#39 – Notes From My Couch
It’s been a rough week. Over the last month I’ve had some discomfort walking that worsened and presently is burning down the length of my leg from my ass down my hip, thigh, knee and ankle that was diagnosed as sciatica. Except it may really be disk related and am waiting on an MRI to find out. In the meantime I’m in 3 feet of pain, going from dull to excruciating fairly often.
But the show must go on.
During it I had a recording session and quite a bit of chef work to do which aggravated it considerably. Riding in a car hurts. So does sitting or sleeping in the wrong position. Hobbling more than a few steps? Forget about it. 2 trips to urgent care and double doses of Advil and Tylenol coupled with some Meloxicam, Lidocaine patches, CBD ointment, kinesthetic tape, a cane, a vibrating/tapping speed controlled massage wand and a heating pad… nothing provided anything but brief relief. Lucky for me my ever loving wife sees to my every whimpering need. I’ve always been a bad patient and can’t imagine what I’d do without her.
I was hoping the k-tape would help but it hasn’t. In Japan once I had an issue with my elbow and after a blind acupuncturist failed to fix it I went to the guy that actually created what at the time he called spiral tape technique. This was years before beach volleyball adopted it in addition to skimpy bikinis. It worked instantaneously and I was in awe, but there it wasn’t bought at Target and applied via a Youtube video tutorial by a well meaning rookie.
When I asked how it could work as fast as it did, let alone at all, I was told “Japanese voodoo”. And it was. Before I left his office the pain was gone never to be felt again.
In the meantime between yelping in agony and crumbling into a recliner I’ve been thinking of a new tagline for 500 Words. What do you think of this?
500 Words- mainly about publishing except when it’s not.
Another thought while supine. Since my Cooler By The Lake memoir/autobio takes place over the course of 50 yrs, I’m thinking of dividing it and designating Act 1 and Act 2- as Act 3 is now and has not been written so will ask what you think of that as well? Would love some feedback if you’re so inclined.
As most projects are wont to do (restaurants or records in my case, but many things are applicable) my book covers are going slower and costing more than anticipated but like the direction they’re going in. It’s not like I have a hard stop deadline so will do whatever is needed until I say “Wow”.
I’ve also gotten the last of the formatting back on all 3 manuscripts and only have to proofread 600+ pages, an incidental not really taken into consideration when I sent them. Seemed like a good idea at the time. As long as I’m laying on my back I’ll try to make the most of it, but it’s hard to concentrate through the pain.
Surprised I’m even writing this to be honest.
Alan Lake
Chef/percussionist/writer/
I love the idea of three acts!! Makes the reader want more and to hear what comes next. Working through pain is very difficult so I hope you find a solution soon!
My sympathies about the pain. I tend to suffer from bought of insomnia (usually stress induced) and migraines. It make progress on any writing progress a chore. I worry that the during those pain or sleep deprived lags that the quality of the work just isn’t worth the effort. But as my writing coach has been kind of enough to point out, “you can’t edit a blank page.”
My best to you.
i love that you can’t edit a blank page. it’s important to show up if you want to meet the muse. thanks for that one. wish you the best.