LadyInWhite

There are all kinds of chiropractors out there - recently I switched from the "health nut" (x-rays every six months, allergy tests, exercises, traction, the full 9 yards) to the "sports rehabber" who is less about the spine itself and more about how to realign whole systems through muscle and soft tissue movement (essentially it's getting adjusted). I think it's called Active Release or something. Anyway, I get adjusted less often, but have weekly PT massage therapy which is getting beat up but holy cow how she has put motion and flexibility back into my shoulders and joints! I enjoy learning things about my body, like how pronated (?) hips make you walk funny and cause all sorts of upper body problems especially related to torque, which is critical for hockey players, baseball, tennis, etc. So my upper back and shoulders have 40 years of torque-ing athletics to un-do (not to mention computer work). It also has something to do with why my knees are horrid, my arches flat, my femurs turned inward, and my lower core being non-existent. The other chiro, whom I also liked, was more about how the nervous system flows out through the spine, and if the spine is out of whack, the organs that area is connected to will begin to have problems. So with my upper back issues, I also have respiratory issues in my lungs and diaphragm, and other things related to how the poor nerves can't get their signals out to those organs. My sister went to a chiropractic college for a few months, then ran screaming because it was "too much like voodoo, no science"... so there are definitely GOOD practices and BAD practices. But I can tell you my physician seems to like to push drugs before considering how the whole systems works, and he is considered one of the best diagnosticians in the Valley. I will take the natural practices (that make sense to me) before the pharma conspiracy any day. However, that said, there is a place for Western Medicine as well, and it absolutely has its place and benefits, and for certain types of injury or illness I do go to the physician first. One last thing, my best friend since high school is a physician, and after a few years and a few fellowships she went and got certified for acupuncture. She loves using me as a pin cushion and induced my labor that way. When a physician says there's benefits to Eastern Medicine that Western can't seem to get a handle on, well, I listen. All that said, for all of you who have to deal with any kind of chronic issues, my heart goes out to you. "Getting old" has been hard enough on me, and I am starting to give up fighting it. 40 years of abusing myself in sports, with a screwed up hip structure to compensate for... not fun. But next time I feel like complaining, it will behoove me to remember there are others who fight a hell of a lot harder than I do. And kudos for you, Vern, for keeping at it, helping even if you can't troop. (But find a way to troop if you can! The inner child will keep you going!)

LOVE IT.

Thanks for organizing, Mark. I'm glad to see the support pouring out. All the best to Andy.

Looks good to me so far! Bakersfield isn't exactly next door, but we have a lot of people willing to help if you get stuck. However, like Glen said, you'll soon be over the hump and wonder how you ever thought it would be scary...

ABS paste is good, and a lot of guy use Bondo or white bonding putty of some kind, like white modeling putty. I would just be sure to use something that is WHITE or as white as you can get it, because Bondo usually comes out red/pink and then you have to paint on top of it, sand, paint, sand, etc. Ugh. Well, you're going to sand anyway but try to avoid the extra step. The white filler may not match the white of the plastic exactly, but it'll be a lot better than other stuff. If you can make ABS paste, try to use a plastic that matches the white of your armor. Ultimately that is your best bet.

WOOOOO!

Apparently someone bought it... guess some GML somewhere will be kicking themselves soon.

I've been wondering if the boredom factor in SW:TOR is that it is too much a detailed story, and not enough open play to just make your own story. I think after level 10 I could have been done with all that story stuff and gone exploring and making my own way in the galaxy. No wonder we all got bored. But once you choose a path at level 0 you're stuck on it through level 50 or whatever. And having other players on the server with you doesn't make an MMO, imho... social interaction and freedom to choose is what makes the Multiplayer sing.

yessireebob, I put that on my Facebook page!

Perdy!

I'm an 11 year-old-boy on the inside, climbing trees and snowboarding and reading comics and playing games and collecting and building Legos... And I'm a 41-year-old mom on the outside, at least that's what people seem to want to see when they look at me. No, you're never too old to live your dreams and follow your heart and do what pleases you. My hypothesis is that we not only have the better means as we get older (to do this hobby), but our values change and we begin to be less driven by the pressures of the external world, the conformity and other people's expectations, and we begin to recognize and create meaning in our lives, and for some of us, this is very meaningful and fulfilling.

That's what I would have done.

I'm a hockey player so cleaning equipment is not in my vocabulary. polishing to a bright shine, however, is. But that's the outside.

Unless you wear it like a girdle and cinch your belt.

I did, thanks... glad to be home, though it "feels" colder here in Lost Angels.

Types well for a guy with a bucket on...

Hi, Brandon, and welcome to FISD! First, where are you from and what brings you to us? Have you found your local garrison, which is likely full of great people who can help you in person? In any case, these forums are all I and many others had and we managed, so fear not Second, are you a bigger trooper, slimmer, tall, short, etc. as that can help you decide on which armor maker. Many if not most of us took on this hobby with no experience, but if you are terribly intimidated (like we all were) you could go for a trimmed kit which takes one step out of the process but means you'll wait longer for the kit. And yes, you contact the armorers directly by email or PM. Keep reading up and you'll find it gets less scary as you learn more and more! As for Expert Infantry and Centurion, these are award programs by this detachment for those who take their costumes beyond the basic approval level. Right now you have other fish to fry like choosing armor, but when you have the kit in hand you'll want to decide how much "extra" detail to put into it as you build it. Even for a first timer i found EI to be relatively easy to do as I went along! Good luck

WOOO so exciting!!!!

+1 doesnt look as bad as you made it out to be

It's less about "resolutions" and whether or not they're made in the first of the year or the middle. It's more about some goals to set, writing those goals down, and following through. I don't make New Year Resolutions either. I am busy making goals and working toward them pretty much 24/7. (That's part of the problem with being ADHD haha. Always something going on.) My costume list? In my head it's all do-able. Notice none of them are really about habits. I would like to lose 25lbs. to fit into my Mara Jade jumpsuit (well, actually I'd have to tailor it) but I know I'll never ever wear that thing again now that I have an approved TK... though not having GIRL HIPS is a good goal for the TK... but it requires changes in habits and work and ... I am starting to like this idea of sleeping in as a goal... is that a butterfly? SQUIRREL! If it takes 21 days to break or form a habit (breaking a habit is forming a new habit) then I need only spend 21 days setting aside 30 minutes to work on a costume a day... or something like that. Hey, nothing bad happens if I don't have a trooping Husband.

This pic is of your calf, right? The armor we can get tends to have a kind of wide "v" shape in the back, which allows for more movement. The border trim doesn't go all the way around. Well, it seems some armor types do, ATA for example, but my AP didn't. Ok so blatant error on my part. Look through some of the EI request/submission photos to see what I mean. So the long and short of it is "Yes" you can cut a bit out, just be sure to use good references to cut it well, so that you still look awesome and can still qualify. ------------ Good luck... I'm sure others will chime in!

Keep 'em coming, peeps!

NOTED!

Please do not give Eric any articles of clothing, as we can never set him free. MAHALO, my friend. YOU ROCK.

WE ARE JUST DAYS AWAY FROM THE END OF THE YEAR and SIX TROOPERS AWAY FROM 300!!! If all 9 yet-to-be-approved on the EI status request list get approved, we can do it! If a few more ready applicants can finish and get photos up by this weekend, we will increase those chances! I hope all our approvers are keeping their eyes open and working hard to help us achieve this wonderful accomplishment!!! SO EXCITING!