SCIENTISTS ALTER SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN WORMS
Same-Sex Attraction is Genetically Wired in Nematode's Brain
Media Contacts
Oct. 25, 2007 - University of Utah biologists genetically manipulated nematode worms so the animals were attracted to worms of the same sex - part of a study that shows sexual orientation is wired in the creatures' brains.
"They look like girls, but act and think like boys," says Jamie White, a postdoctoral researcher and first author of the new study. "The [same-sex attraction] behavior is part of the nervous system."
The study was published online Thursday, Oct. 25 in Current Biology, and will run in the journal's Nov. 6 print edition.
"The conclusion is that sexual attraction is wired into brain circuits common to both sexes of worms, and is not caused solely by extra nerve cells added to the male or female brain," says laboratory leader and biology Professor Erik Jorgensen, scientific director of the Brain Institute at the University of Utah and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
"The reason males and females behave differently is that the same nerve cells have been rewired to alter sexual preference," he adds. "Our conclusions are narrow in that they are about worms and how attraction behaviors are derived from the same brain circuit. But an evolutionary biologist will consider this to be a potentially common mechanism for sexual attraction."
"We cannot say what this means for human sexual orientation, but it raises the possibility that sexual preference is wired in the brain," Jorgensen says. "Humans are subject to evolutionary forces just like worms. It seems possible that if sexual orientation is genetically wired in worms, it would be in people too. Humans have free will, so the picture is more complicated in people."
White and Jorgensen conducted the study with technician Jeff Gritton and three University of Utah biology undergraduates: Thomas Nicholas, Long Truong and Eliott Davidson. The study was funded primarily by the National Science Foundation.
The Rules of Attraction - for Worms
Nematodes, or C. elegans, are millimeter-long (one twenty-fifth of an inch) worms that live in soil and eat bacteria. Because the same genes are found in many animals, nematodes, mice, zebrafish and fruit flies often are used as "models" for humans in research.
Nematode worms lack eyes, so attraction is based only on the sense of smell. There are no true females and only one in 500 nematodes is male. Most are hermaphrodites, with both male and female organs. Jorgensen and White loosely refer to hermaphrodites as females because they produce offspring.
"A hermaphrodite makes both eggs and sperm," Jorgensen says. "She doesn't need to mate [with a male] to have progeny," but can fertilize her own eggs. "Most of the time, the hermaphrodites do not mate. But if they mate, instead of having 200 progeny, they can have 1,200 progeny."
Nematodes are few and far between in soil. So natural selection favored hermaphroditic worms because when they found an abundant food source, they were able to feast and make babies even if no males were nearby, Jorgensen says.
Male nematodes must find hermaphrodites if they are to reproduce, and they find them by smelling their sex-attractant odors or pheromones.
The Mind of a Worm is Sexualized
Jorgensen says the study looked at three possibilities, namely, whether male attraction to hermaphrodites results from:
Four "accessory" or extra smell-related nerve cells named CEM neurons that are found only in male brains. The worms gain these neurons during their version of puberty, their fourth larval stage.
Four "core" or basic smell-related nerve cells - two named AWC and two named AWA - found in both males and hermaphrodites.
Both the accessory and core neurons.
The answer was that male attraction involves the combination of both accessory and core nerve cells. The involvement of the core neurons was a surprise.
"We thought the extra CEM neurons provided sexual preference" because fourth-stage males are not attracted to hermaphrodites but adult males are, Jorgensen says. "We found instead that the brain - which is the same in young males and hermaphrodites - is rewired during the worm equivalent of puberty - the fourth larval stage - to make the males attracted to hermaphrodites."
"What we show is that the shared nervous system [common between male and hermaphrodite] is broadly sexualized," and sexual attraction can be changed by essentially flipping a genetic switch in that common brain, he adds.
The study involved these key experiments:
The researchers used laser microsurgery to kill the male-only CEM neurons in young larval males. The resulting adult males still were attracted to hermaphrodites.
That suggests the core neurons - brain cells common to both the male and hermaphrodite brain - are sexualized, and that the extra CEM nerve cells found only in males are not necessary for sexual attraction even though they normally play a role in it.
The biologists zapped eight different kinds of nerve cells involved in the sense of smell and taste: the four kinds of CEM neurons found only in males and four kinds of core neurons (AWA and AWC) also found in hermaphrodites. If any of the eight types of neurons was damaged in adult males, attraction was impaired. But when the nerve cells were zapped before puberty in fourth-stage larvae, they grew into adults with normal attraction to hermaphrodites. That shows "the nervous system can compensate for lost neurons as it goes through puberty," Jorgensen says.
"Normally there are eight sensory neurons in nematodes," says White. "You can take away seven of the eight prior to sexual maturation, and as long as there is one left, he can still be sexually attracted. ... Why would an organism that has only 383 nerve cells use eight of them for sexual attraction? It must be that the behavior is very important. There is redundancy. The system is flexible."
Next, "we took the hermaphrodite brain and we activated the genes that determine maleness," but only in the brain and not in the rest of the worm, Jorgensen says. Hermaphrodites with masculine brains "were attracted to other hermaphrodites."
The results show sexual orientation is wired into the brain in both sexes of worm.
To masculinize the brains of hermaphroditic worms, the researchers activated a gene named fem-3, but only in the nervous system. The fem-3 gene makes the body develop male structures such as a tail, which male worms use for copulation. With the gene active only in the brain, the hermaphrodites still had the same bodies and genitalia, but their brains were male, so they were attracted to other hermaphrodites.
To demonstrate the hermaphrodites produce sexual attractants or pheromones, the researchers washed hermaphrodites, and put some of the wash water on agar, a jelly-like growth medium, in a culture dish. When worms were placed on the dish, males moved toward the hermaphrodite wash water while hermaphrodites moved away.
When the scientists genetically altered hermaphrodites' brains to change their sexual orientation, they crawled toward the pheromones of other hermaphrodites.
"People debate whether the brain is influenced by sexual hormones from the gonads or whether the behavior is derived from the brain alone," Jorgensen says. "In this case, it's clear the brain is sexualized. ... The surprise was that sensory neurons found in the hermaphrodite brain are involved in sexual attraction in males."
This news release and downloadable high-resolution photos are at: http://www.unews.utah.edu/p/?r=101207-1
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Sporadic Thoughts
The Human body kind of grosses me out. Eating is gross. Drinking is ok, especially through a straw. But eating is disgusting. So is digestion and excretion. Bleh. Gross. I just hate watching people eat. I've seen very few people who are proper enough with food to not have it bother me. I bother me. I talk with food in my mouth, my face gets messy, etc. But I don't care. I only care that other people look not disgusting. Sex is gross, sweating is gross, zits are gross, drool is gross, leg hair and armpit hair is gross. Why can't we be made of metal or something?
Worst invention ever = the 3 in one handwasher/dryer found in the bathrooms down that hall. I insert my hands into the cave in the wall and soap squirts into my hands. Immediatly water comes exploding out, soaking the entire front of me for a good 10 to 12 seconds no matter how hard I try not to get wet, then the water turns off and the air comes on, but 70% of the time I still have soap on my hands. I have to put my hands into the cave next-door and dodge the soap then finish rinsing my hands, then I go back to the first cave til the dryer turns off then back to the second until it also turns off. My hands aren't even always dry. And there are no paper towels in there. Stupid, stupid invention.
Every time I miss a train or a bus, I have the odd feeling it doesn't exist. It only exists when I am involved. This is a very young, developing thought/idea so I am not going to expand quite yet.
Also, I started defining the term and group of people known as Indie yesterday. And I like what I have so far. This is also still developing so I'll save it for later.
I slept for probably 60-65% of Physics this morning. It gave me a headache because I slept awkwardly. I still felt like it was better to be there, sleeping, than to not be there at all.
I might go to France now. Instead of Italy. Because I don't know Italian. I'm excited and scared and anxious and nervous and worried but mostly excited.
I learned yesterday in ASL that the deaf culture is very blunt. I think the hearing culture should be more like that. It's probably healthy. When a hearing person sees an overweight person, we say, she's a little on the large side, or she's big for her age, or she's somewhat overweight, etc. When a deaf person sees an overweight person, he/she says, she's fat. It's a fact. There is no beating around the bush. Another example my teacher shared, He works somewhere with deaf people, and one day someone came in (I'm not sure if this person was deaf or hearing) and had a giant tooth or big gums or something very odd and noticible with his/her mouth. As this person assoiciated with hearing people, no one mentioned it. The first deaf person who talked to him/her though, immediatly said (or signed) "What's wrong with your mouth?"
It's amazing how we all have 2 eyes, a forehead, a nose, 2 nostrils, a mouth, teeth, cheeks, a chin, a jaw, and two ears, but everyone looks different. It's crazy! Blows my mind, really.
Ever since that nap in physics there has been a spot in my heart that hurts when I inhale really deeply. I feel like if I could inhale further it would pop, but I can't. It's physically impossible. Frustrating.
I think I'm done now. Thanks for listening.
Love Jessie
Worst invention ever = the 3 in one handwasher/dryer found in the bathrooms down that hall. I insert my hands into the cave in the wall and soap squirts into my hands. Immediatly water comes exploding out, soaking the entire front of me for a good 10 to 12 seconds no matter how hard I try not to get wet, then the water turns off and the air comes on, but 70% of the time I still have soap on my hands. I have to put my hands into the cave next-door and dodge the soap then finish rinsing my hands, then I go back to the first cave til the dryer turns off then back to the second until it also turns off. My hands aren't even always dry. And there are no paper towels in there. Stupid, stupid invention.
Every time I miss a train or a bus, I have the odd feeling it doesn't exist. It only exists when I am involved. This is a very young, developing thought/idea so I am not going to expand quite yet.
Also, I started defining the term and group of people known as Indie yesterday. And I like what I have so far. This is also still developing so I'll save it for later.
I slept for probably 60-65% of Physics this morning. It gave me a headache because I slept awkwardly. I still felt like it was better to be there, sleeping, than to not be there at all.
I might go to France now. Instead of Italy. Because I don't know Italian. I'm excited and scared and anxious and nervous and worried but mostly excited.
I learned yesterday in ASL that the deaf culture is very blunt. I think the hearing culture should be more like that. It's probably healthy. When a hearing person sees an overweight person, we say, she's a little on the large side, or she's big for her age, or she's somewhat overweight, etc. When a deaf person sees an overweight person, he/she says, she's fat. It's a fact. There is no beating around the bush. Another example my teacher shared, He works somewhere with deaf people, and one day someone came in (I'm not sure if this person was deaf or hearing) and had a giant tooth or big gums or something very odd and noticible with his/her mouth. As this person assoiciated with hearing people, no one mentioned it. The first deaf person who talked to him/her though, immediatly said (or signed) "What's wrong with your mouth?"
It's amazing how we all have 2 eyes, a forehead, a nose, 2 nostrils, a mouth, teeth, cheeks, a chin, a jaw, and two ears, but everyone looks different. It's crazy! Blows my mind, really.
Ever since that nap in physics there has been a spot in my heart that hurts when I inhale really deeply. I feel like if I could inhale further it would pop, but I can't. It's physically impossible. Frustrating.
I think I'm done now. Thanks for listening.
Love Jessie
Monday, October 22, 2007
Dumb nothingness
It happened. We ran out of toilet paper today. I held it for a while, then realized there was a box of tissues sitting next to me. Dummy.
I bought 2 pens today. Not just pens, but felt tip pens with tiny tips- perfect for my small writing. I bought a black one and a red one. They make writing fun.
I can't function until I take a nap. I'm dying. brb.
I set an alarm on my phone that I wouldn't sleep more than 30 minutes or so, but of course didn't listen to it when it told me to wake up. I slept for a good hour and a half. That felt great.
Pointless, pointless blog. I feel like I have so much to say and no words to say it with.
I've successfully been taking mood-notes for the past 4 days. When I feel very good or very bad or very blah I write down what I have or havent done, who I have or haven't seen, what I've thought about, etc, sofar that day. Each different thing has a plus or minus sign by it, indicating if it was a positive happening or negative happening. I'm already seeing some patterns and it has only been 4 days. I'm excited to do this for another good 10 days or so, then to compile a list of the positives and a list of the negatives. This will help me realize what I do that makes me happy. Yes.
It's 8:03. I haven't done anything since Lunch. During that passing time I felt good about doing absolutely nothing, but now I wish I had done my physics, readings, and writings. Nothing is important for tomorrow, directly, but I know I should be doing it. Dang it. I haven't any motivation.
I'm sick of this blahg.
I bought 2 pens today. Not just pens, but felt tip pens with tiny tips- perfect for my small writing. I bought a black one and a red one. They make writing fun.
I can't function until I take a nap. I'm dying. brb.
I set an alarm on my phone that I wouldn't sleep more than 30 minutes or so, but of course didn't listen to it when it told me to wake up. I slept for a good hour and a half. That felt great.
Pointless, pointless blog. I feel like I have so much to say and no words to say it with.
I've successfully been taking mood-notes for the past 4 days. When I feel very good or very bad or very blah I write down what I have or havent done, who I have or haven't seen, what I've thought about, etc, sofar that day. Each different thing has a plus or minus sign by it, indicating if it was a positive happening or negative happening. I'm already seeing some patterns and it has only been 4 days. I'm excited to do this for another good 10 days or so, then to compile a list of the positives and a list of the negatives. This will help me realize what I do that makes me happy. Yes.
It's 8:03. I haven't done anything since Lunch. During that passing time I felt good about doing absolutely nothing, but now I wish I had done my physics, readings, and writings. Nothing is important for tomorrow, directly, but I know I should be doing it. Dang it. I haven't any motivation.
I'm sick of this blahg.
Physics (10.19.7)
I wrote a poem today. I don't write, really. And I especially don't write poems. But I did, just for fun. So don't make fun of me. It's called Physics
Physics
The magic white in your hand
scratching at the eternal scroll of black
brings you such pleasure and joy-
scribbling in caps 'til you reach the brick wall,
going crazy with that white in your hand.
I wish I could have some white for my hand
to write and scribble and write and scribble
until my face beams as bright as yours
with ultimate satisfaction and happiness.
It was better at 7:30 this morning.
Physics
The magic white in your hand
scratching at the eternal scroll of black
brings you such pleasure and joy-
scribbling in caps 'til you reach the brick wall,
going crazy with that white in your hand.
I wish I could have some white for my hand
to write and scribble and write and scribble
until my face beams as bright as yours
with ultimate satisfaction and happiness.
It was better at 7:30 this morning.
Mood Notes (10.18.7)
I am in a Really good mood right now. And I'm not sure why. As someone said in a blog, "i've been learning about myself for almost 19 years, and i still don't know what makes me happy." Since I read that, which was actually only today I think, I have been thinking about when I am happy and when I am sad and why I am happy or sad. It is a Lot easier to know what makes me sad than to know what makes me happy. I am going to start taking notes on my mood and what previous events influenced it. Then I'll try to write out what makes me happy and what does not.
The end.
The end.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
The Future, Toilet Paper, Hallucinations, Addictions, and more.
My "suitemates" and I are brainstorming ideas that will save us toilet paper. It's amazing how fast one roll goes split among 4 girls. So far we have:
1. Don't use our bathroom. Go at the HC, at all your classes, etc. (Kylie's idea)
2. Ask our parents to send us care packages purely made up of toilet paper. (mine and Kristen's idea)
3. Only use one square. (Sheryl Crow's idea)
4. Steal strands from everywhere you go. (my idea)
5. Steal an entire roll when the tp dispensers happen to pop open when you pull too hard when tearing. (Kristen's idea)
6. Only pee in the shower. (Kristen's idea)
7. Don't use it, just wash your hands really well (my idea)
As you can see, our brainstorming has turned pretty desperate. Any additionaly ideas would be appreciated.
My Plans
1. Study Abroad. Until recently I was planning on going to Italy next fall for one semester. I found out though, that the program I had been researching (API- Academic Programs International) would not carry my scholarship over. If I go through isep (international student exchange program), my scholarship would go through. This changes things. I can no longer go to the University I had been really looking into in Italy. Then, as I look through the new magazine for isep, I find that I might not be able to go to Italy at all because I don’t know Italian. I have yet to figure out if I can go as an English-speaking student, but I plan to find that out soon. I’m still a little frustrated because I had already figured out what classes I’d take going through API and I was excited. Dang it.
2. Keep a 3.7 for 4 years so my tuition and housing continues to be paid for by the U. The problem with this scholarship though, it that I have to live on campus. I really don’t wan to live in dorms for 4 years, so I looked into the Officers Housing on Officer’s Circle. There is one house I would be able to get into, if I made the application cut. It’s called the Poulsen Honors House. These houses fit 12 students, I think 6 boys and 6 girls. If I got into one of those, I think I could live there for 2 years. I’d try to get in not next year, because I’m planning to study abroad in the fall, but the next fall, fall of ’09. If for some reason I am unable to study abroad, I want to apply to get in for next year. I’m already nervous about not making it in. I’d love it. I want to live in a house or apartment, but that means living off campus and that means cash. So hopefully hopefully hopefully I can make it into the Honors House.
I sometimes catch myself holding my breath. i.e. when I’m trying to be quiet when my roommate is asleep, when I’m shaving my legs, when I’m putting on mascara, etc.
Is this sentence not weird? I feel like the last piece needs to be a little more descriptive to fit in…
“…For every sense was touched: in the color of clipped plant materials, the sound of signing wind and splashing water, the soft caress of moss and the roughness of stone, the honeyed scent of boxwood and blossom, and the taste of water.”
Today I heard 2 auditory hallucinations. One at 7:10 ish AM and one at 9:45 ish AM.
The 7:10 ish hallucination happened as I was walking to physics. A boy was walking just a few seconds behind me for a while, when suddenly I heard him say “Hey” in a loudish whisper. Not Hey! Or HEY! But Hey. Like, Hey, look at this. Or something. I stopped immediately and pivoted to look at him, and to my surprise he had slowed down or something and was probably about 50 feet behind me. There was no way it was him who said hey. I quickly turned back around before he saw that I had stopped and turned out of nowhere. It was still very dark this morning at 7:10, so then my mind started playing more tricks on me and I had to just pull out my notebook and write instead of looking around at shadows and trees and other creepy things nature can do in the dark.
The 9:45 ish hallucination happened in the Union building. I went to take a nap on the comfy black couches between 2 classes and had just lied down and was trying to decide whether or not I should keep my phone in my pocket (If I got a text it might wake me up, but I was so tired maybe it’d be good to wake up if I got a text in case I slept through Calculus). Let’s put down some side notes.
1. Samsung phones, I think, or at least all the ones I’ve had, all vibrate 6 times when a text comes through.
2. Sometimes when I’m thinking about getting a text, I’ll get one. I’m sure that happens to other people too.
3. When sitting on a couch with a phone in a back pocket, often the sound make by the vibration is amplified through the couch. Sometimes others feel the vibration, but almost always the sound of the vibration is louder and more noticeable when on a couch.
Okay, so as I’m lying there with my head on the side arm thing, thinking about getting a text, I got one. I heard it very loudly through the couch. I didn’t feel it in my pocket, but after having the same phone in the same pocket for almost a year, I’m used to not feeling it. I pulled out my phone, and to my surprise, there was no new text. I sat up and looked at the people around me to see if anyone had pulled out their phone, but no one had. Then I decided there had to be a phone in the couch. I looked down the cracks of the cushions, but I found no phone. There also weren’t any bags or backpacks touching the couch I was on in which a phone could be hiding. I know I heard the 6 vibrations of a Samsung phone. I know it…
Yesterday I walked past a bush that had covered the ground around it in pink sprinkles. It was beautiful.
My favorite tree is the.. pear tree? I think? Or blossoming pear or something. Anyways, they are so pretty. They turn red at the tops and go through a million colors down to the bottom of the tree where it is still green. Eventually all the leaves die and fall off, but there are beautiful rainbows down trees everywhere until then. Maroon, Red, Orange, Beige, Pink, Yellow, Teal, Green, every color a leaf can be! They are amazing.
There are many kinds of addictions; Drug addictions, Alcohol addictions, Porn addictions, Sex addictions, Diet addictions, Exercise addictions, etc. Today I decided I have been addicted to a person. I used to be physically, emotionally, and socially addicted to this person. Now I am only slightly emotionally addicted. And that slightly is getting slighter and slighter daily. I’m still suffering the effects of the emotional addiction along with the social addiction, but as I do so I’m learning more and more about myself. It’s an interesting recovery, and probably similar to any other addiction recovery. I had just never thought of it that way.
I am amazed at the effects of exercise. While running or working out in some way, I’m not usually having loads of fun, but the positive mood I feel for the rest of the day pushes me through it. I love it.
What I don’t love is that I took 2 naps today, one at the Union for an hour and a half, and one in my own bed for a good 3 hours. I had a lousy night’s sleep last night, but my naps often don’t count toward the night before, but toward the upcoming night. I’m sad that I won’t be able to fall asleep forever tonight because no matter how awake I feel in the evening, I’m still as tired as ever in the morning at 6:15 when I wake up for Physics or at 7:15 when I wake up for Institute. Bleh.
Boring Blog. Sorry if you read it J
1. Don't use our bathroom. Go at the HC, at all your classes, etc. (Kylie's idea)
2. Ask our parents to send us care packages purely made up of toilet paper. (mine and Kristen's idea)
3. Only use one square. (Sheryl Crow's idea)
4. Steal strands from everywhere you go. (my idea)
5. Steal an entire roll when the tp dispensers happen to pop open when you pull too hard when tearing. (Kristen's idea)
6. Only pee in the shower. (Kristen's idea)
7. Don't use it, just wash your hands really well (my idea)
As you can see, our brainstorming has turned pretty desperate. Any additionaly ideas would be appreciated.
My Plans
1. Study Abroad. Until recently I was planning on going to Italy next fall for one semester. I found out though, that the program I had been researching (API- Academic Programs International) would not carry my scholarship over. If I go through isep (international student exchange program), my scholarship would go through. This changes things. I can no longer go to the University I had been really looking into in Italy. Then, as I look through the new magazine for isep, I find that I might not be able to go to Italy at all because I don’t know Italian. I have yet to figure out if I can go as an English-speaking student, but I plan to find that out soon. I’m still a little frustrated because I had already figured out what classes I’d take going through API and I was excited. Dang it.
2. Keep a 3.7 for 4 years so my tuition and housing continues to be paid for by the U. The problem with this scholarship though, it that I have to live on campus. I really don’t wan to live in dorms for 4 years, so I looked into the Officers Housing on Officer’s Circle. There is one house I would be able to get into, if I made the application cut. It’s called the Poulsen Honors House. These houses fit 12 students, I think 6 boys and 6 girls. If I got into one of those, I think I could live there for 2 years. I’d try to get in not next year, because I’m planning to study abroad in the fall, but the next fall, fall of ’09. If for some reason I am unable to study abroad, I want to apply to get in for next year. I’m already nervous about not making it in. I’d love it. I want to live in a house or apartment, but that means living off campus and that means cash. So hopefully hopefully hopefully I can make it into the Honors House.
I sometimes catch myself holding my breath. i.e. when I’m trying to be quiet when my roommate is asleep, when I’m shaving my legs, when I’m putting on mascara, etc.
Is this sentence not weird? I feel like the last piece needs to be a little more descriptive to fit in…
“…For every sense was touched: in the color of clipped plant materials, the sound of signing wind and splashing water, the soft caress of moss and the roughness of stone, the honeyed scent of boxwood and blossom, and the taste of water.”
Today I heard 2 auditory hallucinations. One at 7:10 ish AM and one at 9:45 ish AM.
The 7:10 ish hallucination happened as I was walking to physics. A boy was walking just a few seconds behind me for a while, when suddenly I heard him say “Hey” in a loudish whisper. Not Hey! Or HEY! But Hey. Like, Hey, look at this. Or something. I stopped immediately and pivoted to look at him, and to my surprise he had slowed down or something and was probably about 50 feet behind me. There was no way it was him who said hey. I quickly turned back around before he saw that I had stopped and turned out of nowhere. It was still very dark this morning at 7:10, so then my mind started playing more tricks on me and I had to just pull out my notebook and write instead of looking around at shadows and trees and other creepy things nature can do in the dark.
The 9:45 ish hallucination happened in the Union building. I went to take a nap on the comfy black couches between 2 classes and had just lied down and was trying to decide whether or not I should keep my phone in my pocket (If I got a text it might wake me up, but I was so tired maybe it’d be good to wake up if I got a text in case I slept through Calculus). Let’s put down some side notes.
1. Samsung phones, I think, or at least all the ones I’ve had, all vibrate 6 times when a text comes through.
2. Sometimes when I’m thinking about getting a text, I’ll get one. I’m sure that happens to other people too.
3. When sitting on a couch with a phone in a back pocket, often the sound make by the vibration is amplified through the couch. Sometimes others feel the vibration, but almost always the sound of the vibration is louder and more noticeable when on a couch.
Okay, so as I’m lying there with my head on the side arm thing, thinking about getting a text, I got one. I heard it very loudly through the couch. I didn’t feel it in my pocket, but after having the same phone in the same pocket for almost a year, I’m used to not feeling it. I pulled out my phone, and to my surprise, there was no new text. I sat up and looked at the people around me to see if anyone had pulled out their phone, but no one had. Then I decided there had to be a phone in the couch. I looked down the cracks of the cushions, but I found no phone. There also weren’t any bags or backpacks touching the couch I was on in which a phone could be hiding. I know I heard the 6 vibrations of a Samsung phone. I know it…
Yesterday I walked past a bush that had covered the ground around it in pink sprinkles. It was beautiful.
My favorite tree is the.. pear tree? I think? Or blossoming pear or something. Anyways, they are so pretty. They turn red at the tops and go through a million colors down to the bottom of the tree where it is still green. Eventually all the leaves die and fall off, but there are beautiful rainbows down trees everywhere until then. Maroon, Red, Orange, Beige, Pink, Yellow, Teal, Green, every color a leaf can be! They are amazing.
There are many kinds of addictions; Drug addictions, Alcohol addictions, Porn addictions, Sex addictions, Diet addictions, Exercise addictions, etc. Today I decided I have been addicted to a person. I used to be physically, emotionally, and socially addicted to this person. Now I am only slightly emotionally addicted. And that slightly is getting slighter and slighter daily. I’m still suffering the effects of the emotional addiction along with the social addiction, but as I do so I’m learning more and more about myself. It’s an interesting recovery, and probably similar to any other addiction recovery. I had just never thought of it that way.
I am amazed at the effects of exercise. While running or working out in some way, I’m not usually having loads of fun, but the positive mood I feel for the rest of the day pushes me through it. I love it.
What I don’t love is that I took 2 naps today, one at the Union for an hour and a half, and one in my own bed for a good 3 hours. I had a lousy night’s sleep last night, but my naps often don’t count toward the night before, but toward the upcoming night. I’m sad that I won’t be able to fall asleep forever tonight because no matter how awake I feel in the evening, I’m still as tired as ever in the morning at 6:15 when I wake up for Physics or at 7:15 when I wake up for Institute. Bleh.
Boring Blog. Sorry if you read it J
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
My Greek Philosophy
“What the Greeks endeavored to achieve in all things was arête, that quality of excellence that results from refinement and testing in all human endeavors. Arête was an all-encompassing physical, moral, and intellectual excellence requiring a balance in life and achieved through rigorous self-discipline.
“Nothing to excess” sums up the Greek view of life, and it was for this reason that Greeks had no time for specialists. A person of arête did all things well and kept in balance. To realize a well-ordered life, a person endeavored to exercise strength and power in restraint, to value quality before achievement, and personal honor over opulence.”
Nothing to excess. Never too much family, too much friends, too much sleep, too much partying. Never too much eating, too much dieting, too much exercise, too much loafing. Never too much drinking, too much sports, too much shopping, too much homework. Never too much church, too much myspace, too much texting, too much video game. Never too much reading, too much cuddling, too much ice cream, too much dancing. Never too much crying, too much laughing, too much makeup, too much gossip. Nothing to excess.
The past few days I’ve started trying to moderate my life in as many aspects as possible. I’m trying to be physically, intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and socially balanced. I’m slightly obsessive compulsive in that everything I do is very organized and most of it planned, but I feel productive and successful this way. If anything is slightly sloppy or spontaneous, I keep it confined in a 2-foot bubble around me. It’s proving difficult to describe the way I’m living this Greek philosophy. I’m sure most of this is mental. Had someone been watching me for the past couple weeks they probably wouldn’t be able to tell a difference between last week and the last few days, but luckily no one has been, so I can exaggerate the difference I feel as much as I’d like.
“Nothing to excess” sums up the Greek view of life, and it was for this reason that Greeks had no time for specialists. A person of arête did all things well and kept in balance. To realize a well-ordered life, a person endeavored to exercise strength and power in restraint, to value quality before achievement, and personal honor over opulence.”
Nothing to excess. Never too much family, too much friends, too much sleep, too much partying. Never too much eating, too much dieting, too much exercise, too much loafing. Never too much drinking, too much sports, too much shopping, too much homework. Never too much church, too much myspace, too much texting, too much video game. Never too much reading, too much cuddling, too much ice cream, too much dancing. Never too much crying, too much laughing, too much makeup, too much gossip. Nothing to excess.
The past few days I’ve started trying to moderate my life in as many aspects as possible. I’m trying to be physically, intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and socially balanced. I’m slightly obsessive compulsive in that everything I do is very organized and most of it planned, but I feel productive and successful this way. If anything is slightly sloppy or spontaneous, I keep it confined in a 2-foot bubble around me. It’s proving difficult to describe the way I’m living this Greek philosophy. I’m sure most of this is mental. Had someone been watching me for the past couple weeks they probably wouldn’t be able to tell a difference between last week and the last few days, but luckily no one has been, so I can exaggerate the difference I feel as much as I’d like.
Good Day
Would it be annoying to be forced to listen to music in another language whenever you were in your room? I agree. But I hate these earbuds :( Learn English dang it!
I rearranged my half of the room today. Ever since Elementary School when I'd change the layout of my books and papers and pencils and hidden box of sugar cubes and other odds and ends inside my desk, I've been a big fan of rearranging. Even with only 2 pieces of furniture and about a 9' x 9' area to work with, the rejuvinating cleanliness that comes along with changing the layout of my living space is exactly what I needed today to motivate myself back into life. Perfect.
The other day I was visiting my home in Centerville. I sat down with the newspaper to bring myself up to date in the world becaues I don't get the paper in college and haven't put forth the effort to do any reading online. These are some, not all, but some of the headlines I saw:
Rapist not sure freedom is best
Husband charged in hit-and-run death
A Sad Farewell
Police kill man after 2 stabbings
Clues are sought in girl's disappearance
2 Jail escapees indicted
Pot bust in Sandy
Jeppson in court to hear Kiplyn murder charge
Woman is found dead in her house
Teen gunman injures 4, kills self at Cleveland school
Injured rescuer sues family of boy left disabled after near drowning(this is ridiculous: a one-year-old who was found without a pulse in a pool was rescued by a rescue crew. The boy survived, but has severe brain damage and can't eat, swallow, talk, or walk. The day of the near-drowning, one of the rescuers slipped on a puddle of water somewhere in the family's house. She broke her knee cap and was out of service for about 2 months. Now she is trying to sue the family for the injury. Of course there will be water in the house, the kid nearly drowned. What a jerk.)
Offenders must post "No Candy" ("To discourage contact with children, some registered sex offenders in Maryland will be asked to post signs at their homes that say "No Candy at this Residence" on Halloween." Sad.)
It made me not feel so bad that I don't get the newspaper.
From my book "Understanding Architecture; Its Elements, History, and Meaning" I have for you a couple lines that I enjoyed:
"The method used to ascertain truth by the scholars of the thirteenth century was scholasticism, the application of Classical Aristotelian logic to explain and reconcile inconsistencies between early church writings, the civil law compiled by Justinian, and canon law. It was inevitable that such investigations would lead to doubt, but as Abelard, one of the principal philosophers in Paris, observed, doubt would lead to inquiry and inquiry to truth."
"Small wonder that the Athenian philosopher Protagoras of Abdera, a friend of Perikles, should write in his essay Truth, "Man is the measure of all things, of those which are that they are, and of those which are not that they are not." In the Greek, this can also be taken to mean "man is the measure of all things," meaning that truth is relative to human perception and interpretation."
I recently had my hair cut and colored, and for a few days there were some blonde highlights which are now more brown. One day, when the highlights were still blonde, my 5 year old niece said to me, in all seriousness, "I didn't recognize you because of your gold hair. I have gold hair from the sun. I have gold hair from the sun because I play hard." Cutie.
That's all for now.
(10.15.7)
I rearranged my half of the room today. Ever since Elementary School when I'd change the layout of my books and papers and pencils and hidden box of sugar cubes and other odds and ends inside my desk, I've been a big fan of rearranging. Even with only 2 pieces of furniture and about a 9' x 9' area to work with, the rejuvinating cleanliness that comes along with changing the layout of my living space is exactly what I needed today to motivate myself back into life. Perfect.
The other day I was visiting my home in Centerville. I sat down with the newspaper to bring myself up to date in the world becaues I don't get the paper in college and haven't put forth the effort to do any reading online. These are some, not all, but some of the headlines I saw:
Rapist not sure freedom is best
Husband charged in hit-and-run death
A Sad Farewell
Police kill man after 2 stabbings
Clues are sought in girl's disappearance
2 Jail escapees indicted
Pot bust in Sandy
Jeppson in court to hear Kiplyn murder charge
Woman is found dead in her house
Teen gunman injures 4, kills self at Cleveland school
Injured rescuer sues family of boy left disabled after near drowning(this is ridiculous: a one-year-old who was found without a pulse in a pool was rescued by a rescue crew. The boy survived, but has severe brain damage and can't eat, swallow, talk, or walk. The day of the near-drowning, one of the rescuers slipped on a puddle of water somewhere in the family's house. She broke her knee cap and was out of service for about 2 months. Now she is trying to sue the family for the injury. Of course there will be water in the house, the kid nearly drowned. What a jerk.)
Offenders must post "No Candy" ("To discourage contact with children, some registered sex offenders in Maryland will be asked to post signs at their homes that say "No Candy at this Residence" on Halloween." Sad.)
It made me not feel so bad that I don't get the newspaper.
From my book "Understanding Architecture; Its Elements, History, and Meaning" I have for you a couple lines that I enjoyed:
"The method used to ascertain truth by the scholars of the thirteenth century was scholasticism, the application of Classical Aristotelian logic to explain and reconcile inconsistencies between early church writings, the civil law compiled by Justinian, and canon law. It was inevitable that such investigations would lead to doubt, but as Abelard, one of the principal philosophers in Paris, observed, doubt would lead to inquiry and inquiry to truth."
"Small wonder that the Athenian philosopher Protagoras of Abdera, a friend of Perikles, should write in his essay Truth, "Man is the measure of all things, of those which are that they are, and of those which are not that they are not." In the Greek, this can also be taken to mean "man is the measure of all things," meaning that truth is relative to human perception and interpretation."
I recently had my hair cut and colored, and for a few days there were some blonde highlights which are now more brown. One day, when the highlights were still blonde, my 5 year old niece said to me, in all seriousness, "I didn't recognize you because of your gold hair. I have gold hair from the sun. I have gold hair from the sun because I play hard." Cutie.
That's all for now.
(10.15.7)
AIDS
I just heard about the death of a man I was associated with for a short time who died on Saturday of AIDS. I've never known someone with AIDS, let alone had them die from it. AIDS has always seemed far away and only spoken of, not actually experienced. For some reason it's just a little hard for me to understand.
Scott Douglas Morgan "Our Scrooge"
Scott Douglas Morgan passed away Oct. 6, 2007. He loved music and acting and performed in theatres throughout the valley for over 30 years. His favorite role was of Ebenezer Scrooge-a role that changed his life. After graduating from Granger High School and serving an LDS mission in Paris, France, Scott drifted from his standards.
During this period, he struggled with addiction and also contracted HIV and Aids, diseases which he survived for 21 years. In 1997, Scott was cast as the understudy for Scrooge in Hale Centre Theatre's "A Christmas Carol." During his first performance, Scott's life profoundly changed. "I will have Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. I shall live in the past, the present and the future, the Spirits of all three shall strive within me and I will not shut out the lessons they teach." This was the beginning of an amazing transformation. Scott began a difficult repentance process during which he courted Tammy Eves, a long-time friend and fellow actor in HCT's "Fiddler on The Roof." On closing night of the show, Scott proposed to Tammy in front of a sold-out crowd. The two were married onstage Sept. 24, 1999, and were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Aug. 30, 2002. Scott and Tammy shared the stage together for the last time in Dec. 2006.
Scott served in several church callings, most recently on the high council of the Midvale North Stake. He had an incredible testimony of the Atonement and was never afraid to share it. One of Scott's mottos was "It's all about choice." He wanted everybody to have the hope that a child can change. Scott was born March 30, 1958 to Douglas W. Morgan and Barbara Coombs Morgan. He was preceded in death by two siblings: Lynn Morgan and Laura Harms. He is survived by his wife, parents and two siblings: Milton Morgan (Gerri), Lydia Moyes (Scott) as well as many in-laws, nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Larry Reimer and the U Medical Center staff for their years of care and friendship. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Scott D. Morgan Memorial Fund (in Tammy's name) at Bank of American Fork. Funeral services are scheduled for Fri., Oct. 12, 11 a.m. at the Midvale North Stake, 97 West 7500 South. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the services, and on Thurs. Oct. 11, 6-8 p.m. at the Jenkins Soffe Mortuary, 4760 State St. Interment, Midvale City Cemetery.
(10.10.7)
Scott Douglas Morgan "Our Scrooge"
Scott Douglas Morgan passed away Oct. 6, 2007. He loved music and acting and performed in theatres throughout the valley for over 30 years. His favorite role was of Ebenezer Scrooge-a role that changed his life. After graduating from Granger High School and serving an LDS mission in Paris, France, Scott drifted from his standards.
During this period, he struggled with addiction and also contracted HIV and Aids, diseases which he survived for 21 years. In 1997, Scott was cast as the understudy for Scrooge in Hale Centre Theatre's "A Christmas Carol." During his first performance, Scott's life profoundly changed. "I will have Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. I shall live in the past, the present and the future, the Spirits of all three shall strive within me and I will not shut out the lessons they teach." This was the beginning of an amazing transformation. Scott began a difficult repentance process during which he courted Tammy Eves, a long-time friend and fellow actor in HCT's "Fiddler on The Roof." On closing night of the show, Scott proposed to Tammy in front of a sold-out crowd. The two were married onstage Sept. 24, 1999, and were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Aug. 30, 2002. Scott and Tammy shared the stage together for the last time in Dec. 2006.
Scott served in several church callings, most recently on the high council of the Midvale North Stake. He had an incredible testimony of the Atonement and was never afraid to share it. One of Scott's mottos was "It's all about choice." He wanted everybody to have the hope that a child can change. Scott was born March 30, 1958 to Douglas W. Morgan and Barbara Coombs Morgan. He was preceded in death by two siblings: Lynn Morgan and Laura Harms. He is survived by his wife, parents and two siblings: Milton Morgan (Gerri), Lydia Moyes (Scott) as well as many in-laws, nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Larry Reimer and the U Medical Center staff for their years of care and friendship. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Scott D. Morgan Memorial Fund (in Tammy's name) at Bank of American Fork. Funeral services are scheduled for Fri., Oct. 12, 11 a.m. at the Midvale North Stake, 97 West 7500 South. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the services, and on Thurs. Oct. 11, 6-8 p.m. at the Jenkins Soffe Mortuary, 4760 State St. Interment, Midvale City Cemetery.
(10.10.7)
Fall Break
(10.9.7)
This week I want to get some things done. It is almost half way gone, so I need to start moving as soon as I get off this compy. I have some homework I want to get done so I don't have to worry about it next week. I want to get some done tonight, some tomorrow. Then be finished. And not have it pressing my conscience every few hours. I need to
1. Read two long chapters (11 and 12) from Understanding Architecture and possibly take notes on them if I want to be a overachiever, which I secretly do.
2. Do a practice exam for a Calculus test on Tuesday. Questions from the exam will come from the practice exam, so I'd be an idiot not to do it.
3. Read chapter 6 in my Physics book so I will understand the assignments I do next week.
See. Not very much to do. But I want to get it done really soon. That way I will have the rest of Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday to
1. Clean my dorm.
A.Vacuum.
B. Organize my desk.
C. Get rid of some clothes from my over-flowing drawers.
D. Clean the bathroom, somewhat.
2. Read the last 12.5 pages of Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson. No, not read. Understand the last 12.5 pages of Self -Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
3. Watch Rad.
4. Figure out my future.
A. Write down next semester's schedule plan
B. Figure out any Gen Ed's I still need and place them somewhere in next year's spring semester.
C. Hopefully find that all basic requirements will be completed within 3 semesters at the University, leaving room for one Semester to Study Abroad in Italy taking whatever classes I choose. Classes that don't hold me back transcript wise if they don't transfer correctly.
D. Decide which of the 5 Universities in Italy would be the most benifitial to me and my future.
E. Find out if my scholarship would cover the same finances in Italy that it does here.
F. Figure out how much Italy would cost based off the information found in E.
G. Figure out every detail about Studying Abroad, including cost, dates, deadlines, plane rides, etc. so I can present a very well organized and thought out plan to my parents.
5. Go to Provo for one night. Sleep at sister Michelle's. Have a dance party with Mindy. Play with both Mindy and Annie for longer than 5 minutes. (Clancee's fault.)
6. Go to Logan for one night. Sleep at sister Sara's. Have a dance party with Sara. Play with Tyler and Jared and Trent. Find Ali Drake and talk to her.
7. Visit Jo Bradbury.
8. Visit my old family called the Cheney's.
9. Write letters to missionary friends
A. Ben Rasmussen
B. Mike Walter
C. Greg Whipple
10. Visit Bryan Mortenson. Have good conversation.
11. Find small somethings like the wine decorations in Mrs. Bradbury's art classroom to decorate my dorm wall with. Not that I really care to, but because I feel when people come to visit they wish there was something on my wall. I'm such a conformist.
12. Read Harry Potter 7. Yes, I still have not finished the book. I don't really want to. I likehaving something to look forward to in the wizarding world. Since I was in 4th grade there has always been future to Harry Potter and I am not sure I'm ready for it to be over.
13. Read Uncle Tom's Cabin. I hear references to it a lot and have never read it.
14. Read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Just because.
15. Get a massage at Massage Envy.
16. Play Guitar Hero. Get at least 4 stars on all the songs on Hard.
17. Play with Cael, Jared, and Trent.
I suppose that is all. Quite the list. This is more for me than you. I needed to write down everything I wanted to do this week before I forgot. I'm excited.
On your marks, Get set, Go.
This week I want to get some things done. It is almost half way gone, so I need to start moving as soon as I get off this compy. I have some homework I want to get done so I don't have to worry about it next week. I want to get some done tonight, some tomorrow. Then be finished. And not have it pressing my conscience every few hours. I need to
1. Read two long chapters (11 and 12) from Understanding Architecture and possibly take notes on them if I want to be a overachiever, which I secretly do.
2. Do a practice exam for a Calculus test on Tuesday. Questions from the exam will come from the practice exam, so I'd be an idiot not to do it.
3. Read chapter 6 in my Physics book so I will understand the assignments I do next week.
See. Not very much to do. But I want to get it done really soon. That way I will have the rest of Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday to
1. Clean my dorm.
A.Vacuum.
B. Organize my desk.
C. Get rid of some clothes from my over-flowing drawers.
D. Clean the bathroom, somewhat.
2. Read the last 12.5 pages of Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson. No, not read. Understand the last 12.5 pages of Self -Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
3. Watch Rad.
4. Figure out my future.
A. Write down next semester's schedule plan
B. Figure out any Gen Ed's I still need and place them somewhere in next year's spring semester.
C. Hopefully find that all basic requirements will be completed within 3 semesters at the University, leaving room for one Semester to Study Abroad in Italy taking whatever classes I choose. Classes that don't hold me back transcript wise if they don't transfer correctly.
D. Decide which of the 5 Universities in Italy would be the most benifitial to me and my future.
E. Find out if my scholarship would cover the same finances in Italy that it does here.
F. Figure out how much Italy would cost based off the information found in E.
G. Figure out every detail about Studying Abroad, including cost, dates, deadlines, plane rides, etc. so I can present a very well organized and thought out plan to my parents.
5. Go to Provo for one night. Sleep at sister Michelle's. Have a dance party with Mindy. Play with both Mindy and Annie for longer than 5 minutes. (Clancee's fault.)
6. Go to Logan for one night. Sleep at sister Sara's. Have a dance party with Sara. Play with Tyler and Jared and Trent. Find Ali Drake and talk to her.
7. Visit Jo Bradbury.
8. Visit my old family called the Cheney's.
9. Write letters to missionary friends
A. Ben Rasmussen
B. Mike Walter
C. Greg Whipple
10. Visit Bryan Mortenson. Have good conversation.
11. Find small somethings like the wine decorations in Mrs. Bradbury's art classroom to decorate my dorm wall with. Not that I really care to, but because I feel when people come to visit they wish there was something on my wall. I'm such a conformist.
12. Read Harry Potter 7. Yes, I still have not finished the book. I don't really want to. I likehaving something to look forward to in the wizarding world. Since I was in 4th grade there has always been future to Harry Potter and I am not sure I'm ready for it to be over.
13. Read Uncle Tom's Cabin. I hear references to it a lot and have never read it.
14. Read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Just because.
15. Get a massage at Massage Envy.
16. Play Guitar Hero. Get at least 4 stars on all the songs on Hard.
17. Play with Cael, Jared, and Trent.
I suppose that is all. Quite the list. This is more for me than you. I needed to write down everything I wanted to do this week before I forgot. I'm excited.
On your marks, Get set, Go.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Goodbye Hyesun?
I just signed a paper for my roommate saying it's okay if she moves out. She wants to move to Sage Point where they have kitchens. I am sad. Sure, we don't talk much- it's hard when she doesn't speak English very well- but I enjoy her. I feel comfortable in my own room, whereas with other roommates I'm afraid I wouldn't. I like having this language and cultural barrier. It alows us to be in the same room in silence and being 100 percent okay with the silence. I like that she set up the rule no boys in the room past 10:30. I don't want a roommate who would bring in some of the experiences some people on my floor have had. ie boys hanging out in the room til five while the roommate is wanting to go to bed, boys sleeping over, her getting high in the room, watching tv all the time, watching movies I don't like, listening to annoying music, never going to bed, etc. I hope I can just have my own room for the rest of the semester. But I doubt it. Hyesun might not move out until semester anyways. I'm suprised at how much I don't want her to move out. Shoot. I don't want a new roommy. I like her.
:(
:(
Monday, October 1, 2007
Dermographic Urticaria
DERMOGRAPHIC URTICARIA
Dermatographic urticaria (also known as dermographism, dermatographism or "skin writing") is a skin disorder seen in 4-5% of the population[1], in which the skin becomes raised and inflamed when stroked or rubbed with a dull object[2]. The symptoms are thought to be caused by mast cells in the surface of the skin releasing histamines without the presence of antigens, due to the presence of a weak membrane surrounding the mast cells. The histamines released cause the skin to swell in the affected areas.
This weak membrane easily and rapidly breaks down under physical pressure causing an allergic-like reaction, generally a red welt to appear on the skin. It can often be confused with an allergic reaction to the object causing a scratch, when in fact it is the act of being scratched that causes a welt to appear. These welts are a subset of hives that appear within minutes, accompanied by a sensation of burning, and/or itchiness. The first outbreak of hives can lead to others on body parts not directly stimulated, scraped or scratched. In a normal case the swelling has reduced itself with no treatment within 15-30 minutes, but in extreme cases, itchy red wheals may last anwhere from a few hours to days.
Dermatographism can be caused by stress, tight or abrasive clothing, watches, glasses, energetic kissing, heat, cold, or anything that causes stress to the skin. In many cases it is merely a minor annoyance, but in some rare cases symptoms are severe enough to impact a patient's life.
It can be treated by antihistamines or cromoglicate, as they prevent the histamine from causing the reaction. The underlying cause of dermographism is not known, and can last for many years without relief. 95% of chronic cases are never solved. Sometimes the condition goes away, sometimes it stays forever. It is not a life threatening disease.
ZYRTEC
ZYRTEC® (cetirizine HCl) is a prescription medicine that treats both indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms. And it also treats itching due to chronic hives. Studies show that 1 dose of ZYRTEC works for a full 24 hours.
In clinical studies, people taking ZYRTEC were relieved of their symptoms within 1 hour. Studies show that symptom relief from a single dose of ZYRTEC lasts 24 hours.
Basically, with Dermographism, if something scratches me or simply rubs against my arm or stomach or back, a red welt appears. This welt itches and burns. If I subconciously scratch my back or my head or neck or shoulder or stomach, it starts to itch and burn so I scratch it before I catch myself. Once it's been scratched more welts come and more burning comes. I've tried putting myself in some kind of a straight jacket, to no avail. It's impossible not to scratch when it itches.It's a horrible mental game. Zyrtec didn't kick in very fast last night. I was up until about 2:30 or so, trying to get my mind off of scratching. It's a really lousy way to spend time in bed.
Dermatographic urticaria (also known as dermographism, dermatographism or "skin writing") is a skin disorder seen in 4-5% of the population[1], in which the skin becomes raised and inflamed when stroked or rubbed with a dull object[2]. The symptoms are thought to be caused by mast cells in the surface of the skin releasing histamines without the presence of antigens, due to the presence of a weak membrane surrounding the mast cells. The histamines released cause the skin to swell in the affected areas.
This weak membrane easily and rapidly breaks down under physical pressure causing an allergic-like reaction, generally a red welt to appear on the skin. It can often be confused with an allergic reaction to the object causing a scratch, when in fact it is the act of being scratched that causes a welt to appear. These welts are a subset of hives that appear within minutes, accompanied by a sensation of burning, and/or itchiness. The first outbreak of hives can lead to others on body parts not directly stimulated, scraped or scratched. In a normal case the swelling has reduced itself with no treatment within 15-30 minutes, but in extreme cases, itchy red wheals may last anwhere from a few hours to days.
Dermatographism can be caused by stress, tight or abrasive clothing, watches, glasses, energetic kissing, heat, cold, or anything that causes stress to the skin. In many cases it is merely a minor annoyance, but in some rare cases symptoms are severe enough to impact a patient's life.
It can be treated by antihistamines or cromoglicate, as they prevent the histamine from causing the reaction. The underlying cause of dermographism is not known, and can last for many years without relief. 95% of chronic cases are never solved. Sometimes the condition goes away, sometimes it stays forever. It is not a life threatening disease.
ZYRTEC
ZYRTEC® (cetirizine HCl) is a prescription medicine that treats both indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms. And it also treats itching due to chronic hives. Studies show that 1 dose of ZYRTEC works for a full 24 hours.
In clinical studies, people taking ZYRTEC were relieved of their symptoms within 1 hour. Studies show that symptom relief from a single dose of ZYRTEC lasts 24 hours.
Basically, with Dermographism, if something scratches me or simply rubs against my arm or stomach or back, a red welt appears. This welt itches and burns. If I subconciously scratch my back or my head or neck or shoulder or stomach, it starts to itch and burn so I scratch it before I catch myself. Once it's been scratched more welts come and more burning comes. I've tried putting myself in some kind of a straight jacket, to no avail. It's impossible not to scratch when it itches.It's a horrible mental game. Zyrtec didn't kick in very fast last night. I was up until about 2:30 or so, trying to get my mind off of scratching. It's a really lousy way to spend time in bed.
I just walked into a room down the hall where 4 boys were sitting playing Donkey Kong, something they've been doing for days now. I was more critical of those boys than I usually am of anyone, even of a best friend or sibling. I did not enter the room in a bad mood or wanting to be negative, but something about the way they are wasting time got me going and it was hard for me to bite my tongue and let them be. I finally had to just walk out of the room because a weird side of me was coming out and attacking some random kids playing video games.
During Physics I fell asleep for a good 5 minutes and woke up with the spiral of my notebook imprinted on my arm. During Introduction to Architecture my head was bobbing. After these two classes I went to the Olpin Union Building because the couches there are amazing, as I have noted in previous blogs, and I was really, really tired. The smallest couch, a one person love seat type thing, was open so I layed down on it at 9:37. At 10:something I woke up and saw that the biggest couch was open so I moved to it. I fell back asleep instantly. Then at 11:55 my friend Brian calls, waking me up, and says, "Hey, are you still asleep at the Union? Class started 5 minutes ago." Luckily he had been to the Union and saw me sleeping. So I had to wake up and groggily go to Calculus. Then my voice was like a 13 year old boy's- super cracky and unstable- all through calculus. And I talk a lot in that class. I ask a lot of questions. So I'm sure it was noticable. Now I'm not tired though. I feel good.
I made a To Do list Yesterday during church. It was a list consisting of 25 things to do and 19 ideas that ran through my head. Then after church I was talking to a boy named Ryan for a while and a boy named Jonathan came over and said Hey Ryan, come over to my house at this address for lunch right now. You can come too, my name's Jonathan. My name is Jessie. And thanks for the invite. Etc. So I got in Ryan's car and we went to Jonathan's house. I left my Scriptures Make Me Happy bag in Ryan's car. In the bag was my key and my card used for entering my dorm building and getting meals. While at Jonathan's house, Ryan had to go rescue a friend from a weird situations which ended up with cops and restraining orders, but said he'd come back quickly. He didn't, so someone else gave me a ride home. Until I was getting out of this other person's car I completely forgot that my bag wasn't with me. I said bye and luckily got into my dorm by knocking on a window of a friend on the first floor, and luckily my room was unlocked. It was fun because situations like this don't stress me out at all. I knew I'd get my bag back eventually, so I did what I could without it, like taping the door so it wouldn't close correctly in case in locked without my permission. All went well and I was glad I didn't have a stress attack like I know some people I know would have. It was an interesting experience, deciding from the begining that overreacting would be pointless, and just accepting things the way they were. It's simple things like this that make me feel like I make better choices now than I ever have before. I can't quite get across what I mean, but perhaps if you know me well enough you'll understand it? Whatevs.
On Saturday, a couple friends and I had to take apart a couch because a 5.5 foot python got inside it. My fault. The snake was okay though. And so was the couch, in the end.
Since my Junior year when Mr. Linford showed my Honors English class Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay Self-Reliance, I've always wanted to read it. All of it. But I never have. So today I think I will. My friend mass-dared it too. So I really think I will. And I want to do it in one sitting. So I have to prepare.
One of my first days in the dorms I was in my room and overheard a conversation in the hall about how "Mormons can't date non-Mormons." I like talking about anything religious, or at least listening, so I opened my door wanting to join in. Then when I asked what the argument was, a boy named Remmington looked at me and said, Are you Mormon? I said yes. Then he said, You look like a Mormon. Then he walked off to his room and the conversation ended. I said, I choose to take that as a compliment, I suppose. Since then Remmington and I have become good friends, but at first I thought he didn't like me because I was Mormon. That's not the point of this thought though. From my Physics class, about 10 or more of us walk to the same following class, Intro to Architecture. I am always walking that 10 minutes within about 10 or 20 feet of the same two boys. I noticed this and I'm sure they noticed this too. So finally today I just started talking to them. One is LDS. We are all Pre-Architecture students, but the one said, well you two will be a couple years ahead of me so I won't necessarilly be competing against you. And I said why is that? He's going on a mission. This isn't my point either. My point, or more idea or question, is can people tell I'm a Mormon, just by the way I look, act, walk, hold my head, carry conversation? If Remmington could, which I'm not sure he could, I wonder if many people can. A couple Sundays ago, Elder Holland, a member of the 12 Apostles, spoke at a fireside at the University's Institute. One thing he said that I really liked was "We are not bound to say what we thing, but we are bound to not even look like what we don't think." So I'm curious if by not even looking like what I don't think makes me look like what I do think or merely not what I don't think. Understand?
I have a friend that texts me all the time about nothing whatsoever. Just pointless texting. It's very immature texts too. Like, "you're just jealous." He throws that out all the time. Or things like, "My best quality is humility, or so my friends tell me." He has never said that, but a friend from high school used to always say it and the two boys remind me of each other. I am so bored of it. So bored.
Preachers could have more success if they wouldn't yell at the listeners, I think. I stopped for about 3 or 4 minutes to listen to a preacher of some sort. I agreed with a lot of what he was saying- basic Christian ideas- but the way he was forcing it onto us was such a turn-off. I wanted to ask questions, or throw out ideas, but I merely wanted to chat about it, not yell. I didn't want to make what I find are personal, special ideas or feelings or believes and yell them. It seemed wrong. So I walked away instead of furthering discussion.
I have a lot of homework this week. But next week is Fall Break. I'm welcoming the break. I'm going to make a list of my homework for the week.
Homework
1. Calculus Homework 6 due tomorrow 10.2.7
2. Physics Homework 12 due Wednesday 10.3.7
3. Sign Language quiz/test Thurdsay 10.4.7
4. Physics Test Chapters 3,4 and 5 Friday 10.5.7
5. Architecture Written Assignment 1 due Friday 10.5.7
6. Physics Homework 13 due Sunday 10.7.7
7. Architecture Reading Chapters 11 and 12
8. Calculus Practice test extra credit
Not too much, but enough.
I suppose I'll be done writing now.
Love Acissej Eromlig
During Physics I fell asleep for a good 5 minutes and woke up with the spiral of my notebook imprinted on my arm. During Introduction to Architecture my head was bobbing. After these two classes I went to the Olpin Union Building because the couches there are amazing, as I have noted in previous blogs, and I was really, really tired. The smallest couch, a one person love seat type thing, was open so I layed down on it at 9:37. At 10:something I woke up and saw that the biggest couch was open so I moved to it. I fell back asleep instantly. Then at 11:55 my friend Brian calls, waking me up, and says, "Hey, are you still asleep at the Union? Class started 5 minutes ago." Luckily he had been to the Union and saw me sleeping. So I had to wake up and groggily go to Calculus. Then my voice was like a 13 year old boy's- super cracky and unstable- all through calculus. And I talk a lot in that class. I ask a lot of questions. So I'm sure it was noticable. Now I'm not tired though. I feel good.
I made a To Do list Yesterday during church. It was a list consisting of 25 things to do and 19 ideas that ran through my head. Then after church I was talking to a boy named Ryan for a while and a boy named Jonathan came over and said Hey Ryan, come over to my house at this address for lunch right now. You can come too, my name's Jonathan. My name is Jessie. And thanks for the invite. Etc. So I got in Ryan's car and we went to Jonathan's house. I left my Scriptures Make Me Happy bag in Ryan's car. In the bag was my key and my card used for entering my dorm building and getting meals. While at Jonathan's house, Ryan had to go rescue a friend from a weird situations which ended up with cops and restraining orders, but said he'd come back quickly. He didn't, so someone else gave me a ride home. Until I was getting out of this other person's car I completely forgot that my bag wasn't with me. I said bye and luckily got into my dorm by knocking on a window of a friend on the first floor, and luckily my room was unlocked. It was fun because situations like this don't stress me out at all. I knew I'd get my bag back eventually, so I did what I could without it, like taping the door so it wouldn't close correctly in case in locked without my permission. All went well and I was glad I didn't have a stress attack like I know some people I know would have. It was an interesting experience, deciding from the begining that overreacting would be pointless, and just accepting things the way they were. It's simple things like this that make me feel like I make better choices now than I ever have before. I can't quite get across what I mean, but perhaps if you know me well enough you'll understand it? Whatevs.
On Saturday, a couple friends and I had to take apart a couch because a 5.5 foot python got inside it. My fault. The snake was okay though. And so was the couch, in the end.
Since my Junior year when Mr. Linford showed my Honors English class Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay Self-Reliance, I've always wanted to read it. All of it. But I never have. So today I think I will. My friend mass-dared it too. So I really think I will. And I want to do it in one sitting. So I have to prepare.
One of my first days in the dorms I was in my room and overheard a conversation in the hall about how "Mormons can't date non-Mormons." I like talking about anything religious, or at least listening, so I opened my door wanting to join in. Then when I asked what the argument was, a boy named Remmington looked at me and said, Are you Mormon? I said yes. Then he said, You look like a Mormon. Then he walked off to his room and the conversation ended. I said, I choose to take that as a compliment, I suppose. Since then Remmington and I have become good friends, but at first I thought he didn't like me because I was Mormon. That's not the point of this thought though. From my Physics class, about 10 or more of us walk to the same following class, Intro to Architecture. I am always walking that 10 minutes within about 10 or 20 feet of the same two boys. I noticed this and I'm sure they noticed this too. So finally today I just started talking to them. One is LDS. We are all Pre-Architecture students, but the one said, well you two will be a couple years ahead of me so I won't necessarilly be competing against you. And I said why is that? He's going on a mission. This isn't my point either. My point, or more idea or question, is can people tell I'm a Mormon, just by the way I look, act, walk, hold my head, carry conversation? If Remmington could, which I'm not sure he could, I wonder if many people can. A couple Sundays ago, Elder Holland, a member of the 12 Apostles, spoke at a fireside at the University's Institute. One thing he said that I really liked was "We are not bound to say what we thing, but we are bound to not even look like what we don't think." So I'm curious if by not even looking like what I don't think makes me look like what I do think or merely not what I don't think. Understand?
I have a friend that texts me all the time about nothing whatsoever. Just pointless texting. It's very immature texts too. Like, "you're just jealous." He throws that out all the time. Or things like, "My best quality is humility, or so my friends tell me." He has never said that, but a friend from high school used to always say it and the two boys remind me of each other. I am so bored of it. So bored.
Preachers could have more success if they wouldn't yell at the listeners, I think. I stopped for about 3 or 4 minutes to listen to a preacher of some sort. I agreed with a lot of what he was saying- basic Christian ideas- but the way he was forcing it onto us was such a turn-off. I wanted to ask questions, or throw out ideas, but I merely wanted to chat about it, not yell. I didn't want to make what I find are personal, special ideas or feelings or believes and yell them. It seemed wrong. So I walked away instead of furthering discussion.
I have a lot of homework this week. But next week is Fall Break. I'm welcoming the break. I'm going to make a list of my homework for the week.
Homework
1. Calculus Homework 6 due tomorrow 10.2.7
2. Physics Homework 12 due Wednesday 10.3.7
3. Sign Language quiz/test Thurdsay 10.4.7
4. Physics Test Chapters 3,4 and 5 Friday 10.5.7
5. Architecture Written Assignment 1 due Friday 10.5.7
6. Physics Homework 13 due Sunday 10.7.7
7. Architecture Reading Chapters 11 and 12
8. Calculus Practice test extra credit
Not too much, but enough.
I suppose I'll be done writing now.
Love Acissej Eromlig
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