Self medicating

Everyone self medicates in some way. We use something to lower our stress levels, relax, decompress, trying to rid ourselves of pain, discomfort an anxiety quickly and efficiently. We use exercise, food, drink, shopping, legal and illegal drugs, meditating, socializing with family and friends, and many others.

But what does it mean when an entire circle of friends uses SSRIs, and anti-anxiety drugs? Should I be concerned that I'm the only one who isn't? What does it mean? Am I attracted to people who are from the ding and dent department? Or is Everyone in LA this way, and I'm just not aware of it?

Extinction vs proliferation

Things that I wish were extinct, dead or destroyed:

mosquitoes
barking neighborhood dogs
the post office (in it's current incarnation it needs to die die die!)
over processed foods pre-packaged foods
asphalt
patchouli

What we need more of:

well marked bike paths
better drivers
fewer drivers
more community (minus the religion or politics of the majority of communities these days)
more fresh fruit and vegetables
trees

Wisdom teach

I wonder if the reason we have wisdom teeth is widely known. It makes sense that if (in the wild) humans live about 50 years, then we should get some replacements for our worn out chompers about halfway through that life. Wisdom teeth are big, and specifically designed for chewing.

100k years ago, plants were a major calorie source, so the chewing teeth would be the ones most likely in need of replacement. And figuring we lived tough lives w/out health insurance and dental care, by the time we're 30 we would have lost a tooth or two to disease, decay or injury. Having a big honkin' tooth come in, helping to push the remaining the teeth together, and replace the lost one, makes sense.

All this comes up because now, at almost 40, a wisdom tooth is thinking about coming in. So far 2 have come in just fine, and 1 was removed because the tissue around it kept getting infected. This one has no room to come in, and I'm not looking forward to having it pulled. My father's final wisdom teeth didn't come in until almost 50.

I wonder if wisdom teeth come in sooner or later based on the amount of wear and tear on your entire system. Would it make a difference if you are an athlete or a a desk jockey, would they come in later because your body in general is being used up at a faster or slower rate.

Problem with being a cook

Even if there is nothing sweet in the house, it's still easy to whip something up. I had a craving for baked goods, so I rummaged around and found the fixings for apricot and pecan scones. (doesn't everyone have buttermilk and slab apricots in their kitchen?).

It was a new combo, and they came out beautifully. I only wanted a couple, so I wrapped the rest in foil and had a merry little bike around town and dropped the rest at friend's houses as little 'happy spring' packages.

Being that it was a new combo, The envelope stated, 'Scone Experiment #132, to be consumed by Test Subjects No. 4 & No. 5". I hope to have a full report from all test subjects by the end of the weekend.

Scarlet Runner Beans - Tapas style

Picked up some lovely Scarlet Runner Beans at Whole Foods. They are usually hard to find so I grabbed a few packages. They are very large dry beans, a half cup is less than a couple dozen. They are rich and meaty, and make great accents for pasta dishes or tossed in a salad.

I made them in a tapas style, perfect toothpick foods for appetizers.

Soak a couple handfuls of them overnight in cool water.

Using fresh water, simmer them in a pan of appropriate size for 90-120 minutes, adding more water as needed. Check after 90 minutes, they are done when they are still a bit firm and don't smoosh when you squeeze one between your fingers. Dump out water.

Put beans back in pan. Add a mix of soybean and olive oil, enough to almost submerge them. Add a handful of course chopped roasted red or yellow peppers (do it yourself or from a jar), handful of coarse chopped sundried tomotoes, 1/2 a yellow onion and a good sprinkle of salt, paprika, oregano, parsley, black pepper, or whatever else sounds good. Turn the heat on medium, stir occasionally, and turn off when the onions start to get fork tender but not brown.

Turn off heat and let it come down to room temp. Pour it all in a glass jar, pop it in the fridge, and let it steep for at least 24 hours. 2-5 days is even better if you can stand it.

Pour some out, oil and all, int a little tapa plate and serve with toothpicks. Way more interesting as an appetizer than peanuts.

sugar high

Problem w/ being a cook, is that even if I get rid of all the obvious bad-for-me foods out of the house, I can still whip up something bad for me in a matter of minutes.

I had the craving for something sharp and sweet, and made bittersweet chocolate chip cookies and walnuts. With a touch too much molasses so they were flat and crisp and chewy. So I ate more than 1. And now I'm feeling light headed from the sugar high.

I feel bad for my psychic roommates clients

Yes, I have an astrologer for a roommate. No, I do not believe in it. I have 4 roommates and live in west LA, I was bound to end up with at least one fruit or nut on the roster.

I believe that so many people believe in astrology for 1 reason. Because it's All About Them. It's not like a regular religion that gives you rules and mores to live by, and tells you how you fit into the universe. It's the opposite, it tells you how important you are, how the stars align for You, what makes You important in regards to the universe.

When I was a kid I was totally(omg!) into astrology. For about a year I would excitedly buy that little monthly scroll by the checkout line, and when I got home I'd pour over it, circling 'important' things and highlighting certain dates that were 'beneficial'. I was 10.

Now, I understand the importance of psychics and astrologers, people are looking for Something to give them guidance when things go awry. It's an adult version of those horrid pep rallies we'd get in school, telling us we were all unique and original, just like everybody else. Rah, rah, you can do it!

But for the adult version, there should be some air of mystery to it, something that makes you think the astrologer actually have a connection to the Higher Planes, that they can see something that will help you. That they have something you don't, which is why you are paying a stupid sum to hear them talk about You.

My roommate is a suck ass astrologer. He makes you read out of 2 books that you can buy at any Borders. For 2 hours. You read outloud, and in silence. He's not kidding when he says it's a reading. That's it. Nothing else, no foofoo, no scarves, candles and scribbles from a guide being channeled through him. You read crap he pulls from 2 books. And you get to keep the xeroxed pages when you leave.

All for the whopping price of $150.

I feel awful for the people he does 'readings' for. They could read the same shit out of a book that cost $15 at the bargain bin ( I know, a couple friends own the books too), and save 135 bucks. Which they likely need in this crappy economy.