Read Page Ten

I know, I know. It's been about a year since I've last shared "Deep Thoughts by Yours Truly." I find that I am at my best when things are slow and calm. It is typically those times that my little head is able to process and turn events into crazy thoughts in my head. After what seems like a busy and crazy year I've decided to return to the daily grind and be better at updating. These next few entries will catch ya'll up on my life since Wednesday December 17, 2008, but, for now, I wanted to talk about my mid life purgatory.


I don't think I will ever be a person who goes through a midlife crisis. I mean, I strongly believe that having an untraditionally tough childhood has led me to really, really, really appreciate the aging process. My life has increasingly gotten better and more fulfilling with age. But that absolutely does not stop me from having a mid-life purgatory.

For those of you unfamiliar with such above mentioned illness it is when you are literally stuck between being a kid and being an adult. Some people look at this and think...yuck, purgatory stinks while others think its the perfect utopian life balance.

I, on the other-hand, have no idea which one I am. Examples you ask???

1- I walk into the school cafeteria and will shake my head in disgust at all the little children going to school in their pj's BUT find it difficult to leave with my cup of coffee because the TV is tuned into MTV's "True Life"

2. I want to go back to school BUT only if it A.) pays me to study like an adult job does B.) does not require additional work when I am done with class like an adult job does and C.) Gives me 25 vacation days of my choice like my job does (I mean on top of daily classtime)

3. I love hosting dinner parties and throwing keggers and literally having a hoe-down every weekend, BUT the idea of strangers peeing and puking in my sparkly white toilet bowl isn't as glamorous as it was before

4. I attend the "young" events and feel it's too loud, too obnoxious, too hipstery and too, well, young BUT I attend the "adult" events and have a hard time contributing to mortgages, children and climbing the corporate ladder. I mean all I want to do is ask, "Can you believe Tamara in the Real Housewives last night??? I mean, for realz?"

5. I still hate going to bed and will find myself making picture frames, playing Nintendo DS or watching TV til late at night, BUT still getting my purgatory ass out of bed by at least 9 am.

6. On weekends I think about gardening, re-arranging the apartment or running errands BUT typically wake up hung over and wanting a greasy breakfast followed by a nap. (oh p.s. I don't know how to garden, am not too handy when it comes to decorating and really what are errands if not things that can be done tomorrow?)

7. In the sense of cognitive awareness I know that I should be excercising more and eating healthier as I grow older BUT I continue to tell myself that Asians have an additional 5 year bump due to high metabolism and I live in a city that celebrates fine dining so I should never waste such opportunities.

so there you have it dear avid readers. I have now bestowed upon you my deepest and most intimate thoughts. Trust me, more will be coming but, for now, I will leave you with this final thought.

If you find yourself reading this and thinking "yes, yes, yes, I agree" then there is clearly only one solution for you. Move to Brooklyn (preferably as close to Metropolitan and Graham as possible) and let's start a club together where we we act like complete teenage fools with the dignitgy and experience of an adult in purgatory.

I am weary and frustrated at my lack of technical precision in my latest photographs.
I am bored because I am house-bound, sick of photographing produce from my fridge, and definitely not interested in doing any more self-portraits for at least a little while (although my REAL ring-flash may be arriving at my doorstep tomorrow... and i'll want to practice with it of course!!)
So, there is a strong chance that I may have to whip out the old sewing machine.

I don't want to get burnt out with the camera and 365, so if I focus some of my creativity in a place other than the camera I may be able to break out of my funk.
(of course I will still be continuing my 365, just with less pressure). Does that make sense?
One of the things that's driving me nuts with photography at this moment is WHY THE HELL CAN'T I FOCUS???
I'm shooting with a tripod.
I'm shooting handheld.
I'm shooting manually.
With auto-focus, and focusing manually.
Fast shutter speeds.
Even high ISO's
I'm doing all these things!

Look at these apples for Pete's sake: they aren't moving, so it's not like when I'm trying to shoot my busy little girl and all I'm getting is blur.

My fave photogs on the internet use lightroom and photoshop. I've got PSE6 :c (
They have these amazing photos where the subject virtually pops off the screen.
Take a look at some of the beautiful photographs of Indiana Photographer Leah Profancik

that is what i want to achieve. Bright, vivid, crisp shots that pop. I "think" I know what these pros are using, but I'm not 100% sure.

Another thing I'm curious to learn is Lightroom.
I can't quite wrap my head around why Photoshop isn't enough: why do photogs use both.
and what's the dif between an "action" and a "preset"? (I use actions currently)

OK, enough rambling for the day.
Sorry for the scatterbrained post today, lil Miss Busy is quite the Busy Bee today and I haven't been able to complete the simplest thoughts or tasks because of near constant requests for milk or book reading or building legos and whatnot.

Aromatherapy is a unique form of massage therapy because of the oils that are used during a session. The therapist may use one from more than 90 oils to provide psychological and physical benefits to the body.

Most of the oils used for aromatherapy come from natural ingredients. Examples of these include herbs, milk powders, hydrosols, sea salts, sugars, clays and mud. It is frowned upon when some use synthetic ingredients.

It is widely practiced in the US and in Europe and integrated into holistic treatments. Aside from oils, aromatherapy can be using candles and bath salts which allow you to enjoy it in the comforts of your home.

Aromatherapy is used to treat various health conditions. These include allergies, bruises, burns, diarrhea, bronchitis, colds, ear ache, energy, flu, headaches, insomnia, menopause, nervousness, scars, sprains, stress, shingles and wounds.

For home treatment, you can buy these oils off the shelf and then use it whenever you feel like it. These are easy to spot as they are all packaged in small bottles with the name of the oil and the ingredients that are used. If you are not familiar with the oil, you can open it and smell it to see if it is worth buying.

With the oil in your possession, you only have to add 2 to 3 drops like eucalyptus, tea tree or rosemary in hot water. You then hold your head over the bowl and then inhale the fumes. For other problems, you can apply oils to baths and compresses.

Aromatherapy per se is not designed to treat any major illness. It can only relieve minor problems so before you try aromatherapy, it is best to first consult with a doctor.

If you decide to go for a massage, talk with the practitioner about your medical history and current physical condition. Knowing how you feel is the only way for him or her to determine what oil should be used for the session.

Women who are pregnant or nursing should never undergo aromatherapy as the scents from the oils could be harmful to the infant.

For those who want to know more about aromatherapy, they can read it in books or in the Internet. There are also classes that can people of all levels can join so they can learn how to mix the oils together.

The benefits of aromatherapy as mentioned earlier are psychological and physical because the scent simulates the brain to trigger a reaction and at the same time supply therapeutic relief. A good example is eucalyptus oil which is known to ease congestion.

When the oil is applied to the skin, it is absorbed by the bloodstream and aids in certain health, beauty and hygiene conditions.

If you want to learn more about aromatherapy, you can take up classes. Here you will learn how to mix the oils together and create your own concoctions. Most programs will cost a little over $500 and with it, the materials to be used during the sessions.

Aromatherapy is a unique form of massage therapy because you don’t need physical contact all the time to get relief. You can inhale it or bathe in it. It is truly, a holistic form of healthcare that is worth checking out.

Whew!

After, the whirlwind that was Christmas, I couldn't wait to start the new year. Well guess what? Things haven't slowed down yet. I'm trying to get my bearings-and that may take a while-but I wanted to tell you about some of my ideas for 2010. Call them resolutions if you'd like but I feel too much pressure that way. So here they are...

My Ideas for 2010

*to take a tropical family vacation

*to create a business name and become a little more structured with the business I am currently doing.

*nearly eliminate crap sugars (refined sugar).

*to continue running at least 3x per week.

Hopefully by having just a few I can stay focused on them. So what are your ideas?