In The Air: The Horror of the Dwellers

I prefer a safe, relaxed home environment, who doesn't I suppose? But since moving into a common walls apartment situation I've become Air Phobic, arranging my so-called living space into zones which require strategically placed Monster Fans to help dissipate air weirdness. It's also a seeming war of the Sprayers - their killer air fresheners vs. my citrus and mint concoctions.

Adding to this problem is the turnover of tenants with their strange, sickening products which waft through the air ducts.

At times I have opened a window for 'fresh air' and clouds of neighbors'air freshener hit me in the face. What is a breather of air on planet earth supposed to do?

I can't relocate. I shouldn't have to relocate. I could end up in a worse place where management enforces air fresheners in the the hallways.

This particular building has four small apartment units.The AC system sends cocktails of neighbors' Febreeze air freshener, personal fragrances, toxic cleaners and more through AC vents - my AC recessed hall unit leaks the same vapors. I can't use the AC - it cooled well but I wasn't breathing much air, mostly sickening vapors. I have to wear a mask often.

This past summer we had a heat wave. The vents were closed and the AC was off. The heat wave was on: 102 degrees. My dogs and I were taking mini-baths to cope - but it was still 80 degrees at 11 pm.

What planet do my apartment managers live on you might wonder: Apparently they live on Planet Denial, along with many neighbors who smoke cigarettes and spray Febreeze. (or perhaps some spray cigarettes and smoke Febreeze, I dunno.)

And guess what? Horrific fragrances from the 60's and 70's seem to be back. Think heavily sweet, smoky, it-gets-into-your-clothes-and-hair. Shudder. Don't even think about commercial fragrance dispenser machines which are used by many apartment dwellers.

I like an idea I heard: fight back with patchouli oil in a huge mobile dispenser! (See? Toxicity is making me cranky.)

Management denies that there's any problem.

Robotic property managers drone: Tenants smoke outside only. There is no problem here. Pay no attention to the smoker behind the curtain . . .

Help!

Scent Trip 2

Goodbye patchouli, cedar, orange blossom, sandalwood, et al - do people really need to be breathing such volatile compounds/by-products? Apparently not. 

It seemed a good way to scent my environment. In retrospect, it seems one might best simply use herbs/essences in their natural form vs. stoking up a toxic, manufactured product.

Patchouli: FEMA has it listed! Apparently aging hippies might use it to overpower the citizenry or government (think Woody Allen in Sleeper overtaking a guard with limburger cheese)! 

It takes me back to the nineteen-seventies: a burning stick, a scented wash, a dab of oil. Not attracted to most commercial fragrances, nor sweet/flowery essences, I've always loved woods, spices and citrus.

Sigh. Could the pungent smoke plumes be related to my allergies, nausea, dizziness?  I think I'll spray lemon oil instead.

Scent Trip: The Patchouli Incidents: Innocent Bystander!

I like patchouli. But less is more. That special essence of patchouli: for some noses it triggers a walk down memory lane -- assuming said person has retained his or her sense of memory. 

For virgin noses, it can be a breath of fresh air, and a potential alternative to expensive commercial fragrances. Used in many designer fragrances, patchouli also remains available as a single note scent.

Many noses may run screaming from the room, especially if the wearer has applied too much of this potentially pungent fragrance. For some noses, it can be a subliminal general attractant.

In my office a customer once begged to borrow a drop or two of patchouli oil; failing that he wanted me to rub my scented forearm on him. I had to pass. "Hey, I'm workin' here.“

Later in a Happy Food supermarket checkout line associate Brad moved merchandise and contemplated molecules. “What is that perfume and who is wearing it?” 

Just the other day, a woman and I passed in the supermarket. We smiled at one another. A look of recognition seemed to come over her face. We continued on our ways.
As I walked down the pet food aisle, I heard a voice behind me. "Excuse me! . . . excuse me!"
I turned around. It was Smiling Lady that I had passed just moments before. She had a really down-to-earth, genuine appearance, and seemed to be truly friendly, unlike the many Stepford Wife types in tennis dresses that usually overran the upscale supermarket.
"I have to ask you, what is that perfume you are wearing?"
"Oh. It's patchouli."
"Yes! I love it. I used to wear it in the sixties. Where do you buy it?"
"Bountiful Natural Foods. Check them out."
"Cool. Nice chatting with you. Bye!"
"Yeah, nice. Bye now!"

Another memorable Patchouli Incident occurred at Blockbuster Video. Passing a woman on a narrow aisle, I thought that I noticed her staring at me. Generally, when people stare at me in public I tend to feel that there could be negative ramifications. Is my clothing misbehaving? Do I have post it notes stuck to my mid-section? The possibilities are frightening.

The woman approached me. Tall, thin, she had long, thick, naturally silver gray hair, which contrasted nicely with her tan. She wore sandals, tie dye, long, dangling antique earrings, and glowed with health and energy. Her long-maned boyfriend wasn't too shabby either.

"What's that fragrance you're wearing?" She seemed quite enthusiastic and extroverted and up. Sparks of light seem to inhabit her big brown eyes. I wondered, was she on Ginko Biloba or what? Blissed out on one of those energizing herbal blends that drive people up the wall, as it increases mental concentration and causes urges to rearrange furniture and (gasp!) do housework? Hmm . . . perhaps she was just extremely healthy or coming off a juice fast.
"It's patchouli oil!"
"Of course, that's it!"
"Nice chatting. Have a good day!" “You too!”

Patchouli should perhaps come with a warning label: Use With Caution: May Affect Innocent Bystanders.

Buy some today. But be prudent. Less is more.

I Was A Toxic Zombie!

Body permeated by toxicity, cells protesting... the horror, the horror …

I’d quit artificial sweeteners years ago, when I gave up cola and such – or so I thought.  In retrospect I find that a form of aspartame was in my magnesium supplement, the brand that I took twice daily for 12 years. I’m in week 3 of detox now.

The well-known nutritional supplement company repeatedly changed their product labels. I think that many companies were/are masking ingredients in their products to make them seem warm and fuzzy (Oooh, what CUTE toxicity! Aww…).

I always check product labels, but somehow this one got past me. For years, the supplement should have been clearly categorized as “Magnesium Aspartate” on the front of the bottle but it wasn’t. The company occasionally changed/re-worded the ingredient label. Last month I noticed “Aspartic Acid” listed in the ingredients (added in 2003 the company says).

Aha! This would explain the mysterious brain fog, chronic pain, insomnia, fatigue, depression etc etc. What a mindf**k!

I’m now looking at legal remedies - I am not hopeful.

I’ve been away from my blogs for a while – I’d like to thank those of you who are in my network, and who email me at afbattershell @ g mail dot com. I plan to spend time blogging, once again.

The Oiling of America

I enjoy reading at the Weston Price site...

http://www.westonaprice.org/know-your-fats/the-oiling-of-america#fda

Food and Zen Simplicity

I liked this article...

http://zenhabits.net/the-zen-of-real-food-keeping-eating-simple/#sthash.fQ4HNNz5.OjDD7aEV.dpuf

Fitness Fats and Misfit Fats

Interesting article and fascinating site by Udo Erasmus...

http://udoerasmus.com/articles/udo/fitfat.htm

The Assault on Organics

Media spin gets worse and worse...

http://fair.org/extra-online-articles/the-assault-on-organics/