My body is revolting.

 I don't mean "to look at" (well, on most some days I do mean that) but staging a coup, an uprising, a Network moment

I guess after the 40 odd years of eating what I felt like and lack of exercise, my body has had enough.  Last April, while bending over in the shower to wash my feet, my back seized.  I couldn't straighten up.  I yelled for my hubby who moved me to the bed and massaged my back.

His question? "Did you stretch before?"
WHAT?!? Am I so old and decrepit that I need to stretch before I shower?

I digress...
Next day I was stiff, but felt all had passed.
Little did I know, it was only the beginning.  I started getting back pain so I go to my primary care doctor. She's not sure whats going on... but hey, lets try therapy.  12 visits to the therapist and no relief so I go for an EMG.  I hate needles.  He sends me for an MRI and on to the next Dr who is basically a middle man.  I'm not really sure if she even has a clue.  I am informed that I have arthritic degeneration in my 5th lumbar and she sends me on to another Dr who gives me a shot near my spine to relax the muscles.  That makes things worse, so back to the middle man Dr.  This time she sends me to a different therapist.  This therapist knows exactly what is going on and she gets to work.  She explains to me that I have an annular tear and the spinal fluid is leaking.  This is causing me pain and numbness down my leg and we don't want that to continue or I will get nerve damage.  After 6 weeks I am finally getting to the point where I can work on strengthening my abs.  However, the middle man thinks that this is not good enough and she refuses recommend any more therapy and sends me to the neurosurgeon.  She informs me if I feel therapy is helping I can certainly go and pay for it myself.

Nice
So, on to the neurologist and another MRI with contrast this time.  This Dr tells me not only do I have arthritic degeneration but I also have pseudo cysts.  Spinal fluid is leaking which is why I have such bad pain in my leg but he's not sure where its leaking so until it gets worse there's nothing he can do.

So after 4 Drs, 2 therapists, and a middle man/dr and God know's how much money, I'm right back to where I started from.

Ahhh, the miracles of modern medicine.

Hunger Games

I know I'm a little late to the game, but I finally read "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins.  This is a story about "Panem, a country that rose up out of the ashes of what was once North America".  Now broken up into 12 districts, each specializes in one aspect of what people need to live.  Katniss lives in District 12, they are responsible for mining coal and are the poorest of the districts. 

As the book opens, it is the day of the reaping where two children between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen from each district to participate in the annual "Hunger Games" were they will fight to the death.

I usually don't get into futuristic books, but this one isn't to hard to imagine.  The author does a great job describing the landscape of the time period without being to wordy.

We follow Katniss and Peeta who are chosen to represent their district.  This is a huge event that is celebrated and televised to all.  The pairs from each district are given mentors and a fashion team to coach and prepare them to earn sponsors (who can give them slight advantages in the arena) and devise a game plan.

This was a fast and great read.  I am super excited to see this on the big screen and excited to read the next book in the series.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
Pure enjoyment.

Jeopardy

I need money and I seem to have no luck with the lottery.  So I have decided I am going to get on Jeopardy. 

It is my favorite game show, and when I get one question right I am BRILLIANT!!!  I yell out to anyone who is close..."Did you hear that? I got that question right!! Come revel with me in my brilliance!"  Only once did the associate at Walmart ask me to leave electronics, but come on....NOBODY there was getting any right!

I digress...I decided that getting one (or the odd 2) questions would not be enough to get me money, so I will be studying to get on the show.  I will start by reading any trivia book I can get my hands on... I will share some of what I learn, but not all...just in case you too decide to take on this endeavor and I end up next to you on the show. 

Wish me luck...and stay tuned.

My Observations

After watching America's Got Talent and my hero, Stevie Nicks, I have decided that my generation (40 to 60 yrs old now)has decided that we will never grow old.  


You know when 63yr olds (Stevie Nicks, Ozzy, Steven Tyler...) are still touring with the band, that's just proof  that we will not go softly into the night.  Or as Neil Young  put it... "its better to burn out than to fade away"