Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Wednesday, oui?
It's Wednesday and you know what that means. I post about something I love. Today, it's my bed. I was fast asleep by 9:15pm last night, and it was a beautiful thing. I love our bed-- it symbolizes such comfort for me... even if we do share it with 4 pesky animals.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Race to Happiness
We had an amazing time in North Conway this weekend. Although it was raw and cold on Saturday-- Sunday turned out to be gorgeous!Aaron raced in the Porky Gulch Stage Race. It was a series of three races. The first, a 2-mile time trial (as fast as you can) up Mt. Washington on Saturday morning, then we were off to Storyland for a Crit (racing in a circle, but there are lots of twists and turns in Storyland), and then a cyclocross race at the base of Mt. Washington on Sunday. He placed 7th overall, which is great! Good Job Pumpkin!
I was sad, the officials at Storyland wouldn't let spectators in. Aaron said that it was sooooo hilarious flying through Storyland. I don't know if any of you have ever witnessed a bike race, but it is an entirely different culture and society. These cyclist take the sport so seriously, spend hours training, and have a physical fitness that, in my opinion, rivals most sports. So to hear about pedaling full bore past Humpty Dumpty sitting on that wall, and Goldilocks breaking into the bears house is quite a treat, and I laugh at the absurdity.
A big thank you to my Dad who drove 60 miles to watch the race from outside the park with me on such a bitter day!!!!
I must also add how beautiful it was to see these athletes racing against Mt. Washington and some of the Presidential's as a backdrop. Gorgeous! Usually, I have time to explore before the race when Aaron is warming up. On Sunday I did a lot of this; collected some pine cones and took some lovely pictures.
A view of Mt. Washington.
I ran into this magnifient birch while exploring and collecting pine cones.
Aaron warming up.
1st lap- notice the view behind him!!!
After he hopped some barriers; he was about to mount.
We had a lot of time to explore North Conway, and even did some Christmas Shopping. We stayed in a delicious little resort called the Merrill Farm Resort. You can see our room #105, the Edna Saint Vincent Millay room, at http://www.merrillfarmresort.com/. Aaron and I travel as much as possible and always make a conscious effort to give business locally. We avoid "chains" at all costs. (And I must say it is a different experience. Our time in North Conway would have been completely different had we stayed at the Hampton Inn and eaten at Applebee's, plus we supported the locals.) Our room was so sweet and the breakfast area of the Inn was so reminiscent of the movie Funny Farm that I had to laugh. Aaron went alone to the first race on Saturday, so I had a chance to explore the Inn and ate breakfast in front of a big picture window looking out at pumpkins and an old maple shed. The Inn was at full capacity too, so the breakfast area was filled with laughter and friendly people making their plans for the day.
Being goofy in our room.
We also ate at all local restaurants. The Muddy Moose was wonderful. We ate, and ate, and ate. Stuffed mushrooms and steak sandwiches was our meal of choice on Saturday. And, of course, we got coffee to start because it was so brisk and we were chilled to the bone. Lately, it seems, we have been getting the same meal.
How unhealthy and delicious does that look? It was worth every calorie!
Many of you know I have a small problem with milk. I could drink it 24/7 but not just any milk, whole milk. I am well aware how bad it is for me, but it tastes so very, very good. The Inn used this milk for breakfast and it was in this same old fashioned container. I made the lady give us directions so we could stop and get some on the way home. It was a beautiful little farm. We bought some milk (chocolate), half and half, a pumpkin whoopie pie, and maple candies. Yum! The milk was gone almost immediately, but we are going to reuse the bottles. We haven't tried the half and half yet but perhaps after dinner tonight in some tea...
Thank you, Aaron, for always driving everywhere we go.
What a wonderful weekend! We already are scheming about where to go next weekend, and we shall keep you posted.
A note from Aaron & Jessi
Thank you to all who read; and thank you to all who post comments. Writing about personal things, no matter how private, is hard for me because I am such a private person. You can be certain that everything I write is well thought out and purposeful.
I never thought keeping an online scrapbook would make such a difference in my well being. Granted, I was by no means unhappy before I began blogging, but this forces me to look at all the wonderful things I do and how privileged/lucky I am to have such a wonderful life. Yes, there is ugliness in life, but I try to keep that separate- for my personal diary, where I can close the book and hide it away. When I blog I am reminded daily and witness to the love that surrounds me.
That said, it means so much to us to know there are so many people reading. Whether you post comments directly on the blog, email us privately, or tell us directly; the fact that you take time out of your busy day to read our story makes it well worth writing. Often, too, we respond back to your comments-- so be sure to check for those.
Thank you for being here, and if you're here, it's because we invited you and you're important to us.
I never thought keeping an online scrapbook would make such a difference in my well being. Granted, I was by no means unhappy before I began blogging, but this forces me to look at all the wonderful things I do and how privileged/lucky I am to have such a wonderful life. Yes, there is ugliness in life, but I try to keep that separate- for my personal diary, where I can close the book and hide it away. When I blog I am reminded daily and witness to the love that surrounds me.
That said, it means so much to us to know there are so many people reading. Whether you post comments directly on the blog, email us privately, or tell us directly; the fact that you take time out of your busy day to read our story makes it well worth writing. Often, too, we respond back to your comments-- so be sure to check for those.
Thank you for being here, and if you're here, it's because we invited you and you're important to us.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
And, as promised, Halloween!!!!
Okay so this is my last post of the day... I do have things to do (who knew?) I need to do some research, pay bills, find a hotel in North Conway for this weekend, and be to work by 11:00- UGH!
This is "Mannimal." One of the most adorable spiders alive...
I had just arrived home from work and my spiders bombarded me with kisses. I had to work really late due to a crisis with one of my clients. Apparently they had been waiting for me in costume for about 2 hours; running to the door at every little noise. Poor babies!
My other favorite spider, Sir Bing the diplomat. Holding Bing is, of course, my favorite goblin.
Did you know, the Daddy-long-legs is the most deadly spider in the world, with the most poisonous venom? However, its fangs are too short to pierce most anything.
It must have been because of Halloween, but the animals were crazy last night. All of them. The cats were so rambunctious, this is what they did to their playpen. My bird squawked all night, and the dogs barked at every sound!
And just for you Nicki, I did watch our favorite Halloween movie. Shamefully, I was sooo tired I fell asleep half-way through... I still have time to celebrate, the Day of the Dead and All-Saints Day can count as my Halloween Howl. I will suit up in my Halloween PJ's again and finish the rest so I don't break tradition.
Drugs 101: With Jessi Chalifour, MA
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21568973/
I read the above article and it absolutely infuriated me this morning. I know it's a bit early to be all revved up, but you know me. If you don't feel like reading it I will summarize; truck drivers (the specific target of this article and study) are cheating drug tests. It is mandated that they provide urine samples, and the test facilities aren't secure. There are products available at the testing site to dilute the urine sample or they are cheating using other means. My question: who are the people responsible for administering and validating the tests? By the time you read this blog, I am fully confident you will be better equipped to administer and interpret a drug test than the people responsible in the above article.
There are a few ways to "pass" a drug test when you should come up "dirty," as we call it in the substance abuse treatment world. And because this is a private blog and the average "Joe" won't be reading this, in essence me giving pointers, I will tell you.
Alcohol is very hard to detect in the system after about 24 hours. One test that is pretty accurate is this little piece of paper (which reminds me of the litmus paper in high school chemistry) placed on the tongue and can detect recently consumed alcohol. Recently is the operative word. Treatment facilities often us this as an alternative to the breathalyzer.
Marijuana is much easier to test for because THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, binds to fat cells so it can stay in a person's body up to 30 days (again it depends upon each person, how much they smoked, how often...etc)
Other drugs, like Opiates (Vicodan, Heroin, Opium), Cocaine, Meth, and Amphetamines are harder to detect because, while they do act on receptors, they rely on the blood stream to make their way around the body, hence not staying around too long (which would explain why people use them so frequently throughout the day and can become so addicted. Frequent use = increased tolerance= more substance needed to get the same high...) They are in and out pretty quick. Most of the kids I test regularly use Adderrall (prescribed) to control ADD/ADHD. By the time I get them in the afternoon most if it has cleared out of their body from their morning dose (sometimes it does show up and it comes up as an amphetamine.)
I could go on for hours, as this is so fascinating, but for the sake of time I will move on.
How I have heard/seen people cheat. There are a ton of ways, but below is what I most commonly encounter:
System Clearing methods: Drinks are available on the Internet that are supposed to clear out your system of drugs, specifically THC. They are very costly, about $50 and rarely work. What some people do not know is that while it may clear out the THC, it also throws off the body's pH level, and most standard tests include a test for pH. Additionally, it requires shipping to your home without being caught by a JPPO (Juvenile Probation and Parole Office) or parent, and requires a lot of planning. If it takes 3 days by mail and you don't know when you are going to be tested, you have to hope you get your drink before you get tested and after you use, and assume it will work. Further, most people don't plan out drug use. It is an act of impulsivity in a lot of cases, so that adds another scenario to the equation. This requires planning.
I have also been asked by a client of mine if this would actually work: He said, "I read on the Internet if you smoked (marijuana) and then drank a gallon of water every hour for 24 hours, worked out, and then ate fatty foods the THC would be pushed off of your cells and you would not be "dirty."
My reaction- First, I asked if there was something he needed to tell me. Second, I explained to him how dangerous this could possibly be. The body can only process about 8 oz. of water every 15 minutes. There is no way a person could drink that much water and not drown. Yes, I said drown. You can actually overwhelm your body with H2O, flush out your electrolytes, and drown. Third, I challenged him in how much work this was for just a few hours of being high. Is drinking a gallon of water every hour for a day, exercising, and eating fried food really worth a four hour high? Lastly, I drug tested him... hehehe.
Dilution: People often water down the sample adding something like baby powder, cleaner, or air freshener. This again will change the oxidation, pH, or what-have-you and the test will come up invalid. In my world-- and I am a hardass (pardon my French) -- if a test is invalid, I call it dirty. You get the option of taking another one (just in case there was something wrong with the test) or you can just sign my paper and I will write "tampering suspected" all over it. Further, I did go to school for 7 years and coincidentally, I was not born yesterday. So when someone hands me a cup full of urine, it's green and smells like piss and Windex, I'd make a safe wager that it didn't come from someones bladder.
Fake samples: This is common. Someone will urinate in a bottle and then use. They will bring in the "good" sample and fill the cups with that. I can't go in the bathroom with them, but what I can do is listen outside the door to the best of my ability. I also always search the person before they take the test. I make them empty their pockets, (sometimes I will find goodies in their pockets; cigarettes, lighters and other paraphernalia which I confiscate.) They must take off jackets, hoodies, an other prime hiding areas. Then, when they give me the sample, I can feel through my gloves if the sample is cold or warm. Hello people? The body's temperature is 98.6 degrees. When you give me a cup of urine that has been sitting in an Aquafina bottle in your backpack in the car all day, and it's 80 degrees, you're either hypothermic, dead, or lying... now again, I'm not a rocket scientist or a betting woman, but I would be willing to put something down on the fact that your cheating.
Purely Laughable Methods: Let me set the scene: It's Thursday evening. "C" = client.
C: Jessi, I haven't had a random drug screen in a while... shouldn't I have had one by now? (Did I just hear the word random?)
J: Sure, if you'd like, I can give you one now.
C: Okay.
Then again on Tuesday, the next time I see them much to their horror, I give them another one. I do have an inkling of what I am doing here and the only reason they would ask for one is because they plan on using over the weekend and think I won't test them for a while if they willingly submit to a test prior.
Now, I must say, I deal with Adolescents 12-22 only. That is my client population. The article above deals mostly with adults, which, while all substance abusers have a knack for manipulation (and that is by no means a generalization or judgement- they have to be savvy in order to not get caught) the adults, I assume, are a bit more sophisticated in trying to cheat these tests. They have different means, more resources, money, experience and so forth. However, it sounds as though this testing facility does not take the necessary and BASIC precautions to prevent tampering. That does not make me rest easy due to the fact that 9% of the subjects in this study were in fact using and getting behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer-truck. And that was 9% just in Washington State.
A few months ago I had someone call me anonymously at my job: This is how the conversation went.
J: Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment, this is Jessi.
C: Hi, um, I have to take a drug test for my job and I smoke (marijuana). I drank one of those drinks (the expensive ones) and I am just wondering if you can tell me what else I can do to pass this piss test? (what substance abusers affectionately call my urinalysis.)
J: Don't use. (click)
If you stuck with me through that, I hope you found it as fascinating as I do. I would be more than willing and happy to entertain any questions you have about this, or as always, anything.
I read the above article and it absolutely infuriated me this morning. I know it's a bit early to be all revved up, but you know me. If you don't feel like reading it I will summarize; truck drivers (the specific target of this article and study) are cheating drug tests. It is mandated that they provide urine samples, and the test facilities aren't secure. There are products available at the testing site to dilute the urine sample or they are cheating using other means. My question: who are the people responsible for administering and validating the tests? By the time you read this blog, I am fully confident you will be better equipped to administer and interpret a drug test than the people responsible in the above article.
There are a few ways to "pass" a drug test when you should come up "dirty," as we call it in the substance abuse treatment world. And because this is a private blog and the average "Joe" won't be reading this, in essence me giving pointers, I will tell you.
First, it depends upon the substance you use. So I will discuss substance before cheating...
Alcohol is very hard to detect in the system after about 24 hours. One test that is pretty accurate is this little piece of paper (which reminds me of the litmus paper in high school chemistry) placed on the tongue and can detect recently consumed alcohol. Recently is the operative word. Treatment facilities often us this as an alternative to the breathalyzer.
Marijuana is much easier to test for because THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, binds to fat cells so it can stay in a person's body up to 30 days (again it depends upon each person, how much they smoked, how often...etc)
Other drugs, like Opiates (Vicodan, Heroin, Opium), Cocaine, Meth, and Amphetamines are harder to detect because, while they do act on receptors, they rely on the blood stream to make their way around the body, hence not staying around too long (which would explain why people use them so frequently throughout the day and can become so addicted. Frequent use = increased tolerance= more substance needed to get the same high...) They are in and out pretty quick. Most of the kids I test regularly use Adderrall (prescribed) to control ADD/ADHD. By the time I get them in the afternoon most if it has cleared out of their body from their morning dose (sometimes it does show up and it comes up as an amphetamine.)
I could go on for hours, as this is so fascinating, but for the sake of time I will move on.
First, my disclaimer: I do not, under any circumstances, condone or encourage the use, distribution, or possession of any substances. Further, the following information is for educational purposes only and I do not guarantee that any of the below circumstances will in fact make someone pass a drug test; nor do I support trying to cheat one:
How I have heard/seen people cheat. There are a ton of ways, but below is what I most commonly encounter:
System Clearing methods: Drinks are available on the Internet that are supposed to clear out your system of drugs, specifically THC. They are very costly, about $50 and rarely work. What some people do not know is that while it may clear out the THC, it also throws off the body's pH level, and most standard tests include a test for pH. Additionally, it requires shipping to your home without being caught by a JPPO (Juvenile Probation and Parole Office) or parent, and requires a lot of planning. If it takes 3 days by mail and you don't know when you are going to be tested, you have to hope you get your drink before you get tested and after you use, and assume it will work. Further, most people don't plan out drug use. It is an act of impulsivity in a lot of cases, so that adds another scenario to the equation. This requires planning.
I have also been asked by a client of mine if this would actually work: He said, "I read on the Internet if you smoked (marijuana) and then drank a gallon of water every hour for 24 hours, worked out, and then ate fatty foods the THC would be pushed off of your cells and you would not be "dirty."
My reaction- First, I asked if there was something he needed to tell me. Second, I explained to him how dangerous this could possibly be. The body can only process about 8 oz. of water every 15 minutes. There is no way a person could drink that much water and not drown. Yes, I said drown. You can actually overwhelm your body with H2O, flush out your electrolytes, and drown. Third, I challenged him in how much work this was for just a few hours of being high. Is drinking a gallon of water every hour for a day, exercising, and eating fried food really worth a four hour high? Lastly, I drug tested him... hehehe.
Dilution: People often water down the sample adding something like baby powder, cleaner, or air freshener. This again will change the oxidation, pH, or what-have-you and the test will come up invalid. In my world-- and I am a hardass (pardon my French) -- if a test is invalid, I call it dirty. You get the option of taking another one (just in case there was something wrong with the test) or you can just sign my paper and I will write "tampering suspected" all over it. Further, I did go to school for 7 years and coincidentally, I was not born yesterday. So when someone hands me a cup full of urine, it's green and smells like piss and Windex, I'd make a safe wager that it didn't come from someones bladder.
Fake samples: This is common. Someone will urinate in a bottle and then use. They will bring in the "good" sample and fill the cups with that. I can't go in the bathroom with them, but what I can do is listen outside the door to the best of my ability. I also always search the person before they take the test. I make them empty their pockets, (sometimes I will find goodies in their pockets; cigarettes, lighters and other paraphernalia which I confiscate.) They must take off jackets, hoodies, an other prime hiding areas. Then, when they give me the sample, I can feel through my gloves if the sample is cold or warm. Hello people? The body's temperature is 98.6 degrees. When you give me a cup of urine that has been sitting in an Aquafina bottle in your backpack in the car all day, and it's 80 degrees, you're either hypothermic, dead, or lying... now again, I'm not a rocket scientist or a betting woman, but I would be willing to put something down on the fact that your cheating.
Purely Laughable Methods: Let me set the scene: It's Thursday evening. "C" = client.
C: Jessi, I haven't had a random drug screen in a while... shouldn't I have had one by now? (Did I just hear the word random?)
J: Sure, if you'd like, I can give you one now.
C: Okay.
Then again on Tuesday, the next time I see them much to their horror, I give them another one. I do have an inkling of what I am doing here and the only reason they would ask for one is because they plan on using over the weekend and think I won't test them for a while if they willingly submit to a test prior.
Now, I must say, I deal with Adolescents 12-22 only. That is my client population. The article above deals mostly with adults, which, while all substance abusers have a knack for manipulation (and that is by no means a generalization or judgement- they have to be savvy in order to not get caught) the adults, I assume, are a bit more sophisticated in trying to cheat these tests. They have different means, more resources, money, experience and so forth. However, it sounds as though this testing facility does not take the necessary and BASIC precautions to prevent tampering. That does not make me rest easy due to the fact that 9% of the subjects in this study were in fact using and getting behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer-truck. And that was 9% just in Washington State.
A few months ago I had someone call me anonymously at my job: This is how the conversation went.
J: Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment, this is Jessi.
C: Hi, um, I have to take a drug test for my job and I smoke (marijuana). I drank one of those drinks (the expensive ones) and I am just wondering if you can tell me what else I can do to pass this piss test? (what substance abusers affectionately call my urinalysis.)
J: Don't use. (click)
If you stuck with me through that, I hope you found it as fascinating as I do. I would be more than willing and happy to entertain any questions you have about this, or as always, anything.
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