Hump Day Ouchie

In 1974, in the Navy and stationed overseas, I managed to break three vertebrae in my lower back, along with my left ankle. For those of you who want to know, it was compression fractures of L2, L4, and L5.

The VA has me on its rolls with a service-connected injury, but I won't go near that place. I'm a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, but manage to go about my life with hardly an issue, most of the time.

Emphasis on most of the time.


But every once in awhile, I manage to do something that puts me down for a few days. Over the weekend, my lovely wife and I were busily installing surround sound speakers in the living room. In the process of stepping from a short stepladder onto the hearth, the ladder went to the right as I moved to the left. I was holding onto the mantel, so it was no big deal.

Or so I thought.

But on Monday, my lower back began yelling in earnest, letting me know in no uncertain terms that it wasn't happy with me. I can sit, with some squirming, and can even stand up and walk (after a fashion) as long as there's something for me to lean on while attempting to get up. Using a cane is helpful, too, except I don't know where mine is.

This morning, I wasn't sure that I could get out of bed when the alarm went off ... and trying to stand up was a delightful (not!) exercise in pain. Felt like someone had embedded a hatchet in my spine, just below the beltline. Walking was very nearly out of the question, but I didn't have much choice since it's a workday.

So my doctor happened to stop by my office this morning, on an unrelated matter. She asked about the heating pad I'm leaning against, and ... well, after a short conversation, she handed me some samples of a strong anti-inflammatory. It's only a two-day supply, but that should be enough to see me through the current bout of ouchies.

Between the Aleve, heating pad, and the sample stuff, I'm feeling much more relaxed, if a tad sleepy. I can even stand up straight ... well, almost.

So y'all are on your own, vis-a-vis a meaningful and/or thoughtful post. But I appreciate you stopping by, just the same.

While We Enjoy Lower Gas Prices

The price of regular gas in Anchorage has fallen to around $2.92/gallon. Yes, I know it's a LOT cheaper in the Lower 48, but we don't live there.

Now from the Alaska Dispatch News comes this eye-opener:

In Bethel, the cheapest gas is $6.67 a gallon at Nicholson’s Auto. In Barrow, unleaded gas is $7 a gallon at Eskimos Inc., the lone gas retailer. In remote villages, gas is even more dear. Filling up an SUV? That’s a quick $125 swipe on your debit card. While urban Alaskans are enjoying a gradual drop in fuel costs, those in rural Alaska continue to pay stinging prices at the pump.

It has to do with signed delivery contracts from 2014, and delivery dates. Follow the link to find out the rest.