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July 7, 2009

Carpel de Tun'nail

Some of you dear internets, may remember back at the beginning of the year how I had set myself up for a challenge to write one poem every day of this year and now for a progress report ... as of today, July 7, I should have written 188 poems, however I am gradually falling behind (168.) You see, dear internets, my carpal tunnels flared up a while back. My left hand hurts pretty good, wakes me up in the night plus more that I will not get into. My right hand, I have already had surgery on once and it worked but now it’s a different nerve that is giving me trouble. It makes my ring finger and little finger go numb. And it feels like I just got whacked in my funny bone then it runs down from my elbow to my hand and stays that way for hours on end. LOL I don’t think so... It is so not funny!

Fortunately, or not, we have slowed way, way down at work. Good because I am having such a hard time typing and bad because I am afraid of being laid off. I’m sure I don't have to tell y'all how bad things are for the employed and the unemployed alike. As we all struggle to try and figure out how we are going to buy that new pair of sandals we saw in the Macy's window.

But anyways forgive me dear internets if I don't leave you long comments because it pains me to do so, I'm cereal. I am scheduled to get the usual nerve tests in a few days. I know I have damage already because of the results from the last nerve test. Of course because I have a special heart situation I will have to see a cardiologist to give me the clearance to have surgery. That hopefully I can have in September. I am hoping that I can last that long both physically and employment wise. My supervisor is scheduled to have neck surgery in August otherwise I would shoot for August.

Are we having fun yet? Of course we are this post has been written in its entirety verbally by moi on a nifty software called Dragon Naturally Speaking® version 10. Interesting enough it only took about 15 minutes to set this software up and can you believe that it even recognizes, most of the time, my horrible, but oh so delightful, Texas drawl a.k.a. pickled tongue syndrome.


Now formatting is a challenge, I am having a bit of a hard time catching on to some of the trigger words. For instance the quote marks, when you want to insert them you have to say open quote and at the end you have to say close quote; Which leads to the next funny thing, if you try to make it type the word open and you pause to long on the word "open" it makes my Word program open the file menu so I have to use this feature with some caution. Not to mention the complete weirdness of setting here talking to my computer just like it was one of you, my dear internets.

I think this software will help me with my painful writing or writing painfully. I may be a little behind on my poems and may not catch up at all but I will not quit. And there you have it...I feel like such a crazy a$$.



But how do I look?

10 comments:

sheila said...

Well that just frickin sucks. Ughhh. But you do look wonderful! :) Good luck!

Zephra said...

My what a big mouth you have... But that is really cool and I think I would like to get it. How much was it? I have the same issue with my right outside nerve. I think it is called ulner. My arm always feels like it does not get enough blood and that it is going numb.

... Paige said...

Isn’t that the funniest photo? My Beloved and I was goofing with some pics I cut out of magazines and what nots to use for Altered Art crap. You should’ve seen the pair of avocado halves—I so dare y’all to picture that.
Expensive -- $349 at Frys…BUT because we bought this program a few years ago for him (2 finger typer) and have upgraded once my beloved worked out a deal to get the Stand alone Ver. 10 (for ME). These days more companies and folks are willing to work out a deal. Remember it doesn’t hurt to ask.
While at Frys I saw a couple of other software programs, but know nothing of them

Dapoppins said...

I have heard of these kind of programs to help writers write...but I think it would drive me nutts.

Surgery? That does not sound fun AT ALL. Can't you just take a pill? (((I know you can't but, I think they need to invent a pill to prevent surgery)))

Jeni said...

Well now, that's a pretty nifty program you've got set up and if it works to help you do things without using your hand/wrist, that's fantastic. Seems to have worked just fine for your post.

Tammy said...

I would say that I need to check out that program, but since I am in school I need to improve my typing so I would rather stay in technological denial and believe that it does not exist.

Geez Paige, why did you have to go and spoil my delusion and tell me that kinda thing was out there? I am so computer illiterate that it would have taken me a few years to catch up anyway.

... Paige said...

They should make a pill to fix everything then we would all be in the happy land of the lost. It is a neat program but will take some getting used to. We (I) just seem to keep getting lazier and lazier.

Computer wash my feet…I’mmm waaaaaaaiting

Jannie Funster said...

So I guess you're coming up with lots of synonyms for open, such as

--not closed
--ajar
--gaping
--spacious
--unlocked
--unobstructed
--etc.

BIG BIG BIG BIG HUGS!!!!

Judypatooote said...

It's amazing the programs that are out there to help people....I'm sorry about your c.t....the older I get, the more thankful I am for my health...I do get pain in my thumbs from typing, etc. and my knees...sometimes it's hard to go up and down the stairs...I don't know it it's from old age, or from cholestrol meds...when I took Lipador (sp ?) I couldn't even lift a cup of coffee without using both hands..and it took 2 months to get the med out of my system.....but this is a new med, and so we'll see... I'm sorry I'm rambling on....have a great day.. judy

J. M. Strother said...

Paige, you are a hoot. Love the pic.
I was going to suggest Dragon but you've already found it. I'm glad it's helping you. Sorry you have CTS, my wife has it too and I know it is quite painful.
~jon