Technically speaking, I could work from home. But Nortel’s RTP-area offices are closed. So, I think, perhaps, I’ll check my email a little, but mostly I’m gonna do this.

Why do people think that all natual” = not harmful? I was reading a Frommers message board where people were debating the usefulness of No Jet Lag. The vast majority of the posters were saying things like: “I’d recommend you try them-and they are 100% homeopathic-no drugs.”

Here was what I posted:

I just wanted to second the idea that there *are* drugs involved with “homeopathic” or “natural” remedies. People seem to believe “all natual” = not harmful, and that’s just not the case. A great many of the “drugs” we take today are merely purified forms of plant compounds that are “all natural” (aspirin being the example that leaps to mind).

For example, Ipecacuanha root (one of the active ingredients in No Jet Lag, according to http://www.nojetlag.com/jetlag7.html) is emetic; and in smaller doses, diaphoretic and expectorant. Toxic doses cause gastro-enteritis, cardiac failure, dilation of the blood-vessels, severe bronchitis and pulmonary inflammation. (Source: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/i/ipecac07.html).

As you may guess from the name, Ipecacuanha is the plant from which Syrup of Ipecac is derived.

These remedies may work, but if they do it’s because of the chemical (/drug) interactions they cause in your body. Do check them out with a doctor before taking them, as they may combine badly with existing meds.

I managed to *forget* *my* *pocketbook* this morning. This, for most women (or at least for me), is like forgetting one’s arm.

How, you ask, could this happen (you’re probably trying to wipe the image of my arm laying on the livingroom floor from your head, aren’t you?) . Well, last night after yoga, Jeff and I made our typical fast food run (it cancels out, doesn’t it? ;-) and on the way into the house he grabbed my pocketbook, as I had my hands full of sodas (and a Jamocha milkshake [double bonus points if you now know which fast food we ate]). When we got inside he put the bag down, only he didn’t put it down where I normally put it down, he put it a whopping three feet to the left.

Yes, folks, my bag being three feet in the wrong direction is apparently enough to throw me. I did, however, remember to grab my lunch, so I suppose I’m coming out even for the day.

I realized that I’d forgotten it as I was walking into work, wondering why my load was so light. Upon figuring it out (and after the panic stopped), I started inventorying what was in the purse that I might need: PDA … no that’s ok, it’s all in Outlook; WALLET… no, brought my lunch and know my credit card number by heart (ah, the telltale mark of an online shopper); cell phone … no won’t need it ’till I’m out of work anyway, as the reception inside the building sucks.). Hm. I *can* survive a day without my purse!