Today was another visit to my acupuncturist down at Walter Reed in Washington. It’s been two weeks in between visits this time, and I could really feel the difference. My headaches had come back, and although they certainly aren’t as bad as they were before all this, they had returned and made things a bit more difficult over the past week. Nothing severe, mind, just a constant dull ache.
The acupuncturist was in as good a mood as ever, cheerily poking needles into me. There really wasn’t anything spectacular to report for the first half of the appointment, and I was rather concerned that nothing new or exciting would happen. But that’s when the doctor spun around in his chair and asked, just like an excited little boy waiting to ask Santa for a new Red Rider rifle, “Hey, do you want to try something new? I really think it will help your shoulders, it’s half homeopathic, half western medicine. I can inject it into your shoulders, mixed 50/50 with some lidocaine, and it’ll be great! So can we try it?”
I half expected him to get down on his knees, clasp his little hands, and beg me. It was really funny, but the humor ceased when I started to laugh and a searing pain in my forehead reminded me, “Hey, idiot, you’ve got six needles in your head, stop that!”
Eventually, his enthusiasm made me cave, especially when he promised that it would help my shoulders. See, I’ve always had incredibly tight, painful shoulder muscles. Massage would help temporarily, but nothing really seemed to do much for me. The acupuncturist explained that he would fill a syringe with half of this weirdo homeo-western medicine with half of the lidocaine, and he’d inject a bit of it in various places around my shoulders. So after the typical 25 or so needles in place for twenty minutes, he had me sit up, he’d poke around my shoulders until he found a spot that really hurt. And I mean really hurt. I ended up getting injections in about 8 different spots on each shoulder, and then five in my neck. It was tough, but no where near as bad as the last shoulder treatment he gave me.
After the treatment, my shoulders are significantly better. They’re so loose, they don’t hurt for a change, and it’s great. It was definitely, *definitely* worth it.
The final surprise from the acupuncturist today was a round of blood tests, and thanks to my hidden veins, I had to get stuck twice, and both of which have since turned into major bruises. Worse than that, they did one on the under-side of my wrist and it hurts so badly! Whenever I move my left hand it aches and feels like my wrist is collapsing. I’m thinking maybe they hit a bad nerve or something.
This afternoon, after getting home around 1:30, I had to run errands all afternoon because my brother is sick, had classes to go to, and couldn’t get a hold of any of his professors on the phone. So it was my job to run to the college campus, track down two professors, turn it a piece of artwork, and pick up an exam. I was happy to do it – Steve needed me to in order to save his GPA, and it was nice to go driving around, listening to No Doubt real loud, and going to Target to run through the clearance racks. I got myself a shirt because, much to my surprise, Target’s carrying goofy t-shirts that used to be sold at Hot Topic! I found a nice blue girly-T with a monkey on it, and it says, “Smile, it confuses people!” It was great, especially for only $8.00! It made me happy.
After I finally got done running errands, it was almost time for a church activity. A bunch of Mormons got together to play some basketball. Normally I don’t like the Monday night activity groups – I tried going a few months ago and didn’t have much success. But now that some new people have moved in and I’ve gotten to know a few more people, it was actually lots of fun. I got to hang out with the nice American man tthat I met Friday night, and a friend of his that I met on Sunday. Naturally, there was more talk of cars as we played HORSE. I think I need to brush up on my basketball skills – I certainly wasn’t as, erm, consistant as I had hoped I would be.
Around 9:30ish, about four people – including the two guys I played basketball with – came back to my house to watch a movie. Steven suggested ‘UHF’, so we all went along with that. It was fun, much better than what I had planned to do tonight. Which was, uh, nothing. 🙂 I’m so glad I’ve met some nice people in the area. Lately I’ve really been missing my old buddy Mike, who has since gone off on a mission for our church in Italy. He’s doing well, but it’s kind of hard to have him over for a movie or just go driving when he’s all the way on the other side of the ocean, you know? 🙂
You know what’s kind of scary? About 250 people read my blog today. Who are all of you, anyway? Oh well, at least my stats are good. 🙂 But seriously, who the crap are you people? Not that I mind, I’m just insanely curious. Come on, people, spill!
I’m a third-year linguistics major in Calgary, Canada. Exciting, I know. Found your blog while surfing around and decided it was interesting and well-written for a refreshing change of pace. Keep it up!
I’m a history student from England (and a big procrastinator, therefore I like reading (decent) blogs). I found your blog via a link from the BBC website to the Daily Prophet following the Child Net awards.
hey! there is another danielle…I thought I had written an entry in my sleep or somthing…:D.
I know what you mean about your missionary friend. Just a couple months ago, a friend of mine, Michelle, went to el Savidor. And it feels really strange not to have her around. But thank god for the internet…msn messenger saves the day. Except…I happen to spill to her her boyfriend she left behind is dating someone else…boy…was I bearer of bad news.
But I know what you mean, its hard to have a heart to heart somtimes…
another cool calgary person here. fyi, i stumbled across your blog a couple days ago whilst searching once again for toe-info. which reminds me – heather, did you get the email i sent yesterday about toe twins? yes, this is the same jessica. sorry, i’m not trying to stalk you or anything, it’s just that i’m hoping for your insight.
I am a professional bowler from Calgary. I found your site from the Calgary Bowling Association’s website. Ok, not really.
Lindsay! from er.. besthogwarts.. and we met up in DC and you created my homeschooling shedule last year, etc. 😀 although i could have just said lindsay and you’d probably have some idea :). i miss talking to you though! 🙁 my screename is now holyraindanse and so i’m never on any of the old ones… <3!
223 of those hits were me. I like getting blog updates in “Real Time”.
Just a guy in the Philippines. Maybe the only one here for legitimate reasons.
I’m unemployed and looking for work. My wife’s working and we only have one car, so that usually means I’m stuck home all day without a car. Every once in a while I get bored and try out a google search term to see what comes up. This time I tried “cool mormon stuff” but it came up with nothing. So I tried “cool mormon” and somehow your site came up. You must be a cool mormon :p
It’s always interesting to see what phrases you’ll find posted on the internet. Sometimes I search for inflammatory phrases to see why people are so opinionated and what they have to say about it. Usually I’m just looking for something off-the-wall and it usually pays off. But I ask myself, am I in pursuit of things that are virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy, or of good report? I think we as a nation tend to be more interested in the strange, the emotionally charged, and the controversial. okay, back to work …
I’m a Democratic presidential candidate from Vermont. I like red wine, bubble baths, and long walks on the beach. Kermit the Frog is my arch-enemy.
Okay, I’m from Georgia and I only read the blog occassionally, out of sheer curiosity. And Lidocaine, indeed, is a good thing. (As is acupuncture in general.)
(By the way, I like the new pic. Beautiful as always.)
My name is Mike, and I’m an internet ghost. Sorry for not being online much over break, dialup connection is tough 🙁
Talk soon!
Mike
I’m a singer/actor/student from Northern California, looking to make it big on broadway, or the big screen, or in Ashland for that matter… Found your blog searching for “attractive, mormon young adults from DC”. You were the first result. Don’t ask me why I was searching in DC, that’s just how it happened. Been a big fan for, oh, three or four years. We should chat sometime!
kthxbai
~~~!~@-Erick-@~!~~~
My name is Scott, ran across your blog while Googling for something entirely unrelated and have stuck around 🙂 It’s refreshing to read about a fellow young person staying on the straight and narrow, keep the faith 🙂