We need to define the "XKCD Effect."

Why? "Malamanteau" just brought up about 226,000 results when I searched on Google.

Pix, I hope you feel better.

Fay, I hope you're safe and things get resolved there quickly.

Ginger, I hope Mr. Peabody never has another seizure. If he does, I really suggest taking him to a neurologist - Sass' seizures were controlled relatively easily by the specialist but the regular vet just didn't have the experience.

A neighbor I don't particular care for just came over to quiz me on our cleaning person. She tells me she wants someone who will do an excellent job but that she also wants someone cheap. I didn't say, "So you want to pay someone less than they're worth?" Instead I just refused to tell her what we're paying.

Aw, Ginger, that sucks. Poor Mr. Peabody. And a pox on Creepy Guy.

This.

ETA: I ended up only taking one of each this morning, Barb, and though I'm far from pain free, I think they've taken the edge off enough that I can function. And by function, I mean sit on the couch rather than lying in bed.

Thanks for the support. The seizure was scary, but the aftermath, in which he was panting and drooling and staggering, was heartbreaking. I checked what to do if it was the heat and dampened him with cool water and put a fan on him while I called and scrambled for shoes. I had the air on high in the truck and by the time we got there, he was basically his old self. The vet said that was the right thing to do, anyway.

Creepy guy grew up in the neighborhood and I think the neighbor who hires him feels sorry for him. The neighbor on the other side, who's about his age, says he's always been off, has never really held a job and has drug problems. He hangs out with the people two doors down, who are into drugs, alcohol and screaming fights. Their house has been for sale forever. Sell, house, sell. They sadly do have a bright little girl who talks to me when I'm gardening. This gives an erroneously bad picture of my neighborhood.

eta: Pix, did the doctor suggest ice or heat?

Damn it. On top of having my laptop take a complete dump on me this morning, the check I was hoping would come yesterday didn't come today either. I really need to catch a fucking break here.

{{{{Pix}}}}} Gah, i so hope you are feeling a wee bit better. i've unfortunately been through similar back/neck spasms far too many times, and "stress" is almost always the culprit. I adore the flexeril but i never "feel" it ....i just take one and then am magically able to sleep for a very long time and wake up able to move a little better and feel slightly more human. heh, if Cavnar were here he might recall the first week after i got my scrip for the stuff: i went from moping in my room to sunny disposition literally overnight.

do you have any local recs for masseuses who can do house calls? gentle massage (not deep tissue right now) can help speed up recovery...but you also want to avoid driving as much as possible, it's hell on a spasming neck.

While a hot bath seems like the best idea ever, it actually cricks the neck even more - i find standing under a hot shower to be fantastic, especially right before bed. It's hard with so much going on, but i'd recommend writing off the weekend entirely and spending as much of it sleeping and reading as possible. Don't even think of other things since you really can't do anything about them right now except make your neck worse. the spasms take time to calm down.

oh, and lying flat on yr back with an ice pack under the neck and a pillow under the knees. i read many a (small,lightweight) book that way. These are a few of my favorite things.

hugs everyone

Here, let me tell what life at the House of Reason is like today: I have been cutting out fabric for a skirt, so I can dye the pieces before I start sewing them.

Pete? Pete has been outside, with a can of pink paint. Meticulously painting the fronts of dresser drawers that are going to go in my storage room. Just think about that image for a second. My perfectionist spouse, wielding a roller full of paint in the color "Pink Frenzy".

Just think about that image for a second. My perfectionist spouse, wielding a roller full of paint in the color "Pink Frenzy".

That's... that's... dare I say it?

Oh, I'm on The List anyway.

That's too adorable for words.

Kristin, I hope you're in a bit less pain today. I second the idea of a decent massage (with a specialist massage therapist - I tend to look for ones that do remedial massage, although I don't know if that's suitable when there's been an injury, but a good massage therapist will know).

Ginger, I hope Mr Peabody's OK. That's scary.

That's too adorable for words.

I concur, wholeheartedly.