Huh!

I just signed up for Kaiser insurance. If they have DOs here, I would MUCH rather go to one than an MD for precisely the reason Andi cited.

I don't have any problems, but they cover preventative exams. I could use that, I bet.

bonny, yes. She can take him to the park for two hours where he does laps chasing other dogs, and it barely makes a dent in his energy level. Hearing that from you and erika makes me feel better, and I'll pass it on to R. She does walk him, play with him, etc - but he's stubborn and fierce and people walking by our house are deemed A Threat to be barked at.

I love Cranio Sacral Therapy. Apparently the science isn't really there for it, but it freaking works wonders for me so I say woo woo it up.

Java, thanks for the info but I don't think my issue is serious enough to warrant prescription anything (seemingly there's a prescription for dogs that have problems with Dermodex, but not for people). And I think that the wash - which has Vitamin E as well as tea tree oil - is good for my skin. It seems nicer these days ... although that may be because I'm getting my makeup scrubbed off before going to bed every night. The doctor mentioned that some people find it helps if they have a problem with redness.

Where did you get the wash, Toddson? I have tea tree oil but it's supposed to be diluted and I have no idea how much or with what.

I got the wash at an old-style pharmacy. I also saw it - along with a skin cream by the same maker - at a health food store (Yes! to be exact). The doctor told me they carry it at Trader Joe's. All this indicates that it's fairly easy to find - not cheap, but at least not too hard to find. The brand was ... Derma-E, I think.

I know the tea tree oil is powerful stuff; someone - Plei? - once posted something about having a bad experience. I've used the straight stuff to fight off the beginning of a toenail fungus, but that was applied to the nails, not my skin, so it wouldn't have done much harm (except to the fungus).

Straight tea tree oil is tremenously drying for skin. For a less sensitive area like feet, dilute it in a carrier oil (olive or almond are good, but it can be pretty much any that agrees with your skin) at 50%. For more sensitive bits, try it at 25%. For delicate bits where you don't want to use oil, such as your face to treat acne, try blending it with some aloe vera gel at 5-10%.

I saw something on a beauty blog that the blogger was using a tea tree oil treatment from The Body Shop that had cleared up her blackheads. I'm assuming it's diluted ... if not, I don't think she'd have been so enthusiastic.

I just spent an hour driving around the city trying to figure out what to eat. I could have just used that time to drive to RI and get the eggplant parm I really wanted.

And the chicken parm sandwich I have ended up with is lousy.

I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for Salon, but these days it seems like the bulk of their writers are 23 year olds who have FIGURED OUT THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!!

ION, everything turned out ok, but one of my housemates had a nice little fainting incident last night and I'm working on three hours sleep. This is WAY harder on the wrong side of 40.