Thanks for the good wishes all. I plan to medicate the arm with a bottle of red wine from Argentina that a friend from said country just dropped off. Also got an email from the man I divorced 21 years ago...

You didn't really think I had forgotten, did you? Hell, I enjoy this day more than Christmas now. But I didn't get you anything - and I don't intend to until you get over this silly shit, and come home!

Still glad I divorced him, but he does amuse me.

Happy birthday, Laura!

Prairie Muffins appreciate godly role models, such as Anne Bradstreet, Elizabeth Prentiss and Elisabeth Elliot. They do not idolize Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie) or Louisa May Alcott (Little Women); while they may enjoy aspects of home life presented in their books, PMs understand that the latent humanism and feminism in these stories and in the lives of these women is not worthy of emulation.

Having read this, I'm definitely afraid to read the Prairie Muffin site, for fear of head explodage. They also fail to understand the radical nature of Anne Bradstreet's work. It does make me want to go out and give away Little House and Alcott books to every girl I see.

I found some freaky things clicking on other links on that site, though. A debate over whether college educations are appropriate for women, claims that women shouldn't vote, etc. Which upsets me very much on behalf of these women's daughters.

I feel bad for the daughters, certainly -- and also the sons, because they're being raised with an unrealistic sense of their place in the world. But as for the adults, mostly I feel sorry for these people who are still fighting a war they lost 100 years ago.

They may have lost the war, but they seem to be picking up enough battles recently that I'm a lot less inclined to sympathy.

Happiest of Birthdays, Laura! No more hurtiness to you. I hope your chiro fixes you right up.

No more hurtiness for Jilli, either. Jilli, I have something similar, it's what I'm going to PT for. If it's the same, it's a "soft tissue impingement". Your chiro should be able to help, and if you ask him/her for exercises to keep it from happening again, they may be able to offer them. If not, I can try to describe mine by e-mail if you want me to.

bicyclops stole Cranberry's tag.

Happy birthday, Laura! You shining star, you.

Also, I hope Emmett just has a residual leg cramp.

Yup. That's all it was. Dr. Joe said it was just deep muscle cramping from the virus. His advice? "Walk it off." Also, whenever you go to Dr. Joe and he gives you "Walk it off" type advice, he always turns to the kid and says, "What's your favorite food?" and then writes a prescription for it. Emmett asked for Jolt Cola. I pleaded him down to a Vanilla Coke.

Anyway, it took all day to do that and take him to the East Bay and find his Mom (who in her slightly doped up state, completely misunderstood the timing). So I am home and I'm not going to work after all. Feh.

I think JZ has certainly gotten Emmett's flu. I probably didn't get it because I just had the flu two weeks ago.

Oof. What a FUBAR day.

I have now fallen down a grand total of 3 times at school -- once in front of my cooperating teacher, once in front of a bunch of students, and this morning, I skidded to a full-frontal flat-faced fall on the way to the classroom before classes started.

Only a few students saw but I landed knees and tits to the floor. I skinned my knee and spilled some coffee, but landed with coffee cup clutched upright and unbroken in my upraised hand. Like a caffienated, bloody-but-unbowed Lady Liberty.

At least now both of my knees have matching scabs -- I'm symmetrical.

And also known as "that teacher who falls all the time."

You know, this falling thing would be easier to take if I were at least drunk at 7:45 a.m. or something, but I'm not. I'm sure that people have started to THINK I am, and it's embarassing.

And also known as "that teacher who falls all the time."

I have to say you've earned that nickname. You know Chrissie Hynde had a period where she'd wear knee-pads over her leather pants while on tour. You know - so she could go skidding on her knees on stage. I think you should consider this as a fashion accessory.

Dude, you're like the guy I knew who grew up with an inner ear problem and had to wear a football helmet for most of his childhood. Or maybe we could get you one of those self-defense suits. It would be defense against yourself.

Hec, I am crawling over to the clinic and then home. I'm sorry it went all fucktastic on you.

But so, so glad that Emmett is fine.

eta: Please, please, please can you run to the corner and get some TheraFlu? I know it's just another 3 blocks past the apartment, but I'm pretty sure I will be totally physically incapable of getting there.