I love my country music, and no one will ever take it away from me. Tease me endlessly? Yes. Take it away? Nope.

Poor Susan! Sounds like you're doing all the right things, though. Cut yourself some slack. You'll get through these things. I have faith in you.

Yay, Cashmere!

ION, one of my NOLA friends has found that her house is intact, although the fridge exploded.

Well, that's better than it could have been. Although, finding an exploded fridge has to be a little disturbing.]

Stephanie, I'm crying over here. I'm just so very, very happy for you and your whole family. You are one strong chickie, and I'm so proud to know you.

My husband loves to tease me caue despite my heavy metal leanings, when we lived in Washington state years back all I listened to was country. We moved back home and I was back to my hard rock.

I can't explain it. But I can line dance. Two step - not so much.

I can't line dance. I've always wanted to learn how, but no one would ever go with me.

Come on down - I've been wanting to hit the Saddle Rack, but never had anyone to go with.

Did I just admit to that?!?!?

Yay for Stephanie-at-home!

My sister forced me out on the floor to line dance. I agreed on the condition that she'd let me teach her West Coast Swing. Line dancing's actually kind of fun, and better for me than two-stepping, as I always want to crack up while two-stepping for some reason.

Mal and I just got caught in a thunderstorm. We hid under someone's carport until it was past, but it was right on top of us - the lightning and thunder were simultaneous, and LOUD, and all my hair was standing up. Every lightning strike, the birds would all launch themselves into the air.

My PT opines that if swelling is part of what's causing pain, DON'T HEAT. It will increase the inflammation.

Sadly, for me, it's a lot of swelling impinging on nerves. Well, it's better than having disc problems, but I like heat treatment. I admit, I cheat every now and again with the hot tub, but the PT can always tell, since my back is visibly more puffy if I hit the tub three times in the week before I see him.

Sadly, for me, it's a lot of swelling impinging on nerves.

ita, if the source of pain is a (non-swelling) pinched nerve, is that when heat is a beneficial treatment?

When my neck acted up a couple of years ago, my PT friend said if the deal was not a pinched nerve, I should have Scott massage me with ice, past the point of pain, and instruct him beforehand not to stop, even when I was crying and begging him to stop.

I trust my husband with my life, but I cannot imagine asking someone to cause me pain and ignore all safety words. I ignored her advice. Also, I'm pretty sure a pinched nerve is involved in my neck problems.

My PT recommends heat for stiffness only.

I would never have someone massage me past the point of pain, except for a medical professional. And even then, I question my judgment.

As for the pinched nerve -- what's pinching it? When my nerves are messed, it's often muscles pulling my spine into positions that pinch the nerves -- them swelling makes it worse, not better.

Come on down - I've been wanting to hit the Saddle Rack, but never had anyone to go with.

FUN! We might just have to plan that.

Why don't profs return my e-mails? I need information, people! I'm here on campus to do work, but I can't do that work without info.

ION, one of my NOLA friends has found that her house is intact, although the fridge exploded.

Did the contents become a new god?