36: Saturday 26th November 2011

Another SBL event and I wonder why I still enjoy organising events. Seems alien to others but what the hey. Captain Sam I am lol 

Oh and there is nothing wrong with the Mario Bro movie... except maybe the fungus father. 

Back at home mum helped put up some pictures and now the house looks more grown up. Until I decorate for xmas with Pokemon and warhammer... 

score: 7/10 good times but would have liked seeing more of the old faces....

37: Friday 25th November 2011

A totally chilled day and when my mind chills it soon craves a project. This time I emded up making pizza from scratch :D My dough looked like proper dough which shocked me lol even better me and Tom tag teamed it though you will never catch me eating a prawn pizza! 

And here's the secret project I completed the other day...cheesy I know but it made smiles

 

Score: 8/10 

38: Thursday 24th November 2011

Don't you just love it when a present is perfect for a friend :D I do. I Love giving presents and today I picked up the a perfect pressie.

if I ever won lots of money (impossible as I don't gamble) the world would be a better place...

• I'd make use of the empty desolate field next to my old secondary school and make it into a solar farm with very interactive and useful school links to create the solar engineers of the future and provide power to the surrounding estate. Any school I could find would become solar powered and I'd set up a fund or charity including a research development site to make as many things solar as possible.
• 
  
• I'd buy all my family houses :) (solar powered ofcourse)
• 
  
• I'd build a geek themed hotel e.g. decorated trek, gate, firefly style etc possibly above a geek department store generating loads of jobs and I wouldn't be afraid to take on apprentices.  This would also provide a free venue to community clubs. 
• 
  
• I'd also like to rescue and restore old/classic buildings
• 
  
• I'd buy outright the Secular hall or get my old sensie a big shop in the city centre if he wanted it.

and there are another million projects in my head :D 

but it's not likely to happen... though I wont stop trying

39: Wednesday 23rd November 2011

'wrap your head' hehe a quote from a funny movie...and possibly a new phrase.

Anyway as I mentioned its vitamin D's turn under the microscope. Turns out my level (15 nmol or some such measurement) is classed as a severe defficiency and supposedly it is a very VERY common occurance in Leicester. So for those of us in the city with a curious or worried mind here's what I've figured out beyond the fact that vitamins are a major issue:

Symptoms in adults

• symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are often very nonspecific or vague
• in severe deficiencies the classical (typical) symptoms include bone deformities. 

• General vague aches and pains are the common symptoms.
• In more severe deficiency, there may be more severe pain and also weakness. This may lead to difficulty standing up or climbing stairs, or can lead to the person walking with a 'waddling' pattern. This is known as osteomalacia.
• Bone pains may develop and are typically felt in the ribs, hips, pelvis, thighs and feet.
• in kids it can cause rickets which I've heard mentioned before... 

(http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Vitamin-D-Deficiency.htm)

 Who gets it?

Any one, but particularly  "People with pigmented (dark coloured) skins. This includes black and Asian people"

How to solve it?

According to that site we get about 90% of our vitamin D from sun exposure and its reaction with the chemicals in our skin, and this is lucky as food barely contains any. The funcky thing is we can store it for later else who knows what would happen in the winter! 

The solution for a defficiency would seem to be suppliments which I'm off to get tomorrow. Hopefully they will contain b12 too as it was suggested I stop the multivitamin.

The scary thing is I may have had this forever! Think about it, I'm part asian, I've always been small, I've had arthritis forever and thats basically the aches and pains mentioned and my recept HIP operation was because it had become deformed over the years. And I'm a geek so stereotypically not outside much...

Thankfully my deficiency was found while checking the b12 levels else it would have gone undiscovered I hope it's not too late for me... I do wonder if this is the cause of my hip trouble and if so why couldn't someone have spotted it sooner!!!!!!! I reckon some kind of machine that lets you check your physical stats at home would save the nation. Literally. Maybe something using a drop of blood like the new Warfarin checker thing. It could tell you vitamin levels and I bet there are other checks that could be included.

Scary stuff really... 

Score: I have no idea...

40: Tuesday 22nd November 2011

I think I'm actually begining to get into a gym going routine at last! I'm also sad enough to have considered a reward scheme / visual representation and reminder as encouragement in the form of gold coins (not the chocolate variety)

Other than that I can't remember what I actually did...wait! Physio, collected club t-shirts, gym, home, mario kart.

Phew! That was scary for a moment. Maybe thats why the doctors want to talk to me about my vitamin D. Yes it was my b12 that was an issue now it's D but an interpretation of doctors notes by the reception staff who didn't even know the date failed to fill me with confidence. So I have an early morning appointment tomorrow with an actual doctor.

Score: 7/10 many things done, including another secret seasonal craft project

41: Monday 21st November 2011

Today... lets see. I finished the essay in record time finally having a clear head. Unfortunately I realised it's not long until the next is due on an even vaguer topic of disability and discrimination and equality etc. 

I was at Highfields library today, and actually managed to get the kids section resembling normality and a place of knowledge again rather than a bomb site. It was just what my head needed instead of an arguement about whether vouchers count as an out of pocket expense when splitting the cost of something. Right now I am in the tearing of limbs frame of mind so I am off to try and shush my mind...

Score: 5/10: well duh! and these scores are getting lower!

42: Sunday 20th November 2011

Today I figured I'd wait for responses to my requests for information to help finish the essay. This left me with a gap in the schedule. I was going to go to the gym but saying I slept past 9 that wasn't wise. Instead I cleaned out the green house ready for winter. 

I then played pointless computer games (it was about all I was up to after that mammoth task) and then chilled at a friends watching the end of Falling skies. Not a bad series so to speak but predictable if you've watched a few 'oh dear hostile aliens have landed' type shows/films. I like the twist though about the harnesses.

Score: 7/10 I got a big task off the list :)

43: Saturday 19th November 2011

Well today I woke up and wrote until my brain turned to mush. An essay for PTTL's and even at a tiny 1500 words my brain hurt.

Discuss and evaluate the role, responsibilities and boundaries of a tutor, the importance of record keeping AND relevant legislation... in less than 2000 words... sheesh

I got to the point where I couldn't string a sentence together and left it for the night.

Score: 4/10 - hope it’s worth it.

48, 47,46,45 and 44: Monday 14th -Friday 18th November 2011

Ok Ok I got really distracted with everything else and sleeping. To be honest after completing the Mage costume nothing much really happened. 

Did a shift at the library without any senior staff. Had an interview for a permanent library job though I'm not entirely sure I can physically manage the hours yet. Can't remember Wednesday, and thursday was awesome hanging out with a mixture of family and friends until the evening when I nearly passed out again. The last time I was in a Red Cross building which was handy. This time I was at the PTTLS course so not so good. 

This morning I'm upright and functioning enough to print sbl tickets and key rings and get together all the stuff needed for construction night. 

Wish me luck and lucozade :P

Score over all... 6/10. : Right now I'm wishing for an alien invasion or the discovery of a stargate

49: Sunday 13th November 2011

Maybe I should get a camcorder? or one of those extreme sports ones you can attach to a helmet/hat. Then again my last big purchase and the biggest of the year as far as I can remember has been a bit of a flop. The wii... like many I played it once or twice and now it sits there. But I have been amazingly busy and I'm not one for playing games on my tod. 

Does anyone know where that phrase "on my tod" came from or just the word tod...

Score 5.5/10 Spent way too long and way too much energy finishing the black mage project...

50: Saturday 12th November 2011

Half way! ish... and I did a lot of ish-y things which equated to not a lot. But in fact had a good time chilling with a friend and watching Falling skies. Who ever told me I should watch it, thank you. It's not half bad.

However I really am begining to think I should re-evaluate the worth of productiveness compared to quality of activity...

Score: 7/10...

51: Friday 11th November 2011

WOOOOOOO! Got my photo's online. Simple really, I took the memory card out of the phone like suggested and convinced it to talk to the lap top.

Also went to the gym for the first time by myself. cheated and played my DS on the bikes.

Just realised a) I know some cool people but unfortunately they only know me as the captain and b) its surprisingly tempting to include smilies in my writing. Does that mean it's becoming a language? and c) it's bloody cold out. 

Score: 7/10 except for a mild 'meh' feeling that requires locking up

oh and I also got my hair cut the other day but hated it so much I went back today and they 'fixed' it. The only issue now is will I be able to replicate the salon hair?

52: Thursday 10th November 2011

For once I actually have been pondering today. Many of my ponders I forget or file away for further thought later some I think about for a while.

For instance a reoccurring thought revolves around individual transport for both 'able bodied' people and those of us that need to adapt in some way or other. I mean how 'old' and demeaning are mobility scooters and wheel chairs? (Not so bad if you've got a high tech or sports chair... but still?) and how about those who just can't walk that far but can manage a bit. Would you take their walking away from them totally? how wrong is that! I can tell you any bit of freedom is worth fighting for.

The other day I caught myself designing a 3 wheeled device...vehicle... contraption... thing! Looked something like a mix between a gold bag on wheels, a wheelchair, and a moon buggy all kind of in an exoskeleton style... had a name for it too but that I'll keep to myself just in case. The big thing was it wasn't seen as an 'aid for the disabled' with all the negative connotations. anyone could use it! 

I've also thought of buying a milkfloat and making it solar powered, and revisiting the sinclair C5 idea. Just never learning to drive as the cost of lessons, car, mot, parking, fuel, etc is way too high short term and the long term cost of the planet is a definite consideration. Can't someone make a car that uses CO2 from the atmosphere? 

I wonder if anyone has ever thought of making a semi auto wheel chair (sports style of course) so that you can manually push yourself or use a kenetically charged motor when you're too tired? or any kind of non petrol motor I suppose.

oooh I like the idea of a motored recumbent bike... look up recumbent bike if you haven't a clue...

Score: 6/10. I also brought some stuff online which always makes me feel up to date and I'm more determined that ever to go to the gym 2 if not 3 times a week. So far that habit has eluded me.

53: Wednesday 9th November 2011

Today was both productive and horrible at the same time. 

I was up early and found 2 components to a fancy dress costume (and the shop made a pricing error so I got one really cheap. Did feel guilty but they make enough money as it is.)

Met Chris and handed over SBL tickets (we're havng an awesome xmas event - fingers crossed)

met mum and nin, had food... egg instead of ham sandwich for once.

and the horrible bit... I had my hair cut. It's a nightmare! I hate it everytime because I'm yet to find a stylist who can handle thick hair and not make me look like a boy. Oh well. Good job I have lots of hats. it's not too bad this time but as usual I can't get it to look like the stylist made it look. Oh well at least it's not a phobia... no fear involved just hatred.

score: 4/10...

54: Tuesday 8th November 2011

Family birthday stuff... 

and the xmas list is officially formalised :)

Score 5/10: meh.

55: Monday 7th November 2011

erm... blogging days behind. Not easy when you have a memory like a concussed fish... 

Monday... ... ... ... MONSTER CAKES!!!!!! that was it. A hunt around leicester for the components and another blue kitchen.

Score: 6/10 - really need a better memory

56: Sunday 6th November 2011

Awesome finds at a carboot always put me in a good mood. I can't help it I'm a bargain hunter!!! That reminds me I had some online bargains to buy :P Says the girl with a hatred of shopping.

That whole concept could probably have me on a psychologists couch. But what the hey. 

Totally shattered. In a good way :)

Score: 7/10. ready for a week........

57: Saturday 5th November 2011

And today I have discovered that my fear of spiders is pretty much gone! Only do I maintain that they are bacteria covered critters and should not be around the home. 

This I discovered cleaning out my mum's garage. There were live ones, corpses and even a disabled spider with only the use of half his legs! But he was one of the nasty ones with like a bulbous butt! Gross! All are now outside the garage and part of the food chain again. 

other things are a bit chaotic in my head but nothing of interest to the world... 

Score: 6/10.

58: Friday 4th November 2011

Hectic or what! By ten in the morning I had been to the housing office, the esa office, wilko and headed back home where the downstairs loo was finally being fixed and my shopping was being delivered.

None of this compares to the epic event I wouldn't wish on anybody. My browser died. Literally wouldn't open. But two friends came to my rescue and I am so glad they did. Is it me or is a pc/laptop breakdown one of the most stressful things in the modern world. I'd take a traffic jam, or moving house anyday! 

Score: initially 5 but thinking about friends 8

oh and the tomatoes are going. a baby slug landed on my hand!!!!!!!

59: Thursday 3rd November 2011

Another lesson closer to being a tutor :) This week it was the role of the tutor and in an attemot to demonstrate different teaching methods I ended up summarising maslows hierarchy in one sentence (ish) and making a paper boat :)

It took me back to my school days and I realised how different teachers were. Never did I like the sheet work. except for the fact that it avoided working with the other students. Yep as a typical geek I knew the bullies well. But never mind. 

Also we discovered I was the first to send my essay in (by email - how odd is that!) 

Score: 6/10. A day. Nothing more