Phone books? Wouldn’t it be more apt to rip The Caine Mutiny in half? (Hardcover, Modern Library edition if you can find it.)

Or at least a 5-gallon canister of frozen strawberries.

My daughter did a similar thing for my wife many years ago. Very touching gift that she still treasures.

In a related matter, among the fathers involved in my sons’ Scout troop was one who is an eye surgeon. That man could tie any knot ever invented, and he could do most of them using only one hand. He must have had astounding hand muscles!

I’d be happy to be able to get the top off a brand new jar of pickles. Jar tops are where I’ve noticed the lack of muscle strength the most. I do have very mild nerve damage to contend with, but the doc said I could compensate pretty ably if I’d build up the muscles in my fingers, hand, and wrist. Funny thing, he never mentioned anything like worry balls, but was very much in favor of flexing two pound barbells that didn’t help very much at all.

Pablo, I’d forgotten about surgeons and knot tying. When my brother was in medical school (or an intern, I can’t remember now), he’d slip a length of surgical thread through his pant leg and sit there practicing his knot tying with one hand. Over and over and over. The dexterity in his fingers was absolutely amazing. And yes, muscle strength, too. It used to fascinate me to watch.

The lad was, incidentally, very pleased to see me using the Worry Balls this evening. I’m a little concerned that I may end up scratching them with the constant rolling against each other, but he assures me they can be replaced. He’s getting a kick out of knowing that I’m using them. I love listening to them as I roll them around. They evidently work—my fingers, palm and wrist are quite sore tonight.

Or, if you are the hi-tech geeky type like me, you can get an NSD Powerball with LEDs and a spedometer.

http://www.nsd.com.tw

After this sort of therapy, I think you might even be able to kill with your bare hands. I know - I’ve seen Kill Bill .

On my to do list: Rent ‘Kill Bill’.

I had been tempted to insert Republicans instead of phone books, but that would probably have been in poor taste and possibly get me in trouble with Big Brother.

Steph! I love those things! Love the speedometer idea.

Which is why I suggested Wouk’s book.  Who’s a less appealing character than Captain Queeg?

Bush? Cheney?

But I’ll go along with The Caine Mutiny. I’ll have to work harder on the muscles, though. Thassa thick book!