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you've got to learn to live with what you can't rise above
by mg at 09:08 PM on January 09, 2002
I can honestly say that the first 9 days of 2002 already far surpass the last 9 days of 2001. They far surpass the last 9 months of 2001, really. Plus the first 3 months of it, too.
Except for the whole job thing (which is temporary), nothing especially great has happened. I didn’t meet a great girl and future wife. I didn’t even hook up with a meaningless one-night stand. I didn’t win the lottery. I didn’t even find a lost $20 bill in an old pair of pants.
Really, it has been my perception of events that has made them good. I am feeling better about life, so, therefore, life is better. It’s strange really. I’ve got a positive attitude. Things that are good are great. Things that would otherwise leave me feeling blasé leave me feeling good. And things that are awful aren’t so bad.
Even if everything isn’t positive, I’m better able to handle it. It strange, this feeling. If I’d realized that a year ago (or, better yet, twenty 25 years ago), I’d never have had a care in my life. I’d probably be President by now; maybe not of the United States (though, with a can-do attitude, I’d bet they would have waived that over 34 rule for me. And the no felons rule), but at least of the Clara Peller Fan Club. Nothing can get me down, and nothing doesn’t go my way.
However, there is something that is creeping into my consciousness; something I’m having trouble parsing in a positive way. There is one thing that has happened this year which even my ought two induced euphoric state can picture in a rosy light.
After years of pushing around a mouse (not to mention other things) I seem have the beginnings of carpal tunnel syndrome. Now, this is just my own diagnosis. My knowledge of medicine mainly comes from Saint Elsewhere and E.R, but my fingers are numb and tingly, I’m having trouble holding things, and I have pain in my wrist and sometimes shooting up into my arm.
I’m only a layman (and man all too infrequently laid) but what else could it be, especially considering how much time I spend sitting in front of a keyboard, tapping keys and pushing mice. Since I’ve gotten my laptop, I’ve certainly set myself up in some weird configurations: lying on the couch with the laptop on the floor, sitting in the bathtub with the computer on the toilet, hanging from the ceiling with moon boots with the laptop strapped to the back of a small Malaysian girl.
The list goes on and on, but let’s just say I’ve not maintained proper posture. I’m trying to sit up straight, take frequent breaks, and use the computer as infrequently as possible (holding up Bad Samaritan Version 6 Redesign, as well as a few other things). But considering I’ve got no skills besides sitting in front of a computer and typing stuff, I can’t exactly do something else. I’m just going to suck it up and take the pain like a man; that is to say, cry excessively and whine to anyone who will listen.
Besides for the crying and whining, I’m doing what I can to bear this. I have to. I still don’t have health insurance, so I can’t afford going to the doctor. And even if I did see a physician, if my only hope lies in scary looking guys like him, I’d rather suffer through the pain. I can learn to be left-handed.
comments (8)
With a little PMA - Positive Mental Attitude! - you can do just about anything! *crash*
Store Manager: Listen, mg . . . you're gonna have to pay for these damages!
mg: Well, that's no problemo. Just send the bill to mg, care of Van Down By The River!
by Charles at January 9, 2002 10:52 PM
I say:
Take two asprins.
Drink four shiners.
GET FREAKING LAID MG!!!
All the numbness will go away except where it SHOULD be and the tingle well you know what I mean....
Next: We all need to start a Pay Pal for MG's GET LAID FUND!!!!
Hmm....just may do that for you! What are good friends for anyway?
by Pistine at January 9, 2002 11:29 PM
mg, next time you are out go to a drugstore and buy yourself wristbands. Those, along with being more ergonomically conscious will help ease the discomfort from your wrists. Another thing, buy some iceehot and rub it on your wrists, that soothes and numbs the discomfort. And lastly, excersice-like small weights-helps increase the blood flow of your wrists therefore making your wrists stronger and healthier. I personally went through what you are going through and followed those same steps. They only bother me now when I do extrenous work, but they don't hurt too bad.
About getting laid, buy yourself a new pair of jeans and t-shirt and go out and hit on chicks incessantly. You never know which one will fall for one your lines, I mean, fall in love.
Good luck man.
by madflava at January 10, 2002 12:44 AM
Take breaks and STRETCH you fingers and wrists!! That might help the carple tunnel thing. It seems to keep my hands in shape. Sitting at a desk to work on the puter is good. Maybe get a keyboard plugged into the laptop and set the screen up to eye level. this is good information.
by MrBlank at January 10, 2002 12:46 AM
First OCD, now carpal tunnel, what will mg diagnose himself with tomorrow?
by space at January 10, 2002 1:53 AM
yoga lady covers this. in fact her columns have covered many issues affecting people who spend too much time on the puter.
stuff works wonders!
by kd at January 10, 2002 2:14 AM
heh - kd beat me to it! here's more yoga for carpal tunnel: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/search_poses.cfm?TherapeuticApplications=C04
the best and easiest thing that works for me is to press my hands together and spread the fingers wide, bending the fingers backward a bit too. you can do this several times a day at your desk. good luck!
by lavonne at January 10, 2002 4:50 PM
mg!
your personal doktor here!
what we would do with a case like this here is amputate your hands (the fine one as well, just so that the disease wont catch on there) and have you use your hairy big toe!
maybe its only tendinitis...
which ones of your fingers exactly are numb and tingle? if it really is cts its more likely to be just the first three. otherwise i would go with the tendinits and get a wristband.
or use your new scarf. that 99% of love in there might help...
by julia at January 11, 2002 4:17 PM