Thankful Thursday

Ah Thursday. The day of thankfulness. Mostly because both words start with “th” & you can’t really have a meme without some kind of alliteration, right? If you’ve guessed that I’m being snarky because I’m feeling pretty perky, you’re right! I love Thankful Thursday & I’m only poking gentle fun. Really!

So, what’s got me grateful today?

·         Dr. M’s new blog post. While I’ve been mired in my own recovery & sussing out each individual pain to determine if it’s “normal” or not (according to the interwebs, it is normal), Dr. M has been suffering with the northeast as they reel from Hurricane Irene. And of course, being him, he found some Hurricane Victim Sheep. Check it out here!

·         I’m back at work! Woo hoo! The first day I did almost all the work that had accumulated in my 3 week absence. The second day I finished it up, and now I’m totally back to normal. I was pretty exhausted after those first two days, and that leads me to my next bullet point…

·         I’m so grateful for a boss who says for me to do what I need to do – work through lunch, leave early, whatever. He’s just glad I’m back. That feels pretty good!

·         Our back yard. It’s just been a delight, between the ridiculous number of geranium blossoms, to the hummingbirds, to the ridiculous number of other birds having a grand old time back there. We have had the best time just watching it all.

·         I seem to have a new attitude toward fall this year. Usually it gives me great sadness to contemplate the end of summer, but I think the heat this year has just done me in. I’m ready for cooler temps and I was looking with nostalgia at some photos of last year’s snows. What? Maybe I have a fever…

·         Finally, I am always & evermore thankful for my dear sweet husband. He worked so hard to make our house walker-ready, to do things for me that I couldn’t do for myself, to be a good host to Daddy & Amy even though he’d started teaching last week… He’s just the very best (yes, dear, even better than Mavis).

So, what are you thankful for today?

Epilogue

This is not a stealth cane. You can hear me coming from a mile away. I’m a bit of a clomper, & it seems to clomp even more than I do. In addition to clomping, I plop. If there’s a surface upon which to settle my bum I do a sort of free fall into it.

I didn’t always maneuver my body in this manner. Back when my shoulder was healthy I could gently lower myself to a sitting position. If my hip had also been healthy I could have lowered myself even with the wonky shoulder. But, with the shoulder & the hip, it was plop city. I know that our downstairs neighbors were so glad when we moved out of our apartment two years ago.

Today, as I was at work (having already completed 3 weeks of work in a day and a half), I had a piercing thought: I didn’t really know when I walked into the Evendale Medical Center and sat up on the bed in pre-op that I would never feel that peculiar burning, throbbing pain again. I climbed awkwardly upon that bed, swung my legs up onto it, and that’s the last time my hip hurt in that way.

Not that I’m pain free now. The eight & a half inch scar apparently will take some time to heal. And I’m doing all these exercises which, you know, can make you sore if you haven’t been working out (hint: I haven’t been working out). So my entire body aches at various points during the day.

But not that one searing, jabbing, can-I-just-sit-down-now pain. That one’s gone.

Can I have an amen?

Monday Miscellaney

It's after midnight & I'm wide awake - guess I'm just too excited about going back to work to go to sleep. It's like Christmas! Heh. I wonder if I'll think it's like Christmas at 6:00 a.m. when the alarm goes off? Ah well, I decided to go ahead & write my Monday Miscellany post instead of reading (I'm currently reading another serial killer novel - NOT good middle-of-the-night fare).

• The other night I dreamed that I was covering for a librarian on her lunch break. While she was gone my main responsibility was to find a quiet place for a young lady to work out a math theorem as part of an entrance exam for school. We looked everywhere & that was one loud & busy library! Music, dancing, talking, everywhere. After I finally found a good spot for her I asked what the theorem was (like I would even understand it). It was to solve this equation: 1,000,000 pine trees divided by 100 squirrels = X. Really? I know I'm taking pain meds, but that is a pretty bizarre equation. I blame Over the Hedge. 
• This is going to be TMI (sorry Dr. M) but I find myself thanking God (really!) for a bodily function that used to be pretty regular before my surgery. Now it's kind of hit or miss, and I am very appreciative when things work correctly.  
• Speaking of prayer, the neighbor boy next door told Dr. M tonight that he's having an biopsy of his liver tomorrow. Please keep Austin &  his family in your prayers because that sounds pretty scary to us.
• Tonight as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep I was filled with this immense feeling of well-being, of all being right in the world, that I am being watched over, and that life is great. I'm so very thankful for that feeling, even if it might be what's causing me to stay awake!

Well, I'm going to get off of here & try to get some sleep. I'll let you know how work goes tomorrow!

Things Are Looking Up

I haven't written a poem in so long that I think I've forgotten how. But I decided that I would just jump back into the fray & hope that the quality improves with time. Kind of like how I'm re-learning to walk without a limp.

Mary, from In the Corner of My Eye is stirring the Poetry Jam this week & has asked us to write a poem about Always Looking Up. Here's my response - thanks for getting me going again Mary! Go here to read other responses to the prompt.

Things Are Looking Up

I’m examining the cracks

on the sidewalk.

They are my enemy

as I hobble along.

Leaning on this vital stick,

I consider the grim reality

of pitted concrete

and an unsteady gait.

Oh, but it won’t be too long

until I am looking up

at the sky and the trees

and the face of my companion.

Each step is a giant step

on this moon-cratered concrete.

I risk a glance at your face

and smile fiercely at the sun.

2011 Project 365 – Week Thirty-Five

This week my dad & Amy came to visit & we had a great time. I’m so glad they were here – Dr. M started back to school and I would have been so bored at home alone all week!

Sunday, August 21^st   

Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal. I don’t know why, but they just always look so annoyed by the hoi polloi.

Our cypress vine is in its element these days – just lovely.

Monday, August 22^nd

I had my post-op doctor’s visit on Monday. He released me to return to work next Monday – yippee! It was a gorgeous day – I took a picture of the clouds through the sun roof & then a State of the Bug picture – free!

Tuesday, August 23^rd  

The woodpeckers love the seed block.

Daddy & Amy arrived Monday evening. We spent some time hanging out on Tuesday & then went out for Mexican food that night.

Wednesday, August 24^th  

Daddy, Amy & I spent the day together. You can read about it here, but here are a couple of pictures from Young’s Jersey Dairy. I’m in an ice cream stupor here.

Daddy & Amy went to check out the Jersey cows.

Thursday, August 25^th       

The goldfinches are back! We haven’t seen very many this summer.

I had a couple of home health care visits scheduled, so Daddy & Amy went to the National Museum of the Air Force on Thursday. Amy’s first husband flew in a B-24 in WWII, so she was interested in checking out the planes on display. While they were there they bought this great coffee table book.

Friday, August 26^th

Daddy & Amy drove home today. Oh well, I guess they don’t actually live here. Darn. On the plus side, check out the weekly squirrel. I know that its compatriot on the ground really appreciates all its hard work!

Another State of the Bug picture in the “free” category. I drove for the first time since my surgery. It was a really exciting trip to the Walgreens to get dental floss, eye cream, & Vitamin E oil for my scar. And score! They had Brach's Mellowcreme Pumpkins at the register!

Saturday, August 27^th

We’ve started our 2^nd annual tomato ripening stations. Here’s the outdoor one, with just a few getting started.

And here’s the indoor one, with tomatoes just about ready to eat.

My lunch today – mini pierogi, zucchini from our garden, tomato from Daddy’s garden and garlic cheese curds from Young’s Jersey Dairy. Yum!

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs of all the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

Thankful Thursday

Obviously, I have a lot to be thankful for today. And I'm going to get to that in a minute. But first I'm going to whine just a wee bit (you have to admit I've hardly whined at all in weeks, so I'm due!). Yesterday I had a great day with Daddy & Amy, which I will describe below. But during to a visit to a restroom I finally realized the importance of paying attention to those yellow "caution the floor is wet" dealios. Did you know that the rubber bottom of a cane just slides right along on a wet tile floor? It was almost an oopsie-daisy situation, but I caught myself in time. BUT this morning my right shoulder hurts a LOT. Ouch ouch ouch! On the other hand my hip is just fine. So my maneuver to save it worked yesterday. [Note: for those of you concerned about the fact that this is the shoulder I had surgery on two years ago, do not fear - the sore part is in the (supposed) muscle, not in the joint. I say supposed, because, really, I guess it's technically a muscle, but have you seen my arms?]

OK, now, let's be thankful. I'm so glad that Daddy & Amy came up to visit. We've had a nice time together, and really that's what this post is going to be all about. Tuesday night we went out for Mexican food. Aren't they cute?

Yesterday, I took them on a mini tour of the area. First of all we went to Dr. M's campus. We saw the Bugly, but decided not to bother him since he was working. Instead we went to a museum on the campus. It was fun showing them around up there.

Then we stopped at Young's Jersey Dairy for lunch & ice cream. There was a meeting of the Red Hat Society there!

I love their TV setup.

We ate lunch inside, but decided to head outside to eat our ice cream. I love how the goats jump up on things to get people's attention. These are the most spoiled goats ever - they get lots of attention.

Here I am in a post ice cream stupor. And I was sensible - I just had one scoop. Amy ate an entire sundae all on her own - even though Daddy eyed it a couple of times.

Daddy & Amy had to explore the barn to check out all the Jersey girls. Here they are on the way back.

After Young's we decided to check out Clifton Mill. I sat on a bench while Daddy & Amy explored the water wheel and covered bridge. Here I am all pleased with myself for doing my sitting physical therapy exercises while I waited on them.

Has my face shrunk, or are these sunglasses extra huge today?

Here they are on the way back - I love how they're always holding hands.

Then we all came home and took a nap, after which we had a nice dinner. I fixed asparagus & potatoes, and Dr. M heated up the meatloaf we were given. And chopped a tomato. And cleaned off & set the table. And got our drinks. Hmm. I think my part of the meal was pretty puny in retrospect.

So, I'm thankful for a great day. For family and friends. For Dr. M (a thousandfold). For healing. And for all of you guys who read this stuff!

What are you thankful for?

Monday Miscellany - the Freebird Edition

Well, I'm just back from my post-op doctor's appointment, and other than wanting to show me the photos of what he did to my hip (thank goodness he couldn't pull them up!) my doctor had nothing much to say to me. He says I'm full weight-bearing and can use a cane now if I feel like it. I asked him if I could return to work next Monday (the 29th) and he said yes!

I'm Free!

Daddy & Amy are driving west on U.S. 35 even as we speak. They'll be here in about an hour and a half or so. I can't wait to show them around our neck of the woods. Maybe we'll even see some sheep!

2011 Project 365 – Week Thirty-Four

This week is all about the birds & blooms. I’ve enjoyed being home & getting better every day. To read more about my week go here and here.

[Please note: No Tax Time Pig pics again this week. S/he is located near where I work - about 40 miles south of here. So it will be another week or so before we have any updated pictures. Sob.]

Sunday, August 14^th   

Double lily looking beautiful.

Monday, August 15^th

Our next door neighbors brought us comfort food – chicken casserole!

Robin at Be Still and Know sent me a prayer shawl – isn’t she the best?

Tuesday, August 16^th  

More food from neighbors! I’m pretty sure that all of this came from their garden. She also brought over potato salad – yum!

Wednesday, August 17^th  

Dr. M’s university sent me flowers. So pretty!

That evening Dr. M & I sat outside and laughed at our back yard.

Thursday, August 18^th       

I love how the woodpeckers look like they’re working so hard for their food.

One final lily of the season – they’ve been gorgeous!

Friday, August 19^th

Terrible, horrible, no good day! I was SO SICK. I won’t go into details, but I will say that they’re not just whistling Dixie when they say you should watch your diet when you’re taking pain meds. This day I only ate about 40 goldfish & then Dr. M made this nice soup out of the basil & zucchini from our garden. He didn’t want to try to find the blender, but I kind of like the chunkiness.

Then later we sat out in the yard again. What a great evening! Here is a house finch & a chickadee being peaceable at the bird feeder.

The weekly squirrel – Ninja Squirrel!

We had the best time following this hummingbird around (with our eyes – I wasn’t roaming around the yard chasing a hummingbird!).

Saturday, August 20^th

Dr. M wandered around this morning taking pictures of the yard.

 Isn't this a cool spider web?

And here is the State of the Bug – Mavis & I are freshly washed (well I am – I had my first shower in almost two weeks today!) & reading a book together.

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs of all the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!