....it's not going to be that bad.....it's not going to be that bad.... That's my mantra for today. I have to get a myelogram done at lunchtime.  I have to go let the radiologist stick a big ass needle into my spinal column, draw some cerebrospinal fluid out and then inject some radioactive contrast material in so they can take pictures and see exactly which nerve roots the herniated disc is pressing on before the surgeon cuts me open. I have to get admitted to the hospital afterwa...

My kids are coming up with schemes to make some dough this summer. My eldest, Shea, is advertising a dog-walking service.  She's made herself a flyer to post at the store, and has herself a schedule and fee scale in the works My middle dude, Davey, has a mowing service on the go.  He's made a flyer too, and he's discussing the merits of using our mower vs someone else's mower. I don't know how successful these schemes are going to be, but...at least they're trying. ...

I've been on the lookout for a new kitchen table and chairs for a while now, so when I found a vintage table and 6 chairs at the thift store last week I was pretty stoked.     It's a vintage set; I think from the 60's?   The legs are brushed chrome and the table top is a grey and white formica.  The chairs are covered in a vinyl that has a funky green and grey pattern on it.  Some of the vinyl is split and has been repaired, but I'm planning to re-cover ...

I got me some new Chucks today. Red ones.  Red canvas Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars.  An American classic shoe.  The shoe that's been around since 1923 (according to the key tag that came with my pair).  The shoe that has been seen on the feet of rock and roll rebels, beatniks and cool cats, hippies and psychedelic acid freaks, stoners and punks, grungers, goths and emos.  The shoe that's never gone out of style, and to be honest I don't think it ever will...

Yes, I am.  I have to get a myelogram done next Thursday.  That's a test where radioactive dye is injected into my spinal canal and then X-rays and a CT scan is done so the surgeon can better visualize the discs that are herniated and see where he needs to cut and how much bone he's going to need to graft. I'm scared. I'm going to be awake for the entire procedure.  No sedation, no pain relief except for a little local anesthesia.  I have to be admitted to ...

I wrote a quote for the 'fortune' page at www.thinkgeek.com . I actually saw my own quote. My eyes hurt, my finger is numb, my F5 key is about to die...but.... I saw my quote. Schweet!

I have an abcessed tooth.  I cracked it a month or so ago, and I never went to get it looked at...and now I'm kicking myself for being such a dumbass because it's abcessed and hurts like a beeatch. I was reminded of a poem by Pam Ayers....me dad used to read this to me when I was a kid.  (If you can imagine a British accent when you're reading this it'll be lots funnier...)   OH, I WISH I'D LOOKED AFTER MY TEETH by Pam Ayres Oh, I wish I'd looked after me teeth, ...

As part of his quest to water my flowers (if you've read any of my previous articles you'll know what I'm talking about) my husband has decided he wants to learn to play guitar.  So has my daughter.  She's said for a few months now that she wants a starter acoustic for her birthday. I'm stoked.  Not because we'll all be able to play together (although that is really cool) and not because Shea's taking an interest in what I do (although that's really cool too)....but be...

I had to buy my eldest kid new shoes today. She's been wearing my shoes for about a year now...I've banned her form wearing heels and pointy toes not only because I don't want her to get bunions, but it'll make her taller than me too.  I wear a size 7, sometimes a 7 1/2.  I had a couple of pairs of size 8's that she's been wearing, so I thought that's what size she'd need when we got her new shoes. Wrong. She's in an 8 1/2, and there were a couple of styles in which she fe...