Take Care of that Colon...

No one has ever become poor by giving.

~Anne Frank~

Colon health, is something most of us take for granted.  Our digestion and bowels function almost automatically and most of us give this process little notice.  But people who suffer from chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, are made constantly aware of this vital process.

People don't really talk about Crohn's disease or Colitis, because they are unpleasant and can be embarrassing.  Crohn's is an autoimmune disorder, in which the body attacks itself. There is no known cure or treatment for this cruel and often debilitating disease.  Beyond the more evident pain and discomfort, people who live with Crohn's often feel socially isolated and must cope with constant disruption to their daily lives.

More prevalent diseases, that the media makes us aware of us, are far easier to raise research dollars for.

That's why, one of my dearest friends and cousin, Janna, has been working hard to raise money for a cure. Janna will participate in a fundraiser for the Crohn's and Colitis foundation of America, running a half-marathon, held in Vegas in just over a week.  She has been going against her natural non-running disposition and training in the cold hills of San Francisco.  Though she has raised over $1500 she is still about $800 shy of her goal.

If anyone can give just a little bit ($5, $10?) I have no doubt Janna will meet her goal.

So, those of us who have healthy butts, let's give a breathe of thanks. Let's also give five bucks toward a cure.

To contribute toward Janna's requisite fundraising goal and to see active shots of her training, check out her Fundraising Page.

Ten Things You Now Know

I just discovered I was "tagged" (over a month ago) by my friend Bekah. Which in blog speak means you have to write 10 random things, facts, habits or goals about yourself. At the end, you choose 10 people to be tagged. Though I don't think I know ten people who blog, consider yourself tagged if you read this (and you have a blog).

1. I've been thinking about trying to make yogurt for the first time. I'm not big on dairy (besides good cheese) but yogurt has an important place in my mornings. I was vegan for a month (Jan. 2006) as an experiment and I found the only thing I really missed was yogurt.

2. I love the Neti pot I bought while home for Christmas on Maui. I just developed allergies in the last few years and they were wretched while I was home. At first it burned (like the feeling of jumping in a pool and having water shoot up your nose) but I realized it was because I used sea salt and not non-iodized table salt in my mix. Plus it has to be the perfect warmth so you don't feel it. I'd recommend it to anyone who has any congestion issues. It makes you feel all cleaned out and refreshed--like you just got out of the ocean. I used to associate the practice with yogi extremes I knew as a child (weirdos) but it is all hip and mainstream now--it was even
recommended on Oprah!

3. I adore making lists. I write them all over the place. Places to visit. Things to read. People I want to write letters to. Movies to watch. All kinds of wish lists. I carry tiny notebooks on me everywhere so I am always prepared to add to my lists.

4. I like lifting weights. I met my boyfriend while lifting weights. I haven't been doing it consistently like I used to but every time I do I wonder, "Why don't I do this more? I love it!" It's very empowering.

5. I suffer from TERRIBLE vertigo. My neighbors built a three story treehouse--I never made it past the second floor. My knees start to wobble when I'm 5 stories up (say Pioneer Place mall in downtown PDX) and I look down. I literally had to crawl up the last section (the open air part) of a 300 ft bell tower my class was visiting in Siena, Italy. I'm not afraid of flying at all though. Where does this come from?

6. I hope to raise bees and have a chicken coop some day. I have very fond memories of gathering eggs with my elementary best bud Kasumi.

7. I like the experience of going to church (even though I don't belong to one). While I believe everyone has their own spiritual path and don't appreciate the exclusivity of some religions, I like the communal energy and I enjoy praying (and sometimes the singing too even if it is truly not a talent of mine).

8. I love a good library. So peaceful yet full of voices and possibility. Like a free bookstore. Lake Oswego's library was the best! Santa Barbara's is decent. Maui's are pretty rotten. My first "real" job was shoveling and shelving books at the Makawao public library--for $5.75 an hour. So not fun.

9. I think it would be cool to have my DNA tested and find out what my ethnic heritage is. As a yellow-haired girl, I'm obviously mainly a Euro-blend, but I could have some other continents mixed in somewhere.

10. I'm into flossing. I sometimes floss twice a day. When I met Andrew he wasn't religious about flossing--now he's hooked too (but I think he uses WAY too long of pieces, we go through it so fast).Reading this I realize I am a bit nerdy: I like libraries, churches, flossing, yogurt, and chicken coops?

Emily Exposed?

I want to get over my fear of blogging. I love writing! I love sharing! I like being part of a community (even if it’s through wires).

Here’s the thing: I was taught to be cautious and private (don’t identify yourself on the phone to unknown callers, keep an unlisted number). If someone asks for personal information ask “why?” before responding. I even identified a bit with Mel Gibson's character in Conspiracy Theory. I think as a typical oldest sibling, I tend to be more careful than carefree. In fourth grade I came home and was convinced there were “robbers” in our house without a car parked in front of it. I went to the neighbor's house and called home and found my brother was home (mom was up the street). Paranoia?

Truly, I am a people person (humans are totally my favorite animal), I love my friends intensely, and I’m ridiculously loyal. Still, I tend to be selective about who I share myself with. I’ve even been called a snob a few times, if you can believe it (one person said they USED to think I was a snob before they knew me).

I am particular, that’s all.

And I'm working on being more accepting and not holding everyone I know to unreasonably high expectations.

So opening myself up for criticisms and congratulations from people I might not know makes me wonder. How does that work? All of you blogger friends (from real life) might have some answers.

Also there are the people I do know in person. Will I offend people? I once called a European cousin a chocoholic in a mass e-mail. He took it as an extreme insult and was very upset with me. I suppose I don’t like confrontation, but that’s the nature of public exposure.

So here it goes… I feel my skin getting thicker every second…

I’m blogging!

October Air

I want to get into a classroom soon. I'm a good teacher and I want to be of service. Several teachers I've chatted with in the area me tell me that subbing is the best way to get my foot in the door. And that there are a whole pile of teachers about to retire. But that it's still a tight market... but I do hear positions open up when teachers quit to marry rich men. ha.

I've been really really missing the kids I nannied for too. The Olsens really became my family and I have more roots to Oregon than I realized. It was recently the anniversary of Graham's passing. That angel boy is free now, but he is still so alive to me. It can be hard to comprehend.

I know that the classroom thing will happen... and I look forward to the kids, the surprises, the community, and the learning. But in the meanwhile I've been fulfilling my need to nurture in other ways. I'm becoming master of my domain. In my unemployment I have turned into a bit of a desperate housewife. I've been cooking and planting and arranging and displaying and organizing. I even have a vintage apron I found at a thrift store back in the day. After the intensity of last year I am enjoying all this "me" time.

I've planted bulbs for the first time. I love the spring surprise of daffodils and tulips and yummy smelling hyacinths and paper whites. I'm excited by the bounty of fall and have been making a lot of yummy stuff.

Tonight was: Butternut squash pizza. It was a very gourmet experience (and incredibly delicious). I made up the recipe: it has ricotta cheese, a cream sauce, mushrooms, and squash of course. I love squash so much, I've even been adding it to omelets with good results!

Andrew got me a green sewing machine for my birthday. It is adorable. I love how he encourages my creativity (he bought me an easel last year and now he keeps begging me to write children's books). I need to come up with some simple sewing projects now. Any ideas?

Oh, I also got a splendid, spunky little goldfish for my birthday. I gave him a million names, my favorite being Fluffy. He died yesterday though. My mom warned me that they are toilet food. I didn't cry but I felt like it. I think he came with a parasite. I really was a good fish mom.

Andrew and I took the tandem bike out yesterday. Santa Barbara is an amazing location: we rode down by the beach and then up in the foothills, stopping for a hike through an organic farm. I love how fresh flying against the air on a bike makes you feel. Plus, you can go really fast when there are two people.

Much Love, More Later.

Emily