Here she seems to be doing her best Dean Martin impersonation.

---

Sometimes, I wish family and friends could bottle all the fear, pain, and heartbreak they experience when a loved one is addicted, and somehow let the addict feel it first hand.

I'll take this over sporking the BiL. He doesn't even have the plausible deniability of youth, he's married, wants to adopt my nephew and they were trying to get pregnant again... Sorry, I don't mean to get ranty here. I just have been so focused on other things that I didn't realize how just fucking angry I am. We all welcomed him into our family and this just feels like betrayal.

Cash, I am so glad he is awake and sorry. I do hope that this is a learning experience for him and that he values his life more now.

you and yours are in my thoughts.

As are you...

Covered in bubbles!!

OMGCUTE!!

Being laid up with back pain is much more annoying than getting sick for some reason.

It so is.

And given my track record, I am not a person who should be giving advice.

---

Susan, does it feel like nerve pain or muscle pain? If you can stand it, could Dylan rub that spot (or alternatively take a tennis ball between that spot and a wall) to see if it's a muscle spasm? I'd be more gentle with nerve tingles vs deep acheyness. (I don't know whether you have referred pain stemming from a trigger point or an actual nerve impingement. Trigger points when worked and then stretched can greatly reduce pain. I would guess trigger point resulting from overuse of the muscle, but not being able to lay my hands on you limits my certainty.)

If you feel it IS muscle, I would focus between shoulder blade an spine, as well as right at the top angle. It will probably be sort of crunchy right there where the muscle tendon is, but not to worry. Levator Scapula (that particular muscle) is the culprit for many a shoulder/neck problem. Perhaps not yours, but I would be highly surprised if it wasn't involved to some degree. As you might suspect from the name, it helps elevate the shoulder blade. If your shoulder is somewhat raised for mousing, it'll get a lot of use.

Some info on trigger points: [link] Info plus how to self-treat with massage (this one looks very useful for you) [link]

I'll stop before I bore everyone. But in other news, I had quite an interesting energy work/massage session today, and I don't as a general rule do "energy work". It's very much new territory. I'm alternately intrigued, and weirded out by the whole thing.

---

Being laid up with back pain is much more annoying than getting sick for some reason.

Yes. My theory -- because your mind is alert and actually wanting to do something. If you can handle it, a little gentle stretching might help. Also massage. {ETA -- like d said more thoroughly}

Laying flat on your back with a pillow under your knees helps the lower back, but I can't promise upper back/shoulder.

Good news, Cashmere.

((((Sparky and family))))

---

I just IMed links to Baby-in-box to three friends. Cutest thing ever. Makes my loins ache for fatherhood, it does.

---

Thanks, d. I think it's muscle rather than nerve, but I'm not sure. Will try some of the stretches I learned when I was in PT for my lower back and we discovered my real chronic issues were with my upper back and shoulders. (Not that I didn't know they were problems before--I just thought everyone lived with that kind of pain as a price of modern computerized life.)

Yes. My theory -- because your mind is alert and actually wanting to do something.

Exactly. I missed a chance to sing mezzo-soprano on this gorgeous old-school Latin choral piece today, even though there's nothing wrong with my vocal cords. And I can't edit my manuscript, because that would involve sitting up and wielding a pen. It's not even easy to get comfortable with a book. I'm bored.

---

When DH had sholder trouble our friend - a massage therapist had matt fold/ roll a towel or blanket so that when lying on it , it supported the sine and sholderblades. and then all he was suposed to do was put his arm straight out on the floor - that was enought of a strech. She all said lying on the bed and letting the arm hang down- so the weight of the arm is the strech. that is what is meant by gentle streches.

I am sorry this has been such a hard weekend for people.

in the news of me. My right ear hurt when I go up. ( boo) I have mostly ignored it , and it hasn't gotten worse ( this would be yay, but it isn't really better either) We wnet to costco and spent less than 100 dolllars ( yay) i have new workout pants ( yay ) I took a nap ( yay ) We went to the gym ( yay) we ate dinner a panera ( yay) and then I looked at their website for nutritional value ( boo) .

---

Here she seems to be doing her best Dean Martin impersonation.

That one made me grin and grin.

I seem to be having a day again. I feel guilty about it, because it's all just duck nibbles.

Today I have:

• woken up too early to take Paul to work.
• managed to rip my new diaper cover while cleaning it.
• got stuck in traffic on my way up to the comic book store to pick up a prize I won but cannot use.
• as a result, ran late getting to my mother's so that we could attempt to go do something.
• got stuck in even worse traffic on the way to something, causing us to get there and realize we wouldn't make it to the event we were going for.
• been stuck in a car for way too long with my mother driving, a cranky baby, and a growling stomach.
• realized that after gas and minimal groceries, half the week's budget is already gone.
• had the grocery bag rip on me as I was taking it out of the car.

On the plus side, my neighbors appear to have a chicken, which I discovered when I looked up to see it strolling casually through my lawn.

---

On the plus side, my neighbors appear to have a chicken, which I discovered when I looked up to see it strolling casually through my lawn.

This... is awesome.

---

On the plus side, my neighbors appear to have a chicken, which I discovered when I looked up to see it strolling casually through my lawn.

I'm planning to go to Daylesford with AS over the Melbourne Cup long weekend. The front-running B&B for our custom has ducks, geese and chooks roaming around the grounds. Not quite as cool as the Coffs Harbour resort that was home to a colony of eastern sea dragons, but a definite plus nonetheless.

---