Saturday, January 14, 2012

Breathe Right Strips

You have probably seen the commercials for Breathe Right Strips (the link takes you to Amazon). Maybe, like me, you thought they were just for people who snore. I recently tried them, however, and they are incredible! I never thought of myself as someone with sleeping or breathing problems, but I noticed my nose feeling a little stuffy lately, especially in the morning. That's when I decided to try the strips.


Now, there are different kinds of strips: original tan in small/medium is what I use. The clear kind has weird things at the top that stick to the delicate skin under my eye, so I don't like those. I've never tried the menthol.


The strip has a sticky back like a band-aid. You stick it on the top of your nose and it causes your airways to open. You have to stick it on just right, so it takes a little practice. Taking it off in the morning is easy - it comes off the best with hot water, say, in the shower - but you can also just peel it off.


I think the strip really does help me sleep/breathe. The only problem I've had was the morning I forgot to take it off and went to the park to walk my dogs - greeting several neighbors in the process. Well, maybe they thought I was going for a run, as some athletes like bike riders wear them.


I'm going to bring some for my mom to try when I go to visit her. She has problems sleeping. I'll let you know how it goes.


If anyone has tried the menthol ones, please leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Monday, January 2, 2012

New Years Dream



Um... yeah.



In my last post, I talked about some of the Japanese traditions for new years. One tradition I only learned about recently is that the first dream you have of the new year is supposed to be important.

I had a dream the night of the 1st that involved waiting in line for a race. I looked up some of the things in my dream in this online dream dictionary. Here are the results.

Race
To dream that you are in a race represents your competitive spirit and how you tend to measure yourself against others. Alternatively, this dream may mean that you need to slow down and take a different course in life. 

To dream that you are running with someone signifies cooperation. 

To see children in your dream signify an aspect of yourself and your childlike qualities. You may be retreating back to a childlike state and longing for the past. You are trying to still satisfy repressed desires and unfulfilled hopes. Perhaps there is something that you need to see grow and nurture. Take some time off and cater to the inner child within. Alternatively, the dream may be highlighting your innocence, purity, simplicity, and carefree attitude. The children could represent someone in your waking life (coworker, mate, sibling, etc.) who is acting like a child. 

To dream of your hands represent your relationships with those around you and how you connect with the world. Hands serve as a form of communication and can represent authority, hate, protection, justice, etc depending on the gesture. Perhaps you need to lend a helping hand to someone. If someone else is giving you a helping hand, then it implies your need for help. Do not be afraid to ask for assistance or to depend on others from time to time.
To dream that you are holding hands with someone represents love, affection and your connection with that person. Your dream may also reflect anxieties about losing touch with him/her or that you are drifting apart. 

To see or wear a dress in your dream represents a feminine outlook or feminine perspective on a situation. You are freely expressing your femininity. If you are wearing light blue in your dream, then it symbolizes your creativity. You like to pace yourself in whatever you are doing.

To dream that you are in or walking through the forest signifies a transitional phase. Follow  your instincts. Alternatively, it indicates that you want to escape to a simpler way of life. You are feeling weighed down by the demands of your life.
To see the woods in your dream represent life, fertility, rejuvenation, and spring. Alternatively, the woods symbolize the unknown and the unconscious. You need to open yourself up to discovering your potential and your instinctual nature.

To see snow in your dream signifies your inhibitions, and unexpressed emotions. You need to release and express these emotions and inhibitions. Alternatively, snow means that you are feeling indifferent, alone and neglected. 
To dream that you are playing in the snow indicates that you need to set some time for fun and relaxation. Alternatively, the dream means that you need to take advantage of opportunities that arise; otherwise such opportunities will disappear.

To see a celebrity in your dream represents your beliefs and understanding about him or her. Consider what the celebrity is famous or known for and how you relate to that quality. Something in you waking life has triggered these similar beliefs and feelings. Celebrities are often seen as heroes and all that is mighty. Also consider any puns within the name.
Alternatively, the dream may be trying to compensate for your own lack of self-confidence. You want to escape from your own reality and live the high life. You want to fit in.
To see an actor or actress in your dream represents your pursuit for pleasure.  Consider also who this actor/actress is and what characteristics you associate with him or her. These may be the same characteristics that you need to acknowledge or incorporate into yourself. The dream may also be a pun on his or her name. 
To see a particular actor or actress in your dream look at the role they are playing. Even though you may not know them on a personal level, how you perceive them or the characters they play can provide understanding in how it relates to you.

So... may need to slow down and take a new course. I may be longing for the past and have unfulfilled hopes. I may need to ask someone for help or I may be afraid of losing touch with someone. I may want a simpler way of life and I need to open myself up to discovering my potential. I may be feeling neglected and/or wanting to express unexpressed emotions. I need to take some time to have a little fun/pleasure.

Good news - I acooperative, feminine, and creative.

These things are like horoscopes and could basically be true of everyone, right? Let's take a look at my horoscope, then, courtesy of Horoscope.com.

You may do a lot of traveling... There is a possibility that you'll do a lot of travelling for your employer - and this should suit you just fine! If you have a family, however, you might want to curtail your business trips. Your boss should understand. 

There is also a chance that you might return to school... This might involve your current job, or it could be that you've discovered a fascination with a new field and you'll want to learn as much as possible about it. 

There is no doubt that you'll do well in this new field - but within a certain amount of time, you'll discover something else. You thrive on learning no matter what the subject. Let your intellectual interests guide you this year.

Yeah, I'm not so sure about this tradition. I think I'll stick to eating a tangerine.

Happy 2012!

Happy New Year!

One of the things I miss the most about living in Japan is New Years. Japanese new years is so fun to me for some reason. There are so many cool traditions.


One thing that happens every year on New Years Eve is the Kohaku Red and White Song Festival - a televised competition between female (red) and male (white) singers and popular music groups. It's on TV until about 11:30 when the news takes over showing people celebrating and getting ready to ring the 108 bells (I mean, the one bell 108 times).


I used to watch the Kohaku to see SMAP, my favorite group.
This year I saw the Kohaku on television here in the states. I only saw the last half hour or so, but SMAP was there giving the very last performance of the evening. Except for Tsuyoshi's ugly hair and old lady coat, they pretty much looked and sounded the same as ever (including the fact that Nakai is totally tone deaf).


I took some pictures of the TV for you to enjoy. 

They are singing (what I assume is) their newest song.

Shingo is my favorite. He is the same age as me.


Shingo and Goro-chan.

This is Kimura.
The one on the left is Tsuyoshi with his yellow vest/fur coat thing.


Some dance moves.




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