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Major update from a non-journal writer...  

Confessions of a point & clicker.  I suffer from Myofascial pain syndrome, a central nervous system disorder, and after a long career at Virginia Tech am now retired.  Have been a "professional spectator" of life for five years now…  But, the pain hasn't taken a break.  I live with constant body pain.  Neck and shoulders, hips & knees, ankles and heels, soft tissue pain that moves from day to day, hour to hour.  Just suffered thru 7mm and 5mm kidney stones & it just seemed like regular pain.  Humph... I'm rarely on the computer for more than an hour or so in 15-20 minute sessions during the day.  When my pain levels are higher, i'm non-functional to the point that i only check email and my dA account for a bit and then spend most of the day tryin' to manage the pain.  Sooo, when you see my activity drop below 8 or 10 quick ftp submissions a week or if i'm not answering blurbs same day it's because i'm down. Literally down on da couch or floor or bed.  Medicated.  That's been the case more often than not lately.  It hasn't been a good summer.  I am managing about one fractal and/or post a week it seems.  More meds and time holding still.  Whatta life, eh?  I manage.  So for those of you who watch me or read journals now you know why my activity levels vary. Not lookin' for advice or sympathy - just makin' a confession, as it were...  And the new news here is that my first experience w/ acupuncture didn't go as planned.  The M.Ac., Dipl.Ac. practitioner was certain that acupuncture would help...  Well, the update is that massage has helped w/ painful leg swelling on a leg that was crushed early in life, but the acupuncture isn't any more effective than 30 minutes in my spa.  Acupuncture can't get past the pain meds i take but Myofascial and Swedish massage is a wunderful thing. I could use an hour a day but my finances won't allow that so an hour every couple of weeks is my regular maintenance splurge now.  Wonderful talent my masseuse has!  

Spring has sprung and everything is coming back to life. Gonna see a couple of motorcycle drag races and cut the grass.  What a life.  We recently lost one of our precious kahts, Brownie Brown Edwards.  Congestive heart failure at 13 years old.  She was the center of my wife's spirit and our grief for her will never end.  Her twin sister PieBird is still with us but we know that we will loose her one day too.  Our love for our pets is a very strong emotion and we care for them like a child that never grows up.  Empty nest syndrome.  Endless love.

To those who watch me - THANK YOU for keeping up w/ my doodles, i am truly honored! And NO, i'm not changin' to the new format until they force me too. Dadgum progress.  Curmudgeons like me don't like change...

So THANK YOU VERY MUCH too all those who see and comment on my work!!  If i could only make more pain free time so that i could be on-line more (but THAT's not gonna happen)...   Myofacial pain is much worse and meds are less effective w/ each passing week.  My legs are a little better (usin' a bike for road work) and i haven't used my cane for several weeks. That too will change with the short days and freezing temps.  Old age ain't for whimps...

So my Thank You's make be weeks late and my comments hurried or absent but please know that your time and views and kind comments are GREATLY APPRECIATED!!    

|Cheers from the BlueRidge|    

-kelc