Mmm. I know exactly what you mean. About your co-workshoppers.

I love you, Steph.

I love you back, Lizard.

Now I go to sleep. For real.

Heh. I figured it was a core-dump; but I wanted to make sure. A lot of writers work that way, some of the best out there, but because I don't, I always check and make sure.

Jesus wept, honey, two bulging discs? I remember sciatica all too well; the Adam's Rib kept me severely sciatic all through pregnancy. Horrendous. If they can get you in a moment earlier, I'd go in a heartbeat.

And take heart of grace; Joe Montana had surgery done on (I believe) also two severely bulging discs, and went on to the Superbowl that year.

And I wish to hell you could do my twice-monthly writing group, here in SF. Dinner and feedback.

Deb, darn it, I wish you hung out in one of the chatty threads. What is Adam's Rib? I was on bedrest quite a bit because of back pain for both of my last two.

I work with a woman who had the exact symptoms I have, and she had surgery at this back clinic -- when I asked her if it was horrible and did recovery just make her want to die, she said no, that day 1 after surgery was rough, but then she was up and walking around her neighborhood in 2 weeks. So I'm really okay with the idea of surgery, if it comes to that.

Also, w/r/t my class -- it's a wonderful experience overall. (The link to the Web site should give a clear picture of the mission, etc., which is essentially to give women writers a space to write what they want, tell the truth, and know they're sharing it in a venue that isn't going to criticize or judge for telling that truth. The modality is writing, and as such, the *writing* gets critiqued -- in theory -- but never the truth behind it. It really saved my sanity getting into this school at the time I was getting out of the freak-ass church.)

Deena, insent. An Adams Rib is a protrusion of bone from the rib, generally microscopic, generally on the outside of the ribcage. Mine, being different, is on the lowest righthand rib, interior, not microscopic (it's almost half an inch long, and can be clearly seen in x-rays), and down-pointing. So as the womb expanded, it pressed the nerve and during labour? On my side, because I could have fetched up paralysed: bone hitting spinal cord.

Steph, I did a writers group for about seven months last year, we published a very nice anthology, most of the people were wonderful, but alas, the woman running it is unpredictable and started trashing people behind their backs, in group e-mails. She'd send out emails to 11 out of 12 of us, and trash the 12th, some weird snotty comments. I can't stand that sort of thing, so I walked and started my own group. There are six of us, five women and one man. I find the input and simply exchanging air with other writers incredibly nourishing.

Deb, and replied. Once I do the edits, I might post it here for more response. I'm feeling a bit braver now.

I find the input and simply exchanging air with other writers incredibly nourishing.

YES!!! Exactly! That's why I love my class so much.As long the small-group issues are addressed next semester, I'm good.

It's wonderful. It's home to me.

Kewl! Hell, why not post it? I find it hard to believe anyone would trash it; I imagine if it wasn't someone's cuppa, they'd simply not remark at all. That's what I always assume about the bulk of response to my stuff, anyway.