Speaking of cinnamon... [inlink]terry,377[/inlink]

I remember reading about this in Health a while back. I couldn't find that article online, but found this one.

Cinnamon joins cholesterol battle

The 40-day study, of 60 people in Pakistan with Type 2 diabetes, found that one gram a day of cinnamon -- one-fourth of a teaspoon twice daily -- significantly lowered the subjects' blood sugar, triglycerides (fatty acids in the blood), LDL (or "bad") cholesterol, and total cholesterol.

and if that's not enough -

Finally, there may be an indirect health benefit to be had from cinnamon, according to Taiwanese scientists writing in the July 14 issue of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. Cinnamon oil, they found, kills mosquito larvae more effectively than DEET, a common pesticide and mosquito repellent. The next step is to test it against adult mosquitoes.

Random notes:

I was listening to some Laura Nyro and I would recommend her to all you Streisand fans out there.

I was just looking at some pix of the mansion (I am suffering from serious mansion-envy) and it's amazing how quickly you guys settled in. It looks so empty in these pictures[inlink]matthew,489[/inlink]compared to when I was there just a week later.

As for me, I just unpacked and put my suitcase away. I think if estripwest is going to have a snowball's chance in Alameda, I'd better get a roommate (or two) to take care of me.

Had an interesting encounter waiting for my flight to Buffalo. This woman sat down next to me and we had quite an animated conversation about her job as a porn star. She's also an internet entrepreneur. I don't think the Hasiidic Jew who was sitting on the other side of her appreciated it though.

Just because of that juxtaposition I had to snap a stealth pic with my cell phone.



Maybe I'll fill in the whole story some day. Her web site is (porn site). I'm in an all-day class tomorrow, so I know if I don't upload this now I never will. (Not like that would be any great loss...)

She really had the most arresting blue-green eyes I've ever seen.

Story continued here [inlink]twisted,122[/inlink]

A friend of mine (in CA) sent this around last year. It's still funny. To me anyway. Don't forget I paid my dues with 20 years in Boston.


Effects of severe weather in California

It was fun to see snow while in Buffalo, but it's good to be back. Don't forget to come visit.

I missed my connection to Oakland at JFK, so I had a few extra hours to kill. Plenty of food options to assuage the disappointment.







I would say JFK is the Wegman's of airport food.

I didn't think I would have any time at JFK, so I woofed down some "Buffalo's Best" wings at the Buffalo airport. I have a serious weakness for wings.

I feel like a peep exchange student, now returning to my home country. It's hard to describe how I feel now or what changed for me. I was so scared of screwing up my 'imaginary' friendship, but I'm glad that didn't stop me from going and meeting (e:PMT) in person. Thanks for taking me into your household, guys! I had a great time with you. I especially loved seeing (e:Mathew)'s beautiful animal collages in person. And now I know (e:Terry)'s culinary concoctions really do taste as good as they look. Strangely enough, being in same time zone with (e:Paul) is not all that different. I still went to bed and woke up three hours earlier than he did. Probably the most telling moment of the visit was when (e:Paul) looked to see if I was online when I was sitting 3 feet from him in the same room. I don't know what that means, but it's probably a good thing I'm back here now.

It was great hanging out at the Mansion and getting to meet (e:Flacidness), (e:Lilho), (e:DrClorine) and (e:Rachel). And I finally had the perfect excuse to visit (e:J3sse)! I looked up just how long it's been since he abandoned me and it turns out he left SF on December 10th 2002. That's exactly two years to the day before estripwest was "born." Is that weird or what?

I wish I could have had a little more time there, but after 18 days as a roaming nomad, it's good to be home. Strangely sad though.

It's all gone but something lingers on
a place i used to call home

p.s. - even though it was really nice being on a pedestal before (not to mention a serious novelty for me) I would have to say that was a big reason for making the trip. I liked it up there, but it freaked me out sometimes. I was just hoping I wouldn't have to take too much of a nosedive off it.