Phil and Red's Excellent Adventure

Ok. I woke up this morning at 645AM to the joyous sounds of The Cramps' "Zombie Dance" on my computer's mp3 alarm. If I could ever shoot a music video, I would totally do it for this song. I looked around to check my surroundings before I moved anywhere. I wanted to make sure that if I tried to move my body, and it blew up, I would be able to grab onto something. I was testing to see if my back had healed up at all...if it was better. I moved a bit, still sore. I got up and hit the snooze on the alarm. Well, I got up without out too much trouble. There were no shooting pains but there was still that dull ache. After I got up after the second alarm I headed into the shower, the heat of the water and the movement made me feel better. Once I started moving and stuff, most of the pain was gone, but it was still at about 65%. Still hurts and is sore. When I was done getting ready for class I checked the news and stuff. Its just more of the same, "Death, Destruction, Voter Fraud, Blue vs Red States, Scott Peterson, Bush is an Idiot, Bush is Praised, Terrorists Killed, Terrorists Kill, Kermit the Frog is Gay, Princess Di is Wearing a New Dress...". So, I turn my head to look out the windown and see the same damn thing everyday, the dirty bra & panties of the woman living across the street hanging out her window drying. Why don't I ever see that in the news.
Check some stuff and then head out to class. I am walking today, I don't want to chance anything with the bicycle. I get to school and eat my breakfast. Class starts and I got my 5th graders today. They are hit or miss classes. They pay attention at times and participate at times. Its the beginnings of puberty starting to hit. I taught the sound of "ou" and "ow" in mouse, cow, house, etc. I was able to make them enjoy it. Somehow.
During the break between the two morning classes, I searched online to figure out what I may have done to my lower back. I checked a couple websites and I narrowed it down to two things.
1. Pulled/strained/sprained muscle, tendon, ligament. I think that I may have pulled or strained something. Most likely.
2. Slipped or Herniated Spinal Disc. I thought that is possible that I did this. However, I worked down my spine and searched for any changes or pain i came across last nite and there was nothing. So, if I did have a slipped disc, it must have gone back in.
I mentioned what I did to Coco and Ivy. Ivy offered to bring me some medicine. I said OK. She asked if I went to the hospital. I said, "No. They would look at it and say, 'Put some heat on it and rest'" She said, "Probably."
I then asked Coco if there was anyone who did acupuncture around. Hell, I am in China, why not try out some Chinese Medicine. She said yes. She then said she will take me to a Chinese Doctor during lunch. Well, thanks. There is a place right down the street. After that, I had about 30 minutes left till my next class. I had lent Coco my new DVD copy of Return of the Jedi, I made her watch all 3 movies. She returned it so i was flipping thru some scenes on Anna's computer while she was at class. Time for class.
My second class went well, with nothing super special besides the childrens' smiles to write about.
Coco came and got me and we hopped onto her scooter and headed to the place. It was really close. I got off and entered. There were lots of people there, not as much as the hospital, but about 15. The place was small, thats why it seemed like alot. Most of them were parents with children, so I guess there is a Kid doctor there. A bunch of kids were hiding behind their parent's legs and staring at me from behind the legs. I got a couple kids to be more relaxed and say things to me. Super cute. I then waited with Coco to see one of the doctors. The doctor was treating this guy with possibly a sprained wrist...rubbing it and putting the universal plant paste onto it. (more about that later)
Coco mentioned that this office is famous in Xiaolan. I looked around...It looked like every other dirty, poorly constructed chinese building. They obviously don't do alot of sanitization around here. I dread to see what the inside of the hospital looks like. So I am sitting there waiting with Coco for this doctor to finish up with the other guy. He's done.
Coco explains to him whats wrong and he has me sit down backwards on a chair. He then massages the area and starts pushing on various pressure points. Throws some oil on it and massages for about 10-15 minutes. He is chatting with Coco and Coco is acting as an interpreter for the both of us. He is hitting these pressure points in my lower back and making me jump a bit. Not from pain of the injury but from the intense pressing of the pressure points. After he is done, he tells me to get up and move around. It was kinda freaky, becase I could barely feel the pain anymore. I was moving my body around with ease. I was really surprised. He then put together a plant patch.
Ok. Chinese medicine has this universal cure medicine. Its basically a heat patch. Its made out of ~35 different plants all mashed together and made into a paste. It looks like soft chocolate fudge from Mackinack Island. He spreads it out on some cloth and then puts some black oil on it, followed by some salt (i think...it was crystalline and white) and this light brown powder. He mixed it all up then slapped it on my lower back, where the spine meets the pelvis. The chinese use this to help with pain. Its used for muscle aches, headaches, and anything else you can come up with. I am sure they use it for cancer as well.
After that I paid 30RMB and headed out with Coco. The guy was very nice and chatted alot. It was a good experience. I felt much better, butI still felt a bit of pain that I think can only go away with time and rest.
Coco and I headed over to the Hospital because they have this little shop that sells really good food. And its super cheap...3.5RMB for alot of good food. Yummy.
I told Coco thank you for everything. I told her that I could walk home so she could go back to her place for the next two hours. I went home, ate, watched Team America and rested my back. I then headed out for class again.
I dislike these 6th graders. They just don't listen or pay attention. During one point of the silence that they produce, some kid dropped a glass and it shattered everywhere. I can tell you, that was very odd to hear in a classroom. You don't really expect the kids to have glass products in class. I don't remember having glass cups when I was in school. Maybe I am just getting too old. :D They were just irritating.
The second 6th grade class went better. They got into the material more and the activities I prepared. I sent this girl to the front of class because she wasn't paying attention and causing distractions. She also wouldn't participate. I use some of the kids to help illustrate a point and they get all defensive and make a scene about not going up to the front of the room. So I kick them in their behind and put a stun collar on them...like the one from Running Man...and if they dont do as I say, their head will explode. Not really, thats just a joke. I coerce them to the front and then they enjoy what I have them do. They cause more of a scene by not wanting to go up than actually going up. The genious logic that is adolescence.
All the while I am having class, this medicine patch is working...well, its staying hot. At one point in my classes I started to sweat a bit.
I then headed out to kindergarten class. It was the day of the 10 Kid Spaz Class. They were surprisingly docile today. They did a few things like run out of class and down the hall, but I am used to that now. I only had to yell a couple of times.
After kindergarten I headed home. I spent the evening finishing up the wedding DVD and starting some other project. I also removed my medicine pad. I hate it when people use tape to hold things onto your body...its such a pain to remove it. I had to wait at least 30 minutes until I could wash the crap off. My lower back was all stained like I was rolling around in dirt.
I then headed to bed. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.