another reporter soon, I'm seriously thinking about it, hence the job search. Anyway, that's the reason I haven't checked in for more than a month...I'm way too busy working, but on the same note I'm trying to keep myself busy in some sense to keep my mind off other things (not going there)...anyway, these are the senseless ramblings of me...hopefully I'll start to check in more often.