Were you like me in thinking that the whole Frankenstein story was fictional?  That it was just some horror story from a dark gothic time in literary history, meant to scare the snot out of people?  Well, think again missy.  A genetic nightmare is being concocted in Europe, as we speak.  Read about it here. 

Under the guise of cures for diseases like Parkinson's, these freaky coated scientist-doctor types are mixing up (full story)

I am not sure why the pundits and politicians are so afraid of saying the "R" word.  Admitting there is a problem is the first step toward recovery.  I think this basic twelve step concept applies to a lot of different things.  It's time that everyone faced the fact that we are in a recession.  The sooner that those in denial admit to the problem the sooner we can move toward a healthy economy.

For the past few weekends I have had to do some shopping.  I am far from a typical American woman in that I hate to shop.  It makes me nauseous.  But, as I wrote about here, I had to go out and get a vacuum cleaner.  I shopped at a Kmart and a Target.  I was there on a Saturday morning and then mid afternoon.  These stores would normally be packed.  (full story)

Wal-Mart actually did the right thing for once. I, like thousands of others, are quite hasty to give Wal-Mart a stern thrashing when they deserve it, which is most of the time, so I only feel it is fair that I also give them a heartfelt thank you when they do the right thing. I don't know if you have followed this case but it is just tragic and sad. Read about it here. In the last few weeks this got a lot of coverage including CNN. Well, Wal-Mart had to back down from the public outcry and backlash from their own employees. They dropped the suit.

I looked high and low trying to find a way to send Wal-Mart an email thank you but couldn't find a contact form on their website. That's not good. But I guess when you are as scummy as Wal-Mart you don't want to give people an easy way to bitch at you. I did find this contact form on the Wal-Mart blog. (Yes, Wal-Mart has a blog). Take a minute to thank them for doing the right thing.

I've been a little sidetracked for awhile. First I had this nasty stomach flu. I wasn't making a decision about whether I could go to work or not. I was making a decision whether I could get off of the bathroom floor or not. Freaked my little kitty out.

Then I got disgusted by the dust and stuff in my place. I clean regularly but I have all hardwood floors with some area rugs. I couldn't take my little hokie and shark stick vacuum any more. So, I went out and bought a proper vacuum and spent days cleaning my place. This thing sucked dirt out of the tiny spaces between the wood slats in the floor. I am allergic to my cat so I need to get dander out of things. I have other allergies too. Got myself a Dyson Animal. I'm tellin' ya, this baby is worth every penny. And, it's a lovely purple. And, it's not too heavy either. I'm diggin' it. (full story)

I don't do New Year's resolutions but I do have a goal to lose 50 pounds this year.  I've always battled with my weight and then about five years ago I ruptured two discs in my back.  Yowza!  I was laid up for months and packed on some pounds.  For about 15 years I have had more and more digestive and respiratory problems.  I saw all kinds of doctors and all kinds of tests and nothing.  It got to the point where I could barely eat anything.  What I could eat and not get sick from was not food that was good for me.   It was very depressing. Then about three years ago someone said to me, "Have you every thought you might have food allergies?"  Well, I'd never thought about it.  I went to an allergist and got tested and low and behold I am allergic to all kinds of shit.  Made sense now.

I am allergic to wheat, dairy, oranges, celery, strawberries, oats, fish, pork, crab, green beans, sunflower seeds, mustard seed, pecans, carrots, peas...this list goes on and on.  This doesn't even touch on the other non-food stuff that sends my immune system into overdrive.  Again, I got really depressed.  For awhile all I ate was chicken, slim jims and gummy bears.  I was eating a lot of meat and potatoes.  They didn't make me sick.  Then I started getting other illnesses because I was not getting any vitamins, minerals, fiber, or that other good stuff our bodies need.  I was taking a vitamin but that's not enough.  Last year I quit smoking all together...no more sneak one occasionally.  Done!  Gained about 15 pounds.

So this year it's my goal to get it off.  I started out slowly but I am getting there.  I went to see a nutritionist at the Cleveland Clinic and that's been a good thing.  It's hard to get the nutrients and stuff I need when most foods make me sick.  But the one thing that got me moving was (full story)

And, let's say goodbye to grey! Can you imagine a blue Cleveland skyline! It's just one small step toward making this a green city on a blue lake. (full story)