How Do You Solve A Problem Like Restless Legs?

Due to my recent spike in television consumption, combined with my digestion and acute attention to advertisements, I've learned that I may suffer from Restless Legs Syndrome. According to the commercials, people that suffer from the affliction have symptoms like weird fidgeting in their legs and the incessant urge to move around. Thank God I saw these messages cause I was actually considering cutting back on the SoBe Energy Coolattas from Dunkin Donuts.

Now though, since I have identified the real problem, how exactly do I combat this RLS (as the cool kids refer to is)? Well I never would have known about it, if not for an ad for Mirapex, a medication aimed at calming the symptoms of the syndrome. But the lovely people at Boehringer Ingelheim, which make it, were nice enough to tell me that I might feel the urge to fall asleep during normal everyday activities like driving. And after I did more research, I found that it might initiate hallucinations and compulsive gambling. This all makes me somewhat wary. I just want to calm down my legs. Though the increased sex drive may be a bonus.

Just when I thought I was at my wit's end, I saw another commercial for Requip, aimed at trying to quell the same problem. Not only did this give me hope but it also offered comfort since if there were two medications for this diagnosis, it must mean there are enough people suffering just like me to motivate the pharmaceutical companies to make a profit. Sometimes you have to thank God for those lovely executives diligently working to help me live my best life possible. Like any other drug, Requip has side effects, but they only reported drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting. That is much better than spontaneous narcolepsy. Imagine if my kids took advantage of my sporadic comas. Plus the increasing reports of organ thieves frightens me and I do love to take the subway.

Now my plan was to go to Costco and get bulk supplies of toothpaste and mints so I could hide the possible effects from my future prescription. Sadly, after I did more research, I found that Requip had the same problems that Mirapex has. Compulsive gambling, dizziness when I stand up, hallucinations. It was all there. Now how can I terminate the constant motivation to actually do things and move around.

Maybe I'll just walk it off.

It's A Beautiful Day

....in the neighborhood. Or at least it was.

I nitially planned on writing this after I came back from my run. But the run bruised my body more than I expected. I was still proud of my shape, round as it might be. But once I walked through the door, my body seemed to respond with relief and released whatever fury it had held back. I felt like I lost five pounds in the shower, just by eliminating the grime that accumulated after running it unexpectedly humid weather. The Gatorade was finished in a matter of seconds.

Today was probably the best day that I have gone running. The sun wasn't too hot. Nothing was off base. At times I felt as if I was starring in my own Nike commercial, proud of my form. Oh but my fellow pedestrians were kind of annoying. This isn't even a big town so I thought people would be more friendly like they are in the town where I went to school. Even though they're racist, they still gave me a smile and a nod. These guys got out the way like I had the plague. Maybe the black guy running so hard, and seemingly with purpose set something off for them. You would think it was a real city.

But as I walked home after purchasing my replenishing liquids, I heard a child over my iPod. As I looked to my left there was a little girl who had spotted me far down the block and was saying hi. I initially was tempted to walk past. No need alarming mom about the random guy walking. But she kept saying it and looking at me. So I waved back and said hi. And she kept saying it. I waved again. And she said it again. This time I smiled and said bye and continued walking. A child shall lead them huh?

And kindness usually comes from the most unexpected places. Though the neighbors across the street are kind of eccentric, they've always been nice. Though aloof at times - like when he has full on conversatios with his bird - he has been considerate and generous. He alerted us to suspicious picture takers, signed for a package when we were all away, and even helped them move in a couch. But I guess lately he's been getting weird and his next door neighbor dropped off some material with Uno after she went snooping. Seems our buddy has some things on his record, most traffic violations and a little theft. His most regular friend is also a sex offender. But both of their crimes were either when they were adolescents or really young adults. If they really wanted to take stuff they could have done it already. And they've been nothing but nice.

So if you're looking for evidence that the human condition isn't completely helpless, I guess we need to look to children and ex-convicts more often

Reputation

This weekend, one of the narcs was missing for one of our kids. I sadly counted that they were correct, when in fact they weren't. It was a simple mistake but I felt horrible. I know I didn't take it but it is a serious thing to have an untrackable narcotic just floating around.

Anyway, the director of health care for our campus came and talked to me about it. But she immediately said "I know you didn't take it." She continued to tell me to be more careful and such but it lasted no more than a minute.

And that's when a random memory from a Sabbath School session on Lady Godiva's birthday voyage popped back in my head. The stubborn West Indian men were a tad annoying but I finally get the gist of what they were trying to say. It all basically came down to the fact that Jesus never really had to defend Himself in front of His accusers. He just let His actions speak for themselves. And I know she had that faith in me just in the way I have carried myself.

I hate when I realize I was wrong. But at least I'll be right next time

Sanctuary

The shower must be the most heavenly place on earth. I am naturally a water person, though my zodiac sign would have you believe I was resigned to terra firma. But I usually would stay in the pool for hours on vacations. And my parents were fond of calling me California Raisin after my appearance out of my extended bathtimes. So bath time is just lovely. The more time in the water the better. I feel taller. I feel more relaxed.

It's especially rewarding since I finally decided to make a productive day out of my early wake-up. I burned CDs for co-workers and client. I did some laundry stuff. I brought back in our trash bins. I'm writing this blog. I enjoyed music, but I always do that. I washed dishes. So now I am all relaxed with oodles of time before work and truly have nothing really to do instead of not doing anything. I even ironed my shirt already.

The sun is shining nicely and those earlier chirping birds have changed from annoying to charming. That shower was powerful.

Woooooo

God is so awesome. I just feel it today.

It's been kind of a rough week. When I step back, things are overall great. But I guess there has been an unease all week. Even though I had a wonderful weekend, maybe its events have me thinking of things. Or actually wanting certain things to come true instead of just accepting what comes. And with wanting comes the threat of disappointment. And most definitely worry.

I just found out Northwestern has taken me off the wait list and deposited me amongst the hopeful and not the accepted. It hurts a bit. I was silently hopeful to go to a school with some more name recognition and the chance to be by my cousins would have been awesome. But the cousin thing we can fix by actually being proactive and planning and calling and visiting. And name recognition is nothing if you don't make the best of it. You can hustle that A anywhere.

I was upset. I think I am still slightly discouraged. I want to say fuck it all a little bit and be depressed and wallow in self-pity. But that's the coward's way out and I've been cowardly enough already. God is working in my favor. He does not want to see me fail. So He won't let me. I just need to keep believing. I'm praying He keeps my eyes open and my ears ready for what I should be doing in this life. I know He speaks to me. I know He does. I may sound like a raving lunatic but this is honestly how I feel. I believe in God.

I now get ready for work. The cherubs have actually been uplifting at points this week. Somewhat therapeutic. There's the Lord providing again. Off to shower.

Interesting Night

I just watched the lightning illuminate my room as if it was the sun. It's raining heavy now, but the moisture has kept the sun's heat trapped on earth which is making the air heavy. Even though the chance that I will get wet is high, my window still stays open for the random breeze that comes through that temporarily quells the slight discomfort. There was lightning again.

I still am enjoying the night. The warmth of the night plus the contrasting precipitation is very inviting. I wish I had a reason to go outside. For now I appreciate the thunder. And of course the music. I am currently in the midst of surveying random choices from my newer acquisitions. It's been a pretty enlightening day. For more information, I'm sure a posting will appear sooner rather than later regarding my choices. Know that it's been more pleasure than pain.

Currently the smoothness of J Dilla is contributing to my thoughts of the night. Our new boss had a theory that the waning moon had the whole campus in a frenzy.. In our hoouse my friend Testimony was bit in her hand and needed to go to the hospital. On her last day of work. Ever. Never had an injury before and has oneon her last day. We had to send staff to two other programs for stretches of the night. But it was still a good day. I feel as though I handled mine. I was proud of myself today.

So Fresh

This old man thing is, well, I'm not sure. Over the past two weeks I have been waking up earlier than I am used to. Than I would like to. And we're talking about really early. Like birds chirp and Adam awakes early.

Honestly, I think I want to go back to sleep. But I can't. But I end up eventually waking up and feeling quite fine. Like right now I feel very relaxed and refreshed. The fact that I am actually committing coherent thought to digital form for the first time in a couple of days should be saying something.

I'm also accompanied this morning by an inspired playlist. I feel as though my computer is slowly dying. Because of that the enormous requirements of iTunes have made it unusable for anything else when that program is running. So I had to switch to Winamp, which uses less memory but for which I don't have playlists. So instead of picking and choosing what I would like to listen to I have to click a folder that most match my moods and pray the shuffle treats me well. But it is actually kind of cool to listen to music this way. In iTunes, I'm so trained to find what I want. With such a broad selection in Winamp, I really can't be too particular. And now I'm exposed to music I've forgotten or completely overlooked. Pretty awesome. Today's folder is the Soulquarians & Tongues, the music that pretty much made me an ardent music fan in my adolescence which I still feel I am in the middle of.

The Mets won.

I saw some soccer highlights.

I'm going home today.

I'm seeing Spiderman 3 on IMAX tonight

I'm seeing two of my friends tonight.

My hair should be cut pretty soon.

Hopefully I'll see my sister soon.

I am loved.

It's gonna be a good day.

In A Giving Mood

For some reason, I am in a very generous mood. It's not like I am some sort of miser on the regular. I think most people who regularly interact with me would say that I am a giving person. Today, though, I feel even more giving. There is too much to enjoy for me to keep it to myself. I honestly just want to share.

The good feeling one gets from giving is amazing. And I'm not talking about the ego boost from helping somebody else. In moderation, I guess that's fine, but there's just a natural good feeling linked with the act ogf giving, regardless if the act is appreciated or not. I honestly enjoy the times when I help out or give and the recipient is unaware of the help or at least the person who provided it. I do need to hear the appreciation every once in a while but too much makes me uncomfortable.

Why I am this way, I do not know. I shall sally forth however.

What I Took From The Cookie Jar

As I have mentioned before, I am a packrat, whether of emotions or actual things. In the process of straightening up, I rediscovered some fortunes from some fortune cookies I had eaten the other day. Now I save my fortunes because once upon a time I had the creative idea to make like a collage of all the saved fortunes. My own little piece of kitschy homemade art to take with me wherever I roamed. I even thought it could be like a series of periods in my life. Needless to say, there are a bunch on my dresser in addition to the empty blank CD case that's half full of them as well.

These three fortunes were pretty special though because the message taken together could be very interesting. The night I read them I was kind of spooked but I threw them off to the side away from all the other fortunes.

Now first one said, "Soon life will become more interesting." Okaaaaay. I'm going to be optimistic about that. But the next one said, "Enjoy yourself while you can." Yeah not so settled down now. Remember this is late at night and I am kinda sleepy. Then finally, the coup de grace, "School is a building which has four walls with tomorrow inside."

Just eerie. Eerie.

Beautiful Day

My sleep has been off so I am a little late in realizing how beautiful they day is. My housemates Banana and Uno are doing work around the house, making it look all springy and clean. Each day I live here the more the idea of home ownership is appealing. I always wanted to theoretically. But actually living in a house and seeing them take care of it, and contributing what I can, is just very endearing. Before it was something I didn't care about too much. I would be more concerned about owning something, even if it was an apartment. But the house idea is just nice. Plus backyards are cool. Which is where I'm headed right now.

Unexpected Realization

Waking up to country music blaring in your house two days in a row is somewhat disconcerting.

(Triple M Post!)

Breakthrough

So I'm listening to Rapper Big Pooh's "My Mind" for the umpteenth time since the sun set on another glorious Sabbath. Now I found the song just before the Sabbath hours descended upon us but whoa. Before I get into the beauty of the song and make this a post for my other blog (Wait, you haven't been?), let me get to the real point.

The dude that sings the hook is Darien Brockington. Now the only way I know him is that he sang some hooks for Little Brother, my current favorite group. He also had an EP that I got my hands on and also he just released an album late last year I haven't been able to touch. Anyway, he's got a couple joints I keep on repeat. His voice is cool. Nice vibe, nice lyrics.

Now listening to him, I'm loving his voice even more. But I'm also realizing that this guy just happened to get on because his college friends happened to be serious about the music thing and he had some talent to lend. Now he has an independently released album. He tours a little bit. Plus he has a bunch of MySpace friends. What is stopping me from living this lifestyle?

I usually have joked that I would love to be a background singer, but honestly could it be so bad? Even just hook singer. If I got to D-Brock's position I would be happy as a clam. What better way to spend youth? Then you take that experience and move on. Or add on to it. Who knows where it could go? So why not get serious about it? How much would it hurt to actually try?

That random call from a former co-worker to sing on her baby daddy's record doesn't sound so ludicrous all of a sudden.