One of the great things about the internet is the amount of information it makes available to you. Another is the number of people you can meet.

When you have chronic health issues, this can be a big plus. While you do have to sort through all kinds of incorrect information, you can also learn about possible treatments and how other people are coping when you meet them online.

This is what sites like med3q are all about. It’s a new site, and the idea is that people with chronic health issues and doctors can join and discuss things, anonymously if that is your preference. There are advantages, such as the extra information, but also the disadvantage that you still need to confirm that you are indeed receiving accurate information. But that’s a part of your doctor’s job; to help you make these important decisions. You’re helping yourself by making sure you know all the alternatives to discuss, even if some aren’t what you thought.

There are advantages for both medical professionals and patients on med3q. Doctors can get current information and business advice. Patients can meet other people with their condition and maybe talk to some of the doctors on the site, if they’re willing. There’s also information for patients.

I’ve always known you have to be careful about the information you get online, espeically medical information. But networking with people going through what you’re going through, who have dealt with it differently, opens up new paths for you and your doctor to explore. That can be a very good thing.

I ran across these recordings using StumbleUpon. They’re 10 unusual historic recordings.

If you’re up for some torture, see how long you can listen to #3. They mean it when they describe her as the worst singer. Aren’t many who can sing that badly yet get someone to record them. Before the Internet, I mean. You can listen to #8 or 9 if you need further torture, although you can’t really enjoy those in the same way.

After all that, I suggest you listen to #1. It’s the only known recording of a castrato. #2 is also amazing - highest note sung. Frankly, I prefer her voice to the castrato. Maybe that’s just me or the song being sung.

Technorati Tags: recordings, music, unusual

There’s a lot I dislike about flying. Most of it has to do with the airport itself and the crowds. There’s just nothing like having to get there an hour or more in advance just so that you can check in on time and wait in line. Some airlines have now improved that somewhat, with online check-in, but for the most part flying is really a hassle.

Especially with kids. Although mine fly really, really well. I don’t even have to give them Sudafed or anything like that to help them keep their ears clear. I use lollypops instead, and generally get amazed compliments from people who thought they’d be sitting next to a small, crying child the entire flight.

Squirming is, after all, something most can cope with, especially if the child isn’t too bad about it or particularly noisy.

But I doubt there are many people out there who would mind using a service such as Elite Jets Private Jet charter flights if it weren’t too expensive. Takes away a lot of the trouble with flying. A membership is quite out of the range of the average person, but they also allow you to charter individual flights.

Obviously, this will still cost more than flying on a commercial jet. But they do offer ways to save, such as flying on an otherwise “dead” leg as an airplane returns from a trip away from its base.

Discounts or no, this won’t be for everyone for every trip. I can see making a honeymoon or other special trip a little extra special with a charter flight, though.

Umm… dance shoes, that is. And I suppose one should really dance for those.

Not that I’m a great dancer. But my daughter is a very enthusiastic dancer. She was quite upset when she found out she wasn’t getting ballet lessons this summer. Schedule just didn’t work out. Good thing I haven’t bought dance shoes recently.

Dancing is a fun activity, especically for little girls, who often take to it just naturally. The hardest part about ballet for my daughter was behaving exactly as her very serious teacher wanted her to.

Getting her shoes each time took a bit of shopping. It was something my mother-in-law handled, as she’s the one who decided to start her in classes anyhow. But now it’s a pretty strong interest for my daughter, and my rule is that if we can find a way to do it, she can pick her activities. Sometimes things don’t work out, as happened this time, but we do our best.

I figure the next time we need shoes and such I’ll probably aim for online shopping. So much easier than shopping in person, although you always have to balance the cost of shipping and the prices.

And of course there’s always the temptation of trying to get my husband to go for ballroom dancing lessons. We’ve talked about it, just never quite done it.

I’m going to be in my sister’s wedding in September. She’s an easy/difficult bride.

Yes, I know that’s a contradiction. But she insists she’s trying to be easy even as she does things that drive everyone nuts.

One of the most difficult things she’s done for we bridesmaids is to be picky about the dresses, even as she tries to not be picky. She told us that she wanted us to pick our dresses. We could pick color and style. The one rule is that no one could match anyone else.

That said, she’s been pretty picky about the dresses. She found a dress she liked for me on eBay. Wasn’t quite my style when I tried it on, so she’ll be putting it back up on eBay. Very much a relief, since I did find a dress I adore. There’s much less yellow to the green than there appears to be in the picture. Utterly stunning on. Read the rest of this entry »

Yes, I’m going to keep saying that I do enjoy jewelry. If you ask me, I won’t immediately say that “I love diamond jewelry“, but I do have an appreciation for a good diamond. And well made jewelry, no matter the stones involved I always like.

The jewerly at White Flash falls under that category. Even the basic stud earrings can have interesting settings, rather than plain ones. And they offer some good basic education on diamonds, including videos so that you can see what they are explaining to you. With something as complex as diamonds, this is very useful information to see rather than just read.