• Home
• About
• Products/Services
• Blog
• Resources
• Contact

Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

Alternatives to Compact Fluorescents – for Migraineurs and the Rest of You!

May 19th, 2008

I posted last week about compact fluorescents and their impact on some migraineurs, epileptics, people with lupus and possibly other conditions.  While we work on getting Congress to amend the law which would phase out sales of incandescent bulbs by 2012, here are some thoughts about energy saving alternatives you can use at home.  Thanks to my friend Dave Cohen, of DEC Architect, an architect specializing in green design, for these suggestions.

1. Turn your lights down low – installing and using dimmers with your incandescent bulbs can save a surprising amount of energy.  Using a light bulb at 75% of full wattage can actually cut electricity use by 50%!  If you’re like me, you prefer the lights on the low side to ward off migraines anyway. 
2. Pull your window curtain – use natural light as much as possible!  If you are doing new construction, build to take advantage of natural light with the orientation of your windows and use of reflective surfaces to catch and multiply that natural light.  Even with existing windows, let as much light in as possible, and do what you can to reflect it back around the room.
3. Shine the light up – (sorry I ran out of Bob Marley references there) torchiere style halogen lights can illuminate a room with less wattage than an incandescent.  Halogens are one of the lower energy use lighting sources that are under further development.  Shining the light up on the ceiling spreads it; it is also easier on migraine brains than light shining down into our eyes.
4. Light up with LEDs – LEDs are another alternative technology which are being further developed.  You know, those bright little green, blue, etc, lights?  I know some migraineurs have trouble with LEDs, which can be very bright.  An LED light which can be dimmed would be a great alternative.  (They could also save a lot of energy by removing the LED lights on my computer power cord, so my darn room could actually be dark at night.)

Any more energy saving, migraine friendly lighting tips?  Please share them in the comments.  Thanks to Dave Hobbs and his comment on the last post, for inspiring this post!

– Megan

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine (but not too brightly…)

Tags: Bob Marley, compact fluorescent, halogen, LED, migraine
Posted in Managing, Music, Tips & Techniques | Comments (3)

I Got Them Old Migraine Blues Again, Mama!

January 25th, 2008

Yesterday the beast sank its claws into my brain,

Oh yes yesterday the beast sank its claws into my brain,

It may be awhile ‘fore I can shake ‘im loose again.

I got them old migraine blues again, mama!

I keep trying and trying to live a healthy life,

Yeah I just keep on trying to live a healthy life,

And I’ve got to keep on fighting, against the pain and strife,

Got them old Migraine blues again!

I’m trying to earn a living, just trying to make some bread,

Yes I got to earn a living, my kids do need that bread,

But it’s hard to keep on working with that beast perched on my head.

Is there light down the tunnel, this ain’t no funhouse ride!

Want that light down the tunnel, cause this ain’t no funhouse ride –

The light sure wants to blind me, but I’m tryin’ to let that slide.

Today I’m just post-droming and the beast has slunk away

Yes I think now I’m post-droming and the beast has slunk away

I’m trying to take it easy so he don’t come back today

Got them old migraine blues again, Mama!

If anybody wants to set this to music, let me know!  Post-drome, if you’re not familiar, is the part of the migraine after the headache is past.  For me it’s weak and shaky and my head’s a little tender.  Lately I can’t always tell if it’s post-drome or just a let-up in the pain.   But it’s a better way to start the day than in the midst of the head pain.

– Megan
Post-droming and hoping, to keep the beast away

claws image courtesy of delta407

Tags: blues, migraine, post-drome
Posted in Music, Silliness | Comments (2)

These are the good old days

January 12th, 2008

Thanks to MJ for my topic today.  I’ve got the Carly Simon song “Anticipation” stuck in my head now, which is rough because I only remember half the tune and the lyrics.  But the final refrain says “Stay right here, ’cause these are the good old days, these are the good old days, these are the good old days…”  (Just you wait ’til  I figure out how to get an audio file in here and I’ll have you humming it too.)

Yesterday I wrote about Fridays…  getting nostalgic about a time when I used to go out on Friday nights.   It’s easy to get nostalgic when your head hurts – I can even get nostalgic for last Saturday, when I didn’t have a migraine or a sinus infection!  How about Thursday?  That was a good old day!

Truth is – I never went out every Friday.  Plenty of times of I was happy with a pizza and crappy tv.  PJs and slippers and a game of Scrabble.  We did eat out a lot on Fridays, because who wants to cook at the end of the work week?  But we lived in a big city, had disposable income, didn’t have kids yet, that made it easy.   And sometimes Friday was dinner and dancing – a movie – time out with friends – it did happen!

My Frigraine Friday wasn’t too bad.   Imitrex worked for awhile; I got some work done but didn’t overdo it; Danny made an easy comforting supper; we watched “Blithe Spirit” – an old Rex Harrison flick – and ate chocolate truffles.  The headache is still with me today, but mild.  (I refuse to call it a Saturgraine… that would be silly!)  I’m well enough today to write this.  This morning I made a dent in those Friday dishes.  I have plenty to be grateful for.  Look at this girl here – Kimi doesn’t long for the good old days!  A good belly-scratch makes it the best day ever!

So what’s yer point, Migraine-brain?  It’s hard to keep perspective when your head hurts.  It’s always dangerous to draw conclusions when you’re down.  Am I glad to be where I am today?  I’d rather the house was cleaner, the funds were bigger, my dress size was smaller, my migraines were fewer, shorter, weaker…  Would I pay money to be 25 again?  I would not.

Here’s to finding the joy in where you are, right now.  Wherever that is.

– Megan
Wickity-Whack but still ticking

pizza image courtesy of wEnDaLicious/wEnDy

Tags: anticipation, Carly Simon, imitrex, living in the moment, managing life with migraine, migraine, nostalgia
Posted in Managing, Music | Comments (0)