I really don't think I'm going to be awake 45 minutes before dawn. (To see that phenomenon.)

FotR is playing on TNT and it's making me want to break out the EEs and have a trilogy day tomorrow.

Heck, anyone in the gaming hivemind interested in such things themselves?

Oooh! I'd be a little interested. I mean, it would probably get as much use as some of the other box games I have gathering dust on my shelves, but I'd be very happy I owned the set.

Someone just gave us a very kind online gift. JZ would like that person to know that they are a Rock God!

Hint: Great smile. Fantastic photographer. Can you guess?

I'd be a little interested

We've got the three-in-one, the Enterprise Encounter, and one that's called Star Trek the Adventure game (probably the first one) from West End Games, plus Star Trek the RPG from FASA.

Can you guess?

Annie Lebowitz?

(Or maybe Scola)

My bosses have always had classy dinners at nice restaurants for our Xmas parties. This year it was downgraded to a party at work, but the food was catered, but they also provided a floor show...an Elvis impersonater! Most of us were dumbstruck.

Elvis? That's...interesting.

Whatever's to happen at the krav holiday party is a big secret. Last year was a totaly bust (murder mystery they cancelled halfway through and had one of the guests perform his standup instead). Year before was poker with prizes. Cool.

When did I become the girl who explains sex terms to people and ends up miming a rusty trombone in front of Baja Fresh? I mean, have I always been her, and this is no fall from grace?

Dude, you are the woman with the suspect links.

I hate this cough.

The rusty trombone pantomime is a new wrinkle, but you've been explaining sex terms to the vanilla as long as I've known you.

Cash, what Cindy said about affording the shot if possible.

I suspect that the cost of the shot is just a shade over a $1,000 per (according to my share of the medical, plus my copay). It's sort of a complicated procedure--and they have an x-ray tech there taking pictures as they go. Pain injection, then they inject me with dye to see where they're shooting, then the put in a giant needle, attached to a packet of medication, slowing injecting it into the spine.

I'm not sure if it's just insurance or the effectiveness of the medication (it's cortisone, I think, so they may be extra careful with steriods). I should probably know more but I never seem to have very much time with the doctor and I usually forget to ask.

The last shot lasted four months. If this one can just last five, I can grit out a month, I think. I know surgery is easier now than it was--but I seriously worry about recovery with two kids under 3.

Time will tell. But it will be my last resort.