Gross BUT True

I’m not the most graceful and as much as my mom has tried I’m not really a lady. I DO try but as hard as I try, I have never fit into a box or certain classification.  I’m me, they only box I have ever prolly ever will fit into is an amoeba shaped box, no defined shape or definition, just its all there. (kind of like a Jackson Pollock painting) Plus I have curly hair & my frizz is un-shapeable, seriously a gallon of pure olive oil cannot contain my frizz. So, shapes are not my friend. As hard as I try, as much as I try to conform, it is might be a futile mission, but I’m me and super stubborn and will NEVER stop trying.

(back to my main point)

I’m no lady I hate crossing my legs, cannot sit still, speak my mind and spill stuff on myself occasionally, (not the lady lacking part but the spilling stuff on me part, is a characteristic inherited from my mother)

Thankfully my mom is an expert in stain removal.

Back to not being a lady, I am clumsy, accident prone and love to pick scabs. Well, being clumsy, accident-prone and a scab picker, blood occasionally gets on my clothing or stains some material around me.

Blood is not the easiest to get out, especially on certain materials or things that cannot fit into a washing machine.

Here is the gross part: I was whining venting talking about blood stains to my mom. She warns me her solution would gross me out BUT she swears by it. Saliva, spit, drool, loogies call it whatever you wish but it’s the best, best, best blood stain remover!! Yes, I was dumb founded and contested it and digressed on how unsanitary it is.

(FACT: the mouth is the dirties, most germ ridden orifice of the human body)

All she kept saying was try it and then brining in a few comments about enzymes but her biochemistry is limited, but knows food chemistry. (all I know about food is I like to eat it, well some of it)

Try it. Try it. Try it.

FINE MOM! I will try it. 

(this totally weighs heavily on my whole germaphobia complex)

I have only tried this with my own blood stains and my own saliva, I refuse to try it with other’s saliva or blood….

If possible do this when the blood stain is still fresh… aka wet.

(if fresh, dab the stain to soak up any wet blood)

STEP 1: Haulk a loogie on the blood stain.

(I do it on the reverse side of the stain)

STEP 2: Let it soak for a minute

STEP 3: Rub the saliva all over the stain

(I use gloves with a cotton rag or a tooth brush, I have no desire to rub my finger in my spit, even though I did suck my thumb into my teenage years)

Depending on the concentration of the stain you might need a few more loogies & elbow grease

STEP 4: Repeat until stain is gone or almost gone

STEP 5: wash your hands, the utensil and the counter top after you finish… (I do it twice….. spit…..YUCK)

STEP 6: If it fits in a washing machine, launder as usual, if not take a very diluted mixture of water and laundry soap, rub it over the stained/spit soaked area. Repeat until, the orangie-yellowish color is gone. Then rinse with pure water a few times.

It has worked for me on my dry clean only items, spit, rub, drop off at the cleaners

Like I said, this grosses me out and is a challenge for me to do. But it’s the best blood stain remover/process I’ve tried. I have tried others but this works the best.

Why? 

Well, my mom was right! It does have something to do with enzymes. Saliva is mostly water but the last 2% is composed of electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes, secretory IgA and lysozymes. The composition of that 2% is essential for beginning the process of digestion or break down of dietary starches and fats.

Enzymes are highly reactive proteins. Enzymes catalyze or increase the rate of chemical reactions such as digestion. Blood is composed of proteins and when they are exposed to the atmosphere, heat or some material they can react, forming chemical bonds with the fabric. Which is why blood is super hard to get out and why the blood stain should be treated as soon as possible.

The enzymes in saliva are designed to break chemical bonds and break down complex proteins and compounds (such a food). Therefore, by spitting on one’s own blood stain, one is chemically digesting the stain out of the material, without damaging the integrity of the fabric.

Isn’t science the greatest?

(and really gross sometimes)

oops

I know

I know

I know

Blog hiatus, not planned but life got in the way, blogging will re-commence soon and an explanation to come…

Maybe?

Forgive me?

Easter 2012

I will admit that I have a trying relationship with God. We fight, well I do the fighting. But deep down the strong conviction of faith is there. Yes, it’s a constant battle, (remember my favorite word is why)

During Easter Service this past Sunday, during the renewal of baptismal vows, the response was not just “I do” There was an extra definition of what “I do” really meant in each vow.  Some of those extra definitions, really, really stuck with me.

Now some of it was a HUGE reality check, many sins flooding my thoughts, but deep down I know that God knows me and I make mistakes, tons, tons…. Tons!

I may not ask for forgiveness often enough (even when I should) and only pray when I want/need something and even deliberately feed into the devil (shocking, I know). Which yes, is not any definition of a model Christian, but at times I really try to remember my faith, values and Who I serve. I have passion and I know God gave me that passion. I’m only human and NO, it’s not an excuse but a realization.  I have the foundation of Christian values and that is a part of me and comes with me through every moment in my life.  Sometimes they guide me, other times I blow them off and deliberately turn the other cheek.  God gave that strong Christian foundation to me through what my family and teachers have instilled in me.  Mix in my own free will, sinning and tons of randomness, somehow, some way I am the product.

God made ME

Yes, I feel a LOT guilt, insufficiencies, anger, sadness….. BUT there’s good parts too. I’m working to be free from my sins instead of being held captive by them.

 “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”

Romans 5:6-8

Although I googled the verse above, it spoke to me. Not giving me permission to sin, but telling me that a route to become at peace with sinning is possible, without living in constant guilt. Realize the sin, ask for forgiveness, and re-focus back to Christ, back to that Christian foundation. I’m not perfect and yes, there are sins I have yet to ask for forgiveness on as well as sins I might not ever ask for forgiveness on.

God made me.

His love for me is not based on the condition of my performances.

God knows me better than I know myself. I will never be perfect and I got maybe a zillion more sins to commit before we meet at the pearly gates, to determine if I’ll enter…. BUT I have faith, a good percentage of my actions resemble my Christian foundation. I work to be a better Erin. Some days I’m a super star at it and others, I feed into the devil and deliberately sin.

Yes, I renewed my baptismal vows.

As hard as I try, I will never be perfect. I can type it, but accepting it will be an endless battle. I will never be Mother Theresa. I can only be a better Erin.  That’s what I am working towards. My faith was renewed, renewed to allow God in more, reminded that I’m drawn to God by grace alone.

I may or may not make it to Heaven, but I have faith which leads me to God and my vow renewal strengthens my desire to seek as well as accept God in my life.

Let Him be in control.

That’s what was significant about my Easter. What was significant about yours?

Special Announcement

Happy Happy Birthday to my Rosie!

I love you SO much

Honored and Blessed to be your godmudder

ps… stop growing-up, k? thanks

Soapbox Saturday

Soap box Saturday

I like to share my opinion, there is NO doubt about that.

My mother might even say I enjoy complaining.......craziness

To ensure this blog does not turn into my endless rants and I uphold Miss Mallory’s message while staying true to pessimistic, glass half empty myself, I decided to only have rants on Saturdays. Thus Soapbox Saturdays.

I will try (I'm far from perfect, so I will TRY) to keep my judgmental, opinionated passionate rants to Saturday posts ONLY

calorie counting.....FAIL

Having a degree in physics & chemistry one would think I can do simple math, since quantum physics actually makes sense to me…. but I’m having trouble, can anyone help me?

1204, 2024, 1288, and 1449….

Are all over 1200 and my calorie intake is supposed to be at or lower than 1200

I have lost four pounds in 2.5 weeks but I’m kinda having nightmares about weigh in this coming Monday! I’m not ready to see a zero or a positive number when I compare my weights…… (yes, I catastrophize, and no I still haven’t taken my measurements, I know, I know!)

The shakes are great, and I’m good between the hours of wake-up and 7pm, which is one HUGE help…..

After 7:00pm….. NOT….. SO….. MUCH

Bewitching hours beings about 1-2hrs after dinner, I have been staying later at work to avoid extra time at home to avoid indulging my munching urge. 

pathetic? YEP, but I know, I know.

The shakes work great, but my dinner does not satiate me and I WANT MORE! But, I'm NOT ok over dosing on protein. (almond are great but HIGH in calories & protein) Oh I tried breakfast & dinner shake, w/ a healthy lunch but…… that was a huge mess & I don’t have time to pack a lunch or let alone sit down and eat it at work, plus I still struggle around 7:00pm

Needless to say, I hate after dinner time till bed time.

Not to mention this heat! We have air conditioning (@work) but with all the machines & analyses being ran, it’s still a temperature battle leaving the lab between 75-80 degrees AND in lab appropriate clothing….. (plus my boss doesn’t like having the air on in the month of March) = HOT, MUGGY, HUMID.... yuck!

I’m sweating worse than a sumo wrestler in a sauna, from the moment I get into work till when I leave……..

I leave work, two pounds lighter but go to bed 5 pounds heavier because

1.)      I’m so icky I get home, drink tons of water, but you know when you are hungry and you need food? (not to mention 5-10 powder room visits…….. So, being all hot & yucky & hungry I go on to ice cream or quick snacks.

OR

2.)    I’m so icky I’m on my way to class & stop at McDonald’s® for a chocolate milkshake just for the feeling of cooling down….. I cannot do 3 shakes a day, I need food, too!

Needless to say, this whole calorie counting part is kind of kicking my butt! Please tell me I'm not in the same boat? Vi-Trim works great in my lunch shake, but the issue is after I eat dinner, I want more and its just builds & builds. I cannot get my stomach to "feel" what I just ate 30 minutes ago.

Any Suggestions....???

Great Game Syracuse…..

(Now, yes a bit of sore winning)

14 three pointers AND……..

you STILL LOSE?!?!

That’s gotta hurt Wisconsin!....

maybe you should have actually made some plays instead of calling them

(#31…. Yeah that shot is going to give you nightmares for awhile)

My mom emailed me this…..

...but WHY be calm about Syracuse???

Hello, its SU BASKETBALL & MARCH MADNESS