omg im soooo TIRED!!!!! like since sunday straight i had rehearsals and tons of standing up and walking. my legs are soooo sore and tired T_T and this week swim meets started and constantly its swim practice then rehearsal. no time for hw man. haha i kept on falling asleep during classes today XD i even fell asleep sitting up straight surprisingly lol. eww i smell like chlorine man. and i hope ill do well on my timed essay for english...and hoping that i wont have any spanish pop quizzes.

hmm....stuff that happened so far this week:
monday- practice then right after rehearsal
tuesday- swim meet against arroyo (i dont even know if we won or not XD) then rehearsals oh yea i had a math test earlier that day too...and bombed that crap
wednesday- HAD A FREAKIN APES TEST W/ A HELLA HARD FRQ swim practice and my legs started hurting a lot. then last day of rehearsal for the rest of the week until sunday. oh shit...theres rehearsal sunday? rawr must ask someone...

yay i onlhy need to sell 12 more tickets!

im excited for tomorrows meet against albany cuz i know hecka ppl from that school!!! yay i get to see the guys again muahahaha. but i wont be looking forward to the events i have to swim IF i have to swim. most likely i will but then ill lose =P oh well.

its my bros bday and i feel kinda bad for him. there is no cake since my mom says that "he's too old to have cake" who in the world is too old to have cake? i love cake cuz thats when people get to sing happy birthday to you. and i rarely get cakes for my bday which is why i wanted one for him. w/e. and i hate spanish. each day i dread going to that class...im even starting to like math better than that class rawr. i havent swum for like 5 days so i feel fat. i keep on getting lazy and not go. rawr everything sucks

stolen from emily k. teehee

How hugs can aid women's hearts

Women's heart health may benefit more from hugs than men's, a study suggests.

A team from the University of North Carolina studied the effects of hugging on both partners in 38 couples.

The study showed hugs increased levels of oxytocin, a "bonding" hormone, and reduced blood pressure - which cuts the risk of heart disease.

But, writing in the Psychosomatic Medicine, the researchers said women recorded greater reductions in blood pressure than men after their hugs.


During the study, the men and women were taken to separate rooms to test their blood pressure and levels of oxytocin, which is released during childbirth and breastfeeding, and cortisol, a stress hormone.

The couples were then reunited and asked to sit together and talk about a time when they were particularly happy.

They then watched five minutes of a romantic film before being left to talk to each other for a further 10 minutes.

Next, the couples were asked to hug for 20 seconds.

Protection

Both men and women were seen to have higher levels of oxytocin after the hug.

People in loving relationships were found to have higher levels of the hormone than others.

But the study also found all women had reduced levels of cortisol following the hug, as well as reporting the blood pressure benefits.

The researchers, led by psychologist Dr Karen Grewen, wrote in Psychosomatic Medicine: "Greater partner support is linked to higher oxytocin levels for both men and women.

"However, the importance of oxytocin and its potentially cardioprotective effects may be greater for women."

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, spokesperson for the British Heart Foundation, said: "Scientists are increasingly interested in the possibility that positive emotions can be good for your health.

"This study has reinforced research findings that support from a partner, in this case a hug from a loved one, can have beneficial effects on heart health."

She added: "British Heart Foundation researchers have already demonstrated links between a positive emotional state, such as happiness, and low levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.

"This growing body of research only goes to highlight how important social support is for everyone, not just those in a relationship."