THREE Things for the Day

Reading Ali Edward’s blog inspires me to organize, organize and organize. Not a bad thing to do plus she often relates things in sets of threes. See “Three things to do” . . . . . http://aliedwards.com/blog/three-things.

Today THREE items also come to mind.
#1. How to feel better ‘the morning after.’ Last week I wrote about how I over-indulged in a birthday celebration at The Lantern and then did not sleep well and felt lousy the next day. And the cause? Stupidity, mine – why did I think I could with abandon after months of careful healthy eating? Harking back to those post-collegiate days when I needed a tonic for the morning after too much drinking, here I am in my later years re-learning the same lesson. Overeating needs to be acted upon as soon as possible; here is my antidote:

Before Breakfast: 3 prunes, 3 raw carrots, 3 cups of water (or more depending on how thirsty you are), and then you may, or may not eat breakfast. Wait three more hours to get really hungry and then resume normal diet but keep the day’s activity moderate. The cure may not be delicious but it does work. This gives your body fiber, plenty of liquid and time to rectify the sin of indulgence. If symptoms persist, take two aspirin and call someone else.


#2. With many problems in the lower back/hip and hamstrings, I finally gave up and saw the orthopedist this morning. He insists that I none of the ‘Googled ailments’ I was sure were the causation apply (see piriformis diagram). “None of the above,” he responded, “just the same old problem:” a congenital deformation of lumbar-five vertebra causing sciatic nerve pain. I am scheduled for a spinal-steroid injection this coming Friday and a weekend of rest; all else being equal I should be back to my old self by Monday.


#3 Due to these back problems DH prompted me to get a massage at the UNC Wellness Center (photo right). Why did I not do this weeks ago? Why did I not get a body massage at the Grove Park Inn over Labor Day?
One hour with masseuse Alex and I feel revived and relaxed. Well that and the fact the doctor gave me a muscle relaxant to use “as needed.” The combination of the two has made my day.

Plus I learned that Alex can also do a ‘hot stone massage,’ something I had once at a seaside resort. That is when I decided that when I die I want to live in the Spa-afterlife (?). Somehow my thinking about massage has been just for vacations. That will have to change; Alex and I may be seeing each other regularly after the injection procedure.
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