Are the topics today. Both subjects have been around for over a year – and both are on the road to recovery.

Bum Knees

Some of you will remember that I have been problems with my left knee for over a year and a half now (ever since that fateful hike in June 2006). Well, I finally had enough with it and decided to go to a doctor to find out what is wrong.

The doctor poked and prodded as all doctors do. (is it logically for them to stick their finger under your knee cap and ask “does this hurt?” as you scream in pain? Hello!! I’m screaming!!! Can you not hear the vibrating sound waves echoing off your office wall? If not, then what makes you think you can here the answer to your question?! sigh). In the end, he informed me that I had “Patellofemoral Paid Syndrome” – otherwise known as “Runner’s Knee”.

Before you all start calling your lawyers to try to get a corner on my will, Patellofemoral Paid Syndrome is not deadly (unless you count the doctor who stuck is finger under my knee cap….). In layman’s terms (did you ever wonder why it’s call “layman”? Did someone think all non-professionals where lazy and not doing anything but laying around? Gezzz) it means that my knee cap has been pulled from the center of my knee to the outside where it is rubbing on the bone (think of two rocks grinding together every time you bend your knee).

The good news it that the knee cap can be moved back to the middle (where it belongs) by strengthening my inter-quadriceps muscle (for those lying down, that’s the muscle group on your thigh). Luckily, my gym has a rehab doc who takes my insurance card… I talked to him yesterday (the rehab doc, not my insurance card) and received a work out schedule exchange for some dough (chocolate-chip, not oatmeal).

Lord willing I will be back up and ready to tackle the world this summer – yelp, it takes a while to move your knee cap (anyone have a crowbar?)[@more@]

Missing: a dark, cold, bare dungeons complete with chains and spikes. Call Elvis if you see one wondering around.

We installed full spectrum natural lights in our dungeon basement this weekend. I also added another light switch (why? Because I could!)…. ignore that clause as I must tell the truth. When I originally wired the basement lights, I messed up somehow – notably because they didn’t work (talk about a fail prove system of testing – it’s either light or wrong).

Part of the problem was that we were using old fluorescent fixtures that did not work. With the help of Joy, we were able to pick out some nice four foot new fluorescent lights that brightened up the old dungeon.

The other mistake issue was due to some layman electrician who didn’t have a clue how to wire up a three way switch (don’t ask who that was). You’ve got to be so careful when choosing a contractor to do some work on your home, but especially when it comes to electricians. You want to find a trusted and well-renowed company like AC Electrical (visit company website). Make sure to check reviews and ask around to see if anyone you know has used the company you’re interested in. Anyway, the lazy electrician wised up one day (lighting struck) and he asked a professional to visit. The professional drew a diagram (which way is north?) to which the layman pinned to the ceiling where he could read it. At this point I’m sure it would have been a better choice to do online research into various other electricians such as the services that can be provided by this company you can find at myseelectric.com/costa-mesa-ca-electrician-services-electrical-service/ or similar. At least the lighting has now been rectified!

Luckily for the man lying down, there was a maiden in the dungeon who lit up the place with a pair of pliers and an electrical cord (don’t ask). Now the whole place looks wonderful!! Lots of light where there was darkness before (where did that dirt come from? It wasn’t there before!).

Only now the maiden wants to move one of the fixtures and is thinking of setting up more – maybe I’ll follow the dark dungeons example… (If you wish to proceed to a qualified electricians guild, click here to continue.) Only time will tell which way we go, after all there are many paths that we can consider. I’d rather not leave it to the roll of a d20.