Dangers of Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements? I Have To Stop Looking Up Side-Effects

Tags

fish oil, fish oil supplements, health supplements, Mayo Clinic, Omega-3

 

 

Did you know Omega-3 supplements can potentially cause formication?

According to what I found on the Mayo Clinic website: “Restlessness and formication … have also been reported.” Note that’s an “m” in formication (the sensation of ants crawling on the skin) and not an “n”, which of course would be a safe side-effect with which I could happily live.

I have a habit of looking up things on the web to see if what I don’t know could be important. (I’m sure none of you suffer from this ailment.) So when a friend mentioned that she had taken heavier doses than usual of omega-3 fish oil pills / capsules to help with jet lag (and she reports that it did help), I immediately went online to see if this was a good idea.

Most sites I found have at least some cautionary information about taking too much fish oil, since there is a chance of heavier-than-usual bleeding, depending on the dosage (especially important to know before surgery). And of course, depending on the quality of the product, they also warn that there could be mercury or other impurity issues. But that was most of what I found. Nothing too frightening. Until I got to the Mayo Clinic site. Eek!

Of Pillows, Costco, and Good Friends

Tags

charisma pillow review, Costco, friendship, perfect pillows, pillows

First, I have to tell you that I am endlessly obsessed with finding the right pillow for sleeping. I have spent years prodding and testing pillows, and then bringing them home, only to find that they aren’t the perfect pillow after all. Sigh.

Some of the less-perfect pillows make it to my bed as extra pillows. Many other of these hopeful candidates are soon relegated to the sofa or closet, nervously awaiting the next batch that may wind up sending them to the trash bin.

But every now and then, I find some pillows that feel really good – at least to me. Not too firm. Not too soft. Just enough support to keep my neck happy. Still not THE perfect pillow, perhaps, but really really good. And these pillows get immediately elevated to the sacred spot on the bed where my head gets placed at night.

So it was for two “down alternative” Charisma pillows that my acupuncturist (and friend) got for me from Costco at the end of last year. Her husband had originally found this brand for her (a package of 2 for $20!), she also being a pillow seeker. And since then, they have been my go-to pillows for sleeping. The two pillows together are just perfect for me, and even more so after some months have passed.

But First a Word About Costco

No…this is not a paid advertisement. In fact, I used to laugh at my cousin who was always raving about all the things she got at Costco, even food. “Aren’t there any other stores out there in the suburbs?” I teased.

What??? There’s a New TV Show Called “Bet On Your Baby”!

Tags

"game shows", babies, Bet on Your Baby, new TV show, TV shows

I just found a new show that blows my mind. In fact, I had to look twice at the listing. Yup…ABC has a new television show where parents actually bet on their babies to win prizes. Now isn’t that something you want to grow up and one day find out about!

Look…I watch some pretty bad TV shows. Ones that I know probably set my brain’s development back at least a few years.  But this is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen on TV – and I’ve watched Sean from The Bachelor as a dancing “star” on Dancing with the Stars.

Maybe it’s a joke. I know it’s not April Fool’s Day, but maybe they are going to stop near the end of it and tell us they’ve been pulling our collective legs.

Ok. Now a father walks his kid into the “baby dome” where we will watch to see if he lets go of a ball.

Cat on a Warm Spring Day

Tags

Brooklyn, Photography, spring

“We already know a tree grows in Brooklyn. Look at ME!”

My cat, Lucie, likes to help when I’m taking pictures. And who am I to say no?

I was trying to get a photo of the wonderful white-blossomed tree across the street that always means spring to me, when she popped up to say hello.

Ah, cats. Ah, spring blossoms. You are both so very very welcome.

Down Under the Manhattan Bridge

Tags

Brooklyn, DUMBO, Manhattan Bridge, poem

 

 

 

UNDER THE BRIDGE

The resolute rattle of time-worn trains above.

The animated laughter of rosy-cheeked children below.

The emphatic blast of a passing ferry’s horn.

The torrid whispers of soon-to-be lovers on the grass.

The irrepressibly hopeful street vendor hawking his wares in the distance.

No city built on cowering silence this!

——-

Photo Credit: Manhattan Bridge 2009 by Steve_V via Wikimedia Commons

Haiku #22: The Greatest Gift

Tags

haiku

   The Greatest Gift

Dawn brings awareness.

The mind, like a flower’s bud

Blossoms in found light.

Do You Use the First Person When You Talk to Yourself?

Tags

first person, first person pronoun, grammar, personal pronouns

Here’s something I bet no one’s ever asked you: What personal pronoun do you use when you talk to yourself? First person? Second person? Third person?

Or are you thinking “What a stupid question. I never talk to myself.” Uh…if so, maybe take a moment to check that thought!

Ok. Maybe I’m putting myself out on a limb since I’m not even sure that you do talk to yourself, but I right now flat out admit that I do. Not out loud too much (luckily I have a cat so when I do, it can simply look like I’m talking to her), but I most definitely catch myself talking to me in my head.

Like this morning, I caught myself thinking “I will get up in just a few more minutes.” Not person-less forms like “time to get up” or “get up soon” or “Ugh. Coffee.”

How Do You Make Peace with a Life You Didn’t Expect?

Tags

life in New York, unexpected life

An unexpected life. Is there any other kind, when you really think about it?

I’ve been thinking a lot about those parts of life that just seem to sneak up on us – and at other times land smack dab in front of us, as if carried to mission success by an eagle-eyed paratrooper.

Sometimes it’s something wonderful, a gift from the heavens perhaps. Like meeting your beloved life partner while waiting for a slow elevator.

But sometimes not-so-great things come to us – things that are not at all what we expected, and most definitely not in our control. Things we would never choose in an idealized life. Things we wish would just go away, so we won’t have to deal with them. And yet there they are, staring us in the face, daring us to act…or not.

A woman I know came to me for advice today. Some new neighbors moved in, people who seem very nice, but whose dog goes into 10-minute barking jags in the afternoon when he’s alone in the apartment

What Are the Boundaries of Kindness?

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personal boundaries

 

 

I’ve been thinking a lot about kindness lately. Does kindness depend on the eye of the beholder?  Does kindness have personal boundaries? Should it? Is intended kindness enough?

An Act of Kindness – version #1

It was a blowy winter day in March, and I was enjoying a walk in the nearby park, along the East River. A gust of wind lifted the hat right off the head of the woman walking in front of me. I rushed on ahead to get the hat, before it could be blown too far, or perhaps even into the river.

Success! I grabbed the hat and returned it to its owner, who thanked me profusely. We’ve smiled at each other ever since, whenever we see each other on the street.

An Act of Kindness – version #2

It was a blowy winter day in March, and I was enjoying a walk in the nearby park, along the East River. A gust of wind lifted the hat right off the head of the woman walking in front of me. I rushed on ahead to get the hat, before it could be blown too far, or perhaps even into the river.

Success! I grabbed the hat and returned it to its owner, who was surprisingly miffed at me. “Look, I appreciate that you got my hat back, but what made you think I couldn’t handle this myself?” she asked as she took the hat from my hands, shaking off the dust. “Who asked you to interfere in my business?”

An Act of Kindness – version #3

It was a blowy winter day in March, and I was enjoying a walk in the nearby park, along the East River. A gust of wind lifted the hat

Help Me Create Something Wonderful Lord!

(An imagined conversation with nO religious intent.)

——

Help me create something wonderful, Lord!

Are you afraid?

Yes. I am very afraid.

Help me create something wonderful, Lord!

Will you resist?

Oh yes. I will resist. I’ll resist a lot – especially when I get scared.

Still…help me create something wonderful, Lord!

Will you find excuses?

Excuses? Of course!  I will find lots and lots of excuses.

Please help me create something wonderful, Lord!

Will you look for things to divert you from your dreams?

Sure. I always have. I’ll look everywhere.

But still…help me create something wonderful, Lord!

Will you minimize who you are and how much you can achieve?

Oh yes! I will doubt myself all over the place.

Oh PLEASE help me create something wonderful, Lord!

These things only have power as long as you let them stop you.

But by seeking help

And by daring to move forward anyway

Step by tentative step

As long as it takes

As daunting as it may at times seem

Despite doubts and fears and countless diversions

Learning and growing as you go along…

Well then my dear tortured human being

The magical creation process has already begun.

And even if you can’t see it yet…I can! 

With love,

The Lord

—–

(Please note: This imagined conversation was conceived and intended in a totally secular way. I have yet to knowingly receive any direct messages from a greater power.  But if they do come, I will let you know for sure!)

Sole Directions

Footprints in the snow…

A profusion of fuzzy question marks

All pointing the way.

Which to choose?

vvvv

Another Blog Bites the Dust!

Well…I think it’s time for me to let Out of My Head take a nice long rest on it’s blogging pillow. I’ve been on a break for a while to test the waters, and I just don’t feel tugged back here other than to say hello to old friends.

This has been a fun ride, but I have another blog called Work Coach to take care of (as I mentioned before it may be going commercial) as well as a new baby blog I’m trying on for size. Still, other than Work Coach, I really do think I’m pretty much blogged out for a while. We shall see.

Thanks for all your support and for helping make Out of My Head something I’ve really enjoyed. I hope you did too. I’ll keep it open just in case I ever need to pop back for whatever reason, but as of now, it’s gone fission!

Change is good. The river flows. New adventures await.

Namaste y’all!

Ronnie Ann

If You Live in New York City (or anywhere else) PLEASE Join Me March 29 for Earth Hour 2008!

Tags

"Earth Hour 2008"

RubySchooZ, on her new blog A Thyme of Peas, just posted about a worldwide energy-saving event taking place on March 29, 2008. Borrowing from her words:

You can make a difference in helping to get others to take notice of the importance of saving energy by joining us in the “Earth Hour 2008″ campaign. The central goals for Earth Hour 2008 campaign are to help get as many people, houses, communities and businesses to turn off their lights on March 29th, 2008 from 8pm–9pm (local time).

The main goal of this campaign is to help make a bold statement that the climate changes we are facing are very real and that something as simple as turning out our lights is an important thing that is easily enough done and can truly make a difference.

I’m joining you, Ruby. Thanks for letting us know and thanks for your great new blog. I can’t say it any better.

How about you my fellow New Yorkers? (And anyone else of course.) Want to join us from 8-9 pm? It’s an easy way to make a statement and see what else life has to offer when the lights are off.

The event was created by the World Wildlife Fund chapter in Sydney Australia in 2007 and, according to the event website:

More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships Atlanta, Chicago (your city rocks Terry B.), Phoenix and San Francisco – as well as Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

Even though my own fabulous home town New York City is NOT yet an official participant, I would love to see all of us join in big time! Mayor Bloomberg talks about conservation and congestion pricing, but where will he be when the lights go off? And why aren’t we one of those cities?

Hey…let’s show the world we do care, ok? My lights will be off. Please join me.

Thanks again, Ruby. You lead the way, grrrl!

——

For more information about the event and its origins:

Earth Hour 2008

No, Mr. Cheney, With 4000 U.S. Deaths in Iraq, the Biggest Burden is NOT the President’s

Tags

"Dick Cheney", "Iraq War", Cheney

Seems Dick Cheney thinks President Bush is suffering more than the families of the 4000 Americans killed. (Not to mention all the others killed and maimed during this horrible war, as well as their families.)

In an ABC interview marking the solemn occasion, Mr. Cheney said:

“The president carries the biggest burden, obviously,” Cheney said. “He’s the one who has to make the decision to commit young Americans, but we are fortunate to have a group of men and women, the all-volunteer force, who voluntarily put on the uniform and go in harm’s way for the rest of us.”

Poor President Bush. Oh…there was some mention of the sacrifice the families have made too. But there was also a clear message in the statement that they are all volunteers. Ah…yes. So the burden for the families is lessened by that, is it? And the President, forced to make all those hard decisions, is the one suffering the most?

I think not Mr. Cheney. You should be ashamed of yourself for what you just said. As if the pain weren’t enough for the families, this is just rubbing salt into their wounds. And into the real wounds of all those living the rest of their lives psychologically and physically disabled because of a war you forgot to adequately plan.

What were you thinking?

——

To see what the National Priorities Project estimates

the dollar cost of the Iraq war to be as of this moment:

CLICK HERE

Joy and Peace Come from Within

One more random thought that came to me the other day. I will let it stand on its own:

Joy and peace come from within. We don’t need to wait for others to create it for us. We don’t need to blame others when we don’t have it.

Namaste.