Chrysalis
Lest you all think the men with the huggy coats have come to take me away for a vacation, allow me to say that I am alive and well (enough.) Things are percolating behind the scenes here – still waters run deep, and all that dreck. This isn’t the official return-to-blogging post, but I figured I’d let you know some of what’s going on.
- Work sucks.
- I have a killer backache, and have had it for a few days now.
- My doctor diagnosed me with carpal tunnel syndrome, and instructed me to buy and wear wrist braces. The novelty wore off about three hours after putting them on for the first time. My doctor says that we caught it very early, and that I don’t have to worry about my knitting, which is good. Unfortunately, I think that the awkward angle at which they force me to hold my hands when I type is responsible for the aforementioned backache. I’ve taken them off for now and will wear them only for sleep for a few days and see if that helps.
- In the near future (probably tonight) things will be changing around these parts. Once upon a time I mentioned that I was planning an overhaul…almost a year later, I think I’m past due. Some things slated to change:
- Update to the latest version of WordPress (I’m only…oh…six releases behind)
- New theme/appearance
- Something, anything to stop the onslaught of spam
- Updated links, and a general sidebar cleanup
- Better, clearer, more organized categories
- Whatever other widgets and shiny buttons strike my fancy
This does, however, mean that I will be moving things around and playing with code, and therefore I will probably break a lot of things in the process. If you show up here and the page looks totally wonky, I’m probably aware and actively playing with it. I’ll post another note when the majority of the frobbing is done, and you can notify me of any bugs then. In the meantime, I beg your continued patience.
- There has been some knitting, though not as much as I’d like. I’ll have that, plus a couple fantabulous things that have appeared in my mailbox, when I return. Which should be soon. Really.
(Oh, and if you’re expecting an e-mail from me, it’s probably still coming. Just so you know.)
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1ellie
wrote on 10 October 2006 at 14:34
When I was typing all the time at my last set of jobs I went and got myself wrist thingies. I don’t know if they’d be an option for you or not, but they pull on like gloves – no velcro or wrap around – they have a little splint in them and then built in beanie wrist pads. I found them very comfortable. I got them at an office max type of place near the mouse pads and they came in 3 sizes. Also, I would guess that considering the company you work at, perhaps they have some kind of group that can evaluate and set up your workspace more ergonomically, especially if you’ve got a doctor telling you to.
Sorry you’re not feeling well though.
*Hugs*
2Carrie
wrote on 10 October 2006 at 14:46
Do you have one of those split keyboards? I have found that when I wear my braces I can still type on that kind, but not the standard one. Good luck with that.
3Miriam
wrote on 10 October 2006 at 16:14
If you’re using wordpress, the full version installed on your own server at least… not the free version from wordpresses website, then go to Options and Discussion and then choose for “Before a Comment Appears” check the name and e-mail one and the “previously approved comment” one. It doesn’t STOP spam comments, but it means that they don’t appear on my site. I can just go through and mark them in Spam in my comment moderation.
I feel the pain though (literally). And now that I have good health care, I need to go see a doctor and find out if I’ve got Carpal Tunnel or just tendonitis or something. And I need to see an OB/GYN about the pelvic pain and I need to see an ENT Specialist about the sinus infections, and I need to see an Orthopedist about the scoliosis. God… I’m 24 and I feel like I’m falling apart!
4Melissa
wrote on 10 October 2006 at 16:21
Akismet…upgrade to the newest version of WP and turn that sucker on! You’ll have to register for a page at wordpress.com to get the what’s it code to activate it, but well worth it.
5Erin
wrote on 10 October 2006 at 18:32
I’m glad they caught the carpal tunnel early. I’d hate to think of anyone not able to knit when they want to!
6Mouse
wrote on 10 October 2006 at 21:39
dude.. good luck with everything! I think I need one of those wrist thingies too with how much I’ve been on the computer recently.. my hands are killing me. Can’t wait to see the new changes! I’m moving shortly too and my new space is WordPress – I’m having fun tweaking it all.
7Rachel H
wrote on 11 October 2006 at 4:09
Just keep breathing, Sweetie. We’ll be here.
8katie
wrote on 11 October 2006 at 8:07
I hope wearing the braces helps at night – it’s done wonders for me!
Hang in there!
9Kristi aka Fiber Fool
wrote on 11 October 2006 at 8:55
Once you upgrade WP I think you’l find the now bundled Akismet spam stuff to work well. I get 2-3 spam that slip through every month or two, but it has really helped a ton with the spam comments.
Best of luck!
10taelixev
wrote on 11 October 2006 at 10:57
10/22/06…it’ll be good…don’t stand me up…(but it’s okay if you do…*but* i will cry…)
11jenifleur
wrote on 11 October 2006 at 15:46
Forget Akismet, go with Spam Karma 2. You don’t need the dumb api key and so far for us NOTHING bad has gotten through and we haven’t lost a legitimate one yet. It’s a nice little plugin that does all the work for you, yet you can customize it if something new in spamming comes along. In fact, there are a lot of neat new plugins for WP, it’s really turning into a great program. I don’t have any advice for the carpal tunnel or back pain, though.
12BigAlice
wrote on 12 October 2006 at 13:09
I am really sorry about the general suckiness. Back pain just makes me want to curl up and die. When I get the stupid lower back pain, about the only thing that helps is icing it (this did wonders for me- no heat, just ice for 20 minutes. Then I could actually move enough to go to the bathroom), time, and painkillers. BAH.
I hope work gets better (I know, snort of derision) and that the carpal tunnel goes away. That’s at least good news that you caught it early and the knitting isn’t exacerbating it.
13Chris
wrote on 12 October 2006 at 20:13
Well, they caught it early – that’s good, right?!
Fun bloggy changes! I’ve been using Akismet successfully, but upon Jen’s strong recommendations, I keep feeling like I should try Spam Karma… Smart Update Pinger is good, although maybe you’re already using that…
14Birdsong
wrote on 14 October 2006 at 11:30
Gee, sad to hear that there’s a list of wrongs… I have been able to avoid the carpel tunnel thingie, mainly by refusing, I think, as the odds have been so against me. I would try the gloves if you can find them as being less awkward than the braces, then give all your workstations the ergonomic overhaul to make sure everything’s at the right height, angle, etc. Yoga for your back…and massages. Hope things get better really soon.
15wen
wrote on 15 October 2006 at 19:10
I have been cleaning up my WP blog all day (a transfer from blogger and a yanking away from the sucktastic yahoo hosting) and adding plugins. Askimet is working for me, and there is a plugin called Maintenance Mode that will hide your blog while you make changes. MM plugin ) This whole fixing, blogging photo crap is a real time waster…
Good luck!
16Nicole
wrote on 17 October 2006 at 9:35
I hope you feel better soon.
17Elisabeth
wrote on 19 October 2006 at 9:08
Now you know why ergonomically designed keyboards look the way they do!
Did you see an actual orthopedic doctor about your hands? I ask this because I was misdiagnosed with carpal tunnel (using the standard tests for carpal tunnel) by a general practitioner and wore the braces and it didn’t help. I had to go to a specialist to get a proper diagnosis, and it turned out to be a problem with my thumbs. A lot of things present themselves as carpal tunnel that turn out not to be so it’s worth seeing a specialist.
18Susan (Plum Texan)
wrote on 19 October 2006 at 14:49
Just found you from Stalker Angie’s list of Stalkees – love your stuff! Donegal is gorgeous. I also wanted to say thank you for your 25 September post…I often feel the same way you did that night – so much to say, so many misconceptions held by others (who are basically good people), feeling so powerless to do anything about it. Many’s the time I’ve almost bit through my lips, too.
Hope you find some relief from your carpal tunnel – I know what it’s like! Oddly, I think the fact that I knit Combined or Continental (depending on the project) has *helped.* Good luck – you’re on my Bloglines now!
19Susanne
wrote on 5 November 2006 at 7:47
Everything ok?? miss your blog…