Gimpy Mumpy

Happy Birthday Mr. M!

Needled

Nothing worse than a reformed crip

While at one of my physio appointments this week I was cornered in the locker room by a former crip. 
She started off with "you've had spine surgery haven't you?" question with a quick "I knew it, I've been watching you in the pool" and moved on to telling me her laundry list of injuries, surgeries and treatments.  What part of me leaning against the door, dripping wet and shivering invited this conversation I'm not really sure of but the worst was yet to come.  I nodded on a bit and forced a smile until she started telling me what treatments I Needed and what I Should Be Doing.  grrrrr......
Who gave her the right? I didn't ask for her advice nor did I want it.  I wanted to be completely inside the locker room where I could get warm and dry and get the hell out of there.
Of course when I finally broke away into the ladies room I wasn't safe for long.  When I came out fully dressed and ready to leave she was waiting there for me.  Of course then she lectured me for dressing myself too fast. 

TB or Not TB?

Five years ago I had a routine PPD/Mantoux skin test by my employer, an inpatient psychiatric hospital.  The test was positive.  In order to return to work I had to have chest x-rays done.  I went to my primary doctor for the referral and post x-ray follow-up at which time I was cleared for work. 
Now five years later my new primary care doctor is in a bit of a panic.  When I had my physical exam with her two weeks ago the topic came up.  She was floored.  'You weren't treated with antibiotics?'  No, should I have been? ' You weren't given annual chest x-rays?'  No dammit, should I have been? So I am on my way today for our follow-up.  She needed time to check our local state disease control standards before coming up with a game plan. 
I'm hoping that nine months of antibiotic treatment will not be necessary although I have to admit that I am constantly in hospitals and medical facilities and so I probably am at a higher risk of continued exposure.  Anyone else have a similar experience?

Ewwwwwwwwwwww!

Mumpy's mom had her own trip to the doctor's today.  Turns out she has "The Crud" which is strep throat with a secondary infection.  (I thought about looking it up but the thought of what a Google search might produce made me feel a bit queasy.)  Ewwwwwwwwww.

Run limp away!  Run limp away!

Awkward Moment

One gimp and one non-gimp walk into a bar..........ow!
O.k., it was a restaurant actually.  My brother brought me to my physio today and we stopped for lunch on our way home.  After an uncomfortable greeting by the hostess (who looked me up and down and asked, "How are you today?" by which she really meant, "Wow, you look like hell" and was probably thinking "where can I sit this chic?") we were brought to our table.  Our waitress then arrived asking, "So did you two have yesterday off?" (yesterday being the President's Day holiday).  My brother and I just looked at each other.  I can't work and he doesn't work conventional hours.  We settled for an uncomfortable "yah". 

Textured Rubik's Cube for the Blind

The University of Zhejiang has designed a textured version of the Rubik's Cube for visually impaired users and those who wish to test their sense of touch as well as the challenge of the classic puzzle game.  Each side of the cube is faced one of the following six materials, wood, metal, rubber, plastic, stone and textile.

The Touch Rubik's Cube is now available through Yanko Design.
Via Gizmodo

Prosthetic Leg Fetish?

It would appear that we have a serial prosthetic limb thief on the loose! 
Stories of prosthetic limbs, particularly athletic legs, being stolen have become a recurrent event lately.  (See here and here.) What kind of person stoops this low?  What is their motivation?  Black market leg sales?  Frustrated thespians attempting to break a string of bad luck?  Or could it truly be a case of prosthetic leg fetish?  Perhaps this person has a bit of prosthetic leg envy. 

Off the Radar

What was that?! Two days between posts? Yes, Miss Mumpy has been away from the blogosphere this weekend.  The increased pain and fatigue from physio and the wind storm that knocked out local power and internet led to a quiet weekend break.  Divine intervention?  Who knows but Miss Mumpy did need the R&R.

Headline of the Week

Sorry folks.  I realize this headline refers to the increasing fear of bird flu and the massive loss of bird life and economic stability for those farmers who rely on raising poultry, but all I could picture from this headline:
Workers batter chickens to death in Indian bird flu battle
was this:

The workers did it?  No way it was the Colonel!