My current top five

1) Being introduced to Vonnegut. Umm, why didn't I read him before? Must go out and read every book he ever wrote.

2) As soon as I finish these. The arrival of the New York Times 10 best books of 2009. :) My favorite time of year.

3) Vaughn, my favorite blogger over at Mindhack's, response to news that the publication of the DSM 5 is getting pushed back:

" owing to the recent shitstorm over our behind-closed-doors policy and strident criticism from past committee members about the scientific quality of our review process, we've decided we need a bit of breathing space."

I couldn't agree with him more in his hopes that this postponement will be used to actually get the best scientific backing for what they are proposing.

4) Discovering Tina Dico and her amazing album A Beginning A Detour An Open Ending




A few of her songs can get a little "I'm telling a story with music in the background and not actually singing" (can you blame here, she wrote all the lyrics for this very long album over a frenzied autumn), but for the most part they are gems.

5) Slowing down, and capturing this:



I promise he doesn't always look this angelic.

What's your top 5?

Yes Please

Can someone please figure out how to take these images (taken from new scientist) and make them into posters and send them to me as Christmas presents?



These are nasal passages


Skull and brain



Thank you

Thank you...

for books (especially beautiful classics which have been made, well, beautiful)






for nature







for tea



for my new job :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

My life in lists (and pictures)

What have I been doing this whole time that I haven't been writing?

1) Visiting friends






2) enjoying the look of fall (not here, mind you, but in New York)




3) Appreciating fine art





4) Shopping (maybe way too much). Finally got my own LBD, shown here two ways

dressed up:



dressed down:


5) Making cookies



6) Laughing



This time of year is so much fun. What have you been up to while I've been gone?

When standard medicine fails, tell me about your mother

I just spent the last 9 minutes laughing hysterically. Mindhacks pointed me to an awesome 1940's video depicting psychoanalysis. A man goes to the doctor, complaining of loss of weight. All the tests come back negative and the doctor says "we feel the causes of your illness are emotion." Oh no, emotion! He's referred to the "psychosomatic department" in which, what I assume is the psychologist's, first statement is "tell me about your mother." This is so cliched! The video then goes on to show a psychiatrist teaching about psychoanalysis, showing a video of a baby who has been deprived of his mother for three months....oh right, no ethics committee back then :/
When therapy starts, the narrator states "He is placed on a couch to free his mind".
The couch is fundamental to the process, you know ;)

Check it out:

Do I have to work tomorrow?

I came back today from my fun filled weekend in Portland. It was beautiful, cold, and full of snuggles. Now I'm back in the smog and heat and I already miss my friends.




I was a pumpkin :)

Now I'm exhausted and what I really want to do is sleep in, have some tea, and curl up with a good book. Alas, I must get back to work tomorrow. But it's not too long until I visit another friend in New York. Let the second countdown begin.

Halloween!

I've been a clown, a witch, a black cat, a cheetah, a red m&m, a ladybug, a dinosaur, a 50's girl, grapes, and so much more.

I was almost not going to dress up this year...

Then I realized what a big deal it apparently is at my work. The clients love Halloween and tomorrow is dedicated to all day Halloween festivities. I'm also flying to Portland for Halloween to visit a college friend for her birthday, which happens to be Halloween. I am very excited and therefore not only decided to be something for Halloween, but to get creative and make it myself. I won't tell you what I'm being yet. You'll have to wait for pictures.

In the mean time I guess I can give you a hint: It's often overlooked. It can be scary, but it can also be happy (depending what face it puts on).