Gud Simpson

I've finally achieved a long time goal. Whaddya think?

Ouch! What a Change, What a Change........

Last Friday I woke after a great night's sleep, in a positive mood, full of energy. I had my juice and registered for the fall semester back at school with again 3 classes in addition to my full time work schedule. I got showered and dressed and headed out to go to an acupuncturist to get help with a case of tennis elbow I've been dealing with.


I went to sit in my car and there was a quick, intense "pop" in my my lower back/sacrum area. I was seized with such incredible, severe pain that all I could do was sit there and scream "Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck.......!" (sorry for the profanity, but that's what I said and no other word seemed like it would work at the time). It ended up being a very long day.

To sum up the last 6 days, I've found out via MRI and consultation with a spinal orthopedic specialist that I have a disc herniation between the 4th and 5th lumbar. Indeed even I can see it on the MRI. I don't have to have help walking like I did Friday and Saturday but the pain is constant, real and debilitating. The Dr says we just wait to see if it gets better on its own, I do physical therapy and take meds.

I'm don't like that prognosis, I hurt and I'm frightened.

Lady Bird's Heart

I had the pleasure of meeting Lady Bird Johnson 3 times over the years. Twice in Fredericksburg at the Episcopal Church during holiday services and once about 8 years ago when I was working part time for a catering company and waited on her table during a private party. The times in Fredericksburg I was more amazed than anything else. I'd never been able to shake hands with anyone who'd lived in the White House. It was a cool thing.

Even cooler was waiting on her at the private dinner. It was a small affair, maybe 7 or 8 tables of 8 and I was lucky enough to take care of her table. Seated next to her was Liz Carpenter, well known writer, feminist and her former press secretary. The dinner was held under the stars at a ranch just outside of Austin and it was a pleasant evening...must not have been summer as I don't recall it being typically hot.

Wine was served at the dinner and I recall Ms. Johnson having a glass before dinner and one with dinner. As she got towards the bottom of the glass and the end of her meal, I came around with the bottle and asked if she'd care for more wine. "No dear, I don't think I will" she replied. I grinned and said, "Well Mrs. Johnson, I hear that studies have shown red wine is good for the heart." She patted the back of my hand, grinned and said, "Honey, when you're my age your heart just has to look out for itself."

It was a memorable experience.

I No Longer Feel Guilty About 30 Minute Showers

So here I sit at work doing a 12 hour day (they offered and I needed the overtime hours), 9am to 9pm and I'm looking out at relative sunshine. That's become a rather unusual thing here in Austin where it's rained virtually every day for over 2 weeks now. Consistant rain....flooding rains. The lakes are overflowing, grass and weeds are out of control, the humidity is astronomical and I've taken to carrying an umbrella.

Having been in a drought for a couple of years now, it was kinda cool the first week of the daily rain. But now that we're going on 3 weeks and it's wearing a little thin. Indeed, it's making me and the folks I know a little surly. Yes, it hasn't been hovering around 100 degrees as it normally is this time of year so that's a plus, but 3 weeks worth of rain goes a long way. I'm thinking maybe I'll move to Seattle where it rains less.

Oh crap! I just looked at the forecast and storms are developing to the west.