December Holidays aka why I don't get my panties in a wad over people saying Happy Holidays.

There never has been a "War On Christmas". That was pure fiction invented by Right Wing Talking Heads.  But here's a reminder of just how many holidays there are in December, all over the world.

Buddhism:

Bodhi Day: 8 December – Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the day that the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Gautama) experienced enlightenment (also known as Bodhi).

Christianity:

Advent: four Sundays preceding Christmas Day

Saint Barbara's Day: 4 December – The Feast of St. Barbara is celebrated by Artillery regiments across the Commonwealth and some western Catholic countries.

Krampusnacht: 5 December – The Feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated in parts of Europe on 6 December. In Alpine countries, Saint Nicholas has a devilish companion named Krampus who punishes the bad children the night before.

Saint Nicholas' Day: 6 December

Feast of the Immaculate Conception Day: 8 December – The day of Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception is celebrated as a public holiday in many Catholic countries.

Saint Lucia's Day: 13 December – Church Feast Day. Saint Lucia comes as a young woman with lights and sweets.

Las Posadas: 16–24 December – procession to various family lodgings for celebration & prayer and to re-enact Mary & Joseph's journey to Bethlehem

Longest Night: A modern Christian service to help those coping with loss, usually held on the eve of the Winter solstice.

Nikoljdan: 19. December - the most common slava, St. Nicholas's feast day.

Christmas Eve: 24 December – In many countries e.g. the German speaking countries, but also in Poland, Hungary and the Nordic countries, gift giving is on 24 December.

Christmas Day: 25 December and 7 January – celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike.

Anastasia of Sirmium feast day: 25 December

Twelve Days of Christmas: 25 December–6 January

Saint Stephen's Day: 26 December – In Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and Ireland a holiday celebrated as Second Day of Christmas.

Saint John the Evangelist's Day: 27 December

Holy Innocents' Day: 28 December

Saint Sylvester's Day 31 December

Hinduism:

Pancha Ganapati: a modern five-day Hindu festival celebrated from 21 through 25 December in honor of Ganesha.

Vaikuntha Ekadashi: Mid December - Mid January

Historical:

Malkh: 25 December

Mōdraniht: or Mothers' Night, the Saxon winter solstice festival.

Saturnalia: 17–23 December – An ancient Roman winter solstice festival in honor of the deity Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and expanded with festivities through to 23 December. Celebrated with sacrifice, a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival.

Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Day of the birth of the Unconquered Sun): 25 December – late Roman Empire

Humanism:

HumanLight: 23 December – Humanist holiday originated by the New Jersey Humanist Network in celebration of "a Humanist's vision of a good future."

Judaism:

Hanukkah: usually falls anywhere between late November and early January.

Paganism:

Yule: Pagan winter festival that was celebrated by the historical Germanic people from late December to early January.

Koliada: Slavic winter festival celebrated on late December with parades and singers who visit houses and receive gifts.

Persian:

Yalda: 21 December – The turning point, Winter Solstice. As the longest night of the year and the beginning of the lengthening of days, Shabe Yaldā or Shabe Chelle is an Iranian festival celebrating the victory of light and goodness over darkness and evil. Shabe yalda means 'birthday eve.' According to Persian mythology, Mithra was born at dawn on 22 December to a virgin mother. He symbolizes light, truth, goodness, strength, and friendship. Herodotus reports that this was the most important holiday of the year for contemporary Persians. In modern times Persians celebrate Yalda by staying up late or all night, a practice known as Shab Chera meaning 'night gazing'. Fruits and nuts are eaten, especially pomegranates and watermelons, whose red color invokes the crimson hues of dawn and symbolize Mithra.

Secular:

World AIDS Day: December 01

International Day of Disabled Persons: 3rd of December

Boxing Day: 26 December.

Human Rights Day: 10 December

Dongzhi Festival – a celebration of Winter

Hogmanay: night of 31 December–before dawn of 1 January – Scottish New Year's Eve celebration

Newtonmas: 25 December – As an alternative to celebrating the religious holiday Christmas, some atheists and skeptics have chosen to celebrate 25 December as Newtonmas, due to it being Isaac Newton's birthday on the old style date.

Kwanzaa: 26 December–1 January – Pan-African festival celebrated in the US

New Year's Eve: 31 December – last day of the Gregorian year

Ōmisoka:31 December – Japanese traditional celebration on the last day of the year.

Soyal: 21 December – Zuni and Hopi

Solstice: On or about 21 December.

Zamenhof Day: 15 December – Birthday of Ludwig Zamenhof, inventor of Esperanto; holiday reunion for Esperantists

Watch Night: 31 December

Salgirah: 13 December - celebration of Shia Ismaili Muslims of their Imam (Aga Khan IV)

Unitarian Universalism

Chalica: first week of December – A holiday created in 2005, celebrated by some Unitarian Universalists.

Canon, you have some ‘splainin’ to do!

1: Yes, I have this camera.
2: Yes, I have noticed that it gets hot!
3: Although I have the know-how to do this, I don't have the equipment, nor would I void my warranty by doing this. (but if I had the means and equipment, I would!) 

Many (aka males) have 'explained' to me that the R5 is a STILLS camera. 
Really? Then Canon shouldn't be advertising it the way they do, regarding using it for video.

This is from their own sites (US, UK, AU):
  "Introducing 8K video: how the Canon EOS R5’s flagship filmmaking feature changes the game.  The Canon EOS R5 rigged for filming. Audience expectations are growing, with high-resolution video content in demand across all platforms from streaming services to commercials, and the EOS R5 is poised to deliver, making it a future-proof choice.”

So no, this overheating problem does NOT make it future-proof (planned obsolescence). And my techy-ness makes me just shake my head at how this overheating issue could have been avoided by some proper thermal paste, and a proper heat conducting plate.

The blithe mansplainers saying "People should get the Canon Cine cameras" does NOT negate this problem, especially in light of how Canon itself is advertising this very expensive piece of camera gear. 

Does the R5 take great photographs? Oh hell, yes. They're sharper, cleaner, and overall IQ is heads and tails above the 5DmkIV.

But this heating issue...  This isn't like the futz 'light leak' that could be caused by something no photographer would really do.

I wouldn't be surprised if there will be some sort of recall because of camera bodies warping, melting, or catching fire, when used to record video.

Or a EOS R5mkII? 

Well, shit..

The osteo-surgeon who did my TRKR three years ago is retired from surgical practice, so he referred me to Dr C. to see what's to be done with my left knee.

I got some good news and some bad news.

Good news is I don't have to go under the knife. (insert muppet cheer here)

Goodish news is there is something to be don. Dr C. said yes, I do have mild arthritis in the knee, but the structure isn't in need of surgery.

However (here comes the bad news) the compression injury from Loki jumping on my knee, combined with the arthritis has cause acute nerve pain. Oral pain meds dull it slightly, but that stuff makes me groggy and fuzzy headed.

Treatment for the knee: rhizotomy. Injections around the front of the knee, under the kneecap, to sever/burn out the nerves. I asked him "If I can't feel pain, will I over do it and cause more damage?"  He said no.  So, my NEXT referral is to a pain management center/doctor.

I'm being referred, seen, referred, seen.. round and round. 

Two weeks since cortisone harpooning.

I have noticed some improvement, although Mr S said he hoped for more.  Because he's retired from the surgical practice, he has referred me to another osteo surgeon. 

Yanno, I am not looking forward to this, to have yet another doctor presume that I must be stuffing my face with ice cream and cake, sitting on my ass doing nothing. 

Mix and match?

It's been a week since I had the cortisone injection.  The pain level from the injection itself have faded. I tried wearing one of my knee braces yesterday, but to say it was uncomfortable would be an understatement.

I tried wearing my replacement Donjoy brace. It's a bit too big, but the velcro sticks without issues and I had the stop clips to allow slight flexing, and no hyperextending.  It just didn't seem to fit right. I dug out my old one, with the velcro that is separating from fabric.  I put the stop clips from the newer brace into it and walked around. It didn't feel too bad. Leg had support, and knee didn't feel like lower leg was moving side to side.

I got out the replacement brace Hayden gave me, and adjusted the joint on it that allows a slight flexing, but no hyperextending.  Same result as using the old Donjoy brace.

Now, what I'm feeling could just be recovery from having a 3 inch harpoon jammed into a clump of very sore and swollen tendons and cartilage, but I'm just going to go with it.  I'll see about sleeping with it on for added support and healing.

There's a difference between vanity and self-esteem.

Vanity is 'slaying the grey' (aka dying your hair) so you can preen in front of a mirror.

Self-Esteem is slaying the grey so you don't cringe or feel dread passing by a reflective surface.

A little ‘self care’ goes a long way.

As much as I dread it

Tomorrow, I go for my ultrasound guided injection into my left knee joint.  Because right now, even icing and pain meds are working. If fewking HURTS.  Even keeping my leg in the knee brace isn't helping.  Move the leg, sharp stabbing pain, don't move the leg, continuous low level throbbing pain.

Why does everything that will 'fix' me have to hurt like hell?

Not wearing leg rig right now

When I have the brace on, and leg propped up, I get nagged by Loki, and like most cats, he using his paws (and the very tip of his claws) to get my attention. Then there's the nipping. He gets a bit 'bitey'  when he doesn't get what he wants, WHEN he wants it.  I have a myriad of little scratches between my ankle and where the bottom of the brace.

I have my leg propped up on the footstool, but if Loki starts making a pest of himself, I can, and do, push the footstool to the other side of the room.  But I can't do this if I'm wearing the brace.  But now, my knee hurts. 

Different brace is good

It goes to mid-thigh, instead of almost into the groin, to mid-calf, with one of the straps above the shelf of the calf, so it can be secured into place.

It has a lockable hinge, which has it's good point and it bad. 

The Good: It keeps my knee from bending, holding it in a straight position, not putting any strain on the injured area.  The hinges can be unlocked, allowing for easier sitting (ie in the car, or in the TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN ROOM)

The Bad: After a while, though, I get itchy under it. The "Bane of Neoprene".  And there's one spot hook end Velcro that chafes on the inside of my right leg if I don't get it on just right.  And it's very tiring to get about. Crutches, cane, they help, but still tiring.

In 9 days, I get an ultrasound guided injection in the joint. Yes, it will have some local anesthetic, but it's still gonna f**king hurt like hell going in.

Why is it everything that is wrong with me and has to be tested/treated, it's in very painful ways? 

And right now, I am a bit 'touchy'.  Anniversary of losing Mister Meow-Gi, aka Keito coming up fast.  My heart still hurts over losing him the way I did. 

Day started off shitty

Didn't sleep well. No matter what position I got in, the pain in my knee would wake me up. So, I was cranky from being tired.  I had laid out my clothes last night, and quickly got cleaned up and dressed, and ready to go.  I got the scaffold, and was going through the routine of putting in on,and tightening the straps in order.  This is were 'shitty' came in. One of the clips snapped while I was tightening it.

(Insert bad words here)  I took an unbroken clip from upper thigh strap, removed the broken clip and replaced it with the one I took off the top thigh strap.  I then repositioned the velcro tab on the upper thigh strap, and pulled it tight, clove hitched it to where the clip was supposed to go, then pushed the velcro tab onto the strap.  It worked, but was easily loosened.

Saw Dr B, the endocrinologist. It seems my thyroid hormone levels (T3 and T4) and uptake levels have normalized. He couldn't put me on the scale because of the scaffold, but I told him how I had been measured, and have lost 8cms (about 3.5 inches) from around my butt, same from around my waist, and 2.5 cms from around each thigh. Also my clothes are too big, and some that were too small I can wear. 

Off to see Mr S, the osteopathic surgeon (retired from surgery, but still consulting and referring) and this is where my day got better.  He read the MRI, layer by layer and the good news is I do NOT need any surgery. I will, however, need an ultrasound guided injection of cortisone under local anesthesia.  Appointment has been made, but I have to wait a few weeks.

I spoke to Hayden regarding the scaffold/brace clip breaking. Even he said it shouldn't have.  He took photo of broken clip, and the model of the brace on my leg.  What he did really surprised me. There wasn't an extra clip in storage, but he did have some sample braces that Mr S had been given, AND he had a used one the he heartily recommended.  I got the the used one on now, and my knee feel so much better. It's an above the knee, mid-calf and I can lock the brace to zero degree of bending, keeping it completely straight.  The other 'sample' brace is a lockable one, but it is upper thigh to mid calf.  If I need it, it's there to be used. 

I hate that scaffold, I really do.

Saw Simon the Sadist today. Remedial massage on thigh, and checked how mobile the knee is. It's like this; I can bed it 130 degrees without any issue. No pain no worry. But straightening it out made me clutch at the edges of the exam table, digging my fingers into it.

Not much can be done until I see Mr S next week. But, Simon did agree with Jace the podiatrist, that half crutches would be better to use than the cane. This way, I take pressure/weight off my right prosthetic knee and heel. Since bending my knee causes the pain, putting weight on my left leg/foot is ok.

Simon has said to wear the scaffold when I am out and about, if I have to do any walking. But at home, or short 'in and out' quick trips.

Well... shit

Saw Jase, the podiatrist. A rather wasted appointment, because until I get my knee seen to, not much can be done regarding it. 

Ah, the knee: Jase at least gave me the skinny on my knee. I have a meniscal flap tear. Loki, in a freaky accident, landed just right on my knee, making the knee cap 'shave' a flap of the meniscus, like a tongue, hanging off the meniscus. No wonder it was blindingly painful.

To see what can be done for or to it, I have to wait until I see Mr S *. Because if I have to have surgery on the knee for a temporary fix, it might be better all around to have Left Total Knee Replacement (LTKR) for a number of reasons. For one major reason, to stop the undue strain on my RTKR. Because of my left knee being so painful, I am leaning a lot of weight on my right prosthetic, speeding up wear and tear (and the need for a revision).  Another, I have asthma. Putting me under for surgery again, and again is dangerous.

I know what I would look forward to feeling and going through with a TLKR, as I have been through it with the right knee. We already have the bathroom revamped (rails in the shower, shower hop lowered, 'rehab' chair already in bedroom etc etc).

I can speculate all day, and get myself all worked up, but no decisions can be made until I see Mr S.

*Mr S,orthopedic surgeon extraordinaire, after a long career of knee/hip surgery is retiring. But he hasn't abandoned his patients, as he still is there for consultations, diagnoses, and referrals.

Not quite what I expected

I ordered another knee brace, one that is mid-thigh to mid-calf, rather than from upper thigh to ankle scaffold.  It arrived today... and it wasn't quite the one I thought/saw it would be.  Oh well, at least it is serviceable.  My only issue is I can't have both front and back of brace at 0 degrees, aka straight as a board.  At least I do have some the flexion stops to prevent most of the bending.

Will just have to be aware, and not force my knee to bed.

Reaching end of the line for me

I am getting fed up with all the pissing contests, the one upmanships people see to have to do, and humble-bragging on Facebook.

Fucking sick of the games, the attempts at making cliques to belittle and insult someone.  I had enough of that crap when I was in high school, I sure as hell do NOT need it NOW!

So much for a simple problem

MRI results. It's not patella tendinitis. Loki managed to damage some of the remaining meniscus.

That didn't last long,

Less than two days. My Medical Mutiny (wearing smaller knee brace vs the upper thigh to ankle brace) is over. Knee hurts like hell, so put the scaffold back on. Keeping it totally straight, Zero degree bend is needed. (insert many swear words here) Pardon me while I go have a good cry.

That didn't go too well

First night of trying to sleep (emphasis on trying) with the scaffold (high thigh to ankle brace) on my leg.  I don't sleep well on my back, but am being forced to.  If I had a reclining chair, that would work, but we don't have one. I stack pillows so I am sleeping sitting up, but on an angle. Mixed results. Hoping it will work tonight due to sheer exhaustion from not sleeping worth a damn last night.

Good news, bad news

Good News: Left knee is no worse than it was last week.

Bad News: Left knee is no better than it was last week. *sigh*

Dr S has scheduled an MRI for the left knee, and x-ray of right knee, as it's been three years since I've had the hardware installed. Dr S is fairly certain there is no structural issues with the left knee, just a raging case of tendinitis. If MRI shows that, a few (ouch) injections under the kneecap will be the fix.

Dr S has given me script for some pain managing, as he noticed how tired I look,and I admitted to not sleeping well. That's when he told to me to TRY and sleep with the brace on, and to leave it on all the time. (notable exceptions will be not while in the shower, or while getting dressed AFTER the shower. 

Simon the Sadist;  he really is a decent sort of guy, a bit of a wise ass, but he takes as well as he gives.  My range of motion of the leg (the degree to which I can bend it) is great. Straightening it out, however, hurts like $@%#.  He told me to stop with the heel slides, as it might be aggravating the tendon.  He said my core/abdomen strength and control is great, and so is the muscle tone elsewhere. Fekking thyroid.

Oh really? When?

Hayden The Hardliner (physio) told me the pain would lessen.  Really? When? I have been gritting my teeth, and clenching my right hand so hard I leave little crescents in my palm when I do the heel slides. (Lay flat on my back, foot flat on surface, and slide it slowly back as close to my butt as possible, then slowly extend) Gritting my teeth is not a great idea, seeing how I vertically fractured one tooth already.

I see Mr S and Simon the Sadist tomorrow. Not really looking forward to that.

Solution to the chilblains

To reduce the swelling under the kneecap, I have to use an icepack, at least three times a day. 20 minutes a pop.   It helps with the swelling, and subsequently the pain, but would leave me feeling chilled.

Only took me three days to think up 'Hey, use the wheatbag on your lower legs while freezing the knee!". 

I blame it on the meds. heh

*shiver*

Down to using ice packs on my damned knee.  The timing part is easy; just say "Echo, 20 minute timer."   Side effects: I can't get warm!  I'm sitting here bundled up as if I'm expecting snow.  *sigh*

After the weekend, I'm back in the saddle

And if by saddle you think 'Thigh to Ankle Knee Brace" , you would be correct.  As much as I'm beginning to loathe it, my knee feels better when the leg is kept straight, without any bend.  Unfortunately, because of how far up the thigh the brace comes, it makes certain daily tasks and 'bodily functions' (hey, I'm trying to be polite here) difficult.

I think the problem is I have to get it through to Wing that when the doctor and physio says my knee is better, that doesn't mean it's "ALL better". Packing a lot of things to do over the weekend isn't a great thing. Having to keep the leg straight doesn't really work in the car, unless I sit in the back seat behind the drivers' seat, torso facing the passenger window, with my let across the seat. But keeping the safety belt from choking me is more than just a little bit difficult.

So, that only leaves me the "Big Berth", but that one bends too much, because he misplaced the clips that keep the thing from bending. Baby Betty hasn't arrived yet. It would be a happy medium. a brace just above the knee, strapped at the calf below the knee, that can have or not have a slight bend in it.  And it would make certain day to day routines a helluva lot easier to do.

I was so so close

I was down to taking OTC pain medication, maybe at night before bed, so I could sleep.  Now, I'm back to taking prescription strength pain killers.  But I am trying to just do the OTC ones during the day, heavy duty meds at night.

Does the phrase "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired"?   But apply it to being injured instead of ill.

I wonder if there will be an exodus

Or a stampede back to weblogs, seeing as FB is pretty much painting it's users into a corner.  FB has turned pretty much into a vat of just meanspiritedness on the part of some people.  Not everyone, and not even the majority of people, but the ones that like to laugh at people getting killed, or children caged... it takes too much energy and time.

I don't mind logging in to play the cooperative games, but going to stop checking the newsfeed.

What we have here, is not failure to communicate

But a failure to understand.

Yes, Mr S and Simon the Sadist said my left knee was BETTER than it was the previous week. Wing took that to mean all better, and without even asking me about it, or thinking on his part, had me standing on a hard floor, no walking around, for over an hour. By the time we got home, I was hurting. I took off my 'above the knee to just below the knee' brace, and put the thigh to ankle one on.

One would think that would've been a big clue, that and the fact I couldn't sleep because of the pain. But no. I gave him my script for medication, asking him to get it. He says ok, and I take that to mean he will be heading out himself. Again, but no! He pops his head into my office and doesn't ask, but tells me in his passive aggressive way that we were heading out in 30 minutes. He pops into the shower. So while he's getting cleaned up, I go through the struggle of getting socks, shoes, brace tube, and brace on, and then he said "You know, if it's so much trouble...." AFTER I had gone through the hardest part of getting ready.

I am not in the slightest homicidal, but if I had a NERF cricket bat, I might have used it a few times. Ok, I would look at it and fantasize about using it a few times.

Annoyance with Win10 and Samsung phones.

It's a known, but for some reason, totally unfixable by either MicroSoft or Samsung (each are more interested in fixing the blame, instead of fixing the problem)

Out of the blue, S9 and Win10 can't connect, not unless you remove Samsung device, from computer, unpair phone, and start the whole thing of discovery all over again. Add to this that Win 10, unlike Win 7, you have to MANUALLY start the file transfer on the computer, then start file transfers from phone to desktop. Win 7, select file, select computer and send. Bluetooth isn't as convenient with Win 10.

Use a cable, you say? Did I mention that if you don't have your phone and cable in JUST the right position, Win 10 will cycle through USB device connected, USB device disconnected over and over? Two different computer, three different phones, three different cables, same shit over and over.

I need a new knee support, but for the left leg.

I tried one of those knit compression sleeves with the silicone strip that is supposed to keep it from slipping? Well, it doesn't. So, I tried using it under the old "Big Bionic Bertha" hinged knee brace. I had some success, but... I started getting a rash from the silicone strip.

*sigh*

LIGHTBULB! Turned the sleeve inside out, THEN put BBB over it. Successful.... but, it made ummm (thinking of delicate way to put this) it made shifting clothing out of the way for bodily functions difficult. I really don't want to have to schedule toilet breaks.

Let my fingers do the walking, and with review sites, questions asked, products examined, what I bought was a scaled down version of BBB., so I won't need the silicone sleeve under it, and the hinges won't catch on clothes (or doorways if I cut my corners too close)

I guess it was inevitable.

After Loki did his impression of a gymnast mounting a balance beam on my left knee, today I broke out the "Big Bertha" knee brace and strapped it on. Too a while to get the straps just tight enough for it to stay in place, but not so tight to turn my foot blue or numb.

Sad to admit it feels better wearing it. I'm not getting the left /right movement now, and even if Loki pulls a repeat of yesterday, the brace hinges will prevent hyper extension.

And again....

Seems when I had the vertically fractured molar remove, the dentist missed a sliver, and it's been currently poking out through my gums. It's sharp, and because of the feeling of something that shouldn't be there, I have taken to putting gauze over it, to stop my tongue from worrying at it.
What I didn't know is that after a while, wet gauze is very abrasive, and is making my gums tender.  Called the dentist last Friday, and will be going in to have it seen to tomorrow morning. *sigh*
Oh, did I mention that on top of enthesopathy , my hip starting hurting. Not the joint, that's fine. Physio that is doing the shockwave treatment on my heel thinks it could be bursitis.  Oh joy.

If it's not one thing, it's another

Where do I start...  keeping up with exercise therapist. Even though my left leg has altered sensation, the equipment being used, a reformer aka pilates machine, makes the muscles in that leg work, even if I can't feel it.  The flaccid, or what used to be flaccid, muscle on the inside thigh just above the knee joint, is starting to resemble the one on my right leg.  Also getting muscle tone in the leg, too. I am usually lamed for a few days afterward.

 
Onto the foot issue: enthesopathy of the plantar fascia.  I can't just have plain ol' normal plantar fasciitis, I have to have the more annoying/difficult one to treat.  Tried taping the foot, and yeah, that did feel better, but can't keep the foot taped forever. Targeted physio exercises weren't helping either.  Saw one podiatrist, and am now wearing 'cushion neutral' shoes. Also, am getting ultrasound shockwave treatment to the heel, itself. Not an entirely pleasant experience, ranging from uncomfortable to painful.  I get to go back next week, and the week following.

Onward: I have manage to vertically fracture my back molar... the same molar I had the root canal. The same molar that holds my bridge.  *sigh*  The back molar and the root splinters/shards have to come out, and I have to have the bridge removed, as the tooth that holds the front of the bridge would get damaged. So, I lose two teeth.  The dentist smoothed the sharp edges that was cutting my cheek and tongue, put a temporary patch.  When things settle down*, I will go in and sacrifice my bridge. (*aka no more 3+ doctor/physio appointments during the week. When it's just one a week, I will go in to have the deed done.)

Saw counselor. I'm a hot mess, but not as bad a hot mess that I was when we first started.  There is something that we discuss, something that keeps circling my thoughts. Good thing my wretched body from the knees down can't comply to those thoughts.

Family is fine, even those in the U.S.  I'm pretty safe where I am.  W.A. Premier believes in science, isn't ignoring or making the doctors information a political challenge. Bored as all hell, but well.

Flotsam, Jetsam and what not

The Covid-19 self isolation/Quarantine has had little or no impact on my life. Who knew that my life has been 'self isolation' since last year? 

Family: All is well! No one sick, no one hurt. Everyone is bored out of their skulls.. well, I'm not totally bored. VR headset is rather entertaining.

My heel, while the foot was taped, was feeling pretty good in the shoes the podiatrist told me to get.  Then, the tape came off, and the right shoe is too big. If I had a lot of money, I'd buy one pair size 9 for the right shoe, and one pair size 9 1/2 for the left shoe. I've tried a few things, with so so results, to stop the shoe from sliding up and down on the back of my heel, and not tied so tight my foot goes numb. Tried wearing thin sport sock under the regular sock, and felt ok at first, but my foot started going numb, no matter how I loosened the laces. Will have to talk to podiatrist, and physio regarding this problem. Am seeing Dr S (osteo surgeon) tomorrow. Will see what he had to say on the matter.

The padding on my chair seat is squished down to the point it feels like I'm sitting on just the frame. Went to Clark Rubber and got a square of memory foam.  It's pretty good, although it does need a bit of beveling on the front edge. It's currently residing in an old, by clean, t-shirt. My butt takes me for the cushioning. :D

Have to say stress levels are rather high. Health issue, and family issues. Wing working from home meaning we had to tiptoe around the house because he was video conferencing, or on a phone call. That also meant no vacuuming, and hoping the washing machine didn't have an unbalanced load. Thankfully, he's back to the office.

The child my eldest put up for adoption got in contact with her father, my son, last year. She got in touch with me earlier this year.  It was great to hear from her.  She is everything a 20 something young woman can be.  Unfortunately she comes with so heavy emotional baggage that I am unable to help her with sorting out.  I've been umm stressed from what she related to me. Stress, for me, causes hemi-dystonic seizures.  I really don't want to zombie myself by going back to three doses a day.  Yes, she is my grand child, but I can't deal with this right now. She is too needy, and clingy.  I'm currently seeing counselor, and that last thing I need is to take on someone else's problems at this time.

To be filed under "It wasn't broken, why did you 'fix' it?

Audible, in their infinite wisdom (said in a very sarcastic tone), have decided to force all their subscribers to use the "Enhanced Audio" version only. 

First, they did away with Format 3, which was ok with my old Treo Smartphone,  leaving us Format 4.  I have been using it for close 10+ years with SansaView.  Their excuse umm 'reasoning' is they are moving to a more mobile direction. How is only being able to play them on my Desktop MOBILE?!  In other words, phones.  I used my phone once for an audio book, and it chewed through the battery. But since I had my SansaView, it was a non-issue.

Oh, did I forget to mention that their new enhanced version can't be played on my SansaView? Also, my mp3 player is smaller and lighter than my phone.

Audible has given me three choices:
1: Use all my credits, download everything NOW in Format 4 and cancel my account.
2: Shell out $200 for a new Audible 'approved' device. (Nope, not happening, health more important)
3: "Jail break" the Enhanced Audio files into MP3s (which I am capable of doing), and then downsize their bitrate so they will play on my SansaView. It also will make the file size smaller.

I'm a nerdy sort of person. Anyone want to bet what I will end up doing?

Dug out a fossil

In computer terms, it's close to a fossil. My old Acer Aspire 5735 laptop.  It was relegated to the closet, not just because of it being limited with 4gb of ram, but because it kept overheating and shutting down.

I took it out, booted it up, and it actually boots up fast.  I updated a few things, but not the OS (it's running Win 7 64bit Pro, and please don't nag me about upgrading to Win 10. I have plenty of security for it) But that overheating problem.

I remembered that we got some thermal paste when we were building the two boxes (Alan's and mine). I removed the back while he was finding the thermal paste, and then he took off the fan with built on heatsink. Cleaned all the old thermal paste off, and replaced it with maybe a smidge more than what was originally on the CPU.  I got it currently downloading Windows Defender updates, while watching a movie on DVD.  That area that would get scorching hot to the touch is just warm.

I have to remember that it only has 4gb of ram onboard, and has to share it with the graphics card (note to self, I should check for driver update for it).  I've gotten so used to The Beast with all its bells and whistles.  It is limited, but within those limitations, it seems to be working just fine.  After Windows Defender is finished updating, I will try using On1 Photo 10. Graphics editing used to make it seriously overheat then shut down.

Getting fed up with Fujitsu

We had ducted/central heat-ac installed about 7 years or so ago.  At least once every freaking year, it has some sort of malfunction. This wasn't an issue when it was still under warranty, or the parts that needed replacement were under that warranty.

So, once again, the control panel is kicking out and error code. This time Err 00:11.  It was working fine yesterday, during the morning, but when it was turned on last night to warm the house before we went to bed.... nope.

Of course, Fujistu doesn't have an after hours message bank. Called them this morning. They can send a tech out tomorrow at 9:30am.

Wagering starts now!

1: He/She will get here, and it can be fixed right away, same day.

2: He/She will get here, but has to go back to the shop to get the parts needed.

3: The parts will have to ordered, who knows how long it will take to get here.

PLACE YOUR BETS!

Part one done

Saw "Meg the Motivator" (afterward, at home, I call her Meg the Merciless!).  Because my heel was taped up in such a fashion, there was no pain, so I sort of overdid it on the weekend and again on Monday. 

No mercy!  Well, a little bit. Was on treadmill for 20 minutes, but a a slightly slower pace than I usually do.  Then off to the "Reformer" (aka pilates machine)  I used to snicker about those things, but I don't any longer! It keeps the spine and hips in proper alignment, so when you do the actions/exercises, it's equal, and helps correct poor posture. Mine poor posture is due to years of a bad disc, and it's subsequent collapse, and having a bad knee.  The realignment isn't fun, or easy, but necessary.

Exhausted, but have to see Dr H, my GP, about getting my anti-seizure meds prescription.  He only gives me two months worth, because of the law.  It's deemed a 'controlled' medication.  Me, I call it the "Three little white tablets a day that keep my body from trying to painfully fold into sharp geometric shapes.  No nap, not yet.

I miss bloggers

And blogging.  I miss web BBS forums. Facebook is a pisspoor substitute.

I have to use two different blog posting software. That in itself isn't a problem, but it's the "not suddenly working" with little (or no) forewarning.

Ok, moving on:

Turns out I don't have plantar fasciitis. I have enthesopathy of the plantar tendon.  It's like having a pebble under then skin, between the tendon and bone of the heel.  To say it's painful would be an understatement.  Physio has found a way to tape the heel and arch of foot and it relieves about 98% of the pain. Problem is, I can't keep my foot taped all the time! ARGH!  Might have to see a podiatrist. Dammit, I'm not old enough to need orthotics!

Onto my rant about Twitter (and what followed).  It would have been nice to have them send an email, or maybe an ironic SMS, to say they were discontinuing being able to receive SMS notifications.  I thought my phone was faulty, went to Telstra to find out why I couldn't send text messages to Twitter, and why my Caller ID was coming up as PRIVATE NUMBER.  The girl there couldn't figure it out, and suggested I recontract early, and see if that and a new sim card would fix it. It did not.  She told me I should call Tech Support (which I did, but that's a different story which I will add after this) What she didn't tell me was recontracting cancelled my "StayConnected" subscription.  I figured out why the Caller ID wasn't working, it was because of Samsung firmware update.  It added a new setting I had to untick.

Moving on again, I called Telstra tollfree number, wade through the most annoyingly voiced menus, the type that make you want to grind your teeth to nubs.  The first time I tried, I got disconnected.  I tried again the following day, made it through all the menus and spoke to "Steve",  wonderful support, and when I told him what happened regarding the recontracting, how I wasn't told that it would lead to the cancellation of my StayConnected, he said to go back to that Telstra shop and speak to the manager.  I will as it will be well within my rights to have this new contract revoked and go back to my original contract, including my StayConnected.

Loki, big grey Bengal of ours, has been ill, twice in as many weeks. He was throwing up. Took him to the vet, he was given a shot of anti-nausea medication, some take home antibiotics,  and bloods drawn for tests.  Nothing nefarious in the blood tests, and he stopped barfing.
 
Then a week later, he started sneezing. Not a lot at first, just a few times. Then a half dozen times a day, then so often I called the vet.  Exam and nasal swab taken.  Antibiotics (again) and an anti-inflammatory.  

After a few days, his nose dried out, but he still sneezed, just not as often, or as hard. As Alan described, "He lifted his head, opened his mouth, his eyes would cross, and then he would sneeze two or three times.".  

Call back about the nasal swab results: as yet unidentified bacteria, but it would react/die with the antibiotic he was given.  Brought him back in to the vet this morning for a follow up.  Sneezing a few times, but not constantly, and also no more nasal discharge.  The bacteria was identified, and it's no biggie. 

Consensus was that the smoke from the controlled burn off, people using woodstoves, pollen from all the wonderful blossoming trees/flowers, and using the heat triggered his allergies into overdrive.

Other than that, I haven't been bored. This "Self Isolation" and "Social Distancing"... I've been stuck doing it for the past 2 years because of car accident, followed by pneumonia, then seizures, and to top it off more surgery.  Who knew my life was called "Quarantine"? 

He's back to Simon the Sadist

By his choice, not mine.  He agreed, though, with the logic of the moniker.
  
Logic train: His job is to hurt people (via therapeutic massage). He stabs them with needles. 

He enjoys his job which causes pain = Sadist.

Was rough session, stabbed with needles this on the front and back of this most troublesome of lower legs!  Have new stretching exercises for the plantar fasciitis. Fun! yay. :p

Bummed out today.  Jared's birthday today. He would have been 45.  I wasn't supposed to outlast him.  Just doesn't feel or seem right.

Submitted myself to voluntary torture

Saw Meg the Motivator, exercise supervisor/merciless  and Simon the Sadist yesterday, meaning I am on hurtin' unit today.

I pushed myself to do all the exercises, even though my left leg is shaking like a leaf in the wind.

After session with Meg, I saw Simon. He unerringly put his thumb exactly where my shin hurt, and because I didn't expect it, as a reflex, I swatted his hand away. *sheepish grin* I couldn’t apologise enough. He said no worry, he had been hit harder, and he should've been quicker. He then checked the problem I have my heel hurting. Yeah, it 's plantar fasciitis. He's surprised that it hadn't been referred to him as an injury, seeing as I have been dealing with it since January. After some work on my calf, he examined my heel.

Of COURSE I can't have the usual type of PF, mine is directly in the center of my heel. My foot is taped up in a way to help with the PF.

While entering my next appointment, Simon asked if I could choose another name, other than Simon the Sadist, as Meg hurts me just as much, but she has MOTIVATOR. I got a laugh out of it. I did ask “You do deliberately cause pain, and stab me with needles.”  He agreed that is true. I told him would think about it.

I thought about it after I got home, and yeah, I will now call him ‘Simon the Sensible’.

My Memorial to Jared Johnson.

My Memorial to Jared Johnson​

I first met Jared, almost 28 years ago, when he was, 17, and the sys-op of "The Cat's Meow" BBS.  His handle was RedWolf.  Despite our age differences, we did become great friends.  He and my oldest son, Paul, were very close, more like brothers than just friends.  Alan, my youngest son, called him Uncle Jared.

This friendship held true. When Paul went to CT for vacation, Jared was the one that picked him up at the bus station. And Jared was there again, when Paul moved back up to Connecticut. Jared was there for me when I left an abusive husband.

I moved to NY, and was doing ok, until an injury and job loss threw everything into a tail spin. Because I had no income, I had eviction proceedings, and the state of NY were circling to take Alan away because I would have no home, no food. I made a frantic phone call. Paul and Jared came to NY and picked Alan up and brought him to where his brother lived with Jared, in CT. Those social workers were pissed off because I told them Alan was with his brother. They demanded to know what his name was and where he was. I replied "Paul is an adult, 19 years old, and Alan's legal guardian if in case of my not being able to care for him. I know if you got your hooks into him, it would be a cold chance in hell for me get to him back." Yeah, they were pissed off.

After I got myself squared away, we kept in touch over Yahoo, ICQ and AIM all the time.. well, spare time.

Even when I moved to Australia, we retained that contact. Then AIM vanished, and ICQ for all intents and purposes cacked it, too. Skype came in handy, but the time difference made for interesting schedules for calls.

So, there was Facebook posts, Yahoo (until they shut down)  and  FB Messenger. He never once mentioned he was ill. Not once. I'm of two minds about that; one, that I wouldn't have been able to do anything to help, and two, I would have moved heaven and earth to see him before left us. Paul said I'm better off remembering him the way he was, in the photo I have of him.

And with much tears, typing through 'salty goggles', is the synopsis of my friendship with Jared. I loved him dearly, as if he were one of my own. My original "Un-Son". I will miss his kindness, his sensitivity, his sense of humor. The world is a less bright place without him here.

Be at peace.

And the hits just keep coming

Jared Johnson, my original Un-Son, who was one of the most gentle, kind, selfless beings to walk the planet, passed away yesterday from esophageal cancer. Paul, my eldest son, contacted me and told me about his passing. He got to see Jared before he died, and got to talk to him. Jared was ready, he was tired.   He was only 44.  He was so selfless, and didn't want anyone to worry,  he didn't let anyone know he was ill, and right until last week was posting cute and funny things on Facebook. To say I am gutted would be an understatement.   I only have one photograph of him, and that is how I will always remember him. Human slave to cats, and a very kind and loving human being.

I will miss him forever.

Umm ow?

Physio/Exercise session.  As willing as I am to do these (ask Meg the Motivator aka Meg the Merciless) 

A lot of the pain I am feeling is the exercises and tortures are correcting years worth of bad posture created due to pain.  It's amazing how the human body with adjust to things that aren't quite right.  Have a sore knee, you favor one side, dipping one shoulder down, slightly flexing the spine.  Have a sore back, you hold a position that causes the least amount of pain.

All the things I'm doing at SporTreat id correcting decades of me adjusting to a slowly calcifying disc, its collapse, then right knee going, surgical replacement, then then left knee starting to go.

For now, although I hurt from the neck on down, I am sitting without bowing my shoulders or rounding my back. Both feet are facing the right direction.   Yay?

I've been doing some reading on photography forums

And it seems that with the exception of hard core professional photogs that use a lot of tools that come in Photoshop, the main reason people keep subscribing/renting it is because of Adobe Camera Raw, which Adobe makes sure will only work up to a certain version of Photoshop (ie 6.7 with CS5, 9.1 with CS6. IMO, Adobe *could* have but didn't make ACR usable with other versions, and not for the reasons they claimed.)

There are ways around getting stuck with renting Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, and to keep using your older version of Photoshop.

1: Don't fall for the often misunderstood phrase "No Longer Supported" if you update your computer's OS.  All that means is you will have to make GOOGLE search your friend if you  have a problem using CS5 with Windows 10. Or ask a tech savvy friend. If that tech savvy friend says "Subscribe to Abobe" they aren't as tech savvy as they claim.

2:  Use the Adobe DNG converter. This will take your proprietary raw files and turn them into 'open source' digital negatives. I've done this when I had CS5 and got new camera.  Guess what? Exact same result editing the DNG in CS5 as I got when I edited Canon's proprietary CR2 and Olympus' ORF file in CS6.

3: Find a different program to use as your camera raw editor. Yes, people keep chanting "Adobe is the industry standard", not realizing or caring that it was Adobe company itself that branded itself the industry standard.  There are many other camera raw editors you can use, and then 'punt' the resulting JPG into whatever 'old' version of Photoshop you have. I do suggest, do you due diligence when looking for raw editor.  There are many that are way over priced for what they do.  A few are so slow and clunky.

My PERSONAL experiences are thus so far, in no particular order:

1: CaptureOne - no denying it is a great photo editor, but for the average hobbyist, or learning photographer, it's way over loaded in features. It is also THE most expensive editing program out there.  Their 2020 version runs at $515.00 AUD for a single user license, or $35AUD to 'rent' it.

2: DxO Labs - Their latest version is fantastic. I have nothing negative to say about it. It has the best lens correction catalog, and if your particular camera/lens combo isn't on your hard drive, DxO will search and have it available for download if possible.  It has not only adjustment brushes/gradients, but it also incorporates the U-Point tech of Nik. DxO has solved issues with certain photos for me. Definitely not overpriced for everything you get. Currently, you can get it for $ 189, no subscription.

3:On1PhotoRaw - Camera raw editor on steroids is how I described it to a friend. Not only do you get everything that is in the latest version of Adobe Camera Raw, it comes with tools found in Photoshop, too.  You can use On1 as a standalone editor, not just as RAW editor, or as a plug in for Photoshop (caveat being if you can open the raw image in Photoshop). Pricing varies to $99 to buy it, or an extra $50 to subscribe to On1Plus. On1Plus isn't software, it's priority support, webinars, workshops, and other goodies thrown into the mix. It does have a few shortfalls (they removed Focal Point (creating a focus region bokeh effect), which is what keeps me running Windows 7 on another hdd (dual boot system) because I have their older software on that computer, which does have Focal Point.

4: Exposure X5 (the software previously known as Alienskin Exposure) - This is a great all-in-one camera raw editor.  And if it  had come out with this prior to my deciding to use On1, it would have given On1 a run for my money.  It has many of the same tools, features and functions as On1, but it also has some that are no longer available in On1 (creating a focal point/region focus). I've also found it less of a system resource hog than On1. I have been getting reacquainted with how to use Exposure.  Yeah, it's that good.  Pricing varies (I suggest if you can, get the bundle. Well worth the $149)

There are others, Affinity (great software for it's pricing). I've imported finished JPGs into Affinity to use some of the features and tools they have, that none of the others do.

Skylum Luminar, Windows version: earlier versions work better than their latest release.  If you have 2018, stick with it. I swear it was as if they released buggy beta versions on the general public. I typically use it only as a plug in for Photoshop because of this.

So, there it is. And remember, this is just my opinion and experiences. Depending on your computer, your experiences may be different.

Well, that's annoying

It seems that after all these years of buying TopazLabs/Topaz software for photoediting, paying a premium price for "Lifetime updates", the owners of the company have decided to go the subscription model. They sent out a smarmy email, with a link to a lackluster blog post from "Eric" as to why they were doing this. I don't care.  Every one of my purchases came with the "Lifetime updates" in the contract. 

This isn't a case like with Slysoft, who just changed their name, and invalidated everyone's current lifetime updates (IMO, it was like if Ford changed their name to Cord, and then told everyone who just bought their extended warranties they were no longer valid, because Ford didn't exist anymore). Topaz and Topaz Labs are still being owned and operated by the same people.  Also, the claim of a better product?  Seriously, for what I paid, I could use On1 PhotoRaw and Photoshop and get the same results without using Topaz. 

So, why do I use Topaz products? The LIFE TIME UPDATES is why.  That is what they contracted with me for, and that is what they're trying to renege on. 

Can anyone say "Class Action Lawsuit"?

Found out what the problem is/was

When I went to the Perth Zoo, I was ok. Knees felt a bit wonky, but that was from the deep knee bends, and squatting down I did to get some great photos of the beautiful animals.

We drove home, and when I got out of the car, and the knees and ankles were a bit stiff and complaining about what I put them through (was at the zoo for almost 6 hours)

I stuck the CF card into the reader, transferred them all to the hard drive, turned my chair, and started to get up, and pain in my right heel almost dropped me where I stood. If it wasn't for my chair and the cat tower, I would have fallen to the floor. To say excruciating pain would not be an exaggeration.  I called for Wing to get my cane from the closet and I ended up using it for the next few days.

Fast forward a couple of weeks, to when I saw my physio, "Simon the Sadist" , and told him about it.  He got me an appointment with a personal trainer, for supervised exercise. 

"Meg the Motivator" at SporTreat.  Went through all the history with spinal surgery, knee surgery, compartment syndrome surgery, the recovery from the knee replacement, and the car accident afterward. 

I told her about the constant pain in my heel. It seems I have inflammation where the Calcaneus tendon attaches to the heel. Not plantar fasciitis.  Best solution is to take anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen), ice packs (20 mins on, 20 mins off) and better shock absorbing shoes.  I already had the right kind of shoes, according to both Simon and Meg, so today, I got some silicone shock absorbing pads.

Even though I only need one in the right shoe, I have to use both, or one leg feels longer than the other. Felt relief and less pain almost immediately. 

Quoted verbatim from a friend about the GOP and their Putin Puppet

Once the defense went from "he didn't do it!" to "Ok so he did it but it's not illegal for *him*", and there wasn't a peep of outrage over that from a single soul on the republican side (do they even have souls?) I realized the damage that's occurred in this country is 100x greater than I ever thought.

Then they changed the defense to "He did it, but it's not illegal because he has determined it to be in the best interests of the nation and national security to ensure he is re-elected at any and all costs." Not a peep.

Then they flat out said, "just because he did it and it's impeachable, doesn't mean it's in the nation's best interests to impeach him." and that's it. That's the moment when I completely lost my shit.

They're saying yes he did it, but that doesn't matter because we don't care. Yes, he did it, but it doesn't matter because he's the President and therefore above the law. Yes, he did it, but corruption and unethical behavior are acceptable if it gets you re-elected. Yes, he did it, but it's the President's right to obstruct and disregard Congress.

They've undermined their own authority, negated the checks and balances in the system, and given him license to be a dictator, and there is literally nothing that can be done about it. If we thought he was terrible before, wait til we see what's coming, now that he knows he can't be touched.

When the Founders set up our system, they gave us impeachment as an option in case a particular president or other elected official needed to be removed. They never anticipated that the corruption could become so widespread that the very body charged with carrying out justice against the president would be working entirely in collaboration with him to carry out that corruption. This is the ultimate failure of our system, and unless we re-write all the laws pertaining to this, it can never be fixed.

It's my computer, is it? Bull$hit!

After weeks of Corel support telling me it was my computer, or my other software that was preventing WinDVD12 to play disc folders, guess who just put out an updated that "Fixes known issues"

My computer, huh?  Yeah, only because Corel had massive bugs in it.

But yes, it's always easier for them to blame the users' hardware, or other software.

Saturday shopping trip

Went to the jeweler and got the temporary canvas watch band replaced with a nice metal band.  I asked if I could have a few links taken off my stainless steel bracelet I have Keito's heart.  I was told that a jeweler would have to do it. 

hmmm... I went home, got two pair of pliers, carefully removed the T-bar, then applied opposing force on three links, one at a time, opening them. I removed them and then replaced the T-bar.

Does this mean I'm a jeweler now? :D