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Embryonic stem cells

Captain’s Log, Stardate 04.29.2005

I haven’t blogged in a while, but in all honesty there hasn’t been much going on.

Writing: The past few days I’ve been brainstorming my next project, a Chicklit novella. The heroine eludes me for some reason. I’ll need to give it more thought, more freewriting.

Today I interviewed a coworker who has done work with embryonic stem cells (ES). Before asking her my questions, I made clear that I’m a Christian and I don’t agree with the morality of how they acquire ES, so she didn’t need to continue talking with me if she didn’t want to. I explained that I wanted verification for my plot premise in my latest manuscript.

She was very nice. She explained why she felt ES were necessary for research and therapy, but she also answered my questions. My plot premise is sound, and she thought it was very interesting. She also showed me that the field for ES is wide open with a multitude of other possibilities. My devious brain is already whirling about other ways that evil men could cross the bounds of morality.

Diet: Food choices haven’t been stellar, but I’ve been balancing really bad (fried seafood platter) with really good (vegetable soup). Dinner the past two nights were rather large, but I’ve been good about my lunch portions. I’ve run four times with week with the dog. Even she’s feeling tired, so I must be okay.

My knee is still a little bit swollen. I’ve been continuing a soft tissue massage my physical therapist showed me that might help reduce the swelling permanently. I’m slowly regaining range of motion--it’s still difficult to kneel, but not as painful as before, so the swelling must be going down. I see my surgeon on Monday, so he’ll be able to let me know how the ACL graft is doing and what my activity limitations should be.

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