My spine on steroids . . . a tailbone tale

After two months of physical therapy in summer of 2019, my doctor wanted to get an MRI on my lower back. The results came in late October of the same year.

“The good news is that your spine is stable and you probably won’t wake up paralyzed some morning.”

My doctor’s first words, verbatim.

As I’d been worrying about that little matter, that was somewhat of a relief to hear!

“The bad news is you have degenerative disk disease with one disk virtually obliterated, another in bad shape, a bulging disk, spinal stenosis and multiple pinched nerves. You’re in for it.”

His next words or close enough . . .
Continue reading “My spine on steroids . . . a tailbone tale”

Farewell, Yahoogroups!

I know I haven’t posted in over a year, but more on the why of that later.

Meanwhile, the end of an era is coming. Yahoogroups, host to a variety of model horse email lists, is closing its doors on December 15, 2020.

If you are a member of a Yahoogroup, you may wish to check and see if the group is migrating or closing down. And if you are a list owner, it is time to decide if you wish to preserve your list.

For those looking for hobby connections via email, some of the email lists have moved to Groups.io though not always with the same name.

It appears that most hobby interaction online has long gone the Facebook route. I’m not entirely happy about that, but as I do have an account, I can pop in and out to see what’s up in the hobby as I’m able.

My resources page has been updated and links to all Yahoogroups have been removed.

Best 50 cents spent ever!

You have to understand, I grew up in a simple time (1960s), and worse, I read TONS of my dad’s childhood books set in an even simpler time (mid-1920s). So today, coming home from physical therapy I spotted two young enterprising girls with a LEMONADE STAND! I haven’t seen such a thing in AGES!

We live on a steep hill. There’s very little in the way of foot traffic here. I’m afraid the two girls haven’t learned the lesson about location, location, location. On the other hand, it’s possible what little foot traffic does pass could be thirsty. So maybe it will work out for them after all!

PT had calmed my back and hip pain with a cold ice pack affair so I figured I could make the short hike down the hill and back

I think it surprised the girls to have a customer. I experienced a some sticker shock when I saw the lemonade cost 50 cents, but hey, it was PINK lemonade. They solemnly poured a HALF a paper cup (I can see profit building in all their future enterprises!) and I took a sip, pronounced it delicious, thanked them and hiked back up to my house.

But here’s where it was all worthwhile . . . I heard a chorus of squeals and screams after I left them and these words: “First customer I ever had. . . .” and more joyous squeals!

I just sent hubby down the hill. . . .

UPDATE: Leg pain and back issue

Yesterday I had my physical therapy evaluation. The therapist thinks that I may have a bulging spinal disk issue.

So, she wants me trying to avoid: a) bending over, b) leaning, and c) twisting. Yikes! All things one does rather a lot of in daily life! And she’s not keen on me lifting anything heavy either!

BENDING OVER: The veggie drawers are at the very BOTTOM of the fridge. As I like to eat, that’s  a difficulty! Or feeding my cats. Or getting into horse and book boxes. Or taking sales and eBay photos.

LEANING: This one is a problem because of the dry eye. I can’t put drops in with my glasses on. I can’t see to put drops in unless I’m close to a mirror. 99% of all public mirrors as well as my own bathroom mirror have a sink and often a counter in front of them. Meaning I have to lean somewhat towards the mirror.

TWISTING: Can’t hardly drive without some twisting, in order not to run over someone. Really, you have to look behind you when backing out of the driveway or parking places. Just gotta.

Continue reading “UPDATE: Leg pain and back issue”

Not a leg to stand on…

Seems the last year and a half of my life has been nothing but issues! The toe problem on my right foot is ongoing, though the pain has been less. But now, I’ve got pain in my LEFT leg!

A couple weeks ago, I went to do my Monday weight workout. It seemed like a great workout! Except the day after, my entire left leg hurt. And only the left leg. It hurt in my hip, my thigh, the left side of my knee and down on into my shin.

I elected to rest it for a week. No improvement. Poor quality sleep, as pain made it difficult to nod off.

OK, if inactivity wasn’t going to help, might as well carry on! I definitely don’t want to lose the progress I’ve made with my knees! So I did another workout, going cautiously, which gave me some information, the Abductor/Adductor machine definitely hurts! But all else was OK.

I tried a pool workout two days later. Nope, that HURT! Moving the leg through water resistance was painful. I dressed, left the gym and drove straight across the street to my doctor’s. And was lucky enough to score a next day appointment.

Doc examined me, had me do a few moves like bending over and touching my toes and rotating my torso. Checked my reflexes. He thinks I may have a pinched nerve in my back! Sent me to the hospital for X-rays, THAT was painful! My leg was sounding off the whole time. Doc prescribed a short course of steroids, which took the pain away for six whole days and also physical therapy for my back. Unfortunately, the earliest PT appointment is later this month.

He said I should stay as active as I can, listening to my body. Pain’s been better since the steroids, but still painful enough that getting through a shower has me gritting my teeth. I really didn’t need anything else slowing me down….

Wrote the above last night, pain is growing, worse this morning. Ugh! Here’s hoping I can stand the pain for nearly two weeks more. If I seem slow on listing or posting, well, slow on EVERYTHING right now!

Come Down the Mountain – Vian Smith

Most fiction from the pony book genre starts with a boy or girl who desperately wants a horse. He or she usually acquires a horse. And proceeds to successfully tame, ride, show or race the horse.

Come Down the Mountain is a bit different than the norm in several ways. The most obvious is the dust jacket artwork. There’s nary a horse to be found, a quite unusual approach by the publishers!

Doubleday 1967 American hardcover edition of "Come Down the Mountain" by Vian Smith
Doubleday 1967 American edition
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Beswick Shetlands

I’ve always felt that Beswick artist Arthur Gredington nailed it when it came to sculpting British Mountain & Moorland pony breeds. His Shetlands are true to breed type and a great deal of mischief gleams from their eyes!

The Beswick 1033 Shetland Mare and 1034 Shetland Foal are a pair, while the 1648 Shetland Stallion is part of the entirely separate Mountain & Moorland pony series.

Beswick 1033 Shetland mare
Beswick 1033 Shetland Mare
Aniow Anklesocks
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