I found a new appreciation in life: A working laptop! Mine got hit with an ugly virus that migrated to my memory key and has made the normally simple process of rebuilding my laptop into a weekend-long project. I am finally back online altho I'm crossing my fingers about getting all my files back. I'm also grateful that most of my gardens are irrigated but Im truly grateful for the rain here in the Denver area, my water bill is the absolute lowest since we moved here 6 years ago. Blooming Amaryllis - walking around soaking in the green is awesome. I wish I had learned the beauty of it before my back injury but I suppose its one of those lessons I had to learn the hard way. My mom always said I was hard-headed. :) I admire the fact that you work from home, Im certain I lack the self discipline to do that. J - I miss the chipmunks in my parents yard back home in the Seattle area. They live in the crown of the maple tree that the driveway circles and have babies every year. I was out early in the spring at my house, "admiring" the vole, bunny and pocket gopher damage when I noticed a squirrel sitting on the fence across the greenbelt eyeballing my garden. I couldnt help but smile at him and wish him good luck in locating the bulbs the other rodents have not absconded with yet. Do squirrels make cute noises like chipmunks? Bonnie - Your sheer number of posts and growing gardening prowess is an inspiration. I admit that the todo list hasnt gone away completely... it is now cross-indexed with the "what shovel-wielding buddy can I ask for a favor?" list. Now that a good number of my perennials have been in the ground for several years, its really time to seperate them. Oooof. I've got to start racking up some favors with prospective shovel-wielders. Steve - One of the first things I thought of with my gardening after my back gave out on me, was you. I am blown away by your garden excersions, I feel a sweat coming on just thinking about your daily workout. Have you mentioned back pain before? If you are still out there day after day, you are an inspiration. Have you ever seen a physical therapist? Ive learned how to use the natural "girdle" muscles to protect my back but I really wonder how many longterm problems I may have and how much these exercises they teach will help. I do know that Ive had lower back pain for years now and I encourage anyone with back pain to ice their back whenever they can. I would do anything to keep from injuring my back again, it was worse than childbirth! I am also sorry that I cant write about my successes and failures with asian veggies even though I did buy the seeds. There is always next year! Ive been having some neurological problems and Ive lost most of my sense of taste. I'm choosing to look at it as another way to focus on the things I still have but it took me a while to focus on the positive. My husband is deaf in one ear but I sometimes wonder how much he can or cant hear, lol. Does your wife wonder the same about you? ;) I cant believe that about your eyes, thats awesome. Id like for that to happen before I spend another $200 on glasses in the coming year. Maybe Im due for a miracle?

Yeah, "thinking" will be on my New Year's resolution list for next year. If you are talking about going to an unlicensed "back alley" salon, yeah sure, of course they do not have licenses. There are unlicensed taxis operating out there, unlicensed speakeasys, unlicenesed daycare centers, all sorts of people operating illegally. Even doctors and lawyers have been caught operating unlicensed. And it is true that most states do not hire the manpower to properly police those who do obtain licenses to operate. No licensed business has a health inspector standing there every minute they are open nor do they visit once a week, not even monthly. Of course you could probably get a cheaper manicure by going to an unlicensed person. You can also get cheap cab far by using one of those gypsy cab companies that do not have taxi licenses and most of their drivers don't even have drivers licenses. I know of some underground nightclubs operating too. And daycare centers operating out of homes. I will still stand by my statement; ALL states require licensing for pedicure. In CA the license must be even posted right at the workstation not in the reception area. When I posted I was assuming that we were all talking about legitimate businesses and not patronizing those operating illegally. Maybe I will revisit this thread next year when I am able to do that new thing I've heard about called "thinking". It sounds like a lot of fun. Can't wait to try it!

Unfortunately, many technicians do not sanitize the jetted type pedicure throne sufficiently. The EPA approved liquid is sometimes just sprayed onto the surfaces or poured into the basin to soak w/water. But the water that sits in the jet pipes is not affected. And just blows the dirty water back into the basin when turned on. Skin oils, dead skin, nail clippings and product residue forms a perfect feast for bacteria. Add moisture, heat and the dark interior of the pipes and Viola! Best to bring your own tools. Polish is not generally a source of contamination because of the resin base encapsulates germs. Not that I want to turn anyone off of their beloved pedicures but definitely ask questions and observe the actions of the staff.

TKRs are not the miracle solution for everyone they are touted to be. Yes they help so many but no one talks about the failed surgeries . My friend had knee replacement surgery in September of 2018. Recovery seemed to be going well. Pain was minimal. Physical therapy was going well except she could not gain stability. Her doctor said everything was fine. He did a needle biopsy for infection and put her on antibiotics ,just in case. Her knee continued to randomly buckle under her. Finally one of the physical therapists said she believed there to be tendon damage and the implant was off to one side. She went back to the doctor and he finally ordered the MRI he should have done the first time she came back. The therapist's suspicions were correct. He blew her off and told her to find a specialist. She found one at Stanford. So now she is facing a full reconstruction along with a tendon repair. She will be in a nursing home to recover for at least 3 months. She will not be able to do PT for the new knee itself until the tendon repair is healed. Her surgery was originally scheduled for this September. However she lost her place to live and had to move so now it is delayed until March of next year. This is how Medicare/MediCal (government run healthcare for the low income) works in real life folks. She uses a walker and her gait has gone from bad to worse. She has never been a person with a good gait to begin with. I have known her for over 25 years and she always had a bit of a rocking/toddling gait which progressed to a drop foot shuffle as we aged. I have my doubts that she will ever not need the walker after all this time. She has no pain at all due to nerve damage. She never had really bad pain with her old knee really. Nothing that couldn't be controlled with OTC pain relief and she was very active and walked a lot. I never let the words cross my lips but my private thoughts are that she should have never had the surgery in the first place. They told her she should because her knee was shot and life would be better in just a few months after it was done. I think people need to think twice before undergoing this popular procedure. To alleviate unbearable pain? Of course. To continue with a sport or activity they love? Of course. To see if they can drop the walker or regain balance that is affecting the lifestyle they wish to lead? Sure. But I look around at people my age who are using walkers and canes and many of them have have their knee or knees done. Too many look worse off now than before the surgery. I never considered that the surgery could go so wrong for so many. Her knee reconstruction is not without risks. It is a long painful recovery. Reconstructions have an even higher rate of failure. But at this point she feels she has nothing to lose. if she can get to place where she she can use a cane or at least go to use the bathroom without her walker she considers that a win.