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survivingsusac · 5 years ago

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Link, my Alinker

ALINKER!

Well, you guys did it! You helped me fundraise enough to order my very own Alinker! If you recall, I learned about this mobility aid through Selma Blair’s transparency about her fight with her own autoimmune disease, Multiple Sclerosis. She and I like the same things about it: It provides a way to move about when your body just won’t. Do. It. On. Its. Own. The height keeps you just about your normal walking height. Trust me, I spent most of my life as a person who was of normal physical ability and then spent quite a while being pushed around in a transport chair after a disabling disease kicked in. Being the height of peoples faces (like when standing) instead of their butts (like when in a transport chair) is MUCH. APPRECIATED. Because an Alinker is directed and moved by me to where I want it to take me instead of requiring another person to move it when they are available, it gives me drastically more independence than the transport chair did. No knocks against you, transport chair, you did me a solid when I needed you. I just am moving on to Alinker. I’ve been calling him Link. So what’s it like to use Link, you ask? Well pull up a chair, grab a drink or a snack and I will tell you a story.

Alinker Assemble

So Link shows up in a box that my daughter, Abigail, immediately claimed as her new playhouse. It was a big box. I assemble him according to the instructions and complete the warranty activation forms online. Link’s looking spiffy and I’m dying to try him out so I pump up his tires and Ab and I go for a little walk. I’m juiced and I love Link right away. I adjust the saddle (that’s the seat portion that your butt is on) height because I am short, and the placement to be right for my weight.

The State Fair

My mom/rock, Ab, and I use Link at the state fair, where he draws attention and admiration from security guards, strangers, and friends we ran into. Every now and then I caught a teen saying something along the lines of ‘I wanna ride one of those things!’ or ‘Where can I rent that?’ People in wheel chairs were fascinated and one county display attendant explained how the Alinker would be helpful to her on days when her fibromyalgia renders her body useless. She wrote down the Web site. It is so helpful that the Web site is just ON the Alinker! I noticed that by the end of the day the saddle was making my bum bleed from the semi-firm cushion rubbing my flesh raw and that one of my legs was scratched on the inside from frequent contact with the frame. I made a mental note: ask the Alinker help desk how to avoid that and/or get a replacement saddle. Once home I asked the Alinker folks my question and got instructions for optimal saddle positioning. I made the adjustment and tried it out. I could feel the difference.

Disneyland

My family and I took Link with us to Disneyland so we could all survive a day at the park. Me so I could play without being exhausted. My mom so she could play without her hands and other parts of her body aching from pushing me in a transport chair around the park, and Ab just cuz Disneyland makes her happy. Period. And she wanted me to be there with her via Link. Like at the state fair, the Disneyland security team was enamored with the Alinker and wanted to know all about it and how long I had had it. They labeled it with this blue tag f officialness so that other park security people would know that it was already approved to be used in the park. I even had a couple of the original security guards see me on later days entering the park and come up to me to talk about it some more. Then we get in the park. That’s when things took a turn for the worse. Turns out the turn radius on Link is much too wide for the line cues at Disneyland. You know the zig-zaggy switch back type turns and folds the lines make? Yeah, Link doesn’t do well with those. I learned this when I took him with me through the line for the Smugglers Run at Galaxy’s Edge. There was a lot of back and forth happening to make turns. After that experience Link was parked in stroller areas and I just walked the line cues without him. And guys, look, I know it’s described as a walking bike. I got SO tired of people telling me ‘sweet bike,’ ‘I like your bike,’ ‘how much was your bike?’ ‘Did the park give that bike to you when you got here?’ It’s a mobility aid bro. Not just a bike. I need it to live with a decent quality of life. I may just make a shirt or sign that says “Alinker: Not Just A Bike” and wear it when I use Link.

Flat Tire

It was the morning of our third day at the park, which was technically Link’s fourth day out in the world because he had spent a day at the state fair. We get back from breakfast and I hop on Link and my mom says something like, ‘How pumped is the back tire supposed to be?’ Long story short, it was flat. I stop by the wheel chair station and fill the tire with air according to the instructions (which I had brought with me because I try to be a responsible adult). The back tire then goes flat within five seconds. It’s got to be the tire tube we say. The tube must be shot for it to go slat like that so quickly. Something my mom said after the cue turn radius and the flat tire had culminated, “The Alinker is not for family outings.” It was said in frustration and I feel, is not true, but I see where she was coming from at that time. I also see how to avoid that sort of frustration in the future. We fly home later that day. I contact Alinker to share what happened and ask for a copy of the warranty that I activated. I receive it and tires aren’t covered. So I pop on over to my local bike shop.

Bike Shop

Five stars for the local bike shop. They measure and order Link a replacement tube. When the tube arrives turns out it’s the wrong one because of how the inflation valve lines up with the frame. So they patch and reinstall the ruined original tube for me to use until the correct one is shipped and arrives. The guys said they caused the delay, so they won’t charge me for it. They also didn’t charge me for installing the new saddle I had ordered. Which is excellent, BTW. Nose free saddle so no flesh being rubbed raw, my hips sit wider apart than on the original one so my inner leg doesn’t get scratched by the frame any more, and it’s memory foam so it’s nice and squishy comfortable. They did this for me at no charge, too. They also ordered the right tire tube, and gave me a call today saying that it had arrived and I can get it switched out so Link will be up to 100%. For this second surgery I am going to insist on paying them.

Reflection

So circling back to when Link arrived and I assembled him, a hand pump for the tire and a replacement tire tub for a front tire came with him. I think it may be wise for Alinker to offer replacement tire tubes for sale on their site, especially considering that that smaller rear tire is an atypical size tube with a valve that needs to be at a specific angle so it doesn’t conflict with other parts of the Alinker structure. That last sentence is pretty much just me parroting what the bike guys told me about the tire tube, I honestly have no extensive personal knowledge about tires or their tubes. I give Link the Alinker a huge high five and a hug for being the mobility aid that he is, I give Alinker the company a firm, vigorous hand shake and a smile for being professional and prompt in their responses to my many queries, but also a disappointed shake of my head for providing a warranty that doesn’t seem to serve a purpose when the product arrived with what appears to have been a defective tire tube. I mean, come on Link. You walk with me for three days and on the fourth day your back foot is broken!? Puh-lease. Five stars to my local bike shop though, they are coming through big time for me. Will try to update after Links second surgery this weekend!

#Vacationing with Susac Syndrome #Susac Syndrome #Alinker #It's Not JUST A Bike

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lil-feenz · 6 years ago

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This Christmas (MyDay Secret Santa gift)

a/n: wow, okay first off i haven’t written a fic in years so this was a #struggle so props to all of you writers out there doin ur thing! ur amazing and you are appreciated!

i wrote this for my secret santa gift for one of the world’s nicest mydays aka @parkjaeins ! it’s been so fun messaging you, and i’m really glad i got to know you a little bit! i hope you have an amazing christmas, and i hope this is slightly enjoyable! (im sorry i still don’t quite like the beginning and end so forgive me!!)

genre: holiday fluff, angst if you squint and do a headstand

word count: 2.8k-ish oof

summary: Distance makes the heart grow fonder, they say. However, being apart for their first Christmas left Janelle particularly reminiscent. (a.k.a. holiday facetiming with Jae)

characters: Jae x OC, 3rd person (I did write this specifically for my secret santa!)

Brrrrrrng.

“Huh.”

The ringing sound slowly seeped its way into Janelle’s consciousness, insisting its way through her concentration as her brain reached for a response. What was that noise again?

Brrrrrrrng.

“Oh.”

Janelle haphazardly leaned over the bowls and ingredients crowding the counter in an effort to reach her laptop. Smudging some residual flour on the mouse pad of her laptop, she ran her fingers over the device and pressed down to hear that satisfying little click, accepting the video call request.

“Hi, babe!” she called out hurriedly, dancing around her own feet to maneuver in front of her laptop. Catching herself in and out of balance, her body finally slumped onto the countertop, a lopsided smile decorating her face.

A scratching sound echoed in the kitchen as Jae shuffled around on the other end of the call. Janelle caught the sight of the dormitory in the moving scene displayed in front of her. “He must’ve just finished at the Christmas Eve concert the boys were having,” she thought.

“Hey, baby,” Jae drawled with a tired smile on his face, raising his phone to eye level now. “How’s it going?” A soft thump pushed its way through her laptop speakers as Jae unceremoniously flopped onto his bed, followed by the murmur of ”Merry Christmas Eve.”

“Pffft,” Janelle laughed airily at his antics. “I’m doing fine, just trying to finish up some things for our Christmas get-together.” Glancing down at her hands, she noted the dusting of dry ingredients surrounding her laptop and absentmindedly brushed it away with her fingers. “How was the show tonight?”

Jae quietly beamed, his face turning up towards the ceiling. “Man, the fans’ energy was great. I think it was a nice way to finish 2018 as a group and fans, we had a pretty good year together, y’know?” He reached back, ruffling his fluffy crop of hair. “I just wish you could’ve been there.”

A small sadness panged through Janelle’s chest. “I know, I do, too…” She exhaled softly. With Jae’s world tour, music show performances, and awards shows on top of Janelle’s studies and exams that all seemed to come nonstop the past two months, the pair only had digital representations of each other to find comfort in.

A thought dwelled in the back of Janelle’s mind: she knew long distance spells like this would be a reality when she chose to let Jae into her life, but she didn’t expect that the deep craving to be there with him would ache so thoroughly. Walking into a coffee shop reminded her of their first few meetings with him. Seeing dogs on the street reminded her of the time they puppy-sat for Dowoon when Janelle concluded that Jae was absolutely a Yorkie.

“A Yorkie?!” Jae choked while Janelle cackled. “How on earth am I a Yorkie?”

“C’mon, don’t tell me you don’t see it. Big personality, easily susceptible to getting clowned, sassy, territorial, suspicious of every noise, they’re, like, 18 cm tall, you’re 180 cm,” she listed off, checking off each thing with her fingers. “Yorkies absolutely fit the bill.”

“Okay, okay okay,” Jae hurriedly interjected, “but I protest. I’m more like a Great Dane, or something.” He was incredulous, and she could tell. This would be fun, and she knew it. “I am friendly, I am loving, I am large and in charg-” Unfortunately, he did not get to finish before Janelle’s laughter burst through the conversation.

“Please do not finish that phrase, oh my gosh,” she managed through her giggles, sitting up. She patted his knee gingerly. “The only thing you can claim from a Great Dane is you don’t realize how big you are.”

“I am offended,” Jae gasped, eyes wide and a hand mockingly hovering over his chest, “are you calling me fat?”

Suddenly, Janelle’s humorous expression dropped. She knew what was coming. “Jaehyung Park, don’t you dare,” she tried to warn, but Jae wasn’t one to back down from a joke.

“I am honestly HURT that you would call your warm and caring boyfriend fat,” he went on, progressively leaning further into her space on the couch, “I truly thought you appreciated my physique, you’ve never once complained about my cuddles, but I guess your true feelings are showing.” He continued blabbering dramatically as he used every bit of height he had over her to lay uncomfortably on top of her protesting figure. He turned onto his back as he tried to push her into the couch as she alternated between laughs and groans of discomfort.

“Jae, you’re really bony, you know that?”

“Yep.”

“So you know I’m very uncomfortable right now.”

“Yep.”

“So then what will it take to get you off of me, if you don’t mind?”

“Admit I’m a Great Dane.”

“But you know, you’re really acting like a stubborn Yorkie right now,” she commented, wiggling underneath him to free her shoulder of his spine pressing into her. He only pushed further. “Ow!”

“Or am I just an affectionate Great Dane trying to get some reciprocated affection?” he rebutted, turning his head to catch a glimpse of her struggling underneath the dead weight of his body.

“Hey, is something on your mind?”

Janelle snapped back to attention, staring at the image of Jae on her laptop. He was sitting up, looking at her curiously with a bit of worry coloring his gaze.

“Sorry, I just zoned out a bit,” she smiled meekly, widening the placement of her elbows, allowing her to fiddle with her fingers.

Jae gave her a knowing smile. He could read her like a book, no, like a score, watching all the thoughts swirling intertwining within her, conveying her thoughts and emotions in a symphony of signs: the light behind her eyes, the furrow and lift of her brows, the pull of her lips, the curve of her posture. “Damn,” he thought, “I’ve got it bad.”

“It’s okay,” he assured warmly, trying to lift the mood. He knew it was hard being apart for their first Christmas as a couple, but it was Christmas, for goodness sakes, and he wasn’t about to let Janelle be sad if he could help it. “So what are you doing for the fam?” he asked, hoping to bring about a lighter topic.

Janelle looked at the bowls, sugar, baking powder, and other items scattered about next to her. “Well, I’ve been trying to finish baking as much as I can for tomorrow’s dinner so tomorrow is as stress-free as possible,” she sighed, the hours of baking she’d done the past week catching up to her. “I realized a few days ago that I’d been so busy baking for everyone else that I forgot to plan what I’d bring to Christmas dinner, so I’m just making a batch of brownies.” Her eyes flitted over the half-done batch of batter she had been making when Jae called. The oven light let out a soft click to signal it was done preheating, briefly drawing her attention to the appliance. “I figured it’s a crowd-pleaser, so I couldn’t really go wrong.”

Jae threw back his head with a groan and a smile. “You’re making brownies? Without me to taste test? I’m jealous.” There was no doubt Janelle’s baking was popular amongst her family and friends, and Jae was undoubtedly a contender for her number one fan.

Jae watched Janelle turn back towards the camera and arch an eyebrow playfully. “You better watch that sweet tooth of yours, I wouldn’t want you going out to find a substitute sweet and finding a better baker than me,” she joked. “I can’t lose my number one customer.”

A fondness curled up inside Jae’s chest. He lolled his head to the side, squinting and shaking his head. “Never, babe.” A brief but familiar silence lapsed between the two as they alternated looking at each other and at their hands. Jae quickly cut in, “But for real, you’re going to save me some, right? I put it on my Christmas list, and I’ll be very sad if I miss out on that brownie goodness.”

Janelle chuckled. “Well, if I can figure out the rules for sending food at the post, then I might just make you a batch.” Collecting her measuring spoons and snatching the tub of cocoa powder, she scooped up the soft, brown powder and tapped it into her mixing bowl. She glanced at him through the camera mischievously, attempting an air on nonchalance. “But you might check under your bed in the meantime, Santa may have left something to make it up to you.”

Squinting suspiciously to hide his excitement, he lowered his arm and scooted off the bed. Sliding himself to the floor, he rested on his knees and elbows, still clutching onto the device that held Janelle, nervously awaiting his reaction. Sure enough, a small box sat proudly amongst the clutter underneath his bed. “Wow, a bow and everything!” he tucked his chin in in a big, goofy grin. Janelle’s view of Jae was obstructed as he ducked to grab the gift.

“Nice ceiling, are those new lights?” she quipped, heart picking up a little as she waited for him to see the gift. Jae just snorted in response. She was actually quite nervous: had the gift made it in one piece? Was it the right one? She hadn’t laid eyes on it herself, rather, she had it shipped straight to South Korea, entrusting Younghyun to receive and hide the box in Jae’s room. Abandoning the mix once more, she looked on as the camera moved around dizzyingly until Jae righted himself into view.

“Aw, thank you, babe,” Jae cooed, examining the box in his free hand.

Janelle smiled, trying to egg him on. “You can thank me after you open it! Go ahead!”

He obliged, commentating with his stream of consciousness while setting down his phone to pry open the box. “Alright, alright, I’m going. I can’t believe this, who did you have to bribe to bust into my room?” he paused and shoved his head directly in front of his phone. “Was it Brian?”

“Jae, for the love of all that is good and sacred, if you don’t open that gift, I’m going to send all of your brownies to Wonpil and make you suffer, please open it!” Janelle threatened quickly, eyebrows shooting up to try and show some authority.

“You’re not intimidating, babe.”

“...shut up and open the stinking box.”

Jae continued on, ripping open the tape keeping the box sealed. Janelle shifted on her feet, waiting for any sort of reaction.

“Well?” she asked, only catching the tip of his head from the angle of the camera.

“Well, you need to tell Brian that he’s a crappy gift wrapper. He only put a bow on it,” Jae panned, holding the red decoration over the camera for Janelle to see. Janelle heard the final rip as the last bit of tape gave up its hold on the box. Shuffling. She gazed intensely at the shot of Jae’s forehead, the nerves in her stomach tingling. She studied the way his eyebrows pushed up, creating fine wrinkles in his forehead.

Jae was silent. Janelle hopes it’s the good kind of silent. Chewing on the inside of her lip, she cautiously asked, “Do you like it?”

The view on her laptop shifted again as Jae picked up his phone. She couldn’t read the look on his face, but she didn’t push any further. Jae sat against the side of his bed, organizing his thoughts, his jaw slack and his eyes clear. “Janelle, this is…” he left his sentence unfinished, opting to shake his head and look directly into the camera. “Thank you for this,” he swiveled around, snatching his pillow off the bed to use as a stand for his phone. He carefully set down the device and leaned it against the pillow until his cross-legged figure was in full view. Next to him lay the now empty brown box, and in his lap sat a brown leather bound book. He turned his attention to it, opening the cover gently, eyes roaming the title page that read “Memories” in black script. In it were pictures the pair had taken while they had visited each other, Janelle when she went to Korea in the summer and Jae when he pit-stopped for a day after the concert stop in Jakarta. Some were selfies, showing silly faces and surprise kisses, some were sneakily taken shots of Jae sleeping on the couch or low-angle shots under his chin. He slowly flicked through the pages, seeing pictures of the coffee shop where they first met in Korea, selfies of Janelle pouting with a small plushie Jae had given her before she left to start uni.

Janelle watched on, her chin resting on the heel of her palm, her weight balancing on one foot as she crossed her ankles, resting her toes on the cool floor of her kitchen. She felt a soft bliss as Jae scanned the photo book she had made for him, a compilation of their times together so they could reminisce. She knew how sentimental Jae was inside, and she knew how hard being constantly busy was, and if he missed her the way she missed him, the distance couldn’t have been easy on him.

“I just figured it’d be nice to start keeping something to help us along when we’re apart,” Janelle divulged, eyeing the screen before letting her eyes fall to the countertop.

“There’s blank ones,” Jae remarked, looking at his screen once more. His voice was soft, devoid of the usual playfulness typical of his tone.

Janelle bit her lip, an excited smile forming on her face. “Yeah, I left those for our future memories.”

Jae rocked backwards, hands holding his ankles, hitting the side of his bed in the process. He looked down at the book again, a smile brimming on his own face. “I love it, babe. This was very thoughtful, I really like it.” Making eye contact with her through the screen, he tried to convey as meaningful a look as possible. “Come, here,” he suddenly said, holding his arms out towards the phone, wrapping it and the pillow in an awkward hug.

Janelle laughed on the other end of the line. “Well, that didn’t last long, did it?”

“Come on, don’t leave me hanging, or else this’ll get really awkward.”

“It already is awkward, Jae.”

“It’s what I do best.”

Releasing a sigh ahead of a warm smile, Janelle obliged, wrapping her laptop a hugging gesture. “You’re crazy.”

“Right back at ya,” Jae drew away, smoothly dropping a wink. Janelle gagged in response.

“What about me? Any hints for my gift?” Janelle redirected, hoping to escape more electronics-as-middleman skinship.

Looking out at his room, Jae exhaled shortly. “I checked the postage tracking, but I think it got held up in customs,” he explained, “I knew I should’ve sent it earlier.”

“Don’t worry about it!” Janelle hastily deflected the negativity pulling down on her boyfriend’s shoulders. “Anything is fine, I’m just lucky to have you,” she pressed her lips together to try and dispel any regret he may have been having.

“Janelle,” Jae began, “I think we all know that I’m the lucky one in this combo. Like, the fact that I even managed to meet you is a miracle in itself, so please, will you let me keep the title of ever-grateful boyfriend here?”

A roll of the eyes. A sarcastic smirk.

“Well, I guess, but where does that leave me, huh?”

“You win title of the most tolerant girlfriend to the most ridiculous man on earth,” he quipped.

Another eye roll. “Well, you’ve got that right,” she muttered jokingly.

“I’ll let that slide since it’s Christmas.” Jae got up from the floor, clutching the book as he waddled over to his desk.

“You love me,” Janelle swayed her shoulders to the side, leaning her head down until they met before she started to pick back up on her baking.

“You know it.”

Time slipped by as they continued to chatter about plans before ringing in the New Year. Janelle joked about kissing a random person at midnight on New Years Eve: sulking, Jae left the phone on his desk as he paced around his room. “That’s mean,” he pouted. Both of them knew that neither would ever do such a thing, and both trusted each other to not betray that.

After catching up with each other, Jae was fighting back the onslaught of sleep and Janelle was waiting for her brownies to finish baking. It was quite late, but neither party seemed to want to end the call. Eventually, Janelle’s conscience nagged her into encouraging Jae to go to bed.

“You need the rest, you shouldn’t sleep Christmas away,” she reasoned, swinging her legs from her perch on the countertop.

Jae whined, but relented. “Yes, ma’am,” he grumbled sarcastically. “Talk to you later?”

“Yeah, talk to you later. Good night, Jae.” That little pang in her chest returned, wishing earnestly that she could be there with him.

“G’night, babe,” Jae grinned, crinkling his eyes and waving before her smiling face disappeared and a dark screen took her place.

Heaving a sigh, Jae propelled himself up from his bed, going to the bathroom to wash up before packing his toiletries.

Her Christmas gift was on his way.

a/n: WOW congrats if you made it through!! hope you enjoyed it, have a merry christmas!

#myday secret santa #day6 #day6 scenarios #mine #day6 imagines #jae #jae scenarios #park jaehyung #sorry im super rusty at writing #feenzie writes

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toevenexist · 8 years ago

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The Darkening Pt. 10

Hello! sorry for taking so long with this chapter I needed a little break from social media but I’m back now and hope I’ve still got some readers for this!!

Please let me know what you think. Your feedback means the world to me!!!

@francescabuccino I hope this is worth waiting up for xxx <3

I’ll be uploading chapter 11 straight after posting this!

Masterpost

ps. I’ll be checking for any missed errors tomorrow so sorry for any xx

Enjoy xx

“Hello, I’m Dr Wyler… nice to meet you” a female doctor smiled, meeting them out in the hall. Her mousy hair wisped out to the side as she stopped before them.

She shook Amelia and Owens hands, taking their names, and walked around, taking control of the wheelchair, dismissing the gentlemen in the burgundy scrubs. She pushed Amelia around a corner into a small ward like area and into a side room. She pushed the chair beside a desk and signalled for Owen to sit in the chair beside her. The women had an energy to her, one that eased some of the couples tension.

She sat down at the desk with a sigh and a smile, “right” she said, sliding a green file towards her and opened it. Amelia sat up straight, trying to see the page. “So… can I call you Amelia?” she said. Amelia nodded, squeezing the hand that Owen had rest of her knee. “Now before we get started, do you have any questions about anything that’s happening? Has anyone spoken to you and your group?” Amelia and Owen glanced at each other.

“Uhh..” Owen stuttered, trying to gather his thoughts quickly, not expecting to have the opportunity. “No one has…” Amelia said.

“What is this place?” Owen asked. The mood suddenly morphing into one of thirst.

“This is the a military base. You’re in the military hospital. The whole base has been adapted to suit its new purpose which is as a new settlement for survivors.”

“What’s going to happen?”

“You’ve all been cleared and don’t have the disease. You’ll be in the hospital for another…” she looked down at the file, “two more days, then you’ll move to residential”

“Will we all be together?” Amelia asked.

“Yes you will be, You’ll be in a block of your own” she said, nodding and pressing her palms against the desk. The couple fell quiet then. “Is that everything for now?” she asked, the pair nodded, sinking back into their nervousness.

“Okay… right, let’s get to it…Are you aware that you are pregnant?” she said, bringing her hands together on the desk.

Amelia glanced quickly at Owen, “Yes… only recently…” she said, inhaling and shaking off the resistance to talk. “I had an accident about four weeks ago, I’m sure that masked the symptoms” she continued, more confidently.

Dr Wyler nodded and readied herself to stand. “Right… okay, well we’re going to carry out all of the usual checks. Just to make sure everything is going to plan… okay?” she questioned, smiling at the pair as she rolled out from the table.

“Sure” Amelia appeared composed, only the strength at which she gripped Owens hand indicated her inner turmoil.

“I’m just going to weigh you, take your height… what is your original weight?” she said, guiding Amelia across the room to the scales. Dr Wyler held a clipboard in her hand and wrote down the measurements as they became apparent.

Owen sat quietly in the chair, watching, worried and curious. Amelia moved about the room, being measured and prodded. She’d meet his eyes every so often and smile slightly, though her eyes offered up mostly fear, and that fact made him want to walk across the room, stop all the tests and just hold her. He thought he could actually see that she was pregnant now; her hair, her breasts, her waist, just small changes that he hadn’t noticed before, maybe all in his head. The realisation made his heart thump hard in his chest.

Amelia had to admit she appreciated the conversation, having been around the same people for the past three months. Even if it did include having to bare parts of her body that she wouldn’t readily agree to after just twenty minutes of knowing her. “Okay you can pull your legs down from the stirrups now and lie flat for me” she said, guiding Amelia back by her shoulder.

She laid a blanket across Amelia’s legs and tugged up her gown to reveal her stomach. “Owen do you want to come closer” she asked, as she multi tasked, writing a note onto the clipboard and pulling over the sonogram machine.

He hurried to shift his chair closer to Amelia, thankful to be involved and by her side again. Dr Wyler placed the clipboard down and began to palpate Amelia’s stomach. “Your hormone levels indicate you’re around twelve weeks… does that sound right?” she asked, blinking up at Amelia as she pressed against her abdomen. Amelia nodded distractedly, eyes fixed on Dr Wyler’s busy hands. She felt numb with fear.

“Okay Amelia…I’m going to carry out a sonogram… Just relax” she said, drawing out her last words in a breath, preparing the equipment. Owen pulled Amelia from her mind, taking hold of her hand,

“Hey… it’s okay” he whispered depressing a kiss against her forehead. The contact comforted her and she immediately wanted more, tugging his hand gently, meeting his lips. Dr Wyler continued her preparations. When she squeezed the gel onto her skin Amelia gasped against his lips and Owen chuckled, dropping another kiss against her forehead.

“Okay… there’s baby” Dr Wyler twisted the screen slightly to face the pair.

Amelia held her breath… she and Owen could both see it; a healthy baby. Owen leaned forward slightly, across Amelia, to see the screen better. His mouth hung open, tears in his eyes. Amelia’s eyes ran around the circumference of their baby’s head, at the perfectly sized mass in the center, the brain, the beautifully forming… brain.

“Owen” she whispered. He smiled down at her kissing her sloppily. Their lips stretched into wide smiles, Dr Wyler stood in awe, “you seem very capable at interpreting the sonogram, are you medical professionals?”

They both nodded, clinging to one another, focus remaining fixed on the sonogram. The image blurred through both of their eyes as they filled with tears again. Their child’s heart fluttered delicately.

Suddenly the image moved in sync with an audible rhythm and they both gasped. Dr Wyler beamed at them, feeling her own eyes begin to water, thankful too, for the hope that a new life brought.

They spent the next thirty minutes analysing every possible aspect of the baby, and Amelia’s uterus, discovering that everything was progressing as good as could be. Another thirty minutes passed by, Dr Wyler took all of Amelia’s medical history.

“Now this clean bill of health doesn’t mean you won’t have to make changes… the past couple of months will have been very stressful on you and the baby, you need to try to avoid stress….” Dr Wyler leaned forward against her desk. Amelia frowned. “Now I know what you’re thinking, but now that you are in this facility I think you’ll be able to… you need to just take it easy” Owen nodded more fervently than Amelia did. “Have you been having morning sickness?” Amelia worried her lips.

“Maybe… I had been having local anaesthetic injections for my injury and we thought I was having a bad reaction to it so…”

“Did you have any this morning?”

“Yeah… but I’m not sure that the local has completely worn off” Dr Wyler nodded, continuing her notes.

“Right… well, we’ll keep an eye on that. Has it been very bad?” she asked and Amelia shrugged, looking up. Owen seemed dissatisfied with her answer. “It’s been bad” he said, Amelia eyed him sharply.

“I don’t want any drugs” she said, quickly turning back to Dr Wyler.

“That’s okay, I’ll put you on 25 mg of vitamin B6, to take three times a day, as well as your basic prenatal vitamins. I’ll get the nurses to get you some ginger tea, and ale… biscuits?” she said. Amelia smiled, “sure” she said, smirking at Owen, both of them surprised at how warm and friendly the women was.

“You’re at the end of your first trimester so it should be easing off soon, I want to see you for your next appointment in two weeks, after that every four weeks until you’re twenty eight weeks, Okay?” she said, leaning down to collect the vitamins from a draw.

“Mmhm” Amelia said, feeling more overwhelmed by the second. She laid her arms across stomach and closed her eyes, inhaling an even breath, she felt Owen’s hand on her thigh.

“I’ll walk you back” Dr Wyler said, smirking. The dynamic was one that she was familiar with, a frightened mother, and the over-eager, likely to be overprotective, father.

They stood and Amelia wrapped her arms around herself, shrugging her shoulders as a chill running through her. She craved the day that she’d get her clothes, or any normal clothes. Owen curled his arm around her shoulders, the vitamins rattling in his hand.

Dr Wyler paused at the door, looking over Amelia, shivering in her hospital gown and tightened her lips. She walked to her desk and bent behind it, lifting up a navy zip up fleece. “Here” she held it up, towards Amelia, smiling warmly. Amelia hesitated, “please, I have some others” she continued, walking closer to Amelia and opening the garment for her to put on.

“So what did you do… before?” Dr Wyler asked, walking beside them as they walked down a long corridor back to their room. “We’re both surgeons” Owen said, glancing across at the woman. “All but two of the adults in our group are.” her expression twisted into one of surprise and she slowed.

“Really? What kind?” she said, folding her arms. “Well I’m trauma. Amelia is…”

“Neuro” Amelia looked up from the sonogram picture in her hand.

“And then we have pediatric, general, and foetal” he continued. Amelia listened vaguely, her main spread of attention was on the image. “Wow… Okay, well, we may call on you all some time” she said, nodding frantically. Owen smiled, nodding slightly, looking to Amelia. He smirked and draped his arm across her shoulders, pulling her tightly to her side. She was mesmerized by the image.

“This is you …” Dr Wyler said, pausing beside the door and pulling out her key card. “If you need to see me, just let the nurses know…” she glanced in through the door’s rectangular window.

“My first name is Nina by the way, it was really nice to meet you” she smiled sweetly, tucking a curl of sandy hair behind her ear and reaching out, placing her hand against Amelia’s shoulder. The couple smiled genuinely, relieved to have finally met someone who didn’t treat them like criminals.

She unlocked the door and waved them in. “Rest, Amelia, and I’ll come and see you in a couple of days to check on your morning sickness” she said lastly, Amelia nodded.

“Thank you Nina” Amelia said, turning back to her as she walked into the room, Arizona stood up, greeting Owen with a concerned smile. Ray jumped up and ran to Amelia. “Oh Nina?” Amelia called after her quickly, before the door closed. Nina stopped and moved into the room, “you wouldn’t be able to get something for the kids to play with? They’re bored out of their minds” she asked, hopefully. Ray clung to Amelia, face against her stomach. She looked up shyly.

Nina came into to room a fraction, meeting everyone’s eyes and smiling. She saw Ellis at the end of a bed, a cardboard toilet roll center in her hand, a smiling face, with an eye lacking, drawn on it. She chuckled, looking back to Amelia, “I’ll see what I can find” she said, nodding.

Ray tugged of Amelia’s arm, peering up at her, “Ginny” she whispered, immediately pressing her face back against Amelia’s stomach. “You…” Amelia began, looking back to Nina, who had sensed that there was more. “You don’t know when we’ll get our cat back?” Amelia asked her, laying her hands against Ray’s back, sonogram held between two folded fingers.

“I’m sure you’ll get her back in a couple of days, maybe sooner…Listen, is there anything I can get anyone else, I know they aren’t particularly good at communicating in this ward?” she said, looking around at everyone.

Everyone gawked at her, pausing their movement as they tried to quickly decide whether to trust the women. Arizona stood up from her bed and stepped once towards where the Woman stood beside Amelia. “Some…” she began, pulling her gown around herself tighter, “Some clothes… will we get our clothes back?” Arizona met the Nina’s eyes. Nina smiled, nodding slightly. “You’ll get your clothes back when they move you to the residential area in a couple of days but I’ll gather up some clothes for you today” she spoke clearly to Arizona, not moving her blue orbs from hers.

Arizona grinned appreciatively, “Thanks” she said.

“Owen said you’re all doctors?” She asked, glancing around, gaze gravitating back to Arizona’s. Arizona nodded again “I’m Foetal and pediatric” she said, before pointing to everyone else, naming their specialty.

“Well, we’ll almost definitely have work for you all, if you’re up for it?” She said, crouching down to greet Ellis, who had slipped from the bed and dawdled over to her. “Hey” she whispered, beaming at Ellis.

“Sure” Arizona said, folding her arms across her chest in an effort to attain some modesty. Nina stood, ruffling Ellis’ hair.

“Okay, I’ll get some clothing, it may just be scrubs but anything is better than the hospital gowns. Bring it to you in a little while, Okay?” she backed towards the door, scanning the room, nodding. The group had perked up, smiling toothily, “Yes thank you doctor” Evelyn spoke up.

LINK TO PART 11

Please let me know what you think!! xxxx

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jesusvasser · 6 years ago

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2018 Kia Stinger GT Four Seasons Introduction

We’ve driven enough midsize sport sedans over the years to know what we want. Along with a nimble, rear-wheel-drive chassis and a horsepower figure north of the 300 mark, we usually think of something with a German, American, or Italian bloodline. Korean roots? Not so much. But then we spent some quality time with the 2018 Kia Stinger GT. It reset our mentality, so much so that we decided to get one in for a year’s worth of evaluation.

The lean, mean Stinger machine is the culmination of almost a decade’s worth of tantalizing teasing by the automaker. Kia first hinted at a vehicle with true sporting intentions in 2011 with the Kia GT concept, and again in 2014 with the GT4 Stinger concept. Then it finally dropped the real production version at the 2017 Detroit auto show, thanks in part to the contributions of some German imports.

Indeed, the halls of Kia HQ probably smell a bit like brats and spilled hefeweizen these days, as the company lured some top engineering talent away from Germany to help the marque turn up the heat. Chief among them is Hyundai Motor Group head of vehicle testing and high-performance development Albert Biermann, the man who orchestrated the Stinger’s dynamic symphony. Fellow BMW alums Thomas Schemera and Fayez Rahman also play key roles at the group. These people know how to develop a proper sport sedan.

While Biermann’s squad handled the Stinger’s performance and handling, president and chief design officer for Kia Motors Corporation (and fellow German native) Peter Schreyer and his team sculpted the Stinger’s styling. Draped in a shell featuring a coupe-like greenhouse, an aggressive front fascia that advances Kia’s late-model mug, and a functional, integrated liftback, the Stinger deserved a Four Seasons bid on its looks alone. Associate editor Billy Rehbock experienced the pseudo-celebrity treatment behind the wheel of a Stinger GT prior to the arrival of our Four Seasons tester. “I watched heads turn and follow the car as I passed in a parking lot and got loads of remarks from onlookers as I got in or out,” Rehbock wrote. “A guy in a Chrysler 300 nearly pressed his face against his window trying to get a better look.”

Another big part of the Stinger’s appeal is its unique nature, given its liftback versatility and tweener status in both the size and luxury arenas. “A segment straddler, it’s neither a large sedan nor a midsizer, and it’s neither premium nor mainstream in its fit and finish,” senior editor Nelson Ireson said. “It’s somewhere in the center of the overlapping Venn diagram of all of these traits. And while that might mean it’s hard for some people to appreciate, it’s also what makes the Stinger GT so good for so many uses.”

Kia presently offers the Stinger in five trim levels and two powertrain configurations, starting with a base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder pushing a healthy 255 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission of Kia’s own design. All-wheel drive is available for $2,200 and can be had from the bottom to the top of the Stinger range.

Although the turbo-four is a compelling offering, we like a little more pep in our step, so we opted for the Stinger GT. Its eight-speed is mated to a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 that has seen duty in several recent Hyundai Group models. The engine is rated at 365 hp and a healthy 376 lb-ft, enough to hustle our rear-wheel-drive model from 0 to 60 mph in a Kia-claimed 4.7 seconds. We could have opted for the AWD upgrade, but given that our tester will spend the majority of its time within in the state lines of sunny California, AWD seemed like an unnecessary complication.

Not all GTs are created equal, however, with the GT1 and GT2 trims sitting above the base GT. Ours is a well-equipped GT2 in HiChroma Red, weighing in at $50,175. Unlike the Germans, there isn’t much à la carte ordering to be had. If you want more features, you’ve got to ascend the trim hierarchy. Since the GT2 is the top trim in the Stinger heap, it comes fully loaded; the only option on our car is a $75 rear bumper applique. It’s a comprehensive package that’s a requirement when you start pushing up into this price bracket.

Performance wise, the GT2 comes with a limited-slip differential and electronically adjustable suspension, along with 19-inch wheels with a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4s (225/40R19 front, 255/35R19 rear) wrapped around them. A Brembo brake package slows things down. Strangely, the electronic shift-by-wire system is exclusive to the GT2 trim. As far as we can tell, it doesn’t do anything differently than the regular shifter except clean up the interior aesthetics a bit, as the T-handle unit on lower-line Stingers is balky at best.

In addition to the fancy e-shifter, there are myriad infotainment and comfort features, including an 8.0-inch touchscreen with voice command and navigation and a 15-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system. Our Stinger also features Nappa leather trim and power 16-way adjustable driver and 12-way adjustable passenger seats. They’re heated too, as is the power-adjustable steering wheel.

A full range of nannies and other convenience features are in the mix as well, including radar cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning and avoidance, lane departure, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beams. Oh, and don’t forget the rain-sensing wipers (not that we need them much out here in Los Angeles). The GT2 also gets a trim-exclusive head-up display.

Listening to Automobile editors who have already had an early go in the car, we anticipate a fun and (very) fast 12 months. Although the Stinger didn’t quite make the top step of the podium, it was widely praised at last year’s All-Stars event for its dynamic capabilities and potent powertrain, and those who have gotten extended seat time in the car have praised it. “After logging several hundred miles on the odometer, I came to appreciate the Stinger as a capable sport sedan with proper touring car clout,” Rehbock said of his extended drive. “It’s fast. Really fast. Hitting freeway speeds is no problem, and our tester was all too eager to get up to speed.”

We’re eager to find out if this is the start of something truly magical for Kia, or just a bulgogi-flavored flash in the pan. But based on our time so far with the 2018 Kia Stinger GT—including the first stints in our Four Seasons car—we’re expecting to snap more necks, field more questions, and get chased down over the next year by a public curious to know what this quick Korean sport sedan is all about.

Our 2018 Kia Stinger GT2 RWD

Overview PRICE $50,100/$50,175 (base/as tested) ENGINE 3.3-liter twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6/365 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 376 lb-ft @ 1,300-4,500 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 5-passenger, front-engine, RWD hatchback

Chassis

CONSTRUCTION Unibody STEERING Electric power assisted variable ratio rack and pinion LOCK-TO-LOCK N/A TURNING CIRCLE 36.7 ft SUSPENSION, F/R MacPherson strut/five-link BRAKES, F/R Vented discs WHEELS, F/R 19-inch alloy TIRES Michelin Pilot Sport 4, Front: 225/40R19, Rear: 255/35R19

Measurements

L X W X H 190.2 x 73.6 x 55.1 in WHEELBASE 114.4 in TRACK, F/R 62.8/63.7 in HEADROOM, F/R 38.3/37.0 in LEGROOM, F/R 42.6/36.4 in SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 56.4/54.8 in CARGO CAPACITY 23.3/40.9 cu ft WEIGHT 3,829 lb WEIGHT DIST F/R 52%/48% EPA MILEAGE 19/25/21 (city/hwy/combined) FUEL CAPACITY 15.9 gallons EST. FUEL RANGE 398 miles (est) FUEL GRADE Unleaded premium 0-60 MPH 4.7 sec TOP SPEED 167 mph (mfr. est.)

Equipment

STANDARD EQUIPMENT Nappa leather trim Power-adjustable heated and cooled front seats w/ memory Power-adjustable steering column Android Auto/Apple CarPlay integration Harmon/Kardon premium audio w/ SiriusXM Harmon/Kardon premium audio w/ SiriusXM UVO eServices Smart key with push-button start Head-up display Adaptive cruise control LED ambient lighting Automatic high-beams Lane-departure warning and correction Forward-collision warning and avoidance Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert Power sunroof Rain-sensing wipers Power tailgate LED headlights OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT Rear bumper applique $75

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#IFTTT #Performance Junk WP Feed 4

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eddiejpoplar · 6 years ago

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2018 Kia Stinger GT Four Seasons Introduction

Our 2018 Kia Stinger GT2 RWD

Chassis

Measurements

Equipment

IFTTT

#IFTTT #Performance Junk Blogger 6

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divewatchhq-blog · 7 years ago

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Review: Orion Calamity Dive Watch

https://www.divewatchhq.com/?p=3953 There are two main category of modern dive watch. The purpose-built tool-watch with function at the forefront, and the dress diver with pleasing aesthetics and comfort taking precedence over deep-dive performance. Most dive watches will sit somewhere between the two extremes, and the new Orion Calamity certainly veers towards the dressier end of the spectrum. From a background in the Seiko modding world, Nick Harris launched the Orion 1 (read our coverage here) two years ago with the aim of creating a brand that fuses modern and vintage elements, producing watches that smaller-wristed watch lovers could appreciate. Whereas the Orion 1 and the Field Standard came in at or under the $500 mark, the latest offering comes with a significant hike in price ($1,495), putting it in competition with some pretty serious watches from more well-known marques. That said, in my estimation, the Orion Calamity is a slim and elegant diver, it’s moderately sized, and it boasts specs and finishing that, I hope, justifies the higher price point. One of the big draws for this watch on paper is its thickness, or thinness rather. It is listed as 11.3 millimeters tapering down to 10.5 millimeters, and the reason for that unusual measurement is the curved case back. As you’ll hopefully be able to tell from the photos, the case is at its thinnest right in the center with a slight curvature out towards the lugs. That arc is followed by the sapphire display back and the stainless steel surround.

Note the finishing of the bevel

The upshot is a watch that sits very comfortably on my seven-inch wrist—very comfortably indeed. I honestly cannot say just how much of that may be due to the curvature or how much of it is due to the overall dimensions hitting my sweet spot, but whatever is causing it, it sure makes for a great fit. The case is almost entirely brushed with the exception of only a few polished slivers hidden away throughout the watch. The brushing is fine enough to avoid a tool-watch facade, but it is still pronounced enough to create a good deal of contrast against the polished bevels on the lugs. The Oyster-style bracelet gets the same brushed finish, and thankfully there are no polished center links.

Slim is in

Quality bracelet

The crown is large with appropriately beefy crown guards to match. Although the crown isn’t quite as oversized as the one seen on previous Orion models, it does feature the same polished knurling—it’s become a bit of an Orion trademark feature. That same knurling is also seen around the outer perimeter of the rotating bezel. The bezel is unidirectional with 120 clicks. Each click feels precise with very little back-play, and the knurling offers reasonable grip despite the thinness of the bezel edge. The Calamity comes with a choice of three dial colors: Black, Blue, and a “drab” Green. Black would probably be my ideal choice from those on offer, but I have to admit that I have been pleasantly surprised by the Green dial. There are comparatively few green-dialed watches on the market and I was worried this would be an illustration of just why that is the case, but it works. “Drab” can have negative connotations, and while it is a candid and accurate description of this particular shade of green, it’s precisely that dullness that makes the color much easier to live with.

Drab, but not “drab”

All three dial choices have a matte finish, which aids in overall legibility, but it does leave the dial looking a little flat at times. A double-domed sapphire crystal with an internal AR coating plays its part in offering a clear view of the dial underneath. With each variant, the ceramic bezel insert matches the dial color, but at certain angles (or under certain lights) the difference in tone between the dial and bezel becomes more apparent. The bezel features a stylized triangle at 12, and all bezel markings are covered with the same BGW9 Super-LumiNova luminous paint that is found on the hands and dial indices. The dial markings deliver precise symmetry and a clean aesthetic through large, acute triangles at the cardinal points and slightly smaller blocks for the other hour markers. As I wrote above, all hour indices are lume-filled, and they’re finished with polished surrounds. I particularly like the way the small polished elements on the dial and on the hands are just enough to penetrate the neighboring flatness of the dial, much in the same way the beveled, polished edges do for the case. Inside the Orion Calamity, and visible through the curved exhibition case back, beats the automatic ETA 2892-A2—a cousin of the more commonly seen ETA 2824-2, but with a few choice differences. Better shock protection is a bonus, but the main driver for its selection here is likely the 1 millimeter in height that the ETA 2892-A2 does away with. Other differences are less noticeable (it has a slightly longer power reserve of 42 hours), and the caliber still beats at the same 28,800 BPH.

Note the previously mentioned curvature and ETA 2892-A2 within

As standard, the ETA 2892-A2 caliber also features a date wheel which, in the case of the Orion, has not been removed. The associated “phantom” crown position and date click-over are still present, and that’s one of the few areas where I feel a concession has been made to avoid extra costs. As a dressy diver, the Calamity comes supplied on a solid oyster bracelet featuring a brushed surface finish. The links are solid, but they’re fairly thin with a gentle taper, offering a very comfortable wearing experience. Neither the watch nor the bracelet is particularly heavy in absolute terms, but together it all feel dense and cohesive. I prefer to wear dive watches on their bracelets, especially on well-made ones, where the added weight also gives greater balance and avoids wrist slop. The curvature of the case back follows through into the lugs and comfort is outstanding. I found that the lugs sit just as close to the wrist as the middle of the case does, which is something not all watches achieve, even very comfortable ones. In addition to the phantom date wheel mentioned above, the only other potential concession is the clasp. It functions well, and visually it is entirely in keeping with the bracelet, but the push-button, flip-lock clasp doesn’t quite feel up to the same high ideal as the rest of the watch. Furthermore, the absence of a diver’s extension is worthy of note, though I’ll admit it won’t impact my wearing of the watch. Taking a step back and looking at the whole package, there are four main aspects that need to be considered: the fairly original and well-executed design, the overall quality in finishing, the slimness and associated comfort, and the price. Several design choices mean the price is considerably above the previous models. Whether these decisions represent a refusal to compromise on the watch Nick Harris wanted to make, and whether the market agrees with the importance of those choices, remains to be seen. There’s no arguing that the $1,495 asking price might be considered a barrier to entry for a fairly young brand without the track record to prove they can compete happily alongside more well-established names. However, it’s also clear that this is a well-designed and executed watch. If you can make that equation balance in your mind, then there’s little doubt this would make for a great “beach to boardroom” wrist companion. Orion The post Review: Orion Calamity Dive Watch appeared first on Worn & Wound. Source link

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batcasuallychoppedbouquetfa-blog · 7 years ago

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How A Deadly Hen Processing Plant Hearth Reveals A Decline In Worker Protections

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the-blu-girl-blog · 8 years ago

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Testing Abnormalities

I was reading something the other day about how stressed out kids get due to standardized testing and I just wonder… am I just like really weird?

Because I remember the TAKS days rather fondly. Because we were put in a classroom, and all those folks had to be quiet. We answered a bunch of one out of four (sometimes five) questions.

Wrote a blip of something that, due to the “anonymous” nature of the tests could be total bs and no one would know, and did that one section of math where you actually had to work things out. Once you were finished you could chill and read. Once the room was finished you could chat and play cards with people so long as you were quiet.

And you almost never had to go to anything but your last class for the full length, and thus spent most of that time chilling too. And almost never got homework that day.

My biggest stress was possibly being the last person done because I’m dyslexic and don’t always read as fast as I’d like. And I was always really self conscious of being the only person still working, because I could almost feel the desperation of the more social folks who are sitting there dying to talk but they can’t cause I’m slow. (I was almost never the last person, it was just a fear I had.)

Also, completely different test- the fitness exam. The thing where you have to run a mile in under such time to be healthy, also be so flexible, be able to do so many crunches/push ups. Also do the pacer thing. Oh, and have your height and weight measured in front of people.

They tell me my height. Me: Yeah, I know. I’m short.

The weight bit. Me: *thinking- This is so insensitive. Trust me, the people that are over/under the “acceptable” BMI are fully aware, probably pretty self-conscious, and don’t particularly need to be forced to voice it out loud where people who make their daily lives miserable might overhear.* Thanks. * Repeats it in my head repeatedly until I get from the person who weighed me to the person writing down our answers. Mostly so I don’t open my mouth and blank on what it was and have to go get weighed again.*

Flexibility station. Me: *has no problems*

Push ups/Crunches. Me: Look, I did, like, five. I should get an A for effort. Can we move on? I have to do these every day in my mandatory physical class (I went with dance because fuck PE).

The mile. Me: *Whips out book I’ve been carting around in my hoodie pocket this whole time. Walks as slowly as possible to annoy people, keep from tripping, and not jostle the book so much that I’m unable to actually read it.* People passing me: You can do it! Me: Thanks! *continues reading* People in bleachers: Come on, you can do it! (This said in a more wheedling tone, with a touch of condescension.) Me: *Flips page. Resists urge to flip off.* Instructors: Times up! Me: *Looks up. Uses finger to hold place and half closes book. Walk across track in shortest distance to reach the gate.* Oh, is it? That’s terrible. I don’t think I finished in time. So awful.

Pacer. Done on a different day, either because they’re kind enough to not subject us to it all at once, or because they’re cruel enough to drag it out. Still not certain which it is. Me: *Goes all out for like three rounds then spontaneously decides I no longer give a shit and give up. Not even because I’m exhausted. Just stopped caring.* So, how’d I do?

#test #testing #TAKS test #fitness test #gives no fucks #pacer test #school #introvert #isfp

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lunaciclo · 8 years ago

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Back Support

BACKRESTS. Pelvic support v. Lumbar.Correct BACKRESTS. A partial solution.

Correct pelvic support prevents the usual backward tilt of the pelvis which flattens the protective lumbar lordosis. The emphasis is on ‘correct’.

Pelvic (iliac) support. Of fundamental importance for any chair design intended for prolonged use. Support is directed at the level of the pelvic Iliac crest, approximately 20 cm above the seat.

Lumbar support. Support is directed to the lumber spine above the iliac crest. it fails to prevent backward pelvic tilting and can be seriously adverse.

Position of the back support

This is important. The effectiveness of any upright chair in reducing LBP depends on it. Iliac support can be a component of a 2T chair both as a remedial component for the upright mode and also to prevent a backward tilt in the reclined mode.

Not all authorities agree on the terminology. Above is my own view. HAS.

The height of the posterior superior iliac spine above a seat (ignoring interposed soft tissues] Is between 146 – 168 mm. Iliac support should not be above the lower height. This will be optimal for a small person but less mechanically efficient for a large person

A chair designed for a large person can have the iliac support at a higher level (max 168 mm,) but this would be adverse for a small person. (By Wicketts D, 2014, after Reynolds)

Pelvic tilting. A result of upright sitting

The backward rotation of the pelvis when sitting has been described (Biomechanics/Effects on sitting posture) and it’s effect of reducing the IVD wedge angle (Angles & lordosis). AC Mandal described this change and how a misconceived lumbar backrest, that is intended to reproduce the lordotic curve which pertains while standing, was arrived at in the 1920’s. It provided the theoretical basis for the adverse traditional ‘correct’ sitting posture. ☛ Why? Mandal’s homo sedans→ . It was reinforced when Cyriax126 pointed out the importance of lordosis in avoiding retropulsion of the disc contents with his adage “Preserve the lumbar curve”.

Pelvic and Iliac support.

Pelvic support was developed by John Gorman an engineer and chiropractor (Gorman’s41) was in contradistinction to existing ‘lumbar support’, Precise support, shaped to the curve of the iliac crest is applied to the posterior iliac spine and iliac crest of the pelvis. A slight forward nudge at this point is mechanically efficient in extending the two lowest joints and prevents the pelvis rotating backwards.This brings the iliac support round to encircle the entire Iliac crest, ie. half way round the lower torso. This is certainly comfortable and gives maximum mechanical effectiveness. However chair designers don’t like it as it looks “too like a hospital chair for the disabled”.

A compromise is to direct the support to the posterior superior iliac spine (the back of the iliac crest). This should be adequate to prevent the pelvis from tilting backwards but may be less comfortable.

Following the publication of Gorman’s ‘Pelvic Posture’ principle a number of other systems have been developed also called ‘pelvic support’. Subsequent designers seem to have missed this point and allow pressure to be directed to the L5 & S1 spinous processes in the mid-line which gives uncomfortable point pressure. More correctly, this is ‘sacral support’. In retrospect it was perhaps unfortunate that Gorman named this concept ‘Pelvic Support’ when more precisely it is Iliac support. Pelvic support, of some sort, has increasingly become accepted into mainstream chair design. Even cheaper chairs tend to direct the support to the level of the iliac crests although Gorman’s work may not have been recognised and not fully implemented.

Gorman’s analysis. He wrote:-

“The theory of lumbar support is a simple mechanical error; the result of orthopaedic surgeons not having engineering knowledge and seat and chair engineers, no anatomical knowledge.

When we sit, the primary effect is the backward rolling of the pelvis, because all the leg muscles connect to the pelvis so, when the thigh goes from vertical to horizontal (or beyond) in sitting, the pelvis tends to roll back too. (Tight clothing accentuates this). The weight of the upper body transfers down the spine, on to the back of the pelvis – rolling it backwards. These two effects cannot be resisted by supporting the spine directly, and the result is maximum bending force where the spine connects to the pelvis. This is exactly what lumbar support causes.” (John Gorman).

His mechanical analysis, showed that, in the sitting position, a support behind the lumbar joints results in flexion of the L5/S1 joint (X). This is the joint at which 80% of disc pathology occurs and flexion is precisely the position that has to be avoided, particularly if the wedge angle can fall below 0° (ie. vertebral joint surfaces parallel), which is usual in Western populations. Schorberth132 showed that the pelvis rotates by 40° on changing from the standing to sitting mode with lordosis loss at the vulnerable L4/5 & L5/S1 joints.

The Gorman paradox. Support of the lumbar spine at the levels above the pelvis resulting in adverse flexion at the lowest 2 joints seems to be at variance with common experience and is difficult to understand. The spine is generally conceived as a semi rigid column of chunky bones, equivalent to a vertical flexible rod, so lumbar support seems reasonable. However, the anatomical reality is that the lower end of the flexible rod is firmly embedded in a large solid chunk of material, the pelvis. In this case the force directed at the rod will result in lordosis at its point of application but this changes to a position of flexion at the lowest one or two joints which are fixed to the relatively solid pelvis.

Gorman’s calculations were unexpectedly and serendipitously confirmed by a study in Sweden, by Andersson (et al129 ) to show the effect of spinal inclination on the lumbar joints in the upright sitting position. A number of angles (see below) were measured radiographically while standing, and sitting with various angles of backrest and various depths of lumbar supports at different levels. Gorman took Andersson’s raw data and re-expressed them as follows:-

Difference, in degrees, of joint flexion/extension at various spinal levels and thickness of lumbar support (-2, 0, +2, +4 cms)

Gorman’s own account can be seen→

Note that at +2 cm of lumbar support, in column 3, in spite of 3.5° of extension at L1, the important L5/S1 joint is pushed into 4.9° of flexion!

Also, in row 2, that the +2 cm of lumbar support results in flexion of the L5/S1 joint even when compared to sitting with no support, described by Lueuder as “the worst possible position”. The L5/S1 joint is only moved into extension when the lumbar support is 4 cm thick. This amount is uncomfortable.

These points were not commented on by the authors but Gorman asserts that “these figures means that lumbar support is having exactly the opposite effect to that intended.”

More recently this view has been further confirmed by pMRI studies (Smith FE 2006137).

pMRI sagittal lumbar scan with lumbar (not pelvic) support

The upper lumbar joints are in extension and the disc contents are in a central position.

The more relevant lower two discs have reduced wedge angles and there is retropulsion of disc contents at L5/S1 which appear to be about to extrude.

This effect deserves further study.

Gorman wrote:- “If the backrest is flat or only gently curved -seen from above- then it will only contact the sacrum (at 10cm or so above hard surface) or the posterior iliac spines.This could still be pelvic support but much less effective because it is only half the height and therefore half the leverage or mechanical advantage. The 20 cm level at the back will indeed be the lumbar spine.”13 Gorman also wrote (13/3/20013). “One of the problems of making a backrest effective in an upright chair -and this applied to our pelvic support chairs too- is that most of the users don’t sit properly against the backrest. Just look around any office. The only people sitting up straight with full contact with the backrest are those that already have a back problem ! Everyone else is more or less slumping. “

For Gorman’s view on origins of LBP→

JD Gorman explains the difference in stresses of posterior elements which occur in Lumbar and Pelvic support.

Henry See attached pic from my document at Naturaljointmobility.

A. If this car seat incorporated Iliac support, then the compressive force in the L5/S disk would be a bit less than the 40kg weight of the whole of the upper body.

B. If a lumbar support seat, as shown, then the only thing that can resist the occurring backward rolling of the pelvis is a tension in the red ‘posterior elements’ thing, the supraspinous ligament, the fascia or muscles. Regardless of the contribution of each of these structures in resisting the backward rolling, their total tension must result in additional compression in the disc. Very roughly, by simple mechanics, in this drawing, the compression will be an additional 80 kg or so , tripling the compressive force in the spine to 120kg (very rough calculation!!)

Incidentally this shows the agreement between us of preserving lumbar lordosis and against the standard office chair or car seat. You see the compression in the disc as the problem and I see the tension in the “red” ligaments as the problem because it stretches them outside their natural range. Regards, John

Reply (From HAS)

John. An interesting analysis. I think we agree that the common pathway to IDD is increased intra-discal pressure and associated with reduction of the disc wedge angle. Your analysis shows that lumbar support may increase the axial pressure in addition to allowing backward tilting of the pelvis and reduction of the wedge angle. In popular parlance, a ‘double-whammy’. This may account for the discrepancies in the findings of intra-discal pressure research where the precise support is not specified ( a vague photograph is inadequate).

In addition to the above you are also postulating malfunction due to ligament stretching and a muscle ‘over centred’ position. I mention this in the post ‘Anatomy’/ligaments where CTD is mentioned. Solomonov seems to be the expert here. Yours, Henry

Source: http://sittingsafely.com/pelvic-support/

#pelvic support #sacral support #back #backrest #design #ergonomics #research #illiac support

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