Shoulder Update 4

I had my MRI, and it was a flop. The doctor said he sees some 'fraying in the labrum', but nothing that would keep me from lifting my arm.

The plan?

6 more weeks of physical therapy and a cortisone shot, and if that doesn't work, then he'll 'go in and take a look'.

I swear, if there's been a tear in there all along, I'll want to slap somebody. Starting with someone at my insurance company.

Ian and Suraya

Don't forget to write!

Shoulder Update 3

MRI will be scheduled as soon as the insurance company approves it. When the results come in, I will probably have an additional meeting with my doctor to discuss my options. If the tear is small, cortisone might be the answer. If it is large (more than 2.5 cm), I may be looking at surgery.

Shoulder Update 2

Let's see...I fell on June 17, went to the doctor on June 21, started PT on June 25, today is August 8. And I still can't lift my right arm. So now I have an appointment with Excelsior Orthopedics on Thursday, August 12.

And I am

really,

really,

really

scared.

Found His Glasses!

Heaven only knows where the other lens is. They've been missing for about two years. We found them under the wood fence in the backyard, where they'd probably been kicked by the lawn mower. I'm not sure whether I should laugh or cry....these things cost me $250!

We are the Champions!

The Innovative Mechanical Tonawanda Stars clinched
FIRST PLACE!

Their final standings were 10 wins with one loss.

Trophies are being ordered, and Ian is walking on sunshine.

Another One Down

I'm done with Global Economics! Whoo hoo! Now an assessment for Communication and Problem Solving (a walk in the park to be completed next weekend) and then on to one more Marketing course.

I'm only about a year away from by Bachelors!

Whoooo hooooo!

Cooperstown

I took Ian to Cooperstown, New York this weekend for the Induction Ceremonies at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

And I forgot my camera. AAAHHHHH!!!!

Anyway, Andre "The Hawk" Dawson, manager Whitey Herzog, and umpire Doug Harvey were all inducted. While we were wandering the streets of Cooperstown, we got to see Bill Buckner, Juan Marichal, and Fergie Jenkins, to name a few. And Ian got an autographed baseball - signed by Rollie Fingers!

An amazing weekend.

And I forgot my camera.

The Lightning Thief

Ian's new favorite movie. It's excellent, in my humble opinion.

Our Educational System

I was chatting this weekend with a gentleman from Belgium. He speaks five languages.

Five.

And he taught himself English.

We started chatting about diamonds, robbing and what you need for a chop shop (relax, it's Mafia Wars), and moved on to travel, New York, the weather, languages, politics... He was wonderfully patient while answering all my questions (what's the weather like there? what time is it? do you use the metric system? how do you keep all those languages straight in your head? what language to you think in? you have paid health care?!?). I have about a million more questions to ask, but then he'll have to hitlist me and That will be the end of That! :D

Seriously, though, I am impressed. He writes articles for magazines in languages other than his native language. If you Google his name, his grammatically correct articles are found. He puts the Buffalo News to shame.

It really made me think about the shoddy educational system we have in this country. Why isn't education more of a priority? Why aren't we making sure our future doctors, scientists and leaders are properly and thoroughly educated? Why doesn't our educational system put more emphasis on what is happening outside our borders? (It's called the "global economy" for a reason!)

Ian won't be offered the opportunity to take a foreign language until he reaches sixth grade. I wasn't offered French until seventh, and only then because I was in 'advanced' classes. Had that not been the case, I wouldn't have had the opportunity until ninth. And I never found the opportunity to use it, so pretty much all I can remember is "Bonjour". Oh, and "Je ne sais quoi." Not exactly a linguistic giant here.

There's just something wrong with that picture, especially in a world that has become much smaller with the advent of the Internet.

We still have children who graduate from high school that cannot read or balance a checkbook. Even more sad is the number of children who drop out of school altogether. There isn't any incentive to continue one's education...the cost alone is prohibitive. The Bush administration drastically reduced, and in some cases eliminated, financial aid for the purpose of furthering education. I'll have student loans until I'm 70. At least I'll be an educated debtor.

I am determined that Ian go to college...whether he thinks he wants to or not. It is SO important. Technology, among other things, keeps advancing, and if we don't educate ourselves,we will be left in the dust.

And I will keep learning and asking questions and taking opportunities to learn wherever I can find them. Even if it is in the unlikely venue of a video game. Thank you, my friend.

Michael said... "Why isn't education more of a priority?"

Because an educated electorate is a threat to the power structure. Period.

Shoulder Update

Started my fourth week of physical therapy tonight.

Diagnosis? Says my doctor,

"Well, I'm going to go with the injured bursa, but maybe you have a tendinitis and a rotator cuff tear issue in there."

That certainly narrows it down.

Stuck in my head!

Lover, Lover (You Don't Treat Me No Good No More) by Jerod Niemann. A remake of Sonia Dada's 1992 hit.

Here it is - so you can have it stuck in your head, too! :D

Chicken Little

What a great movie! I laughed and laughed...
and so did Ian, by the way.

Here is a link to the description and cast:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371606/

Atheists

We are all atheists about most gods that societies have ever believed in.
Some of us just go one god further.

-Rob Kerr

Sound of Silence

It was somewhere around 1974. I was young and following around my big brother like a puppy. He was learning how to play guitar from records, and he had a bunch of 45's that I sooooo wanted.

Finally, after what seemed like days and days of asking and begging and maybe even a little whining ("Are you done with that one yet? Can I have it? When will you be done with it?" or something like that), he gave me my first 45.

Wow.

My very own 45.

He was my Hero.

He gave me Sound of Silence, backed with Homeward Bound, by Simon & Garfunkel. And every time I hear it, I think of him. My big brother. :)




In fact, I can hear him now. Shaking his head, stomping his foot, covering his eyes with his hand and saying, "Oh, god, I can't stand it!" :D I love you, Obiwan.

Larissa said...

I too have fond memories of that song and my brother. I have extremely few memories of Mike. He left home when I was 6. I downloaded that song to my iTunes because every time I hear it, as clear as day, I can still see myself sitting at my brother's feet absorbing every stroke of the strings thinking he could do anything.

Serena said...

And at the time, he had no idea. :)

Asleep in a Chair

If I did this, I'd be in traction.

Economics: The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Passed my Economics exam and have completed paper number 3 of 4. One more paper to go, and I'll have completed another 8 competency units.

Then it's on to Marketing. I really don't care too much about Marketing, so I've always found the Marketing courses to be particularly difficult. I am discovering my strengths and weaknesses. A definite bonus that comes with all these student loans! :D

In Case of Emergency

I received an email from a friend of mine the other day that said, "Urgent Assistance Needed!!!" It went on to say she was on vacation out of the country and had been robbed. I picked up the phone, called her, and got her voicemail. I began to become concerned.

About 15 minutes later, I received a 'chat' in my google account from her, reiterating the email and that she needed help. I picked up the phone again, and this time asked for the receptionist at the company she works at. She was alive and well, and most definitely NOT out of the country and in dire need of financial assistance. Someone hacked her email. If it weren't for good anti-virus protection, etc., I'd have been in the same boat.

So, I'm going to steal my brother's idea let everybody know my thoughts on this. If I am ever in a situation where I have an urgent need of assistance, I will call everyone I know or see them in person. I will NOT EVER contact my friends,family or others over the internet or via email for 'urgent assistance'. If I need help, I will ask for it either over the phone or in person. There are just too many lunatics out there to do it any other way.

My brother is right, as usual. Which is why we call him "Obiwan".

The Agony of Defeat

The Innovative Mechanical Tonawanda Stars suffered their first defeat today in a 6-5 loss to the Carubba Collision BSAC.

John started out pitching the game, but had to leave for another game in a different league. Patrick took over and did a great job, throwing more strikes than balls and keeping his composure like a pro. The score was tied 5-5 for two solid innings, a pitching change was made after one out in the bottom of the last inning, and the winning run scored. Ah, well. Sometimes those pitching changes don't work out so well.

The biggest problem the boys had today was with their base running. The tag-up-and-run-like-heck thing either wasn't going on or was going on at the wrong time. That's okay, though. That's how they learn.

The thunderstorms held off and no one got seriously injured, so I'd call it a good day. Macaroni and cheese for dinner tonight. After all, nothing says comfort like macaroni and cheese. :D

Physical Therapy

I had my first physical therapy session yesterday morning. Here's the story...

A tear in the rotator cuff cannot be diagnosed by x-ray. But in case of injury, the insurance company first requires an x-ray, then at least two weeks of physical therapy, before approval will be given for an MRI.

So I had the x-ray, which everybody (except, apparently, the insurance company) knows does not show anything, and now I'm off to PT.

After taking many measurements and seeing just what I can and cannot do, the doctor thinks the problem may be that I have injured the bursae in the Glenohumeral Joint (the shoulder joint). The bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that permit us to move our joints without friction and pain. Chances are, when I fell down the stairs, I pulled the arm out of the joint just a little too far in my attempt to stop myself, and then when I landed on the concrete, I jammed it back in forcefully, causing the injury.

This is just guesswork, because we can't see in there without an MRI. (Good thing the insurance company is there to tell my doctor what is in my best interests. I can't imagine what I would do with [gasp!] an accurate diagnosis.)

Right now, the doctor wants me to do a simple range-of-motion exercise (pendulum), immobilize it often, and ice it.

And I am diligently following his instructions. I do not have time for any alternatives.