The Hand That Holds The Suction

As most of you already know, back in May 2007, I developed a "problem" with my right wrist. I say "problem" since we don't exactly know what is wrong. When I went to see the doctor about it, my family doctor, who is just the best doctor I've ever had in my life so far, was away on holidays unfortunately, so I had to see his college, a female doctor, who is just the worst possible doctor I've ever had the misfortune to meet! And I'm not the only one who thinks that. Her reputation precedes her and not at all in a good way if you know what I mean. But I had no choice!

She looked at me, touched my arm here and there and concluded that my wrist was.....get this "too skinny" and her solution was to.....no, not to rest it, on the contrary, to use it more, as much as I can, and to do exercises with it. Now, the exercise part I kind of understand, but then again, isn't work exercising it and using it? It would make sense to rest it as much as possible when not at work, no? Anyways, she prescribed some sublingual anti-inflamatories for a week and gave me an arm brace to wear. I took the pills which helped a little with the pain and tossed the brace at the bottom of my medicine cabinet. I then submitted myself to daily massages administered by my non-licensed husband using a special balm which was recommended to me by a couple of well-wishers, I took some time off work and rested my hand as much as possible and wore a sports bandage around my wrist at work when I did go back. I also cut one day off my work schedule.

It worked. My wrist got better. But it never healed completely. It still acts up now and again. A simple thing like buttoning up my jeans or holding a wine glass can set it off. I had learned to be careful with it and learned to use my left hand as much as possible. I wasn't too worried, thinking I still had one good hand and that was fine. Well, that hand is now starting to act up as well. It's the hand that holds the suction. Unlike many in my profession, I never got into the habit of leaving the suction hooked onto the patient's cheek. I hold it instead and use it to retract as well as suction. This proves challenging at times especially when patients have strong cheeks and tongues which push against me. And it's taken its toll now.

Now I am worried, ... a bit. I really don't want to end up with both wrists kaput. So I'm taking matters into my own decrapped hands cuz there will be no dropping the baby on its head! Because, hopefully and with God's blessing, the hand that holds the suction today will one day be the hand that rocks the cradle.

The Japanese Are Coming!!!

Well, they've come! Sushi has finally arrived in Gstaad! About time already! We got the above menu in the mail about a couple of weeks ago and you can imagine my excitement! I don't have to take a 2 hour train ride down to the valley to get some of that Japanese goodness any more! Now, it's right under my nose! And since it's in the Grand Hotel, I'm sure it's top quality!

I will be checking it out very soon! I know, I know, shame on me for not going straight away the day I got this in the mail, but you have to realize, it was Christmas time: running around, shopping, decorating the tree and the house, dinners with family. Then New Year's, need I say more! So now that things are finally getting back to their normal rhythm again, it's sushi time Gstaad style!!!

Computer Wars

My baby has been swiftly and unexpectedly taken away from me! I'm talking about my computer: my connection to the world, my portal into my family and friends' lives, my free phone calls, my encyclopedia, my music box and oh so much more!

Up until recently, it all belonged to me and only me. My husband had absolutely no interest in it except for maybe once in a month when he'd sign in to check his emails for 20 seconds. But that all changed a few days ago. My husband came to me asking me to help him download a computer game that all his friends were raving about and playing online. Fine. We downloaded the "Ski Challenge" and that was the end of my sole possession of the rights to the computer!

Now I have to share.....and I don't like it! He plays for hours, every day, trying to beat his friends' times and I must think of ways to get him away from the computer. Hmmm, let's see....Ski Challenge vs Sex! Ski Challenge......Sex? No, of course I'm not going to do that! Come on, Shelly. That'd be too cruel and unfair. My solution: do the puppy eyes and wag my tail around a bit. It works sometimes but not all the time. His solution: we get a second computer. It'll work all the time.

Well, I think we're still ok for now, but I tell ya, we're definitely getting a second one before the kids even learn to say computer!!!