335–Brain Drain

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Heather

Mother, knitter, spinner, writer, wife, weaver, host...not necessarily in that order...

5 Responses

  1. Gothknits (@Gothknits) says:
    March 14, 2014 at 2:27 pm

    Make it gin and I’m with you. All I could think of was “Wow, these people were having a nice relaxing time and you went and bunged it all up.” I’d like to add a few zeros to my pay checks, not the host of people at my quiet time. But at least they showed younger people knitting and the knitted ‘flash’ cracked me up big time.

    On the med front……I have MS and I deal with the phantom smells. I actually tweeted about my dismay that it is a cigarette type burning smell and not fresh bread or lilacs. Mine often hits right after I’ve gotten the kids to bed and can sit and relax for a moment. My neuro thinks mine is related to my MS, as is my crippling fatigue. But since you’ve had an MRI (I think you said you did) they should be able to rule that out. My MIL had a pretty severe concussion several years ago and completely lost her sense of smell (and much of taste as well). She will still occasionally get phantom odors as well. The brain is a fascinating machine, isn’t it? I hope they find an answer soon for you.
    I love the brain waves. I got to see my first MRI and found it fascinating. It bums me out that they don’t show me my other ones. I’ve had about 6 since I was diagnosed 2 years ago. I know I surprised one of the ultrasound techs when she was checking my bladder and I started asking questions. I told her that I just was curious and I think the human body simply amazing. Then she scanned over and we both discovered that I was about to ovulate two eggs! I promptly went home and told my husband that he wasn’t to even think of looking at me, let alone touch me, without protection. lol Two minions is enough for us!

  2. Elizabeth says:
    March 10, 2014 at 6:46 pm

    Knitting is fun when it’s quiet too! But I have to say, if there’s anything out there promoting knitting as a “crowd sport” with “fans” I’m okay with that. Do you think people would come and cheer when I block a shawl?

    Is this where I tell you about medical suggestions? Sorry to be so public about it, if this is the wrong place. But here we go–if you’re having trouble sleeping, look at your adrenal function. There’s a test that you can do where you suck on cotton balls at different times of day (I mean, a different cotton ball for each different time of day) and then you package them all in little vials and mail it off. A few years ago, I found out that my adrenal functions (the ones that go into action when you’re threatened, or excited, for example) were ramping up at night and then, because I was not getting into deep REM sleep, I was crashing during the day. I was severely sleep deprived for months because of this. My doctor gave me a couple of over the counter supplements to take (one was drops to put under your tongue, and one was in capsules) over the course of a few weeks. This caused my adrenal system to “reboot” itself, ie, get back on schedule with the diurnal. She hypothesized that stress had caused it to get off kilter in the first place–and this is probably so, because for about 4 months I would lie awake in bed worrying about my father in the hospital before he passed away. These things can affect us in ways we never thought about. Sounds like you’ve got a bit of stress here and there in your life as well!

    On another note, I grew up in Northern Virginia, and yes, it’s one of the most expensive places there is. When my husband and I were looking to purchase our first home, we moved out to rural north central Maryland in 2001, and I’ve never looked back. It’s marvelous out here!

  3. KatĂŠri McDonald says:
    March 9, 2014 at 10:13 am

    Hi Heather! Here’s a comment on the coke zero spot from a knitter and advertising industry girl. I feel like I’ve seen this kind of ad a lot and it’s getting tired, I didn’t feel the surprised and happy emotions that they are going for. I also find it weird that the first scene of the knitters shows a teacher from behind, standing quite far away from us near her students, with sounds that are “too close” (sounds could have been those of a more intimate scene). Just felt a bit off and I couldn’t relate. The scenes towards the end show good surprise and celebrations. I dig that knitting is in a coke commercial, but I wish it was for vodka. Would be way cooler and unexpected. Coke zero… not so much 😉

    • Heather says:
      March 10, 2014 at 8:02 am

      Okay, first, I’m laughing about the vodka.
      😉
      But more importantly, I don’t see many ads these days (because TiVo) so IS this a trend?! Personally I both loved and felt sorry for the alpaca in the middle of the crazy, but was absolutely gobsmacked at the three things they chose to put into the ad. What an odd combo of slow-and-quiet things. I was glad they showed the woman trying to shush the crowd with the fishing guys!
      Me? Upon reflection, I think you’re right. I’d rather a celebration with vodka when I turn a sock heel than with Coke. Just sayin’

      • msjinxie says:
        March 14, 2014 at 11:55 am

        When my friends and I are looking for locations for knit night, one of the requirements is that the establishment serve alcohol. There are many occasions in knitting that warrant a celebration with an adult beverage (or a condolence drink when things go horribly wrong).
        I’ll admit to finding the ad charming, but I don’t have the insider’s perspective and, like you, Heather, I have a dvr and watch very few commercials intentionally. It was cute, harmless, and a nice change from ‘traditional” commercials. And I honest-to-god laughed out loud when the one lady cheering the knitters lifted up her shirt to flash the crowd and had fake fabric boobs under her shirt.