Hey, World

I haven't forgotten about you, or this blog.

Actually, exciting things are happening, and I'm in the process of moving things along to a more suitable locale on teh internets.

So, bear with me just a bit longer; we'll be back to business as usual in no time.

My Aching Back

Sometimes, when I least expect it, my body likes to surprise me with some random ailment. Well, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised by anything involving my back; I seem to have inherited my father's spinal disc issues, so these things are just going to pop up from time to time throughout my life. Usually, it doesn't have too much of an impact on my daily life. As I said, though, my body likes to surprise me occasionally, and 2013 has been no exception.

A few months ago, this nagging pain towards the base of my spine gradually took a turn for the worse. After several visits to the doctor, and several "false starts" (i.e., assuming that the pain was related to something else), I was informed that I had a disc herniation at the L5 S1 level. In a way, I was relieved; at least the mystery pain was no longer a mystery. Since we knew what was wrong, it would make the treatment process a little easier, right? Well... yes and no, to be honest.

When you have a herniated disc, you actually have quite a few different treatment options. I learned about some of these options in 2006/2007, when I had a cervical disc herniation.

The first treatment option is physical therapy, which can be done with or without the assistance of a steroid injection to the affected area. This option tends to work well if the disc herniation isn't too severe. Apparently, the disc can sometimes heal itself. According to the specialists that I spoke with, nobody is quite sure how or why the discs can heal themselves, but if it works then they aren't going to question it! I think physical therapy is a good option, if the specialists feel that your disc has a good chance of healing on its own. Obviously, rest and medication(s) may also play a role in this treatment approach.

On the other hand, there are several different surgical options; a specialist will usually recommend the best approach based on your individual circumstances.

Personally, I've decided to try the physical therapy approach before resorting to surgery. On Thursday (9/12/13), I'll have an epidural steroid injection that will help my body with the pain/inflammation in the area. Helping my body to cope with the pain will allow me to focus more on physical therapy. I'm optimistic and genuinely believe that my disc will be able to heal with time and patience.

So, that's what I've been up to during my hiatus. Of course, other things have happened, and I'll be blogging about them as well. Never a dull moment!

My Immortal (Harry Potter): The Infamous FanFiction Becomes a Miniseries!

This is just... well, there really aren't enough words to describe how fantastic this is. Seriously.

If you've never heard of this amazing masterpiece, it's still hosted in its entirety over here and over here.

I'm also going to link to a video of Brian (the director) reading excerpts from the "story." Because it's HILARIOUS. Really a breathtaking reading of the original story. Or at least, some of its best (worst?) scenes.



Still not convinced? Check out the trailer for the miniseries:




The first three episodes have already been released. Since I'm so nice, I'm going to embed them below for your viewing pleasure. Don't forget to follow the official (My) Immortal page for updates and additional goodies!

FANGZ 2 ALL MAH FELLOW GOFFS!

DOMA Is...

Grumpy Cat

...unconstitutional!

Yep, you heard me. Earlier today, in a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional. In the words of Justice Anthony Kennedy, "The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity. By seeking to displace this protection and treating those persons as living in marriages less respected than others, the federal statute is in violation of the Fifth Amendment."

Former President Bill Clinton originally signed off on DOMA in 1996. DOMA prevented same-sex couples whose marriages were recognized by their home states from receiving any of the hundreds of benefits available to other married couples under federal law.

In a statement given earlier today, President Obama applauded the Supreme Court's decision, noting that DOMA "...was discrimination enshrined in law. It treated loving, committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and lesser class of people. The Supreme Court has righted that wrong, and our country is better off for it."

Indeed. Let's not forget other struggles for marriage equality, such as the long quest to legalize interracial marriage. This is a step in the right direction for America, despite the negativity being spewed by certain individuals.

Onward!

Tampons: They Could Save Your Life

I've been absent for a minute. Sorry about that! I'm dealing with some unexpected "surprises" in my life. I have a lot of blog posts in progress, and they'll be finished and posted in the near future. In the meantime, I bring you a tampon commercial from Russia. Is it Shark Week yet?