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Addictions....

Monday, November 22, 2010

I know talking about or sharing your life's experiences with addictions etc are frowned upon, but maybe sharing a bit about my life might just help someone else out there.....

addiction |əˈdik sh ən|nounthe fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, activity (or even a person.)
Yes like most people mine also stared because of High School, and the cruelty from kids. Definitely not a partmy life I'm particularly proud of, but it made me the person I am today.
For 3 years I struggled with Anorexia, 
anorexia |ˌanəˈreksēə|nounlack or loss of appetite for food (as a medical condition).• (also anorexia nervosa |nərˈvōsə|an emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat;compare with bulimia .
making sure to have meals in a spot where you can (like in my case) scrape it into the dogs bowls and sneak it out without anyone seeing it. For years I got away with it but people started to notice. I lost almost 40 Kg = 88 lbs in just over a week, people where sure to see that. The worst thing a person can do to someone with Anorexia is to force them to eat. That's exactly what happened, so anorexia turned into Bulimia.
bulimia |boŏˈlimēə; ˈlē-|nouninsatiable overeating as a medical condition, in particular• (also bulimia nervosa |nərˈvōsə|an emotional disorderinvolving distortion of body image and an obsessive desire to lose weight, in which bouts of extreme overeating are followed by depression and self-induced vomiting, purgingor fastingAlso called binge-purge syndrome 

This was way worse than anorexia. Making myself sick even after just having a bit from something or one m&m. It also lasted longer with worse side effects where more severe 


Signs and symptoms

These cycles often involve rapid and out-of-control eating, which may stop when the bulimic is interrupted by another person or the stomach hurts from overextension, followed by self-induced vomiting or other forms of purging. This cycle may be repeated several times a week or, in more serious cases, several times a day,[6] and may directly cause:
The frequent contact between teeth and gastric acid, in particular, may cause:

 It can even cause the stomach to rupture.
Dehydration, vitamin deficiencies, and low blood pressure can lead to kidney problems and damage.  Liver damage may also occur.
Bulimia causes dehydration, anemia, and low levels of sodium, potassium, and magnesium in the body.  It causes hypotension (low blood pressure) and a slow or irregular heartbeat.  Over time, it weakens the heart muscle and can lead to heart failure.

And fixing the heart muscles isn't as easy as people might make it out to be. It's been just over 6 years, still a daily struggle and still a weak heart with symptoms similar to having a heart attack, but getting over it day by day. Like any addiction.

After a couple of years of this, family and friends started watching me, not allowing me to leave the table for at least half an hour after a meal, which was the window period to get all out.... so the next step was sliming mixtures.

And I found one that worked for me, no appetite, so no eating and no need to go and hurl. 

Hunger cravings are reduced as the active chemical ingredient effects the parts of the central nervous system.  The active ingredient in in these mixtures are Phentermine.  Phentermine is chemically similar to Amphetamine and increased energy levels are common.


Dosages:
It should be taken once daily, either before breakfast or within 2 hours of eating breakfast.  It is advised to take these mixtures and or pills early in the day as it may cause insomnia due to increased energy levels.

Warning: This can be addictive and should NOT be taken without first consulting a doctor!
The info and warnings didn't phase me at all!
I over did it on the dosage, it stared with 3 tablespoons per day, which was 2 spoons more than prescribed, this turned into 500ml per day and went to a liter of sliming mixture a day and adding a box of 30 slimming pills to this mix. With no sleep for months I started hallucinating, monster spiders running around in the room I was renting at the commune. That was the weirdest night ever with the craziest stuff I've ever seen, it was also the day I realized ..... THIS IS BAD! In between these addictions, alcohol became a big part of my life, mixing the slimming stuff and alcohol was seriously insane, and just like I couldn't go a day without the slimming stuff, the same happened with alcohol. 
This also resulted in me and my mom not seeing eye to eye anymore and we didn't speak for a year....
I also started self-mutilation (NEVER EVER TRY THIS -if you haven't then keep it like that)
self-mutilationnounthe mutilation of oneself, esp. as a symptom of mental or emotionaldisturbance.
Luckily I had amazing friends, one gave me the option..... either the stuff I'm doing now and loose all your friends....... OR give up this stuff and keep the people that love you.
It's been about 6 years now ~ like I said it's still a daily struggle 

Ahound the World,,,,, with Oscar

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

16 November 2010, Potchefstroom South Africa....

Me all dressed up for the occasion with my catwalk buddy Cody (not in the pic)



Here's a picture where you can see Cody as well. What a beautiful dog...
and don't forget Oscar in the right hand corner...
Really beautiful dog _ Cody,,, and he had heterochromia, one brown and one ice blue, stunning.




Finally got to meet the world trotting hound,, Oscar.
What an amazing pooch and the amazing places him and his human have been too.

Here's some of they're globe-trotting adventures....


Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1237315/A-hound-world-80-days-Meet-Oscar-canine-globe-trotting-sensation.html







Oscar is a dog without equal. This year, he travelled across an incredible five continents, 29 countries and stopped off everywhere from the Eiffel Tower to the Taj Mahal. 
He was rescued from a South African kennel by Joanne Lefson, who is half-British, five years ago. In May the pair began an epic journey hoping to inspire millions to help save his fellow canines living as strays on the streets. After dodging crocodile-infested rivers, walking on the Great Wall of China and escaping Italian police, Oscar finally finished his tour last week. 
The £250,000 six-month trip  -  which Joanne funded by selling her home  -  also took in an amazing 15,000 shelter dogs and more than 50 charity-run rescue centres. On their worldwide travels, Joanne and Oscar also handed out 15,000 dog leads to needy hounds donated by the parcel company UPS. 



I've arrived at the woof of the world: Oscar the dog in Machu Picchu, Peru. In six months, he visited 29 countries  on five continents







GO CHECK OUT THE OTHER PHOTO'S @

AND a MUST have is this...... the book about the travels.




Here's a couple of links to video clips of Oscar And Joanne's tour and travels: 




My weekends are spend here.......

Friday, November 12, 2010

Marakele Bush Camp


Here's a link to visuals from The Camp:
The Beauty Of Marakele


Waterberg Biosphere, Limpopo


Situated in the magnificent Waterberg Mountain Range of Limpopo, the Waterberg District is the ideal getaway where the weary traveller can relax and revel in the great natural beauty of the bushveld savannah and its rich wildlife heritage. The Waterberg Mountains stretch along more than 5 000 km² of spectacular vistas and scenic valleys - the ideal destination off the beaten tourism track. 

The Waterberg is steeped in a history and some artifacts found here date back to Stone Age times. The area is a mosaic of culture and tradition as is reflected by the different rural tribes such as the Bapedi, Tswana and Basotho, while the Voortrekkers also left their distinctive mark on the area. 


Commercial agriculture is an integral part of Limpopo, and cattle ranching and maize farming are regional institutions - the water-rich valleys of the Limpopo River on the Botswana border provide sweet bushveld grazing, while the plains of the Springbok Flats near the towns of Bela-Bela and Mokopane are covered with a colourful quilt of carefully cultivated fields of maize and sunflowers. Otherwise, the bushveld landscape, interspersed with sandstone buttresses and baobab, Marula and fever trees, supports a number of towns that make up one of the country's fastest-growing industrial and agricultural districts. The Waterberg is one of the most mineralised regions in the world and numerous towns form part of the Bushveld Igneous Complex - 50,000km² treasure trove yielding massive amounts of minerals such as vanadium, platinum, nickel and chromium. 


The Waterberg District offers the tourist a bit of both worlds - an infrastructure of excellent facilities and modern conveniences found in the many game reserves and conservation areas, coupled with the opportunity to experience the African wilderness in its pristine state.


THE WATERBERG

Game & Nature Reserves within the Waterberg Biosphere


Welgevonden Game Reserve
The Malaria free Welgevonden Game Reserve is situated just 2.5 hours north of Pretoria. Welgevonden Game Reserve is a declared Heritage Site of 33000 hectares and borders the Marekele National Park, situated in the breathtaking Waterberg Biosphere. A true bushveld environment is home to some of ...more information

Marakele National Park
The Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains has become a 'place of sanctuary' for a vast variety of wildlife mainly due to its location in the transitional zone between the dry western and moist eastern regions of South Africa. The Marakele National Park is characterised by ...more information

AND




Big sky, big game...

Cupped in a giant curve of mountains at the highest point in the Waterberg, lies Marakele Mountain Lodge. Here the views are forever, and the local residents have made the most of the views too, with the largest Cape Griffon colony in the world gracing the cliffs.

The Bush Camp, Griffons at Marakele Lodge, is set in a fig and acacia forest on the slopes of the mountain, on over 1 000 hectares of Waterberg bushveld. Here visitors can enjoy many nature trails, from steep and demanding to leisurely and relaxing

Marakele Lodge is within Marakele National Park, which hosts the Africa’s Big Five game species. Marakele Lodge offers game walks and trails, and from the Griffons Bush Camp as a base, visitors have a choice of self-drive or guided game drives into Marakele National Park.




Marakele Bush Lodge

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Pictures can tell a thousand words....

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Some of my other favorite photos from the last 5 years:
















Grabbed my soul – The story behind “Time into Stone”


Monday November 8, 2010
Have you ever met someone that grabbed your soul, (so to say). Without this person looking at you, without even saying a word and your complete strangers to each other. I have and will never forget this. It’s an undesirable feeling that can’t be explained in words.
It’s been over a year and it feels like it just happened. Walking into the store I never planned for this to happen. I was in a strange country, strange town, feeling out of place and not too well (developed a fever on the plane) so not looking to hot either.
I strolled into the section of the store, where he was going about, doing his work, doing what I think would be a normal day for him. As I looked up from the display area of sound gear, my eye caught this gorgeous man standing behind the counter.
For what felt like a lifetime, I stared at him; if anyone saw me they might have thought I was undressing him with my eyes. But I wasn’t, well not at this particular point….. I was just in awe of this gorgeous creature (for a lack of a better description). Amazingly build, he had style and class, and …… something I couldn’t put my finger on, something like a top secret special ingredient from a master chefs, world class, award winning dish.
Yes, I know, that sounds like I over exaggerating but that’s what I felt. I couldn’t take my eyes off him and investigated every part of him that was above the counter… His arms, lips, every inch, like a perfect sculpture.
I badly wanted him to look up, but the little voice in head shouted out: “NO, don’t look up!” Knowing myself, and how I get around gorgeous creatures like this, it would be better, for everyone, even the other costumers, if our eyes didn’t meet. I usually turn into a babbling buffoon and a complete klutz.
That thought haven’t even turned the corner in some part of my brain, when he looked up. I thought I was going to faint, hurl or something embarrassing or silly like that…. Well that didn’t happen – luckily.
“Okay, stay calm, glance now and again, but never ever say anything, don’t open your mouth. Rather pretend you don’t understand English, speak your mother tongue, throw in some African languages, you can’t make a complete idiot out of yourself if he doesn’t understand you…” Bad idea, I couldn’t even remember my name let alone other languages.
His voice, intriguing, sensitive yet strong, so amazing. It conjured up thoughts and feelings I get when I hear the voice of a certain Muso, I have a mammoth crush on. I think my heart skipped a couple of beats; I might have even turned blue, forgetting to breath. Then I had to go and open my mouth,,,, oh so painful.
I didn’t sound like myself, my Afrikaans-English accent sounded like a fake British one, and my pronunciation of basic English words were like those of individuals learning to speak the global language. I must have gone from blue (forgetting to breath) to bright red…..
For a couple of days I felt like an idiot (benêt), and I didn’t even get his name. The questions now were: Should I try and find him, wait for him to find me, would he try to find me, did I leave an impression worth finding? The answer to the last question was a definite NO, not after my fumbling and embarrassing word act or lack thereof.
So I took a change, I humongous change, doing something I would never have done or even contemplated to do. I tried to find him again. Easy you say, not really. With very little info, no receipt with reference numbers, I could call the store. What would I have asked for? “Hi, I’m looking for a hot,,, uhm no gorgeous,, not attractive guy that works there, well his tall dark and extremely handsome…”?  Not going to work, I’ve seen the guys from that particular city and most of them match that description.
So I turned to the social networks, asking around, giving that exact description and sounding like a smitten teenage girl, embarrassing,,,, YIP. But I didn’t manage to get hold of a guy willing to go around the store, asking around,,,, a couple of weeks later he informed me that he might know who I looking for.  Success at last. And it was the correct gorgeous angel.
This angel turned out to be a true angel, talented, really astonishing, incredible and fantastic.  We still communicate via email but I would give anything to go back and see him face to face. This is the story behind the poem I wrote “Time Into Stone”.

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Time into Stone By Thelma Roos
I can’t believe it’s been this long
Since the day, the day you turned time into stone
A second felt like an eternity
I knew it couldn’t last forever
But the look in your eyes had me hypnotized
And the feelings it evoked had me mesmerized
I wonder if I ever cross your mind as often
As you’ve been on mine
Or are living the same way
The same way as before that day
I still imagine how it could have been
If I didn’t turn around to leave
That day, the day you turned time into stone
And I didn’t feel so alone
It’s been too long since I last heard from you
I guess you have your own life to live too
And there’s nothing I can do
Time can never mend the words that weren’t spoken
The moment that passed
I try to go back and make it last
Like that day, the day you turned time into stone





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