Wednesday, September 24, 2008

I am helping Cancer!

…Wait, that didn't come out right. I meant I am helping cancer researchers, and I am so excited! I am participating in a study called XXXXX. It involves studying the effects of exercise on hormones related to breast cancer, genetic markers, and fat percentages. They take measurements, have you exercise 5 days a week, then they take further measurements. Of course there is a control group. The control group doesn't exercise. I suppose I shouldn't complain if I get put in the control group, since I haven't exercised much since the running clinics ended, but I have felt very motivated to get my health back on track, since I am becoming more tired since putting on weight and returning to a sedentary lifestyle.

So here is what happens if I get in the exercise group… I am required to workout 5 days a week, and I get to see a trainer once a week to adjust my workout and assist in motivation! On top of that I get a free Y membership during the study! This of course is what motivated me to join, but something else has grown in me since I started thinking about it. I am actually going to help fight cancer, and help the scientific process, which has always been important to me.

This morning I was listening to NPR, and heard about new methods of funding disease research. When listening, as happens most of the time when hearing stories about diseases, I get this feeling in my gut that I wish I could do something. I can't explain how nice it is to know that I am! What is especially heartening is the requirements for the study are you have to be 20-30, never had a child, not be on the pill, and be able to commit to the parameters of the study. I was 30 when I signed on to the study, so I am one of the rare people who actually meets that criteria!

I don't have a personal relationship with Breast Cancer. My Great Grandmother died of it I think, and my mother died from an accident, too young for me to know if she could have gotten it. But having lost a mother, if I can help prevent people in the future from losing their mothers prematurely, that is close enough to my heart to be worth it.

If you are a woman 20-30 who has never had children, you should consider signing up for the study. I know you can't be on the pill, but you can ask the people in the study, you may be able to join the study after going off of the pill. Even if you can't join it yourself, if you know young women in the twin cities who meet the requirements, let them know. You can add WISER as a friend, as well as join the group. The person participating in the study gets $300 too, whether they are in the exercise group or not.

Monday, September 01, 2008

WHAT'S THE SCAM?????????????

You must concede I live an interesting life. Not a glamorous life, not an enviable life, but an interesting one. The way I keep my life interesting is by being open. I am a cynic, and a skeptic, but I still believe that *maybe* this person in front of me is telling me the truth. Why discount someone before you have the evidence, why not start with giving them the benefit of the doubt, and work from there?

Today, at a Holiday in in Oklahoma, a young, good looking man said something to me when I was walking from the computer room to the restroom, I did a double take, thinking he was with my company, then kept walking. On the way out I saw him at the end of the hall and said "I thought you worked for my company" He said "you're a flight attendant?" and I said yes "and he said something about most flight attendants being old and decrepid. I just shook my head and went back in the room.

From a distance he was cute, but close up he just looked like a janitor or something. He was wearing hip-hoppish clothes, so he couldnt be a janitor, but who knows. I was just thinking "well, he is a dumb ass, but I appreciate getting the attention, because a chub like me doesnt get it as much as I would like"

He ended up coming in the room and talking to me. He claimed he owned a record company. (he was like, 24) He offered me a job working on a private jet. He said he just fired his last F/A for selling drugs. He hit on me like crazy too, which was like sexual harrassment cases begging to be filed, but, again, what if it was true? Better to pretend to believe him now and maybe get a good paying job than to write him off right away, be wrong, and miss out on a good opportunity.

I am a cynic, and a skeptic, but I will be honest, he was a good liar. Not only did he have me going, I still believe him now! Is it because I hold so tightly to that dream that one day I will be "discovered" and be offered some cushy job (well I was told I had "something special" about me by a casting agent- too bad it was from NYNDM (new york name dropper man, see 2005) ) Is it that my fantasy is so ingrained in my head that I will believe total bullshit to validate this?

Why do I want to call so much tomorrow? I checked the number he gave me, it was a land-line in Iowa. STILL! I want to know WHAT THE SCAM IS!!! Why was he so convincing? What was his goal?

I have learned that a fractional jet company I have thought of applying at is hiring. It feels like this cute little guy with the saggy pants was put in my life to get me to apply. I got so excited with the idea of working around big shots, (while keeping my cool- of course) so if that is what I want, the fractional company would give it to me! But the job wont be mine without a resume!

Still, tomorrow, while I am not calling the guy, I am going to be wanting to SO BAD 'cuz---whats the scam???

AN AFTERTHOUGHT: I know now, I am not a whore. When I was seriously entertaining the idea that this clown could be for real, I stood firm in my mind that I would not sleep with anyone, even for a job making 90K a year. But. Just because I am not a whore, does not mean I am not a hoochie. I learned about myself that, if offered $90,000 with benefits, I would wear any rediculous uniform, as long as I wasnt naked. I guess a persons true colors come out when money is involved ;)