It’s time to get the results of last weeks test on Sue’s back. MRI, bone scan, blood test, etc. Paul took a walk and returned a little early this time so as to get ready for the trip to the doctor.
A couple of door downs the street Paul saw the butterfly going about its business but the background made it stand right out!
Did You Know?
- Butterflies range in size from a tiny 1/8 inch to a huge 12 inches.
- Butterflies can only see the colors red, green, and yellow.
- Butterflies have four wings and six legs.
- The butterfly can fly up to the speed of 12 miles per hour.
- Butterflies cannot fly if their body temperature is less than 86 degrees.
- Butterflies use their antennas to smell.
- After bees, butterflies are the second largest group of pollinators.
The butterfly was beautiful against the red background
Truly a magnificent flying machine!
Swallow-Tail Butterfly
A little farther down the street the roses leading to the front door were just beautiful!
The path way to the front door was well marked!
Now, to the doctor. He examined the x-rays, MRI’s, and bone scan and said the Sacroiliac joint was likely the culprit. Degenerative arthritis, or osteoarthritis of the spine, causes degeneration of the sacroiliac joints and in turn leading to inflammation and SI joint pain. One of the SI joints’ functions is shock absorption (depending on the amount of available motion at the sacroiliac joint) for the spine, along with the job of torque conversion allowing the transverse rotations that take place in the lower extremity to be transmitted up the spine.
So on Monday we are headed for an injection tests which is the final step in confirming the SI joint as the source of pain. A local anesthetic is injected into the joint space through the low back or buttock. If the injection causes a significant reduction in pain, it indicates that the SI joint is likely the pain generator. Most recommendations suggest a 50% to 75% pain score reduction is needed to confirm the SI joint as the pain source.
Left joint shown… There is another on the right
Not much to do now but wait. If surgery is required, recovery is about 6 months consisting of therapy, wearing of a support belt, and allowing only controlled motion.
OK, enough on the doctors front. We return home and rest for a few minutes before going to Old Ranch for an early dinner as the cleaning people are due ion this afternoon! The ranch was fantastic and we got to see Lilly the Swan swim in the big lake on the 18th hole. She was a bright as a dime in a goats butt…to quote an old saying. Her plumage was a brilliant white against the blue water making for quite a show.
Paul handled three small chicken tacos while Sue downed an entire vegeburger! We polished off a bottle of our special wine (non-alcoholic) and just enjoyed each others company. We can’t think about the medical situation…let that start again on Monday.
Home we go! We freshened up and awaiting the arrival of Mr. Greg! We are off to see “Little Black Shadows” at South Coast Repertory this evening.
“We is shadows. And shadows is seen, not heard.” In pre-Civil war Georgia, Toy and Colis spend long days on the plantation silently serving adolescent twins Mittie and Daniel. But in the dead of night their world comes alive, as they lie beneath their masters’ beds whispering stories to each other through a vent in the wall. When Father announces the family is moving to Louisiana, the children face uncertain futures. Do they dare come out of the shadows? A compelling testament to the power of the human spirit from one of America’s most promising playwrights.
Random Memories: Paul’s folks were from the south and of course, they were supposed to be racist, etc. Well, as I remember that was NOT the case. Paul senior was never heard making a racist remark, outside of a joke once in a while. In fact, Paul senior and his boss, Ralph Lebowitz, had a problem when dad wanted to promote one of the warehouse men, Ly, to a store manager.
Ly was black as the ace of spades and was missing some teeth in front. Dad paid for the dental work for Ly and put him as manager of store #5…a small dime store on La Cienega Blvd in West Los Angeles. Dad advised him on some matters and saw him grow into a good manager of people and business.
As I remember, Ly performed very well and in fact was promoted to a bigger store not too soon thereafter. It has nothing to do with all the 1960’s equality legislation…it had to do with a man who had an ability which was recognized and was rewarded. Ly was a good friend of the family. Paul senior was a wise and caring man!
Ly passed suddenly as we were invited to the funeral by his family. It was in a small town mid-state along Highway 99. Paul senior, Georgia, and Paul went and were the only white-folks there. We were treated like royalty among Ly’s friends and family.
Fire flies provided Toy with light to read by… Even though she could not read!
We arrived home and Greg came in and joined us for a glass of vino (our kind of vino) and we talked until about 11:30 PM. Greg headed home and we headed for bed… It’s been a long day!
