The MRI photo above is of my left knee before surgery this week.  On Wednesday I underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to remove part of the damaged meniscus on my left knee.

The surgery was pretty amazing.  I was walking (ok, limping) about an hour after surgery.  However, I’ve been spending most of my time relaxing and keeping my knee elevated.

At least I’m getting some equality reading time in…

- Dave

Video link

I feel a lot like this poor kid today.

Justine is finally getting over her cold from last week, and now I have it.  I hope I feel better for Christmas next week.  Been eating soup and drinking tea like it was going out of style.  My nose is sore from blowing.  Bah hum bug.

Went to Pet Smart and Barnes & Noble today with Justine and then slept for a couple hours after that.

Being sick stinks.

- Dave

Video link (via Ectoplasmosis)

This looks cool and painful at the same time.

-Dave

Justine and I started a 6 week introduction to Zen meditation course at the Houston Zen Center last week.

We spent the first half of the class learning a little about the history and practice of Zen.  After that, we practiced mediation – both seated and walking.

We performed the seated meditation while sitting on top of a small round cushion called a zafu.  The zafu is placed on top of a large rectangular pad called a zabuton.

We practiced two separate seated meditations.  One facing the center of the room and the other facing the wall.  Each session was lead by the Sensei (instructor) for about 10 minutes.

After that, we practiced walking meditation for 10 minutes by controlling our breathing while slowing walking around the meditation room.  It’s more difficult than it sounds.

The first class went pretty well.  I can honestly say I felt more relaxed by the end.  Relaxing my body was much easier than relaxing my mind.  I might have cleared my mind for 2-3 minutes total for the first class.  I suppose 2-3 minutes is better than nothing, right?

- Dave

Justine and I have been battling a horrific bout of stomach flu (see photo above of an unknown college drunkard and you will kow how we felt all weekend). I have been consuming nothing but water for the last 2 days and have finally eaten some chicken broth today.

I’ve felt this bad once before in grad school with a previous bout of stomach flu.

To everyone who was planning on attending the b-day bash Saturday night – we’re sorry for the last-minute rescheduling, but trust us – you wouldn’t have wanted to be around us that night. It was a bad scene. Much like this one below.

Video link

Wilson made more than 500 commercials as Mr. George Whipple, a man consumed with keeping bubbly housewives from fondling toilet paper. The punch line of most spots was that Whipple himself was a closeted Charmin-squeezer.

The first commercial aired in 1964 and by the time the campaign ended in 1985 the tag line and Wilson, a former Canadian airman and vaudeville veteran, were pop culture touchstones.

We’ll miss you, Dick.  Squeeze all the Charmin you want in that great bathroom in the sky.

Link (via Meta Filter)

Not sure how accurate this clock is, but it is filled with very disturbing information.  I think the injuries counter should move much faster…especially in movies and sitcoms.  I mean, “falls” should be flying right?

Link (via Download Squad)

Like a column collapsing under the burden of a heavy roof, erectile dysfunction is a classical mechanical engineering problem, says a US urologist. Using mathematical models of penis geometry and hydrostatic pressure, doctors can predict when penises will fail – and in which vagina – he says.

Apparently this snicker-inducing test involved “57 men with erectile dysfunction. Each was measured by slowly injecting their penises with saline solution until erect. Udelson then applied a force to the tip of the penis until it started to bend, the first sign of buckling.”

I passed out after “slowly injecting.”  I have nothing more to say here.

From the New Scientist (via Kottke)

-Dave

Plush bacteria from Think Geek.  There must be someone in your life who deserves a nice fluffy Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease).

Each 5-7 inch plush microbe comes with a instructional card that includes an actual picture of the microbe along with information about the microbe in its natural environment.

I wonder if they squeek?

-Dave