I'm Tired

Okay, I'm tired of feeling lousy -- it's time to be fully recovered.  It's not that I'm not patient but I'm not patient.  I hurt and I'm tired of hurting.  I'm tired of sleeping in my recliner because the pain is way too much when I try to get up from lying down.  I'm tired of having it take 15 minutes for me to put on a pair of socks.  And them I'm tired of me whining.  In the back of my head is my mom saying "You think you have problems..." followed by a litany of other people with problems greater than mine.  Well I'm happy I have Freckles back and I'm sure today is the last day I'll feel this lousy.  I'm just positive of it.

I Feel 100% Better Now

Look who's back.  My sweet girl Freckles has returned home.  This is her laying on my leg sleeping.  She normally curls up in the corner of the couch but today she had to be with me.

My friend Peter picked her up at Downtown Dogs (I highly recommend them).  He said she bolted for the door she was so happy to be coming home.  She's been there five nights ... that's the longest we've been apart since I got her.  Peter was funny ... when I said just put her in the car he says "Will she poop?"

When he pulled up and got her out of the car she was so happy to see me she started running around back and forth and making her happiest sounds. I can't even begin to tell you how much I miss having her around.  Her report card from Downtown Dogs (did I mention I highly recommend them) said she was a good sweet girl.  When I called to tell them Peter was coming to pick her up they told me a new beagle, Maggie, had arrived and Freckles immediately took her under her wings (paws) and was showing her the ropes.  She is the best dog in the whole wide world.

Going for the Gold

My niece Britta (aka my personal nurse) took this picture of me in pre-op on Monday.  This was after they gave me the good drugs.

This morning I got up without agonizing pain ... there was pain but not agonizing ... before long I'll be snowboarding and figure skating and bobsledding.  Hmmm, perhaps the combination of pain meds and Olympic coverage have blended together.  I can't wait until I get up on that podium and they play the Lithuanian national anthem.

The Creature From the Beige Lounger

And she's up, sort of.  Yesterday was hell ... really ... when I did get up I had to walk with a pillow pressed against my belly and bent over ... I was like a lazy Gazimoto (sp?).

I got a full 6 hours of sleep last night ... that's like heaven.  Did you know they show Monk reruns at 5 in the morning?  It hurt to laugh but it was also funny.

I'm afraid my sweet little Freckles will have to stay a couple more nights in boarding.  I hope she'll be able to forgive me.

Well back to the lounger ...

Home Sweet Home

Well I'm still here ... surgery is over, and I'm home.  I'll have to tell you more later but take my word for it, it is much better to be home than in a hospital room.

Shower Power

I discovered a way to get rid of the pain ... take a very hot shower.  At about 3 this morning, when everything else had failed I thought maybe I'd try a shower and it was marvelous.  If I could only figure out a way to stay in the shower until Friday morning.  I'm going to work this morning, not sure how that will go but I'll give it a try.  Last Friday when I said I had to have my gallbladder removed my supervisor said "You will be in next week."  It was not a question, it was an order.  So I'm going to give it a try, and hope that my doctor can get me some kind of drugs that are stronger.  I know -- whine, whine, whine -- sorry.

Update:  I'm having surgery today at 5:00.  Hopefully will be home tomorrow.  I can't wait to get this over with.

Sunday's Lament

Too few hours of sleep, too much pain --- nothing to offer but whining and who needs to hear that.  Have a good day.

My Gallbladder Will Not Go On

Yes, I feel as bad as I look.  But thankfully I now have heavy duty pain drugs.  At first I only took 1/2 a tablet but that did nothing, then a full tablet -- nothing.  Now it's 2 tablets and I can tolerate it.  Oh, the verdict is that I have to have my gallbladder removed -- unfortunately I can't have it done until next Friday so I have a week of pain to go.

Went out to the Minnesota Zoo today to hand out tickets to a client event for my employer. We were giving tickets to Avatar at an IMAX theater. I didn't stay.  Have to be honest, even if I had felt the best ever I probably would have left. It's one of those movies that I never had any interest in. Someone described it as "Dances With Wolves" except the people were blue and had tails. I'm trying to picture Kevin Costner as blue and as for the tail -- never mind.  I think I never forgave James Cameron for "Titanic," a movie that was way too long.  I found myself rooting for the iceberg right around the time when the poor but happy guy helped the rich but unhappy gal find her real self. And then there was that song.  Oh well, no Avatar for me. I took a couple happy pills and hit the couch. My idea of a good afternoon.

The Same Old Manure

Sorry ... back to the hospital for more tests.  In a lot of pain.  I'll write more later.

A Few Thoughts

Well I think a lack of sleep is finally catching up with me.  Yesterday I was putting on my bra and I was thinking why does this feel so funny.  Well I realized that I already had a bra on ... I mean I know layering is the new thing but I don't think this is what they had in mind.

Watching the Olympics?  I am and I hurt just from watching those women crashing in the downhill yesterday.  I think they should have replays with the sound effects used in cartoons ... boing, bonk, zing.

And on the news is more airport screening news ... we will now have our hands swabbed in a look for chemicals.  So what is the clip on the news, this woman who must be about 85 who is being frisked with a wand and then having her hands swabbed.  They probably detected Metamucil and Dentucreme and detained her.

Finally, I got a CD from the library called "Sleepytime Tunes Lullaby Renditions of Jimmy Buffet."  Yes, mom and dad, now your baby can be lulled to sleep with such tunes as "Margaritaville" and "Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw."  Sweet dreams baby, sweet dreams.

I Can't Believe You Said That

Well now my sight is joining my hearing on a different level of reality.  Ever since I had brain surgery in 2001 (see the icky picture below) I've had a slight hearing loss in my left ear.  You would think it would be annoying when in fact it makes life much more interesting.  You wouldn't believe some of the things I've heard people say -- or at least what I thought they said.

A couple of years ago a guy from our IT department was working on my computer.  While waiting for some program to load or unload or do some sort of thing he turned to me and asked "How do you like your printer?"  They had installed a printer/scanner at my desk a few weeks prior.  Unfortunately I thought he asked "How do you like your period?" Well, once I got over the oddity of the question I replied, as a post-menopausal woman would, "I don't have one anymore."  Now the printer was right in front of him, so he said "Sure you do," and I replied "I think I would know if I did, and no I don't."  He then pointed to the printer and said "It's right there."  Well, I realized my hearing had led me down another ridiculous path.

So yesterday I'm walking past the coffee table in the reception room and saw the headline "House Agrees On Bowling Ball."  I backed up to take another look and saw "House Agrees On Bailout Bond" or something like that.  You can understand my confusion, considering how politics are going today it's possible the only thing they can agree on is a bowling ball, and then they would probably spend many days discussing 3-hole vs. 2-hole.  Of course, as far as I'm concerned, I would give most of them 1 hole and you can imagine which finger that would be for.

Back To Work

Not feeling any better but I'm heading back to work ... at least for a while.  I think being busy will help.

Today on "Today," which I swore I'd never watch again when they brought Jenna Bush on as a "correspondent" but I'm still watching, had a report on Herb Brooks and the 1980 Miracle on Ice.  It is one of those moment where you remember where you were when they won - - which is a much nicer moment in history to remember than the usual Kennedy (both brothers) assassinations, Martin Luther King's assassination, the shuttle blowing up, 911 -- the Miracle on Ice was a good moment, that we can remember.  (I just noticed assassination is really Ass Ass I Nation.)

If you haven't seen the movie "Miracle" go out and rent it right now.  It's one of those movies that will make you feel good.  I actually have no interest in Olympic hockey anymore ... it's all professionals so it's like a great big all star game.  Kind of the "dream teams" for Olympic basketball.  Even if the USA would lose every game, I would like to see us set an example by going back to the amateur team.

So I'm off to work, waiting to hear from my doctor what my tests showed.  I'm pretty sure it's that alien baby theory I'm working off of.

P.S. -- If you remember the Miracle on Ice consider donating to the Herb Brooks Foundation to thank him for such a great moment.

Same Old, Same Old

I'm getting sick of feeling icky.  Going to the doctor this morning.  Hopefully will get some answers/relief.  I can't imagine how people with chronic pain keep going day after day -- they are my heroes.  I'll keep you posted.  I'm usually planning wild President Day activities but I just can't today.  Dang -- my Millard Filmore Party is off.

12:17 p.m. -- So I've been to the doctor, peed in a cup, was poked and felt up, and now I'm going for a CT scan which involves drinking the worse tasting shit I've ever tasted.  And I'm suppose to drink 3 cups be 1:30, my appointment is at 1:45.  I can't imagine I will get this first cup down by 1:00, when I'm suppose to drink the second cup.  Oh, and the tech who drew my blood kept calling me dear.  I hate being called dear ... I'd rather be called idiot or loser.  She doesn't even know me and she's calling me dear.  If she didn't have a sharp needle that she was about to stick into my vein I would have said "okay schnukums."

So here is a picture of me after taking a sip of this crap.

I Feel Good, Nope.

That's what my mother use to say when she was a little girl and she was sick -- "I feel good, nope."  How cute is that?  I'm still feeling icky, yes ... may have to consider the old doctor's office tomorrow.

Too bad this has happened now because I've had to cancel all my Valentine's Day dates and you can only imagine how many disappointed suitors there are out there.  Oh well we can celebrate VD next year.

Not Much Today

I'm feeling sick.  Won't go into details.  Hope to feel better tomorrow.  Perhaps I have the Valentine's Day blues.

Update -- Feeling better but not ready to go clog dancing -- well I guess I'm never ready to go clog dancing.  What's wrong with me?

The Olympics Are Here; The Olympics Are Here!

No I'm not checking for cracks in the ceiling or praying for spring ... I'm practicing for the one winter sport I have always felt destined for -- the Luge.  Oh I'm sure there's a lot to the sport but to me it really looks like you get to lay on your back and slide down a hill -- turning a little to the left here and a little to the right there.  Yes, if I had to choose a Winter Olympic sport that would be for me.  But it wasn't always so -- when Peggy Fleming won the gold medal for figure skating back in 1968 I was going to be a figure skater.  I went to Pershing Park ready to take on the world.  Then when, after about five minutes of going around the rink on my ankles I realized I had my skates on the wrong feet, I decided to give up the dream.  Since then it's been the luge for me, except for the Summer Olympics when I can definitely see me doing some rhythmic gymnastics unless I can get into the synchronized swimming field.

After note (2/12/10 4:40 PM):  I can't begin to tell you how ridiculous I feel.  I just heard that Nodar Kumaritashvili, a luger from Georgia (the country) died in a crash.  Sometimes things come back to bite you in the ass.

30 Years And Going Strong

Well this is the 30th anniversary of my divorce -- and they said it would never last.  1980 was a tough year.  On Jan 30th my dad died and on Feb 11th I got divorced.  Nothing like a little stress to keep you going.

I actually found out that my ex died last year.  I haven't seen him for a long time but it felt rather icky to find out he died.  You know, even if you are divorced this is a person who was a big part of your life for a while and I didn't hate him so it was icky.

Two things got me through: 1) the 1980 US Olympic hockey team winning gold was such a high; and 2) playing "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor over and over again right after the divorce.  And I did survive.

There were some really good times ... unfortunately there were more bad times.  But, here's to the good times ...

Boy my hair looks really good doesn't it?  I think Tom looks like Lee Marvin, do you?

Separated at Birth?

Let's face it ... the resemblance is uncanny.  I can't tell you how many times men have stopped me in the street and asked me to autograph their copy of SI.  I try, oh Lord I try, to explain that I'm not Brooklyn Decker - that I'm Minneapolis Mary - but to no avail.  Eventually I sign their copy and let them go on their way, believing they have just met a super model.  Well, I guess they have.

Shall We Dance? Perhaps Not!

This is my stapler ... don't take my stapler (okay that was for fans of Office Space, the rest of you talk amongst yourselves).  Office Space is a must see comedy along with Rat Race, Waiting for Guffman, Best of Show, and Silence of the Lambs (oh come on, Hannibal was a hoot don't you think?).

Geri, who you saw me talking on the phone with yesterday, has sucked me into the show "The Bachelor."  I actually have to record it so I can watch my boyfriend, Keifer Sutherland, on "24." There was this segment when one of the contestants decided to do a dance for Jake, a dance that came from her heart.  I am trying to picture the look on my ex-husband's face if I told him I was going to do a dance for him that didn't involve a pole or the removal of some object of clothing.  I believe I may have to work on a dance to do at work that shows what's in my heart.  Then the next time someone gets on my nerves, I can break into dance, or when someone does something great I can break into dance, or when someone shows me how they are feeling through dance I can show them how I am feeling through dance.  It would be a dance fest inspired by The Bachelor.

Snow Closure .... St. Mary's Elementary, Eastside Day Care, Mary's Brain

This is me on the phone with Geri ... but don't look at her because she's been home sick all day and I'll bet she doesn't have on any lipstick.  She has told her friends that when she dies one of us is to rush over to wherever she drops and make sure she has on lipstick.  I hope that's not my job ... she may end up looking like a clown.

Well I'm late, late, late with this blog.  Sorry it completely left my brain this morning.  I was rushing so I could catch the earlier bus because of the snow and wouldn't you know it ... I actually got to the bus stop on time but the dang bus was 20 minutes late.  You'd think that in this day of GPSes and all that other electronic tracking stuff that the bus company could have a service to let people know if the bus is on time so we don't have to stand outside for 20 minutes freezing our butts off.

Oh well.  It's still snowing and as much as I want to not like it, it is so much fun watching Freckles run through it that I look forward to new snow fall.  But not for much longer I hope.

Hey did you watch the Super Bowl ... what is up with Go Daddy and the skankie ads.  Perhaps they should change their name to Who's Your Daddy.  I use that service and it kind of makes me sick now that I do.  I may have to make a change.

Okay, got to get ready for the next episode of "24."  Hope it's a good episode.

Suzi Orman Would Be Proud

I got my tax return and paid off my Visa bill.  I won't tell you how much I owed but it was over $1 and less than $6,000 and it was driving me crazy because I honestly would be hard pressed to tell you why I owed that much.  It's not like I could point to a refrigerator and say I bought that with my Visa or a couch or bed or anything major, which is, of course, why I got the card "in case something major comes up and I don't have the cash."  My thought was a major car expense, not a new sweater, tickets to a concert, or Season 4 of "24" -- okay the latter was entirely worth it.  The only thing I can honestly remember charging was my trip coming up next October to Bimini where I'm going to swim with the dolphins.  I actually was suppose to go in May but decided to change the date because I'm going to be moving and this way I'll have time to save up to pay the balance instead of putting it on my Visa (and lose 100 pounds ha, ha, ha).  So happy Super Bowl Day if you like that sort of thing.  I'm excited for the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet.  It'll put a smile on your face.

W is for Where The Hell Is That Book

I have spent most the morning looking for this book ... which is due today at the library.  And of course I finally found it in a place where I had looked at least four times before but it was under something else.  I will never end of on "Hoarders" (or at least I don't think so) but it seems like I do have enough stuff that I have one or two layers.  It's like I'm living in an Oreo cookie, which sounds kind of fun.  Does anyone else out there open the Oreo and only eat the side with the frosting and then tosses away the naked side?  Is that a sign of some sort of mental disturbance?  Probably, but it's only one of many signs I can think of.  Which brings me to ... oh dear I've totally lost my train of thought.  Oh well, that train jumped the tracks years ago.  So I'm off to the library for my regular Saturday trip.  I have a bunch of books there with recipes for a slow cooker.  My friend Lori from Laramie (I just like how that sounds, like Mary from Minnesota or Peter from Pittsburgh or okay you get the idea) ... anyways Lori from Laramie gave me a slow cooker for Christmas.  Other than tossing in some chicken legs and barbeque sauce (which is very good by the way) I'm going to try to find something more exotic.  You'll have to check back and see what I discover and if I can make it without burning down the place.  Happy Saturday ...

It's Unbelievable...

...even the back of my head is gorgeous!

Yesterday I was waiting for my bus on the Nicollet Mall and it was snowing as it had been all day.  People were bundled up with hats, scarfs, mittens, and boots except for this woman I will refer to as Little Miss Perfect.  She had on her pointy Sex In The City shoes and then it happened -- oh yes -- she slipped and SPLAT (I love that word -- it sounds just like it looks) down she went on her butt.  Now I could have felt sorry for her but what followed was a steady stream of profanity that I haven't heard since I had a colonoscopy.  She was so mad that this had happened to her.  "I f-in can't f-in believe this is f-in happening to me" was repeated quite often. If this is the worse f-in thing that ever happens to her boy is she going to be lucky. But that's the old lady in me talking. I'm sure I felt the same way when I was young and stupid and would wear pointy Sex In The City shoes in the snow. Like there was that time I got a perm, or got drunk and got a tatoo, or went to the Minnesota School of Business to become a legal secretary.  Yes I too was young and stupid.

Call Me XENA - Queen of the Nile

Okay, the root canal is over and except for the Novacaine shot it didn't hurt and when the numbing wore off it didn't hurt so things have changed in the last 20 years.  And I had some fun.  When I filled out the forms (you know there are always forms) it asked "Name You Prefer" and I wrote in "Your Highness."  It was good for a few laughs and when I was leaving Dr. Chapman said "Nice to meet you your highness."  I encourage all of you to have some fun with those forms.  When I had brain surgery at the Mayo Clinic and the form asked the name I preferred to be called by I wrote in "Xena, Queen of the Nile."  The poor woman who came out into the reception area to call for me didn't exactly know what to do.  They probably thought I should be in the psych ward.

Now for my question to the dental community ... what do you have against doors?  I don't understand why dental offices don't have doors for each room.  I don't want to see someone else having dental work and I'm not all that excited about others seeing me having dental work.  Other than an invasion of my so called privacy I'm afraid it will start a new trend -- no doors at the doctor's office.

So for any of you dentists out there ... what's up with no doors?

P.S. -- I can't believe it, I filed my taxes on Sunday (efile) and I have my Minnesota return already.  I guess it does pay to file early.

The Root of the Problem

I'm having a root canal done today.  The last time I had a root canal was in 1987 ... the reason I remember is it was about four weeks before I graduated from college.  I remember it was a two part procedure and after the first part I was in pain for days.  I've been assured that dentistry has changed in the last 20 years.  I haven't changed, I don't know why dentistry has changed.  Well they told me on the phone that a root canal is like having a cavity filled and I could go back to work (is that good news or bad news, I don't know).  What I'm really dreading is that this is going to cost me $1,000.  I'm actually paying someone to hurt me.  They shouldn't be called dentists, they should be called dominatrix -- just kidding -- don't hurt me, please.  But the cost of dental work is really unbelievable.  Last year I spent almost $4,000 on my teeth.  Of course I did get a nice set of front teeth that I had been lacking for a while.  Don't believe me, look at my teeth in yesterday's picture.  You know it's not cheap to be this good looking.

Happy Groundhogs Day

Good morning ... I went outside, I saw my shadow .... six more weeks of  winter.  I'm glad it has snowed again because all the yellow spots in the snow in front of my building are covered and new spots can be created.  It was reminding me a horrible dress I had in the sixties that had big yellow polka dots on it ... a mini dress that I wore with a yellow headband and white boots. A real groovy vision was I.

Hell Must Have Froze Over (So why should it be different from the rest of us?)

I did my taxes yesterday.  Yes, my taxes are done and filed in January (thank you Turbo Tax).  I usually finally get to them sometime in April, if I'm feeling frisky in March.  I just filed my 2008 property tax return a few weeks ago.  So why did I get it done early.  There are two reasons: 1) I was hoping for a nice return which I can really use (and I am getting a nice return), and 2) I am into setting two goals a day.  Nothing major like 1) reorganize all my closets and 2) find a cure for cancer -- no just relatively small goals like get your taxes done or go through that stack of papers on your desk or do your laundry.  Goals that I can actually achieve.  I think writing this blog every day has given me the confidence to do so.  I set a goal of taking a picture every morning and writing something, anything.  And I've done it.  I wrote something every day in January which, as you will know if you read yesterday's blog, has been the longest month I have ever lived through.  So what are today's goals?  1) talk to Go Daddy about getting my website up and 2) count out my pills for the week.  Like I said, nothing big but they are doable.  So wish me luck ...