Dear [HR],

I’m writing to apply for your [intern] for the fall. To clear up any worries: yes,I know this is unpaid. Lucky for you I won the lottery and am up to my eyeballs in cash. …I kid. But I value a learning experience more than money. After reading your job description and checking ‘yes’ to all questions (especially in regards to being proactive), I am stoked to apply. Most recently, my experiences have been with a publication in [the midwest], where I went to school and graduated in the fall of 2000. In addition to being the den mother(and having to fill up the dang printer), I was a writer, reporter,involved with web video shoots – hosting and a bit of editing, and brainstormed and guerrilla marketed with the rest of the bunch. 

You will find I’m more professional, more willing to learn, and full(to the point of annoying?) with questions, perhaps more so than someone with no work experience. I’m incredibly organized, used to communicating with peers as well as superiors and the “outside world.” I work best when I’m busy and when I’m being pushed (except when I’m PMSing). I have the courage to have a sense of humor and the drive to excel and learn as quickly as I can – there is no other choice for me. Scheduling should be easy and, if I had won the lotto, I would be willing be an intern full-time. Alas, mama needs a new pair of shoes (and to pay the rent). But, I am willing to give [your company] any of my time that is needed, suck up all of the knowledge that I can, and have a really great time doing it. I so look forward to hearing from you and have attached my resume.

• My daughter woke me up this morning to tell me it was time to go to her bus stop. Now. Right now. Apparently I’d ignored my cell phone alarm and gone right on sleeping. So I rolled out of bed, threw a sweatshirt over my pajamas, stepped in to my flip flops and stumbled out of the house, putting my hair in a pony tail as I went. For future reference, other moms will always want to chit chat with you on the one day you didn’t brush your teeth and are still picking the crust out of your eyelashes.

• Before I got woken up by a slightly irritated teenage girl, I was dreaming a guy I went to high school with was standing on the side of a grassy hill dressed in an owl costume. He was singing some kind of operatic tribute to the feathered creature, except nobody could hear it because the speaker system was malfunctioning. When he was finished I did that slow clapping thing that builds as everyone else starts clapping along. It got him a standing ovation. Then I looked over at my refrigerator, which was for some reason in the corner of the room and water was pouring out of the freezer in buckets. Then I woke up.

• ?????

• My toilet broke while my husband was at work yesterday. The little arm that connects to the flush switch snapped in two, so that now every time I need to flush I have to reach my hand in to the tank and yank the little chain that holds the stopper in place. It’s annoying but as I was doing this yesterday my six year old walked in, saw the rust ring along the inside of the tank and assumed I was thrusting my arm in to some kind of toxic diarrhea water and freaked the hell out. Of course I did what any other parent would do, I chased him around the house with my contaminated arm held aloft and threatened to touch his face with it. Because inside I am still twelve years old.

• Stupid toilet.

• I have cramps. Just thought I’d throw that out there for you. You’re welcome.

• For those of you that read the last post, my daughter survived her barfing date ordeal and her bus friend was very sweet about the whole thing. He didn’t mention it again except to say it was no big deal. My daughter, on the other hand, told every single person she knew about the entire thing, in explicit detail. Go figure. Apparently reliving your worst humiliation in an effort to drum up sympathy for yourself is therapeutic. Who knew?

• Seriously, I feel like crap on a stick right now, plus all my comfy fat pants need to be washed which means I have to do laundry. Now. Right now. Even though I just want to curl up in to the fetal position and watch TV and eat copious amounts of baked goods.

• I was going to say something. If I remember it, I’ll get back to you.

—–

Tuesdays – Cause nothing is better than having verbal diarrhea up on the screen and calling it a post. Thank Keely. Now. Right now.

My last post was a quickie about getting “high” on exercise due to the endorphin rush.  I’ve really been experiencing this feeling since I started exercising regularly and particularly since I started Jazzercise a couple of weeks ago.  This brain candy really has a noticeable and significant effect on how I feel -all day long!  I wanted to find out a little more science about this effect and to share it here.

According to Natural Therapy Pages (http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/Exercise_Endorphins), endorphins are “hormone-like substances that are produced in the brain and function as the body’s natural painkillers.”  Endorphins are released during exercise, and ”just ten minutes of moderate exercise is enough to improve your mood, your vigour and also decrease fatigue.”  More vigorous exercise is recommended, for a number of other reasons that you likely know about (e.g. good for your heart, burns more calories for weight loss) and will increase the endorphin effect.  Likewise, aerobics and cardiovascular exercise are the best exercises for releasing endorphins.

The good news for yoga fans is that:  “Yoga is also great as it reduces tension and stress while improving the mood.  It focuses on stretching, breathing, and motion that release negative emotions in the body.”

The release of endorphins isn’t the only reason that I feel so good from vigorous exercises.  “Exercise decreases the stress hormones such as cortisol” and “releases adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine.”  The combination of more of the feel good chemicals coursing through my veins, while there are fewer stress hormones is truly invigorating.  And now understand more about the “why.”

This feeling is so great that I have already let my family know that I will be getting up and out early on Thanksgiving morning to attend an 8:30 am Jazzercise class.

Here are my current stats:
Weight: 164 lbs  159 lbs (again! Is it time for a diet?)
Goal weight: 153 lbs
Difference from goal: 6 pounds short of goal

How I did during week #11:
1.  Sleep – average of 6.2 hours (goal is average 8.5 hours) 
2.  Exercise – 9 hours (new goal is 10.5) 
3.  Strength training – 4 x during Jazzercise (goal is 3 times per week) 
4.  Yoga – 0 (goal is once a week)
5.  Meditation – 30 minutes (goal is 10 minutes a day)
6.  Food – better, and not (still some “I can eat this!  I worked out!” and PMS)

How I did today:
1.  Sleep - 6.5 hours last night
2.  Exercise - 60 minutes Jazzercise, 30 minutes of hiking
3.  Strength training - part of Jazzercise
4.  Yoga – nope
5.  Meditation – 0
6.  Food – more veggies, beans, 4 fruits, and only 1 serving of chocolate!  (yay!)

Politik, Sastra & Budaya, Social dan lain-lain

Bank Century
Audit BPK Ungkap “Dosa-dosa” BI, Menkeu, dan KSSK (1)
KOMPAS/LUCKY PRANSISKA
Laporan wartawan KOMPAS.com Caroline Damanik

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Audit investigasi Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan (BPK) yang diserahkan kepada DPR RI, Senin (23/11), mencengangkan. Secara gamblang, audit memaparkan “dosa-dosa” Bank Indonesia, Menteri Keuangan, dan Komite Stabilitas Sistem Kuangan atau KSSK dalam penetapan Bank Century sebagai bank gagal berdampak sistemik dan penyelamatannya. Audit disampaikan kepada publik oleh Ketua BPK Hadi Poernomo di Gedung DPR RI.

Dosa pertama dimulai dengan lemahnya pengawasan BI dalam proses akuisisi dan merger Bank Danpac, Bank Pikko, dan Bank CIC menjadi Bank Century. BI dinilai tidak tegas dalam menerapkan aturan.

Selain itu, BI juga tidak tegas terhadap pelanggaran-pelanggaran yang dilakukan Century dalam kurun waktu 2005-2008. BI diduga juga melakukan perubahan persyaratan Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) dalam Peraturan BI (PBI) agar Century dapat memperoleh fasilitas pendanaan jangka pendek (FPJP). BI memberi FPJP, padahal CAR Century pada saat itu telah negatif 3,53 persen dan nilai jaminan FPJP yang diperjanjikan hanya sebesar 83 persen.

“BI juga dinilai tidak memberikan informasi sesungguhnya lengkap dan mutakhir saat menyampaikan Century sebagai bank gagal yang ditengarai berdampak sistemik kepada KSSK,” ungkap Hadi.

Informasi yang tidak diberi seutuhnya itu menyangkut pengakuan kerugian (PPAP) atas surat-surat berharga (SSB) valas yang mengakibatkan penurunan ekuitas yang menurunkan CAR dan meningkatkan biaya penanganan dari yang semula diperkirakan Rp 632 miliar menjadi Rp 6,7 triliun.

BI dan KSSK juga tidak memiliki kirteria terukur dalam menetapkan dampak sistemik Bank Century. Penetapan dinilai hanya berdasarkan judgement. Lebih mengagetkan lagi, Hadi mengatakan bahwa kelembagaan Komite Koordinasi yang beranggotakan Menkeu, Gubernur BI, dan Ketua Dewan Komisioner Lembaga Penjamin Simpanan (LPS) belum pernah dibentuk berdasarkan UU sehingga status hukumnya dipertanyakan.

(bersambung)
Editor: mbonk

————————————————–

Audit BPK Ungkap “Dosa-dosa” BI, Menkeu, dan KSSK (2)
Laporan wartawan KOMPAS.com Caroline Damanik

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Selain penetapan awal Bank Century sebagai gagal berdampak sistemik dan pertanyaan tentang status hukum Komite Koordinasi yang menjadi “dosa” BI, Menkeu, dan Komite Stabilitas Sistem Kuangan atau KSSK, audit investigasi Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan juga memuat “dosa” Lembaga Penjamin Simpanan atau LPS.

Menurut audit yang disampaikan Ketua BPK Hadi Poernomo kepada DPR RI, Senin (23/11), LPS belum secara resmi menetapkan perhitungan perkiraan biaya penanganan Bank Century secara keseluruhan.

Hal ini dipengaruhi oleh keputusan KSSK tentang penetapan Bank Century sebagai bank gagal berdampak sistemik yang tidak menyebutkan biaya penanganan yang harus dikeluarkan LPS. LPS juga melanggar ketentuan Peraturan LPS No. 3/PLPS/2008 ketika menyalurkan penyertaan modal sementara (PMS) tahap kedua sebesar Rp 2,2 triliun.

Penyalurannya tidak dibahas dalam Komite Koordinasi KK, yang di dalamnya ada Ketua Dewan Komisioner LPS. Untuk menyalurkannya, LPS malah mengubah ketentuan dalam PLPS No. 5/PLPS/2006 dengan PLPS No. 3/PLPS/2006 sehingga KPS dapat menenuhi kebutuhan likuiditas bank gagal sistemik.

“Dengan demikian, patut diduga bahwa perubahan PLPS merupakan rekayasa yang dilakukan agar Bank Century dapat memperoleh tambahan PMS, tidak hanya untuk memenuhi CAR, tetapi juga untuk memenuhi kebutuhan likuiditas,” lanjutnya.

Berdasar pada penolakan DPR terhadap Perppu Nomor 4 Tahun 2008 tentang JPSK, BPK menyimpulkan bahwa empat tahap penyaluran PMS kepada Bank Century tidak memiliki dasar hukum. Sebanyak empat tahap penyaluran dana adalah pertama sebesar Rp 2.886,22 miliar, tahap kedua Rp 1.101,00 miliar, tahap ketiga sebesar Rp 1.155,00 miliar dan keempat sebesar Rp 630,22 miliar.

Hal lain yang menjadi sorotan BPK adalah penarikan dana oleh pihak terkait dalam periode Bank Century yang ditempatkan dalam pengawasan khusus sebesar Rp 938,65 miliar melanggar ketentuan BI soal tindak lanjut pengawasan dan penetapan status bank.

Seharusnya, bank yang berstatus “dalam pengawasan khusus” dilarang melakukan transaksi. Bank Century akhirnya mengalami kerugian karena mengganti deposito milik salah satu nasabah Bank Century yang dipinjamkan atau digelapkan sebesar 18 juta dollar AS dengan dana yang berasal dari PMS.

“Selain itu, pemecahan deposito nasabah tersebut, menjadi 247 NCD dengan nilai nominal masing-masing Rp 2 miliar, dilakukan untuk mengantisipasi, jika Bank Century ditutup, maka deposito nasabah tersebut termasuk deposito yang dijamin oleh LPS,” ungkapnya.

Di bagian akhir, Hadi menyebutkan bahwa, dari biaya penanganan untuk PMS sebesar Rp 6,7 triliun, sebesar Rp 5,68 triliun merupakan kerugian Bank Century akibat adanya praktik-praktik tidak sehat dan pelanggaran ketentuan, baik oleh pengurus bank, pemegang saham, maupun pihak terkait.

“Permasalahan-permasalahan yang timbul adalah permasalahan surat-surat berharga dan transaksi-transaksi pada Bank Century,” tandasnya.

(Selesai)
Editor: mbonk

My periods nearly killed my marriage: A woman reveals how PMS made her so volatile it put a strain on her relationship

• I’ve long been aware of premenstrual syndrome or PMS – the idea of a woman snapping at her husband, craving chocolate and shopping uncontrollably once a month has become a tired comedy cliché – but what I didn’t know is that almost all women experience it to some degree in the two weeks before their period.

• The exact cause of PMS is unknown,’ says Michael Dooley, consultant gynaecologist at The Poundbury Clinic, London. ‘But it seems to be an abnormal relationship between the hormones of the menstrual cycle and the body.

By Keris Stainton

Fact: SSRIs work for PMDD. This is totally amazing news and has enabled me to reclaim a quarter of my life. You can suffer from PMDD if you have it yourself or if you have to live with someone who does. Either way, it’s awful.

It’s the hardcore version of PMS/PMT, and it affects 3 – 8% of women. Does the patient, regularly each month, wake up unable to stop crying long enough to get to work? Does she scream, yell, physically attack loved ones, dogs and furniture? Is she, for anything from 1 day – 2 weeks per month, unfit to be around vulnerable people? Does she break down weeping in the supermarket at the thought of all the poor poor vegetables that are going to be eaten? Does she have to refuse party invitations and plan holidays to fit around the week of madness? There are other physical symptoms (binge eating, pain, swollen breasts etc), and you don’t have to collect the whole set of symptoms for this diagnosis, but it’s the emotional symptoms that have always been my problem.

And now no more.

It’s amazing.

It’s totally amazingly amazing.

I can’t quite describe how amazing this is.

Having been to 5 doctors about this, I finally got to one (the fabulous Dr Waller) who allowed me to try an alternating course of Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors as recommended on various PMS/PMDD forums.

As I understand it, women with PMDD are intolerant to their own progesterone. This means that during the first part of the cycle (lots of oestrogen, low progesterone), they’re who they actually are. From ovulation, as the progesterone levels rise, the seratonin levels in the brain fall – so from halfway through the cycle I would become weepy and pissed off, peaking with 3 – 5 days of mayhem scattered at the ends of weeks three and four.

And I mean mayhem. If it weren’t for my partner’s superhuman powers of emotional endurance I would be single by now. There are dents in the walls of our house caused by my fists on those days. There are suicide letters I have to sheepishly destroy when my cycle finally kicks into oestrogen again. There are employees who are still scared of me. Think the first Mrs Rochester out of Jane Eyre.

And it’s all the more annoying because it’s so unnecessary. You know it isn’t you. You can’t help it. You lose the skin that enables you to carry on through daily life even though people are dying and the rainforest is being destroyed. Everything in your brain hurts: if it doesn’t make you sad, it makes you incandescently angry. It’s like the worst MDMA comedown you’ve ever had. Every month. With no “up” (actually I hear some people do get an “up” at the beginning of their cycle. That must be like hormonally-driven bipolar disorder).

Some people, such as psychologist Peggy Kleinplatz have challenged the labelling of this as a disorder. It’s just part of the natural order of things, apparently, and we’re wrongly isolating and labelling people as “mad” when in fact it would be more useful for them to have a hot bath and take agnus castus or magnesium. To which I say, fuck off Peggy Kleinplatz. You have obviously never had and never known anybody with this problem. It needs labelling so that it can be dealt with. A label is the first step to the medical establishment taking it seriously.

And all you have to do (wonderful, wonderful Dr Waller) is to take a low dose of SSRIs (I’m using sertraline) for 2 weeks per month. They take about 3 weeks to officially kick in in cases of depression, so you shouldn’t feel all that different because you never take them for that long. All they’re doing here is buffering up your plummeting seratonin levels during your bad weeks. Like water-wings. Like a life-belt.

I have been cheerful and slightly blasé for two weeks, and then my period started. Surprise! It’s years since I’ve been taken by surprise by my period. And now I’ve stopped taking the pills and don’t start again for another 2 weeks (during which time I can drink alcohol and generally carry on as normal).

I can’t believe I’ve wasted years of my life being a monster, when it’s so easy to fix. But regardless of that I have to remember to be grateful. It works, it works, it works! Life suddenly just got a whole lot better.

Savaitę ir rytą pradedu keistai – su puodeliu juodos kavos. Namai pilni jos kvapo, tokio lengvai saldaus.

Vakar vakre bandžiau išprovokuoti savo Būsimą vyrą papasakoti apie jo merginas, buvusias ir esamas, truputį sunervino. Tiksliau jis atsakinėjo, kaip visi vaikinai trumpai, aiškiai ir be didelių išvedžiojimų. Ai tiesa, mes su juo nedraugaujame, bet ir nesame tik draugai, tačiau turime savo gyvenimus. Painoka. Vis dėlto jį savo Būsimuoju vadinu todėl, kad visai nenustebčiau, jei galiausiai už jo ištekėčiau. Gal tik dar mūsų santykiams neatėjo laikas? Tai žodžiu, patenkino jis mano smalsumą, bet ne tokiu būdu kokiu norėjau aš. Ir aš dabar pati nebežinau, ko noriu. Gal čia PMS ateina? Beje ar tik man atrodo, kad daugelis merginų šią santrumpą vartoja ne vietoj? Ir šiaip tiksliai nesuvokia wtf per daiktas čia yra?

Be to šiąnakt sapnavau baisų sapną, apie kačiuką ir šuniuką. Tikriausiai vakare nereikėjo skaityti delfio straipsnių, nors aš iš tikro net neskaičiau, o tik permečiau akimis antraštę. Nemėgstu tokių istorijų ir nelabai suprantu, kodėl jos susilaukia tiek populiarumo. Norima pagąsdinti kitus, kad taip nedarytų? Bet gal negąsdint, o auklėt reikia?

Ach, gal dar kas žinot vaistų nuo tingėjimo ar dabar visi tik nuo kiaulių gripo gydosi? Žinokit, ne visoms kiaulėms vaistai padeda.

Politik, Sastra & Budaya, Social dan lain-lain

Rp 2,8 Triliun Dana Penyelamatan Bank Century Tidak Sah
Herdaru Purnomo – detikFinance

Jakarta – Dari Rp 6,7 triliun dana penyelamatan atau bailout Bank Century (sekarang Bank Mutiara) yang disalurkan Lembaga Penjamin Simpanan (LPS), sebanyak Rp 2,8 triliun diantaranya tidak memiliki dasar hukum. Hal itu terjadi karena dana penyelamatan masih disalurkan ketika Perpu Jaring Pengaman Sektor Keuangan (JPSK) sudah ditolak DPR.

Demikian disampaikan Ketua Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan (BPK) Hadi Purnomo dalam konferensi pers usai menyampaikan hasil audit investigasi Bank Century ke pimpinan BPK di Gedung DPR, Jakarta, Senin (23/11/2009).

Dalam poin III.C hasil audit investigasi tersebut dijelaskan, DPR telah menolak Perpu No 4 tahun 2008 tentang JPSK disahkan sebagai UU.

Hal itu berdasarkan dokumen notulensi rapat paripurna DPR tanggal 18 Desember 2008, penjelasan Ketua DPR periode 2004-2009, surat Ketua DPR RI kepada Ketua BPK pada tanggal 1 September 2009 perihal permintaan audit investigasi dan pemeriksaan dengan tujuan tertentu terhadap Bank Century serta berdasarkan laporan Komisi XI DPR mengenai pembahasan laporan kemajuan pemeriksaan investigasi kasus Bank Century dalam rapat paripurna DPR tanggal 30 September 2009, DPR menyatakan bahwa Perpu No 4 tahun 2008 tentang JPSK ditolak oleh DPR.

“Penyertaan Modal Sementara kepada Bank Century sebesar Rp 6,7 triliun, dari jumlah tersebut diantaranya sebesar Rp 2,8 triliun disalurkan setelah tanggal 18 Desember 2008,” jelas Hadi.

Sebagian Penyertaan Modal Sementara (PMS) setelah 18 Desember 2008 itu terdiri tahap II sebesar Rp 1,1 triliun, PMS tahap III sebesar Rp 1,15 triliun dan PMS tahap IV sebesar Rp 630,2 miliar.

“BPK berpendapat bahwa penyaluran dana PMS kepada Bank Century setelah tanggal 18 Desember 2008 tidak memiliki dasar hukum,” tegas Hadi.

Seperti diketahui, pada 18 Desember 2008, DPR menolak Perpu JPSK menjadi UU. Dari 3 RUU yang diajukan, hanya 2 yang disetujui yakni untuk poin 1 dan 2.

Pemerintah sebelumnya mengajukan 3 Perpu untuk disahkan menjadi UU ke DPR. Perpu tersebut adalah adalah:

1. RUU tentang Penetapan Perpu Nomor 2 tahun 2008 tentang Perubahan Kedua UU Nomor 23 tahun 1999 tentang BI,
2. RUU tentang Penetapan Perpu Nomor 3 Tahun 2008 tentang Perubahan atas UU Nomor 3 tahun 2008 tentang perubahan atas UU Nomor 24 tahun 2004 tentang LPS
3. RUU Penetapan Perpu Nomor 4 tahun 2008 tentang Jaring Pengaman Sistem Keuangan (JPSK).

(qom/dro)

Woke up crabby yesterday. So did she. It was my day off so I should have been happy but I wasn’t. I haven’t had PMS for a long time but it felt like that. I didn’t say one word to her. Why am I always the first to say good morning? She never is. She went on the computer and I cleaned the bathrooms. She had left all the towels and her clothes laying on the floor so I gathered them all up and threw them on the floor in the middle of her room. Usually she yells if she sees me going into her room but this time she didn’t. She ran out to catch the bus at 0700 when I was in the other bathroom. Didn’t even say good bye. No good morning; no goodbye. I miss the old Miss Gem.

I miss how she used to wait up for me when I was out late with friends. I’d come in at 10 or so, L would be asleep, but she would come running into the kitchen to greet me and I would go into her room with her and we’d lay down on the be and I’d ask her about her day or tell her about mine. I miss the hugs she used to crave from us. I miss how no matter where I was, there she’d be. One time I went down in the basement to put clothes in the wash and I can still hear her frightened voice calling for me because she didn’t know where I was. I was irritated at the time but now I would run upstairs and lift her into my arms and never let her go.

I’m hooked.  Jazzercise is kicking up the endorphins and it feels good.  I’m totally loving the feeling that I have the rest of the day after a good workout in class.  Two days ago, after 11 straight days of 45-150 minutes of exercise a day, I got 0 minutes.  That’s right, not one minute of exercise fit into my day Wednesday.  I felt antsy and missed the endorphins.  So, I tried to make up for it yesterday and today.  I’m not back up for the week to an average of 90 minutes per day.  Whew!  That feels better.

Oh, and feeling skinny yesterday but still weighing the same, I snuck out the measuring tape.  An entire 1/2 in off my waist in two weeks!  Now that’s amazing!

Short post today as I’m getting up before 6 am to go skate with my son.

How I did today:
1.  Sleep - 6.5 hours last night
2.  Exercise - 60 minutes Jazzercise and 80 minutes of hiking
3.  Strength training - part of Jazzercise
4.  Yoga – nope
5.  Meditation – 0 
6.  Food – a lot of food – PMS + a lot of exercise = hungry patty

How I did yesterday:
1.  Sleep - 7 hours Wed. night
2.  Exercise - 0 (boy did it feel weird!)
3.  Strength training - none
4.  Yoga – nope
5.  Meditation – 0 
6.  Food – don’t remember

Prime Minster Gordon Brown and his top team of ministers have travelled to Nottingham for a Cabinet meeting…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: cheap travel. The blog is also related to: last minute travel deals.

On Sunday I got my period of course just in time for Monday.  I hate getting my period on Sunday or Monday wish we could decide when to get it.  I had to stop at CVS on my way to work and buy one of those disposable heating pad things.  I had it on all day and didn’t feel much heat coming from it until I went to the bathroom and saw red marks on my skin.  Forward to Thursday, I almost passed out on the way to work. It was a horrible experience it’s happen before during my period. Sucks!!!   So next month we’ll have to try again.

Some people are just too stupid to save their own lives.

Can’t stand it.

SO ANGSTY. ARGH! Why have I become like this? Why have we all become like this? Just for the sake of e-AudIT? I simply cannot stand it anymore. Elsewhere, people are complaining about working 9 hour workdays.

We’re pulling… I don’t know… 15-16 hour work days, sometimes even 20 hour work days… and nobody appreciates/ nor gives a shit that we’re all dead and dying here.

Foreign policy?  Don’t bother me when I’m getting my nails done, you know better!   Take a message.  I am serious.  I don’t care about Japanese bird flu.  Not now, did you hear me?  You’re worse than my kids.

What?  Junior needs soccer equipment?  Authorize it!  I don’t care if Congress has to pass a spending bill.  I don’t want to hear about my kids now, get the governess to make those decisions.

North Korea can go fuck itself.  Kim Jong Il is a madman, how can I deal with him?  Hey, watch my cuticles, you’re hurting me!  The man has nukes up his ass, okay.   Subject closed, don’t even talk to me about that narcissist.  (flips hair)

Ow!  Look what you did, you nicked the polish.  This has to be perfect for my visit with the Irish President, we’re going shopping.  Oh and we’re going to that new little bistro on F Street, you know?  It’s adorable, she’ll love it.

Somali pirates?  Oh my god that reminds me, Jorge get that DVD for the kids tonight, put it on your list.  You know, Somali Pirates of the Carib — anyway you know what I mean, Jorge.  You know how I depend on you, darling.  Don’t disappoint me.  Good boy.

Where is my husband?  He’s lunching with who?  The Egyptian prime minister?  That’s my job.  Let go of me, unh!  Damn the polish is nicked again.  Get my coat Celeste, I’m joining them for lunch.  Insubordination!  Huh?  They’re not at the restaurant, well where are they then, the Map Room?

Dial Leo’s cell, gimme that phone.   “Leo darling, where are you and Hosni?”

“Camp David!  I don’t care if Hosni is the President and Ahmed is the prime minister.  For fuck’s sake Leo, you are trying to hurt my feelings!”

“Peace talks?  How come I didn’t know?  No one told me!  Am I PMS’ing again?  You’ve ruined my manicure, I hope you’re happy.”

“Oh–waiting for me?  Ahem. Yes, I’m the elected one, of course.  I’ll be there, hold the presses darling, I – I had to finish my nails, they look gorgeous.  And I had this new facial treatment — oh, they’re waiting.  I’ll be there in a jiffy!”

“Jorge, look after the kids for a couple of days.  Get the Somali pirate movie for tonight, you’re a jewel Jorge.  I’m going to Camp David to make world peace!”  (Sweeps out to waiting limousine.)

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I got home from class last night around 9 and was hungry.  I knew better than to try to eat anything.  But I did it anyway.  And between the binge eating last night, the degree to which I am hating my life lately, and assorted hormonal influences, I feel like utter shit this morning.  I am angry and sad and resistant to doing anything.  I keep stepping on things as I walk around the apartment. I couldn’t get my hair into a ponytail. I don’t want to go to work– mostly because I have this project to do that makes me want to cry everytime I think about it.  I’ve already been putting it off for weeks. I have class tonight. I didn’t even bother to brush my teeth before going to bed last night. My wife hasn’t vacuumed the floor in about 3 weeks (we have an arrangement– it’s her chore). I am coughing– and I never cough.  I just don’t tend to get chest colds. My cat, the good quiet one, knocked some things off the top of the filing cabinet.  It’s just a frustrating and miserable morning.

And on a side note, they’re doing makeovers tonight on ‘The Biggest Loser.’  It’s going to be completely lame because there is nobody on the show that has made an impressive transformation.  The only people who have lost a lot were huge to begin with.  The girls who were small to begin with haven’t lost very much weight.  Dumb.  This season just pales in comparison with last season.  Probably because there’s no Tara for me to be in love with. But I must cling to it because watching TBL on Saturday mornings is one of very few routines that my wife and I have together.

And now I’m late leaving for work.  Off I go.  Hurrah.

When we women are in witchy bitchy moods, and our moods swing from happy to teary in an instant, the secret code forbids you to mention hormones or PMS. We are allowed to mention it if we so choose. But you, male people? Never. Not if you want to survive. Do not ask if we are “on the rag”, or even more politely if it is that time of month. We do have other moods you know that are not tied to our cycle. Oh and jokes about how can you trust a person who bleeds for 5 days and doesn’t die – so NOT cool. Leaving a bottle of Midol on the kitchen table with a note saying “please take a couple, your cramps are killing me” – again, not helpful.

What can you do when it is obvious to you that your woman needs a little bit of extra TLC? Flowers are a good start, chocolate helps, and wine, plenty of wine.  Jewellery. A sweet card. Dinner out – so she doesn’t have to slave over a hot stove and blame it on you, that’s a winner, right there.

You just have to know it isn’t personal, dudes. Just don’t joke about it, because then all the mood swings and crabbiness will have a purpose, to make your life miserable. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!!

Temel yağ asitleri (EFA) ‘lar bu şekilde anılır çünkü bunlar tüm hücrelerimizin ve organlarımızın iyi sağlığı için mutlak biçimde temel oluşturur ve vücut tarafından imal edilemez, dolayısıyla bunların diyetten elde edilmesi gerekir. EFA’lar “yaşlanma hastalıklarını” örneğin kalp hastalığı ve kanser, aynı zamanda depresyon ve PMS’den egzamaya kadar diğer birçok hastalığı, giderek artan kanıtlara göre uzak tutar.

Bir tip temel yağ, omega 3 yağları, kolesterolün kandan taşınmasına yardım ederek, kan basıncını düşürerek ve kanın pıhtılaşmasını önleyerek kalp sağlığını iyileştirir. Bundan sebep size Lida kullanırken mutlaka Omega 3 yağ asitlerini içeren bir takviye kullanmanızı öneririz. Yağlı balık omega 3 yağlan açısından yüksektir ve bu da örneğin Eskimolar ve bu kitapta tartışılan halklarda kalp hastalığı oranlarının neden çok düşük olduğunu açıklayan unsurlardan biridir. EFA’ lar ayrıca tümör oluşumunu ve kanser metastasını azaltır ve hatta kanser hücrelerini de öldürebilir.

EFA’ların diğer birçok faydaları arasından hangisinden başlanacağını belirlemek zordur. EFA’lar anti imflamatu vardır ve dolayısıyla astım ve romatizmal artritin önlenmesini destekler. Bunlar hücre zarlarını esnek tutar, bu da onların toksinleri dışarı atmasını ve besin maddelerini içeri almasını sağlar ve cildinizin yumuşak ve esnekliğini korur. Bunlar beyin ve sinir sistemi işlevi için esastır ve bunların cinsel sağlığın iyileşmesinde son derece etkin olduğu ortaya konmuştur. Bunlar metabolizmayı iyileştirir ve böylece, kalori açısından nispeten yüksek olmasına rağmen Lida ile kilo vermeyi de destekleyebilir.

Yağ Oranı Düşük Diyetler
Ortalama bir Amerikalı kalorilerinin yaklaşık yüzde 33′ünü yağdan almaktadır. Düşük kalorili diyetler bu miktarı yüzde 20′ye indirmeye çalışmaktadır. Yağ oranını düşük tutan diyetlerin arkasında iki ana fikir vardır: Yağ sizi şişman yapar ve yağ kalp için kötüdür. Bu kapsamlı ifadelerin hiçbiri doğru değildir. Makul miktarda sağlıklı yağ, düşük yağlı diyetler kadar ya da daha iyi bir şekilde kilo vermeyi teşvik eder. Kalp hastalıkları cephesinde de bazı yağlar kalp için iyidir ve bunları Lida aldığımız dönemde beslenmeden çıkarmak problemlere neden olur.

Düşük yağ içerikli diyetlerin en çok tanınanlarından biri Dr. Dean Ornish’in “Daha Çok Ye, Daha Zayıf Ol” planıdır. “Daha Çok Ye” fikri yağın bir gramında 9 kalori bulunurken karbonhidratların bir gramında 4 kalori olduğu gerçeğinden kaynaklanmaktadır. Yağlı gıdalardan karbonhidrat yönünden zengin gıdalara özellikle de meyve ve sebzelere geçerek daha fazla kalori almadan tükettiğiniz yiyecekleri iki katına çıkarabilirsiniz.

Yağ oranı düşük ve Lida destekli bir diyet yapmanın kilo vermeye yardımcı olacağına şüphe yok, en azından kısa vadede. Bazıları böyle bir diyete uzun vadede bağlı kalmayı başarabilir, ancak bunun için gerçekten kararlı olmak gerekir. Neden? Düşük yağ içerikli diyetler diğer beslenme stratejilerine göre daha lezzetsizdir genelde ve gıda seçeneği konusunda da daha kısıtlayıcıdır, özellikle de dışarıda yemek yerken. Ayrıca sizin kendinizi aç hissetmenize de neden olabilir. Düşük yağlı diyetlerin, ana öğünler arasında ara öğünlere ve doygunluk hissini artıran yüksek lif oranlı yiyeceklere yer vermesinin bir nedeni budur.

Düşük yağ içerikli diyetler kalp için mükemmel diye tanıtılır. Bu ün, pek çok uzmanın tüm yağların kalp için kötü olduğunu düşündüğü bir zamandan kalmadır. Bu düşünce, doymamış yağ-ların kolesterol düzeyini düzeltebileceğine ve potansiyel olarak ölümcül kalp ritmi bozukluklarını engelleyebileceğine ilişkin bulguların ışığında sönmektedir. Ornish planı, Dr. Ornish’in kalp rahatsızlığı olan otuz beş kadın ve erkek üzerinde yaptığı küçük çaplı bir araştırmadan da destek almaktadır. Bu araştırma, çok az miktarda yağ içeren, vejetaryen, tam tahılların tüketildiği bir diyetin egzersiz, stres yönetimi ve grup desteğiyle bir arada daha az yoğun değişikliklere göre damarlardaki daralmayı daha başarılı azalttığını gösterdi. Bu yöndeki gelişme, düşük yağ içerikli beslenmeden kaynaklanmış olabilirdi. Başka değişikliklerden de kaynaklanmış olabilirdi.

Unutmayın, “Ornish diyeti yapmak” rafine tahıllardan vazgeçerek tam tahıllara yönelmek ve egzersiz yapmak anlamına geliyor. Egzersiz iyidir, Lida ile çok çok daha iyidir. Egzersiz yapmadan rafine karbonhidratlar tüketmek trigliserid düzeyini yükseltip, HDL (iyi) kolesterol seviyesini azaltabilir, her iki durum da kalp için iyi değildir.

Haddimi aşıyorum bu dönemler, sinek zırıltısına ağlayacak duruma geliyorum. Kadın olmak zor zanaat. Tüm östrojeni ve bünyemi ele geçiren romantik duygusallığı reddediyorum! Ama ne güzel söylemiş Aşkın Nur Yengi. Gel de salya sümük ağlama.

takvimlerden haberin yok mu geçiyor yıllar
bana küsmüş yüzüme gülmez zalim aynalar

kimimiz yorgun, kimimiz solgun, kimi isyankar
acı gerçek bu, ömrümüz bir su, içiyor yıllar

hani nerde beklenenler
medet umdum senelerce
acılar hep dolu dizgin
yine hayır yok gecelerden

vakit geç olmuş, dönülmez yolmus, yürek bin pişman
bundan böyle bana meyler dost, geceler düşman

Please visit http://HealWithOil.com if you are interested in learning more about the essential oils that heal.

The use of essential oils in conjunction with aromatherapy are consider very effective as well as an excellent treatment for many health issues or concerns Many of these essential oils, when used as aromatherapy, have a positive effect on anxiety problems, problems with being tense all the time, being tired throughout the day, premenstrual syndrome symptoms, stress related disorders and curing insomnia related issues The use of essential oils in conjunction with aromatherapy are consider very effective as well as an excellent treatment for many health issues or concerns. Many of these essential oils, when used as aromatherapy, have a positive effect on anxiety problems, problems with being tense all the time, being tired throughout the day, premenstrual syndrome symptoms, stress related disorders and curing insomnia related issues. There are many more uses to add to these few. Essential oils are an excellent break through for alternatives in the use of natural remedies. Natural antioxidants are released into your body when essential oils are exposed to your five senses. If you fully understand the power of antioxidants, you will be more interested in the use of essential oils as part of your daily regimen. Antioxidants fight free radicals released in the human body. These free radicals have a very adverse effect on the human body and mental well being. By allowing antioxidants to exist as natural chemicals found in the body along with taking a multi vitamin daily, your healthy will greatly increase. Vitamins A, C and E are the most recommended vitamin supplements to take along with antioxidants. Selenium is known as an antioxidant and is found in most vegetables. The job of antioxidants is to neutralize all unnatural chemicals in the body, such as pesticides consumed from many store bought fruits and vegetable. Cigarette smoke exposes the body to many unnatural chemicals. Radiation also has a very negative impact though necessary for many medical conditions. All smokers should definitely take an antioxidant daily as smoking decreases the immune system function. Without any antioxidant to fight the negative impact from these chemical residues, cancer, stroke or heart disease can most definitely occur at any given time. Essential oils contain a great amount of beneficial antioxidants your body needs. By using aromatherapy products, you can fight off many negative chemical radicals found in the body and live a much longer life. All aromatherapy products contain ingredients derived from herbs, leaves, plants, flowers, and various other plant growth. Each of these ingredients goes through a distillation method where the essential oil is extracted and is then produced. The oil is the key ingredient which creates the pleasant aroma exuded from aromatherapy products. Most all plants are packed with antioxidants. When using these scents in a room diffuser, massaged in the skin or used in aromatherapy, the antioxidants are then released into the human body. Essential oils are produced every second through plant life. This quick production allows the essential oils to be constantly be absorbed by the human body. Health is greatly improved when essential oils become a regular part of your daily living. Environmental factors cause so much damage to our bodies every single day. There is so much pollution, unnecessary chemicals added to the foods we consume. All of the chemicals build up and over time, seriously harm the body. By implementing essential oils into your daily routine, you can add years to the quality of your lifestyle. Sara Ryan writes regularly for TIR Massage Stone, they carry such Pure Essential Oils as Lavender Oil, among many others. The use of essential oils in conjunction with aromatherapy are consider very effective as well as an excellent treatment for many health issues or concerns Many of these essential oils, when used as aromatherapy, have a positive effect on anxiety problems, problems with being tense all the time, being tired throughout the day, premenstrual syndrome symptoms, stress related disorders and curing insomnia related issues The use of essential oils in conjunction with aromatherapy are consider very effective as well as an excellent treatment for many health issues or concerns. Many of these essential oils, when used as aromatherapy, have a positive effect on anxiety problems, problems with being tense all the time, being tired throughout the day, premenstrual syndrome symptoms, stress related disorders and curing insomnia related issues. There are many more uses to add to these few. Essential oils are an excellent break through for alternatives in the use of natural remedies. Natural antioxidants are released into your body when essential oils are exposed to your five senses. If you fully understand the power of antioxidants, you will be more interested in the use of essential oils as part of your daily regimen. Antioxidants fight free radicals released in the human body. These free radicals have a very adverse effect on the human body and mental well being. By allowing antioxidants to exist as natural chemicals found in the body along with taking a multi vitamin daily, your healthy will greatly increase. Vitamins A, C and E are the most recommended vitamin supplements to take along with antioxidants. Selenium is known as an antioxidant and is found in most vegetables. The job of antioxidants is to neutralize all unnatural chemicals in the body, such as pesticides consumed from many store bought fruits and vegetable. Cigarette smoke exposes the body to many unnatural chemicals. Radiation also has a very negative impact though necessary for many medical conditions. All smokers should definitely take an antioxidant daily as smoking decreases the immune system function. Without any antioxidant to fight the negative impact from these chemical residues, cancer, stroke or heart disease can most definitely occur at any given time. Essential oils contain a great amount of beneficial antioxidants your body needs. By using aromatherapy products, you can fight off many negative chemical radicals found in the body and live a much longer life. All aromatherapy products contain ingredients derived from herbs, leaves, plants, flowers, and various other plant growth. Each of these ingredients goes through a distillation method where the essential oil is extracted and is then produced. The oil is the key ingredient which creates the pleasant aroma exuded from aromatherapy products. Most all plants are packed with antioxidants. When using these scents in a room diffuser, massaged in the skin or used in aromatherapy, the antioxidants are then released into the human body. Essential oils are produced every second through plant life. This quick production allows the essential oils to be constantly be absorbed by the human body. Health is greatly improved when essential oils become a regular part of your daily living. Environmental factors cause so much damage to our bodies every single day. There is so much pollution, unnecessary chemicals added to the foods we consume. All of the chemicals build up and over time, seriously harm the body. By implementing essential oils into your daily routine, you can add years to the quality of your lifestyle. Sara Ryan writes regularly for TIR Massage Stone, they carry such Pure Essential Oils as Lavender Oil, among many others.

Shiloh and Friends

When you are having PMS, or even just the week before your period, try not to make major decisions or schedule critical meetings, at all. And remember that no matter how many times you tell yourself, this is how I really feel, and the rest of the time I am just glossing it over, it is not true. While there are truths to be realized during PMS, it is not the whole truth and should be used as a viewing tool, not as a tool to dismantle things.

Since you probably work with other women, know their cycle too, put it on your calendar. And if they call you and start ranting and raving, gently remind them that it is their cycle time and you’d like to talk next week. This is not silly girl stuff. This is wisdom. How many times have we regretted things we have done or said? And what if our friends, family, and associates knew us well enough to say, let’s talk later. No judgment. Just, this is not a good time to have this kind of conversation.

Also, know when your BEST time of the month is—usually, right after ovulation for me. And schedule BIG things and meetings and planning during that time. I simply do NOT schedule workshops and vacations and important meetings during that time. I schedule other things that are GOOD for me.

An important note: The whole week before and during the days of your period, do not stand in front of the mirror too long. Just don’t do it. Look later. And, have a few of your favorite outfits ready to go, matched up and dry cleaned. So that all you have to do is put them on without thinking too much about it. Prepare for your best times and your challenging times.

And please, please (if your periods are challenging and painful) try to schedule a two-three day window to take time off, lay in bed, eat ice cream and stay in a fluffy pink robe watching old movies and calling your grandmother to tell her you love her. I like to have one rest day, and then one day to leisurely do things that are important to me that I don’t give myself permission to do. Like research health websites on the internet, paint a painting just for me, or just paint my toe nails, write letters, take baths, braid my hair, gaze out the window, make a bouquet from my yard, cuddle with my cat, make an alter, make soup for my guy—homey kinds of things. Then you are not only rested, but nourished and ready to go when you get to the other side. And if you feel good enough, going out with girlfriends can be truly nourishing even if you drink a martini.  Olives are vegetable right? My grandmother Davis always uses to say, while eating 
pie a la mode for breakfast,

Everything in moderation….

Additional Words of Wisdom from other women on this subject…

Nancy Ballard

I went through all the craziness at 35, never imagining that menopause could hit at such a young age… if you are feeling crazy, having periods that flow like rivers, want to divorce your husband (which I almost did) and can’t stop crying or find any joy, wonder, happiness or delight in your life… you might want to look into the possibility of early menopause…who knew? Save yourself from the horror of losing your mind…. you may just be going through, what they called in the olden days, “the change.” PS – once diagnosed, I was given what I needed to subdue the horrible unknown. It was given a name and a cause. I was able to salvage my marriage and get on with my life; assured that I was NOT crazy, didn’t have aids, and was not a worthless, horrible, terrible waste….ie, the craziness of hormones run amuck.

Caron McCloud

I would not trade my old age for youth if that youth included periods and all that comes with them, like PMS and bleeding. Though I tried to get with the glory when, during the 70’s, feminists were romanticizing all things female, including menses, I just couldn’t get there. But maybe it’s just me, since after two years of jogging I never got the “joy of running” either. I feel that those who do have a hard time with periods or menopause should, if possible, follow the good advice to take a break instead of breaking our butts trying to pass ourselves off as sane (or by trying to jog) during these attacks. As for hot tempers, with or without flashes and hormones, I get a lot done when I’m angry. I once took part in a seminar where we had to act out enrolling someone while coming from a specific emotional state (such as joy, irritation, depression, love, enthusiasm) that was written on a slip of paper that we drew from a basket. The emotional state I drew was anger. Hey! Right up my alley. I was so enrolling that I got a standing ovation.

Mary MacDonald

I remember the day my stepdaughter Mercede got her period and she phoned me in tears – in pain -  and scared not knowing how this “curse of womanhood” would affect her life, and angry about the unfairness of it all. Being the wise sage I counseled her about the wonders of being a woman and how that began with your menses and the strength it gave us, the joy of being able to welcome new life – yada yada yada – how could I justify telling her this crap when for most of my life I suffered pain, anger and the indignities of bloating, blood and overflow on a monthly basis? The fear when my period was late, the anguish when it wasn’t. Men’s crass comments about “you must be on the rag” and their assumption in the workplace that you couldn’t make rational decisions “at that time of the month.” And yet when I looked into her beautiful face, tense with the anxiety of this new world being thrust at her, I was so happy to be with her in that moment reveling in our “sisterhood.” Her – not so happy.

elizaBeth Benson

I think I was 24, living on Catalina Island (as an earth day performance piece that wasn’t sponsored by Shell or Chevron), when I realized that something gets born every moon cycle. If it’s not a baby, it’s a new born part of yourself. At least that’s how it seems to me.

And being a woman means having a menstrual cycle. It means managing the vortex one becomes in the space of being used (by spirit? by God?) for the bringing forth of new life. And being a powerful woman means having a space and grace about one’s moon time. You remember how much you loved The Red Tent when you read it—and the idea of having a place to go off, away from everyone, to experience the rush and flow of bleeding woman? Even though we often can’t escape our surroundings to take ourselves away from our lives, we can move consciously and prayerfully through this gift of time. This requires a presence of mind, a consciousness of time,

a space for being kind and good and thoughtful of one’s self. I like to curl up with “chick flicks” and let myself cry. I like to indulge in chocolate as medicine for the duration. I like to take LOTS of hot baths and read some precious book I savor for these kinds of moments some delicious, self-indulgent fiction—not self-help. I like to put the top down and drive through forests or find a favorite rock and sit on it—thinking of how women in centuries past would have spent their week bleeding onto a rock—and their sacred cycles would have been honored as such. I like to color in Shiloh’s journals and coloring books, or draw like I did in high school—simple black line drawings that fill the page with hearts and eyes and rainbows. I like to sleep deep and indulgently—knowing that my dreams and the rest they provide will get me to the other side. When I remember to notice, or feel the swell of uncomfortable emotions, I like to warn my beloved—just mention that my period is coming. It helps when we both know what is going on….

Shannon McCloud

For me, the challenges of menses and its uninvited participation in my breakdowns and breakthroughs wasn’t about the heavy periods, intense pain and other major discomforts that many face. My challenge was feeling that I was in vivid high-definition technicolor via IMAX screen EMOTIONAL PMS for about three weeks out of each cycle. I agree that we need to adjust our schedule in order to align with our cycle, but this wasn’t an option for me working in the corporate world, and primarily with men. In reflection, PMS was even worse than “The Glass Ceiling.” I am surprised that I was able to become successful. Maybe it was through my “Denial Serving Its Purpose” program that I was able to appear present and intelligent while faking some semblance of sanity. A woman has to compensate on the outside so that the guys they work with don’t know what’s going on in the inside. Actually that’s not so hard ‘cause they never know anyway. Where did that term menopause originate anyway? Because they paused in shock and had nothing to say? When PMS or womopause comes into play, you gotta jive to survive and stay alive, and keep others out of harms way. Wait! I think I just wrote a poem! My main recommendation for both PMS and ?opause is to write poetry and spend as much time with women as possible. Women aren’t impossible to be with in the first place. No even during PMS. Also, focus on “Strong and Brave, not Weak and Afraid” with every breath you can take. If you actually find  time to breathe—let me know about that. Are we ever free from horror-mones at any point in our lives? I still, thank you Pasty Cline, feel like a “Kitten Caught Up a Tree” I also feel “Crazy.” I love you Pats. You make me feel normal. Speaking of normal, when I hit menopause, or should I say it hit me, I never did go back to meet with the boys. So in the end, I guess I did adjust my schedule.

Hormones, Hot Flashes, and Hot Tempers – Excerpted from Heart of the Visionary – which is a visionary book on business for women, you might wonder, what PMS has to do with women in business – if so – you must not be paying close enough attention! Tehe.