KJ

Actually, there was some productivity. I did my shoulder excerises (well, one round anyway, still have to do the evening and night sets), T did laundry, and we finally hung the Christo print.

( He had some help with that. )

But mostly, we've been playing FFXII. I won't get into any real discussion, except to say: Quickenings. I vote yes. Also, T is downstairs leveling like mad as we speak. (Well, actually he's on the prowl for money. Every time we play a game like this, I am reminded of how much a capitalist he can be...)

The cats have become thoroughly engrossed with my physical therapy. The therabands are a source of endless fascination. They watch, rapt, as I go through my stretches, and then try to bat or bite at them. Sort of cute, sort of annoying. One older theraband actually broke because they were pulling on it. Tori ran off with a little tiny piece and ate it before I could stop her. Still trying to decide how worried to be about that. She seems fine, but I have a tendency to be paranoid about stuff like that. Best I can do is keep an eye on her, I suppose.

After literally years of slow deterioration, I have finally replaced my car stereo. The old unit had all kinds of problems -- I couldn't always control the volume, or the sound would literally cut out entirely, sometimes for hours. It has a CD player, something I've never had in my car before. More importantly, it also has a line-in, which means no more wrestling with adaptors to play my iPod in the car. Whee!

The installation didn't go as smoothly as might have been hoped. I bought the unit online. The store had an option to purchase installation at a local store, but there were all kinds of weirdnesses with arranging appointments and having to buy all kinds of weird accompanying equipment. T did a bunch of research and decided that he thought he could install it himself, so I skipped it. Well, he was able to install it in the end, but the whole process took five hours (he thinks it probably should have taken about two) and he's still not convinced it's in there right. I think it's likely fine, but it doesn't quite meet his standards of perfection. Well, as long as it plays and isn't trivially easy to steal, I'm happy. And I think we made it on both counts.

Things continue as usual otherwise. My shoulder is whining at me a little after its first day back in full use. Possibly because I carried laundry baskets up and down stairs. Nothing serious. I did my new exercises and they seemed to go fine. Also got some writing done, about half a chapter, and I think it came out pretty well.

Also, more lines. I am completely shocked that one of these is still unanswered. Maybe this will be the giveaway.

I was having a chat about RSI and physical therapy with one of the medical assisting teachers, and she was complaining about the monitors in her computer lab being too low. "If only I had some extra textbooks or something to prop them up." Well, I have approximately a zillion extra textbooks -- outdated books, old versions, books that we aren't using any more for whatever reason. So we went through her lab and propped up all the monitors. I'm about to do the same in my library. If you've ever got me started on the subject, you know that good ergonomics is a subject I'm fanatical about (chronic RSI will do that to a person), so I am very pleased to be able to make a contribution.

Also it seems that a long-running textbook drama is finally going to draw to a close this week. The details are long and complicated and really really boring; suffice it to say that the situation caused a lot of angst for myself and others. Since I've been dealing with this thing almost since my first day on this job, I'm really looking forward to not thinking about it any longer.

I grow weary of the restraining device, I think because I know the end is coming soon. Going to the doctor on Thursday. If she tells me to wear it for another two weeks or something, I'm gonna... well, I'm gonna do it. But I won't like it. My range of motion is nearly back to normal, I think. I was able to clip my hair up this morning (before strapping into the immobilizer) for the first time since the injury. My hair is very fine, straight, and slippery, and so normally when I put it up I end up re-doing it several times throughout the day. But of course today I can't do that, so the clip has been slowly slipping out. I actually sort of like the way the result looks, sort of a fetching messiness, although perhaps a little informal for the office. And the bangs in my eyes are sometimes annoying. Maybe if I could arrange the falling hair a little more artfully...

I swear, if I have to answer the question "what did you do to your arm?" one more time...

Okay, so I suppose that's not really fair. But still. I feel like wearing a sign that says "I dislocated my shoulder, but it'll be fine" around my neck.

I think most of you who read this and are in CA also read Jed's blog, but for those who don't: He has a long post on the bill, which includes a number to call to show your support (or lack thereof, if that is your inclination). I never do these things, but I've tried to call. It was busy, but I will persevere.

The shoulder is a little better; it still aches a bit and doesn't really want to move. I have most of my range of motion, but I have to move it slowly and carefully, and it creaks and pops and twinges when I do. It's surprisingly (or maybe not so surprising to those of you who remember the original injury) difficult not to do things I know I shouldn't, like lift boxes of books. I have a doctor's appointment for tomorrow morning. The nurse I talked to on the phone is amazed that I didn't turn up in the emergency room yesterday, writhing in pain. (Which happened when I threw it out the first time.) She told me to ice it, and continue with the drugs, and to keep using it gently -- apparently the biggest risk is that it will lock up. Thanks for all the sympathy as well as the much-needed kicks in the ass.

When I was a sophmore in college, I was crossing some train tracks when I slipped, fell, and dislocated my right shoulder. One of the risks of dislocating that particular joint is that it will be permanently weakened and the joint will have difficulty staying in place. But I recovered without incident, except for occasional issues with muscle weakness and being able to tell when it's about to rain.

Until today.

( Cut for the very squeamish -- there's nothing too graphic, but just in case. )

Now I'm not quite sure what to do. The joint is clearly weak and probably will be for several days, but I'm certain that everything is back where it belongs, and I don't think a doctor could do anything other than give me medicine for the residual pain. I'm already taking megadoses of ibuprofin, which seem sufficient. If I don't lift any heavy boxes or do anything else too exerting for the next few days, I should be okay, right? But I am concerned that this shows permanent weakness in the shoulder. Worth getting it looked at, or not? Hmm.