The War

Since my back has limited me to doing nothing, I've been spending lots of time flat on my back watching TV. A co-worker mentioned that the new Ken Burns documentary on World War II called The War was airing on PBS starting on Sunday night. I'm actually watching the Part III as I sit typing this up.

The quality of the film is outstanding. Typical Ken Burns. Good stuff, unique perspective. It's a 4 part film, with each part running about 2 hours each. It tells the story from the perspective of four different U.S communities, one of those being Sacramento, California.

The photographs are many I've seen before, including many famous images, but it also includes some fantastic battle footage taken during the war. Battle scenes from the south pacific, air battles over Europe, tank battles from North Africa. All fascinating. The film focuses on the stories that people from these communities lived through.

This is not a sugar coated pro-American glory film. The tone is somber, the images graphic in many cases. It tries to show the war for what it was.

Not sure if PBS is planning on re-airing the documentary, but I highly recommend it.

More info can be found at: http://www.pbs.org/thewar/?campaign=pbshomefeatures_1_thewarbrakenburnsfilm_2007-09-25

Its back breaking being me

Not only am I old, now I’m decrepit. I started having back issues about a year ago, so I decided to see a doctor. After some basic treatment (which didn’t work) I had an MRI done, which revealed that I have a severely herniated disk in my lower back (between my L4 and L5 vertebra). The pain in my back was annoying, but not debilitating, so I decided to manage it with stretching and ibuprofen whenever it got really bad.

About 4 weeks ago, I got up one morning and something had changed. The pain was different, and it started to actually hurt. Over the course of the next day or two, the pain got to the point where it was interfering my ability to focus on anything. I went back to the doctor, who added little, other than a reminder that I have a herniated disk and that there are still a couple of options that I have available.

1) start physical therapy
2) have a cortisone epidural in my spine
3) go under the knife to correct the problem

Given my affinity for puncture free skin, I opted for physical therapy. I’ve been to two sessions so far and am scheduled to attend six more over the next three weeks.

Its lots of stretching and ice, but today I got a real treat. Traction! That word just sounds so medieval. They strap me down with onto a table with these huge Velcro jobs at the waist and chest. The lower strap is attached to some mechanism which pulls my hips toward my feet, while my chest is kept in a stationary position.

Remarkably, the whole deal made my back feel better…for about an hour. Then I got home, sat down, and the pain came right back.

What I’ve found to be the most interesting thing about this whole ordeal, is that it seems like every tenth person that I talk to has gone through the same problem. Some have had surgery, and some have resolved the issue by simply laying flat on their back from anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. Not sure I have the luxury of laying flat on my back fro 6 weeks, but I am considering the shorter duration.

Who knew so many other people were as decrepit as I am.

Sonya keeps telling me to be patient, but it’s been tough. I never realized how many things a bad back prevents you from doing.

You dropped the bomb on me, baby!

The new school year has started, and we’re starting to get back into it all. New grade, teacher, and new things to learn. It’s all good. Well, not all good. Depending on the things your children are learning, you have to understand that the teacher isn’t the only thing giving lessons.

Case in point. Karsyn is talking to Sonya the other day in the garage while I’m sitting in the kitchen. I don’t hear the question, but I do hear Sonya suggesting that Karsyn ask me. My inquisitive 7-year old proceeds to pop into the kitchen with a smile on her face, then drop the bomb on me.

“Dad, what does f**k mean?”

After almost swallowing my tongue, I glance at her mother, who decided to share in the fun by diverting the question over to me.

“Where did you hear that?” I asked.

“From < not-to-be-named-but-now considered-trashy-classmate >. She told me at school.”

Then there was some convoluted explanation about how this unnamed classmate “broke up” with her boyfriend because he said it, or something to that affect. I don’t really care why she said. I just care that this stuff is already making the rounds in the 3rd grade. The 3rd grade!!!!

I don’t really remember when I learned that word, but I seemed to recall that it generated the same type of response from my parents. I’m sure Karsyn noticed my eyes popping out of my head. I’m not even sure what my response was!

Something to the affect of, “that’s not a word you should be using, and if you do, people will think less of you.” I think Sonya were on the same page, with the approach that not making a big deal about it is the best way to not sensationalize the whole thing. If we had freaked out, then it just goes into the memory bank as something to get a rise out of down the road. What’s a parent to do?

Good God, is “the talk” just around the corner? Her mother will have fun with that one! It’s sad kids can’t just be kids for a while.