Bipolar Questions #6

Never liked candy until I became diabetic, now I love it and can't have it.

What is something that you love and can not have?

Furry pets, total fur allergy as of 8 years ago....

Do you pronounce caramel like car or care?

Car-mel. Or more so "CAR-mull" with the mull as in "mull over something", with the "mull" pronounced very quickly. Some people in my area also say "Cara-mel". Nobody in my area says "care-mel", that I know of. My area is between Philadelphia and New York City. It's not that those two cities determine everything about my accent, though. It's a real melting pot. If anyone represents the accent of from Trenton, NJ along the river north 20 miles it's my family. Both sides have been in that area since as long ago as the early 1700s.

Q: Do you have any kind of secret signal or word/phrase that your SO, friend, or parent knows to utter, if you are acting hypomanic (elevated in mood) in public, in a negative way? My husband and I have worked out a few.

We've been working on a few, but everytime I need it, I can't remember it and just whisper, now!

What is your favorite "life-hack" that you've learned about living with bipolar?

Pick three technique for nipping depression in the bud. It’s a cbt behavioral technique. You pick three things for three different senses and do them all at one time....they need to be three pleasant things. So a nice scent, some music and a book are much better than just a book.

What is the most valuable thing a pdoc or T ever told you?

That my wife was, and I quote: "...a *****."

Do you know how to make bread?

Yes I make an awesome jalapeño and cheddar bread from the homesick Texan blog as well as some no knead bread....
Jalapeno'-'cheese bread | Homesick Texan

Favorite quote, doesn’t have to be famous.....

'Do not suppose that I have come to the earth to bring peace. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Do you like fondue?

Only the chocolate kind...

Weirdest item on the family Christmas or Thanksgiving meal?

Holiday meals aren't what they used to be when my mother was alive. Back then, though my family wouldn't have thought it that weird, some might have. Scalloped oysters. That recipe could have dated back very far. Before my maternal great grandmother, at least. Uses Original Trenton Oyster Crackers (OTC crackers) which are different than most other oyster crackers used in the US. OTC crackers date back to 1847. It's impossible to find them now, though. I am sure the original recipe for this dish even predates OTCs. I believe that I am the only person who knows how to make my mother's family recipe for this. My siblings likely don't. It will die with me.

Q: What is the oldest possession you still have?

a torch in the shape of a cat given to me when I was very small. I love it, too and it still works just fine

favorite type of meat

I'm partial to any meat that has been low and slow bbq'd. That said, I don't have a rig nor the skill to do this myself.

What is your favorite non-fiction television show?

It’s on Netflix but moving art....omg beautiful nature with beautiful music and no commentary, it’s the best if you can’t sleep.

What do you do if you can’t sleep?

Usually get up and come on here to chat (although I know the light from the computer isn't good for sleep)

Do you have cable TV?

I get on with things like it's daytime. even though it could be 2, 3 A.M in the morning. sitting their doesn't help me.

when was the last time you were creative (write a story, paint a picture, make a card) what ever- and what did you do?

I think we posted at the same time.

I have sky, UK equivalent

Xfinity here, too expensive.

Do you like peanut butter?

I don't care for peanut butter but I do like peanut butter cups. I get poked fun at for it. Strange right?

What is one food that you are allergic to that you wish you weren't?

No food allergies, luckily.

How often do you go to the regular doctor?

Annual physical only, unless I get sick in some other way and need to see him. Then more. I also go to my nephrologist once per year (usually 6 months after my gp annual physical). That is basically like a mini physical. Same blood tests, for the most part. He also has my vitals taken and listens to my heart, and checks my ankles. My gp said there's no need for me to continue the nephrologist, but the nephrologist said he'd like to see me once per year. I like having the checks twice per year. I have quit other specialists. Sometimes they start to add up, unnecessarily. My psychiatrist hasn't ordered a blood test for me for ages, because I always give him copies of the results from the above two docs. My psychiatrist thinks I should be taking a medication for my cholesterol, but my gp and nephrologist think I'm still low enough risk not to.

Q: Are you doing anything special for Independence Day?

Going to the bfs bros house tomorrow.....should be excellent food.

Favorite artist?

I'm pretty partial to Van Gogh, as you might have guessed. My favorite of his is called Wheatfield with Crows. I get lost in it.

What is your favorite Holiday, wherever you are in the world?

As long as my nieces are young enough to want to do egg hunts it will be Easter. When they outgrow that I'm not sure.

Do you say pop, soda, Coke or something else when describing a carbonated beverage?

Soda. I would only say Coke if the soda was specifically a Coca-Cola, as opposed to ginger ale. No one says "pop" for such beverages in my area. If they did, we'd know that they were from somewhere else.

Q: Does your state (or country) have an particular lore or special stories? I'm talking about elves in Iceland or Jersey Devil in NJ.

Well, bigfoot allegedly lives down the road from me. Actually I can walk a mile and be at the park were he lives so I guess I should be careful .

Do you usually have some awake time in the night?