(no subject)

What do I want to accomplish today?

What, considering my pain levels (moderate) and lack of sleep (due to severe pain last night), can I reasonably accomplish, without pushing myself too far to go to the Diesel tonight?

The flowchart starts to branch out. Can I work on the books? In which case, moving bookcases or sorting nonfiction? If not books, DVDs? Items are less heavy, less likely to exacerbate arm pain.

Is pain too great, risk of ruination of later plans too great? Should I read? Which book? Should I watch something? I have Serenity on DVD, and Fight Science on the TiVo...

What low-impact tasks do I have left? (Most of the remaining tasks are high-impact and require assistance.) List them, list the high-impact tasks. Must prioritize. Need a bulletin board. Need to go to Target. Need to make a shopping list for Target. Also need to go get a heated mattress pad. Also need to walk around downtown, if only to find a post office, as I have two swaps to mail. Am I up to that today? Weather would be good for it. What low-impact tasks can I accomplish here and still have the energy to do that? Any?

The flowchart branches in all directions.

The difference between this and previous mental flowcharts?

Off the Trileptal, I can see everything on the flowchart. Previously, thinking of the mattress pad would have made me lose the reminder regarding the bulletin board. Now, I see it all, all the threads; I can rearrange it, like the computers in Minority Report.

Damn, it's good to have my brain back.

Final decision - even typing this hurts. Will stick to a shower, possibly a few very low-impact tasks, reading, and a nap. Anything else will leave me unable to function tonight, if I'm able to get there at all.

Daily Science

The Daily Science really isn't, today, so much as it's Daily Medical/Science.

***Using sophisticated brain-scanning and a carefully controlled way of inducing muscle pain, the researchers show that the brain’s dopamine system is highly active while someone experiences pain – and that this response varies between individuals in a way that relates directly to how the pain makes them feel. It’s the first time that dopamine has been linked to pain response in humans.

***Researchers at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development (J&JPRD) announced on 15 October 2006 that they have discovered a new molecular mechanism that may underlie neuropathic pain. The clearer understanding of the root-cause of chronic neuropathic pain, and the preclinical validation of new targets for pharmaceutical therapies shown in this research, together present an opportunity for the development of new ways to treat the severe pain associated with such common conditions or diseases as sciatica, diabetic neuropathy and shingles.

***In an article titled Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Tenderness, and Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Are They Different Entities?, researchers in Israel discussed findings on the resemblance between some of the features of fibromyalgia (FMS) and the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research (Volume 61, Issue 5 , 11/06, Pages 663-66), this article describe a remarkable level of FMS symptoms present in men with combat-related PTSD.

For my reference - stretches for pain relief, and the TheraCane, which I am officially putting on my $WINTERHOLIDAY wishlist. So I can get at that ouchy spot between my shoulderblades.

(no subject)

Oi, Bostonians - we need a local bank, as our bank does not exist up here. Recommendations? Warnings? Pie?

Another question!

Freelance writers: How do you get paid? Hourly rate? By the word? Percentage of ad revenue? Some combination of the above?

Specifically looking to hear from people who write nonfiction and web content.

Thanks!