Sleeping with a Collar? Not my cup of tea!

Discussing My Strange Reason for Sleeping Difficulties

Needless to say that I have had falling-asleep issues. These have oscillated from being awake at night like an owl to having the most frightening thoughts ruminating in my mind. The result has been what I call superficial sleep. The sleep here used to be slightly disturbed with some depressing thoughts doing rounds in the head. The result was this feeling of something tied to your upper back and forehead – the feeling was not perhaps as acute migraine bouts but it was awful. Now, during this phase of high sleep sensitivity I developed another habit or a handicap – I just couldn’t sleep with any type of nightwear that has anything alike a collar.

[Suggested Reading: My Sleep, Anxiety Troubles & Meds]

Dyslexia or Dysgraphia due to Breaking the Habit?

Some people call it Dysgraphia, but that is the more technical term. What am I talking about?  The inability to write with the kind of fluidness and simplicity we had at school level. If children struggle to do it, it is labeled as a learning deterrent, a medical condition that can be come over. However, when middle-aged men like me cannot hand-write in a form that is always legible and without needing too much effort, it is not an underlying medical condition but perhaps a problem of having broken away from the habit for far too long.

Remembering ECW: When Pro-wrestling was for Real

I recall Tazz doing the most extreme range of suplexes, coming-up with variations that would put a Brock Lesner to shame. From New Jack to Mankind, from Shane Douglas to RVD – there was something very graphic and lovable about ECW. One big reason for folks from the subcontinent to love this wrestling franchise was that the biggest brand in the biz, WWF at that time, had unchallenged monopoly. Their show was run in a more scripted way. The risks were there to see but a lot lesser when compared to the maniacs who tossed each other around like crazy in ECW. After the acquisition of WCW by WWF, it became clear that ECW was next.

DIY Throat Management: Washing Away Potential Threats with Betadine Gargling

I have always had an inclination to developing a sore throat at the most odd moments, essentially every time there was a plan unrolling. Years of staring and murmuring, aimed at saying that I was a spoiler of a human being, notwithstanding, I developed many mechanisms to get rid of this problem. Most of these habits vanished since I am too lazy and others just did not seem to work at all. Lately, the tendency to develop a rash like sensation in the throat and the passage connecting the ear and the throat, has met a serious challenge in the form of betadine-formulated gargle solution. This is some seriously old-world medicine with that historically-correct color of purple and some shade of very dark blue. 

Suggested Reading: How tea tree oil is now part of my daily health management?

That Heavy Anxious Feeling: Exhaling Away the Blues, with a Thrust

You must have heard about breathing correctly. More and more lifestyle coaches and wellness instructors are talking about the need our breathing pattern. Even Ramdev has repeatedly emphasized that breathing out or exhaling is more calming for the entire body, helping you stay more relaxed. In comparison, inhaling in takes a toll on our mind and body. While am not sure about why inhaling can be so villainous, am pretty sure that breathing out, with some effort, does keep you calmer.

[Suggested Reading: Me, Anxiety & Mornings]

Tea Tree Oil: Drops of Naturalness Make a Difference

I tried Tea Tree Oil not because lifestyle bloggers and health writers were vouching for its ability to heal the human in the most amazing way – my decision was as usual the result of a gut feeling. I chanced upon this oil during my search for something that could stop my allergies that often broke out due to too much stress being interpreted by me – yes, I am guilty of snowballing anxieties into a chronic worry that eventually leads to physical manifestations. I had heard a bit about organic and cold pressed essential oils. In all these discussions, one or two oils continued to be spoken about very fondly. This included lavender oil and Tea Tree Oil, the latter for its various healing properties. It has been almost 2 years and I continue to use this natural oil without any apprehensions.

Guilty, First-Time Offenders: Couldn’t French it Perfectly!

DIY French Toasting with Wife

I am not talking about the perfect kiss – this is another food-heavy exploration, fresh from today’s morning spread. I must have shared that eggs find a prominent place in my daily diet, essentially for breakfast and every time I run out of ideas. Lately, me and Moha have been exploring how to make the humble omelet or scrambled egg more engaging. The results have been rather good. We have salad-i-fied scrambled eggs and created omelet-like cheesy egg preparations that are exotic and nutritious without much prep time. Today morning, we tried making French toasts. Moha does not like the odor of eggs but she cooks them for me with the enthusiasm of a curious toddler. Our first effort today was rather simple - we wanted to make classic French toasts without too much experimentation.

DIY Grooming Blogging: my trimmer is wiser than an electric shaver!

2017 was cruel in terms of my body reacting to certain prescription drugs and the outset of what seems like a herpetic tendency. During this time, there were repeated outbreaks in and around my mouth. Over a period, the lesions and scarring dissolved but they also created these small, darkish grey patches around my lips. The road ahead has been difficult as I can no longer shave in the usual way. I have been asked to keep away the razor from these areas that can be very sensitive.

The only way ahead was using an electric trimmer or shaver, ensuring that the growth was never shaved away completely. I had to repeatedly trim my beard and it was getting frustrating to repeatedly visit the men’s saloon. The only solution was to buy the shaving or trimming gear for myself – a long-term and definitely smart investment since I was not going to shave for many weeks now. The question was – what suited me more – the shaver or a trimmer?

A Pickled Obsession that Infests Me Right Now: Ginger & Garlic

Pickling: Ways to Up Daily Ginger, Garlic Intake

It has been a slow recovery from my bout of jaundice and among the few lifestyle changes and dietary adjustments that I had to make, I took upon another innocently addictive exploration – pickling using vinegar. I have to ramp-up basic detox agents like ginger and garlic apart from herbs that help the liver to leach away the abundance of contaminants in the blood. My wife not being a very garlic-ky person made it clear that having a persistent Sulfur breath was akin to killing our couple time. Now, I had to find a way of consuming more of garlic without the breath and without the torture of consuming it in a raw, highly potent form. 

Going (Pea)Nuts…yet again, Winters does this to me!

It wasn’t a great start to the winter season as me and my wife fell sick. My jaundice too forever to clear-up and as a couple, we are still loading-up on all types of natural, detox aids to ensure that the sickening hangover of being over-medicated is uprooted and dumped for good. However, now that am eating the more regular stuff again, the annual challenge of winter eating is up and running. What is this about? Resisting the temptation of loading-up on peanuts and gudd. The combination is like a dose of morphine to someone suffering from extreme pain. I can devour packets full of peanuts, taking the time to crack and split apart each entity, taking pleasure in what seems like a playful activity that rewards you with a strong nutty flavor.