I knew I could count on you.

Mornin', All.

Note: Please disregard those "massage" ads in the back of the local newspaper. If the ad specifies hair color, ethnicity, or body shape it's probably not a legitimate massage endeavor.

I'm glad I was done with my bfast before I read this. Don't want Honey Bunches of Oats (generic) On My Monitor.

Oy, Raq, better-things-on-the-way-ma. Good luck with . . . everything.

No advice on the Pet Insurance. We never heard of it until after it would have been useful. Unless the fact that we haven't picked it up for future Situations counts as advice.

Grand Entrance-ma to your new niece, lisah. (So DO NOT want to know what that procedure means. Shudder> ).

Aims, good luck with the half-sis sitch. If it makes you feel any better - Mom's Dad's family didn't stay in touch after he was killed (May of '42, training exercise at Pearl went wrong), and she, and now I, totally wish we could track down/get in contact with/be found by someone from that side of the family. Not the same thing, I know, but still - unexpected contact can be good.

Steph, you still around? First, very excited to see the hair color change. You're boldly going where I'm too chicken to go myself. Second, can I ask details about your back surgery? Mom just got diagnosed yesterday (Degenerative Disk, I think). She thought she was just going to be getting the same surgery again that she had ten years ago (for Stenosis), but now that it's a new surgery she's Very Worried - esp. because they'll be putting in "pins or screws or plates or something". I mentioned that I had a friend my age who had recovered beautifully from something similar (just trying to be generally comforting), but she jumped on it and asked if I could get details.

And reading d's journal entry gets me thinking again how long it's been since I've seen C, my massage therapist. He's like 6'10", HUGE hands...

I'm looking forward to seeing the brunette Teppy. Change = fun.

The last massage therapist I saw actually left me kind of achey. I probably should have said, "Uh, ow" more often, but I figured he knew what he was doing! He was a Level 2! Or something.

Massage therapists, even good ones, aren't psychics, and everyone's different. Next time, say "ow!" Or talk to him about it ahead of time. If he doesn't ease off then, well, then he's not all that good.

I probably should have said, "Uh, ow" more often, but I figured he knew what he was doing!

Yeah, like libkitty said, everyone has different reactions to massage and intensity. Saying "ow" or otherwise indicating what you want is usually the way to go in this situation.

I'm a fan of the relaxing gentle massage while DH likes the deep painful even backwalking variety. Different strokes.

Holy cow, my hair is BROWN. I mean BROWN. I like it. Pictures later (because of the whole, you know, "work" thing.)

Second, can I ask details about your back surgery? Mom just got diagnosed yesterday (Degenerative Disk, I think). She thought she was just going to be getting the same surgery again that she had ten years ago (for Stenosis), but now that it's a new surgery she's Very Worried - esp. because they'll be putting in "pins or screws or plates or something". I mentioned that I had a friend my age who had recovered beautifully from something similar (just trying to be generally comforting), but she jumped on it and asked if I could get details.

My surgery was for 2 herniated discs, and the surgeon basically went in, removed part of the prong-y part of the bone, and then removed the disc material that had herniated out.

I don't mean to make it sound simple or easy, because it wasn't, but it was definitely more straightforward than the type of surgery that requires fusion of the vertebrae, or any hardware. I didn't need a fusion, and I have no hardware.

My basic feeling, though, about *any* back surgery is this: in the almost 5 years since my surgery (I truly can't believe it's been 5 years -- or will be, in April), medical technology has grown by leaps and bounds. The surgery that *I* had, though straightforward, did require me to stay in the hospital. And now, 5 years later, it's generally done as outpatient surgery. Which boggles my mind.

So, my point is, even if your mom needs surgery that involves pins or screws, the technology involved is going to be VASTLY advanced beyond what she experienced 10 years ago. It's going to be so different, it'll make her head spin.

Which, again, isn't to imply that it'll be a piece of cake, but I'd bet it'll be far less complicated than she fears, and that the recovery will be much more simple than she thinks.

Massage therapists, even good ones, aren't psychics, and everyone's different. Next time, say "ow!" Or talk to him about it ahead of time. If he doesn't ease off then, well, then he's not all that good.

yeah, part of my problem with massages is that I just want to lie there and zone out. I don't want to chat, I don't want to have to tell you anything other than what we've already discussed.

I'm a fan of the relaxing gentle massage while DH likes the deep painful even backwalking variety. Different strokes.

See, I like the deep semi-painful stuff. Which is why I figured it'd be okay. But it wasn't "oh my muscles are knotty" hurt, it was kind of "hey, you just pulled that over a bone" hurt. But I didn't really figure it out until later. Eh well.

yeah, part of my problem with massages is that I just want to lie there and zone out. I don't want to chat, I don't want to have to tell you anything other than what we've already discussed.

ETA this too.