Pain In The Neck
I’ve been getting adjustments at the chiropractor, and as a result, it’s got me thinking about pain. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not the adjustments that cause the pain.
Before I moved here, I was regularly getting adjustments to correct a problem with the bones in my neck. Long story short, when I was a teenager, a benign tumor was removed from between my ribs, and the surgeon who sewed me up, well, he must have missed a few anatomy classes. I’ve got stronger back muscles on one side, which eventually caused the other neck and back muscles to fight to gain balance. Why can’t they all just get along?
Anyway, after I moved here, I just stopped getting adjusted. And the pain came back. But for some reason, I learned to live with it. I’ve gotten familiar with pinched nerves. I’ve learned to move and sleep differently to avoid neck grief. Relieving the pain wasn’t a priority.
Why is it that we can ignore pain and become accustomed to it? And then, when it goes away, we seem to forget that the pain ever existed? I’m going to have to do a little research and get to the bottom of this. I’m fascinated. And for the record, I’m thankful for my new chiropractor and all the pain relief he’s bringing.
P.S. That’s not my neck x-ray. Just pretend.
Road Trip
Amanda called shotgun.
You’ve gotta love a road trip that requires a passport. Amanda and I are taking off tomorrow for Bellingham, Washington. No, we don’t need passports for Washington. We will; however, need them for Canada. Vancouver, B.C., baby. My good friend, Craig, is letting us hang out with him at his fabulous house. I’ve talked him in to a mini-trip to Grandville Island Public Market in Vancouver. I’m taking my camera because Mr. LaMoreaux has inspired me with all those Paris photos.
Amanda and I could both use a change of scenery and eight hours of drive time should sufficiently meet the need. Though spring has barely sprung, Stevens Pass is open and the weather looks like it will grant us a lovely little adventure across Washington. We’ll stop in Leavenworth just long enough for a cute attack.
My niece, Amanda, minus her look-alike (it’ll be strange without you Chelsea), is bringing DVDs for a little entertainment (I don’t know who she thinks she’s kidding. She’ll be asleep before we hit Spokane.) And…must needs be we both bring our laptops. She’ll want to stop for coffee several times, which as a result, will require several stops at gas stations, to buy gas, or not.
I’ve got an iPod filled with books and music, though I’m sure “the ban” is still in effect. I’m not allowed to listen to music on my iPod when others are around because, well, I find the need to sing. Loudly. Okay, and I dance, too. Yes, even when I’m driving. Hello! You can take the girl outta Rialto, but you can’t take Rialto out of the girl.
After a couple of days in Bellingham we’re coming home. We’re returning through Seattle and down through Snoqualmie Pass with a quick stop at the Glondo’s Sausage & Italian Market in Cle Elum. I’m bringing the cooler to make sure the soprassata. salami, and sausage, isn’t visited by Uncle Sal Monella.
Yes, Dad. I’ll drive safely. And Mom, I’ll bring back butter from Trader Joe’s. And Paula, I’ll bring back candles from Ikea. Let me know if I’ve forgotten anything.
Girls & Their Toys
For the last five years, I’ve had a good relationship with my Conair hair dryer. My previous dryer, also a Conair, lasted almost twelve years - I loved that old thing and was sad to see it go.
Just the other day I noticed an odd sound coming from it. Listen, when you’ve used an appliance for five years you get to know the sound of it. First it was a soft hum. It slowly progressed to a whiney buzz, followed by a clunking noise. And finally, the darn thing shook so badly I couldn’t hold on to it with one hand. I could tell a part had come loose, but my hair was really wet and, well, I haven’t left the house with wet hair since I was fourteen years old. So I held it as far away from my face as possible, for fear that a piece would fly out and stick in my eye, and managed to get most of my hair dry. My hands and arms were tired from fighting with it. Hey…a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.
Last night I bought a new hair dryer. I stood in the aisle for fifteen minutes asking myself, “If they make the darn things to fall apart after a couple of years, shouldn’t you just by a cheap one?” Hello, it’s my crown. So I opted for a Conair - known for hair appliances - and tossed my $23.50 on the counter. Actually, it was a debit card, but I digress.
So I get the thing home and inspect it. Oh My! It has eight more setting than my last dryer and two extra buttons. WeeeeHoooo! And it’s metallic red.
This morning, it took me twelve - that’s 12 - minutes to dry my hair. With my old dryer (may it rest in peace) it took me 37 minutes. I’m not kidding. Now, I’ve got my eye on the vacuum. Maybe it’s time for a new one. I’m just saying.
2,300 Pennies For Your Thoughts
Today I mailed off my $23.00 to the State of Idaho.
I don’t mind paying for things I use, things I value. I’ll pay $23.00 for a bottle of wine, DirecTv, police services, a leg of lamb, my car, a cookbook, fire fighters, cell phone usage, electricity, my mortgage, lunch with Gabe, water, and a few more things. If I can’t see where my money is going I’m hesitant to let go of it.
Here’s an idea. How about you let me choose where my taxes go? I don’t want to subsidize ash trays on submarines or an anti-drug program for the National Guard. I want the option to “Just Say No!”
And does anybody check that box on the tax form to donate $1.00 $3.00 to a presidential campaign? Who? How do I find out how much they make from that little box?
I stapled a money order to the state forms and mailed those pesky things off. The lady at the post office asked me why I only used one staple. She said, “if it was me, I’d put seven staples in it.” The thing is, I’m smart enough to know that irritating the tax person is an incredibly foolish thing to do. I sure wish I knew how that $23.00 was going to be used.
Women & Higher Education
Over at The Line, the Boundless Webzine, Ted Slater started a discussion about women and higher education.
In the first post, Gender Imbalance in Higher Education, Mr Slater says this about the fact that 58% percent of the U.S. undergrads are women:
Call me a sexist, but my first reaction is to find that disappointing. Call me a sexist, but I believe that in most cases the husband should be the primary income-earner in the family, and that the wife should be free to stay at home with the kids. It follows, logically I think, that more men should be preparing for these income-earning careers by going to college. And that women should be careful not to bring on exorbitant school loan debt that may prohibit them from being able to carry out their dreams to be stay-at-home moms.
In the second post, Wives: Homemakers? Husbands: Breadwinners? Jennie posted a comment and Mr Slater turned it in to a post. I get where Jennie’s coming from, and I believe her ideas are good, but they need to go further. Here’s a bit of what Jennie says:
Obviously Ted’s not advocating that women don’t get educated. He’s just suggesting that we women make informed decisions with a biblical perspective on the long-term that won’t force us to compromise our biblical responsibilities, and that men take their responsibility as providers seriously.
I have no desire to call Ted a sexist. I do, however; want to know if he understands God’s covenant promise to His people and the importance of a Godly education? And when Jennie talks about compromising our biblical responsibilities, does she understand how an uneducated Mom could do just that? And when did higher education become nothing more than a paycheck? Scripture says:
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and your gates. (Deut.6:4-9)
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. (Deut.7:9)
Obviously, none of us know what the Lord has planned for us. Will you be married? Will you have children? It’s wonderful to “hope” for marriage and children, but the reality is that it doesn’t happen for everyone, and it may not happen according to your timing. Therefore, you’ll need a plan. And if it does happen, be prepared - whether man or woman - to teach the standards of God to your children. Isn’t that your biblical responsibility?
If Mom is the primary caregiver, then it stands to reason she’ll be doing a lot of talking and walking with the children - a lot of teaching. The money she spends on a good education will help to ensure the children know God’s standards, and how those standards apply to: science, literature, math, history, logic, grammar, and more. She’s a teacher. And last time I checked teaching credentials aren’t free.
When I look at the woman in Proverbs 31, I see a very well educated person. She knows real estate, cooking, accounting, sales, teaching, fashion design, farming, distribution, and much more. Her husband has full confidence in her abilities. She lacks nothing of value. When I grow up, I want to be just like her.
