Mossy Cottage Knits

I think the Coke can inserted in the back of the pants is ingenious! And it gives a pretty interesting visualization, too.

Having inherited bad back tendencies (thanks, Dad), I can truly sympathize. One of the best bits of advice I ever received in that regard, during a particularly bad episode, was from a chiropractor who recommended alternating hot and cold packs -- and the best part was the DIY, no-cost factor. He told me to moisten (fairly damp) two kitchen or hand towels, fold them however you can (nice size, but flat) and put each into a zip-lock plastic bag. Stick the first in the microwave for a few seconds, while the second gets good and cold (stiff as a board is not desirable, but it can work) in the freezer, and alternate them as needed (with a few minutes in between). The best part is that they're pretty flexible and tuck nicely into a waistband. You won't have that humpback-coke-in-the-pants look!

should generate some interesting hits from search engines too! do you ever wonder just who goes looking for some of the bizarre things that crop up?

guild must have been wonderful- all of you northwest fiber folk make for great entertainment when you get together (said with envy and a pitiful sigh)-

hope the back improves and you can enjoy the beautiful flowers- stay happy-

I spent an entire afternoon with a can on my knee in the spring after puncturing it on an open louvered window. It really did help with the swelling. Any chance someone's got pix of the Guild winners? I'd love to see the slippers as well as the hat.

See, Maggi, your question is exactly why I was a doof for not taking my camera (although now that I think about it, TMK may have had the photo storage card in her possession so I couldn't have taken photos anyway). No, sorry; no photos.

Barb, there's no question my back will get better, fortunately. The frustrating thing is there's never any reason WHY it does this, so I don't have anything to avoid in the future to prevent it. Argh!

Vicki, both TMK and I are big believers in the "wet towel in the freezer trick." We call them "towel pops"--you know, like frozen freezer pops?--and always have one or two in the freezer for emergencies. I like the idea of the microwaved one, though. I think I'll try it tonight.

Nathania, Vicki, yeah, the can-in-the-pants look is pretty funny. I'm just happy there was enough room in my waistband to FIT a can of Coke!

Ryan--the coke can in the pants had me first open-mouthed, and then chuckling....I guess it would work...you get A for ingenious effort, in any event. Thanks for the Guild update--I'm sorry too that there are no pictures--I missed the Guild because (a) I didn't finish my felted clogs and the felted bag I made was so mediocre that I wasn't even proud of showing it off; and (b) THE RED SOX were winning, and I had this awful feeling that if I stopped watching they might lose to the dreaded Evil Empire (aka Yankees), and so I got sucked into the game, and before you knew it, it was too late to go to Guild. Some may find this a lousy excuse, perhaps, but there you are. Knitting sometimes has to take a back seat to baseball.

AND speaking of baseball, and TMK's affection for the game, et al.--I looked on a map of New York, too and you know, Rhinebeck (or Ryanbeck) isn't all too far from Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. And if you do go to Rhinebeck, then, of course a trip to Cooperstown must be made. Been there once, and it is a real treat, for those baseball lovers among us. I love history and baseball and this place is oozing both all over the place.
Whoever suggested the train, I agree--it's a great way to travel, then rent a car while you're there in New York. Plan on taking at least 3 weeks, though, which is definitely doable if you plan ahead. You guys will have a wonderful time!
Mary
PS TMK, your woodworking wonder skill is impressive. I love that box you are making. What will be stored in it? Some wonderful treasures,I hope--maybe Ryan's yarn???

Hey cuz--I got periodic lower back trauma, too. Three times, I've had spasms of such excrutiating agony that I had to crawl to the phone and dial 911. Ice is truly your friend, preferably one of those big, squishy, re-freezable bags. But here's the thing--sitting is the absolutely worst position, stress-wise. You should be flat.

Try aspirin, too. Relaxes the muscles some.

I definitely wouldn't use the phrase "neener, neener" in this situation, though. Laughing is the last thing you want when you're in back pain. I've had my share. So has my hubby, poor thing. One year we were packing to get ready to visit his relatives for Thanksgiving. After a while, I suddenly realized I had not seen or heard from him in a good long while. I hunted him down all over the house. (I figured he was just avoiding the packing, dontcha know) He was on his hands and knees in the laundry room and could not get up. It sounds funny now, but it sure wasn't then. Well, ok, it WAS actually kind of funny, but not to him. I just couldn't understand why he was there for, like, an HOUR, without calling out to me!

What, Cuzz? You're not buying the self-medicating with a can in your pants theory? (I have noticed for the last few days that sitting is a real bear. I've reconfigured my office chair six ways to Sunday but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Unfortunately, until literally "lying down on the job" is deemed okay, my uselessly ergonomic chair it is.) Some day I'll have to tell you about the time I had to crawl down the hallway in my house, from my bedroom to the bathroom, and crawled right into the 2" of water that had leaked through the roof while I was asleep. It was NOT a good night.

Mary, you are not alone. Our Fearless Feral leader, Karen, stayed home from Guild to watch the Sox also. It seems your collective mojo helped them win!

Funny you should mention Cooperstown, since that is where my father is buried--and I've never seen the grave again since the funeral, although I've wanted to. (I tried once, but unexpectedly had a seizure that prevented the trips--but that's another long story). Anyhoo, Mary, you just added more motivation to the pile! (Although I gotta say, three weeks?! Har, har, har.)

Just HAVE to put my two cents on the back care. After my 2-year-long-ordeal of crutches and hobbling and ice and ibuprofen and percocet and threats of morphine and surgery and being dressed by Ryan because I couldn't navigate my socks, I discovered that standing is always better than sitting when my back hurts. So I have TWO workstations--one is for sitting days and one is for days when I prefer to stand to work. Of course, when you have a REAL job it's tough to talk the boss into two complete workstations for one person. ;-)

Also, in my experience, sitting still, or standing still for that matter, for long periods of time actually makes your back stiffen up and is that much sorer (is "sorer" a word?) when you start moving.

And I have to put in my plug for the miracles of the swimming pool. I'm a walking, lifting, moving testament to wonders of swimming.

;-) TMK

Yes, definitely 3 weeks. I mean, look, you'll want to take at least 4 days on the train, then 2 or 3 days at Rhinebeck, at least 3 or 4 days to visit your new friends, and then a 2 or 3 day trip to Cooperstown. (And knowing you've wanted to get to see your Dad's grave there, well, that about seals the idea for going to Cooperstown, now doesn't it?) Then the 4 days home on the train. That's 17 or 18 days right there. And it's best to set aside some extra time so you can stop and enjoy stuff that just seems to "pop up." You and TMK will have an opportunity to spend lots of quality time together. After 18 years together (congrats on your anniversary, BTW) you owe yourselves a real hum-dinger of a vacation. Yes, definitely 3 weeks. And think of all the knitting you can do on the train!!!

Mary

My family knows a thing or two about bad backs (and bad knees). We have that crazy height thing going for us. I'm the shortest at 6' and have two brothers at 6'4" and 6'7". We couldn't survive without the icy hot stuff. Salon Pas patches were what got us through the day (my brother calls them the good mojo) but Icy Hot has their own version now too.

Also, the best ice pack you can keep in your freezer are a couple of bags of peas. They keep the cold at just the exact right temp and they bend around funny shapes. If you do keep refreezing these you probably don't want to eat them but they aren't expensive and we never are without 'em.

Oh Ryan, your poor back. I second the peas. Works great. Can-tankerous? Snork.

I have to add my sympathies for the back pain. Since I threw mine out once by leaning over to see a necklace clasp in the mirror, I can guarantee I'd be using the can of Coke to swallow three Aleve. That's roughly the prescription strength I used to get, and the caffeine makes it stronger. Then I'd microwave our rice-filled heating pad. Too much of a wimp to use the ice, I guess.

My mom and my husband have both had back surgeries (twice for my mom), and they both advise getting up and moving around periodically. Well, that and not stepping into the car. Evidently, you're supposed to sit down first, then swing your legs in one at a time. I'm still having trouble with that; it's okay if you're wearing pants, but rather entertaining for your neighbors if you're wearing a straight skirt.