For him to sleep most of the day and barely show interest in food ... well you know he isn't well! STBX was also working from home today, so although I wanted desperately to stay with my poorly little boy ... I also had a NEED to get out of the house away from STBX because the atmosphere is truly TRULY awful - we are both literally on countdown until I move out.

Plus I'd had a text from AP. There was something he'd left at my old workshop that he needed (convenient eh) so we arranged to meet there this afternoon. Ohh it was good to see him. I won't deny that and I had to thoroughly restrain myself did a useless job at restraining myself. He smelled incredible (Cool Water) and looked fabulous (obviously freshly showered & shaved). We weren't there long as I didn't want to be away from my son for long, but yes there may have been some kissing involved.

Okay there may have been some groping through jeans and perhaps a little nipple sucking.

We even talked about how I NEED to stay away from relationships for a long time - his response was that you are supposed to be single for half the length of your last relationship to truly get over it. I was with STBX for 12 years in total. Does that mean being single now for six years???

I just laughed and told AP that I still planned on using him for just sex though. He didn't have many complaints about that! Surprising eh LOL! He also knows that nothing will happen until I have moved house and sorted out my head... and he wants to go to the doctor for a general check-up first anyway. I totally respect that. I actually went to a clinic for a sexual health check after my affair with AP ended and I was okay/clean. I know I haven't slept with anyone else other than AP and STBX, and to be truthful I don't think AP has either, but I'm totally ok with his wanting to get checked up first. It's been a LONG time since he and I were sexual and I respect him for it. It also means that with a clean bill of health for both of us ... well it's kind of a mature way to approach a "friends with benefits" relationship.

We weren't there long - maybe ten minutes or so ... but it was enough to wake up that small insignificant part of me that actually quite likes myself (shameful huh!!) but THAT is what AP does for me that my STBX never did. I was laying on the floor (moved all the chairs out already) while he was nibbling my boobs through my t-shirt and I WASN'T thinking about whether my shirt was riding up and my belly was exposed. I was just lost in the feeling good factor... and ohh it felt good ... especially when it wasn't through a t-shirt ... or  a bra ...

It felt incredible and this man has the ability to sweep me off my feet sexually, but I needed to stay grounded and get back for my son... so I was very restrained - so was he! LOL

I visited my house for a bit this evening too - LOL I love saying that! I built my desk which will go in the dining room and then just pottered around for a bit. I have developed this habit of laying on the space where my bed will be before I go ... and just enjoying the space.

It's officially gone midnight in the UK which means 9 days till moving day... and it can't come soon enough!!

Vi kommer att ta en ny kattunge vilket också är svårt, det är inte för att vi tycker att djur är utbytbara, men det var så svårt för Eskarina när hon fick börja dela sitt hem med en annan katt efter alla år som ensamkatt, hon var så rädd. Skall vi då vänja henne vid att vara ensam igen och låta henne gå igenom samma sak igen om ett år eller så? Det känns fel att skaffa ny katt så snabbt och det känns konstigt att glädja sig åt den nya lilla när vi är så ledsna över att det inte funkade med Balder.

Jag är numera registrerad på Verksam som arbetssökande i behov av stöd eller något åt det hållet, det känns både bra och dåligt, bra att vara på väg mot ett arbete (kanske i alla fall) inte så bra att vara registrerad som "psykiskt funktionshindrad" fanns inget annan katerogi för NPF. Jag känner mig mycket mer hjälplös och handikappad när jag är där och får mig att tvivla på att jag i överhuvudtaget har några förmågor även om min "handläggare" eller vad det heter är både trevlig och optimistisk.

Jag känner mig fortfarande inte helt kry men febern har så gott som försvunnit i alla fall.

Visiting Professor Patrick Holford is Head of Science and Education at Biocare and has an unerring sense for his endorsements (see, e.g., the qLink with the unconnected coil and the dLan that may enhance your exposure to EMR and YorkTest, source of the IgG food intolerance tests criticised by both the House of Lords and the ASA). Holford managed to procure some useful backing for the Food for the Brain project. One of the companies is Equazen. Equazen donated essential fat supplements to school projects. With an astonishing sense of inevitability, although the ASA criticised Equazen in 2007 for being unable to substantiate some of its advertising claims, it has just issued an adjudication against more unjustified claims by Equazen, this time for indirectly implying that fish oils are a treatment for ADHD.

In an interesting inversion, in Equazen's previous contretemps with the ASA, they, like YorkTest before them, attempted to refute the challenges made to their claims by citing papers that described research studies that could not support the standard of proof that was needed to support its optimistic interpretation of the research findings or their generalisability to the wider population: this time, they included those particular papers in their advertising and argued to the ASA that they had used them to illustrate that

the studies had been carried out on children with DCD and ADHD. The ad did not, therefore, refer to a general population of children and could not mislead in this regard. [Response 1: ASA adjudication]

The advertisement in question was described thus:

A national press ad for eye q, an omega-3 and omega-6 supplement from Equazen, was headed, in chalk written on a blackboard, "PAY ATTENTION!" Further text superimposed onto the board stated "What will you choose for your child?". The ad included a pack shot of eye q capsules and eye q chews; both included the text "Independently tested The Durham Trial Naturally-sourced Omega-3 & Omega-6 oils". The capsules pack stated "5 years +" and the chews pack stated "3 years +". Text in a ticked list stated "Independently tested* Naturally-sourced omega-3 & omega-6 No aspartame No hydrogenated fats No artificial colours". The asterisk was linked to small print text that stated "*Richardson, A.J & Montgomery, P (2005). The Oxford Durham Study: A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Dietary Supplementation with Fatty Acids in Children with Development Co-ordination Disorder. Pediatrics, 115, 1360-1366 *Sinn, N. & Bryan, J (2007). Effect of supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids and micronutrients on Learning and Behaviour problems Associated with Child ADHD. Journal of Development & Behavioral Pediatrics, 28, 82 - 91

HolfordWatch recalls that advert, the word attention seemed to demand association with learning and behaviour: in concert with the surrounding media coverage, it seemed reasonable to assume that the Eye-Q would have a positive affect on most children's ability to focus, alongside particular benefits for children with specific conditions. However, it seems that that is not what Equazen had in mind at all and that they were shocked to find gambling going on in here that people might have made such an interpretation.

Equazen explained that the phrase "PAY ATTENTION" was intended to catch the attention of readers as they scanned the publication in which the ad featured. It was not used in isolation, but was immediately followed by the text "What will you choose for your child?" and a photograph of eye-q capsules and chews. They said the essence of the ad was to draw attention, without disparaging competitor products, that eye-q products were naturally sourced, independently tested and without aspartame, hydrogenated fats or artificial colours.

They said they had included information about the specific groups of children who had participated in the eye-q trials to avoid any possible confusion or implication that the ad's claims referred to a general population. They believed, however, the ad did not discourage essential treatment. They argued that, although a food supplement could be useful to a specific group, that did not suggest that that group should no longer use their prescribed medication. They said the ad did not make medicinal claims in relation to any condition; it merely clarified that the product was tested on specific groups rather than a general population of children.

Equazen agreed that ADHD was a serious medical condition and believed sufferers and carers of children with ADHD knew to seek medical diagnosis and treatment regimes rather than to rely on food supplements. [Response 2: ASA adjudication]

This seems a trifle disingenuous when one considers some of the presentations at the recent Food For the Brain conference, for which Equazen was one of the sponsors, and which did discuss approaches to managing ADHD and similar conditions through food supplementation and techniques other than standard treatment regimes. And, again, Equazen is associated with self-styled 'leading critics' of standard medical interventions, people who argue that Food Is Better Medicine than Drugs, where the food should be interpreted as supplementation.

We might have felt abashed at failing the reading comprehension and advertisement interpretation test that Equazen had run in the media were it not that the ASA seems to have had the same response to the advertising.

We considered, however, that readers were likely to infer from the headline "PAY ATTENTION!", written in chalk on a schoolroom type blackboard, in conjunction with the claim "What will you choose for your child?", that the ad was aimed at parents of children in general and that the product could help to improve the attention levels of all children, not any particular group. We acknowledged that the claim "Independently tested" provided a link to small-print which clarified that specific groups of children had participated in the testing, but considered that this information contradicted and rendered ambiguous, rather than clarified, the implication given by the body copy of the ad. Although we appreciated that it was not the message Equazen had intended to convey, we concluded that the ad was likely to mislead about the likely benefit children in general could achieve from the intake of eye-q capsules or chews. [Emphasis added: Assessment 1: ASA adjudication]

Similarly, it seems that the ASA thought that more people than themselves might have been led to conclude that fish oils had a substantial and validated role in the management of children with specific disorders.

We were concerned that the headline claim "PAY ATTENTION!" in conjunction with the claim "Independently tested", which clarified that the product had been trialled on children with a serious medical condition, indirectly implied a solution for the treatment of ADHD by way of improving the attention capabilities of those children...

We recognised that the intention of Equazen was not to convey that eye-q provided a treatment for ADHD and appreciated their opinion that they would expect sufferers of ADHD and their parents or carers to seek medical diagnosis and treatment with an explicitly stated effect on that condition. We concluded, however, that the ad had indirectly offered a treatment for a serious condition and was, therefore, in breach of the CAP Code. [Emphasis added: Assessment 2: ASA adjudication]

No cynicism there, just a "more in sorrow than in anger" reproof from a teacher to a student who is taking a long time to grasp some basic principles. After all, Equazen copy writers might have saved some space and headed off any confusion if they had footnoted:

There is some conflicting evidence from a small number of clinical studies that fish oil supplements might be useful for some children with specific developmental disorders, however, there is no indication that this would apply to most other children. Further details are available from our helpline.

Both Education Watch and Letting off steam have covered the story of a PR firm that is encouraging schools to improve their results by leveraging the Hawthorne Effect. The company suggests that schools should get involved in any experiment that would raise their profile, citing the fish-oil trials initiatives as an example a meaningless “experiment”.

It will be interesting to see Equazen's next crop of advertisements and ASA adjudications: there are no penalties attached to these adjudications so there is little incentive to run the sort of demographically-sampled focus group testing that might uncover such misunderstandings before the adverts are run. As we write this blog entry, there is no coverage of the ASA ruling in the mainstream media, so there isn't any impact on the integrity of the Equazen brand.

James Bainbridge has posted several poems and reflections on advertising by Tessimond and Orwell. They are worth reading but this (from Tessimond's The Ad Man) seems particularly germane:

He hunts for ever-newer, smarter ways
To make the gilt seem gold; the shoddy, silk;
To cheat us legally; to bluff and bilk
By methods which no jury can prevent
Because the law's not broken, only bent.

Updates

12:30. jdc comments that Equazen need to pay closer attention - to advertising guidelines.

13:30 Changed the Tessimond quotation to one from The Ad-Man rather than Defence of the ad-man.

Notes

Our thanks to toastmonster for her permission to use the wonderful zombie fish picture.

BPSDB

So yeah, I'd given up all hope of pharmaceutical help. We quit seeing the behavior modification counselor too, because she said she really couldn't do anything else to help Meagan until she was on meds. I just tweaked my teaching tactics, curriculum, and 'school setting', and continued the homeschooling unaided.

Now? We have a WONDERFUL pediatrician. I truly cannot say enough good about her. I love her to pieces. And so when Meagan caught wind that this doc might be willing to help her concentrate at school, SHE asked if I would make an appointment. So I did. We went and now she's on meds.

Unfortunately they don't seem to be doing much good... yet. Since I'm not teaching her anymore, I'm having to rely on her opinion completely. I mean I can't SEE if she is focusing better or making better use of her time or comprehending what she's reading better. She's only taken the meds for a few days, and each time I've asked if they're helping or not she replies with a shrug and a grimace and says "a little?"

I'm not overly worried, though. I feel pretty sure the doc will keep tweaking meds and doses till we find something that works more than a questionable "little".

Matthew had a not-so-hot week last week. It seems the antibiotic switch provoked another Herxheimer reaction. At least, that's my best guess. His behavior and moods last week got progressively worse from the Sat before last until the night before last (another Sat since this is Mon...lol). Since he was still taking the antidepressant, and there was VERY definitely something going on... I'm guessing it was a Herx. I think it was last Monday night that he made the comment that his temper control was "flashing on and off". I suppose it is a good thing that he recognized that things were different and he felt 'off'?

It's weird to even say that... he felt 'not right'. Weird because for years that was his NORMAL. It was his normal until he started the antidepressant. On meds, his PRIOR normal is the 'not right'. That's still taking time to sink in. It's so very cool and such a ginormous blessing in oh-so-many ways, but definitely taking some getting used too. It's strange... last week he was 'not right' and yet it seemed like he was "back to normal". I don't think my brain has really processed that his "normal"... his "old self" was NOT normal and is just that... his OLD self.

I'm talking about his Herx reaction in the past tense... last week... because if I refer to it that way it'll make it true, right? LOL I honestly don't know if we've seen the last of it or not. I think it's at least on the way out, though. He seemed much more like his NEW self today. He did have a couple of minor outbursts, but definitely better than last week, so I'm really hoping the Herx is dwindling and he'll be back to the new normal again.

It's amazing how sweet and responsible and thoughtful and just plain HAPPY the new normal Matt is! SUCH a blessing! I can't even begin to describe it.

It lets his ADHD show up more, though. That's not so good. It hasn't interfered with his schoolwork yet, so no meds, which is nice, but then again maybe not so. See it's like Meagan got all the AD and D and Matthew got the H. She is far from hyper (now... when she was younger she was very hyper), but has major distractability and attention issues in all areas of life, particularly schoolwork. He, on the other hand, loves the bookwork and reading and so focuses with no problems there, but once he gets home? Oy vey! This new and improved HAPPY Matthew does. not. quit. talking. or moving. EVER. At least it's a happy, cheerful chatterbox with a motor that never runs down! He has a little of the D for distractibility... ok, a lot really... at home too. As in it takes an hour and a half of me re-directing him to get his pills actually swallowed. Same for shower, chores, etc.

When I took Meagan in for her intitial consult for the ADD, doc mentioned that it looked likely we were going to need to add an antidepressant for her, and we may yet add ADD meds for him. It seems Meagan has been suffering from chronic depression, too. She's withdrawn a lot, kinda glum, "I don't care" attitude, very NON-animated (except in certain situations with friends), and has tons of the low self-esteem. Matt has the self-esteem issues, also, but his depression has mostly manifested with irritability, anger, opposition, major behavior problems, etc.

So basically? My kids are more alike than I thought. A lot. They are so very different, and yet... same underlying problems. It's just that they exhibit the problems in such totally different ways. The depression and ADHD are there in both kids, but manifested very, VERY differently.

In both cases, the depression at least, and maybe even the ADHD, is caused by the borrelia (and probably others) infection having set up shop in their brains and nervous system.

These infections have kept my children and me in the dark as to what 'normal' is for many, many years. We've been living with a very poor quality of life, that at times we might have been aware wasn't great, but really we had no idea it was so poor, because we simply didn't know it COULD be better. It's all we've ever known.

BUT...

by the grace of God... we are slowly, but surely learning that life can be and will be so very much sweeter. I give thanks to God for that. I thank Him for every little step closer to good health and functioning and stand in utter amazement at how BIG of a difference He's making in our lives... for the better. Oh for the better!! He's blessed us so far above and beyond my imaginings! When I commented to my doc that I had 2 days where my knees didn't hurt until late in the evening, he said that eventually... in time... that's the way it will be all the time. He said that gradually all my symptoms will decrease until every single day is pain free, balance problems free, confusion free, and I'll have energy and strength to do stuff. I have a hard time imagining that. Go for weeks, months maybe, without my knees aching or my head hurting or my neck being stiff or getting worn out from chewing?! I said something like "I'm not sure that's possible", but my doc was quick to disagree. He was adamant that it WAS possible, and that it would happen.

I'm think I'm beginning to believe him. After all, the Lord led me to him. God is so very, very good!

Another good thing... apparently Matt is not the only one having a Herx reaction lately... my doc said that the reason I've been so very exhausted this last month is because I was herxing from the addition of one of my antibiotics. So that one I'm supposed to now 'pulse'... take for a couple of weeks, then off a couple of weeks. He said that should give me more energy back. And THAT means that maybe I can get some projects done. YIPPEE!! Ok, ok, and some housework. blech!

Men skrev ett långt kombo-inlägg. Gick tillslut ner och satte degen men kände, just som jag skulle börja med middagen att NEJ NU!

Lyfte resolut upp tyghögen från hörnet i vardagsrummet där den - tillsammans med symaskinen - stått sedan jag kom hem från lådan vid sjön och skogen. (Så att jag inte skulle glömma att få det gjort. Köpte tyget förra hösten och hade det i vardagsrummet fram till semestern oxå. Och sen uppfodrande med till sommarledigheten i lådan.... I evigheter har det alltså jagat mig - om än ganska passive-aggressive-artat.

Men NU! Klipp klapp hade jag klippt till 4 bitar.

Sy, sy syyyyy hade jag sytt ihop dem (ja jo - jag fick göra om några gånger då övertrådspänningen fick tokfnatt )(ja alltså jag hade inte trätt den helt korekt, men VA! alltså LITE ska den väl tåla....)

Och dra på, trassel, släta till.

VIPS hade kökssoffan fått nytt dynöverdrag.

Var det rätt prio????

Tja det var i alla fall helt neuroTYPISKT!!?! för denna DAMP-tant. När det blir för mycket liksom spårar hon ur. Eller i alla fall om. För att överleva...

Tja det är nästan outsägligt skönt att ha ställt alla sygrejor i sin gamla vanliga "spilta" under datorarbetsplatsen. Att de slipper stå nere i vardagsrummet och oroligt skrapa med hovarna...

De vildänglar som var ute då syutbrottet ägde rum blev vederbörligen imponerade och förtjusta.

Och hon som hjälpte mig med piffandet efter syet vart mycket nöjd.

Bullarna blev bakade och bara en plåt bränd. (Men det berodde på akut luggklippning av en änglis som insett att hon har skolfoto imorgon.)

Det två lite luriga läxorna är betvingade - med mycket gott resultat.

Och om jag släcker nu får jag sova drygt 6 timmar inatt - sovmorgon imorgon. God Natt!

Och det blev riktigt, riktigt fint i köket. Höstpyntat med gosig manchester i soffan. Mys mys för leriga valptassar!!

Läs även andra bloggares åsikter om sy, manchester, soffdyna, bullar, läxor, lugg

fast nu känns det väl mest som det går runt, runt, runt.

Några små rapporter

1. Jag ser inte så värst mycket. Tappade en lins häromdagen. Det var lite höstblåsigt, och jag fick in nåt skräp i ögat. Och då tänkte jag att "äsch - det kan ju gå." Och tog ut linsen. Vips blåste den iväg. Hade en gammal reservlins - men insåg att nu har jag reserver i bägge ögona (jag har hårda linser, inte några såna där mjuka man köper i storpack.) Glasögonen är också urgamla, så de funkar sådär. Ja, det var bara att lomma iväg till optikern och beställa nya linser. Där rök några tusenlappar. Hå hå
2. Det bakas bullar. Det vankas barnkalas om någon vecka och jag ska naturligtvis jobba mer än på länge just nu. Så så fort jag har en minut över har jag inte det. För det ska bakas.
3. Man borde skriva något klokt och genompolitiskt om världsekonomin. Men jag känner mig bara matt och har svårt att ens börja försöka förstå det som händer. Gör någon det egentligen?? Det får bli kortkort: Vinsterna privatiseras och förlusterna förstatligas. Här är det på plats med ett bibelcitat: "Denna världens barn är listigare än rikets barn". Kunde inte sagt det bättre själv.
4. Men som vi är i Tant Mittipricks hus (Där taket är golv och golvet tak och allt är precis tvärt om) kan man en morgon få höra en hög chef i världsbanken säga: En oavvislig punkt i räddningsprogrammen måste vara att skattebetalarna som nu får vara med och betala räddningen också måste få del av de framtida vinsterna. Men va! Allt är verkligen upp och ner..
5. Eller så ska man kommentera alla politiska förvecklingar och debatter i landet. Vem vinner, vem förlorar? Kan någon förklara hur det kan komma sig att människors förtroende för högern ökar mitt i denna röra? Sist det var kris klarade de inte att reda ut det själva. Nu gitter de inte ens be om hjälp. Hjälp!!! tänker jag matt
6. Jag har inte ens hunnit redovisa att jag faktiskt genomförde utmaning två - kollonilotten... Den är i alla fall grävd både på bredden och längden, jag har till och med gjort ett inlägg om det. Fast inte kommit ihåg att liksom formellt stämpla ut den, men hallå Majsan! härmed vill jag anmäla att jag faktiskt gjort det. Och sen för det - för det tredje - eller sjunde
7. Utmaning nr 3!! Hann jag inte ens tänka ut innan den liksom anmälde sig själv:                  GROVKÖKET. En obeskrivlig röra av tomma PET-flaskor, fulla PET-flaskor, hundmatsförråd, andra hundtillbehör, specerier i reserv och städpryttlar. Där hade jag nog inte tänkt röja just förra veckan. MEN om man inte skruvar på locket på 5L dunken med golvsåpa och sen råkar putta ner den från hyllan (där man ställt den lite på trekvart i stället för att ställa in den i den hylla där städprylarna ska stå) då man ska hämta nästa förpackning vetemjöl (bakningen ni vet). Då löser sig prioriterandet kemiskt - kan man säga. Inte har jag sorterat igenom varenda pryl. Men jag har i alla fall sorterat det som var genomdränkt med såpa (inklusive alla familjens bakförkläden, som av någon oförklarlig anledning hamnat på golvet där - numera nytvättade hela högen) Sorterat in alla Petflaskorna i kassar (tomma) och in under skåpet (fulla). Golvet är fritt från lort, utspilld såpa och hundmat. Och medan bullarna jäser ska jag röja hyllan där inne. Och i den andra hyllan (speceriförråd, skoputsdonsförvar och städskåp....vadå ovanlig kombo???) är det faktiskt riktigt god ordning.... Så jag anser mig nog klar med även den.
8. Så småningom återkommer jag med mer ordningssamma och mer uppstrukturerade inlägg i strikta ämnen som a) allmänt pjoller från mitt lilla liv - b) seriösa analyser av världsläget och c) hundens öden och äventyr. Kanske till och med riktiga utmaningar - inte bara de som - bokstavligen - faller över mig... Men just nu är mitt liv så här
9. Och om någon undrar: Jo tack!! jag mår riktigt bra faktiskt. Är bara lite yr av allt som far runt i höstvindarna, livet och världen i stort. Men trots allt - eller mitt i alltihopa mår jag förvånansvärt bra. Tycker människor är allmänt trevliga, eller har all anledning att var sura och tar inte åt mig så värst. Märkligt. Är milt lycklig över alla nya kontakter och otroliga människor jag stöter på här i bloggosfären - detta för mig nya land (Och skitstövlarna, dummhuvudena - jag dom behandlar jag som luft. Hur gick det till - när lärde jag mig det???) Tror bestämt det var år sedan sist jag gick omkring och trivdes med inget speciellt. Och jag är inte ens kär. Utan bara ganska nöjd :

Här känner jag att jag ÖVERJAGET - mig nödgad att ingripa: Först och främst - hon är inte ironiskt. Hon är nog faktiskt nöjd och tillfreds. Jag tror inte hon är sjuk heller. Inte så där tillkämpat gemytlig som man kunde befara när man läser det här. Nej faktiskt inte. Men hon håller nog inte heller på att bli en arrogant typ - hoppas jag. Ni vet en sån där som häver ur sig floskler till andra som känner annat. Och för Guds skull (jo hon vill verkligen, ni vet HON allts ursprung - ha detta sagt:) Påminna alltså för Guds skull inte den lilla människan om detta smått bisarra utbrott av nöjdhet när det inte längre är dylikt. Om nån dag eller så - eller nästa vecka. Eller om lagom till nästa mens. Eller då hon glömt ta medicinen. För man måste få ta sina pauser. Men endera dan dimper hon - platt fall- på nosen igen. Och blir sitt vanliga svartsynta morrande dinosaureijag. Eller en våt fläck. Eller inte, vad vet jag (jo jag är allt lite yr jag med) Men se så lilla människa - "Allsång på skansen"???! Nån måtta får det väl ändå vara på glättigheten. Marsch ner med sig och baka bullar nu....

Läs även andra bloggares åsikter om gaspermeabla linser, DAMP-tantsutmaning, världsbanken, kris, världsekonomin, förstatliga, förlust, privatisera, vinst, högern, bullar, andra bullar

...det får vänta till en annan dag.

Jag har fixat det &%¤&% grytskåpet.

Så här såg det ut förut. Det var ungefär tre veckor sedan

Det här tömde jag ut på köksbordet. Dumt nog valde jag att genomföra min damptantsutmaning samtidigt som jag precis påbörjat en ny stickning och några minuter efter att jag slängt upp en blöt tvätthög på köksbordet. Jag fick ett ryck när jag satt och drack kaffe.

Som sagt - en sak i sänder - är ett &%¤&% uttryck. Men nu är det färdigt iallafall. Två dagar efter deadline.

Mitt nästa projekt är det här värdelösa skåpet. Där hamnar allting någon gång. Det är kökets dumpningsplats och härbärge för förlorade affekter. Har man tur kan man t.ex hitta kolapapper, tömda ceratstift, halvt uppätna chokladkakor, en och annan räkning, plåster, udda kaffemuggar, tomma snusdosor...you name it. Rena skattkammaren!!

Det ska vara klart tills på fredag har jag bestämt, för helgen ska användas till annat! Basta!

Majsan och Carlsson har minsann redan fixat sitt! Sickar tanter, va!

So you drive home.  Or should you go to the pharmacy first?  But wait! I don't want my kid on drugs! But maybe it will make life easier.  What should we do? What should we do?

Well, all I can tell you is what we did.  I hit the library and started reading.  And I also talked to other people in the "special needs" world and soon realized I needed to consult more than just one doctor.  And between you, me and the fencepost, that doctor ticked me off with how quick he rattled off ADHD while writing a prescription for a scheduled drug.  (Meaning, a highly regulated drug.)

I read about ADHD.  Asperger Syndrome. Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified.  Fine Motor Dysfunction. I read Christian books, New Age books that dealt with "differences."  I read about alternative treatments and medications.  I would have consulted a Shaman if I had the opportunity.  No, I didn't give up my faith in Christ...I was a woman on a mission.

I read more.  I experimented with diets and herbal supplements.  Snake oils and magnetic blankets.  And yep--we tried a few prescriptions----but not for very long.  We prayed.

And my big helpful juicy tidbit that I learned: There are no magic formulas.  Nikken may have helped your second cousin's step nephew....but I wouldn't plunk my money down for that $600 mattress unless you would have anyway.  And I don't care what the dreadlocked clerk at Wild Oats tell you----Dr. So and So's 100% Natural calming homeopathy *may* have marginal effect but nothing in the miracle department.

I DID learn that for SOME children, a gluten intolerance can be a culprit behind some kids' autism.  (Read "Unraveling the Mystery of Autism" to learn more.)  I also began wondering about the environmental factors that may or may not be helping.  I also learned that a good occupational therapist is worth their weight in a Valium.  (Because some of their suggestions just may bring peace to your home.)

But the bottom line---if you haven't done so already---it's time to get to work on your PhD in (Fill in your child's name here) Studies.

And once again....this is getting too long for a blog.  More tomorrow in between my painting project!

VARFÖR, ska jag på och peta på sånt som är bra redan.....

tant strula

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Börjar man med något, är risken stor att man fastnar.

Ska börja med att tala om följande;

Personer kan "fastna" i en bok, en uppgift eller vad som helst en stund, bara för att det är kul, intressant och spännande.

För en som mig handlar det om att "fastna" ordentligt. Skillnaden är alltså att det blir ett problem.

Jag kan "fastna" även då jag har något viktigt att göra, åka iväg eller vad som helst. Jag kommer inte loss.

Igår fastnade jag på nätet med läsning på Socialstyrelsens sida. Jag kan inte ge mig, förrän jag är helt tillfredsställd med informationen, dragit ut listorna jag behöver mm.

Även, då min avsikt med nätet var att sammanställa en föreläsning. Middagen väntade, hunden behövde gå ut mm.

Problemet är inte att man "struntar" i allt. Det "försvinner" helt enkelt.

Detta är en situation som är ett stort problem för mig. Det jag behöver, är att ta fram en lösning för hur jag ska göra och vart jag ska börja, för att få utfört precis som avsikten var.

För den som undrar, så äter jag medicin. Men har inte kommit fram till rätt tider och dosering än.

Det ställer även det till det för närvarande, eftersom det blir "svackor" i måendet.

Dock ska sägas, att det är framsteg. Som till exempelt ovan nämnda problem. Jag "ser"

problemet nu. Det gjorde jag inte förrut.

Det är en lång väg att gå, som vuxen utredd. Det är mycket man ska lära om, tänka till och utveckla. För att underlätta sitt vardagliga liv.

Jag är dock på väg, men det är verkligen steg fram och steg tillbaka.

Och, ett enormt tänk på hur det har varit. En sorg över hela livets gåta fram till nu, om mig själv.

På något vis, ska jag bekanta mig med mig själv. Eftersom jag alltid har känt mig som en främling för mig själv.

Men, det är så fantastiskt, Det fanns ett svar på min egen gåta. Och jag delar den med många.

Tant Strula

Denna blogg är värd 2 990 kr

The lady who screened him is going to give me a summary via e-mail tomorrow morning as she didn't want to talk in front of Ben. But, she basically told me that I should invest in this seminar that is centered specificallyaround working with dyslexics and teaching them to read. She said it would be of good benefit. She then told me he reminded her of her son, which had learning difficulties and she had to "rewire" his brain, from my understanding. So, I think the verdict is going to be pretty clear. I think he has dyslexia. Also, David we are pretty sure has it, but it went undiagnosed. David has a mind that retains information like one I have never seen before. He is sharp. Very intelligent. But, when he goes to write his spelling doesn't look much past 3 or 4th grade level sometimes (not always). He also was a poor reader, but that has improved immensely in the time we have been married as I am an avid reader and would always read out loud  to him, and then he started reading a lot of things like bible commentary, world news, and a lot around metals (as he wants a business in that).  He also informed me he still gets d's and b's mixed up and it helps him to remember his name....d for David. He told me he always got certain letters mixed up and had difficulties with certain things in school. But, I guess it went undetected back then. They say dyslexia can run in families. Supposedly genetic. I don't understand it all the way.

But back to Benjamin. He didn't really talk much until he was 3 was one sign. But, he has had other signs related to Spectrum Disorders. I knew he wasn't autistic, but I have wondered if I would have vaccinated him if that would have thrown him overboard into the world of Autism.

Most of you know we homeschool. So, when I really started trying to school him a couple years ago I noticed some fine motor skill problems with his hands. He hated coloring and writing (still does and still has some fine motor skill problems with hands). And it really seemed as if he literally lacked the fine motor skill to control his hand in a free style way. He always seem tight and very controlled when he does these activities. Well, this year I started making him try to write his name. Thinking was plenty old enough he should at least be able to write his name. After all, seems like his IQ is fine and always above his age group, so why shouldn't he be able to write his name?

Well to my horror, within minutes of attempting to write his name (he is also ambidextrous still doesn't seem to favor one hand over the other, but I think he does a bit better with his right hand) he would be in tears and I was about ready to pull my hair out. I am a peace loving fanatic so I didn't want our school days to be spent in frustration and decided for the most part for now to through the pencil out the window so to speak.

Instead we still have been going over letters and phonics and I still have him do letter writing in other ways. Such as finger paint writing, putting salt in a casserole dish and having him write with his finger, painting on poster board and then taking glue and gluing on black eyed beans in the form of lower case and capitalletters. As well as the Delight Directed method of education where I follow his interest and we do a  lot of hands on stuff or whatever he may be interested in. I have read and done a little bit of research that with dyslexics you kind of have to throw the pencil out for a bit and retrain the brain with the fingers. It has to do withinformation literally getting stored in the wrong region of the brain (with language and writing skills) and it can be demonstrated with modern technology.

My personal opinion is back to diet. I read an interesting book awhile back ago, called Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr.Natasha Campbell. She is a doctor in the UK that actually reversed her sons severe autism with a nutritional protocol. In a page or two of her book she mentions dyslexia and ties that in with the state of gut as well. But she didn't really go into it much. Also as many of you may very well know,  Jenny McCarthy's (Actress and girlfriend to Jim Carey) son also developed autism after receiving routine vaccinations. She has effectively reversedhis autisim with a nutritional protocol and wholefood diet as well. You can check her awesome sight out at: http://www.generationrescue.org/ . She even has a program where you can donate and become a rescue angel for those who can't afford natural treatments in reversing spectrum disorders as well as a listing of people in your area who have recovered their kids from autism.

You may say what does autism have to do with dyslexia? Well, from my understanding and what I have been finding is that they tie into this whole arena of full spectrum disorders that can include one or many different things that also encompass ADD, ADHD, schizophrenia, autism, disgraphyia, dyslexia, ect. And it goes back to how the mom nourished her and her baby while being pregnant and then how she then set the childs gut the way it is supposed to be. Your next question might be then, "well, I thought you were a health fanatic and your son has inspired you to be a health"nut" so why might he be struggling with dyslexia if it can be influenced by diet?"

My answer to that would be I only did what I knew to do at the time. I pretty much ate a diet of salad (ice berg lettuce is all I knew of then it seems), chicken, eggs, and a lot of MSG foods like ranch dressing, any gravy or soup base had a lot of MSG in (a neurotoxin that can affect brain development). I also had morning sickness very severely from about 2 1/2 months until I delivered Ben and therefore Mylanta was like by preference for a drinking beverage. I later found out that mylanta has a lot of aluminumin it. So, this is a heavy metal that can store in body tissue and cause problems. I also was a lot more stressed out with Ben, first pregnancy and all. They say that the adrenal response of the flight or fight mode (which happens when you are under stress) that you live in while pregnant can affect the adrenals of the baby. Weakened adrenals can even cause immune system problems like auto immune, cancer, ect. Well, Ben has allergies (which some classify as an auto immune disorder). So, I am just starting to see a connection. Also, when you check into the biomedical approach that Jenny McCarthy used on her son for autism there information also includes dyslexia in it.

Anyhow, I am not an expert on this. I really don't know. But, I do know that when we followed a very "pure" wholefood diet with ample healthy fats from coconut oil, fish oil, free range and grass-fed meats, Ben's focus was so much more keen. He had a very calm type of energy. I don't know if diet alone can reverse dyslexia. Seems to me that their is now a wire crossed in the brain with it and that is why educational approaches work at retraining the brain as well. But diet helps with that as it helps them to focus better and the healthy fats contribute as they are brain food.

We have been in a crunch financiallylately. With the recession and all it isn't getting easier. So, I am a bit concerned about having the finances to go back to the whole foods and supplementation as well as the education that this lady wants me to take starting in November. If I don't start it in November it will be 6 months before I can take it. She said it wouldn't be good to wait that long. I think this one is only $125 dollars and a couple days to one week long (I have to check the site out). But, when he starts reading and for next year the follow up is $1200 and two intensive weeks of training. The location is an 1 1/2 down the road. My mom has offered to pay for next month. But, then that leaves the nutritional stance left a bit unanswered. And next year for the more expensive program?? I really am very grateful for moms willingness to help, but I kind of feel bad about it too.

So, my business why has officially expanded even more. It has been centered around my kids and more family time together with David home as well as many other reasons. But, now it encompasses specifically a campaign to help Ben. I really want to gift him with retraining that brain sooner than later. He has so much to offer this world. And he will be able to do it better if he can effectively learn to read and write.

I actually didn't take what she told me to hard. Although at one point I was fighting back some tears. I think mostly because I have suspected a little something for a little while now and have done some research. When I was doing the research on dyslexia I was feeling more discouraged then. That was weeks ago. So, I guess I have had some time to prepare and give it to God. Some of it is guilt. I wish I would have known more then about even healthier eating. Although I ate relatively healthy with him, there are still some things that I was putting in my body on a daily basis (ex. mylanta, msg ranch, ect) that I feel greatly contributed. My little man, is quite the instigator at educating his mama.

I would highly recommend for all that is interested to not only read the book I mentioned above, but also, Russell Baylocks book. Excitotoxins, the Taste That Kills. He is a brain surgeon who goes into more detail on MSG, Aspartame, ect. and what this can do to our brains. Their are other good books out their that cover this, but these two would give you in excellent start. Also, the Makers Diet by Dr. Jordan Rubin. He is the Kosher version of the first book, as we are kosher eaters. :)

Best Wishes,

Larissa

My daughter is my mini-me ... she looks like me and we are the same star sign. We are so alike that it is scary, and because she is so mature for her age, I kept her "in the loop" from the very start of this. I am from the school of parenting that you should be as honest with your children as possible ... but the caveat is that this is based upon their age and understanding at the time. Example ... the tooth fairy!! A few years ago my daughter asked me a ton of questions about the tooth fairy and I absolutely answered them based on her age and understanding without telling her a single lie - but without discrediting her belief. Earlier this year my daughter said to me point blank "Mum, is the tooth fairy real or is it you?"

... I was asked a direct question - I gave an honest answer to my ten year old daughter and admitted to her that yes, the tooth fairy was me. These days she just hands over her tooth and I had her the cash but she gets to enjoy keeping the secret from her brother.

Ohhh on the subject of the him and the tooth fairy ... OMG ... my son has a wobbly tooth at the moment and last night we had this conversation ...

SON - I've got a wobbly tooth!
ME - Ohhhh cooooooool! Show me!
SON - *wobbles and points*
ME - Wow, that is seriously cool! It won't be long before that falls out.
SON - *concerned expression on face*
ME - What's up baby?
SON - *still thinking deeply* How will the tooth fairy know we have moved?
ME - *thinking on feet* Ummm well the tooth fairy will know that your tooth is wobbly at the moment from her special radar, so how about you write her a letter?
SON - AWESOME idea! *very excited about this(
ME - * Fetching pen and paper*
SON - *writes* Dear Tooth Fairy ... from 25th October we will be living at XX XXXXX so please update your address book
ME - *trying so hard to stifle the laughter at the "update your address book" and today's modern world and blah blah blah - That's absolutely perfect baby!

It's pinned up by his bed - just incase .... :-D

I have to admit that I am so proud of the pair of them. I KNOW it is going to be so very hard for them to leave their dad behind, but I am focussing on the move as a positive thing and they are being so grown up and handling it so well. The fact that I have the keys already and have been moving bits and pieces in slowly has meant that they have had a chance to get used to the new house as well instead of it being a one off shock on moving day.

I really think that despite the arguments between us (that the children have witnessed some of recently - shame on our parts there) that the way we've been able to work this has helped them enormously. They both knew that Mum and Dad were having problems ... then they knew that Mum and Dad were thinking about splitting up ... then when I found the house we (I) talked to them about moving out and separation, and now gradually I've been able to drop in the fact that we are going to be getting divorced.

STBX has done very little of the talking I have to admit .... I've been "bad cop" with the kids most of the time and I guess once I finally move out of here that won't change AT all!

I am going to struggle not to berate him in front of them but the truth is ... he IS frigging useless. He is upstairs on his computer most of the time (he admits it is an avoidance thing) and I put our children to bed most nights anyway. He's been a useless waste of space in my life for way too long now. He has already turned around to me and said that one night a week and every other weekend is fine ... but that he may want to go away for a week and wouldn't be able to have them!!!

So **I** am expected to bend backwards and for it to be okay for him to say he doesn't want them on his one night per week purely because it suits him? Trust me I will be there for my kids and will support them in seeing their dad as often as they want beyond the basic minimum that we agree through the divorce ... but if he says HIS life is more important than his kids and that he can't have them that one frigging night a week .... then I will be there for them and they will draw their own conclusions on him from that and it won't be due to me!!

But UGH it is so difficult not to let the children know the REAL truth because it is important that they maintain a healthy positive relationship with their father... and when their father is being a shit ... it's almost impossible but I will NEVER ever say a bad word about him in front of them.

I really and truly have had enough now. I need it to be over.

En väninna var här i eftermiddagskväll. Jag berättade för henne om mitt css-slit. Jag inser att jag är mitt i en vansinnig hyperskapandeprocess för jag lägger ner extremt mycket tid på att lägga grunden till finishen på den här bloggen och dessutom helt i onödan. Ändå kan jag inte låta bli.

Vad jag gör? Inte vet jag.

Men jag har bestämt mig för smaken kontra känslan. Eller om det är tvärtom. Jag är skräckblandat förtjust i motsatser av sinnlig art så det blir nåt åt det hållet. Kan man säga. En skissad mall är klar. Länkar och annat strukturpill har jag inte planerat i nuläget. Måste få till menyerna först.

För att komma fram till en känsla i min skapandeprocess så krävs matematik av den högre skolan. Det är en massa parametrar, symbolik och andra attribut som ska till. Efter att ha bestämt mig för vilka jag ska använda, häller jag dem i en mental skål, rör om samtidigt som jag släpper alla tidigare tankar om resultatet, när jag sedan betraktar smeten med nya ögon så ser jag svaret. Typ. Det är mycket logiskt. Det tyckte min väninna också när jag förklarade vad jag använt. Hon har också ADHD så det förklarar väl en del.

Blandade färgskalan gjorde jag med hjälp av 3 stycken fiktiva herrar och tre stycken damer som jag påverkas av på olika vis. Herrarnas tråd består av lag och rätt, krimdeckare och kampsport. Damernas av absolut moral, lugn och lusta. Sen har vi ju de dekadenta demonerna och de oskuldsfulla bokmärkesänglarna förstås.

Sist men inte minst har jag tänkt på den en ocensurerad vesion av tant-faktorn. Den ryms nog den också. Tror jag.  Få se när jag jag har tid att få ihop´et bara.

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Läs även andra bloggares mycket intressanta åsikter om css, skapandeprocess, adhd, tant-faktor, tant, demoner och oskuld, dekadens, ocensurerad version, skissad mall, färgskala

October is Learning Disabilities Awareness month. Making others aware of learning disabilities is one of my reasons for writing.  Personally, I know the struggles of living with learning disabilities. I have dysgraphia, dyslexia and ADHD.

Growing up it was very frustrating when I had ideas in my head that I could not make appear on paper.  Many of my teacher refused to understand and preferred to punish my poor handwriting by either giving me poor grades or making me re-do the work. I even had one teacher who delighted in ripping my papers up in front of the class. Of course two of the worst tortures I endured in were the weekly spelling tests and penmanship exercises. I was constantly re-doing penmanship papers and writing all the words I missed on a spelling test 10 times each.  Of course, neither of these punishments helped.  In fact, they made me hate writing and do anything to get out of writing.  Imagine my surprise when as an adult I discovered I enjoyed writing.

So, why am I writing this? I write about my own experiences in an effort to help others become aware. I write to help parents and teachers understand that child who is smart but cannot write legibly or struggles to read. I write because I can. I write because my secret weapon the computer has allowed me to foil the evil plans of my nemesis dysgraphia/dyslexia. (OK, I know that is overly dramatic but it was fun to write). I write because I am no longer hindered by my inability write legibly and poor spelling.  I'm sure this will surprise my senior English teacher but I write because I want to.

Want to learn more about learning disabilities? Check out today's feature on HomeschoolBenefits.org.

The New Jersey Star Ledger recently ran a very interesting article that merits reading by anyone either in the position of diagnosing ADHD or who is unsure of their child's diagnosis.  The story can be found at:

http://blog.nj.com/parentalguidance/2008/09/sleep_deprivation_causes_adhd.html

Steve Gardner

The Sleep Wellness Institute

Med inspiration från Bippoqueer och som respons på inlägget ” Vad är det värsta man kan säga till en som mår psykiskt dåligt?“

Med inspiration från Bippoqueer och som respons på inlägget " Vad är det värsta man kan säga till en som mår psykiskt dåligt?"

But all this suddenly fades into the background when a parent's been told their kid is autistic.  Or has ADD/ADHD.  Or, yeah.....fill in the blank. There's plenty of labels to choose from.

Suddenly that election seems pretty trivial.  And all of a sudden Hugo Chavez is just another annoying barking dog.  (Maybe a really good shock collar would take care of him, eh?)

When you're a parent, kid concerns supersedes everything else.  Especially when you've just been told the Light of Your Life is defective.  And not that that diagnosis was a big surprise either.  You had a feeling...or a teacher told you something was amiss and you headed to the docs.

So you're relieved.  It wasn't "just you."  You've got a real live diagnosis and modern medicine to help you in your unique challenges.  Things will get better quick, right?

Not so fast.  This is a journey.  And like life, there's up and downs and usually, no easy answers.

First thing to do: Take a deep breath.  And then take another deep breath and inventory the uniqueness of your child.

And then what????

I'll write more this week.  We're in the middle of getting ready for a big move!

Eller också skulle jag ha i huvudet redan tänkt ut allt, för att sedan i förtvivlan försöka komma ihåg.

Men, nu försöker jag skriva, pang på rödbetan helt enkelt för att kunna sätt igång.

Egentligen är jag mycket skrivvan, efterson det är en del av min vardag.

Problemet är, att när jag ska börja, ska jag helst redan sitta på plats vid tangenterna eftersom hela artiklar rusar från början till slut i huvudet. Och hur enkelt är det att hålla kvar det? Man har ju ingen diskett precis.

ADHD är för oss med diagnosen lika men ändå så olika. Jag kan inte på ett bräde tala om allt som händer, rör sig och hur det är. Men, genom dagboken, att skriva här så tar jag sakerna som de kommer helt enkelt.

Det jag hoppas bidra med, är det jag saknade i början.

Litteratur är en sak. Vardagens bravader för andra i diagnosen en annan.

Mycket handlar om barn och det tycker jag självklart är bra. Kan man ställa diagnosen i tid, är det till otrolig hjälp, Jag önskar att det hade så skett för mig, för då kunde en hel del har varit till hjälp.

Det gäller skola, relationer, funderingar, aktiviteter, arbete och allt, som hör livets rullande schema till.

Jag har erfarenhet av att leda föreläsningar, och tänker därför snickra ihop en föreläsning om att vara kvinna, vuxen och ha ADHD.

Och vaddå tant strula?

Ja, så känns det ofta, när allt kör ihop sig. Då ÄR jag tant strula.

tant strula.

Hur jag kom dit, vägen dit hur allt är och har varit, kommer jag att berätta om.

Jag arbetar inom offentliga sektorn, och är politiskt aktiv.

Att jag för närvarande vill vara anonym, är för att jag vill att du ska möta mig i mina ord.

När jag anser det moget, kliver jag fram och då ska jag ha stor fest för alla gelikar.

Möt mig i min dagbok. Jag ger dig min upplevelse och jag vill gärna ha din.

tant strula.

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"Big Pharma

Eli Lilly, Zyprexa, & the Bush Family
The diseasing of our malaise

By Bruce Levine

More than one journalist has uncovered corrupt connections between the Bush Family, psychiatry, and Eli Lilly & Company, the giant pharmaceutical corporation. While previous Lillygates have been more colorful, Lilly’s soaking state Medicaid programs with Zyprexa—its blockbuster, antipsychotic drug—may pack the greatest financial wallop. Worldwide in 2003, Zyprexa grossed $4.28 billion, accounting for slightly more than one-third of Lilly’s total sales. In the United States in 2003, Zyprexa grossed $2.63 billion, 70 percent of that attributable to government agencies, mostly Medicaid.

Historically, the exposure of any single Lilly machination—though sometimes disrupting it—has not weakened the Bush-psychiatry-Lilly relationship. In the last decade, some of the more widely reported Eli Lilly intrigues include:

• Influencing the Homeland Security Act to protect itself from lawsuits
• Accessing confidential patient records for a Prozac sample mailing
• Rigging the Wesbecker Prozac-violence trial

A sample of those who have been on the Eli Lilly payroll includes:

• Former President George Herbert Walker Bush (one-time member of the Eli Lilly board of directors)
• Former CEO of Enron, Ken Lay (one-time member of the Eli Lilly board of directors)
• George W. Bush’s former director of Management and Budget, Mitch Daniels (a former Eli Lilly vice president)
• George W. Bush’s Homeland Security Advisory Council member, Sidney Taurel (current CEO of Eli Lilly)
• The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (a recipient of Eli Lilly funding)

In 2002, British and Japanese regulatory agencies warned that Zyprexa may be linked to diabetes, but even after the FDA issued a similar warning in 2003, Lilly’s Zyprexa train was not derailed, as Zyprexa posted a 16 percent gain over 2002. The growth of Zyprexa has become especially vital to Lilly because Prozac—Lilly’s best-known product, which once annually grossed over $2 billion—having lost its patent protection, continues its rapid decline, down to $645.1 million in 2003.

At the same time regulatory agencies were warning of Zyprexa’s possible linkage to diabetes, Lilly’s second most lucrative product line was its diabetes treatment drugs (including Actos, Humulin, and Humalog), which collectively grossed $2.51 billion in 2003. Lilly’s profits on diabetes drugs and the possible linkage between diabetes and Zyprexa is not, however, the most recent Lillygate that Gardiner Harris broke about Zyprexa in the New York Times on December 18, 2003.

Zyprexa costs approximately twice as much as similar drugs and Harris reported that state Medicaid programs—going in the red in part because of Zyprexa— are attempting to exclude it in favor of similar, less expensive drugs. Harris focused on the Kentucky Medicaid program, which had a $230 million deficit in 2002, with Zyprexa being its single largest drug expense at $36 million. When Kentucky’s Medicaid program attempted to exclude it from its list of preferred medications, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) fought back. The nonprofit NAMI—ostensibly a consumer organization—bused protesters to hearings, placed full-page ads in newspapers, and sent faxes to state officials. What NAMI did not say at the time was that the buses, ads, and faxes were paid for by Eli Lilly.

Whatever.  Web 2.0 and blogging put the world at the speed I like to go.  Woosh -- check out GoogleReader.  Immediately find what all my favorites have to say.  Scroll through at supersonic speeds til I hit something of interest.  Click, read, respond, and move onto the next.  It's awesome.

Then flipover to my own blog.  Go to My Account, hit "stats" and instantly discover how many people checked what I wrote a few hours ago.  Damn, it's 2 a.m. and no one's read my new post.  What are they doing, sleeping?

Time to upload photos, checkout YouTube, see what's happening on Facebook, and move on.  Thank God I have friends and family in the Philippines, California, London, and four other time zones. 

I wonder what therapists think about this?  Will FDA say that blogging is contraindicated for people with ADHD?  (While I've never been diagnosed with it, spend 5 minutes with me and I dare you to come up with another explanation.) 

Will it fry my brain that much faster?  Will it send me into overdrive?  Or, is it like taking my golden retriever Reilly on a long walk in the deep woods -- just what he needs to work out all that excess energy?  Does it boost creativity or just cause it to ooze all over the floor?

My fingers are itching to hit the "publish" button -- so I gotta go.  Let me hear what you think.