I’ve been troubled for awhile because my left shoulder, the one I hurt when I fell down the stairs last year, has begun bothering me again. I couldn’t figure out why. I hadn’t had another injury. My lifestyle is much less stressful than the things I did on the show. And yet…something that I was doing in Portland made my shoulder hurt.

I finally figured out what it was. When I read or edit at the computer, basically anything that doesn’t require both hands on the keyboard, I put my elbow on the desk and lean on it. My left elbow. What happens then is that my shoulder rolls forward into the position that lets the tendon pop out of its groove, and then I lean on it, compressing the tendon between my bones. Nice, eh?

I’m now trying to break the habit. It is not easy. But, if I do it, then I’ll get to sleep on my left side again. That’ll be nice.

Deanna Hoak, professional copy-editor, makes a very compelling argument on why she prefers manuscripts to be in Courier. It has the distinction of also being the shortest argument I’ve seen. Go read it and see if you agree.