Met with some friends from work for lunch. Catching up with friends is always nice. And the food was really good (bacon wrapped grilled stuffed shrimp with jalapeno pepper and cheese).

Managed to miss the evening party as I sat down to read a book and lost track of time. I can't believe I missed the gathering but sometimes when a book is really good, it happens.

I'm waiting patiently for warmer weather - actually that is a lie as I'm rather impatient when it comes to being cold.

The rotator cuff is not the problem - it's the bicep muscle that has some tears and scar tissue. So in an attempt to avoid another surgery, we're trying changing up physical therapy and using the ultrasound to break up the scar tissue. I also got a shot in the shoulder that has eliminated much of the pain so I can move the arm more. Still can't drive quite right though or roll my hair (well, I can get about 4 rollers in but that is all) and heavy pots/pans are not easy but I've found ways to move them.

I must laugh though, my brother and sister-in-law have been coming over twice a week since September to help me do things I can't do like open bottles, change linens, bend down to clean the kitty litter box etc (bending made me feel like passing out it hurt so bad). I told them about 2 weeks ago they could stop coming (really, some of it was that I needed live human contact). So yesterday, I was using my kitchen shears (I love them! they help me get into things I would have had to wait for someone to come over and do for me) and discovered that 1 pair has a bottle opener on it - I tried it on the bottled water and it works great! But my first thought was being sure to never tell my brother as he must have opened hundreds of bottles of water for me over the past 6 months! Otherwise, I'll get this certain stare.......

Back to the original subject, I forgot to ask if I'll have to take another MRI to see if surgery is needed or not. I told him after the last one (actually my first one), that I'll either have to be dead or unconscious before I ever do it again. I lasted in the closed machine long enough to get my nose covered before I was using the panic button to get me out. I waited about an hour and was able to use the 'open' MRI hardware and I'm still not sure how I lasted 45 minutes. Wow. I never knew I was claustrophobic!

I'm still trying to sell the scooter but no nibbles so far. I just want it out of my garage and eye sight. the good news is that my brother doesn't kick it every time he comes over. He doesn't know I want to try power chuting for my next hobby though. He'll shoot me.... assuming my sister in law doesn't strangle me first.

LOL

The day started out extremely cold and finally warmed up. Met some old friends for lunch - always good to see them - and one has a new job! That is so good to know as he was laid off the month before I was. So far, I think there are just 3 of us that are still jobless.

Mentioned that I found a new hobby to replace the motorscooter. Power parachuting!!! it has 4 wheels that touch the ground (when it's on the ground) and you don't need a special license either! While most just rolled their eyes - one friend was pretty adamant that I take up something safer like jet-skiing! oh well, I'm sure I'll find something by the time it is warm enough to do something other than clean up the garden.

Made a wonderful leek and potato soup last weekend. It's the first time I made it and it was very tasty. I'll have to make it again this winter.

Yes, it is winter here. We've had an early snow - I don't ever remember seeing snow before Christmas here (and then it only lasted a few hours!). This snow didn't last long either but it was pretty and gave everyone a nice way to start out the holiday season. But I'm ready for spring now.

Oh what a beautiful weekend. It isn't often we have a fall longer than 2-3 days. The leaves are gorgeous and haven't all dropped overnight like most years. Nice and warm and sunny.

The cats were allowed out to the back yard for a bit. Millie carefully made her way to the covered swing since the grass was wet and she doesn't like to get her feet wet. Sam did his usual walk around to make sure there were no intruders and everything was to his liking. Then he proceeded to eat my pansies.

Mom dropped by and I don't think she ever believed that he likes pansies so she saw it first hand today. We went out to eat and then I showed her some of the new shopping areas. Which brings me to a pet peeve - we're supposed to be 'green' and saving gas etc yet all the new shopping areas are basically strip centers with standalone stores that require (at least in bad/hot/cold weather or when buying heavy things) getting in the car and driving to the next one. Short trips are a complete waste of transportation energy but here we are - building to ensure we continue to use more gasoline.

Of course, some people know I tried the motorscooter route to counteract my big SUV that carries all the heavy gardening stuff I use year round. LOL. One smushed elbow - replaced with a big titanium bolt- and a broken arm and most likely a torn rotator cuff. Too bad they didn't discover the torn rotator cuff when they found the broken bone. Oh - of course, that was 2 separate motorscooter incidents in less than 6 months. Needless to say, it's for sell - which is too bad because I really enjoyed myself and was having a great time!

October 28 2009

I'm baaackk.