Closer, and yet .....

Blood red. That is the color of today. I went on the 19th to donate for the first time. It was not too bad. Not a good idea in the early A.M. I did not have a TV they said they were reserved for Platelets Guys. I knew right away what "they" were donating. I could see the bag hanging. I thanked each and everyone of them for their donations. Platelets are so important to kids that are sick and they have the shortest shelf life - I want to say less than 7 days in the body.

Any way we are still tearing down from Thanksgiving. It was beautiful. Nice china is worth the work. Bit by bit the table is coming together. It is sort of fun.

All I could think about was the fact I would be able to lift the turkey next year. I grabbed it by the handles and it feel like a 26.6 lb turkey. Boom. It offered me the opportunity to teach M-E about stuffing theory and practice.

It turned out great. I was able to reach the turkey roaster. I had refused to buy another or to even consider it. Grandma's large, square blue enamel roaster is the best. The very best. I have posted the two pictures. What can I say. We had 13 folks and the kids had a good time and the adults had good wine and food and M-E had a good time. There was little or no end confusion. The potatoes were not done at the same time but arrived while the gravy was hot. The salad had lettuce and the cream did not go to butter. What more can you ask.

Three weeks left. Some thing to do each week. Nothing to do until the surgery. Time keep ticking.... That is good. I am so ready.

Who Moved Thanksgiving to next Thursday

Oh, it was FDR. I guess I should have realized that the Christmas tree lots were being set up. That should have been the clue.

So the list is made for the food. Not to be purchased until Sunday. I must resist the urge to cook brussel sprouts. Most people just hate them. What can I say. I think they are a staple but then I am not the most normal person in the world.

I am having the moment of panic. Furniture needs to be re-arranged. There is lots of dish finding that needs to happen. The basement was torn up last week and I need to get some carpets down on the floor so the kids will have a place to play...... Panic, Panic, Panic.

The other really really bad thing is I can not remember where I saw purple mershino cherries for the ever famous Jello salad. Oh, well... maybe next year.

15th Anniversery of my 39th Birthday

Oops, I am a year older and still not any wiser. Maybe next year.

All the days seems to sneaking up on me. I guess we are having Thanksgiving for 16 next week. Oh, I hope I can find a couple of tables between now and then. I do know where the lace table cloths are so Grandma Foster would be proud.

Note to self. The Juncos want to be fed....
Mercury and or Mars is now retrograde.
We are still a year away from the elections

Okay so what has been accomplished since the 14th anniversary of my 39th birthday.

End of Treatment party.
New windows.
A couple a few quilts finished.
A quick visit to Boise to see some family.
Reconnected with some old friends.
Scheduled Hip Replacement surgery.
Cleaned some of the stuff out of the basement.
Helped a few clients.
Worked on returning to life as we knew it.
Learned that was not possible.
Rebuilding a new life.

Pain makes me loose my sense of

Distance, time, perspective. I just get grumpy. I did a bunch of walking yesterday out of necessity and could not walk in the afternoon. I was not sure if I could get to my car. It is so frustrating. The cane seems to have a mind of its own and refuses to stay put. I wander away from it and it does not come when called. You have no idea how many times a day it rattles to the floor. Thwap....

Someone wished me luck and told me to enjoy my mobility. What mobility? I ask. As I have mentioned before.my world is closing in.....

As I look back, I wonder why I didn't do this earlier and then things happen at work and I feel like I cannot do it now. I have clients and projects and things to get done. I have to do..... but then when will the time be right. This will be the best time. I will just cut myself off from the rest of the world and chant healing thoughts.

This is sort of like child birth. When you first realize that you are pregnant you can not imagine every giving birth. By the time you are within a month you are so ready to have the child enter the world and leave your body..... I getting very ready to have this done.
I have a great surgeon, even though Holy Names Soccer eliminated Lakeside in the State Tournament. He is funny and practical. He was very down to earth and much like my father in his approach. I do wonder though about a surgeon that uses power tools and augers and other such things during surgery.

Bad Dreams

They all started out with being sort of normal until I discovered that both of the downstairs toilets were plugged and no one wanted to take the Kangaroo that was in the bathroom with the toilet with the marbleized green toilet seat for a walk.

Belle refused to come and be here for the surgery. Even though I had not asked her and there was still water in the bathroom with the tub, and the cool glass blocks.

So...... no more butterscotch sundays from Dicks past 7:00 p.m.

Icky rain and wind today. I have, of course, asked for two workman to come and clean out the beds and spread some leaves and....... We will switch plans. Old carpet from downstairs is coming up, my bed is going to rotated and the frame removed until after I recover, so I can get in better. The basement room is going to be emptied so it can be fixed.

I have to figure out what to do about a a Durable Power of Attorney and re-do my medical power of attorney. I have a will but I guess I better do the other two things. One never knows.

Mary-Elizabeth is going to walk the Kangaroo whether she likes it or not.

Veteran of Pain.

I have waited to0 long. I guess I should have known better but then it is hard to determine how much worse something is going to feel. I may have to resort to taking some of the drugs that are around the house. It just hurts. It hurts all the time and sometimes I just loose my sense of humor. I feel like I should be doing more to get ready for all the down time abut then I JUST don't feel like it. So in good Lanham form, I feel a need to push myself and feel guilty if "I do nothing". Everyone else has it worse......

I guess for today, I am going to consider myself a veteran of pain and just rest. I will finish my book. That would be accomplishing of something. Maybe I will call Jackie and we can work on some other projects. I have two guys coming tomorrow to work on yard and furniture moving stuff. I will write Alexis a letter and ....... I will find somethings to do.

I have the urge to always be productive. Rest is productive......

I have been talking to some people about what to expect and what they wish they had done before the surgery. No miricle answers.