I'm pretty intrigued by the psychobiotics.

Me, too. Big time.

Why did I agree to this dumb Jeopardy game? Smart for Arizona is clearly not real people smart. Check me out, y'all, I'm the fastest Special Olympian! (Although, what did I think, that I'd win this dumb game and set my world on its axis?! But nothing else I try ever works either.)

You're not doing that badly, erika. And you're still just in the first round. I think I was winning at the end of the first round of the last game, and then the second round categories were all football and comics and other stuff I know nothing about, and I ended up last.

Me, too. Big time.

Fix your tummy and your brain? I mean, I knew there was at least some indication that many things like autoimmune and off brains were interrelated but actual science rocks. There's some sense making that if my body attacks itself one way, it might do it in others as well.

Good job, Windsparrow. You are so clearly a wonderful asset to the organization.

Finally had the house to myself today. My worker has been painting and do gardening and stuff for me for about 10 days straight. I needed a break from him.

I'm now booked for what is turning into my annual Oregon vacation. I'll be in Seaside on the ocean for what is written as being the biggest, best fireworks display on the entire Oregon coast. Then inland to see Death Cab for Cutie, listen in on The Decemberists, and see Lyle Lovett.

The eye stuff - it's the consistency of saline solution and you put it on a spot of cotton wool and wipe each eye (separate cottons), and that's it.

Biology prof decided that since the last field trip had issues with parking oceanside mid-day, that the next field trip will begin at 7 AM. Out by the Pt. Reyes lighthouse. Which is a one and a half hour drive from central Marin, never mind the people who live in the East Bay. The day that daylight savings starts, so we lose an hour and will be out there in the dark at first. I yi yi.

So I found a house that all of us can rent via VRBO, in Inverness, nearby on Tomales Bay, and it'll only cost us each $38.50 because I offered that we'd sleep in sleeping bags and clean up to waive the fee. The owner's also a prof at the same college, too! I'm sure that helped.

Usually when you all validate my worth as a caregiver, I feel that bashful, happy gratitude for the recognition. Today I feel like I want to hide from it. I wonder if that's exhaustion or let-down or something.

Today was a massive load of suck. Relatedly, I was reminded today that the SS office makes the DMV feel like a party. Argh.

I've fallen for CuddleDuds [link] pretty hardcore.

OMG Cass, my family has had a soft spot for CuddleDuds for years, starting with my mom. But then all us girls wore them. And now looking at the site, I'm realizing why again.

I'm going to try to lose weight; it has become a priority as part of not going blind. Turns out keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure well controlled is not enough to work with the treatment. You have to keep yoir hemoglobin levels high enough. While they are going to do some tests to rule the really nasty causes, they think the anemia is a side effect of the simvastin. That means I have to start controlling my cholesterol through diet. Since my diet consists of very healthy food already, and I get lots of exercise I'm going to have to start eating fewer calories. The easy way seems to be to substitute lower fat protein sources for the peanut butter and cheese I know damn well I eat too much of. However I still have to keep the carbs low to keep blood sugar under control. Cannot let that lapse.

I have one thought that might make things easier - eggs. I've been familiar for years with the science that says eggs don't actually contribute to cholestrol or at least not more than any other food with the same total fat. But all the studies I encountered said (in essence) "we are not sure this applies to diabetics. Eggs may well be fine for diabetics, but we are not as sure one or two eggs daily is as safe diabetics as for the general population." Anyone know of studies on whether eggs, which seem to definitely be OK for the general population, are OK for diabetics?

OMG Cass, my family has had a soft spot for CuddleDuds for years, starting with my mom. But then all us girls wore them. And now looking at the site, I'm realizing why again.

My Mom actually sent me a pair! So comfy. I just bought two more.