I'm getting out of the house more now and that's a good thing. Not that there's anything wrong with being home because there isn't, home is a good place. It's just that I was forced to be home when that darn old sciatica was kicking my behind and nobody, I don't think, is ever crazy about being forced to do anything, you know? It kind of takes all the joy right out of it.
Last night I went out for dinner. To the Arab restaurant in town. And it was wonderful. I had the combination plate so that gave me a sampling of about half a dozen of their dishes. It was $15 and that included a nice big salad, a plate of hommus and all the pita bread you could eat (hot and freshly made, straight from the oven), and the combination plate that had various meats, lots of rice and some veggies. I ate and ate and ate, and still had enough to take home for two more meals. Guess what I had for breakfast this morning (smile)?!
Ethnic foods are probably my favorites. I love Arab food, I'm crazy about Chinese and Vietnamese, and who doesn't love Mexican and Italian.
Did you see that story on CNN yesterday about Walmart? A Walmart employee was in a terrible car accident a while back. She had Walmart-provided health insurance. She ended up paralyzed and with memory loss, and her husband had to place her in a convalescence home. He sued the folks who hit her and got a 400 grand judgement which he has been using to pay for her care. Walmart is now suing him, they want the 400 grand. They say their health policy states that if they pay your medical bills and you get a monetary judgement from a court related case, they have a right to recoup what they spent on your care.
Walmart, who seems to have all the money in the world, wants this couples' money, money that's being used to keep this woman in a care facility. One more reason to hate Walmart.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The latest email from Michael Moore:
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So? ... A Note from Michael Moore
Monday, March 24th, 2008
Friends,
It would have to happen on Easter Sunday, wouldn't it, that the 4,000th American soldier would die in Iraq. Play me that crazy preacher again, will you, about how maybe God, in all his infinite wisdom, may not exactly be blessing America these days. Is anyone surprised?
4,000 dead. Unofficial estimates are that there may be up to 100,000 wounded, injured, or mentally ruined by this war. And there could be up to a million Iraqi dead. We will pay the consequences of this for a long, long time. God will keep blessing America.
And where is Darth Vader in all this? A reporter from ABC News this week told Dick Cheney, in regards to Iraq, "two-thirds of Americans say it's not worth fighting." Cheney cut her off with a one word answer: "So?"
"So?" As in, "So what?" As in, "F*** you. I could care less."
I would like every American to see Cheney flip the virtual bird at the them, the American people. Click here and pass it around. Then ask yourself why we haven't risen up and thrown him and his puppet out of the White House.
The Democrats have had the power to literally pull the plug on this war for the past 15 months -- and they have refused to do so. What are we to do about that? Continue to sink into our despair? Or get creative? Real creative. I know there are many of you reading this who have the chutzpah and ingenuity to confront your local congressperson. Will you? For me?
Cheney spent Wednesday, the 5th anniversary of the war, not mourning the dead he killed, but fishing off the Sultan of Oman's royal yacht. So? Ask your favorite Republican what they think of that.
The Founding Fathers would never have uttered the presumptuous words, "God Bless America." That, to them, sounded like a command instead of a request, and one doesn't command God, even if they are America. In fact, they were worried God would punish America. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington feared that God would react unfavorably against his soldiers for the way they were behaving. John Adams wondered if God might punish America and cause it to lose the war, just to prove His point that America was not worthy. They and the others believed it would be arrogant on their part to assume that God would single out America for a blessing. What a long road we have traveled since then.
I see that Frontline on PBS this week has a documentary called "Bush's War." That's what I've been calling it for a long time. It's not the "Iraq War." Iraq did nothing. Iraq didn't plan 9/11. It didn't have weapons of mass destruction. It DID have movie theaters and bars and women wearing what they wanted and a significant Christian population and one of the few Arab capitals with an open synagogue.
But that's all gone now. Show a movie and you'll be shot in the head. Over a hundred women have been randomly executed for not wearing a scarf. I'm happy, as a blessed American, that I had a hand in all this. I just paid my taxes, so that means I helped to pay for this freedom we've brought to Baghdad. So? Will God bless me?
God bless all of you in this Easter Week as we begin the 6th year of Bush's War.
God help America. Please.
Michael MooreMMFlint@aol.comMichaelMoore.com
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Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So? ... A Note from Michael Moore
Monday, March 24th, 2008
Friends,
It would have to happen on Easter Sunday, wouldn't it, that the 4,000th American soldier would die in Iraq. Play me that crazy preacher again, will you, about how maybe God, in all his infinite wisdom, may not exactly be blessing America these days. Is anyone surprised?
4,000 dead. Unofficial estimates are that there may be up to 100,000 wounded, injured, or mentally ruined by this war. And there could be up to a million Iraqi dead. We will pay the consequences of this for a long, long time. God will keep blessing America.
And where is Darth Vader in all this? A reporter from ABC News this week told Dick Cheney, in regards to Iraq, "two-thirds of Americans say it's not worth fighting." Cheney cut her off with a one word answer: "So?"
"So?" As in, "So what?" As in, "F*** you. I could care less."
I would like every American to see Cheney flip the virtual bird at the them, the American people. Click here and pass it around. Then ask yourself why we haven't risen up and thrown him and his puppet out of the White House.
The Democrats have had the power to literally pull the plug on this war for the past 15 months -- and they have refused to do so. What are we to do about that? Continue to sink into our despair? Or get creative? Real creative. I know there are many of you reading this who have the chutzpah and ingenuity to confront your local congressperson. Will you? For me?
Cheney spent Wednesday, the 5th anniversary of the war, not mourning the dead he killed, but fishing off the Sultan of Oman's royal yacht. So? Ask your favorite Republican what they think of that.
The Founding Fathers would never have uttered the presumptuous words, "God Bless America." That, to them, sounded like a command instead of a request, and one doesn't command God, even if they are America. In fact, they were worried God would punish America. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington feared that God would react unfavorably against his soldiers for the way they were behaving. John Adams wondered if God might punish America and cause it to lose the war, just to prove His point that America was not worthy. They and the others believed it would be arrogant on their part to assume that God would single out America for a blessing. What a long road we have traveled since then.
I see that Frontline on PBS this week has a documentary called "Bush's War." That's what I've been calling it for a long time. It's not the "Iraq War." Iraq did nothing. Iraq didn't plan 9/11. It didn't have weapons of mass destruction. It DID have movie theaters and bars and women wearing what they wanted and a significant Christian population and one of the few Arab capitals with an open synagogue.
But that's all gone now. Show a movie and you'll be shot in the head. Over a hundred women have been randomly executed for not wearing a scarf. I'm happy, as a blessed American, that I had a hand in all this. I just paid my taxes, so that means I helped to pay for this freedom we've brought to Baghdad. So? Will God bless me?
God bless all of you in this Easter Week as we begin the 6th year of Bush's War.
God help America. Please.
Michael MooreMMFlint@aol.comMichaelMoore.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Okay, I know you've been as curious as me to know what in the world has been ailing me since February 22nd. Well, thanks to my friend Tallulahin the UP, I finally know! Sciatica!
This is taken directly from the Mayo Clinic website:
Introduction
The longest nerve in your body, the sciatic nerve runs from your pelvis through your buttock and hip area and down the back of each leg. It controls many of the muscles in your lower legs and provides feeling to your thighs, legs and feet. The term "sciatica" refers to pain that radiates along the path of this nerve — from your back into your buttock and leg.
Sciatica isn't a disorder in and of itself. Instead, it's a symptom of another problem involving the nerve, such as a herniated disk. Depending on the cause, the pain of acute sciatica usually goes away on its own in six weeks or so.
In the meantime, heat and cold applications, over-the-counter pain relievers, and exercise or physical therapy can help ease the discomfort of sciatica and speed recovery. Surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve may be an option when symptoms of sciatica don't respond to conservative treatment and pain is chronic or disabling.
Signs and symptoms
Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. You may feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it's especially likely to follow a path from your low back to your buttock and the back of your thigh and calf.
The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatic pain often starts gradually and intensifies over time. It may be worse when you cough or sneeze, and prolonged sitting or walking can also aggravate symptoms. Usually only one lower extremity is affected.
In addition to pain, you may also experience:
Numbness or muscle weakness along the nerve pathway in your leg or foot. In some cases, you may have pain in one part of your leg and numbness in another.
Tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling, most commonly in your toes or part of your foot.
A loss of bladder or bowel control. This is a sign of cauda equina syndrome, a rare but serious condition that requires emergency care. If you experience either of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately.
Causes
Sciatica frequently occurs when a nerve root is compressed in your lower (lumbar) spine — most often as a result of a herniated disk in the low back. Disks are pads of cartilage that separate the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. They keep your spine flexible and act as shock absorbers to cushion the vertebrae when you move.
But as you grow older, the disks may start to deteriorate, becoming drier, flatter and more brittle. Eventually, the tough, fibrous outer covering of the disk may develop tiny tears, causing the jelly-like substance in the disk's center to seep out (herniation or rupture). The herniated disk may then press on a nerve root, causing pain in your back, leg or both. If the damaged disk is in the middle or lower part of your back, you also may experience numbness, tingling or weakness in your buttock, leg or foot.
Although a herniated disk is by far the most common cause of sciatic nerve pain, other conditions can also put pressure on the sciatic nerve, including:
Lumbar spinal stenosis. Your spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that extends the length of your spine. It's housed inside a channel (spinal canal) within the vertebrae. Thirty-one pairs of nerves branch off from the spinal cord, providing communication between your brain and the rest of your body. In spinal stenosis, one or more areas in the spinal canal narrow, putting pressure on the spinal cord or on the roots of the branching nerves. When the narrowing occurs in the lower spine, the lumbar and sacral nerve roots may be affected.
Spondylolisthesis. This condition, often the result of degenerative disk disease, occurs when one vertebra slips slightly forward over another vertebra. The displaced bone may pinch the sciatic nerve where it leaves the spine.
Piriformis syndrome. Running directly above the sciatic nerve, the piriformis muscle starts at your lower spine and connects to each thighbone (femur). Piriformis syndrome occurs when the muscle becomes tight or goes into spasms, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. The pain may radiate down the back of your thigh but doesn't extend below the knee. Active women — runners and serious walkers, for example — are especially likely to develop the condition. Prolonged sitting, car accidents and falls also can contribute to piriformis syndrome.
Spinal tumors. In the spine, tumors can occur inside the spinal cord, within the membranes (meninges) that cover the spinal cord, or in the space between the spinal cord and the vertebrae — the most common site. As it grows, a tumor compresses the cord itself or the nerve roots. This can cause severe back pain that may extend to your hips, legs or feet; muscle weakness and a loss of sensation, especially in your legs; difficulty walking; and sometimes loss of bladder or bowel function.
Trauma. A car accident, fall or blow to the spine can injure the lumbar or sacral nerve roots.
Sciatic nerve tumor or injury. Although this doesn't occur often, the sciatic nerve itself may be affected by a tumor or injury.
Other causes. In some cases, your doctor may not be able to find a cause for your sciatica. A number of problems can affect the bones, joints and muscles, all of which could potentially result in sciatic pain.
Risk factors
Risk factors are health problems, lifestyle choices and inherent qualities, such as age or race, that make it more likely you'll develop a particular condition. Major risk factors for sciatica include:
Age. Age-related changes in the spine are the most common cause of sciatica. You're likely to have some deterioration in the disks in your back by the time you're 30, and most people who develop herniated disks are in their 30s and 40s. Spinal stenosis, another leading cause of sciatica, primarily strikes people in their 50s and beyond.
Occupation. A job that requires you to twist your back, carry heavy loads or drive a motor vehicle for long periods makes you more prone to develop sciatica.
Physical activity. Although walking and jogging have been associated with an increased risk of sciatica, exercise in general has not. In fact, people who sit for prolonged periods or have a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to develop sciatica than active people are.
Genetic factors. Researchers have identified two genes that may predispose some people to disk problems.
Diabetes. This condition, which affects the way your body uses blood sugar, increases your risk of nerve damage.
When to seek medical advice:
Mild sciatica usually goes away given a little time and patience. Call your doctor if self-care measures fail to ease your symptoms or if your pain lasts longer than six weeks, is severe or becomes progressively worse. Get immediate medical care if:
You experience sudden, severe pain, numbness or muscle weakness in your back or leg
The pain follows a violent injury, such as a traffic accident
You have trouble controlling your bowels or bladder
Screening and diagnosis
To help diagnose sciatica and pinpoint which nerves, if any, are affected, your doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a thorough physical exam, paying special attention to your spine and legs.
You're also likely to have some basic tests that check your muscle strength and reflexes. For example, you may be asked to walk on your toes or heels, rise from a squatting position and, while lying on your back, lift your legs one at a time straight in the air. Pain that results from sciatica will usually become worse during these activities.
If your pain lasts longer than six weeks or is very severe, or you have another serious condition such as cancer, you may have one or more imaging tests to help identity why the sciatic nerve is compressed and to rule out other causes for your symptoms.
These tests include:
Spinal X-ray. Because ordinary X-rays can't detect herniated disk problems or nerve damage, they're not usually helpful for pinpointing the cause of sciatica. A spinal X-ray can show most cancers affecting the bony structures of the spine, narrowed disks and spondylolisthesis, however, and can help rule out other causes of nerve root impingement.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This is probably the most sensitive test for assessing sciatic nerve pain. Instead of X-rays, MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to produce cross-sectional images of your back. The test can detect damage to your disks and ligaments as well as the presence of tumors. MRI is noninvasive and has no harmful side effects.
During the test, you lie on a movable table inside the MRI machine, which is essentially a large magnet. If you have a hard time lying still for the required period of time — usually 30 to 90 minutes — or you're anxious about the enclosed space, you may be given a sedative. Some MRI units may be wider, shorter or open on all sides, which may be more comfortable for you, although the quality of images taken with these systems may vary.
Computerized tomography (CT) scan. This test uses a narrow beam of radiation to produce detailed, cross-sectional images of your body. When CT is used to image the spine, you may have a contrast dye injected into your spinal canal before the X-rays are taken — a procedure called a CT myelogram. The dye then circulates around your spinal cord and spinal nerves, which appear white on the scan.
The test can show herniated disks and tumors, but it poses some risks, including infection and damage to the spinal cord. In addition, CT exposes you to more ionizing radiation than do regular X-rays.
Complications
In some cases, sciatica can result in permanent nerve damage, although this is uncommon. Depending on what's causing the nerve to be compressed, other complications may occur, including loss of feeling or movement in the affected leg and loss of bowel or bladder function.
Treatment
For most people, sciatica responds well to self-care measures. You'll heal more quickly if you continue with your usual activities but avoid what may have triggered the pain in the first place. Although resting for a day or so may provide some relief, prolonged bed rest isn't a good idea. In the long run, inactivity will make your symptoms worse.
In addition, try the following measures:
Cold packs. Initially, your doctor may suggest using cold packs to reduce inflammation and relieve discomfort. Wrap an ice pack or a package of frozen peas in a clean towel and apply to the painful areas for 15 to 20 minutes at least four times a day.
Hot packs. After 48 hours, apply heat to the areas that hurt. Use warm packs, a heat lamp or a heating pad on the lowest setting. If you continue to have pain, try alternating warm and cold packs.
Stretching. Initially, passive stretching exercises for your low back can help you feel better and may help relieve nerve root compression, but avoid jerking, bouncing or twisting.
Over-the-counter medications. Pain relievers (analgesics) fall into two categories — those that reduce pain and inflammation and those that only treat pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen, and acetaminophen products such as Tylenol can both be helpful for sciatica.
Although they can provide real relief, both types of medication have a "ceiling effect" — that is, there's a limit to how much pain they can control. If you have moderate to severe pain, exceeding the recommended dosage won't provide additional benefits. What's more, NSAIDS can cause side effects such as nausea, stomach bleeding or ulcers, and acetaminophen can cause liver problems if taken in excess.
If you use these medications, talk to your doctor so that you can be monitored for problems. In addition, periodically re-evaluate whether you still need them. Exercise, stretching, massage and other nondrug treatments can often provide the same benefits without side effects.
Prescription drugs. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication along with a muscle relaxant. Tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsant drugs also may be prescribed for chronic pain. They may help by blocking pain messages to the brain or by enhancing the production of endorphins, your body's natural painkillers.
Physical therapy. If you have a herniated disk, physical therapy can play a vital role in your recovery. Once acute pain improves, your doctor or a physical therapist can design a rehabilitation program to help prevent recurrent injuries.
Rehabilitation typically includes exercises to help correct your posture, strengthen the muscles supporting your back and improve your flexibility. Your doctor will have you start physical therapy, exercise or both as early as possible. It's the cornerstone of your treatment program and should become part of your permanent routine at home.
Regular exercise. It may seem counterintuitive to exercise when you're in pain, but regular exercise is one of the best ways to combat chronic discomfort.
Exercise prompts your body to release endorphins — chemicals that prevent pain signals from reaching your brain. Endorphins also help alleviate anxiety and depression, conditions that can make your pain more difficult to control. What's more, combining aerobics with strength training and exercises that maintain or improve flexibility can help prevent age-related degenerative changes in your back.
If you're new to exercise, start out slowly and progress to at least 30 minutes most days. To prevent injury, consider learning proper weightlifting techniques from a certified personal trainer, fitness specialist or physical therapist.
More aggressive treatmentsWhen conservative measures don't alleviate your pain within a few months, one of the following may be an option:
Epidural steroid injections. In some cases, your doctor may inject a corticosteroid medication into the affected area. Corticosteroids mimic the effects of the hormones cortisone and hydrocortisone, which are made by the outer layer (cortex) of your adrenal glands. When prescribed in doses that exceed your natural levels, corticosteroids suppress inflammation, thereby relieving pressure and pain.
Their usefulness in treating sciatica is a matter of debate, however, and they seem most effective when used in conjunction with a rehabilitation program. In addition, corticosteroids can cause serious side effects, so the number of injections you can receive is limited — usually no more than three in one year.
Surgery. This is usually reserved for times when the compressed nerve causes significant weakness, bowel or bladder incontinence, or you have pain that gets progressively worse or doesn't improve with other therapies.
Surgery is most often performed to remove a portion of a herniated disk that's pressing on a nerve, a procedure called diskectomy. Ideally, most of the disk is left intact to preserve as much of the normal anatomy as possible. Sometimes a surgeon will perform this operation through a small incision while looking through a microscope (microdiskectomy).
Success rates of standard diskectomy and microdiskectomy are about equal, but you're likely to have less pain and to recover more quickly with microdiskectomy. Possible complications for either type of disk surgery include bleeding, infection, injury to the nerves or spinal cord, scarring, and the risks of anesthesia. What's more, although you may experience immediate results from disk surgery, it doesn't stop degenerative changes and your pain may recur in time.
Prevention
It's not always possible to prevent sciatica, but the following suggestions can play a key role in protecting your back:
Exercise regularly. This is the most important thing you can do for your overall health as well as for your back.
Pay special attention to your core muscles — the muscles in your abdomen and lower back that are essential for proper posture and alignment. Pilates — an exercise technique for total body conditioning and rehabilitation — may be particularly helpful in keeping these muscles strong.
For cardiovascular benefits, try using a stationary bike, treadmill, elliptical trainer or cross-country ski machine. Cycling outdoors is also recommended, but be sure your seat and handlebars are adjusted properly.
Maintain proper posture when you sit. A good chair should comfortably support your hips and the seat shouldn't press on the back of your thighs or knees. If the chair doesn't support the natural curve in your lower spine, place a rolled towel or pillow behind your back.
When working at a computer, adjust your chair so that your feet are flat on the floor and your arms rest on your desk or the chair's arms, with your elbows bent at a right angle. Take frequent breaks, even if it's just to walk around your office.
When you drive, adjust your seat to keep your knees and hips level, and move the seat forward to avoid overreaching for the pedals.
Use good body mechanics. Being conscious of how you stand, lift heavy objects and even how you sleep can go a long way toward keeping your back healthy. That's because poor posture stresses your back, leading to fatigue and stress on joints and nerves. If you stand for long periods, rest one foot on a stool or small box from time to time. While you stand, hold reading material at eye level instead of bending forward.
Before you lift something heavy, decide where you'll place it and how you'll get there. Bend at your knees, not your back, so that your legs do the lifting. Carry objects close to your body at about waist level. If possible, set the object down on a surface between shoulder and knee height to avoid lifting objects over your head or bending over too far. Don't twist at your waist. Instead, turn by pivoting your feet.
Be careful moving heavy things when you're tired — fatigue can cause you to move more awkwardly. Heavy loads pose the greatest risk, so know your limitations. Don't attempt to lift something you feel is beyond your ability.
For the best sleep posture, choose a firm mattress. Use pillows for support, but don't use one that forces your neck up at a severe
Complementary and alternative medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to medical and health care systems, practices, and products that aren't currently part of conventional medicine — the care you receive in your primary care doctor's office. Many of these therapies are being studied intensely and some have proven to help alleviate back pain.
Acupuncture. Originating in China more than 2,500 years ago, this medical system is based on the idea that that health and life depend on a vital energy called qi — pronounced "chee" and sometimes written chi — that flows along 14 pathways in your body. When qi is blocked, disease and pain result. Inserting very fine needles into specific points along the meridians unblocks energy flow and restores your body's healthy balance.
During an acupuncture treatment, you're likely to have from one to 20 or more hair-thin needles inserted into your skin. Most needles are inserted superficially, although some may go deeper, depending on where they're placed and the problem being treated. In most cases, you won't feel the needles — in fact, many people find the treatments extremely relaxing. The needles may remain in place from a few minutes to half an hour or longer.
Acupuncture has received a great deal of attention from western scientists in the past decade, and studies of this complex medical system are ongoing. In 1998, the National Institutes of Health acknowledged that acupuncture appears to be effective at relieving a number of kinds of pain, including low back pain from sciatica.
Most important to the success of an acupuncture treatment is a skilled practitioner. Licensed acupuncturists usually have extensive training — up to four years of specialized schooling after college — and have passed a stringent state or national exam.
Acupressure. This therapy is based on the same principles as acupuncture, but rather than using needles, the practitioner massages or presses specific points along the meridians to effect healing. Although the results may be more subtle than with acupuncture, acupressure may be a good choice if you'd rather avoid needles.
Chiropractic. Chiropractic treatment is based on the philosophy that restricted movement in the spine may lead to reduced function and pain. Spinal adjustment (manipulation) is one form of therapy chiropractors use to treat restricted spinal mobility. The goal is to restore spinal movement and, as a result, improve function and decrease pain.
Chiropractors manipulate the spine from different positions using varying degrees of force. Manipulation doesn't need to be forceful to be effective. Chiropractors may also use massage and stretching to relax muscles that are shortened or in spasm.
In 1994, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, formerly the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, rated spinal manipulation as an effective treatment for acute back pain.
Hypnosis. People have been using hypnosis to promote healing since ancient times. In the past 50 years, however, it has experienced a resurgence among physicians, psychologists and mental health professionals. Hypnosis produces an induced state of deep relaxation in which your mind stays narrowly focused and open to suggestion.
During hypnosis, you can receive suggestions designed to decrease your perception of pain and increase your ability to cope with it. It also can help you stop habits such as smoking. No one knows exactly how hypnosis works, but experts believe it alters your brain wave patterns in much the same way as other relaxation techniques.
Mine has been a mild case. Okay, seriously major to me, but mild compared to what it could have been. In another few days I should beback to driving myself around, as well as getting back to my regular travels around town. I am so eager to be me again. And my uncle, who has been taking me around a bit so I could take care of my business, he's excited too. He says he's tired of driving Miss Daisy (smile).
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
This is taken directly from the Mayo Clinic website:
Introduction
The longest nerve in your body, the sciatic nerve runs from your pelvis through your buttock and hip area and down the back of each leg. It controls many of the muscles in your lower legs and provides feeling to your thighs, legs and feet. The term "sciatica" refers to pain that radiates along the path of this nerve — from your back into your buttock and leg.
Sciatica isn't a disorder in and of itself. Instead, it's a symptom of another problem involving the nerve, such as a herniated disk. Depending on the cause, the pain of acute sciatica usually goes away on its own in six weeks or so.
In the meantime, heat and cold applications, over-the-counter pain relievers, and exercise or physical therapy can help ease the discomfort of sciatica and speed recovery. Surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve may be an option when symptoms of sciatica don't respond to conservative treatment and pain is chronic or disabling.
Signs and symptoms
Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. You may feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it's especially likely to follow a path from your low back to your buttock and the back of your thigh and calf.
The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatic pain often starts gradually and intensifies over time. It may be worse when you cough or sneeze, and prolonged sitting or walking can also aggravate symptoms. Usually only one lower extremity is affected.
In addition to pain, you may also experience:
Numbness or muscle weakness along the nerve pathway in your leg or foot. In some cases, you may have pain in one part of your leg and numbness in another.
Tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling, most commonly in your toes or part of your foot.
A loss of bladder or bowel control. This is a sign of cauda equina syndrome, a rare but serious condition that requires emergency care. If you experience either of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately.
Causes
Sciatica frequently occurs when a nerve root is compressed in your lower (lumbar) spine — most often as a result of a herniated disk in the low back. Disks are pads of cartilage that separate the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. They keep your spine flexible and act as shock absorbers to cushion the vertebrae when you move.
But as you grow older, the disks may start to deteriorate, becoming drier, flatter and more brittle. Eventually, the tough, fibrous outer covering of the disk may develop tiny tears, causing the jelly-like substance in the disk's center to seep out (herniation or rupture). The herniated disk may then press on a nerve root, causing pain in your back, leg or both. If the damaged disk is in the middle or lower part of your back, you also may experience numbness, tingling or weakness in your buttock, leg or foot.
Although a herniated disk is by far the most common cause of sciatic nerve pain, other conditions can also put pressure on the sciatic nerve, including:
Lumbar spinal stenosis. Your spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that extends the length of your spine. It's housed inside a channel (spinal canal) within the vertebrae. Thirty-one pairs of nerves branch off from the spinal cord, providing communication between your brain and the rest of your body. In spinal stenosis, one or more areas in the spinal canal narrow, putting pressure on the spinal cord or on the roots of the branching nerves. When the narrowing occurs in the lower spine, the lumbar and sacral nerve roots may be affected.
Spondylolisthesis. This condition, often the result of degenerative disk disease, occurs when one vertebra slips slightly forward over another vertebra. The displaced bone may pinch the sciatic nerve where it leaves the spine.
Piriformis syndrome. Running directly above the sciatic nerve, the piriformis muscle starts at your lower spine and connects to each thighbone (femur). Piriformis syndrome occurs when the muscle becomes tight or goes into spasms, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. The pain may radiate down the back of your thigh but doesn't extend below the knee. Active women — runners and serious walkers, for example — are especially likely to develop the condition. Prolonged sitting, car accidents and falls also can contribute to piriformis syndrome.
Spinal tumors. In the spine, tumors can occur inside the spinal cord, within the membranes (meninges) that cover the spinal cord, or in the space between the spinal cord and the vertebrae — the most common site. As it grows, a tumor compresses the cord itself or the nerve roots. This can cause severe back pain that may extend to your hips, legs or feet; muscle weakness and a loss of sensation, especially in your legs; difficulty walking; and sometimes loss of bladder or bowel function.
Trauma. A car accident, fall or blow to the spine can injure the lumbar or sacral nerve roots.
Sciatic nerve tumor or injury. Although this doesn't occur often, the sciatic nerve itself may be affected by a tumor or injury.
Other causes. In some cases, your doctor may not be able to find a cause for your sciatica. A number of problems can affect the bones, joints and muscles, all of which could potentially result in sciatic pain.
Risk factors
Risk factors are health problems, lifestyle choices and inherent qualities, such as age or race, that make it more likely you'll develop a particular condition. Major risk factors for sciatica include:
Age. Age-related changes in the spine are the most common cause of sciatica. You're likely to have some deterioration in the disks in your back by the time you're 30, and most people who develop herniated disks are in their 30s and 40s. Spinal stenosis, another leading cause of sciatica, primarily strikes people in their 50s and beyond.
Occupation. A job that requires you to twist your back, carry heavy loads or drive a motor vehicle for long periods makes you more prone to develop sciatica.
Physical activity. Although walking and jogging have been associated with an increased risk of sciatica, exercise in general has not. In fact, people who sit for prolonged periods or have a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to develop sciatica than active people are.
Genetic factors. Researchers have identified two genes that may predispose some people to disk problems.
Diabetes. This condition, which affects the way your body uses blood sugar, increases your risk of nerve damage.
When to seek medical advice:
Mild sciatica usually goes away given a little time and patience. Call your doctor if self-care measures fail to ease your symptoms or if your pain lasts longer than six weeks, is severe or becomes progressively worse. Get immediate medical care if:
You experience sudden, severe pain, numbness or muscle weakness in your back or leg
The pain follows a violent injury, such as a traffic accident
You have trouble controlling your bowels or bladder
Screening and diagnosis
To help diagnose sciatica and pinpoint which nerves, if any, are affected, your doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a thorough physical exam, paying special attention to your spine and legs.
You're also likely to have some basic tests that check your muscle strength and reflexes. For example, you may be asked to walk on your toes or heels, rise from a squatting position and, while lying on your back, lift your legs one at a time straight in the air. Pain that results from sciatica will usually become worse during these activities.
If your pain lasts longer than six weeks or is very severe, or you have another serious condition such as cancer, you may have one or more imaging tests to help identity why the sciatic nerve is compressed and to rule out other causes for your symptoms.
These tests include:
Spinal X-ray. Because ordinary X-rays can't detect herniated disk problems or nerve damage, they're not usually helpful for pinpointing the cause of sciatica. A spinal X-ray can show most cancers affecting the bony structures of the spine, narrowed disks and spondylolisthesis, however, and can help rule out other causes of nerve root impingement.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This is probably the most sensitive test for assessing sciatic nerve pain. Instead of X-rays, MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to produce cross-sectional images of your back. The test can detect damage to your disks and ligaments as well as the presence of tumors. MRI is noninvasive and has no harmful side effects.
During the test, you lie on a movable table inside the MRI machine, which is essentially a large magnet. If you have a hard time lying still for the required period of time — usually 30 to 90 minutes — or you're anxious about the enclosed space, you may be given a sedative. Some MRI units may be wider, shorter or open on all sides, which may be more comfortable for you, although the quality of images taken with these systems may vary.
Computerized tomography (CT) scan. This test uses a narrow beam of radiation to produce detailed, cross-sectional images of your body. When CT is used to image the spine, you may have a contrast dye injected into your spinal canal before the X-rays are taken — a procedure called a CT myelogram. The dye then circulates around your spinal cord and spinal nerves, which appear white on the scan.
The test can show herniated disks and tumors, but it poses some risks, including infection and damage to the spinal cord. In addition, CT exposes you to more ionizing radiation than do regular X-rays.
Complications
In some cases, sciatica can result in permanent nerve damage, although this is uncommon. Depending on what's causing the nerve to be compressed, other complications may occur, including loss of feeling or movement in the affected leg and loss of bowel or bladder function.
Treatment
For most people, sciatica responds well to self-care measures. You'll heal more quickly if you continue with your usual activities but avoid what may have triggered the pain in the first place. Although resting for a day or so may provide some relief, prolonged bed rest isn't a good idea. In the long run, inactivity will make your symptoms worse.
In addition, try the following measures:
Cold packs. Initially, your doctor may suggest using cold packs to reduce inflammation and relieve discomfort. Wrap an ice pack or a package of frozen peas in a clean towel and apply to the painful areas for 15 to 20 minutes at least four times a day.
Hot packs. After 48 hours, apply heat to the areas that hurt. Use warm packs, a heat lamp or a heating pad on the lowest setting. If you continue to have pain, try alternating warm and cold packs.
Stretching. Initially, passive stretching exercises for your low back can help you feel better and may help relieve nerve root compression, but avoid jerking, bouncing or twisting.
Over-the-counter medications. Pain relievers (analgesics) fall into two categories — those that reduce pain and inflammation and those that only treat pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen, and acetaminophen products such as Tylenol can both be helpful for sciatica.
Although they can provide real relief, both types of medication have a "ceiling effect" — that is, there's a limit to how much pain they can control. If you have moderate to severe pain, exceeding the recommended dosage won't provide additional benefits. What's more, NSAIDS can cause side effects such as nausea, stomach bleeding or ulcers, and acetaminophen can cause liver problems if taken in excess.
If you use these medications, talk to your doctor so that you can be monitored for problems. In addition, periodically re-evaluate whether you still need them. Exercise, stretching, massage and other nondrug treatments can often provide the same benefits without side effects.
Prescription drugs. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication along with a muscle relaxant. Tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsant drugs also may be prescribed for chronic pain. They may help by blocking pain messages to the brain or by enhancing the production of endorphins, your body's natural painkillers.
Physical therapy. If you have a herniated disk, physical therapy can play a vital role in your recovery. Once acute pain improves, your doctor or a physical therapist can design a rehabilitation program to help prevent recurrent injuries.
Rehabilitation typically includes exercises to help correct your posture, strengthen the muscles supporting your back and improve your flexibility. Your doctor will have you start physical therapy, exercise or both as early as possible. It's the cornerstone of your treatment program and should become part of your permanent routine at home.
Regular exercise. It may seem counterintuitive to exercise when you're in pain, but regular exercise is one of the best ways to combat chronic discomfort.
Exercise prompts your body to release endorphins — chemicals that prevent pain signals from reaching your brain. Endorphins also help alleviate anxiety and depression, conditions that can make your pain more difficult to control. What's more, combining aerobics with strength training and exercises that maintain or improve flexibility can help prevent age-related degenerative changes in your back.
If you're new to exercise, start out slowly and progress to at least 30 minutes most days. To prevent injury, consider learning proper weightlifting techniques from a certified personal trainer, fitness specialist or physical therapist.
More aggressive treatmentsWhen conservative measures don't alleviate your pain within a few months, one of the following may be an option:
Epidural steroid injections. In some cases, your doctor may inject a corticosteroid medication into the affected area. Corticosteroids mimic the effects of the hormones cortisone and hydrocortisone, which are made by the outer layer (cortex) of your adrenal glands. When prescribed in doses that exceed your natural levels, corticosteroids suppress inflammation, thereby relieving pressure and pain.
Their usefulness in treating sciatica is a matter of debate, however, and they seem most effective when used in conjunction with a rehabilitation program. In addition, corticosteroids can cause serious side effects, so the number of injections you can receive is limited — usually no more than three in one year.
Surgery. This is usually reserved for times when the compressed nerve causes significant weakness, bowel or bladder incontinence, or you have pain that gets progressively worse or doesn't improve with other therapies.
Surgery is most often performed to remove a portion of a herniated disk that's pressing on a nerve, a procedure called diskectomy. Ideally, most of the disk is left intact to preserve as much of the normal anatomy as possible. Sometimes a surgeon will perform this operation through a small incision while looking through a microscope (microdiskectomy).
Success rates of standard diskectomy and microdiskectomy are about equal, but you're likely to have less pain and to recover more quickly with microdiskectomy. Possible complications for either type of disk surgery include bleeding, infection, injury to the nerves or spinal cord, scarring, and the risks of anesthesia. What's more, although you may experience immediate results from disk surgery, it doesn't stop degenerative changes and your pain may recur in time.
Prevention
It's not always possible to prevent sciatica, but the following suggestions can play a key role in protecting your back:
Exercise regularly. This is the most important thing you can do for your overall health as well as for your back.
Pay special attention to your core muscles — the muscles in your abdomen and lower back that are essential for proper posture and alignment. Pilates — an exercise technique for total body conditioning and rehabilitation — may be particularly helpful in keeping these muscles strong.
For cardiovascular benefits, try using a stationary bike, treadmill, elliptical trainer or cross-country ski machine. Cycling outdoors is also recommended, but be sure your seat and handlebars are adjusted properly.
Maintain proper posture when you sit. A good chair should comfortably support your hips and the seat shouldn't press on the back of your thighs or knees. If the chair doesn't support the natural curve in your lower spine, place a rolled towel or pillow behind your back.
When working at a computer, adjust your chair so that your feet are flat on the floor and your arms rest on your desk or the chair's arms, with your elbows bent at a right angle. Take frequent breaks, even if it's just to walk around your office.
When you drive, adjust your seat to keep your knees and hips level, and move the seat forward to avoid overreaching for the pedals.
Use good body mechanics. Being conscious of how you stand, lift heavy objects and even how you sleep can go a long way toward keeping your back healthy. That's because poor posture stresses your back, leading to fatigue and stress on joints and nerves. If you stand for long periods, rest one foot on a stool or small box from time to time. While you stand, hold reading material at eye level instead of bending forward.
Before you lift something heavy, decide where you'll place it and how you'll get there. Bend at your knees, not your back, so that your legs do the lifting. Carry objects close to your body at about waist level. If possible, set the object down on a surface between shoulder and knee height to avoid lifting objects over your head or bending over too far. Don't twist at your waist. Instead, turn by pivoting your feet.
Be careful moving heavy things when you're tired — fatigue can cause you to move more awkwardly. Heavy loads pose the greatest risk, so know your limitations. Don't attempt to lift something you feel is beyond your ability.
For the best sleep posture, choose a firm mattress. Use pillows for support, but don't use one that forces your neck up at a severe
Complementary and alternative medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to medical and health care systems, practices, and products that aren't currently part of conventional medicine — the care you receive in your primary care doctor's office. Many of these therapies are being studied intensely and some have proven to help alleviate back pain.
Acupuncture. Originating in China more than 2,500 years ago, this medical system is based on the idea that that health and life depend on a vital energy called qi — pronounced "chee" and sometimes written chi — that flows along 14 pathways in your body. When qi is blocked, disease and pain result. Inserting very fine needles into specific points along the meridians unblocks energy flow and restores your body's healthy balance.
During an acupuncture treatment, you're likely to have from one to 20 or more hair-thin needles inserted into your skin. Most needles are inserted superficially, although some may go deeper, depending on where they're placed and the problem being treated. In most cases, you won't feel the needles — in fact, many people find the treatments extremely relaxing. The needles may remain in place from a few minutes to half an hour or longer.
Acupuncture has received a great deal of attention from western scientists in the past decade, and studies of this complex medical system are ongoing. In 1998, the National Institutes of Health acknowledged that acupuncture appears to be effective at relieving a number of kinds of pain, including low back pain from sciatica.
Most important to the success of an acupuncture treatment is a skilled practitioner. Licensed acupuncturists usually have extensive training — up to four years of specialized schooling after college — and have passed a stringent state or national exam.
Acupressure. This therapy is based on the same principles as acupuncture, but rather than using needles, the practitioner massages or presses specific points along the meridians to effect healing. Although the results may be more subtle than with acupuncture, acupressure may be a good choice if you'd rather avoid needles.
Chiropractic. Chiropractic treatment is based on the philosophy that restricted movement in the spine may lead to reduced function and pain. Spinal adjustment (manipulation) is one form of therapy chiropractors use to treat restricted spinal mobility. The goal is to restore spinal movement and, as a result, improve function and decrease pain.
Chiropractors manipulate the spine from different positions using varying degrees of force. Manipulation doesn't need to be forceful to be effective. Chiropractors may also use massage and stretching to relax muscles that are shortened or in spasm.
In 1994, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, formerly the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, rated spinal manipulation as an effective treatment for acute back pain.
Hypnosis. People have been using hypnosis to promote healing since ancient times. In the past 50 years, however, it has experienced a resurgence among physicians, psychologists and mental health professionals. Hypnosis produces an induced state of deep relaxation in which your mind stays narrowly focused and open to suggestion.
During hypnosis, you can receive suggestions designed to decrease your perception of pain and increase your ability to cope with it. It also can help you stop habits such as smoking. No one knows exactly how hypnosis works, but experts believe it alters your brain wave patterns in much the same way as other relaxation techniques.
Mine has been a mild case. Okay, seriously major to me, but mild compared to what it could have been. In another few days I should beback to driving myself around, as well as getting back to my regular travels around town. I am so eager to be me again. And my uncle, who has been taking me around a bit so I could take care of my business, he's excited too. He says he's tired of driving Miss Daisy (smile).
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Another day, another bit of news about the scandals surrounding Kwame Kilpatrick, the mayor of Detroit.
Last night I heard on the local news that a Detroit police officer who had once been a part of Kwame's special protection unit sent a letter to the Detroit Police Chief, Ella Bully-Cummings. In it he said that hefeared for his life.
This police officer, a 25+ years vet, who was security for the Mayor at the time of the infamous party, says he has been harassed for years by fellow cops regarding this party. Most recently, since a real investigation is being undertaken by the media, a former commander approached him and said menacingly 'there was NO party', to which this cop replied 'there was this party and other PARTIES'.
Also, the MI Attorney General, Mike Cox, was on the radio saying that Kwame needs to step down. Cox said Kwame's outburst at the end of his speech the other night was deplorable, and that Kwame played the race card just like George Wallace and David Duke.
Some local ministers are (finally) speaking out against Kwame because of his use of the word 'nigger' in that speech. See, they buried the n-wordlast year, had a funeral and everything for it, and there was Kwame resurrecting it on live tv.
Here's something else.
Word on the street is that the reason MI AG Mike Cox said, after supposedly investigating whether that stripper party ever happened atthe Manoogian Mansion, that it never happened and was an 'urban legend' is because he (Mike Cox) attended that party, along with top State Police officials and who all else.
Word on the street is that Carlita Kilpatrick, the mayor's wife, was at home the night of that party, and attended it. Not that she came home unexpectedly as some have said. Word on the street is that Carlita attended the party and was cool with it until she saw Tamara Greene aka Strawberry (the woman who was shot to death) touching/doing somethig to Kwame that she didn't like. Carlita then went and grabbed a baseball bat and beat Tamarra down.
Another thing is, there were 3 strippers at the party that night. Tamara Geene was shot to death in Detroit. The second stripper, I don't recall her name, sorry, was found shot to death some time ago down south. I don't know where stripper #3 is.
Now I'm not saying that Kwame had Tamara Greene and the other woman shot to death. I don't have any proof of that. But it sure does look funny, doesn't it?
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Last night I heard on the local news that a Detroit police officer who had once been a part of Kwame's special protection unit sent a letter to the Detroit Police Chief, Ella Bully-Cummings. In it he said that hefeared for his life.
This police officer, a 25+ years vet, who was security for the Mayor at the time of the infamous party, says he has been harassed for years by fellow cops regarding this party. Most recently, since a real investigation is being undertaken by the media, a former commander approached him and said menacingly 'there was NO party', to which this cop replied 'there was this party and other PARTIES'.
Also, the MI Attorney General, Mike Cox, was on the radio saying that Kwame needs to step down. Cox said Kwame's outburst at the end of his speech the other night was deplorable, and that Kwame played the race card just like George Wallace and David Duke.
Some local ministers are (finally) speaking out against Kwame because of his use of the word 'nigger' in that speech. See, they buried the n-wordlast year, had a funeral and everything for it, and there was Kwame resurrecting it on live tv.
Here's something else.
Word on the street is that the reason MI AG Mike Cox said, after supposedly investigating whether that stripper party ever happened atthe Manoogian Mansion, that it never happened and was an 'urban legend' is because he (Mike Cox) attended that party, along with top State Police officials and who all else.
Word on the street is that Carlita Kilpatrick, the mayor's wife, was at home the night of that party, and attended it. Not that she came home unexpectedly as some have said. Word on the street is that Carlita attended the party and was cool with it until she saw Tamara Greene aka Strawberry (the woman who was shot to death) touching/doing somethig to Kwame that she didn't like. Carlita then went and grabbed a baseball bat and beat Tamarra down.
Another thing is, there were 3 strippers at the party that night. Tamara Geene was shot to death in Detroit. The second stripper, I don't recall her name, sorry, was found shot to death some time ago down south. I don't know where stripper #3 is.
Now I'm not saying that Kwame had Tamara Greene and the other woman shot to death. I don't have any proof of that. But it sure does look funny, doesn't it?
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
It's not just my cousin Michael who feels as if his needs are vastly more important than anyone elses. Kwame Kilpatick, the mayor of Detroit, has a serious case of entitlement too.
In past entries I've spoken about Kwame's troubles. The only thing that's changed is the list is getting longer and longer and longer.
Okay, he had an adulterous affair with his (now former) chief aide, Christine Beatty. The two of them, aside from making whoopee, also collaborated to destroy the reputations and careers of several long time Detroit policemen. The former cops sued the city. Kwame and Christine, despite swearing to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, sat up on the stand and lied. Lied when asked if they'd had an affair. Lied when asked if they conspired to fire those cops.
How do I know they lied? The Detroit newspapers did an foia and got copies of literally thousands of text messages the two exhcanged with each other and, lo and behold, there were texts proclaimng their love and insatiable appetite for each others charms, as well as how they fired the cops.
The proscutor is looking into whether she will charge them with felony perjury and prosecute them.
Also, back in 2002 I think it was, word on the street was that Kwame had a big party at the Manoogian Mansion, the city owned home provided for the mayor and his family, complete with strippers. Word was that Mrs. Kilpatrick came home early, discoverred the shenanigans going on, became irate, ran and grabbed a wooden baseball bat and beat the snot out of the stripper that was 'touching her husband'.
Word was that the stripper filed a police report against Carlita (the mayor's wife) charging her with assault. (She had to seek treatment at a local hospital after the assault.) The report disappeared and several days later the stripper, Strawberry was her stripper name, Tamara Greene her legal name, was shot to death in a drive by shooting as she sat with her boyfriend in front of his house in Detroit.
The bullets used were 40 caliber. Gangsters in Detroit don't choose 40 caliber, that's what the Detroit police use. There was never any real investigation of her murder.
The MI Attorney General, Mike Cox, was called in to investigate the allegations about the party and the strippers. He decreed it was all an urban legend and untrue.
The other day an elderly woman who retired several years ago as a clerk for the police department gave a sworn deposition that she saw the report that Tamara Grene filed.
Other homicide detectives have sworn that the case file on Greene's murder keeps getting thinner and thinner.
Those police I told you about who Kwame and Christine conspired to fire? They were fired because they were investigating the party and the stripper's death.
I forgot to tell you this part. Those police who were fired sued the city. Kwame, for years, refused to settle out of court. He was innocent, he said. The jury believed the cops. Kwame swore to appeal the verdict. And then----the lawyer for the cops told Kwame they had text messages to support the charges! And Kwame agreed that the city would pay out 9 million dollars to those cops.
Last night Kwame got up on the stage and deliverred his annual State of the City address. Only 3 city council members sat behind him on the stage. Martha Reeves, formerly Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, was one of them.
Kwame spent maybe an hour of his speech patting himself on the back for all of the good things he's done for Detroit in the past year. The last five minutes or so, well, he lost his mind. That's the kindest thing I can think to say about his behavior. Most 'notable' was that he played the race card. He was being lynched by the (white) media, etc. etc. etc.
You can read all about it at www.freep.com or www.clickondetroit.com or www.myfoxdetroit.com just to name a few spots.
Yesterday the governor of New York was on tv about using the services of a high priced call girl outfit. Today he resigned.
Why doesn't Kwame just do the city and the citizens of Detroit a favor and throw in the towel?
Kwame and my cousin Michael have so much in common.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
In past entries I've spoken about Kwame's troubles. The only thing that's changed is the list is getting longer and longer and longer.
Okay, he had an adulterous affair with his (now former) chief aide, Christine Beatty. The two of them, aside from making whoopee, also collaborated to destroy the reputations and careers of several long time Detroit policemen. The former cops sued the city. Kwame and Christine, despite swearing to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, sat up on the stand and lied. Lied when asked if they'd had an affair. Lied when asked if they conspired to fire those cops.
How do I know they lied? The Detroit newspapers did an foia and got copies of literally thousands of text messages the two exhcanged with each other and, lo and behold, there were texts proclaimng their love and insatiable appetite for each others charms, as well as how they fired the cops.
The proscutor is looking into whether she will charge them with felony perjury and prosecute them.
Also, back in 2002 I think it was, word on the street was that Kwame had a big party at the Manoogian Mansion, the city owned home provided for the mayor and his family, complete with strippers. Word was that Mrs. Kilpatrick came home early, discoverred the shenanigans going on, became irate, ran and grabbed a wooden baseball bat and beat the snot out of the stripper that was 'touching her husband'.
Word was that the stripper filed a police report against Carlita (the mayor's wife) charging her with assault. (She had to seek treatment at a local hospital after the assault.) The report disappeared and several days later the stripper, Strawberry was her stripper name, Tamara Greene her legal name, was shot to death in a drive by shooting as she sat with her boyfriend in front of his house in Detroit.
The bullets used were 40 caliber. Gangsters in Detroit don't choose 40 caliber, that's what the Detroit police use. There was never any real investigation of her murder.
The MI Attorney General, Mike Cox, was called in to investigate the allegations about the party and the strippers. He decreed it was all an urban legend and untrue.
The other day an elderly woman who retired several years ago as a clerk for the police department gave a sworn deposition that she saw the report that Tamara Grene filed.
Other homicide detectives have sworn that the case file on Greene's murder keeps getting thinner and thinner.
Those police I told you about who Kwame and Christine conspired to fire? They were fired because they were investigating the party and the stripper's death.
I forgot to tell you this part. Those police who were fired sued the city. Kwame, for years, refused to settle out of court. He was innocent, he said. The jury believed the cops. Kwame swore to appeal the verdict. And then----the lawyer for the cops told Kwame they had text messages to support the charges! And Kwame agreed that the city would pay out 9 million dollars to those cops.
Last night Kwame got up on the stage and deliverred his annual State of the City address. Only 3 city council members sat behind him on the stage. Martha Reeves, formerly Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, was one of them.
Kwame spent maybe an hour of his speech patting himself on the back for all of the good things he's done for Detroit in the past year. The last five minutes or so, well, he lost his mind. That's the kindest thing I can think to say about his behavior. Most 'notable' was that he played the race card. He was being lynched by the (white) media, etc. etc. etc.
You can read all about it at www.freep.com or www.clickondetroit.com or www.myfoxdetroit.com just to name a few spots.
Yesterday the governor of New York was on tv about using the services of a high priced call girl outfit. Today he resigned.
Why doesn't Kwame just do the city and the citizens of Detroit a favor and throw in the towel?
Kwame and my cousin Michael have so much in common.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Talking about my family in yesterday's entry got me thinking about something that happened when my Uncle Richard died. If I've already told you about this, well, I'm preparing you for when I get old and seriously repetitous (smile).
Uncle Richard lived in Mississippi. Bless his heart, he was old and had been ill for some time, and he died during the summer. Now Michigan can be hot and humid in the summer, but Mississippi is always hot and unbearable in the summer. Always. So when my family started making plans to go down for the funeral, I said right away nope, I'm not going.
Bob and Gloria Jean have a big camper thingie and they decided to drive it to Mississippi, that way they could give rides to anyone who wanted to go but couldn't afford the gas, or didn't have a reliable ride, or was old and infirm, etc. Aunt Shug (Uncle Richard was one of her exhusbands), her sisters Alberta and Big Gal, they rode in the camper. So did my cousins Trish and Michael (Richard was their father), and several other of my cousins, one of whom is a Detroit police officer.
Bob is a recovering alcoholic. He's a nice man, a good man and would do anything for you. He loves Gloria Jean madly and passionately.
Bob only had one rule for folks riding in the camper. There could be no drinking of alcoholic beverages. Okay, and no drug use either, but everybody knew that, even Michael, but he was clean those couple ofweeks so it wasn't an issue.
I think they were someplace in Tennessee maybe when Bob discoverred that Michael was drinking. Put it up, he told him. Several times. And Michael ignored Bob and kept on drinking. 'What's that MF going to do about it?' they said Michael growled.
Well, after Bob had his fill of Michael and his crap, he pulled that camper over to the side of the interstate and ordered Michael to get out. Apparently everyone got out of the camper. The old women--Shug, Alberta, Big Gal--were wailing. Michael was trying to hit Bob, the cop cousin was trying to break it up, when the TN police pulled up.
After all was said and done, Michael was handed over to the TN police with enough money to get him back to Detroit on the bus and their promise to personally put him on a north bound bus.
I heard there was some grumbling, probably from Shug about doing her baby like that, but there was renewed respect for Bob from everyone else, both ones on the camper and ones who heard the story afterwards.
See, Michael has always been one of those who believes what he wants is more important than what anyone else wants. Bob is short, late 50's and Michael figured he could strong arm him. Michael is hell on old, weak people. Surprise! surprise! when Bob turned out to have big balls(smile).
I sincerely wish that Michael would get off the crack pipe, but wishing is like pissing in the wind, all you get is wet.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Uncle Richard lived in Mississippi. Bless his heart, he was old and had been ill for some time, and he died during the summer. Now Michigan can be hot and humid in the summer, but Mississippi is always hot and unbearable in the summer. Always. So when my family started making plans to go down for the funeral, I said right away nope, I'm not going.
Bob and Gloria Jean have a big camper thingie and they decided to drive it to Mississippi, that way they could give rides to anyone who wanted to go but couldn't afford the gas, or didn't have a reliable ride, or was old and infirm, etc. Aunt Shug (Uncle Richard was one of her exhusbands), her sisters Alberta and Big Gal, they rode in the camper. So did my cousins Trish and Michael (Richard was their father), and several other of my cousins, one of whom is a Detroit police officer.
Bob is a recovering alcoholic. He's a nice man, a good man and would do anything for you. He loves Gloria Jean madly and passionately.
Bob only had one rule for folks riding in the camper. There could be no drinking of alcoholic beverages. Okay, and no drug use either, but everybody knew that, even Michael, but he was clean those couple ofweeks so it wasn't an issue.
I think they were someplace in Tennessee maybe when Bob discoverred that Michael was drinking. Put it up, he told him. Several times. And Michael ignored Bob and kept on drinking. 'What's that MF going to do about it?' they said Michael growled.
Well, after Bob had his fill of Michael and his crap, he pulled that camper over to the side of the interstate and ordered Michael to get out. Apparently everyone got out of the camper. The old women--Shug, Alberta, Big Gal--were wailing. Michael was trying to hit Bob, the cop cousin was trying to break it up, when the TN police pulled up.
After all was said and done, Michael was handed over to the TN police with enough money to get him back to Detroit on the bus and their promise to personally put him on a north bound bus.
I heard there was some grumbling, probably from Shug about doing her baby like that, but there was renewed respect for Bob from everyone else, both ones on the camper and ones who heard the story afterwards.
See, Michael has always been one of those who believes what he wants is more important than what anyone else wants. Bob is short, late 50's and Michael figured he could strong arm him. Michael is hell on old, weak people. Surprise! surprise! when Bob turned out to have big balls(smile).
I sincerely wish that Michael would get off the crack pipe, but wishing is like pissing in the wind, all you get is wet.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Monday, March 10, 2008
If you're tired of hearing me whine, I don't blame you one bit; I'm tired of it too. The sad fact is I'm still not all better. I'm a lot better than I was, and that's a very good thing, but I'm not back to independent me yet.
Since last we spoke I've left the house twice and that's progress. It was also necessary for my mental health (smile). My uncle came by and took me out to run my errands, but he made me stay in the car while he went in and out of the bank, post office, etc. It was good to get some fresh air, but......Last Friday he came by again, this time to take me to Costco. Since he doesn't have a membership I got to go in the store! Big deal, right? A trip to Costco, wowee. But when you've been in the house for as long as I have it felt down right good and satisfying to limp up and down the aisles!
I've given up guessing when I'm going to be able to drive myself anyplace. My leg will be better when it's better, that's my new motto.
I'm staying occupied, I'm not bored, that's a blessing. I've been reading my books and best of all, talking with you.
One of the last times I was out of the house before I pulled that blasted muscle in my leg, I visited my Aunt Shug. Aunt Shug is 80+ years old. A few years back the family held an 80th birthday dinner party for her and it was quite the affair.
Since her 80th birthday, one of her daughter's and her husband, GloriaJean and Bob, bought her a house. It's a modest dwelling, brick, 3bedrooms, in Detroit. Several of Aunt Shug's children, for various reasons, have moved in with her.
I was over to see her because it was her birthday and I wanted to giveher a few dollars. What can you buy an elderly woman? I couldn't think of a thing and cash is always appreciated, right? Shug likes going tothe casinos in Detroit and a hundred dollars gives her lots of slot machine time.
Shug has a bunch of kids. I've talked about a few of them before--GloriaJean (and her husband, Bob), Earl Lee, maybe others, I can't remember.
Well, Michael, her youngest, who's somewhere in his 40's, lives with Shug. When he's clean, Michael is delightful. When he's smoking crack he's a piece of garbage. And the only time Michael is clean is when he just gets out of jail.
Michael's woman, also a crackhead, and never delightful, lives at Shug's too. They call her basement their home. The basement is a filthy stinky mess.
When Michael found out Shug had a hundred dollars he tried to strong armher for it. You know, threatened her, knocked her around. Shug finally got to the kitchen and pulled a knife on him and that stopped him in his tracks.
It confounds everyone, her kids and the rest of the family, that Shug won't put him out of her house or let someone else do it for her. An old woman should not have to put up with that kind of crap. She says he's her baby, she loves him. Okay, I can go for that, but how do you live with a crackhead in your house? He's not Michael these days, he's a crackhead. A crackhead who puts his hands on his mother.
It's almost inevitable that one day something really bad is going to happen at Shug's house. And that's sad because everyone knows it, everyone accepts it, nobody does anything about it because Shug won't hear of it.
If you have a crackhead in your family, my heart goes out to you.
Be good, be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Since last we spoke I've left the house twice and that's progress. It was also necessary for my mental health (smile). My uncle came by and took me out to run my errands, but he made me stay in the car while he went in and out of the bank, post office, etc. It was good to get some fresh air, but......Last Friday he came by again, this time to take me to Costco. Since he doesn't have a membership I got to go in the store! Big deal, right? A trip to Costco, wowee. But when you've been in the house for as long as I have it felt down right good and satisfying to limp up and down the aisles!
I've given up guessing when I'm going to be able to drive myself anyplace. My leg will be better when it's better, that's my new motto.
I'm staying occupied, I'm not bored, that's a blessing. I've been reading my books and best of all, talking with you.
One of the last times I was out of the house before I pulled that blasted muscle in my leg, I visited my Aunt Shug. Aunt Shug is 80+ years old. A few years back the family held an 80th birthday dinner party for her and it was quite the affair.
Since her 80th birthday, one of her daughter's and her husband, GloriaJean and Bob, bought her a house. It's a modest dwelling, brick, 3bedrooms, in Detroit. Several of Aunt Shug's children, for various reasons, have moved in with her.
I was over to see her because it was her birthday and I wanted to giveher a few dollars. What can you buy an elderly woman? I couldn't think of a thing and cash is always appreciated, right? Shug likes going tothe casinos in Detroit and a hundred dollars gives her lots of slot machine time.
Shug has a bunch of kids. I've talked about a few of them before--GloriaJean (and her husband, Bob), Earl Lee, maybe others, I can't remember.
Well, Michael, her youngest, who's somewhere in his 40's, lives with Shug. When he's clean, Michael is delightful. When he's smoking crack he's a piece of garbage. And the only time Michael is clean is when he just gets out of jail.
Michael's woman, also a crackhead, and never delightful, lives at Shug's too. They call her basement their home. The basement is a filthy stinky mess.
When Michael found out Shug had a hundred dollars he tried to strong armher for it. You know, threatened her, knocked her around. Shug finally got to the kitchen and pulled a knife on him and that stopped him in his tracks.
It confounds everyone, her kids and the rest of the family, that Shug won't put him out of her house or let someone else do it for her. An old woman should not have to put up with that kind of crap. She says he's her baby, she loves him. Okay, I can go for that, but how do you live with a crackhead in your house? He's not Michael these days, he's a crackhead. A crackhead who puts his hands on his mother.
It's almost inevitable that one day something really bad is going to happen at Shug's house. And that's sad because everyone knows it, everyone accepts it, nobody does anything about it because Shug won't hear of it.
If you have a crackhead in your family, my heart goes out to you.
Be good, be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Monday, March 03, 2008
My plan was that I wasn't going to write anything for the blog until my leg was all better and I could go to the library and do this all by myself. My projected out date was today. Ten days of being in the house,I thought, was long enough to heal anything.
Okay, so my time line was off. I'm much better than I was, but not exactly back to normal yet. So, because it's been so doggone long since I wrote anything, here I am sending my writings to HSM to post for me. Oh well, maybe Wednesday will be my day of liberation.
Do you read Popular Science, the magazine? I have the July 2007 issue and you know what? It's pretty darn interesting. I went online last night and bought a 2 year subscription, that's how much I'm enjoying it.They have lots of content online that you can read without a subscription. If you'd like to see for yourself, it's www.popsci.com
In one of their articles they gave this website www.mycybertwin.com Supposedly (and I say supposedly because I haven't had an opporunity tocheck it out yet) this service will automatically reply to instant messenges for you so you don't have to. And reply to them in such a way that it sounds like you, not someone else. ?????
How's the weather where you are? During these past ten days that I've been house bound we've had at least 3 snowstorms and today, I do believe, the weather people are calling for a high of 50 something and rain. Followed by snow tonight and tomorrow. I agree, it's crazy.
Well, that's it for today. It was good talking to you again. You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Okay, so my time line was off. I'm much better than I was, but not exactly back to normal yet. So, because it's been so doggone long since I wrote anything, here I am sending my writings to HSM to post for me. Oh well, maybe Wednesday will be my day of liberation.
Do you read Popular Science, the magazine? I have the July 2007 issue and you know what? It's pretty darn interesting. I went online last night and bought a 2 year subscription, that's how much I'm enjoying it.They have lots of content online that you can read without a subscription. If you'd like to see for yourself, it's www.popsci.com
In one of their articles they gave this website www.mycybertwin.com Supposedly (and I say supposedly because I haven't had an opporunity tocheck it out yet) this service will automatically reply to instant messenges for you so you don't have to. And reply to them in such a way that it sounds like you, not someone else. ?????
How's the weather where you are? During these past ten days that I've been house bound we've had at least 3 snowstorms and today, I do believe, the weather people are calling for a high of 50 something and rain. Followed by snow tonight and tomorrow. I agree, it's crazy.
Well, that's it for today. It was good talking to you again. You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
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