Monday, November 30, 2009

Off to Oregon!
It took us all morning, but we finally left Sister Sherry's ranch on the Touchet River about one pm. It was hard to say good-bye to all the mastiffs, especially dear Deacon, but harder still to say good-bye to my sis.

It was foggy when we left, but it rapidly cleared off and we had a nice drive down Hwy 12 into Oregon and then down the Columbia Gorge. We certainly timed it right (HA!) hitting Portland at 5:20 pm just in time for rush hour traffic!

We got into Hubbard a little before seven where Daughter Dawn had turkey dinner waiting. Grandson Micah and GD Kyra have both gotten quite a bit taller since we've seen them -- GD Havela is definitely going to be the shortest one!

The girls were quite insistent that we watch the first of the vampire movies with them so that they can take me to see New Moon while we are here... So after Micah went to bed...

We haven't been up this late for quite a while!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

A Quiet Day...

We had thought that Sherry's mastiff breeder friend Anita would be here late last night, but she had brake trouble in Ellensburg and ended up staying there to get her truck fixed on Monday. This is a disappointment as I was looking forward to meeting her. Anyhow, we didn't go into the VA Chapel this morning, just hung out here at the ranch and read all the Sunday papers.

I miss Napua! I cut and wrapped Niece Daphne's caramels this morning. I didn't cut them as small as I did mine yesterday, but they still took a long time to wrap. We also made a second batch of divinity today as the one we did yesterday didn't set up. After the rain we had, I think it's still a bit too humid for divinity making. We beat this batch for over 20 minutes and it looks pretty good.

We will be getting organized in the morning to travel on down the Columbia Gorge to Daughter Dawn's in Hubbard, Oregon. We haven't had much of a chance to spoil those grandkids this year, so I am really looking forward to seeing them!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Company!


Brother Patrick was playing mailman today. Daughter Mary Mae stopped by his place in Moses Lake this morning on her family's way back home to Mount Vernon after they had spent Thanksgiving with Scott's family in Cheney, and gave him our mail. Patrick and Sister-in-law Cindy came down to the farm here at Touchet and brought my Niece Becky and Great-nephew Carter with them! He is such a delight and at almost two is all boy! The picture above is one of the few quiet moments he spent looking at dinosaur books with Mommy. Most of the rest of the time he was out at the sand pile playing with the trucks or driving the dump truck as fast as he could run!
Since Napua left early this morning, I got to cut up the caramels today. I wanted mine more bite-size, so cut them about half the size he had been. By the time I had finished wrapping all of them, I knew there was a good reason why you don't want to make them too small -- it's a lot to wrap!

Friday, November 27, 2009

An Early Christmas Gift!

It rained almost all night last night and sometime in the middle of the night, the power went out. Sister Sherry says it was out about seven hours. We did not notice it in Auntie Violet until early this morning, as we were running off the batteries with the inverter. But we have been running the electric heaters for supplemental heat and about 6:30 when I woke up, they had run the batteries down. It didn't take long once the power came on to get them full again, thank goodness!

By the time I got a shower this morning and got over to Sherry's, the caramel brigade was hard at work. Napua (my sis's good Hawaiian friend from Shelton) was busy cutting and wrapping yesterday's last batch and Sherry had another batch going on the stove:





Before Forry and I left for Walla Walla for my pedicure appointment, Sherry had finished another batch of caramels, made a bunch of pound cakes to freeze for Christmas gifts and stirred up some refrigerator logs of lime cookies to bake tomorrow.... Originally, she and Napua had planned to go into town with us, but she was on a baking roll and wasn't about to stop.

Forry and I went into Walla Walla for my noon appointment with Yoko, my sister's pedicurist. I was delighted when Sherry was able to get me an appointment as the one I had scheduled when we were in Sundance before my back surgery had been cancelled as they were redoing the floors in the spa. Since I am not allowed to bend over, I cannot reach my toes! And then when I went to pay Yoko, she told me "Merry Christmas, your sister has already taken care of it!"

Thursday, November 26, 2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

This is Corin --

And this is my buddy Deacon and one of the few toys the girls have left him (which the girls had destroyed by the time the day was over):


This is what the girls do -- that's Corin and Lara playing tug-of-war with one of Deacon's toys:
Happy Thanksgiving to friends and family, close and far away! We have so much to be thankful for -- and best of all is being able to spend time with family!

Most of us have had sort of a lazy day, but Sister Sherry has been cooking all day! She's been making batch after batch of scrumptious caramels! She's been playing with adding Grand Marnier to some and using Napua's Hawaiian salt on top of some batches. Napua had one of the first batches put away in his suitcase, but as each new batch has come out, he's deciding he likes that one better -- and exchanges it for the previous one. Napua is the cutter and wrapper -- he has the patience to sit and wrap each caramel individually. Usually Sherry's caramel making is limited by her ability to find good cream. They have a new neighbor (about two miles away as the crow flies) who has a small dairy with Jersey cows -- organic and grass-fed. So now she has a plentiful supply of nice thick rich cream and everyone is going to have caramels for Christmas this year!

Earlier this afternoon, Sherry made Hollandaise sauce that we enjoyed with artichokes while the turkey was finishing roasting. Later we had roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and dressing followed by goblets of tiramisu. Now we're all sitting around feeling STUFFED!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Cooking and Baking and...?

As usual when we are at Sister Sherry's, a good share of our time is spent cooking, or baking, or talking about what we should be making! So far today Sherry has made tiramasu (for Thanksgiving), flan (for dinner tonight), a pork roast with onions, carrots and potatoes for tonight, and cranberry chutney (which we had with the pork roast and will have as a side dish with the turkey tomorrow). We also made the brine today that we'll put the turkey in tonight.

I was going to bring the camera over today to get some pictures of the mastiffs, but forgot all about out it until just now... I guess I'll just have to do it tomorrow.

Forry spent some time today working on the hydro-hot system. Most of the issue seems to be with the float in the reservoir (just like it was in our first Alpine), so he bypassed it and now everything seems to be working well. We'll see how it continues to work through the night... It's clear tonight, so it's liable to be chilly!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

At My Sister's in Touchet...

We made it! We finally have gotten out of Spokane! We finally got out on the highway about one o'clock this afternoon. I felt bad that Forry had to do so much of the prep work himself, I did what I could without bending, but that still means he did most of the work.

We went over to the Petro store for diesel and could only get $75 worth on our credit card on the pump, so I had to take the card into the store so that we could keep pumping. Another $200 later we were finally out of there!

We have had trouble with a slow leak on one of the inside rear duels, so had to go into the shop to get air added to it. Finally got that done and then finally were on our way. It was a nice day for traveling, the roads were bare and dry and the sun was shining off and on. It was good to be back out on the road again!

We arrived at Sister Sherry's a little before four o'clock, just as Sherry and Napua (her Hawaiian friend from Olympia) were out doing chores. I will have to take pictures of the mastiffs in the morning. In addition to Deacon, the almost two year old male, Sherry has two female mastiffs staying with her -- Lara and Corinne plus Maggie, the stray hunting dog who showed up a year or so ago. There are dog beds all over the living room...!

It's good to be here!

Monday, November 23, 2009

A Trip to the Ranch

We made a quick trip down to the ranch this morning (roads are clear and dry with no snow!); found the old family pictures that were stored in the storage unit to take to Oregon with us; and got the van started and moved in from of the storage unit doors.

When we leave Auntie Violet, we shut off and unplug the two portable electric heaters that we use to keep the temperature up to 70 degrees inside (we're concerned about potential fires while we're gone). We leave the hydro-hot coach system running which usually keeps the temp in the low 60s. This afternoon when we got home, it was COLD in Auntie Violet, the temperature was down to 52! Forry found that one of the fuses in the 12 volt panel in the bathroom was actually melted, though it had not kicked out...

He's replaced the fuse and has been trouble-shooting the hydro-hot system, but has not been able to figure out why he cannot get it restarted. We've sent an email to Mark Harrah, the consultant who is on-call for the Alpine Coach Association. We're hoping he will call soon with some ideas about what to do next!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Snow Storm!

We were dressed and ready to head for Menno this morning and were surprised when we opened the curtains and stepped outside. There was already 2-3 inches of snow on the ground and it was coming down hard. We went ahead and started out, but the closer we got to the freeway, the harder it was to see.

We looked at each other and I don't know which one of us said first that we didn't want to be out in this kind of a storm! We had wanted to go to Menno to say good-bye to our church family and then to go over to the ranch and get a few things out of the storage unit and move the vehicles in front of it.

So we ended up spending a quiet day at home. Later in the day, the snow turned to rain. The roads are clear, but the snow is now very wet slush. Forry did take a trip over to the recycling place late this afternoon and got rid of all we had stacked up here.

This evening I roasted an acorn squash, filling it with a diced pear and dried pie cherries with butter and maple syrup -- GOOD!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Visitors -- and a Costco Trip

Pastor Terry and Jerilee stopped by to visit this morning. Jerilee had not been in either of our motor homes, so it was fun to let her see it. It's too bad that I am forbidden to do any housework, because Auntie Violet has looked better... Pastor Terry will be finishing up his term at Menno next June, he has been at Menno for 12 years now. He's been a good pastor that we have greatly enjoyed and appreciated.

Later this afternoon we headed into Spokane. Stopped at Auntie's Bookstore to pick up the book I had ordered for Sister Sherry -- and naturally they could not find it! (It was supposed to have come in yesterday!) After conferring with another staffer, the book was finally found. I never did hear the reason it was not on the shelf with all of the other ordered books...

We didn't have that problem at Costco. Forry's hearing aids were not only there, but the tech had already made all of the adjustments needed and updated what she had done in the manual. This pair is smaller than the previous ones he had before (the ones he had lost one of...), you certainly cannot see them. He commented how noisy it was in the store when we were checking out -- so I guess they are working!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Her Name is Ellie Jane!

My new great-niece officially has a name -- Miss Ellie Jane! So pretty! We've seen several pictures of her by now and she is a petite little cutie! Brother Patrick says there's a good chance Jared and Becky and the baby will be coming to Moses Lake for Thanksgiving, so we may get to see her in person before we head south.

Today was a pretty quiet day -- I think yesterday wore me out! Forry made a trip into town to pick up W-2 & W-3 forms, but I stayed home and rested. We did go into Spokane this evening to take Son Sean out to dinner one last time before we leave the area. He wanted to go out to the Old Country Buffet out on north Division. NOT my favorite place! It was busy, but I think from the look of most of the patrons, it is just an open invitation to over-eat...!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

A Day Full of Happy News!

What a wonderful day! It started off with notice of the birth of my first new great-niece early this morning to Becky and Nephew Jared over in Seattle! The little one does not have a name yet, but they are calling her "Tink" for Tinkerbell at the moment. (They'd best be careful, that just may stick!).

Next I had an email from my primary care physician saying that the results of the kidney ultrasound that I had yesterday were in and there was no change in the size or shape of the cyst from the initial films 3 months ago! Of course, she wants me to have another follow-up ultrasound in another three months... But she did say she could make arrangements for me to have it done in Arizona somewhere.

I had a 9:45 appointment at Dr. Power's office this morning as a follow-up to my back surgery. He was running late this morning and his office was BUSY! It was good to see as he is the newcomer in the NW Orthopedics office (I had been his first surgery at Sacred Heart Medical Center). He had been heavily recruited to come to Spokane from Michigan. He seemed very pleased with my progress -- and perhaps with himself..? Anyway, he saw no reason for us to continue to remain in the area -- though I am to come see him as soon as we get back in the spring!

After that we went looking for a rear wiper for the Toad. We had gotten new wipers all around at Les Schwab last month, but the rear one very quickly had come loose and flown off somewhere. The downtown Les Schwab place did not have a replacement blade, so sent us to their store out by University City. They didn't have the right size either so actually gave us our money back. Since we were already close, we went on over to the Jeep dealer and sure enough, they had one the right size and fit!

Since we were already so far out, we stopped at Williams Fish Market and bought a nice Dungeness crab for dinner. They are pretty pricy this time of year, but Forry and I each had a half for dinner (though I did save back enough to make crab omelets for breakfast...) along with the first tossed salad I've made since my surgery -- can you tell I'm getting MUCH better?!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

5:15 AM?!

Whose crazy idea was it to take the 6:45 appointment for the follow-up kidney scan? I don't know what in the world I was thinking! Anyway, I was up at 5:15 and into the shower. Forry got granola, blueberries, orange juice and coffee around and we were out of Auntie Violet by 6 AM!

We over-estimated how long it would take us to get to the Inland Imaging over on Cowley. It's actually a straight shot into Spokane on the freeway and then a quick off and a couple of blocks and there you are. We were there in the waiting room by 6:30. but the tech didn't come to get me until 7:15!

The test itself didn't take long -- it's just all of the lovely gel they use for the ultrasound that's all over your abdomen...

Later this afternoon we went back into town and ran a bunch more errands as we try to get ready to pack up and move south. We picked up some prescriptions at Group Health, got Forry a new box for his farm records, picked up a couple more small tools, mailed some more notes, and resupplied the stock of dishwasher soap.

I put a small pork roast and a large sweet potato in the oven for supper tonight. It sure tasted good. I must be getting better -- I actually felt like cooking!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Another Busy Day...

We put some miles on the Toad today. We've needed a new sewer hose for Auntie Violet and Forry's needed a new pair of shoes. He had checked for sewer hoses at the RV places in Spokane and couldn't find one the length he wanted, so we went out to Liberty Park to R&R RV and they did have what he wanted.

From there we drove on out to Post Falls, Idaho (just across the border) to the new Capela's store there. Shoe buying with Forry is usually like the cartoons you see of ladies buying shoes with boxes stacked up all over as he tries to find a pair he likes and that fit well. This time, he checked the shoes he had on for a number, walked into the shoe department, looked for a box with that number, got the right size and was ready to go! I did make him open the box to make sure both shoes were the same size and one was right and one was left...

It's always fun to look around at a Capela's store, both at all of the stuffed animals and the big aquariums of game fish. The amount of merchandise that goes out the doors is pretty impressive as well.

We drove back into Spokane, stopped to get Costco gas, then went downtown to Auntie's Bookstore to get a book I wanted for my sister. I was surprised they didn't have it, but they ordered it and it should be there by Friday afternoon.

By then it was late enough to start thinking about dinner. We had not been to Herbal Essence for a couple of years, but remembered how good the food was, so decided to go there. We split an order of Beef Wellington with an extra house salad. Instead of dividing the finished beef in half, the chef made each half an individual portion wrapped in puff pastry. It was still more than I could eat, so I have a nice portion for lunch tomorrow.

I had emailed my primary care physician yesterday to see if I could arrange for the follow-up ultrasound of the kidney cyst that they had recommended three months ago when I finally got the clearance for my back surgery. Would you believe that the only appointment I could get this week is at 6:45 AM tomorrow morning?! Otherwise I would have had to wait until next week and we really want to leave by this weekend if the surgeon turns me loose on Thursday and the weather cooperates...

Monday, November 16, 2009

It's Monday Again!

And hopefully it's the start of our last week here! I have an appointment with the surgeon on Thursday, so keep your fingers crossed that he will let us depart...!

I am a bit tired tonight. We took a fairly long walk around the campground today -- even went up the hill to the paved road and around. I tried to take a brisker pace than the leisurely stroll I've been using. It felt good, but I could feel it by the time we got back to Auntie Violet. There's been a bit of a light rain/drizzle off and on last night and today that has pretty well taken care of the last of the snow. Though you can still see it on the north slopes.

We drove into Cheney this afternoon to mail the thank you notes I had finally gotten written and to pick up some groceries. The Safeway store there has a great selection of fresh produce -- Forry says he can tell I am feeling better because I was buying stuff to make fresh salads with again. But by the time we got back home I was too tired to fix anything...!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Down to Menno...

We did it! Made the hour and one half trip to Menno for church this morning! It was tough getting up when the radio came on this morning to get into the shower. Most mornings we just turn over and snuggle a bit longer while we listen to NPR's latest news.

The drive down to Menno (about 90 miles) wasn't bad. The Toad was warm and the seats are comfortable. I can't say the same for the pews, though! I realize that for the last month or more, I have either been sitting cradled in a nest of pillows on the couch or in my very comfortable office chair at the computer. I don't think I have sat in a straight chair during all that time!

I am still wearing the wrap-around molded plastic back support that goes pretty much from my groin area halfway up my back when I am not in bed. It wasn't too happy about the hard wooden pew either!

BUT, it was worth it just to see everyone! And to revel in the smiles of greeting! And to worship and enjoy Sunday School with the beloved members of our church family! And to see how much all of the little ones have grown!

We made a quick stop at Taco del Mar in Ritzville on our way back to Spokane. We had not stopped there before, usually going to the Starbucks store next door instead. It's a great place to eat. Most of the staff were very young clean cut male teenagers with lots of poise and delightful manners -- and the food was good too!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

What Happened to Yesterday's Post?

I know (I think!) I wrote it... I was griping about the >1 inch of snow we got at Ponderosa Falls RV Resort yesterday... Or was that just on Facebook?

I usually do a load of laundry in our washer/dryer combo in Auntie Violet every day or so, but Forry doesn't really like doing laundry all that well to do it that often. The laundry basket was full and the sheets on the bed needed changing and the bedspread needed washing as well. So we decided the easiest thing to do would be to load everything up and take it over to the laundromat here at the RV Park and do it all at once. We were lucky that we got there that there was no one else there and no one else came until we had all of our stuff out of the washers and in the dryers. It was nice as that way, we were able to use every washer in the place all at the same time.

While we were at the laundry, it started to snow. Light fluffy stuff that didn't seem to be sticking. OK, I can handle that. And then it seemed to quit -- NICE!

But, as we were finishing up, it decided to start getting serious and started coming down -- and sticking -- with a vengeance! By the time the bedspread was finally out of the dryer, there was just about an inch of the white stuff on the ground! Forry had fun trying to keep all of our nice clean clothes dry as he brought them into Auntie Violet from the Toad parked behind her, maybe 40 feet from the front door.

It's been cold all day today. Usually it's been warming up enough during the day that our water hose thaws out. It never got that warm today. Forry had to roll it up and put it in one of the heated basement bays to warm up and thaw out so that he could fill up the fresh water tank.

We seriously need to be thinking of moving SOUTH! I have an appointment with my surgeon next Thursday -- I sure hope he gives us the OK!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

New Hearing Aids

Forry lost one of his hearing aids somewhere either in the RV or where we were parked on the ranch a couple of months ago. He also bent the battery compartment door on the other one enough that Costco had to send it back it for repair. Today, he had an appointment at Costco for a new hearing test. He picked up the repaired hearing aid and then had to decide whether to get a replacement for the one he lost or just order a new pair. After lots of discussion, He decided to go ahead and get a new pair ($$$!). They should be here next week.

By the time we got finished there, it was DARK! I really dislike this time or year when everything gets dark so early and it stays so dark in the morning...!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Moses Lake

We took a road trip to Moses Lake this morning. Cleon had the ranch taxes done, so picked them up, signed, wrote a check and got them into the mail. One more task checked off.

We drove back on Rosenoff Road so that Forry could stash more stuff in the storage unit at the ranch -- including the walker! I'm glad I've been able to get by using a cane -- it's so much easier!

Talked with Brother Pat and Neice Becky who were on their way to Spokane with the family and little Carter to see The Lion King. He's a bit young, but I'll bet they'll have a great time!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Another Quiet Day

I didn't sleep well last night, so spent a quiet day today. Worked on books a little bit and spent the rest of the day reading.

Sister Roxie sent as email that she and Rich were going to Las Vegas later this week to join Cousin Cathy for her wedding. All kinds of interesting things going on.

Forry made a recycling run into Spokane this afternoon as the cardboard, plastic and glass etc. were overloading the back seat of the Toad. It's always amazing how much just the two of us manage to accumulate!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Quiet at Turnbull

We've had a flurry of Oregon Juncos here at the RV Park checking out the weedy area over by the perimeter fence. They are so busy!

This afternoon we decided to take a drive out to the Turnbull Nature Reserve to do some bird-watching. We didn't see much! We took the 5.8 mile auto trip around the reserve and it sure was quiet. We saw a family of magpies in the trees, the flit of a squirrel's tail going over a log, and one pond that had a couple of merganser ducks --that was it!

Just outside of Cheney, we did see a bunch of Canada geese eating in a field. I guess all of the migrating birds have made it south and everything else is hunkered down for winter. The state highway folks closed two of the northern passes over the Cascades this weekend (one had three feet of snow already!) and I'm sure the North Cascades Highway will be closed soon as well.

It was a good day for mail. We got a copy of Windows 7 from Leslie and Bill plus a big box of mail forwarded by daughter MM. Lots of magazines to enjoy.

I was so tired when we got back from our drive that I had to lie down and have an hour's nap. (As though that was something new...!)

Sunday, November 8, 2009

One More Day...

That seems to be what I am doing these days, just marking off one more day at a time, letting my body heal. I suppose it is good discipline for me -- I cannot remember a time when I didn't have something going on, something I just had to get done, or something else that was keeping me busy!

We had thought earlier in the week about driving the 90 miles to Menno this morning for the Harvest Homecoming service. As the week went by, we realized that I was not ready for that long a trip nor did I have the energy to interact with people for 3-4 hours over the service and dinner. But, it would have been nice to see everyone! And we have never been around in the Fall during the past several years to meet Charles Duplessis, the pastor of Mount Nemo Baptist Church in New Orleans that Menno has partnered with the past couple of years.

I did take a fairly long walk around the RV park this afternoon. It's been quite cold here all day. I don't believe it got above 43 degrees.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Is It Naptime Yet?

It must be! I have been so sleepy all day. I just feel like an observer, not a participant in life these days. I am not in pain (haven't had any pain meds or muscles relaxants for two days), just an achy back. I woke up late this morning, had breakfast (thanks, Forry!), and went right back to take a nap. Took another one early this afternoon, then another later while Forry went into town to return the heater that he couldn't use on the hose.

I did rouse enough to read some of the RVing blogs I haven't looked at for a while, and catch up with my farming on Facebook. But other than that haven't done anything but nap and read.

Good night!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Brother Pat Comes to Visit

My brother Patrick was on his way home to Moses Lake from a conference he's been at in Wisconsin all week. He stopped by to visit this afternoon with a beautiful orchid plant in hand. He stayed for a couple of hours to visit, then we all went back in to Spokane to have dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory with my neice Ashley. Ashley has just one last clinical rotation to do in Seattle at UW and she is finished with all the work for her BSN. Today was her last lab rotation and yesterday she had her last actual class. It's an exciting time for her!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

What a Grouch!

Don't know who wrote yesterday's short blog, but it couldn't have been me! I don't know anyone that grouchy...!

Last night and today have been much, much better. It's been almost 40 hours since I've had any pain down my left leg -- what a relief! Let's just hope it stays that way.

It was another overcast day and it finally started to rain a bit a half hour or so ago. We had gone into Cheney late in the afternoon to mail a letter and to pick up some blueberries for breakfast with our granola. Forry want to get a heat strip for the water hose, but had to stop at a couple of different places to find one. Then when we got home and he got it out of the package, he found that the instructions said it was to only be used on pipes, not hoses!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

A Blah Day....

You can't say much about a day like today. It was just blah.

We've been listening to the last game of the World Series. Too bad the Phillies couldn't repeat last year!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Haircuts, Company and Dinner Out!


We were up early this morning getting organized in order to get to Sarah's by 9 AM. She trimmed my hair and bangs, but she CUT Forry's hair! I had suggested he get 4-5 inches cut off, but I think she cut off more like 8-10! It's about as short as I've seen it in several years! The nice thing about it is that it just curls...
Our accountant Cleon stopped by this afternoon to copy the work Forry's been doing on the ranch books so that he can get our taxes done. We went into Spokane to Anthony's in time for their sunset 4 course dinner (arrival before 6 PM), but I could NOT eat it all. I got through the crab, shrimp and artichoke dip appetizer and the Caesar salad, but had to get a take-home box for the main course (Idaho trout admondine) and Forry got to eat most of the Creme Brulee I had for the dessert 4th course!
It's been a busy day and I am tired. I did not sleep well last night (Full Moon?), so am hoping for a good night's sleep tonight!

Monday, November 2, 2009

My SMALL World

I was pondering today how my world has shrunk. I have very little interest in anything beyond my own existence these days. It seems so strange to listen to the news on NPR --even about health care reform -- in a very detached manner. Like "that's interesting, but has little to do with me" instead of being concerned about the minute detail.

I had obsrerved this phenomenon before with both my father and my father-in-law after they had had major surgery. It's as though all of their energy was focused on themselves and the healing process and there was none left for anything else.

It's a bit scary to feel this way. I am normally insatiably curious about what is going on around me and what's happening in my friend's lives and families. The past couple of weeks, it's like "who cares?"!

I was pleased yesterday to note how impatient I was to see the pictures of Leslie & Bill's wedding. It felt "more like me!"

I know that a great deal of the "cloudiness" has to do with the amount of muscle relaxent and pain medication I've been taking. As I take less and less of them, I am hoping that my window into the larger world will continue to grow!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Another Quiet Day

It's been a very quiet day. I went outside to take a short walk, otherwise moved from bed to couch to bed. If it wasn't for the pain in the irritated left leg nerve, I think I'd be feeling pretty good.
Forry has been working on his ranch bookwork muttering with every month he enters into QuickBooks that "next year he's going to do it every month so that he can remember what those entries were about!"
Got the SmugMug pictures today of Leslie and Bill's wedding yesterday at Voodoo Doughnuts. Pretty amazing that you can see all the fun in less than a day!