This is really kind of an odd day.
I decided to stay in instead of sneaking out to the gym for four hours.
I think it made mom happy.  I tend to never ever ever spend a full day at home  … which is a sever change in my personality that was brought about by the Crazy Five Year BS.   —  Maybe that’s what I’ll start referring it to.  Or maybe, TSIB, either way…

At one point, I took great joy in yard work and housework.  In no way was I a Martha Stewart, but I liked to walk into my house and it looked clean from scrubbed carpets to Pledged ceiling fans.   Not perfect by any means, but comfortable.

After my TSIB years, I started to associate being in one place as a prison – a denial of my personal rights – since I barely stepped outside when I worked for all of those colleges.  It psychologically broke something inside me.  I can’t stand to feel I’m in a cage, even if it is my house.   I guess it’s kind of a unique form of claustrophobia.

I’m staying here today.
Instead of wearing my fashionable ugly fuzzy pants or workout sweats, I’m wearing jeans for a change.  Hair is a mess, but I don’t care.    It’s a no-socks day although my feet are kind of cold.   It’s like a whopping 23 degrees outside.   Really sunny, but 23 degrees.

Hopefully, my back doesn’t lock up later.

Have I ever told you about my back?

Herrington rods were installed some 26 years ago.
Let me save you a Google search.   Herrington Rods are surgical steel implants that were used to correct scoliosis back in the 1990s.   They’re about two or three feet long and are situated on each side of the spinal column.

Yes, they set off some metal detectors, especially in airports.
Yes, they were very painful upon installation.
Yes, they are painful now and it’s pretty constant even years later.
Yes, it’s weather sensitive.  Cold weather… a storm front…  I can feel it coming.

But, after 26 years I’ve gotten used to it.  I guess I’d compare it to a dull toothache.   It’s always constant, but forgettable until I eat ice cream.   Then, it flairs up bright and shiny just like the evening star.  But, I can handle that too.

I’ve gotten a lot better.   When they were first installed, I’d visit tanning beds in fall and winter just to defrost.  The heat did wonders for the pain.  Not so much now.   Actually, I haven’t been to a tanning bed for around ten or fifteen years.   Probably closer to fifteen. Course, I was in Florida most of the time.   I didn’t need to defrost so much, but the hurricanes left me tingly.

Fortunately, I got to avoid most of last year’s polar vortex by being in Florida.  This past week has been a little rough, but exercising really, really, really helps.  But, for some reason, I decided this was no socks jean day.

Harrington rods are supposed to be useful for about 25 to 30 years before other measures need to be taken.  They don’t break, exactly, but they bend.  Bent rods don’t exactly help someone who has a bent spine.    Having them installed was pretty life-altering.   I’m not looking forward to having them removed.  Actually, I’ve kind of grown fond of my ‘bionic’ parts.  I don’t know if I’m a million dollar woman, but I know they were exceedingly expensive to install.

Harrington rods are no longer used for back problems.    It’s done with lasers now.   Recovery time is a couple of days instead of three months to a year.  I’m grateful that no one else has to go through that.  The person might have a couple of little scars, like cut off angel wings, on their back instead of my long mark.  Course, it kind of makes me feel like a martyr.  When I got mine, there where only two or three doctors in America trained in the procedure.  I guess you could say I was part of the beta testing.

I also won the genetic lottery.  Scoliosis does not run on either side of my family.   As far back as we could trace… rather, my aunt could trace as she was the family historian, I was the only known case for untold generations.  The doctors told me that I wouldn’t pass it along to any children, although I would have a hard time carrying one to term.

Ha ha.   Showed them.   I can’t have children at all because cancer trumped it.  Well, cancer and Jason and I wanted to wait for the ‘right time.’

One thing about having parents with multiple jobs meant that I was covered by multiple health insurance policies.  I remember dad bragging that the whole thing – operation, body cast, and two weeks in the hospital – cost him around $500.  The insurance companies certainly weren’t happy about it, but dad was thrilled.    He was ‘sticking it to the man.’

Yes, he and I had a little problem with authority figures.   He never liked or trusted cops.  I don’t like cops, doctors, supervisors…   Well, just about anyone with some sort of title, really.    I may respect the person, but never the position.

Maybe the rods will never leave me.
They’ll be what’s left after I’m cremated or buried.
Comforting thought.   I hope the steel titanium is still shiny.

If this was the Marvel world, I’d have adamantium, enchanted uru, or vibranium.
That would have been awesome.

Anyway, that’s a little bit about me.
Suprise.