43 Comments

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!

Expand full comment

Merry Christmas to you too, Invisigoth

Expand full comment

Have a great holiday experience!

Expand full comment

Thanks Athena. Hoping that over the break you get a chance for some good quality space/peace and quiet, time with your partner (if that's the plan for you both) - and gaming sessions!

Expand full comment

Thank you, Emma. I hope you have a lovely week yourself

Expand full comment

Thank you! It turned out to be mixed but some of it was lovely.

Expand full comment

Couldn't even come close to Emma's post . Thanks for writing it, Emma!

Happy Holidays Emma and, you - Ms.Walker!

Expand full comment

Happy Holidays to you as well, Eve

Expand full comment

Hey there Eve. Haha thanks and appreciated but it's my guess you most likely could! :) From having read Athena for a long while now I happened to know she had a partner, appreciates privacy and likes to play video games. Thanks for the happy holiday wishes. Hoping you had a nice one? I really can't say mine was the best - a mixed bag really. But it could have been a lot worse and it was nice in parts. Going to catch up with having further better times this January instead!

Expand full comment

Happy Holidays everyone!

I have fabulous news to share: on 1/6 I'm finally having the lumbar spine surgery at Duke University. It's a fusion of L4-L5 done both laterally and posterially. Via the use of robotic technology, way cool!

Been a long and intense ride of pain, tests, doctors (ugh!), but the end is near.

Additionally, I actually trust this surgeon.

Expand full comment

Congrats on the surgery. I wish you a speedy, complication free, and painless recovery

Expand full comment

Thank you for your support Athena.

Painless? Nope, but compared to the exponential level of current pain increase, it's a non issue.

It will be fine. All the complex puzzle pieces have fallen into place.

Expand full comment

I've had a similar fusion, and wish you the best for the new year!

Expand full comment

Thanks Jennifer. When I found out how soon the surgery could be done (actually it could have been the next day, but I live 250 miles away and wasn't prepared) I felt a huge amount of tension released.

Expand full comment

I had cervical replacement discs so that I could still rotate my head for dance, which was what I was doing at the time. That was a game changer and allowed me to continue for some time. Then, I developed spondylolisthesis and had a lumbar fusion. Suffice to say that put paid to ballet, which might have been for the best. I was getting too old for it. 

How did you injure your back, EveSwan, if you don't mind my asking? I'd also like to add that it's so important that you have a surgeon that you trust. That alone will improve your outcome.

Expand full comment

I'm so tired Jennifer, I'll answer in detail tomorrow . I have spondylolisthesis at L4-L5 about 8mm. Also danced ballet and was a competition equestrian (hunter/jumper.)

Expand full comment

Have a fabulous Christmas and Holiday time, Athena! You've certainly earned it! I'm looking forward to reading your next posts! Thank you for sharing all that you do for our enlightenment and betterment (hopefully)! Your writing is greatly enjoyed and appreciated! Cheers!!

Expand full comment

Thank you, Jennifer. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to you as well

Expand full comment

Happy Holidays everyone! For those in the path of the storms - stay warm and keep those devices charged up, can't have the gaming sessions messed up by power outages! Priorities. :-)

Visiting relatives, temp has dropped by 20 degrees in a few hours now to 4 F, snow and wind, and many folks have it much worse.

Expand full comment

Indeed, or if not charged, have a generator.

Expand full comment

Eat heaps of goodies!

Expand full comment

Sounds like a plan

Expand full comment

Have a wonderful holiday!!

Looking forward to your challenging posts all this coming year!

Expand full comment

Thank you kindly, Tim. Have a great Holiday as well

Expand full comment

Thank you Athena for broadening our understanding. I can't conceive of a more valuable gift, really. Please continue to be there. Happy 2023 to you and all of you.

Expand full comment

Happy New Year to you as well, Olmo

Expand full comment

Thank you Athena, Merry Christmas to you and yours.

See you all in the New Year !

Expand full comment

Merry Christmas to you as well, and have a Happy New Year

Expand full comment

Merry Christmas Athena! I wish you the best. Thank you for your posts and I am looking forward next year!

Expand full comment

Merry Christmas to you too, Fabiana. I hope that the day is lovely and relaxing for you

Expand full comment

Merry Christmas, Athena.

Expand full comment

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Maelstrom

Expand full comment

take care and have a good holiday 🥳

Expand full comment

Thank you, Indigo. I wish you the same

Expand full comment

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Expand full comment

I hope yours is full of blessings, Catcazac

Expand full comment

Thank you kindly Athena.

Expand full comment

Merry christmas and happy new year!

Expand full comment

Merry Christmas, Luiz. Have a wonderful celebration and a fantastic New Year

Expand full comment

Thank-you and have a good one.

Expand full comment

You as well, Gareth

Expand full comment

Merry Christmas to you, Athena. I wish you the best.

Expand full comment

Merry Christmas, Marco. I hope that you have a great Holiday and a beautiful New Year

Expand full comment