Best Of

Compassion is the basis of all truthful relationships: it means being present with love-- for ourselves and all life, including animals, fish, birds, and trees. Compassion is bringing our deepest truth into our actions, no matter how much the world seems to resist, because that is the ultimate that we have to give this world and one another.

Ram Dass

Chris, it was one of those messages which made me ask "what do they want and why are they directing me to a private email"? It was for counseling and I'm not sure I require it right now. So lucky you. Tippy amazes me with his communication skills. I like the meat = eat or vice versa if I have confused them. I loved when the hand therapist used the warm wax bath on my hands. I had one, it went unused for years, so I have it away not knowing shortly thereafter I would need it again. Have you tried that?

The procedure went well though there was a change in plans about where it should be administered. I hate when they give you the permit in the OR and hover while you try to read it without your reading glasses. It said lumbar and my trigger spot is clearly thoracic. Seems PA suggested lumbar. It was changed to thoracic and after that he noticed a local muscle which seemed to be enlarged due to a knot. He asked one of the nurses to confirm his finding and he did a multi- site (wagon wheel pattern) injection with a local anesthetic and then massaged area which he said felt like a ball. This is probably where I experience the spasms given the description.

Local is starting to wear off and it may take up to 2 weeks to feel relief. Fingers crossed for shorter time frame.

One of the OR nurses was a former Sim Lab student of mine and she said she was excited when she saw my name on the schedule. Told the others I was one of the best, and other students were envious. Such a nice thing to hear. I loved teaching fundamentals and was a stickler for learning the correct way because it would become the base of their future practices. Explained to them their skills determined patient's outcomes and their onjective was not to harm patients. Most got it.

Carole, thanks for the compliment. I need to catch up on other house areas that have been neglected while I did organization duties and then moving dining room contents. I'll see what I can do tomorrow.

Cindyny, I am so glad you were able to fix the ice maker. Another notch in your handy man belt. I do think you should take carole's suggestion about starting a repair business.

Wren, glad the new drug is working and hope it continues to knock out any new spots.

Petite1, missed the gopher story, and xan appreciate the havoc they can cause in a yard. I can tell you when they are trapped, they are not relocated because they are considered pests. Same happens to other wildlife that are trapped. I hope that your cabin issues will be quickly resolved so it b is nice and toasty on your next visit. It will be worth all the troubles once they are done. What a nice place to have as an escape.

Hope everyone has a great day. The sun is out even though it is bitter cold and will remain so for the next 10 days. Waving "hi" to everyone.

Thanks, minus two, for reporting the message. I contacted the moderators when I got home.

I discovered that Tippy thinks his "treat" button means "eat". I am going to have to change his board around since food is so important to him. The other day, he heard "armpit" on the tv and was excited. I think it was an advertisement about dog harnesses. I gave him a haircut quite a while ago, which damaged our relationship. He thinks I shouldn't do that, and frequently asks me when he will get that haircut I promised. He is eager to get out in the new snow. We will have an inch or so each day for the next few days. I need to get more distilled water— temps will go below zero a couple of nights.

I am changing around my nutritional supplements and other OTC meds. I ran out of several and let it be. Not good. I have alpha lipoic acid (nerve damage), B complex coming, as well as acetaminophen (which I will decrease because of the others I have started). Boswella and turmeric (both for arthritis) and fish oil. MSM (arthritis), D3 (winter depression) and cetirizine. Recent research indicates that MSM is the ingredient in glucosamine and chondroitin that eases arthritis.

My right hand is doing well, taking in consideration the fact that I have arthritis in other areas (base of little finger and middle joint of middle finger). Tippy's haircut is important because of upcoming surgery on left hand. Yes, it hurts, but OT has told me that I have to use activities for exercise my right hand daily. Have been cooking. Made cookies yesterday. Five spice cookies (like gingerbread). Will make coconut cake today, as well as finishing up the repair on a batch of five missals. I have about ten left in that huge project. Did not realize how many needed repair when I started.

Cindy - I also received a PM from a therapist. Good idea to report it. Hope it warms up for you. It’s not fun to have NY weather in FL.