No, it's not a foray into a bad joke. It's my life at the moment.
I'm on my signifiicant others' tenth-year vet school reuniuon cruise to Belize and Cozumel. It's the first time I've been out of the country in twelve years...and I'm loving every minute--except for the hours I've spent worrying about how I'd ever manage to post my blog entries.
Shortly after embarking, I was informed that Macs are not this cruise line's forte. Consequently, there's no wireless available for ME.
After this news (which broke my heart and occasioned tears), I'd found myself a Spring Break boy with great tattoos, a killer tan...and a laptop. Hmmm...this might not be so bad after all...
So if you ever thought I wasn't a dutiful blogger, think again. As always, I'm selflessly considerate of you and your readership.
Now that I've tamed my seething anger over the wireless thing and gotten past the blogger's angst I'm so incorrigibly afflicted with (for now anyway), it's off to my private balcony for some solo sunbathing.
Yes, it's true...even vets deserve some time off to bask in the glorious Caribbean sunshine.
Though I miss my creatures (at home and at work), I'm feeling liberated now that I'm on a pet-free ship bound for ports-of-call where wildlife is the closest I'll get to my work life--except for the vets and our inability to talk long without the obligatory veterinary pillowtalk.
In fact, I don't think I've ever discussed novel blood clotting products at 11:30 at night over the strains of a mediocre salsa band. Does this mean this trip is tax deductible?
Predictably, most of the vets here are specialists and their spouses (who else can afford the time off and vacation fare?) but their company is supremely refreshing--not to mention stimulating blog fodder.
Throughout this personal adventure, I promise to still bring you news of exciting veterinary experiences gleaned from far frong locales as I get my tan on and hike the wilds of these thrilling Central American places.
Stay tuned...
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PetEdge has a hydraulic grooming table and tub I'm completely coveting at the moment, even though the only biggish dogs I groom are my own collie and the occasional rescue. An afternoon of wrestling ONE reluctant big dog into and around the tub is enough to make me swear off bathing friends' dogs for weeks!
Cait March 24th, 2008 10:24:00 AM
I just got a back massaging pad for desk chair my birthday recently. At first I thought it looked pretty silly but it's quite effective working up and down the spine - a surprisingly efficient Shiatsu-in-box experience.
Now I use it every night to unwind. While it's not going to help the full body, it certainly helps some of the back tension I get.
Laura Bennett March 24th, 2008 10:35:00 AM
I have a massage mat, too - it's full length and wonderful.
Even if you can't deduct a pro massage, do it anyway, your body will thank you for it.
Cindy March 24th, 2008 11:18:00 AM
The exam tables in the back area of my hospital drive me crazy - they are just tall and wide enough that I have to really stretch my arms across and stand on the tips of my toes for big dog restraing - which not only makes for ineffective restraint w/unruly dogs given my lack of leverage, but also makes for tired calves and shoulders at the end of the day. Luckily, most of my doctors agree to work on the floor for the ones we (my other coworkers are short females, too) can't restrain adequately on the tables, even though I know it must hurt their knees. And I wish we had a better setup for dentals - they're performed on the wet table. If you stand, you have to hunch over and bend your neck, and you start to feel it five minutes into the procedure. If you sit, you have a really hard time getting at the right angle to scale some of those teeth. Oh, if only ours were height-adjustable, too!
anna March 24th, 2008 12:57:00 PM
I know a lot of people don't like to hear this, but a good chiropractor can do wonders for this kind of problem. I have a really old shoulder injury that nothing else ever helped. A few sessions with a chiropractor and I have not had a shoulder freeze in the years since.
You might want to look at pilates - it is a considered less stressful on the neck than some yoga practices.
MLO March 24th, 2008 01:30:00 PM
MLO: I do Bikram and I sit out the neck poses if I haven't been for awhile. I'm so inflexible the heat makes for better stretches. The key is not to compete with yourself or others as Bikram makes it easy to push yourself too far. Pilates is *expensive* in my area! I have a DVD which is great for the abdominals but it hurts my neck, too.
Dr. Patty Khuly March 24th, 2008 02:13:00 PM
they look very silly but those ab rollers (kind of an odd shaped rocking metal frame) where your neck is supported and you can use your arms to assist in stomach crunches both on the way up and down, those are the best for keeping your core strong but not trashing your neck. I know because they are all I can safely use post-car accident 3 years ago.
if you can't have a desk at the office, how about a small but supportive chair? Even a backless one with a saddle-like seat (like what massage therapists use themselves, heh) There's one behind the desk at the salon if you want to take a look at one type...
caroline March 24th, 2008 09:28:00 PM
I second the suggestion for chiropractic. I'd also recommend a Watsu session, especially if you can find someone with a saltwater pool instead of chlorine. Watsu is Shiatsu-based massage done with both client and practitioner in a pool. It's gloriously relaxing and gave me back range of motion in a shoulder that had really locked up.
kabbage March 24th, 2008 11:38:00 PM
I'm a vote for chiropractic too. I shattered a collar bone during a judo class that left me with a metal plate. (about 4 years ago - I'm now 40) It threw my whole body off kilter until I stated chiro. I used to think it was a silly field until it worked for me. Can't argue with results!
I hope you find something that helps. Being sore is no fun.
(Judo is awesome-it was just a fluke accident from a bad landing due to an overthrow)
Marie March 25th, 2008 08:02:00 AM
Do you ever do your surgeries sitting down? The two vets I work with have been doing surgeries sitting down for 20 years to save their backs, they just set the table low enough and use adjustable stools.
Erin RVT March 28th, 2008 10:01:00 PM
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