{"id":382,"date":"2011-11-11T18:40:55","date_gmt":"2011-11-12T02:40:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hobiebarnes.com\/?p=382"},"modified":"2020-03-18T16:39:17","modified_gmt":"2020-03-18T23:39:17","slug":"11-11-11-sciatica-mykonos-pics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobiebarnes.com\/?p=382","title":{"rendered":"11-11-11, Sciatica & Mykonos (2011 Trip) Pics!"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s a weird-looking date hence there’s all sorts of things that wanted to have this as a momentous date, incidentally for some and totally intentional for others.<\/p>\n

Incidentally? It’s Veteran’s Day (yay soldiers and airmen and seamen and marines!) and it’s all-the-way-up-to-volume-11 Spinal Tap day too.\u00a0 Intentionally?\u00a0 Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The HP7 Pt2 Blu-Ray, and Immortals came out.\u00a0 I’m excited for the first two…the last one, maybe if we could watch it on mute.\u00a0 I’ve read that there are plenty of Greek soldiers who don’t know how to wear a shirt in it.\u00a0 That’s always a good thing.<\/p>\n

I’ve been playing GTA4 and Tropico 4 a lot lately, then dabbled just a bit in Skyrim this morning but I can not let myself get absorbed.\u00a0 Must try to get through these in due time.<\/p>\n

Oh yeah, if you know or care about my sciatic nerve problems, my MRI revealed that indeed I do have a tear in one of my spinal vertebrae discs, about 5mm in length.\u00a0 The resulting glob of goo from the disc is now pushing up against the bunch of nerves coming out from the spine and, you guessed it, one batch is that set of nerves that runs down my right leg.\u00a0 OH THE FUN.\u00a0 My options per the doctor are surgery, steroid injections, or let it heal some more\/physical therapy.\u00a0 He advised against the first two as the rationale was that in two years, all options will result in the same relief.\u00a0 And surgery and steroid injections all have additional risks and such associated….so I did opt to continue with trying to get better with time.\u00a0 I can admit that the pain has reduced, although my days go from pretty good to pretty bad.\u00a0 And lately, trying to get out of bed has been horrendous – I’m not sure what is causing it but it’s insane.\u00a0 I have a feeling that because I doubled up on the Gabapentin at night, I move around more than I should and when the Gaba wears off, the pain comes roaring in.<\/p>\n

I bought a seat cushion that has a cutout right where your ass-crack is;\u00a0 apparently that is to allow your spine to not get that upwards pressure from the seat as just your asscheeks are sitting while the spine can sorta sit through it?\u00a0 I don’t know, I am using it now and I am feeling way better when sitting than I did previously, so perhaps I’ll need to swing by the medical supply store and pick two more up, one for the car and one for the office….\u00a0 Anyway, once my pain is such that is nearly minimal, I can start some physical therapy to strengthen my core.\u00a0 Who knows, maybe I’ll get a six-pack….like this guy:<\/p>\n

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Hey, it’s Veteran’s Day, and this guy has dogtags on, so I bet he must be a Veteran too…. heh heh…<\/p>\n

Alright, enough hotness from random strangers for you.\u00a0 Here are some well-deserved pics from Larry & my trip around the Eastern Mediterranean – this time from the lovely and fantastic spot of Mykonos, Greece.\u00a0 It really is amazing how wonderful the weather was the entire trip.\u00a0 Sure, it was effing hot, but there wasn’t any rain nor any gloomy days, except for the day at sea which was coming up the day after Mykonos.\u00a0 But who cares, right?\u00a0 That’s what the inside of a massive cruise ship is there for.<\/p>\n

June 22, 2012 Update<\/strong><\/em>: \u00c2\u00a0I think that the captions of the photos for this particular excursion are sufficient to describe the adventure on this day.\u00a0 It was a great day and full of beautiful Greek island scenery.\u00a0 One of the fun highlights was while eating lunch on the Mykonos coast before heading back to the ship.\u00a0 Lots of people-watching (aka checking out hot guys).\u00a0 The ship left in the afternoon so when we got back, there was time to go hang out by the pool which was a fantastic way to drink and soak up the rays.\u00a0 Some times, you just need to put your feet up, listen to the music, and enjoy the sun.<\/p>\n

Islands of Delos and Mykonos (Greece), Sept 6, 2011<\/h2>\n

Off to the Isle of Delos<\/h3>\n
\"The <\/a>
The view from our room of the Mykonos area <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1199\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Mykonos <\/a>
Mykonos Greece! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"It's <\/a>
It’s hard to get over how huge our ship is <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1202\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Our <\/a>
Our excursion for the day was to the island of Delos, reachable by ferry <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Love <\/a>
Love how there’s some random church on some random island <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"One <\/a>
One of those cruise ships with masts and sails – maybe one day <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"On <\/a>
On Delos looking back towards Mykonos, I think <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The clear water of the sea <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"In <\/a>
In the ancient and quite intact ruins of Delos <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1209\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"It's <\/a>
It’s the commercial district <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Delos <\/a>
Delos was deserted for over a thousand years, allowing much to remain intact <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"It <\/a>
It was only in the last hundred or so years it was excavated <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1213\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1214\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Larry <\/a>
Larry in the ruins of Delos <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1216\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"In <\/a>
In one of the ancient shops – this mosaic is a replica <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1218\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"No <\/a>
No more roof but still striking <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1220\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"This <\/a>
This was the window of the currency exchange office <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Delos <\/a>
Delos was located central to many cultures so exchange was needed <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A bad view into a cistern <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1224\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1225\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The only arches in Delos for a cistern <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Closer <\/a>
Closer view of the cistern arches <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The remains of the 5000-person theater <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1229\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Heading <\/a>
Heading back down to the main plaza, the Agora <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1231\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1232\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1233\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hobie <\/a>
Hobie and the Greeks <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Larry <\/a>
Larry amidst the beauty of Greece <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1236\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"One <\/a>
One with both of us! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"In <\/a>
In the remains of the Sacred Way, leading to Apollo’s shrines <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"In <\/a>
In the background is Mt Cynthus – we’d climb it soon <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The Sacred Way <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Mt <\/a>
Mt Cynthus – not too huge a place <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Places <\/a>
Places to house the French archaeologists who maintain Delos <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Larry <\/a>
Larry at the Terrace of the Lions, dedicated to Apollo <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Apollo <\/a>
Apollo is said to have been born in Delos <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"As <\/a>
As you can see, there are tons of ruins <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"On <\/a>
On our walk to the Museum, where most valuables are stored safely <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The rocky lane to the museum <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"What's <\/a>
What’s visible from the museum <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1249\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Original <\/a>
Original millennia-old mosaics from Delos, safely stored inside <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"This <\/a>
This is the authentic mosaic – the replica was seen in the photo earlier <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Climbing Mt Cynthus on Delos<\/h3>\n
\"AT <\/a>
AT first we weren’t going to, but we had time to take the path <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"..the <\/a>
..the path to Mt Cynthus’ summit <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"We <\/a>
We have our climbing shoes on, so let’s go <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"We <\/a>
We weren’t alone on our quest <\/div> <\/div>
\"You <\/a>
You can see midway up is the temple of Isis <\/div> <\/div>
\"This <\/a>
This is the House of Hermes <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"You <\/a>
You can also see the dock we arrived on <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1259\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Such <\/a>
Such a beautiful place <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"You <\/a>
You can also see that the seas were a bit rough <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The House of the Masks <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1263\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"My <\/a>
My shirt matches the seas! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1265\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Approaching <\/a>
Approaching the temple of Isis – yep, an Egyptian god temple <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1267\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1268\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"This <\/a>
This temple of Isis – since Delos was such a middleground, even Egyptians had fun <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"You <\/a>
You can see the stone staircase up Mt Cynthus <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Larry <\/a>
Larry loves Isis <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"I <\/a>
I do too <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1273\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"After <\/a>
After leaving the Isis area, the steps ascend again <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Looking <\/a>
Looking back at the Isis temple <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The path gets a bit more strenuous and treacherous <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1277\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Larry <\/a>
Larry is making his way up <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The staircase up! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"About <\/a>
About halfway up the staircase, looking back down <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1281\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"You <\/a>
You can see the harbor and beyond from up here <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The gorgeous Greek isles <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Almost <\/a>
Almost at the top <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1285\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Top <\/a>
Top of the world! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"That's <\/a>
That’s the very top <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"It's <\/a>
It’s kind of jawdropping – that’s the Mykonos harbor in the background <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Larry <\/a>
Larry up top <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"I <\/a>
I made it to the top <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Awesome\" <\/a>
Awesome <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1292\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Not <\/a>
Not sure who the red-haired lady was…maybe Artemis? <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The shrine to Dionysus <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1295\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Don't <\/a>
Don’t jump! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Up <\/a>
Up top <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1299\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1300\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1301\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1302\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_1303\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

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