I knew there was something wrong with my back when the D.O. prescribed Flexeril, a muscle relaxant. I wasn’t expecting him to prescribe anything but stretching. We also found something that always hurts, sitting and lifting my right leg while it’s straight out. Right now, after 3 Advil, I was able to bend over to pick up the newspaper, but I still can’t raise my right leg straight out. I also asked him, since I have no sense at all, if I should avoid the gym for a while, and he told me to do nothing but stretching until I see him next week.

Here’s an example of having no sense. My co-worker Eric wanted to go to Helvetia Tavern for hamburgers a couple of weeks ago and I was able to have a chicken sandwich instead of a cheeseburger. But all it took was for him to say, “What the hell? It’s Friday,” for me to end up with a pile of onion rings as well.

Speaking of no sense, I ate a can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew today. My sister bought me some groceries on Sunday and I asked for Progresso Beef Stew because I saw it in the “Zone” book. I guess she wasn’t having much luck finding it. Dinty Moore Beef Stew is kind of salty and nasty and probably as close to dog food as I’m ever going to eat on purpose. I will tell you that when you’re out in the woods camping and everything tastes good, Dinty Moore Beef Stew tastes great. Don’t try this at home. In any case, she got me other stuff that was pretty good but a little salty: Progresso soups and some canned chili. None of it is really matching any kind of diet.

By the way, the gelato fairy came by today (not so much the fairy part). Plus, I went to the gym enough times to put the deal in my favor. Hooray!