The Story of Stuff

[mannytheseacow]

Hi All! I've been out of town for a while and not able to keep up with the forum here. Now I'm back and suffering from sciatica so I can't do much... No splitting, fencing, stove building.... hurts to work, hurts to sit, hurts to stand, hurts to lay down.

Anyway, I was chatting with Matt a few weeks ago about this and I thought I'd post it:

[matt walker]

Thanks for posting it Manny, I'll try to sit down and watch it this weekend.

And dang dude! Sorry to hear about the back, that sucks. Ugh, that feeling of so much to do and you can't do it. Sorry man, get better.

[GrahamB]

I have to save this video. It would have been the perfect video to show some students last year when we were discussing planned obsolescence in the media class. Thanks for posting it Manny and I hope you kick that sciatica soon. I have had it a couple of times and it sucks big time.

[mannytheseacow]

I'm glad you found this useful, Graham. I don't necessarily agree with every word of it but I think there are some very good points in it... especially the later half. It would be great to share with your classes, it's a message that isn't often prioritized. It also sounds like you are in a very good place to share it!

Thanks for the sympathy on my hurting back, fellas. It certainly is frustrating! After being out of town for a while I have a lot of catching up to do and sitting around sitting idle is about the last thing I want to do. Oh well, if I don't let it get better it will just get worse. I tried pushing the lawnmower around the yard yesterday and I'm paying for it today.

[pa_friendly_guy]

Whats the matter with you Manny? Stop being stupid, let the grass grow, let things take their course, rest your back, relax have a home brew, and let your back heal. Time will work wonders and you will be as good as new, but take it easy, don't over do it, don't rush it, I know you want to get things done, but just forget that for awhile. Relax, Doctors orders. And make sure you have a home brew, the Doctor ordered that as well.

[Myrth]

I agree. Tall grass is not the end of the world. My DH is similar - he too would hurt himself if he thought the grass was too tall. Stop. Rest. Heal. And have a home brew. No more grass cutting until you are healed up.

[mannytheseacow]

Jeez, you two sound just like my wife! But my food forest was getting buried in oats!

"Yes dear". Now that I'm married I have been practicing my proper response. "Yes dear"

[pa_friendly_guy]

That's good Manny, very good. My oldest son was married by a preacher that was a friend of the family and had known Lara since he used to baby sit her as a very young girl. His advise to my son was to memorize these works and use them at every opportunity. Yes Dear, You were right, I was wrong, What could I have been thinking ! It has gotten to be almost an inside joke when ever he says it now, they both laugh, but it does break the tension.

[Lollykoko]

Manny, I hope your back is up to snuff by now. I've only had the problem a couple of times, and it was horrid while it lasted.

[mannytheseacow]

Thanks for thinking of me, Lolly. I am actually starting to see some improvement. I've been dealing with this now since the spring (probably even mid-winter) and I was pretty much out of commission the entire month of July, and only now starting to see some improvement (do doing things like setting posts does set me back a bit).

I have to say, it has been doctors, prescriptions, steroids, x-rays, and MRI, and no improvement at all. They were talking surgery and spinal injections and I decided to try acupuncture first and I started seeing improvements the next day. That was a week ago and I'm going in for my second visit today. He has me switched from heavy doses of Ibuprofen to strong doses of ginger tea, and a little concoction of Eastern herbs. I can't say I totally understand it all, but I'm sold.