From a while back, Connie asked:

Teppy, just sort of out of the blue, how is your back? Are you back to full mobility? Any pain left over?

My back is fabulous. I am back to full mobility, and pretty much have been since 6-9 months after the surgery (it's been 22 months now). Most days, I have no back pain at all -- not even the normal aches and pains people get from sitting around too much or being overweight. Some days my back is a little sore, but it's not at all the type of pain that led to my surgery -- it's just that soreness that I described above, from sitting around, or my belly + gravity pulling on my back.

I have no trouble lifting weights, though I don't do the back machines, because I'm not crazy. But, for instance, the weight machine that works your quads also distributes the lifting burden on your back to a minor degree, but it doesn't bother me at all. I could probably even jog if I were the type of person who likes jogging, but I never have been.

So, yeah. I am all fixed. I can't really remember how bad the pain was; just the *fact* that it was incapacitating. I am bionic.

I don't believe your question was out of the blue, though -- how's your hubby doing?

ION, I am now SA-less, which is a less than desirable state of existence. We had yummy Mexican, scoured the swanky thrift store (it's in the snooty part of town, so the clothes tend to be pretty nice), SA hung out at the coffeehouse while I went to the doctor (I have a big ol' sinus infection for which I'm taking 1,000 mg of erythromycin, and I'm just so happy that I'm sick with something that can be treated with drugs, rather than suffering through a virus), we hit the comic store, and then she burned a bunch of CDs for me before her friend James came to pick her up.

We squeed over Teen Titans (of course), and talked about pretty much everything else you can think of. Oooh! And she brought me a bottle of water that she collected from a waterfall in Ireland (I had requested soil from Ireland, but she decided that water would be classier, and it is) and Sea Veg soap from Lush. Yum.

Having SA here is, as always, a joy.

I don't believe your question was out of the blue, though -- how's your hubby doing?

You're quite right. Let's just say he envies you and we're praying the neurosurgeon can move the surgery date up as far as possible. He got a nerve blocker shot in December(?), and it held for three pain-free days before everything crept back.

When you're really evil, they show you heaven first.

Buffista~ma is the best!

My great aunt looks better, she's in good spirits and I think she'd be godo with staying at Grandma's until Friday -- Grandma doesn't seem to mind that.

I called about renting the place and -- it's mine! Well, if they don't raise the rent too much! Squeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jumps up and down

It's a small house. 1 bed room, 1 living room GIANT walk in closet, kitchen and bath. Small yard. and it's a steal. The lady wants to get some one to do an inspection and see if any repairs will be needed, they haven't inspected it in awhile, and that may effect the price.

I'm going to have my own place! Probably before the F2F. I really need my W2 to get here so I can file my taxes and see what kind of refund I'm getting.

Congrats! askye. I hope you get it for a reasonable price!

Great news, Askye!

Congrats, P-C.

eta: and askye. That rocks

Congrats on the feed back P-C!

I don't believe your question was out of the blue, though -- how's your hubby doing?

You're quite right. Let's just say he envies you and we're praying the neurosurgeon can move the surgery date up as far as possible.

Has he had a spinal fusion yet? I know his back is in worse shape than mine was -- or, at least, the pain has been far more tenacious than mine was.

P-C - so cool that you have a fan already!!

Should we worry that he's sent two emails in such rapid succession? You know, famous people get these obsessive fans who might, for example, start whole discussion forums just to discuss your writing.

askye!!! Woo hoo on the whole house rental thing!