While talking to my dad tonight on the phone, as he gave the weekly update on my grandpa, I remembered an article I read last week about Alzheimer's patients and their emotions. With having two grandparents currently living in nursing homes - both suffering from different stages of what I'll lovingly call memory loss - this article truly touched me and brought a little hope and a little peace into my life.
There's nothing good I can think to say about having two grandparents suffering from such a devastatingly deplorable disease, but when reflecting on the findings of the study this article talks about, there is a little sliver of a silver lining. My grandpa and my grandma may not remember 5 minutes after I left that I was there visiting, but this article does gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, I've lifted up their spirits. It doesn't matter if they can't explain their elevated moods - in what little quality of life they have left, being in good spirits has become the important part.
One thing I'm not a big fan of is women's health commercials - tampons/pads, birth control, etc. They are so unrealistic and give the most inaccurate view of how women communicate with one another regarding these 'health' issues.
Example # 1: The Midol commercial where they are all at the beach and the one girl cannot believe the other has her period - because why on earth would you want to be on a beach during that time. Then the girl expresses her desire for a brownie, to which the other responds with, "Oh yeah, she's menstrual." Um, I've never heard any of my friends say, "I'm menstrual." It's more like, "Ugh, I'm on the rag dude" or "I hate being a girl"
Example #2: Birth control commercials - it's always "girls night out" or the "ladies luncheon" and what else do they talk about but birth control, and not only birth control but how effective it is and what the side effects are. Again, so unrealistic. Girls do not talk like this...it's more like, "crap, forgot to take my pill this morning"
I like Kotex's response with their new marketing campaign, U by Kotex:
My co-worker Mike told me about the group Pomplamoose this morning. He had heard their interview on NPR and was telling me he almost likes their version of Single Ladies more than Beyonce's. That's quite a statement so, of course, I had to check them out. They are pretty fantastic. I love their "do it yourself attitude." Jack and Nataly have such a hip sound and style and I dig Nataly's voice - it's like Regina Spektor meets Adele. I loved what she said at the end of the article, "People think that all of these things have to be done by geniuses behind huge desks or at the top of skyscrapers, but you can just go online and do it yourself." What a positive and hopeful message. I highly recommend checking out more of their stuff on YouTube (if you haven't already) - Beat It, If You Think You Need Some Lovin, September - it's all so good!
Today the people from TOMS have asked that people try going without shoes for the day or just part of the day to bring attention to all those who have to go without shoes day in and day out.
This is something I know I definitely take for granted. When getting ready to go somewhere, I don't even think about the fact that I should count my blessings that I have shoes to wear. My attention is strictly focused not on A pair of shoes, but which pair - with the deciding factors being type, style, color, etc. How sad that something I find so common, like shoes, can be thought of as a luxury to somebody else.
I posted about TOMS before, and I'm happy to do so again. I love what this organization is doing and love love LOVE my TOMS, so definitely check out their website and consider buying a pair. A cute/unique pair of shoes for you, and a pair for a child in need!
After about a year of half-hearted attempts at looking for a new pair of running shoes, I finally made a purchase last night. It was a long, overdue purchase. I've had my current pair of shoes for nearly 2 years now, and after getting back into the running game, and with the much anticipated Dam to Dam race nearing, I knew it was time to get serious.
So without further ado....
These were really the only ones that caught my eye enough to want to try them on. They are super light and comfortable (for the 2 minutes I wore them around the store). And the reviews I've read online are mostly positive.
Speaking of reviews, a few personal ones I've gotten thus far:
