Green #1

Santa Fe Farmer's Market
Labor Day weekend, 2008.

Smell it yet?

M

Santa Fe Sniff

Fresh Fire-Roasted Hatch Green Chiles...
everywhere!
Each block along commercial streets,
the scent wafts along neighborhood backyards:
Can you smell it?
Yum.
M

Squirrely Wednesday

This little guy is
happy I tend to spill
when filling the bird feeder.
Gray rug is outside the door
tan rug is inside the living room,
and I keep having to remind
the squirrel
of the difference...

I am feeling better.
I begin another
two week Feldenkrais training
next week.

M

I Wonder...

I wonder how a doctor feels when sick,
and going in for an exam?

An airplane pilot
flying as a passenger?

Or a dentist
when IN a dentist chair
getting work done?

Even food service people
when going out to eat
probably feel that
"weird"
thing from time to time.

I work in physical therapy,
and today I had my first
physical therapy evaluation.

"Weird".

But also
eye-opening,
comfortable,
educational,
not-too-painful,
almost
enjoyable.

I like being on the way to
getting fixed.
(And as before; I'm getting better...)

M

Day Ten

Tonight I have been able to sit up for 4 hours now,
and the pain is not too bad;
so I thought I could write a quick update.

First, thanks for all the emails, comments, and phone calls,
I can't tell you how much I appreciate that.

Second, a quick update:
No, I do not yet have an appointment with a neurologist.
Yes, I did get an order today for physical therapy -
although I AM concerned that my doctor stated,
"therapy ONLY for the shoulder & arm - NOT on the neck..."

Third, I have come to realize a few things:
-I am lucky to be able to find comfortable positions,
because I know there are many out there who never do...
-I have a great husband - nuf said.
-I also have great friends, family and BOSSES.
-I take really good "ground level" photography
when I have nothing else to do all day, and
I am glad for my two entertaining hummingbird feeders.


















I think I'm on my way back...





M


Oh...And a note about the sizes of "my" hummingbirds:
The red feeder base at the bottom of the feeder is only
1-1/2 inches high... (About 4 cm).

And I have escorted three of those little buggers
out of my house today!

Seven Days

Hi this is John, taking dictation from Marty.

Day One:
Date: Wednesday August 6th.
5:45am. Sharp pain down my left shoulder and arm woke me up.
I got up; thinking I had slept on my arm wrong.
By 7:00am, the pain had gotten worse.
7:15, we headed toward an urgent care clinic.
It opened at 8:00 and we saw the doctor at 9:00.
Vitals were fine, EKG was fine, declined pain meds.
Doctor R thought perhaps I "slept on it wrong".
Went home, sat up and read some books;
pain stayed the same.

Day Two:
Night before was horrible.
Now painful to sit up or stand up.
Went back to Doctor R;
who prescribed pain meds,
took (standing) x-rays of neck from six different positions;
I was not a happy camper.
Flat on my back all day Thursday;
hurts rolling to the left or right, sitting or standing.

Day Three:
Thursday night was horrible.
Saw doctor R again, Friday .
Two additional x-rays of my neck,
and received appointment for MRI for that evening.
(I hope that is the only MRI I ever need;
pain; not bad, noise: ear piercing,
claustrophobic? not bad)

Day Four:
Flat on my back.
Ran out of pain meds,
switched to over-the-counter;
no difference.
(MRI report is due Monday).

Day Five
Pretty much like day four.

Day Six:
No call from Doctor R until 4:30,
Asked us to come to the office;
"pinched nerve"... "compressed disc"... "arthritis".
Radiologist used terms "minimal" and "moderate".
Referred me to Neurologist.
Rx for new pain killers.

Day Seven:
Tuesday August 12th.
Last night not too bad:
("Ahhhh, pain killers").
Called neurologist's office;
they will need to receive all reports
before they can schedule appointment.
No call back today.




Tuesday evening:
View from my yoga mat in the living room,
of our unusual ceiling...
M

Casita Wildlife

Current count for
wildlife in our casita:
Squirrel, hummingbirds, cats, dog.

1 squirrel:
walked in, looked at me, sauntered out.
2 hummingbirds:
First flew to living room screen;
problem was discussed
with bird #1,
bird was successfully carried to door,
and flew away yelling.
Second flew to kitchen screen;
problem was discussed
with bird #2,
he climbed on my finger
was carried to feeder
and was convinced that location
was a much better place for him.




(Maybe a photo if it happens again).
Cats: Two have been wandering
by our open front door,
but none seem willing to enter;
although the smallest
poked his head around the doorway yesterday...
Elderly Black Labrador;
belongs to neighbor up on the hill,
wandered to doorway,
wagged his tail,
and wandered away.

I've got to get some snacks if I keep having visitors...
M