Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

Good morning!  I forgot to take a picture in the Park today because I was preoccupied talking to my dog-walker friend.  On Tuesday and Thursday mornings he walks this great big German Shepherd that doesn't like any dog except Bear & Sofie - he very much enjoys their company.  Probably because every time he comes near them they roll onto their backs, cower, wag their tails and cower, or lick his muzzle while cowering.  I think he might think that he is King of the Cavaliers.

It is humid as HELL today.  I'm sweating and hot just sitting here typing this.  Sofie and Bear just lay on the floor this time of year.  Too hot to play after breakfast.  Sofie is literally laying in the dark on the tile of the bathroom floor right now.

I'm giving a practice ACE to my lab today.  Therefore I am staying home until noon to practice - they going in for "Research in Progress" - a thing we have to go to at noon on Thursdays where other grad students present their RIP.  Then I'll work on on some things in lab before giving my practice talk at 4.  Next Wednesday at noon is the big day!!  I'll definitely be popping some champagne if all goes well :-)

I've been having weird charley horses constantly the past day and a half.  I know it could very well be because I'm dehydrated because it's so hot, but I've been drinking buckets of water.  I also had 2 coconut waters yesterday b/c I thought it might be potassium I needed.  It's literally terrible.  Calves, feet, hamstrings, ankles - charley horses all the time.  They've even been waking me up in my sleep.  I read it can also be caused by lack of Magnesium or Calcium so I looked into what foods contain them.  I think it's pretty unlikely it's Mg-based because essentially everything that is a staple for me - beans, nuts, dark leafy greens, oatmeal, lentils and salmon have lots of magnesium.  Calcium, on the other hand, could be an issue because I haven't been eating much dairy at all lately.  Maybe potassium, too?  I don't eat bananas and I eat about 2 sweet potatoes a week.  Any suggestions?

Ok, well I need to get to work now.

I hope you have a wonderful day!  And those of you in Oregon, well I hope you get a massive wave of humidity that hits Lake Oswego so bad that your legs stick to your pants at all times.

Oh, and also, I made it through Day #3 with no junk food or alcohol.  Hallelujah.

Carpe diem,

J