Frozen Shoulder

I went back to visit with my ortho-pod today after going through two months of physical therapy. I thought (and still wonder ) I had torn rotator cuff.
After examining me, my doctor decided I have a frozen shoulder. I got a nice big shot of cortisone injected directly into my shoulder joint. I hope that helps, given all the pain of the injection.

I didn't know what a frozen should was either, so I looked it up on the doctor's webpage.

Frozen shoulder is characterized by pain and loss of motion or stiffness in the shoulder. It affects about two percent of the general population. Frozen shoulder most commonly affects patients between the ages of 40 and 60 years, with no clear predisposition based on sex, arm dominance, or occupation.

So anyway, back to the physical therapist to learn different exercises. If that doesn't work, then I will get an MRI and possibly surgery. I will meet my insurance company's deductible in no time this year.

1984 not 1988

That's what happens when you get old. I was a county delegate for Rev. Jackson in 1984, not 1988.

The Inauguration

I took a vacation day today to stay home to watch the Inauguration (I also learned how to spell the word 'Inauguration' thanks to Google).

I have been kind of holding my breath since President Obama was elected wondering if this was really going to happen. I am a child of the 60s. I guess I don't have to say much more than that.

Back in 1988, I was the Democratic precinct chair in Euless Texas. It was the only time in my life that I had my name on an election ballot, but I ran unopposed. There were not a lot of Democrats in my area.

Anyhow, one of my duties as precinct chair was to run the Democratic party primaries. Here in Texas that also included the responsibility of running the caucus after the polls were closed. In order to participate in the caucus, one had to vote earlier that day in the primary election. This was before early voting of course.

The caucus was intimate to say the least, but we did have enough people to select two delegates to the county convention. We decided that we would cast our two votes for the Rev Jessie Jackson. At the time, he actually had some serious traction, though no one thought he would get the nomination though I think he would have made a better candidate than Dukakis. For more information on that primary, check out Wikipedia at this link. Looking at the election map, Jackson actually did much better than I remembered.

Last year I voted for Senator Clinton in the Texas primary (I have a terrible track record) but was very happy to cast my vote for then Senator Obama last November. I am very happy that I lived long enough to see a person of color as president of the United States of America.

I grew up in Utah in the 1950s and most of the 1960s. I don't even think I knew any black people. It has been quite a journey for me and a lot of other people from my generation and the generations before me. I grew up when segregation was a fact of life in many parts of the country, became conscious of race problems in the 196os, and now I have lived long enough to see in inauguration of President Obama.

Joke - DON'T MESS WITH MAMA BEAR

From Kim Komando:

Three men had been fishing in the woods. When they got back to their car, they saw that it was surrounded by three bears. One of the men decided to take charge of the situation. He concluded the best thing to do was anger the bears. That way, they would leave, and the men could get to the car.

"Joe," he said, "You take the little cub on the left with the broken leg. I'll take the other cub with the injured paw and one eye. Bill, you take the one in the middle, the mama bear."

Bill looked at the huge mama bear. "Wait a minute," he said. "That's not fair. You get the little cubs, and I have to deal with a full-grown grizzly bear."

"Now, now, Bill," was the reply. "We all have our bears to cross."

Thought for the day

I got this from one of my dear friends.

Today's reading is about not depending upon other people's approval in order to live a full and rich life....I can act, rather than react....One quote that I love that I try to keep in mind: "Your wishes are not my commands!"

George Bush Top 10 Moments - David Letterman Show

This is just plain mean.

Slate: 2008 in review

I am barely old enough to remember newsreels in movies. Or maybe I just saw movies that had newsreels.

What I am listening to on my iPod - The Capitol Steps Un-Wired

I downloaded their 2008 New Years broadcast at the link above. I thought it was very funny, both political parties get skewered.

What I learned today at church: The Three Wise Women

Actually, there was more to the sermon than this, but I remembered what I remembered. The topic was the Epiphany so that is how it included a discussion of the wise men, even though it is now January.

The Three Wise Women

Do you know what would have happened if it had been three Wise Women instead of three Wise Men?

They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts.

San Antonio senator seeks end to straight-ticket voting | Politics | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

I don't usually vote straight ticket, though I can see how it must save time for some folks. This last time, for instance, I did vote for at least one Republican running for state-wide office (an acquaintance from years back). I take a perverse joy in going down the ticket and voting against some individuals, and that would be lost if I just voted a straight ticket.

San Antonio senator seeks end to straight-ticket voting | Politics | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "A San Antonio state senator wants to revive efforts to eliminate the straight-ticket voting option, even after Texans hit a 10-year high in the percentage of ballots sticking entirely with one party."

MIss Manners

Miss Manners gives her idea of the perfect new year's resolution which to live within one's own means.

I guess it is a sign of getting old, but when I read her column I just wanted to jump for joy. I envision going to a wedding (or in the LDS world, a wedding reception) where in the foyer there will be an ATM from Target where all one has to do to is run one's credit card through the reader and select a present for the bride and groom.

From my dad: Robin on Obama

Not for the easily offended. Of course, the Robin is Robin Williams, enough said.

Kwanzaa

Yesterday at church we celebrated Kwanzaa
and I was asked to carry in one of the seven candles at the beginning of the service. John was with me at church yesterday, so I asked a friend if John could sit with him until I finished my part of the program. While I was out in the foyer waiting to go in, I could hear John clearly explaining to my friend about his Winnie the Pooh DVD collection. The nice thing about taking John to church is that we end up talking to a lot more people than when I go with him.

Speaking of Winnie the Pooh, after church we stopped by a video game store, John wanted to see if there was a Winnie the Pooh game for Nintendo Wii. He didn't find one, so he decided to check for Mortal Kombat for Wii (which seems unlikely for some reason). Talk about going from one extreme to another.

Christmas 2008

We had our usual chaotic Christmas celebration today. We were very happy to have Rachel along with Russell and his lovely wife Sarah Jane with us this year, along of course with John. James and his family were celebrating together in Idaho Falls and they were very much missed.

Early in the afternoon Russell, Rachel and Sarah Jane went to the airport, Rachel and Russell to LA to attend a friend's wedding Saturday, and Sarah Jane to Pittsburgh to spend some of the holiday's with her family (I know, we are her family also, her family of origin). From LA, Rachel will go back to Washingington DC. It is always wonderful to have Rachel home for a visit though she may wonder how welcome she is at times with John telling her that she needs to go to the airport. What she doesn't hear of course is John counting down the days until Rachel comes to visit again.

I was happy to attend a candle light Christmas Eve service at my church last night. It was just what I needed to get me centered and focused on Christmas.

If we must have an officiating priest at the inauguration, we can do much better than Rick Warren. - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine

Interesting editorial by Christopher Hitchens on Slate today. I am bothered by president elect Obama's odd choice of Rick Warren to give in invocation at the inauguration for a lot of reasons. Warren has managed to piss off homosexuals, Mormons, Jews and Muslims all at the same time.

Money quote from article:

"Will the American people be prayed into the next administration, which will be confronted by a possible nuclear Iran and an already nuclear Pakistan, by a half-educated pulpit-pounder raised in the belief that the Armageddon solution is one to be anticipated with positive glee?"

Facebook status

I am now on Facebook, in fact, when I post to this blog it also posts to my Facebook account. How cool is that?

I am probably too old for Facebook, let alone Twitter. The other day I changed my status on Facebook so that it said something like 'David is in Pain.' I got a couple of emails, so I figure I should probably explain.

Several months ago, in an attempt to keep John from smashing his head against a wood chair, I tried pulling him away from the chair. It only took a moment to realize that wasn't a good idea, not that letting John continue banging his head was a good idea, but that pulling him the way I did wasn't a good idea.

I had a instant flash of pain in my left shoulder and upper arm. I figured it would go away in a few days, but as luck would have it, the pain has only got worse as time has gone by. Last month I made a trip to my friendly orthopod and he suggested that I spend some time in physical therapy and see if it would get better or not. So far, it has got a little better but I am afraid I may have to go back and schedule a slice and dice on my shoulder.

Anyway, that explains the pain. It is physical, not emotional. Sorry I wasn't more specific.

Let it snow....

There is just something wrong about having snow in Austin. Last Tuesday we had a high of 81 and then we got hit by a 'blue norther.' The next morning everything was covered by a light dusting of snow. Much to the dismay of school children in the greater Austin area, schools were not closed.

Clean shaven

Where to start. I usually wear a goatee (or more properly, a Van Dyke.) Here at the office a bunch of us started off clean shaven at the beginning of November for a mustache growing contest as part of an effort to raise money to fight prostate cancer. We had the results of the contest on Dec 4th (I did not win). For most of November I grew out a beard, but I was asked to change it into just a mustache. It was for a good cause I suppose, but for the time being I think I will keep my face shaved until I get tired of doing that also.

The contest is over, but it is never too late to donate money.

John Murdock Christmas List

John
Murdock’s Christmas List

1. 

   
   

2. Sonic
   T-Shirt http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2766915

   
   

3. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Paddington-Bear/dp/B0017SBDYG

   
   

Answered prayers

In the last month or so, John has been waking up in the middle of the night and banging his head against the headboard. This is an old behavior that we hoped was behind us, but it isn't.

A few weeks ago in church I decided to write John's name on a prayer card and then placed it in the offering basket when it was passed around. I figure, the more people praying for John, the better.

That night I woke up just before John started banging his head again.... and then I got a flash of insight that I suppose should have been obvious. That is of course, why was I sleeping in my bed when I should be sleeping with John in his bed.

I haven't had the most restful nights sleep for the last couple of weeks, but I have been able to intercept John before he starts hitting his head. He had a nasty looking wound on his head that is now pretty much healed up. I am not sure how much longer I am going to have to keep doing this, but it is certainly much easier on all of us when John isn't injuring himself.

I was touched when some of the people I know at church came up to me to reassure me that they are remembering John in their prayers.