good grief. how much pain are you in?

I've dislocated this rib before. It's mostly just sore. But I can't take more than a very slow shallow breath without triggering another coughing fit. I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow after work, but I'm trying to figure out how to manage teaching. I'm presenting new material, and because of the exam schedule, this really can't be put off for a day or two, and I've come up with some ways to minimize how much talking I'll need to do, but I can't avoid it altogether.

could you just project a word document on the screen and then type in response to people's questions and thus avoid speaking at all?

Does wrapping help, Hil?

My annoying back pain promoted itself to painful, and I went to the chiropractor yesterday afternoon. I've been seeing her for 20 years, and she's very conservative in her treatment. Afterwards, my back felt better, but last night as I got into bed, it upgraded to agonizing. I've done cold and heat and can still barely move. It hurts on movement, and I don't have a fever or any other symptoms. I'm now pondering whether the pain of getting in the car and waiting at Kaiser is worth the possibility of getting the good drugs.

{{{Hil}}} Much getting through the day ~ma.

{{{Ginger}}} Feel better.

I have sent a response to all of the donations I have received up until this point to the Deena fund, and I am once again amazed at the generosity of buffistas. You guys are the best!

And now I have to go begin to deal with the big thing that I have been avoiding so much that I haven't even posted about it here. My mother has officially sold her house in the city, and the closing is in two weeks. I have a bunch of stuff still there and I'm inheriting some furniture. So, I'm headed over there today to pack things up and try to figure out what we're going to do with stuff.

I'd really like to wrap up everyone that's having a bad time right now in a hug, shut the door to the rest of the world, and tell it to fuck off. We all need a break.

Much ~ma to everyone who needs it.

sj, I want in on the Deena stuff, but it will have to wait until after DH's surgery on Friday. There's way too much going on between now and then. If that's not OK, let me know.

Ginger, I hope you get some relief soon!

I'm with Maria on wrapping everyone up,but that includes Maria and her DH. Also want in on gift. Also a thought on gift. Serious illness not only eats money like whoa, it changes wants and needs in ways you don't expect. Let me strongly suggest that 10% of money raised go for a thoughtful token and the rest be donated directly to Deena to use as her changed circumstances that we don't really know in detail dictate. I know some of us love the process of picking out the perfect gift, but in this case I think 10% token and 90% cash would be a more Deena-centric choice.

That's true, I think. I'm in for a small part of whatever, though.