Lewy, MD, PhD, been studying melatonin and light effects on sleep and depression xlongtime
cartoon: "Portland weather calls for severe depression with a 30% chance of suicide."
( more notesCollapse )

*for marijuana effect search for "endocannabinoid"
( more than you ever wanted to know about fat----very interesting, too!Collapse )

SOURCE
photographer: George Breed
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OLrOBJLJVs0/TRPGQXY8HOI/AAAAAAAAFSw/HqS-qik6-Kw/s400/san%2Bfrancisco%2Bpeaks%2B005.jpg

There's a full moon and an eclipse tonight, to add to the charm of the longest night of the year. Here's an excellent NY Times article on the astronomy and cultural variations on celebrations of the solstice.

Well now the weather is getting interesting. Some time last night there was some rain that froze when it hit the earth, covering cars, snow, railings and everything with a thin coat of clear slipperiness. The cat hates the cold weather, refuses to go out. She has become quite upset with me, since I am of course responsible for this weather. She peed on both of the bathroom carpets, which became trash. Then she peed on my old sleeping bag, which was out in the closet. I pulled it and washed it, replacing it with a new sleeping bag which did not have so many stinky smells on it. She peed on the NEW sleeping bag. So today we got her some different kitty litter, hoping that she will PLEASE pee in the catbox instead of on carpets and sleeping bags. Kitten has also been tearing up the carpet in this apartment. She is going to cost me dearly if she doesn't cut this out soon. Luckily my order for non-freezing weather should be fulfilled within a couple days. And unfortunately this crusty stuff isn't anywhere near as good for skiing as last nights light and fluffy. Oh well. Situation static, household tense, waiting, watching, wondering what will happen next.

The hill wins, most of the time.
For belly laughs, set the news video on full screen and fast forward. Add some frenetic music for mood.
=D

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

'We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,'
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.

Oliver Herford, 1863 – 1935