Sorry that it isn’t very clear, but I guess it’s not supposed to be.  I started this mixed media painting last year, and finally have been inspired to continue.  I had a massage today where I intern since I get a discount, amazing. And of course, it was almost like therapy because he asked how school was going since our last appt.

Wrong question to ask.

Needless to say, I was a bit homesick and frustrated talking about school and my “high expectations” that I’m not allowed to have, and I realized that this was the perfect painting to work on.   I used Pinterest ideas of cutting up toilet paper rolls (yay for scissors) and hot glued them and cotton balls.  I noticed my green layer looks like a map with lakes (kind of like the Midwest) and turned this painting in the direction of a map. Not completed yet of course, will continue it or another tomorrow.

By Monday I plan to have at least five ready for a critique. Maybe will show another preview of something else at that time.

The set of 6 images are from my diagnosis labeled 1-6 in order from top,

1, 2
3, 4
5, 6

The other images are what I’m preparing for my final show! (Images are secret for now)

Two are considered done and the rest half or less. Now if only I could stop being exhausted long enough to work on them!

This sucks.   Takes forever to get to sleep and then I don’t feel like I’ve slept at all, now I’m running late to internship and have to spend all day working with people when I’d rather be sleeping and do the same thing tomorrow.  I can’t take my prescribed sleeping pills because they don’t work and I can’t take the Unisom because I feel drugged up shortly after I have a regular night of sleep after.  And I don’t meet with my doc back home for 18 days to get something new 🙁

http://completecaptivation.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-very-first-crochet-pattern.html?m=1

This was a pattern I started with, ended up using 115 stitches instead of 75. (Had smaller hook and wanted longer cowl)

Have two wonderful friends out here at school so decided to make matching scarfs for both. One down, next tomorrow.

So, I didn’t follow a specific recipe.  Here is what I used:

3 bell pepper pack from store
Three medium long, sweet peppers
Various spices: oregano cinnamon, garlic herb, onion powder etc. (sprinkle here and there)
Two handfuls cut up mushrooms
1 lb. ground beef

I suggest preheating the oven for the fries first because it requires 475 and the peppers only need 375.

Cook the peppers mushrooms etc. I used a slap chop to help dice them.   (Cook but keep crunchy not soft) remove and throw on meat in same pan.  Brown then ready veggies and spices.

Cut top off peppers remove stem and innards.  Stuff peppers and top with shredded mozzarella. Re-top with pepper cap.

Bake 20 min at 350

Sweet potato fries

http://apronappeal.blogspot.com/2011/05/sweet-potato-oven-fries_10.html?m=1

For dessert I decided against cookies and made double fudge brownies with marshmallows.  So much for a healthy meal…Hehe

I finally got an appt with my gen physician/nurse back home to discuss my insomnia /anxiety/mild depression over spring break when I also have my follow up pet scan (less then 20 days!)

Until then I found a great nutritionist who gave me a deal I couldn’t refuse, will be starting a 6 month coaching program, using paleo diet, and she understands my medical history and how that will nutritionally affect my body compared with “normal” systems.

I went to the store and stocked up on almond flour, almond butter, coconut oil, couple new spices, cooking utensils, slap chop, mini blender, coffee maker (just in case I need to cheat with quick energy) , peppers, meats, fruits and veggies.  I’m totally looking forward to trying paleo stuffed peppers with sweet potato fries tomorrow!  And going to make regular Ol Betty Crocker cookies for dessert (still too early in diet to give up sugar … and haven’t had first session with nutritionist yet!   ……baby steps toward a healthier non processed sugar free anxiety free life lol. 🙂

I will keep you updated with photo, and link to recipe.  (Many recipes I found were through Pinterest, and fastpaleo.com) after I complete the whole program, I will even refer the nutritionist, if they still want to do distance meetings after me (trial period here, yay for being a guinea pig as half our time working together I will most likely no longer be able to meet in person)

Update on guy from the other night: nothing 🙁 oh well.  There are other fish in the sea! (new year’s resolution is to be positive about future potential relationships)

The best thing I’ve learned about paleo diet, is that it’s almost not a diet.  It doesn’t restrict calories (that I’ve seen) and offers healthier alternatives to processed foods such as sugar and wheat. Technically our bodies aren’t naturally supposed to digest them anyway, and with all the easily to be gotten processed never go bad yummy foods out there, it’s hard to give our bodies what it really needs.

I’m a meat eater for life, with paleo it works.  I can’t have dairy anymore; with paleo they have nut substitutes like almond milk (I recommend chocolate almond milk).  Because of cancer going after sugar, I need to cut back. Paleo is perfect because it chooses natural honeys or veggies with regular fruits as opposed to processed bleached sugars or sugar substitutes. Paleo doesn’t restrict me to only shakes or so many meals a day.  I could easily fit in extra meals a day like is recommended to keep the metabolism fit (6 small meals as opposed to 3 large meals). (One of my brothers has frequently used the 6 small meal plans to get into shape and says it’s amazing.  Lucky SOB also had his own garden and lived at our farm during hunting season at the time with fresh veggies, nearby lakes for fishing and meat available, no wonder it worked for him)

Anyway, I totally recommend looking into paleo for your own benefit. Friends out here use it, and their skin is clear, no exhaustion have mental clarity and fit great in clothes. Between this and the help from my nutritionist I’m excited to see what comes next!

I went to a graduate student social event tonight.  A couple other students were playing guitar and singing. We had free food and then I had some drinks.  Near the end a friend introduced me to a guy!  We talked while our friend played pool and then I got a hug 🙂 Hehe.  And while he did invite me to the “after party” at another bar (he’d buy), I said no because I was so tired from being at internship all day and all week. I said I’d take up his offer another time though so who knows, maybe I’ll hear and maybe I won’t.   I hope I do 🙂

I have been experimenting with watercolors this month.  When I’ve been stressed about school or considering my next scan in March, sunsets have come to mind.

Here is a preview:

I woke up feeling completely awful today, which I think was from my body coming down from extreme stress.  I was disoriented, numb, dizzy, felt drugged up, shaking, weird nightmares, (last night was also first night without using sleeping pills, my body must be lacking natural sleep and having trouble with stress go figure).

Anyway, I decided to look at the job apps again and sent my resume to a place back home thinking I wouldn’t hear anything since it didn’t say immediate help needed.  Granted they were looking for a photography associate position with costumer service skills so on.  Two minutes later I had a call for interview!!  Unfortunately, its 1400 miles away and I’m not back until May.  But they said to call back and they may still need help, so that was my Valentine’s Day excitement.

Happy Valentine’s Day all, I hope each and every one of you has something to be excited about today 🙂

RIP to a wonderful young lady in my online support group who passed this weekend.  Thoughts and prayers to her family, 22 is too young.