2017 Project 365 – Week Thirty-nine

I called the hospital billing office on Friday & they said that my refund could take up to 30 days. When I expressed my displeasure, the rep said that I could call each week for an update – basically telling me to be a squeaky wheel. So, I shall call every Friday!

This week is all about the moon & stars. Dr. M spent some time going over the manual settings for his camera, with some very fine results which you will see below.

Sunday, September 24^th       

The bulletin from church. Seems rather prophetic with regard to certain presidential tweets about Puerto Rico.

Monday, September 25^th                    

I was blocking these triangles that I crocheted for a scarf. I was increasingly unsure about this project, but the final result is pretty cool (see Wednesday below).

The moon!

Tuesday, September 26^th                                   

I saw these terribly cute ghosts on my short walk today.

Wednesday, September 27^th                              

Ta-da! I think it turned out pretty well. However, that yarn has some wool in it (Caron Cake in the Red Velvet colorway), and I’m not at all sure when I’ll be wearing it down here. Perhaps at the end of winter, if it’s just been sitting in a bin, I’ll have a giveaway.

That evening I went to a cousin’s daughter’s college soccer game. Friday night lights! On a Wednesday. With soccer. Which is actually football, right?

While I was there I took this photo in one of the buildings. Made me all nostalgic.

Thursday, September 28^th                          

The moon!

Friday, September 29^th                

Another new crochet project. It didn’t work out for what I’d intended it for, but I think it will still be useful. Picture of the finished project later. (Do you call it vaguebooking if you’re doing it on a blog?)

We sat outside for a while Friday night, listening to the local high school football game. I’m wearing another crochet project. Possibly the weirdest thing I’ve ever made. I’ll show it to you later too.

Meanwhile, Dr. M was experimenting with the camera.

Saturday, September 30^th                     

Dr. M spent a lot of the day on the deck, to great effect. At least I think so. That last picture? WOW.  

People! My last appointment with my surgeon isn’t until Friday, but as of tomorrow I consider myself to be restriction free! Here’s to tying my own shoes! Here’s to shaving my legs! Here’s to picking up that stupid soap that’s still in the bottom of my shower after I dropped it yesterday! Huzzah! What are you excited about this week?

Random Medical Stories

One
Here is how you put a sock on when you're not able to bend down to your feet (or cross your legs). It's pretty ingenious & I may continue to use it just for the fun of using a gadget.

Two
This was a sorry state of affairs. I was in my office & dropped my grabber. Rather than ask Dr. M to pick it up for me I went into the kitchen & got our other grabber. I guess if I'd dropped that one too I would have had to call for backup.

Three
I received this bill in the mail. On the back it said: Your insurance carrier has processed your claim. The remaining balance on the account is your responsibility. I was understandably a little bit freaked out.

I had been keeping an eye on the hospital bill on my insurance website, but it had not been finalized. I called my insurance company and was told that the amount that I actually owe is a little over $600. She called the hospital to find out why they sent a bill before they heard back from insurance & was told that it wasn't really a bill. It was just a notification. We both were a little bit skeptical. What do you think? Would you think this was a bill?

During my pre-op hospital visit they had me go ahead & pay the amount that they thought would be due after my insurance was processed - a little over $3,000. So they actually owe me money. They sent this not-bill 18 days after my surgery. How quickly do you think they'll process my refund?

Note: The care I received and the staff at the hospital was top notch. Even the food was good. However, I'm a little disappointed in the billing department at the moment!

2017 Project 365 – Week Thirty-eight

I just wanted to comment about Roy – his new space is MUCH larger than his old one. He has plenty of room to run around, a building for shelter, and he likes to spend his days sleeping under a tree. And his human still takes him for walks. We just don’t get to have him meander over for a visit now. He probably doesn’t really even care about that – ha!

Sunday, September 17^th       

My dad’s birthday! I went out to eat with him and Sue after church, but did I take a picture? No I did not. Glad I got one beforehand!

At church today we had a service renewing our commitment to being an open and affirming congregation. Afterward there was a reception & I ate a funfetti cupcake.

Monday, September 18^th                    

Our little hummer has still been coming by. She loves the petunias & morning glories, but today Dr. M caught her checking out Ms. Pinky.

Tuesday, September 19^th                                   

This guy. He works so hard to take care of me. Well, I’m halfway to being able to take care of him for a change!

Wednesday, September 20^th                              

I was meeting a friend at a restaurant & thought it would be a fine idea to sit outside & wait for her. I guess I’m not used to being out & about in the summer down here.

Thursday, September 21^st                          

All this circle had in it when we moved was a tree stump & some monkey grass. It’s a little bit out of control now. Ha!

Friday, September 22^nd               

From Instagram: Pro tip: remember to change from your reading glasses to your driving glasses before you snap on your sunglasses. Otherwise you will be driving in a surreal landscape & wondering who spiked your soft drink. #groovyman#aremyeyesdialated

Dr. M surprised me with a Dansby Swanson Atlanta Braves shirt – woo hoo! He’s a cutie. Yes, I’m old enough to be his mother. Sigh.

Saturday, September 23^rd                    

Ms. Pinky Two Tone is showing off her two-toned-ness. She’s just mocking me because I said last week’s bloom was probably her last.

One more week of post-surgery restrictions and then my real recovery can begin. Plus I can quit talking about this surgery. I’m pretty excited, and I know you are too!

2017 Project 365 – Week Thirty-seven

Other than a cameo of my hairy legs, there are no human pictures this week. I know you’re very excited.

Sunday, September 10^th       

I did my 10 on 10 today, so you can go here to see those pictures. While I was doing all that, Dr. M took a picture of our little hummer.

Monday, September 11^th                    

I posted this on Instagram with this caption: Adventures in domesticity. I dropped my soap in the shower, and since I can't bend over yet & since my grabber does NOT work in this situation, that soap can just sit there & think about the error of its ways. On the other hand, my sweetie successfully folded a fitted sheet! #totalhipreplacement #healreadypickedupthesoap #sheetmiracle

Tuesday, September 12^th                                   

Look at the fabulous dinner Dr. M made! There's are actual vegetables on there!

Wednesday, September 13^th                              

Red-spotted Purple Butterfly! I haven’t been very impressed with our Sedum (it’s kind of a mess), but butterflies & bees love it so I guess we’ll keep it.

Our petunias & morning glories are looking a little worse for the wear, but still putting on some pretty blooms, which Ms. Hummer really appreciates. And Ms. Pinky has put out one last (?) bloom of the season – and Ms. Hummer loves it too.

Meanwhile, The Weather Channel apparently doesn’t know who it’s dealing with. Ha!

Thursday, September 14^th                         

I’m pretty excited to see this number continue to creep up. Hopefully I’ll soon be hitting my goal of 10,000 steps (last reached on May 1^st).

We had some pretty high winds on Monday (Hurricane Irma residue), and the penguin wind chime migrated to the other side of the swing. No ill effects though. And Roy’s owner fenced in her back yard so he’d have a bigger area to play in. We think she got complaints from some neighbors about him roaming around. Not from us though. We love Roy!

Friday, September 15^th               

Heather is going to simply disappear any time now.

Saturday, September 16^th                   

Look! I changed my own sheets today! Very exciting!

I’ve had to wear these compression cuffs on my legs every night since my surgery. But I got to kick them to the curb this morning (Monday, when I’m writing this). So excited! Maybe I’ll try to sleep on my side now. Plus, those nocturnal trips to the bathroom will be MUCH less complicated. Woo hoo!

I’m continuing to take baby steps, and continuing to remind myself not to bend past 90 degrees. Two more weeks of that restriction & then I shall start wearing shoes with laces! Oh, and shaving. What are you looking forward to?

10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month! This time the 10th was on a Sunday so I decided to give it a go. I was up early for a change, eating breakfast in bed & playing on my iPad.

Look here! I am driving all by myself to the senior center to sing with my dad & aunts.

The senior center has some lovely crepe myrtles. I didn't take any pictures of people because I'm a terrible blogger.

Heading from the senior center to church - I opened the sun roof on the car. It was a lovely day.

The funky little church I'm attending now.

On my way home from church I stopped at Sheetz for the best egg salad sandwiches in the world, and I was rewarded with a special surprise! I love Cadbury Eggs. Ha!

Lunch!

Afternoon baseball is the best.

I took a little ramble in the back yard.

My friend Betina was riding out the storm in Florida and talking about stress eating chocolate. So in solidarity with her I took ONE BITE of ice cream.

It was a really nice day. I enjoyed getting out & about on my own! What did you do on Sunday?

2017 Project 365 – Week Thirty-six

Remember how I said I had too many selfies last week? Ha! This week there’s a picture of me practically every day. Sheesh. But before we get to my narcissistic week, I’d like to say that I don’t care what “category” Irma is, she is pretty darned scary! I’m praying for my friends in her path.

Sunday, September 3^rd      

I had a craving for a Sonic Concrete, so I made Dr. M get me out of the house.

Heather, looking splendiferous as usual.

Monday, September 4^th                    

I posted this picture on Facebook & said that I did not have crochet attention deficit disorder just because I abandoned three other projects to start a new one.

Lookit! My daily walk, reinstituted! I won’t always post these every day, but I will for a little while to stay motivated. Please note that by “daily walk,” I currently mean going out my door, rambling around the yard or the street, and then coming back inside.

Tuesday, September 5^th                                   

I had my two week follow-up appointment with my surgeon. He says I’m doing really well, and he told me I could be 100% weight bearing & start using my cane. Sweet!

Wednesday, September 6^th                              

Today’s ramble outside.

Thursday, September 7^th                         

This time I remembered to use my map program to record my vast distance. Ha!

No one is safe from yarn in our house.

The moon!

Friday, September 8^th               

I finished the project I started on Monday. I like this pattern! This was a gift – I might have to make one for myself.

Yeah yeah yeah – another walk.

Saturday, September 9^th                   

I made Dr. M let me drive to the grocery store. And then I WENT IN & SHOPPED! I haven’t been inside a grocery store for months. I had a little bit of sensory overload going on here. And Dr. M was going, “why exactly are we here again?” (Note: I had stopped taking my narcotic much earlier in the day so I wasn’t impaired on the road – ha!)

I think the hardest part of this recovery for me is going to be that I feel so great (yes, I’m sore, but it’s not that bad) that I’ll forget that I still have another three weeks of not bending over too far or crossing my legs. I need to be extra careful now because while this surgery went very well, it “only” has a 90% success rate. So chill Ms. Bug & don’t make Dr. M have to tie you to a chair!