Plan Your Funeral

I think a lot of people are afraid of death and not prepared. I think a lot of people live as if they will not die and then a small amount lives as if they will die. I know I will and I might die tomorrow. In which case, this blog is still posting because I have it set up to do that.

Because of laziness, not because of death.

The fact is, you can die in all sorts of way and in many ways, it's surprising so many of us are still alive. I'm the one who is always curious who in my graduating classes will be the first to die. When I am forced gladly attend other people's graduations I wonder who will be the first of these wide-eyed hopefuls to overdose or be murdered or succumb some bizarre accident or weird medical breakdown.

I'm not morbid, I'm not marking these people because I enjoy sorrow or death - it's a reminder to myself, since I often cannot share this with others - that life is not guaranteed. Life is not a right.

My Story and Challenge

Bam

I was pretty close to death and I could feel my body dying around me. My organs were not functioning right and even with treatment, nothing was really for sure.

I tell people I lost my natural fear of death. I still get scared when I think I am going to be in a car accident or something frightening happens, that's natural. I just don't assume I will be around tomorrow.

I think it would be fun to plan my own funeral. I will do this. It's going to be a trippin' good time, let me tell you. Sure, people are going to be sad and whatnot, but, something a funeral is a good time to cut loose, see people you haven't gotten a chance to see and, well, eat. I'll try to die during during the spring or early fall so it's not to miserable out.

I'll report back as to my plans in a couple weeks.

Sudden Death
I don't know the first to die, or if s/he did die, in my high school class. I know that a student in my grade had her older sibling clubbed to death outside a store. She was murdered by a mental unstable person. It was sad for all around, the victim, the family and then the murderer and the murderer's family.

I wonder if she or her family ever thought about the possibility of death. I wonder if she ever jotted down what she would want in a funeral. Probably not. Why? It's a poo-pooed thing. It's morbid. It's vaguely taboo.

As a female, it's ok for me to plan ever aspect of my wedding and what I want. It's not ok for me to plan out the same type of thing (food, music, venue) for my death.

Mourning
When I was in college, a girl I did not know was in a bad car accident and the whole campus was hoping for the best. She ended up dying and some of her best friends were in my psychology class. When someone came and pulled them from class to tell them the news, you could hear the one girl scream.

I never heard anyone scream like that. I can still hear it in my brain to this day. Since we never think we are going to die, since we never plan for that as ever being an option, because we are afraid and avoid it - how do we ever learn how to mourn those who have died without losing ourselves. How do we comfort those left behind when we assume no one is going to die?

Easing the Burden
By planning out your funeral  dividing your assets and being clear about everything, it's actually a load off those who are left behind to clean up after you. You know, clear your Internet browsing history and whatnot. I am actually surprised how many of my friends who are having babies assume two things - the baby will not die and they will not die. There is no living will, no guardians, nothing. Just assumptions and common law.

The checklist from dyingmatters.org is pretty good about what you might want to start thinking about:

Consider legal and financial matters:

• Make a will, get legal advice if necessary
• Think about the costs, consider insurance, a funeral plan
• If you need financial help to support you and your family with care costs, transport
• Plan for the care of dependents

Save other lives - through organ donation: If you want to donate any organs to save other lives or leave your brain or body to medical research, e.g. to help with dementia ,write it down and tell your family

• Legal Stuff: If you have kids, siblings or parents you will want to get a will together. You want to make sure you money goes where you want it (people or charities) and even things like your clothes or TV go where you want them to go. See a lawyer and get together some papers that are all lawful and stuff.
• Pre-Dying: You might die tomorrow. Think about that. Now, what do you want your family and friends to know? Get on with that now - write some notes, make a movie or get on the phone to let those in your life know you love them (or hate them) so that nothing is left unsaid. If you are holding a grudge that is hurting someone, let it go now so you don't die and they have to suffer forever. Forgive. 
• Dying: Do you want to be ressustated or on life support? Figure it out and write it down all legally like. Since life is weird, assign someone you trust who knows your wish to carry out your wishes. For example, for my cousin, I am the one in charge of pulling the plug.
• Body: Do you want to donate anything of your body to science or others? It might take more than an organ donor card.
• Funeral: Some people don't care what happens to the body (aka, suitcase for the soul). Some people do. You might not care, but, you might want to jot something down to give those who have to deal with it some direction. Cremations are expensive  caskets can be, too. Look into these costs and think if you want to have a religious ceremony or some type of green funeral or whatever. Maybe make a list of who you would like to attend.

The benefits of looking into this stuff and planning also means that should someone die and you have to make some arrangements, you can do it with some knowledge in your brain rather than just sorrow and confusion.

My Discussion
This is like my comic relief - a chat online between me and my friend, Ri.

Ri: What are you doing?
Manda: Looking at caskets.
Ri: Why are you looking at caskets?
Manda: No reason. Ooo, this is a nice one. $900 bucks! Dark brown, light copper finish. Oh crap, it has those creepy praying hands on the inner lid. I don't want to be looking at that.
Ri: First, you'd be dead. Second, you are being creepy.
Manda: Look at it.
Ri: I mean, it is a cool looking casket. What about the purple one?
Manda: I hate that flower detailing. Plus, it's over $1000.
Ri: You only die once.
Manda: True. Also, since the odds of me getting married are slim to none, I'm sure I could spend any wedding dress budget on a casket.
Ri: How much is a wedding dress.
Manda: Let's say, low-end, $2000?
Ri: That's a lot.
Manda: What's with these flower detailing? Urg. It's like an old person's home.
Ri: Old people are the largest consumers of caskets.
Manda: Ooo. How about an urn. this one comes with a stylish display box. And this one has six min-urns in one display box. Would six people want my ashes?
Ri: These is a four-pack.
Manda: And an oversized one. Hm. Do you think if I got really fat I'd need an oversized one?
Ri: I think humans are like 80% water. Oversized urn people have got to be showing off. Do you want to be cremated?
Manda: I could get this six-pack urn set, right, and then auction each off. Also, I think by the time I am dead, whatever the living want to do with me is fine. Maybe I could donate my body to science.
Ri: You'd probably be disected by some med student. Hey, here's one with the American flag.
Manda: I do like America.
Ri: It says, "In fact, at an average cost of $2,400, a funeral may be the third most expensive consumer purchase after a home and a car."
Manda: Maybe they have a used casket/urn section. . .
Ri: Yeah, I don't think so.
Manda: This selection is sort of a let-down.
Ri: This conversation is a sort of let-down.
Manda: OMG. Urns that are pendants. You can wear me.
Ri: Uh
Manda: OMG, you can put the ashes in a pendent and wear them like a charm bracelet.
Ri: Mm.
Manda: Earrings.
Ri: no.
Manda: I don't have pierced ears. Ooo. An hourglass urn! I could be useful even in death! I hope I get to haunt something.
Ri: Really?
Manda: Or get turned into a diamond. Yeeeeah. Years from now, some poor guys is going to be like, "Marry me Jane" and it's a diamond of my ashes. Bwhahahaha.
Ri: Unique, as always.
Manda: Ok, back to work.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Cartoon from themetapicture.com

Fix My Den

I have this second bedroom, but, it's really a den. I have never been able to totally use the room. I do a lot of work in there at my desk - which is pretty but not totally functional. I want to get a second monitor and have a bigger space to work but I also need more storage.

Lately, it has become more and more of my "mosh pit" or room I dump everything. You can see my mountain bike in there, my extra car carriers, a fake tree and apparently a snack from Whole Foods.

[Kidding, no food is in there]

I also have a lot of those free bags you get from conferences or types of mild giveaways.

And, yes, that's a hooka. It's not a working hooka because my rats chewed through the hose and I am not sure where I can get a replacement. I don't really use it but it is a odd yet functional piece. Well, it was. It was a gift from a friend who actually went to the middle east for a company I use to work for.

The Goal

Lucky and I

The goal is to really use this room. Since it is not a room I use for living all the time I want to really use it for some storage. It has to look good because I can't hid my stuff behind doors. There will be some downsizing.

Like my extra laptop that died a while ago that I am afraid to get rid of because of my personal information on it and because I might one day remember I have some valuable piece of information on there that I could never get back or recreate.

The room is also my office. A nice desk with two monitors would be cool. I could use a little tune-up on my desktop, as well.

The goal is to make this a nice, functional room that I can spend time in and feel comfortable but not too at home. When you have to be in there all day and then you walk into your actual home and it feels too much like work - that's not good.

Past Attempts
I actually drove to the closest Container Store and even Ikea to find solutions or to even have people look at my den and create a perfect desk and storage area.

Oddly enough, never happened. Which brings me to now with a project I could easily shut the door on and ignore.

Mission
This mission will take time, work and money. I want to work on it, I won't have as much time and over time I can free up money. Let's see what I can do with this space.

I already started the saving and the browsing on Amazon.com

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

First Event - Registered!

I just signed up for my first bike ride of the season. It was one of those things where I was mentally on the fence. Did I really want to drag my bike out to some place, get lost, ride alone with packs of people then not be able to eat anything and head home with only some random picture and mis-sized t-shirt (if I can find where I get them) for my trouble?

Here we go!

No. Not really.

But, I’m trying to be more, mm, not that. So, I plunked down my $35 registration fee and I will be riding the 25 miles for Carol for Heart's Girls With Gears biking event. 

I did some friends if they wanted to come out with me, even reached out to this sports club I belong to through my job - so far, everyone has declined.

This sort of gives me a little fuel for the fire - if everyone is trapped in the same rhetoric I was in and can't get out of it, then maybe it's time to go against the current and do it.

Training

My bike is currently in the shop getting a tune-up so it is all ready for my training. I'm pumped. The weather is getting nicer and I really want to get back into my training mindset. The winter off was sweet - I'm ready for a change. This year, I want to do a couple things:

• Ride in more events - if possible.
• Train my team for the MS City to Shore Century.
• Ride all 270 miles in Tour DaVita.
• Learn to change a flat tire.

Charity Events

When you have some skill or if you are trying to get in shape or anything, it’s not a bad idea to look for causes you want to support and sign up for those events. Your registration fee will then go to that cause.

You are also going to want to keep your receipts! Most of the time, these registration fees or any money you donate is tax deductible so you can get it back in the form of a tax refund. Not too bad. Every little bit helps, right?

Warning: The Right Charity

For motivation or inspiration, any event will do. If you are serious about your charitable donations and whatnot you are going to want to do some research on the event and the charity. Some the money is going to go to the event directly – understandable, besides, the PR from a really good event can bring a lot of education and awareness to a certain cause.

How we view those with more

However, you might want to poke around a little to see how much money is raised for the event and how much goes to actual research, treatment or helping others. You are going to want to make sure you verify your facts through at least two creditable sources. A while ago, this post/email went around with the salaries of CEOs from places like Goodwill and the American Red Cross – it was somewhat inaccurate and you can read about it here at Snopes.com.

Make sure any statistics you are looking at are accurate, up-to-date and you are mostly looking at the percentage of money raised that goes directly to the cause. It doesn't matter if a CEO makes 1 million in total compensation (this is not a paycheck, alone – a monetary amount is assigned to health benefits and perks to create a “total compensation”) if the charity pours 99% of what it raises right into those who need the most help.

Warning: The Fundraising

Charities are, well, charities. I have found some great ones I would want to ride for but I can’t do it because the registration fee PLUS the required fundraising amount is more than I can swing.

I would love to participate in the Best Buddies Challenge but with a $50.00 registration fee plus a $1,550-$1,800.00 price tag for fundraising, I can’t do it. Remember, when you are fundraising, you can probably only hit one person up per event. If someone donates $50 to my MS City to Shore Century I can’t ask them to donate another $50 to my Tour DaVita ride and then another amount for another event. 

People aren't made of money. Choose wisely.

You can always self-fund, though. If I made a lot of money, I could just fund the Best Buddies Challenge myself or whatever. Sometimes, you might have to do that depending on your “fan base” and willingness of people to donate.

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit

Girls with Gears logo from carolforheart.org

Money girl from venturebeat.com

Follow Up: World Kidney Day

Remember World Kidney Day last week? If not, you can read my post where I required something of you my awesome readers.

I had asked you all to do one good deed - one selfishness act of pure altruism to help make this word a better place. While I would like to think it was done in honor of the human race, it could be done on behalf of kidneys everywhere - functional or not.

What did you do? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Custom Coffee

A couple things about me – I love a good coffee. I’m not a coffee snob, I embrace what I like and experiment with things I don’t know. I worked retail for a while in a mall with a Starbucks and it was there I developed a costly addiction to Starbucks coffee.

Not really an addiction – it was just part of my routine and habit. See, the mall opened its public doors at 8am (let’s say) but the stores opened normally at 9am. Retail workers were there at 8:30am to get everything set up before the doors opened so there was this feeling of comradery and calm between 8am-9am where only retail workers and some mall walkers were around.

And the Starbucks was open.

I liked the guys that worked there – I actually had a crush on this one guy. Since I worked across from the Starbucks, I could see him and there was a playful competition as to who could win his affections between the girls I worked with. I didn't win.

I started digging the flavored coffee and that big sugar cookie they had. Sometimes they had different shapes – like  flower for spring – but it was always this awesome sugar cookie. I loved the lemon or whatever with the taste of the coffee.

I did end up really cutting back when I did the math and found out I was spending a couple hundred dollars a year on coffee. I also gave up everything but a tall, regular coffee for lent one year and then I sort of never went back to the other stuff.

Fast Forward
When my sickness began winning more than the medical industry’s denial that anything was wrong with me, my big weekly outing was going to the local Starbucks for a sugar free Vanilla latte. It was the one thing I could look forward to, plan around and pretend like I was a normal person.

Getting myself together and remembering how to get to the Starbucks was pretty exhausting. I would have to take a couple naps afterwards. But, it was a victory. Always a victory. Again, the guys at the local Starbucks were pretty cool and even asked me about my PICC line and treatments once they got use to seeing me and weren't afraid to ask me questions.

Fast Forward Again
With all my medical expenses and general loathing of moving, I did actual miss my coffee. It can be expensive to get a raspberry latte every day. Or almond. Normally when I buy a flavored coffee I pretty much regret it and then I am stuck with a pound of some type of over-sweet coffee.

Solution? Season your own coffee with blends of cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg or whatever flavors you like. This doesn't just go for coffee – use these extracts in hot chocolate, tea, lemonade or your favorite mixed drink. You can even add them to salad dressings and meats if you are adventurous.

Play around with flavors you like.

Here are the items I use:

Trader Joe's Grinders

I tell people this is pepper

I get a lot a TJs, and, these grinders made getting a sweet fix easy. I have a feeling that these grinders are available only during the holiday season - as in the fall and winter rather than all year long.

However, once you know how to make this stuff, you can buy the ingredients.

This stuff is a perfect blend of sugar and flavor. For example, that cinnamon-sugar grinder makes your coffee taste like a snickerdoodle.

This means, I don’t feel the need to eat a bunch of snickerdoodles. I still will, might I add. I just don't don't feel the need to eat them. Or I just eat donuts. And basically everything. I really commit to gaining those 5lbs during the winter.

No sugar in Pixi Stix, either

Essential Cane Sugars
Essential Cane makes a line of flavored sugars that are quite good. I do know how to make my own flavored sugar, but, it can take a while.

Patient I am not.

Try a little raspberry sugar or even habanera to give your coffee a kick. If you make lemonade, add a little blueberry. I actually make sugar cookies and spice them up with this sugar.

Extracts
Good olde fashion extracts are another way to go, you just have to be careful because they can be very strong, contain alcohol and be less sweet than what you think. An extract is the pure flavor without anything else.

Translations: It's strong. I dare you to drink directly from a extract bottle.

You can get fake extracts or pure ones depending on your personal beliefs and tastes. Most people who have ever baked have at least a vanilla extract hanging around. They can be expensive so you might as well use them in your beverages. And pancakes.

Anyhow, with the right balance of sugar, a nice almond or mint extract can be delicious. Not for me. I hate mint. Almond I am all for.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Run a Mile

At some point, running a 5K was going to be one of those things I was going to try. I'm not a runner for a couple reasons:

• I want to protect my joints.
• I hate jiggling.
• I get bored. 
• I have a pacing problem.

Not everyone is suppose to be a runner, I accept this rather than force myself into doing it. I did try running when I was cycling as part of a cross-training routine and got a couple blocks, then stopped and walked back home.

I'm a good sprinter but without context of my speed, I will burn myself out

Run the Mile
In high school, part of your yearly physical education was the day you had to run the mile. I never actually ran the mile, even in high school. I guess I was never taught how to run - I was never taught how to hold my arms or how to pace myself or even how to place my feet properly. I would start out at a "healthy trot" which would quickly become a dead sprint.

My goal was really only to beat the fat kid.

Cycling
I like biking/cycling.

I can really open up on a bike and feel like I am making some good progress. I have a tracker on my handlebars which tells me how far I have gone and how fast. This allows me to not burn myself out and to push when I have to.

I am a fan of biking as an endurance sport - I am a fan of running as a sprinting sport. Once, someone said how all endurance athletes are running from something or trying to escape something. In my attempt to escape whatever I am running from, I can do it better on a bike than on foot.

Next up, car.

Treadmill Plus Vodka
While spending the evening with the hottest guy ever (that would be my forever humble boyfriend) we had some dinner and I was working on some vodka and diet coke, which is my drink of choice. I mention that I never actually ran a mile and I wondered if I could do it.

Now, my devastatingly handsome boyfriend runs 3 miles almost everyday. He has a treadmill.

When you have the chance at adventure, you really should leap at it. Sometimes it is easier than others and sometimes it is better to listen to the "NO" voice rather than the "Go for it!" voice. In this case, what else are you going to do on a Saturday night after a pasta dinner while sucking down some booze?

I pop up on the treadmill to give this whole "run a mile" thing a shot. I don't like to wear shoes, so, I just had socks on. I also was not in any type of workout clothes.

Vodka powered

He was going to set me at 3mph, but, I normally walk at that rate. Really, I walk fast. I am 200% business when walking and also suffer from people rage. He jacked it up to 4mph and I kept at a foxy trot seeing at what point my body would break down.

And. ..I ran a mile. I didn't even really pant that hard so I could have probably gone faster. I will note, according to RunKeeper I only burned 83 calories for my 15 minutes of activity. Whatever!

Future Plans
No, I probably won't be running a 5K alongside my guy. I am not going to be buying those monkey-toe shoes with the toes or a new pair of running sneakers.

I am glad I can run a mile - even though the next day I felt a little stiff after. I think if I am going to run, sticking to a treadmill is the best idea. I can pace myself better, watch TV so I have entertainment and I can run barefoot without worrying about cutting up my feet.

I could, possibly, run when I am over at my boyfriend's place. But, bike training will be starting soon so I will probably be resting when I am at his place.

But, hey. Yays! I ran my first mile EVER.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
No running from roisinsafetyunit.tumblr.com

Read Tarot Cards

A little something about me, I can read tarot cards. I’m not psychic but I can use the cards to pick up on energies around and give some insight into situations. This is a pretty cool parlor trick (I like to use the word parlor) and a lot of the time someone’s eyes will light up when I said I can read cards and s/he will want me to do a spread.

Then there is a lot of, “I don’t know, what can you do?” because a lot of people have no idea how the cards can be use.

But, let’s back up a bit.

History

Tarot cards actually have the same root as playing cards. In fact, you can play a number of games with tarot cards. So, all cards have the same origins and different countries, games and regions made their own decks with various designs and whatnot.

Then things got organized. In about the 15^th century, most decks had four suits. The direction of tarot started in the 15^th century, as well, and includes extra trump cards – also known as face cards. During this time, in Europe, the whole Spade, Hearts, Clubs and Diamonds got ironed out and the trump cards mimicked where determined to be the King, Queen and Jack.

Between classic decks and tarot decks, in general, you will always have four suits. However, a tarot deck will have about 78 cards where a classic deck has 52.

The Tarot

A tarot card deck is made of two decks that are rarely mixed:

• Major Arcana: This is made up of 22 trump cards, each tend to be riddled with symbolism, numerology and depict both situations and people. This deck is normally used when a deeper understanding is needed. Think of these cards as being based on archetypes.
• Minor Arcana: This is made up of 56 numbered cards and trumps (sometimes called court cards). There are normally four suits which also align to an element and theme. The numbered cards indicate a stage in a journey and each suit brings its own flare to that journey. Think of these cards are being more temporary and moving concepts.

A tarot deck design is non-standard. Most people know the Rider-Waite deck which is a popular French deck. I use a Thoth deck which had slightly different themes and meanings. 

Beyond that, if you picked up a Thoth or Rider-Waite deck, you could get one with any theme you wanted. Zombies, celebrities, cats, whatever – there is a probably a deck about it.

Tarot Spread

Once you get a hold of the cards in both decks, you need to learn spreads. A spread is merely how you lay the cards on the table – the position of the cards in a spread then tell you what the card is representing. The most common is the Celtic Cross but you can invent your own spread or even use the whole deck in one reading.

I have looked up a lot of spreads online and maybe have three or four memorized. Otherwise, I can always Google one I want to play with. Since I can’t retain everything, I do write little cheat sheets to help me out. Not professional, but, I only do readings for charity.

Tarot? Really?

You don’t have to believe in anything or something to use tarot cards. They are actually pretty nice to use when it comes to meditation. The brain is always looking for meaning and patterns in everything and all situations so using that instinct and reading cards can bring out thoughts, desires and warnings not seen before.

My Tarot

My first deck was the Rohrig Tarot which was created by Carl W. Rohrig. You won’t find it for the $20 I paid for it back in the early 1990s. It easily sells for over $100 used (check it out the Rohrig Tarot on Amazon.com). 

It’s a large (the cards are huge), modernized and beautiful Thoth deck. While not a deck for beginners, it was the only deck I had until this year. I find the cards very intricate and after spending a lot of time with them, I found I never have done a same reading twice - not with the position of the cards in the spread and the cards. 

In fact, whenever I think I have something all figured out, I can read a little more into it and find more angles. Then I just use what "feels" right when I am reading. 

Yep, even if you are not psychic, you got to use your intuition.

I also got the Housewives Tarot which is a little more whimsical and vintage and spoke to me. Not like in a super-deep spiritual way but in a way that made me want to buy it and try it out.

Both decks sort of lend themselves to certain meanings and things. I don’t always follow everything the books tell me when it comes to tarot since I think we each have our own feelings about the world.

Learning the Tarot

It's not very hard to learn the tarot but it can be as complex as you want to make it. There are hundreds of decks to start with and millions of spreads. Most decks come with a little book to let you know about the deck and what the cards mean. Then you can dig into any other aspect of astrology, numerology or whatever to gain more understanding.

I do spend some time researching tarot cards - the history, the meaning and the origins. I like to use sites like Aeclectic.net or Corax.com to shine some light on what the cards mean and how I can use them. I often read articles (for and against) tarot and look up stuff about different decks. 

Faith and Tarot

First, yep, I'm Catholic and I read cards. I'm really banking a lot on being funny and getting into Heaven that way rather than by, you know, following the rules. I read about it on CatholicEducation.org [and yes, they spelled "scripture" wrong, that's not me]:

If I lived back in the day

To try to discover the future through tarot cards, palm reading, ouija board or some other form of fortunetelling, or to try to control the future through black magic, witchcraft or sorcery violates the first commandment. Keep in mind that fortunetelling is inherently linked with the practices of the occult. Sacred Scriptue has many condemnations of these activities: In the Old Testament we find, "A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortune-teller shall be put to death by stoning: they have no one but themselves to blame for their death" (Leviticus 20:27), and "Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor a fortuneteller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles from the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the Lord..." (Deut 18:10-12).

It's a good thing my devastatingly handsome gentleman caller takes me to church every week. But, in all seriousnesses, I know since I do it, I am going to defend it and find reasons for it not to be a sin. However, in my heart of hearts, I'm not thinking there is such a thing as witchcraft.

I also mentally go, "OMG, change is coming!" whenever I see a raven because seeing a raven means change is coming. I don't really think I'm going to burn in Hell for that.

I think God is a little more powerful than me looking at some artwork on cards.

Doing a Reading

It is very easy to "people hack" or to read someone to tell them what s/he wants to hear. I have had people who are very open and tell me a lot of stuff and some who shut down in order to prove I cannot read them. I don't actually try to tell people what they want to hear, I do focus on what the cards mean and the position they are in. Sometimes, it's not good.

I am not psychic but I do go a little on feeling when I am reading. There are energies around us and many things we cannot explain, so, why not go on intuition when you can? Sometimes, I think it is helpful. Again, as I wrote about the brain always trying to find patterns, if I can help and guide someone into a place they had not thought about before, maybe that is all that s/he needs. I would like people to walk away from my table with a new perspective.

I know some readings I feel stronger about things that others.

I will say this - there are no "bad cards" in the tarot. There are warnings and there are missteps but we all have free will and can change the pattern of our actions. Many people know of the Death Card - it's not really a bad thing. Most people thin the Devil Card is bad - again, not always. Tarot is a lot like life, you think something is a bad sign, but, in the end, it could be the best thing that happened. We deal with defeat, loss and heartbreak and those exist in the cards - do does hope, rebirth and perseverance.

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit

Celtic Cross from Occult100

Rohrig Tarot image from moonlightcounseling

Men ready to stone someone from dwindlinginunbelief.blogspot.com

Journal

On a whim, I bought this diary. It’s pretty sweet. I got it at Home Goods so I got it for cheaper than what it is worth. Or I got it for what it is actually worth – I’m not sure.

It's like Twiter 'cause it's a tweeter

I like writing by hand because it is more personal. I also use to like to write by hand to see where the infection was in my brain and if it hit my motor control.

I was never big into keeping a diary. I never thought my life was really that interesting – and with sickness comes an intense apathy so it’s not like I was going to record anything. I did keep some notes about what I was going through because I knew I wouldn't be able to remember what had happened to me and the notes served as a way I could communicate with the medical industry.

In looking back with a brain that isn't riddled with infection, I wish I had been able to do better and use these notes to help out others. I often sent them to people about to enter treatment or who were going through whatnot as sort of what to expect – or at least everything that could go wrong.

Someone said I should write a book, but, I don’t think anyone would think the illness was “cool” enough to be relateable to make money. I think the people who need the most help are so far gone by the time they figure out something is really wrong (and it’s not in their head) that is would serve no purpose. I don’t think the medical establishment would like it much either though some doctors are getting better at working on treatments and testing for blood-borne illnesses.

Anyhow, the point is, I think often times in the moment you don’t think what you write is awesome or would ever impact anyone, but, when you look back, you see it really can.

I also thing the other side is true - no one actually cares about your life as much as you do. Your thoughts and jottings are only important if people can see themselves in it. However, for self-exploration and expanding horizons and learning discipline journaling is great.

My New Challenge

Anywho, now I have it and I have no idea what to put in it. I am soliciting ideas! I am going to do my best to write three times a week. Which will end up being two. I have a feeling.

What items, what things should be recorded? What do you write about in a journal if you do write in a journal? Hit me up at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com if you think of something. I don't be publishing these things but I think it's a good exercise. 

Here is the list I have so far (which I got from the Internet) which should keep me busy.

• What is your interpretation of one of your recent dreams?
• What does death teach us about life?
• When you look at a person's hands what do you see?
• If you died tomorrow, what would you most be remembered for?
• When was the last time you cried?
• What is the longest you've had a "borrowed" item but not been able to return it because they moved?
• What is one thing that happened today that I really want to remember years from now?
• Did I do something today that I can be proud of?
• Why is it important to be genuine?
• What do you think about ghosts?
• Describe your typical day?
• What would be your ideal birthday present, and why?
• Think of a relative that you have lost - if you could, what would you ask?
• What is the most important aspect of your life and why?
• In what ways do you sometimes wish to act to be a better friend, but don't?
• If I could change one thing about my spouse/lover, what would I change?
• If you won a million dollars but had to give it all away, who would you give it to and why?
• What did you want to be when you grew up?
• If you had to write your life story, what would the title be? Why?
• What do you think about as you are falling asleep?
• When did you first realize you would someday be old or someday die?
• When have you realized you were really wrong in your judgment about someone?
• Who has more power the government or the people?
• Which amendment to the constitution is the most important?
• Put yourself in Anne Frank's place how would you have survived?
• What would you do if you woke up one morning with a tail?
• Where would you most like to watch the sun come up? Why?
• What was your closest brush with death.
• Remember the last time you spoke to a person who later died.
• Write about the last time weather scared you.
• When were you the happiest this year?
• What are you saving up for?
• What caused me to wince today?
• What tempted me today?
• If you could tell your boss what you really want to do in your job, what would it be?
• How are you going to make tomorrow a joyful day?

Customized

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

World Kidney Day

Not My Idea
I work for a company that provided dialysis. What is dialysis? It’s a treatment for people who do not have functioning kidneys. The kidneys remove waste and balance your fluid content (yep, they produce urine) and without them, you would die within a few days. Dialysis is a process where this waste and extra fluid is removed from the blood through artificial means. Most commonly, hemodialysis where a patient’s blood is fed through a machine that pulls out the waste materials and fluid then returns the blood to the patient.

It’s really not a fun thing, so, take care of your kidneys. Encourage those who suffer from things like diabetes and high-blood pressure to also take care of themselves - those are the two main causes of kidney failure.

What We Do

In honor of World Kidney Day on Thursday, March 14^th, DaVita a provider of dialysis services, is asking everyone to do one good deed on Thursday. Internally, DaVita employs about 50,000 employees so that would be at least 50,000 good deeds – but what if we could do a couple more?

Let's do this!

I know my blog does not reach a lot of people, but, if it does, I encourage you to do some stellar deed on Thursday that you can be proud of. It’s part of our responsibility as human beings to take care of each other, so, use World Kidney Day as a real good excuse to toss aside your fears and inhibitions and help out those around you.

You never know what burden people around you are carrying, you never know the struggles or the intensity of the emotion someone feels. Maybe you reaching out to one person can stop a negative cycle that would have led to something tragic.

You have three days to decide - I suggest to not think about it, just do what is in your heart. Leap out there and do something 100% good for someone else. 

If you participate, you can even let DaVita know by sending an email with some photos to ripples@davita.com. If you want, let them know Amanda sent you - but, I doubt that will mean much in the grand scheme of things.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Try Proactiv

Mission Level
Success

My Skin
I have bad skin. Some people do not believe me. I will post this charming picture of how my skin would look at least 2 weeks out of the month - the rest of the time, it was in a state of repair, smaller pimples or me trying to pop everything.

I do love popping pimples and blackheads.

True story

I have bad skin. Really. Some is due to just who I am - my brother was on prescription stuff so some is my genes. I also struggled with issues from the toxins, sickness and medication.

Your skin is a great teller of what is happening inside of you. It's good to know the pattern of your skin and hair.

The last set of awesome break-outs I had was due to too much B vitamins.

Public: But, Manda, you tell people they should get B vitamins  Are you trying to ruin their skin?!

Look, I was on a lot of Bs. I was on shots of it for my neuropathy and then some extra for metabolism. After a few weeks of my regiment  I would give myself an injection and without about 10 minutes, I would be breaking out in painful, cystic type acne.

I figured if the Proactiv could maybe help with my skin issues. I didn't have a ton of hope, though. I know enough about the world that when people claim there is some awesome treatment that can easily fix all your problems, it's probably a lie.

Proactiv

Magic

Proactiv contains a large dose of benzoyl peroxide. It will take care of mild to bad acne. However, it will do nothing for cystic acne or nodulocystic acne. These are the worst kind of acne - cysts are painful fluid filled sacs that can be huge and nodules are hard and deep under the skin. I did have both  but it was temporary for me.

There are other products with benzoyl peroxide - like Acne Free which I did try back in the day. I actually did not like the smell of it - it had a watery, fake lavender smell. I also saw no results which is why I assumed Proactiv wouldn't work either.

For Me
Proactiv did work for me. And some of my friends used it (who did not have issues) and their skin got a lot clearer and more glow-y.

The whole system is simple:

• Cleanser: It smells light to good to nothing. Proactive calls them "micro beads" but the cleanser comes with some light exfoliation stuff. It will not suds up or anything. I like to wet down my skin with warm water just to open everything up, then gently scrub.
• Toner: You are suppose to apply this with a cotton ball  I squirt a bit on my hand and rub it on my face. I know, incorrect. But, whatever. It tastes salty. Don't eat it.
• Lotion: This still contains the benzoyl peroxide - but, it does help repair acne issues. I sometimes put a rub on after work. It will soften your skin.

Here's the low-down. First, you use the product twice a day - although I currently use it once a day because I am lazy. When I think I am going to be breaking out, I use it twice a day for a few days. I like conserving the product.

You do have to be a little patient. My skin felt softer after a few treatments, but, I was trying to come to terms with having bad skin after I was still breaking out after a week or so. I wanted instant results and when I didn't see them, I figured I was stuck with bad skin.

My Mom did note my skin looked better (between my blemishes) about a week later. A good four weeks later, I was amazed at how my skin responded and how much better it looked.

Clear! (in the non-dead way)

True story, you might find your skin drying out a bit. I had some dry skin that was a little painful around my eyes. I do use an eye moisturizer and I was careful to avoid the area while it re-hydrated. After a little, my body seemed to have adjusted well and I never got dry patches. A friend of mine had such dry skin it peeled - in these cases, it is best to take a day off or reduce what you are doing.

Also - be careful about other products you use. I don't use anything else with Acne fighting stuff in it.but, you will want to run through your normal skin care to make sure you don't combine anything wierd. You won't need another cleaner or anything, by the way. You can use just the three steps.

You might want to make sure you get some SPF on you if you are using Proactiv.

The Industry
Proactive will send you about two or three freebies with your first orders. Then they will send you a lot of catalogs with products and stuff for  problems you never knew you had.

Good news, bad news for Proactiv - I think the basic product works great and I felt no need to get anything else from some weird brush to the 100 million products they seem to have. You might want to invest in body cleanser if you have body acne - that might be about it that I would buy. I did enjoy using my free sample of the refining mask. When I want a "mask" I just use the normal cleanser and keep it on. Again, the basic product and regiment worked great for me.

If you sign up for the auto-shipping you can set it to be delivered from 1-22 weeks or something. They will also bill you accordingly. They say they discount you a lot, which they might, but, when I say that my going rate for an article is $500 but I discounted you to $100 - did I really discount you or did I just make you feel better about spending $100?

After being on the auto-thing for about a year, I stopped it. I have a stockpile of the stuff and I can buy it elsewhere these days. I have well over a year worth of the stuff in my bathroom. No need to be greedy. Plus, I don't like the work that goes into tracking when everything ships, arrives and I get billed. It's annoying and I normally noticed my account being billed and a week or so later the product arriving when I didn't need it. I don't like that. I stopped it.

The Weird
The stuff will stain your towels. Either use a towel you don't care about or get one that you don't mind looking as if it was bleached.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Product shot from amazon.com

Get a Gel Manicure

I love me a good manicure. Due to poor nutrition and sickness, my nails were never that great until I started on a good vitamin routine and was able to get better food into me. Manicures started off as a thing my Mom and I would do – get our nails done and go to lunch.

Really, what’s more perfect? My Mom is pretty awesome.

A traditional manicure would last me a few days before it would start to chip. For $10 at our local salon, it wasn't a bad deal but I don’t like the look of cracked, chipping polish. I don’t need to have manicured nails, I just don’t like chipped nails. I would prefer to have unpolished, wild nails than manicured chipped nails.

I knew some friends who got tips and fake nails – I never wanted to damage my nails and I also don’t like the fake look. Also, that box-cut French thing looks weird. Really, your fingers look chunky when you cut you nail right across and then add some white lines

What is it?
A gel manicure is basically a normal manicure but the polish is some type of chemical that dries under UV light to create a super-hard shell on your nail.

Manicure
After leaving my original nail salon due to poor service, I decided it was time to give the gel manicure a try. Here’s what I can tell you:

• Do your research. 
• Know your nails.
• Find the right place to go. 
• Check the manufactures website. 
• Read the horror stories.

Cost
Critical – what is the cost? Where I am, a simple manicure costs $10. The gel manicure costs $30. However, I only have to get one every 2-3 weeks. Doing the math for a month, it would be $40 for a normal manicure and $45 for a gel (at most). The gel also looks better longer where I always have a few days of crappy nails with the simple manicure.

Sold!

My Experience

At about 3.5 weeks

Basically, addicted. I am lucky, I live really close to a great nail salon where they do everything right.

• Getting it done: Painless. Normal manicure process, but, you put your hands under UV lights rather than a dryer. It was so hard to convince myself they were dry since I am use to drying for 15 minutes and then doing the dainty I-can’t-touch-anything hand dance for an hour after.
• First impressions: I did feel as if my nails were a little thicker or heavier. Stronger, even. The polish makes it possible to open a can of cat food without batting an eye – normally, this would break or weaken a nail.
• Love: A week later, my nails still look salon perfect. I can get 2-3 weeks out of my nails. Granted, toward the end they might chip a little and you do see new nail growth. If your nails grow really fast, you’ll know it. I never had to get my nails clipped until I started doing gel manicures.

Testing
I did tests – I took the polish off myself, I ripped off the polish, I tried two different manufactures of the polish and stopped using the gel.

Polish off: I have pure acetone and I soaked my nails. I learned I am not a professional and I thought my nails were totally damaged. Ended up, I just didn’t get all the polish off right. At the salon, they lightly file the polish and gently scrap it off rather than having you soak for 10 minutes unattended. This is the right way. I did it the wrong way. However, my nails were not damaged, just had all this stuff on them that made them look scratched.

I used both OPI and Shellac polishes. I like the Shellac better which is made by a company called CND. This might be more personal – I liked the colors better and when the OPI was removed, my nails looked a little more chipped than with the Shellac.

I took a break – first when I removed the polish on my own and later when I got a normal manicure. I really wanted to take more breaks because I think it’s supposed to be a good thing, but, I can’t. I love the gel look and nail strength.

Plus, I go to one of those places that will tell you if you need to take a break from something.

Do not rip off the gel no matter how tempting it is. It’s not good for your nails. For the sake of science, I did, though. I found it comes off a lot harder yet more as one piece than normal polish. I did note my nails were just fine under it.

Negatives
I do think that getting the gel makes me not relies how my nails are suppose to be. When I took a break, I thought my nails had become weaker – actually, it was just how they normally are. They aren't actually weak, but, the gel adds a lot of strength. It’s annoying to stop dong it.

If you have thin nails, this could be bad. They will scuff up your nails a bit to help the polish really stick. They are really good at it where I go, but, it is something that is done.

Hand models always hold stuff - this is my coffee mug

You can’t have your hands in water or doing a lot of stuff all the time. My Mom, for example, got a gel manicure and then cleaned the house and cooked Thanksgiving dinner – her nails did NOT hold up for Thanksgiving Day and she had to get her nails re-done.

You are stuck with a single polish color for three weeks. I mean, you could go get the polish off if you were unhappy. However, in general, you need to make sure you like the color. If you decided to do a bright orange and then you have a funeral to go to – that might bother you. Or not. I don’t know you and I don’t know your emotions. I normally do soft pinks and more natural tones, I was a little iffy about going dark and I can’t say I am 100% in love with my current nail color. For the next three-ish weeks, this is what I got.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Use a French Press

Mission Level

Not this type of press

Success!

French Press Coffee
When you are sick for any period of time and you eat certain foods during this time, it is more then likely you will be unable to eat that food again because it will remind you of how you felt.

I believe this is because things like sound and smell are deeply places in our brains. It’s why when you hear a song from your first school dance or during a very sad time, you can remember it very well. For example, the smell of car exhaust reminds me of ice cream because when I was growing up, in the summer, my Dad would take us to get ice cream in his 1969 Mustang.

I use to say that I escaped my sickness unscathed by these sick -food demons, that is untrue. I found I avoid:

• Peanut butter protein bars: These were a staple of my at-deaths-door diet.
• Ham and potato casserole: Can’t do it. Can’t even think about it. Don’t even like a ham omelets next to hash browns.
• Water from my parents’ bathroom: I’ve been getting better with it, quite honestly. However, I do not live with my parents anymore.
• Oreos: I never liked chocolate and because of this, I ate Oreos every time I had to take a medication with food that I knew was going to incapacitate me.

Oddly enough, there are foods I have had horrible experiences with that I still can chow down with:

• Banana: Taste the same going down as they do coming up.
• Ice cream: Once, it was all I could eat. I would eat this if I knew I was going to be puking because a good quality ice cream tastes the same going in and coming out.
• Meat: If you think you are going to be sick, don’t eat meat. I have and I still eat meat.
• Coffee: Staple.

Learning About CoffeeMy doctor and I shared a love of coffee. Being that he was a person I saw the most (minus my parents) during my sickness, and had been through what I had been through, we had a pretty good rapport.

A real French press

Not the caffeine addicted omg-I-luz-DD type love - an appreciation of the science and chemisty behind brewing a fine French Roast. I enjoy a mellow breakfast blend on the weekends but a darker roast during the week. This is the type of coffee you don’t find in Dunkin’ Donuts or Wawa. Sometimes you might find the grounds, but, certainly not the right way to make it.

Also, don’t put your coffee in the freezer or fridge. It’s not good for it.

Using the PressI really wanted to get into the French press of making coffee because, well, really, I have no reason. I think it worked out when I didn’t like the coffee at work and I could brew my own with this fascinating piece of equipment.

It works pretty simple, you pull up the plunger, put in your coffee, put in the water, wait and then push the grounds down and pour.

Get a good quality coffee and grind your coffee with a nice grinder for the best results. For a French press you want larger particles of ground coffee. This is why on ground coffee bags it will say things like “For drip coffee” or “for espresso” or “French press.” The size of the coffee particles is key in making a good coffee. You can also purchace the coffee.

Here is the best step-by-step I ever found – which I cannot take credit for. Mark Prince – the friendly Canadian photographer came up with it.


Proper Instructions

Final Thoughts
I don't use my French press as much as I use to, it is a special treat. I enjoy the coffee where I work so the last times I used my press when I was working from home at my old job. I have actually not used my press since my doctor passed away in November 16, 2010.

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
French Press from ign.com
Other from theblaze.co

Donate to Locks for Love

Mission Level 
Success!

Send to Locks for Love

On June 26, 2012 I chopped my hair for Locks for Love. BAM!

This is not my first time - I have donated 8 ponytails total to Locks for Love. I think when it comes to giving back, growing out your hair is about the least you can do. If you do it right, you can grow your hair all winter (saving $$$ on haircuts) and then chop it off in the summer when it gets hot.

Then everyone is like "Oh, wow, you look great!" because you chopped off like 12-14 inches of your hair.

How to Grow
Growing hair, well, that's pretty easy. You kind of do it naturally.

If you are going to donate it, find a program and make sure you fit what they need. If you dye or perm your hair, you might not be a good candidate for a donation.

Next, take care of your hair type to ensure you don't damage your hair through breakage or split ends. After all, your hair needs to be healthy to become a wig for someone who needs it. If you get trims, make sure you tell your hair stylist what you are doing and s/he can help you find the best products.

Hair is made up of amino acids which is created from protein. To encourage your body to grow more hair, you will need to consume more protein from lean meat, fish, eggs, nuts, beans or soy products (I happen to avoid soy). Other things you will want to supply your body with include

• Iron. 
• Zinc.
• Vitamin C.
• Vitamin B.
• Probiotics.

Where to Donate
Hair grows differently for different people, but, you can get 6-12 inches in a year. Give it a try! Here are some places that accept hair donation:

• Locks for Love Guidelines: 10 inches needed.
• Angel Hair Foundation Guidelines: 12 inches needed.
• Pantene Beautiful Lengths Guidelines: 8 inches needed.
• Wigs for Kids Guidelines: 12 inches needed.

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.