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Friday toast to Sia Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on January 9, 2026, 11:04 pm Lift your glasses and toast Sia's recovery and continued progress! klink! Another toast to all you civilized people for the truth and sanity you bring as antidote to the poison of the convicted felon and his mob of organized crime. klink! A toast to mothers who drop off their children at school! When on their way home, should they get caught up in an ICE operation, and in effort to comply with conflicting orders to leave and stop, attempt to drive home, a few houses down from where the ICE raid took place, may God protect them from being murdered by the trigger finger of an ICE cop who should never have been a cop. klink! Please toast something for which you are thankful this week, or a concern for justice that has a chance because it is rooted to truth. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

Monday version! Posted by Poppet on January 12, 2026, 11:03 am, in reply to "Friday toast to Sia" ADMIN Haven't visited in a couple days (and I usually only check for problems, despite not having moderated anything in ages!), so I missed the toast. So raising my coffee belatedly...

Coffee Margarita in Tsunamiville! Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on January 12, 2026, 6:52 pm, in reply to "Monday version!" ADMIN Manny Garcias! Hope all is well out there in Tsunamiville. I have a modest suggestion for promotion of Japan tourism. "Come visit Japan! Watch the tide come in, and the town go out!" You could establish a chain of American fast food restaurants built on hillsides overlooking tsunami ravaged bays, from safe heights above, called Tsunami Burgers. One entree could be The Trump; a burger thrown against a wall, and reassembled in haste, served on a gold tray. 52f and sunny. Warning shots fired across bow of a charmed life? I spilled the beans. Actually a human bean. Now, a day and hours later, looking back, it was kinda fun. Yesterday, Sunday morning, I went in two hours early to prep orchestra music for service. Lot was not plowed, but a few spaces by the building were cleared. I chose to park out in the parking lot as usual, saving the cleared spaces for elders and people with mobility issues. I always do that. Walking carefully across the lot, planting each step. I came to a small mound of snow and ice. I stepped on top of it, tested it, and when footing seemed solid, stepped down onto clear pavement. Before I could blink, both feet went out from under me and I fell sideways and backwards onto the asphalt. I rolled and struck back of my head on the asphalt. My binder of music went flying, and so did the phone in my pocket; but I didn't realize that then. I tried to roll to my right to get up, but that direction rolled into snow and ice. No good. I rolled to my left and was able to roll onto some asphalt. But I could not get up. Did not yet know if I was hurt. My only options were to wait for someone, or crawl to the building about 50 feet away and use it for leverage to get up. I chose to do that. Made it to the building, used the wall for leverage, and got to my feet. Out in the lot was my music and phone, about ten feet from where I fell. Flying phone out of my pocket. I didn't seem injured, thank God, but vision was a bit blurry. Made way out to my music and phone, retrieved them, and slowly walked back to the door, which I unlocked and went in. The elevator wasn't working, so I had to climb the stairs. Usually not a problem, but I wasn't yet sure I could do that. Got up to the chapel and from then on things seemed to calm down. Blurry vision cleared, but I had a dull headache. Was still able to focus OK, and when the other fellows got there, we rehearsed woll and were prepared for service. The sore began to set in from lots of hyperextended joints. Sore reached a peak last night. It could have been SOOooo much worse! I dodged a bullet and know it! Still have a dull headache today. Saw doctor this morning. MRI on knees showed no new damage other than strain. Had I fallen another way, that would not be the case. Have a concussion, but thanks to my hat, that part of the fall was cushioned just enough to expose no brain, just stupidity. I am on RICE therapy for the next eight days. Obviously didn't bowl last night, or this morning. Lucky Strikes continued winning, 3-1 over Lopez, so we're 19-1. Officially we got 14 to 16 inches of snow. I underestimated that. There's still a foot of snow in the yard. It's a great snow, melting and percolating into the soil. I don't have to irrigate. It's also the kind of snow likely to persist well through winter, insulating and protecting. I know the yucca and palms are happy! Temperatures not that low either. 19F for the seasonal low. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

Welp… Posted by Skye on January 13, 2026, 11:28 am, in reply to "Coffee Margarita in Tsunamiville!" Valued Poster Add me to the injured list. Must’ve jinxed myself! Got to Tromso, but the hotel room wasn’t ready yet, so we left our luggage in a storage area in the lobby and went out to see if we could find a store to buy a box of Kleenex. I had come down with a cold right before we left, but mostly just a runny nose and I was running out of Kleenex. Anyway, we stepped out of the hotel and barely got a 100 yards up the street when I slipped and fell on the icy curb. I instinctively tried to break my fall with my left hand, and yup… broke it right at or above the wrist. I knew I was hurt but didn’t want to believe it. Anyway, after putting ice and a towel on it for awhile, decided I should go have an xray done. So now I’m in a cast and so pissed off at myself. Hopefully it won’t slow us down too much. Biggest problem is getting dressed and undressed with winter clothing that will be loose sleeved enough to get over the cast. May have to buy a pair of large winter mittens, too. I am so bummed. The good thing is that it should heal up fine, I hope. They didn’t have to set it… just put the cast on and told me to keep it dry, elevated, and exercise the fingers until I get back home and have a different cast put on it. On top of that I am dead tired after traveling all that way. This really sucks, but I may as well share some of the pain! Hopefully I can still go dogsledding…. I hope.

Oh noes! Posted by greenman on January 14, 2026, 8:09 am, in reply to "Welp…" Valued Poster Terrible, sorry to hear that. Ice is so treacherous! RESIST!

Send in the Clowns! Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on January 13, 2026, 2:36 pm, in reply to "Welp…" Who's on third? Who's the third? I am sorry it happened to you, glad it isn't worse. Annoyance injuries are so bloody annoying! Like annoyance presidents. Even though it was a fluke, I dodged a bullet and learned several important lessons. Next time I will be more careful. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

Yeah eh? Posted by Skye on January 13, 2026, 5:04 pm, in reply to "Send in the Clowns!" Valued Poster And here I was telling my husband to be careful! We will definitely be wearing our crampons from now on. We just didn’t want to dig into the luggage before getting into our room. Lesson learned! I wasn’t thinking that the city streets would be that slick. I thought we would need them for more remote hiking.

AND… Posted by Skye on January 13, 2026, 5:32 pm, in reply to "Yeah eh?" Not more than a minute or two after that happened to me, another guy slipped and fell on that exact same spot! Like wow… it was like those FHV videos where you see people who just saw someone else slip and fall on the ice but think they can walk on it without falling… and down they go!

The spot onto which I stepped looked dry Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on January 13, 2026, 8:53 pm, in reply to "AND…" ADMIN I stood on a small mound of ice and compressed snow, feeling stable. I had tested it for support, and also grip by my shoes with a kick or plunge step onto it. Appeared solid. When I stepped down onto what I thought was dry asphalt, in blink of an eye both feet went out and I fell. I am certain I already stepped down onto the pavement. But if it was covered with a frost of verglas, which I now suspect, I would have needed book spikes. Those mini crampons we use. Not real crampons with spikes 1.5 inches long, and a forward pointed pair for grip in vertical ice. The smart thing to do was to go the other way, walk parallel with the building until I could only walk through flat snow with nothing pushed up, and step onto the pavement there. Today is butt's turn to be very sore. Knees are next. Head ache essentially gone. Dodged a bullet. You took a bullet, but annoyingly, not critically. Sia took a critical bullet. Several. I think she learned not to walk down into the firing range until everyone else is finished. I know, it really was a car wreck. But if we don't pull her leg once in a while, she'll only get half the therapy she needs. A couple winters ago an experienced climber died on Long's Peak when descending the Narrows with a verglas coat. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

Did he get seriously hurt too? Posted by Sia on January 13, 2026, 5:52 pm, in reply to "AND…" ADMIN

No, but I said to him.. Posted by Skye on January 14, 2026, 1:30 am, in reply to "Did he get seriously hurt too?" Valued Poster “That’s the exact same thing that just happened to me! And I hurt myself… Don’t do that! Don’t DO that!”

DAMN, that flippin' SUCKS! Posted by Sia on January 13, 2026, 11:44 am, in reply to "Welp…" ADMIN I hope it heals up quickly and doesn't ruin your mini-vaykay too much!

Re: Coffee Margarita in Tsunamiville! Posted by jacque on January 13, 2026, 5:05 am, in reply to "Coffee Margarita in Tsunamiville!" Valued Poster I hope you are recovering quickly. I had a fall recently too. Even a near fall too which can be just as bad with a sudden jerk to balance yourself. (Sia we are watching you!) Unfortunately there has been a different type of ICE tsunami in my neighborhood recently. Strangely the weather has been unusually icy too. Winter has been wonky for a while but rain in January is rare. A Jack of all trades is master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one. ... And many thanks for the masters in skill for setting our standard of work to instill.

We're 58f today. Back into the 60s rest of the week. Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on January 13, 2026, 2:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Coffee Margarita in Tsunamiville!" ADMIN We had 14 inches of snow. Pikes Peak only got 6 inches. Same for the central high mountains. Snow melting quickly and percolating into the soil. I don't have to fight through the black widow web around the spigot to irrigate. She is either up in the faucet, or as far underground by the wall as she can crawl. So far an easily survivable winter for her. I really need to relocate her. Problem is when I do, another fills the spot. If undisturbed, she won't leave that spot, and knowing where they are is always good information. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

Geez Posted by Skye on January 13, 2026, 2:07 am, in reply to "Coffee Margarita in Tsunamiville!" Valued Poster You are very lucky! I know several people who have had bad injuries from slipping on ice. Speaking of which… I’m making my way to Tromso right now with my crampons in tow. So I hope I am not jinxed now!

-OMG! I'm glad you are okay! Posted by Sia on January 12, 2026, 10:20 pm, in reply to "Coffee Margarita in Tsunamiville!" ADMIN

Thank you Sara! Posted by Sia on January 12, 2026, 11:58 am, in reply to "Monday version!" ADMIN You still need to send me a valid email contact since your normal one is dead!

CLINK (coffee cup raised) Posted by greenman on January 10, 2026, 8:09 am, in reply to "Friday toast to Sia" Valued Poster All best! RESIST!

Re: Friday toast to Sia Posted by jacque on January 10, 2026, 3:42 am, in reply to "Friday toast to Sia" Valued Poster Cheers! Salut! Salud! I look forward to hearing more on your journey Sia. I appreciate your commentary and contribution to the board. I thank you for eventually accepting my membership request after some email exchanges. ;-) I hope I haven't been too obnoxious. I appreciate everyone here who posts. A toast to everyone here as well!! A Jack of all trades is master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one. ... And many thanks for the masters in skill for setting our standard of work to instill.

Thanks! Of course you're not "too obnoxious" and I specifically invited you silly! Posted by Sia on January 10, 2026, 7:11 am, in reply to "Re: Friday toast to Sia" ADMIN LOL, but you know that, regardless of the variety of names and IPs you've posted under here, there, and everywhere. You're clever, interesting, respectfully decent to everyone, and never fail to bring a new a/o different perspective - along with a variety of interesting topics we may have never talked about otherwise. What's not to like? Once I get out of my current "prison" and again have access to my laptop (at home) with the private, personal contact info of our members, instead of just my phone with minimal data stored,I will grant that denied request regarding the alternate board that you made last year.

Thank You. Posted by jacque on January 13, 2026, 4:47 am, in reply to "Thanks! Of course you're not "too obnoxious" and I specifically invited you silly! " Valued Poster I am more eager to hear of your progress. Spinal surgery and injury is no joke. My son had me learning about biology, neurology, and ugottanotherology with some scopys, prep and contrast ;-) (?lucky? for him he has no sensation below T-8) My brother has fused neck vertebrae, my dad had a laminectomy in his neck, I have arthritic signs in mine. ugh. However the granted request is a nice thought to look forward as well. lol ** I'm grateful I get to send and receive messages/info around the world in different ways. My name jacque is the only one I use as well as the email. I recently updated my signature to reflect a bit of the meaning behind my moniker/screenname/login. Thanks again, everyone! A Jack of all trades is master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one. ... And many thanks for the masters in skill for setting our standard of work to instill.

You're welcome! My progress? Well, I got my left leg up into bed myself for Posted by Sia on January 13, 2026, 7:07 am, in reply to "Thank You." ADMIN the first time last night but haven't been able to do it again, so far. That just shows me that it IS doable and if I continue on this trajectory, I'll be doing it by myself all the time in less time than I feared. No feeling below T8 is terrible! It can be a godsend for someone with nerve injuries so severe and painful that there's nothing that can ease it, but otherwise, gawd, that is a HARD life missing so much. If he was born that way, then he doesn't know what he's missing. However, if it happened later on, it's seriously hard to accept. My best to him with hopes he is doing well! You too.

Yeah! Push progress! Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on January 13, 2026, 2:49 pm, in reply to "You're welcome! My progress? Well, I got my left leg up into bed myself for" ADMIN Your leg lifts are like my crawl to the wall. You just will what to do, then don't quit until you do it. All the way around, Jacque! A rubber band is useless unless it is stretched. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

Thank you! Raise your glasses in honor of Posted by Sia on January 10, 2026, 12:39 am, in reply to "Friday toast to Sia" ADMIN All the heroes out there, known or unknown, who are fighting against this deadly regime and the destruction of America however they can! RESIST !!

To Sia’s recovery! I know you are working hard! Posted by Skye on January 10, 2026, 12:18 am, in reply to "Friday toast to Sia" Valued Poster

I am! No other choice aside of giving up Posted by Sia on January 10, 2026, 12:41 am, in reply to "To Sia’s recovery! I know you are working hard!" ADMIN which i will never do!

Re: I am! No other choice aside of giving up Posted by Christopher Blackwell on January 10, 2026, 10:23 pm, in reply to "I am! No other choice aside of giving up" I know that bit, and indeed one has to keep going. ChristopherBlackwell

Given your own health concerns, I'm sure you DO Posted by Sia on January 10, 2026, 10:34 pm, in reply to "Re: I am! No other choice aside of giving up" ADMIN "know the drill"

Re: Given your own health concerns, I'm sure you DO Posted by Christopher Blackwell on January 11, 2026, 6:05 pm, in reply to "Given your own health concerns, I'm sure you DO " Sia, often hard to keep to the drill, but no other option for survival, much less any healing if that is any option. I can barely understand what you are going though. ChristopherBlackwell

Well, maybe an X-ray pix of my lumbar spine, (lower back) will help you see it better Posted by Sia on January 11, 2026, 9:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Given your own health concerns, I'm sure you DO " So you can better understand and see what they did to me. There are 6 levels now fused at the base of my spine. My entire lumbar region down into my sacrum. Each area you see with screws is a separate vertebrae. All of the damaged discs have been removed and replaced with some of my crushed bone, crushed cadaver bone, medical cement and secured in place with rods ans screws. Some required spacers too. Those are the squarish things. The only photo I have of the 8 -9 inch incision is too disturbing and gross to post. It was taken by surgeons on day one as they were gluing the skin shut. Now, the resulting scar is quite long, red, and looks pretty angry. It is a huge surgery, which followed a lesser surgical correction 6 days prior that simply didnt do the job well enough. Neurosurgeon was trying least invasive corrections but after the fact, it kinda blew the whole area up so she had to do the more extensive surgery. I lost so much blood (again) that I had to get a bunch of transfusions during and after the surgery. I also had 2 quite large dura tears (the covering of the spine itself) that required blood patches to close and 24 hours each flat on my back. In moving all of the stuff in the way (muscles, blood vessels, nerves, skin layers) to get to the spine itself, one nerve got slightly stretched and it is the cause of the horrific pain I've been experiencing as it attempts to heal. Major nerves are the worst things to injure. The degree of pain they cause is indescribable. I hope this helps. One is a direct view looking at my back and the other (curved) is the side view.

Egads Posted by Skye on January 11, 2026, 10:36 pm, in reply to "Well, maybe an X-ray pix of my lumbar spine, (lower back) will help you see it better " Valued Poster I'm certainly no doctor, but those upper two vertebrae in the x-ray look to me like they are not spaced or aligned well at all.

They are not. One slipped forward and the other backwards, destroying the disc's between them Posted by Sia on January 11, 2026, 10:46 pm, in reply to "Egads" ADMIN And causing all kinds of problems. They can't be shifted back into place, but they can no longer cause trouble. If you think that is bad, you should see my neck X-rays! None of them are aligned.

Re: Well, maybe an X-ray pix of my lumbar spine, (lower back) will help you see it better Posted by Christopher Blackwell on January 11, 2026, 10:30 pm, in reply to "Well, maybe an X-ray pix of my lumbar spine, (lower back) will help you see it better " Yikes. Indeed. They lost much of my blood on my operation. Glad that I was out and could not hear the conversation of the doctors when that happened. If those screws are metal, you will ring security in airports. The back is scary in an operation. I hope for the best results for you. ChristopherBlackwell

Didn't they have plenty of your blood type on hand for your surgery?? Posted by Sia on January 11, 2026, 10:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Well, maybe an X-ray pix of my lumbar spine, (lower back) will help you see it better " ADMIN

Re: Didn't they have plenty of your blood type on hand? Posted by Christopher Blackwell on January 13, 2026, 7:42 pm, in reply to "Didn't they have plenty of your blood type on hand for your surgery??" Sia, A little problem of HIV contaminated blood in blood bank. So it was considered a bit too risky. So had to make my own over several months. ChristopherBlackwell

Ohhhhh, that is beyond unacceptable nowadays! Posted by Sia on January 13, 2026, 8:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Didn't they have plenty of your blood type on hand?" ADMIN Is the VA incapable of properly screening blood now?

Re: Ohhhhh, that is beyond unacceptable nowadays! Posted by Christopher Blackwell on January 14, 2026, 5:45 pm, in reply to "Ohhhhh, that is beyond unacceptable nowadays! " No one was able to test for HIV back then, not a problem now. Back then, hemophiliacs were getting infected by donated blood from blood bank. ChristopherBlackwell

Yes, I know. A then coworker lost her hemophiliac brother to AIDs Posted by Sia on January 14, 2026, 8:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Ohhhhh, that is beyond unacceptable nowadays! " ADMIN acquired from tainted blood.

They are all titanium rods and screws, both there and in the entire length of my neck done earlier. Posted by Sia on January 11, 2026, 10:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Well, maybe an X-ray pix of my lumbar spine, (lower back) will help you see it better " This is the 4th surgery on my lumbar spine and 5th spine surgery overall. That's why a bit of the lumbar spine near the bottom is fully fused into a single, large vertebrae than cannot move independently anymore. Surgeon took out the original rods and screws there to replace then with 8" rods. In 6 months to a year, the newly fused sections will look the same, rods and screws still there, but the crushed bone and cement hardened into new bone. Our bodies continue making new bones all the time, which is why people get bony hooks and growths along their vertebrae that cause trouble. It is fortunate for people like me because those areas will harden up quite nicely. Fusion prevents a lot of movement but it stabilizes a f***ed up spine like mine where disc's were crushed, vertebrae broken, and some sliding forward or backwards out of place.

That’s the spirit! Posted by Skye on January 10, 2026, 1:33 am, in reply to "I am! No other choice aside of giving up" Valued Poster

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