Well, This Has Happened - Allergies!

It was been over a year since I published anything with my last post about a new project I was about to begin. As we can all see that did not happen. I wanted to start on a sewing project using the pattern shown previously. But I was too big for the largest size in the pattern and I shelved it for another time. Then Life, as it normally does, got busy.

Earlier this year I spent Lent focused on improving my prayer life and examining the state of my health. I asked myself if I was taking care of my physical and spiritual self. The answer - I can do better.

Cue going to my Doctor!! Who, by the way, is a wonderful, wonderful lady!

For quite sometime (High School was when I first really noticed it) I have had swallowing problems. It was hard to get food down; meats, breads, pies, fruit - it was annoying because some days I did not know if my lunch would go all the way down or decided to about face and greet my mouth again. About six years ago, to fix this problem, I had to go in for an upper endoscopy with dilation surgery. An out-patient procedure that took only the morning and I slept for the rest of the day. Everything was fine; food was going down without a problem, I didn't have to worry about choking in front of people and having to explain what was wrong.

However, it was not to last. Slowly over the years and before I realized it, the swallowing problems returned. Not with a vengeance, mind you, just returned. So with this returned problem my doctor referred me again to have the same procedure again.

It was pretty much the same as before, but this time they found something. I don't know if it was there before and it wasn't as noticeable or it has developed since. Maybe both.

I have Eosinophilic Esophagitis or EoE, which is the fancy term for a build up of white blood cells in the lining of the esophagus in reaction to acid reflex, food or allergens which stiffens it causing difficulty swallowing.To be on the safe side, since the EoE could be from something that I'm eating, it was decided that I should go visit an allergist.

I did and one skin test later I have allergies!!!

Granted I knew I had some environmental and seasonal allergies (I always sensed during the first blooming of Spring), and I suspected almonds since I would get that weird itchy sensation in the back of my throat when I ate them. So with environmental I am pretty much allergic to EVERYTHING that grows where I live. (to quote my nurse - "You're allergic to all the things!")I even had to get some special bedding because I 'scored' rather high for dust-mites.

And I do have a issues with food - with eight different food items.

I am allergic to pecans and oat grain. I have sensitivity to wheat, almonds, soy, corn, shrimp, and cod.

Going into the skin test I knew I would have at least one or two food allergies, but I was not expecting eight. What makes it even more "interesting" is the combination of everything. No, really - it's interesting. 

Since then I have researched what foods I can and cannot have, especially at different restaurants. I am no stranger to reading the ingredient lists when food shopping due to my younger brother being allergic to egg. So with that habit firmly established I just have to included my own newly discovered allergies. I have to count the location of where my food sensitives fall in the ingredient list; as long they are not the first four items I should be good since it is such a small amount. While I do not have a problem with gluten, I am getting gluten-free bread. I did take a look at darker bread like rye and pumpernickel, but there is still a decent amount of wheat in them. But I do have to be careful with gluten-free bread is that sometimes the alternative flour used is almond and/or soy. That is a problem I run into a lot - if something doesn't have wheat, it may have almond or soy as an alternative.


Soy and corn annoying me to no end!!!They are in practically everything that is processed as an emulsifier most of the time. While I am told that when corn and soy are processed into the lecithin or syrup the allergen is taken out. But I am working on significantly reducing my intake of them just to be on the safe side.

The thing that bums me out the most is that it will interfere with my baking. I love to bake! It's the way I de-stress  and I love to bake for other people. I also enjoy baking old family recipes. 

My mother has an old, nearly falling apart small black binder containing family recipes written down by my great-grandmother. I have so much fun with them! Many of them do not have instructions, just the ingredients and the amounts for each. Sometimes there will be maybe one sentence that's a special note. It makes a bit of sense for me why that is since at the time many mothers already knew 'how' to make something and the variation came in 'what' was put in.

When I bake one of these recipes, its a bit of a fun mystery to solve to figure out the 'how'. Now, not only do I have to figure out the 'how', I also have to figure out what non-wheat/almond/soy flour will work best.

Now I begin my journey relearning what I can and cannot eat. Hold on tight - it's gonna be a bumpy ride!!

Reaction to My Upcoming Last Semester

St Gemma Galgani, ora pro me

I have reached the final semester for graduate school and I approach it with mixed emotions. Relief that it is almost done, wonder at what will happen next, excited, to name a few. But I am struck with a strange sense of . . . quite honestly I don't know. It's a weird sensation in the pit of my gut that gnawing at my subconscious pushing me towards melancholy.

Tonight was the first night for one of my classes. Something was said that left me hollow and uneasy. I know in my line of occupation that there are not many who have similar beliefs or opinions as me. (Life in general feels like that) But I knew that before I hit 'submit' on my application to school. I am not saying I regret going and getting my Masters in this field - I am very glad I have. But I was face tonight with an unexpected reminder to be mortuum mundo and alive to what is good and just.

Maybe this all means that I will need a lot of prayers this up coming semester.

Random Musings for LS 566

Random thought process - GO!

How does one name the publisher of a digital-born object?

For a book it's easy - look at the title or title verso and it's usually listed there. But a digital-born object like a digital scanned photograph does not have a title or title verso page. Cue the 'hmmmmm' and thinking induced chin stroking. According the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, the publisher is "[a]n entity responsible for making the resource available."

I thinking..............

So how is a digital photograph made available? My first thought was it can't be the photographer because he made/took the picture so that person is more along the lines of creator. My next thought was, well who handles the upkeep of the digital photograph? Electronic things to not react well to benign neglect like many physical objects do.The entity that hosts the digital photograph is the one that makes it available for people to view. So we could  make a case that they are the publisher.

Does that make sense? I think it does.

Almost There, a LS 502 Post

Almost there!!!

So close to the end and so close to finishing my conference proposal. I have learned a lot this semester in regards to the technical process of research. I had not realized the extend of preparation needed before it even starts. Literature Reviews were completely new to me and the process of explaining exactly how you intend to go about collecting your data was presented to me in a completely new angle. I just have to review over what I have, edit it, turn it in, discuss about it in class and then I'll be completely done!

Yay Learning!!!

With all the work I've put into this research idea I may keep it for a future directed study. I've learned a lot about digital archives and the process of digital preservation.

I feel like singing, but since I'm not that good at it, I'll let the professionals sing!!!

 

It Be Done, a LS 502 Post

The lit review is finished.

Breath in, breath out.

I will say that after doing the lit review I have a better grasp on the research process. It is becoming more tangible in my head and not just some high ideal found in Plato's cave. 

Next up on the list is methodology. I have no shame in admitting that is a little (well, maybe a lot) overwhelming.  Off the cuff, right now, I do not think my original thought of simple surveys and interviews to collect data will change much. However that does not really mean that it is set in stone.

I'll go over my lit review one more time before turning it in tomorrow when I'm more awake.

Blue Screen of Death, a LS 502 post

You know that sickening feeling you get in your gut when your computer gives yo the blue screen of death?

That has happen to me twice with my computers so I really know how that feels. Well I got that feeling when I was going over my articles I've collected and something clicked in my head when I realized something. I have not been looking at research articles. The articles I've been looking at have been in regards to explaining what oral history is in relation to the archives. I feel really stupid for this lapse of judgement. I may have one or two I could use, but I feel like I'm back at square one with the final countdown yelling at me.

Gggrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!

Irksome Problem, a LS 502 post

In my pursuing of the wondrous realm of JSTOR I am finding interesting articles in regards to oral history in archives. I've enjoyed reading them, but I have one small issue:

Not many deal with changing technology or the procedure to deal with it. Just mostly suggestions of updating every two to five years.

OK, so maybe not a small issue. But let us not view this as a issue but a challenge to make me think. Yeah - I'll go with that. So I will have to look at procedures that some archives have published dealing with adapting the archive collection to technology and the technology most likely used by the users, and see if that will not lead itself to an update procedure. I'm also going to see if anyone has published any books on the subject.

Ready, set, . . .  RESEARCH!!!

Ponders and Wonders, a LS 502 post

The mind ponders and wonders

A few brainstorming ideas I have in regards to preserving oral history (or any archive object in general):
Is there a procedure on what to do when the technology the data is stored on changes?
Is there a standard to follow with changing technology?

This area is where my mind is keeps wondering towards, so I think this will be my research focus for this class.

Most of the stuff I'm finding deals with updating archives in dealing with technology like scanners and cameras. But nothing really on what to do when that computer you have in the back archives is not compatible with the scanner or printer right next to it.

Random articles to ponder over:
Taking a Byte Out of the Archives: Making Technology Work for You
Preserving Oral History Recordings (from down under)

I think I'm still breathing calmly . . . I think.

School, So Far

Allow me a moment to collapse unto the floor and rest.



Ok, update!

I am about halfway through my first semester of graduate school and I cannot believe it! I knew it was going to be a ridiculous amount of reading, but the challenge comes with doing both school and working full time.  There are days in which I just want to fall into bed and sleep after a hard day at the library, but then I remember the several articles and book chapters I have to read. I am getting reacquainted with the long nights of my college days.

Am I learning? Absolutely.

Tired? Mostly.

Overwhelmed? It varies.

Am I glad I started this program? Very much so.

I continue on with the rest of my semester, and getting ready for registration for my second semester.

Look out World!!

Frustrations

St Cajetan, Ora pro nobis

I'm entering that point in my life where I am becoming easily frustrated in my endeavors.  Hearing 'no' or 'better luck next time' more often then 'yes' or 'when can you start'.  There is no one to blame, so I really can't get mad at any one person.  It might make things easier if I could just dump all my problems on one particular thing.  If it was just one thing or person, it would be much easier to rectify.

But that is not the case.

I don't have the experience people want and it feels that no one is willing to take a chance on me.

Give me a chance - I won't disappoint.

'Singing in the Rain' for Today

Some of you may recall a post I did about a year and a half ago concerning a cover of one of my favorite songs, 'Singing in the Rain'.  The only thing I will repeat about that post is that the writers and music arrangers for the show 'Glee' should still die.

Anyway, I found a cover of the song done by another popular singer, Usher.  I'm not a huge fan of him, but I'll listen to him when he comes on the radio and I find him a good singer I'm not embarrassed to listen to.  In my roaming on Youtube I found his cover and I thought it was a very good homage to Gene Kelly.  What do you think?

Please enjoy!

Oh boy...

I have quite a hectic past few weeks.  Between losing my job and job hunting I've little time to devote to this blog. For that I do apologize to the few people who actually read this.  I do have an interview lined up at a place where I really do want to work - so cross your fingers and say a prayer for me.

Any who.... please do check out my jewelry through this cleverly crafted link to my other blog.  If there is anything you like or would like to see please feel free to email me!

Pax!

Update

I lot has been happening to me over the past year.

So much that I haven't been able to post as much as I would like. Please forgive me and I will try to put up something worth reading soon.

God Bless