Today has been humid. Moist? Sultry? At any rate, it's been hot. As I often say, "It's hotter'n Tophet."
But what just is Tophet, anyway? Why are there so many mysterious sayings and words of wisdom featuring words we don't know? Is the wisdom intended only for the initiated few? I mean, I have a suspicion about what "Tophet" means. So why not just say, "Hotter'n hell?"
Well, Liz, just go look it up. So, I did.
According to Wikipedia, "Tophet is believed to be a location in Jerusalem, in the Valley of Hinnom, where the Canaanites sacrificed children to the god Moloch by burning them alive. After the practice of child sacrifice was outlawed by King Josiah, the valley became a refuse site where animal carcasses, waste and the bodies of criminals were dumped, with fires permanently burning to keep disease at bay. Tophet became a synonym for hell." Read the rest of the article here.
I really did not want to know that. Geeze. Yeah, too much knowledge can be...um...depressing.
Well, off now to ruminate on all the possible interpretations of "forbidden knowledge."
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday Happies 6/25/10
Well! I'm back. It's been a wild week. I received a call Monday that there was a cancellation Tuesday morning and I could go in and have my x-ray guided cortisone shot. With great trepidation, and a spark of hope, I said "Yes."
The shot went well, if you don't count my anxiety beforehand. Oh, and if you don't count that two nurses couldn't find my vein for an IV, and where they eventually placed it turned out NOT to be in a vein, so I ended up with a big bulge of fluid under the skin of my arm. (sigh) But, my veins are notoriously hard to find.
I do think the shot is helping, some, and I'm hoping for more as I'm only now at the beginning of the time period when I might notice the full effects. They've set me up for another shot in three weeks, which I can cancel if I'm doing great. Otherwise, that will continue the healing process.
So I am cautiously optimistic and a teensy bit happy for my Friday Happies. Keep your fingers crossed for me that soon I'll be once again working in my office...knitting...shopping...sleeping comfortably...and all those other things I haven't been able to do since this debacle started. Here's hoping!
The shot went well, if you don't count my anxiety beforehand. Oh, and if you don't count that two nurses couldn't find my vein for an IV, and where they eventually placed it turned out NOT to be in a vein, so I ended up with a big bulge of fluid under the skin of my arm. (sigh) But, my veins are notoriously hard to find.
I do think the shot is helping, some, and I'm hoping for more as I'm only now at the beginning of the time period when I might notice the full effects. They've set me up for another shot in three weeks, which I can cancel if I'm doing great. Otherwise, that will continue the healing process.
So I am cautiously optimistic and a teensy bit happy for my Friday Happies. Keep your fingers crossed for me that soon I'll be once again working in my office...knitting...shopping...sleeping comfortably...and all those other things I haven't been able to do since this debacle started. Here's hoping!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Monday Gripes 6/14/10
Okay, I've missed a few gripes and happies. Sometimes life interferes.
So I'm set with a cervical cortisone shot. That's the happy part. (And the worry part, as I try not to think about needles. Oy.)
It's not till mid-July--that was the earliest opening they had. That's the gripe. Another month to hang on and try to fight the pain. But at least I'm on track for getting some relief in the not-too-distant future.
In the meantime, I'm bonding with Koko, my parakeet. He's a little nut. He loves to imitate whistles, and he's trying hard to talk. He's quite an acrobat, hanging upside down from the roof of his cage and climbing everywhere.
Lately, when I take out his seed cup in the morning to refill it, he jumps on and comes along for the ride. To make sure I fill it properly, I guess! Here's a photo of him.
Okay, I guess he pretty much looks the same in every photo. Maybe I should tell him to put on a different suit or comb his hair differently next time...
My biggest gripe, connected to the wait for the shot, is that I can't knit. And that's just a sample of the things I can't do right now, because of the pain. I can't go grocery shopping (luckily I have a terrific husband who's jumped in to do it), can't drive any great distance, can't even stand up or walk for long due to the pain. Sitting on the couch with my arm resting on my middle and my wrist resting on the laptop is the only comfortable position.
Well, no, I lied. There's another comfortable position, but that's with my right arm draped over the top of my head, so it's not good for much!
Anyway, I hope this will all be over after the shot, and then I can think up new things to gripe about. In the meantime, wishing you all a gripe-free day.
So I'm set with a cervical cortisone shot. That's the happy part. (And the worry part, as I try not to think about needles. Oy.)
It's not till mid-July--that was the earliest opening they had. That's the gripe. Another month to hang on and try to fight the pain. But at least I'm on track for getting some relief in the not-too-distant future.
In the meantime, I'm bonding with Koko, my parakeet. He's a little nut. He loves to imitate whistles, and he's trying hard to talk. He's quite an acrobat, hanging upside down from the roof of his cage and climbing everywhere.
Lately, when I take out his seed cup in the morning to refill it, he jumps on and comes along for the ride. To make sure I fill it properly, I guess! Here's a photo of him.
Okay, I guess he pretty much looks the same in every photo. Maybe I should tell him to put on a different suit or comb his hair differently next time...
My biggest gripe, connected to the wait for the shot, is that I can't knit. And that's just a sample of the things I can't do right now, because of the pain. I can't go grocery shopping (luckily I have a terrific husband who's jumped in to do it), can't drive any great distance, can't even stand up or walk for long due to the pain. Sitting on the couch with my arm resting on my middle and my wrist resting on the laptop is the only comfortable position.
Well, no, I lied. There's another comfortable position, but that's with my right arm draped over the top of my head, so it's not good for much!
Anyway, I hope this will all be over after the shot, and then I can think up new things to gripe about. In the meantime, wishing you all a gripe-free day.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Monday Gripes 6/1/10
Ah, June. The month for weddings. At least it's OUR anniversary this month...32 years. Nothing to gripe about there! I'm married to my favorite person in the whole world, and I treasure every moment together.
Mostly, these days I'm griping about my shoulder pain. Not much can be done until I see the neurosurgeon in a week. I fear surgery will be what he suggests, and that definitely scares me.
First, the idea of an IV freaks me out. I get panic attacks over them...probably because my veins are small, or roll, or both, and thus are hard to pin down.
Next, anesthesia frightens me. The idea that I won't be breathing on my own makes me wonder, what if my body "forgets" how to breathe and won't start up again? I know that's extremely rare, but logic always gets squashed when in a fistfight with panic.
Then there's the surgery itself. When working on or near the spine with sharp, pointy objects...heck, what's NOT to worry about?
And, what if I go through all that and it doesn't fix me after all? What if I can't ever be back to normal and work at my desk comfortably, knit without pain, sleep easily?
Oy.
I'm trying to tell myself the surgery is what I WANT, to fix the constant pain. And I know once it's over, and I feel better, I'll be terribly thankful. But right now, I'm just in the "terrible" part, scaring myself silly. Sheesh. What a wuss...
So, what scares YOU silly?
Mostly, these days I'm griping about my shoulder pain. Not much can be done until I see the neurosurgeon in a week. I fear surgery will be what he suggests, and that definitely scares me.
First, the idea of an IV freaks me out. I get panic attacks over them...probably because my veins are small, or roll, or both, and thus are hard to pin down.
Next, anesthesia frightens me. The idea that I won't be breathing on my own makes me wonder, what if my body "forgets" how to breathe and won't start up again? I know that's extremely rare, but logic always gets squashed when in a fistfight with panic.
Then there's the surgery itself. When working on or near the spine with sharp, pointy objects...heck, what's NOT to worry about?
And, what if I go through all that and it doesn't fix me after all? What if I can't ever be back to normal and work at my desk comfortably, knit without pain, sleep easily?
Oy.
I'm trying to tell myself the surgery is what I WANT, to fix the constant pain. And I know once it's over, and I feel better, I'll be terribly thankful. But right now, I'm just in the "terrible" part, scaring myself silly. Sheesh. What a wuss...
So, what scares YOU silly?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)