What's with Wheat?

My son's doctor is suggesting that he see a nutritionist--not the first time it's been suggested that diet can affect some of his health issues. The nutritionist is quite expensive--and with a new agey title to her practice (Healing Paths), will we get reimbursed through our health insurance? The doctor suggested that my son stop eating wheat for 7-14 days to see if he feels any different. Not clear what he's supposed to be looking for. And not eating wheat is quite dramatic--no pizza, pasta, quesedillas (guess we can ones made with corn), bread, pancakes...for what? I just read excerpts from a recent study that finds no link between removing gluten from a child's diet at autistic behaviors.

I did make an appointment with the nutritionist, but unless I can determine that we'll get reimbursed, I suspect that we'll bail out...

But I am interested--links well with my interest in yoga, meditation, breathing as natural ways to deal with issues such as depression and anxiety.

Outbreak!

Well, my "natural" anti-aging efforts have been dealt a blow--probably a fatal one. I'd been doing a combination of facial exercises and massages each day. I've been doing the facial exercises (from The Yoga Facelift by Marie-Veronique Nadeau) since May, and the massages (from the Shiseido web site) since June. I focused a lot on my neck and lower jaw area, since it's my lower face that's doing most of the aging (OK, sagging). And in July I went to a new dermatologist and switched to using Azelex cream on my face, as well as CeraVe cleanser and moisturizer.

Starting a few weeks ago, I noticed that patches around my chin were breaking out. So I stopped using the john masters organics pomegranate facial nourishing oil, which I was using as massage oil. I figured it was clogging my pores. But my chin skin continued to break out--so I got out Zeno the zit zapper. After a few days of that, I felt I had too many spots to do one at a time, 2 1/2 minutes each (which is how Zeno works). So a few days ago I bought a Proactiv kit--I'd used Proactiv for a number of years until (I thought) my face stopped breaking out.

But I overdid it--I used the Proactiv cleanser, astringent, and repair lotion, and my lower face felt like it was on fire--and really itched. I couldn't sleep the first night, but figured it was a temporary inconvenience. But after 2 days, I had to stop the Proactiv--my lower face looked red and (more) shriveled. Plus I read (after the fact, of course) that Azelex is used to treat acne, and I had applied that in addition to the Proactiv. And Proactiv says not to combine with any other anti-acne meds. As for how well Azelex fights acne: "the exact mechanism of action of azelaic acid is not known," according to Allergan, the manufacturer.

So...now my chin has chunks of skin peeling off--but I think the blemishes are drying up (burning up?). So I'll go back to using the Azelex, and foregoing of the exercises or massages that involve touching the jawline. How do those Japanese women do it?

Or French women, for that matter. They supposedly have facials once a month, and I was planning to budget for that. But now I have to be concerned that facials also will make my skin break out.

Sigh.

LibriVox

Well, I mailed my materials (head shots, resume, cover letter) to a talent agency; no idea what my changes are but worth a shot. After a bit of hunting to find volunteer opportunities, I discovered LibriVox.org. LibriVox' goal is to provide audiobook access for free, for all books in the public domain (i.e., where their copyright has expired). The organization relies on volunteer readers who record chapters at home, and has provides step by step instructions on how to record. The website says that many, maybe most, of the volunteers have never done their own recordings, so it seems like a good place for me to learn. Seems like many voiceover auditions, and even nonpaying gigs, require people to record and send in audio files. So my next steps will be to practice taping, editing and saving voiceover exercises; and to find and sign up for specific LibriVox opportunities.

I looked into recording for the blind, but would have to physically go to a studio that's not easy to get to, and the local opportunities focused on technical textbooks. I thought about it carefully, and thought I would want to bail out after a few weeks. So I was excited when I found LibriVox--I can choose the books I want to read (we'll see how extensive the selection is), and I can record at home. Much more sustainable, I think.

voice over auditions

Guess I should have figured the world of voice over auditions would be complicated. Especially since I have no knowledge of recordings, sound systems, etc. But I've regrouped and plan to focus on getting voiceover work for at least an hour each day. All of this is so new--I had "head shots" taken so I can apply to a local talent agency. But I also need to send them a resume; acting resumes look totally different than business resumes. And I have hardly anything I can legitimately include--chorus work in a few musicals from years ago; choirs and some solo singing work. I saw a copy of a resume for a beginning actor--that's how mine will need to look. I do plan to talk about what I think are some relevant experiences (such as public speaking, testfying before Congress). It's worth a shot.

When I took the voiceover course, they said we wouldn't need paper resumes; that our demo disks would serve as our resumes. With the paper resume, the lack of experience will be obvious. But I have to try. Besides, the head shots weren't cheap. I haven't done the resume yet; still thinking about it.

At the same time, I'm looking into online voice acting (no pay, but provides experience). Darker Projects was complicated--I didn't even understand what I needed to send them to verify that my sound equipment (OK, my laptop) is good enough for auditions. They required that I submit a sample audio file via YouSendIt before I can audition. So I don't know how to make an audio file, and YouSendIt costs money. I then checked Pendant Productions, which seems more accessible. Sounds like my PC mike might be acceptable--I want to try that first, before I start buying equipment. And Pendant's web site referred me to Audacity, a free web-based recording program, for recording auditions. So I've downloaded that and actually figured out how to record and play back. The vocal quality sounded good, I thought. Then they say I need to record the auditions in MP3 files. I'm hoping my son can help me with that--will be good experience for him, also.

But Pendant didn't have any auditions at this time; I'll have to develop a schedule for checking auditions. Too bad they don't send automatic emails to members.

One could spend hours each day navigating these voice sites--there are several. I need to figure out a way to focus on a few and not get overwhelmed.

I also will hunt again for volunteer reading opportunities--I looked at that earlier, and didn't come up with any local options. (Examples: recording books for the blind).

My Less Than Brilliant Voiceover Career...

OK, so I haven't gotten into a daily blog pattern. And I haven't done anything to advance my "voiceover" career. I'm weighing how much to invest, vs likely payoff. Bottom line: I can't see how mailing demo CDs to places (if I can even figure out where to send them). And it seems like everyone who does voiceovers has their own home studio--something they only touched on in the class I took. I've felt all along like I paid a lot of money for a dream that's much tougher to have come true than Voices.Com would have one believe. But they were clear that they wouldn't help people get jobs; I think a lot of us wanted to believe their line that perseverance will pay off.

But I haven't given up. I tell myself I'm strengthening my voice so I'll be in good shape when I do get a job--my speaking and singing voices were wearing out quickly. We'll see if my (singing) vocal exercises will help. And I do need to figure out where to mail these CDs--no use having 40 CDs sitting around. I just feel at this point that buying equipment could be a waste of money (in addition to what I spent for the lessons and recording session). I know these sound like excuses....

Brittle Nails redux

Oops, I forgot--one more aging issue. I asked my new dermatologist what she recommends for soft, splitting nails. Her advice combines internal and external treatments. The external part: put almond oil on nails with a Qtip, then buff the nails. Guess the buffing enables the oil to adhere to the nails. She said do this once a week and don't use nail polish again until the nails have healed. The internal: in addition to Omega 3 fish oil, which I already take, she recommended taking something called biotin--3 mg per day. I found a vitamin product called Hair, Skin and Nails, which has biotin plus some other stuff. So I bought that and just started taking it. My nails do look better--except for one that has a big diagonal split in it. But then I've been staying out of the garden due to the high temperatures and my propensity to overdo it once I get going...

Age Obsessed

Well, so much for daily blogging! Not sure what the barrier is--I'd think of tidbits to write, and then wouldn't go to the computer. My excuse is that my husband has been working from home since he had knee surgery in mid-April, and I rarely got on my computer. Anyway, back to my quest to find nonsurgical ways to look younger (or slow down future aging).

I picture myself looking younger than I obviously do, given comments people make to me. I won't shop at Harris-Teeter on Thursdays any more, because the check-out person asked me if I was eligible for the senior discount. OK, I just turned 58, but I don't want people to think I'm in my 60s. And the Starbucks barrista misheard something I said and thought I mentioned visiting my grandkids. I know 58 is old enough to be a grandmother, but since my only son is only 18, I'm sensitive to the notion that I look like a grandmother. Maybe I shouldn't be, but I am. So I can pretent that I look young(er), but then reality throws a punch at my jowly jaw.

I recently visited a new dermatologist, to get anti-aging advice. I wanted her opinion as to what works, and what doesn't. My biggest problem is sagging skin, especially in the neck area. She said the only way for me to fix my sagging skin/neck was to get a lower facelift. She said nonsurgical options such as laser treatments need to be done in one's 30s as preventive measures; that technology didn't exist when I was in my 30s. Guess that explains why the laser treatments I tried when I was in my 40s didn't work. She said not to waste my money on expensive creams--something I've seen on the Internet from basically all dermatologists who've weighed in on line.

But I still wonder about exercises--seems like part of the problem is weak muscles. So I'm doing exercises from a book I bought called the Yoga Facelift. I read that Japanese women do facial exercises/massages every night--not sure why that isn't promoted here more. I tried to find exercises on the web, but couldn't--hence the book purchase. I'm going to do ones for neck, jawline, lips and forehead daily for a month, and see what I think. Or more accurately, what others think.

The dermatologist did give me a treatment for my starting-to-emerge age spots. It's a combo of a cream called Azelex and the bleaching agent Hydroquinone, both prescription drugs. I'm supposed to use the combo daily for 3 months on my hands as well as forearms and neck/chest. So we'll see how that works. She also prescribed the Azelex for my face/neck as an anti-aging cream. She was going to prescribe Retin A, but I mentioned that my skin broke out when I tried Retin A some years ago. I was using Tazorac (prescribed by another dermatologist), but thought it was making my skin a bit tough. So I guess "anti-aging" is different from "anti-sagging". I just started these regimens yesterday; I hope my facial skin will tolerate the Azelex--it's very sensitive.

She told me not to waste my money on Kinerase, which is what I'm currently using as a moisturizer at a cost of $129 for 2.8 oz. She recommended CeraVe cleanser (instead of Cetaphil) and moisturizer. It's really cheap, and available at CVS. So I'm using that. I didn't save the sales slip, and I don't remember how much the cost...OK, I looked it up--you can buy 12 oz CeraVe moisturizing lotion for $13.79; the 12 oz bottle of cleanser costs $12.59. You know it's inexpensive, because I had a hard time finding it at CVS--it was on the bottom shelf, where the other inexpensive products are. Plus I went to the CeraVe website and found a $2 -off coupon. But I can't figure out how to print it off--directions said I needed to install a "coupon printer," which I did, but it still didn't print. I'll go back to that once I'm done blogging.

I also asked what I can do for emerging lip lines--some have just emerged, and one is very deep. I'm convinced they worsened after I spent hours one day gardening--even though I was wearing a hat and sunscreen. Anyway, she said the only treatment for that would be an injection--she uses Juvenex. The Yoga Facelift book discusses how injections weaken the muscles (the dermo confirmed that this is how injections work)--the exercises in the book are designed to strengthen muscles. I prefer that approach. The dermo said people typically need Juvenex treatments about every 18 mos. Not as frequent as Botox for brow lines, but I still don't want to go that route. So I'm doing a lip exercise and using a lot of Vaseline. And trying to be more careful about hours spent outside (I need to do an entry on Horticulture Therapy).

So these are my biggest problem areas--saggy neck, beginnings of age spots, and lip creasing. My upper face doesn't look that bad--I'm hoping the facial exercises for forehead/brow will be good preventive measures. I suspect the saggy neck is due to years of seesawing weight gains and losses--+ or - 35 lbs. I had an eating disorder that didn't have a name--it's now called binge eating disorder. My neck was already starting to sag when I was in my early 40s. But I can always hope that targeted exercises will help...

The dermatologist did confirm that I am using good sunscreens--combos of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. My previous dermatologist said these were the most effective sunscreen ingredients. So I searched the web and found that a brand called Blue Lizard from Australia has the highest concentrates of both--Blue Lizard for sensitive skin has 5 percent titanium dioxide and 10 percent zinc oxide. Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby has 4.9 percent titanium dioxide and 4.7 percent zinc oxide, which is the highest among non-Blue Lizard brands from my research. I use these on my face, neck and hands, in part because my face won't tolerate other kinds of sunscreen ingredients. It's funny--with all the new, fancy ingredients such as Helioplex (Neutrogena), zinc oxide is still the best. So the lifeguards who smeared it on their noses back when we were growing up (do they still do this?) had the right idea.

The woman who wrote The Yoga Facelift, Marie-Veronique Nadeau, notes that titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are mineral, rather than chemical, sunscreens, and that's why they are nonirritating. She also notes that the ozone layer that screens out harmful ultraviolet rays is nonexistent in Australia. (See p. 133 of her book.) If this is true, it would explain why Australia has such a good sunscreen product in Blue Lizard.