I ordered my Nextbook on Sunday and chose free shipping to save a few bucks.  That usually takes awhile and they did give me a delivery date of April 5th.  I knew it would show up before then, but didn't expect it as soon as yesterday!  Needless to say, I stashed the box until Chuck went to bed and then spent 3 hours trying to make sense of it and downloading Apps.  The 1st App???  Why, Angry Birds, of course! I can see several things:

• Gonna take awhile to get used to it
• I haven't fallen totally in love with it yet (this isn't a good thing. meh)
• I need a screen protector
• I really need a case, but can only find black for this new model and I really want red! Or green, like my Nook
• Not sure about the Android OS, although it shouldn't matter
• I'm bummed that although I could install Firefox as my browser, I can't use my Yahoo  toolbar. which has all my bookmarks and I've used it for EONS.  I'm sure I can move them.

I'm not convinced that it's a keeper.  Maybe I jumped into it too soon without checking more models,  but it was hard to resist it when the Sug retail was $475 and HSN had it for $199.00.  I found it on eBay for both prices and everything in between, so I'm comfortable with the price.  I just need Poolie, or a handful of my grands to show me the wonders of it all.  If I didn't already have my beloved Nook, I would be much more enamored of it.  Geez......I sound like an old Geezer trying to make sense of modern technology!!  AGHHHH!!!  Just shoot me now!

Speaking of old geezers, this afternoon I get to go for a vascular screening of my feet.  How funny is that?  Because of my "toe issue" (which I'm not sure I ever blogged about, but wrote about on FB) the foot Dr wants to make sure that the circulation in my legs, feet and toes is okay before she confirms my problem to be from many years of frozen Alaska toes.  I sure hope that's all it is, but it could be directly related to all the damn cigarettes that I have, will and do smoke.  F*&%ing cigarettes, anyway!

I have to say that while I was in San Diego and my smoking was extremely limited, I felt a whole lot better.  But I'm not smart enough to cut back when I don't have to.  If I could just make myself go outside to smoke and not sit here at my computer puffing away, it would be such a big help.  And every night when I go to bed I say to myself, "Margaret!  Tomorrow is the day!  You will NOT smoke in the house anymore!!"  But that stupid Margaret won't listen.  I told my friend, D, the other day that I'll quit after my surgery and I get all healed up.  Then I won't have all the extra frustrations (the pain and limitations, blah blah, yada yada) to deal with.  Should be easier, right?  Yeah....right.  I doesn't matter what the circumstances are.  Smoking doesn't make it better at all, but it sure is comforting to reach for that pack of cigarettes and light one up.  Oh, well.  It won't be today cuz I just bought a carton yesterday.  Can't waste $48 now can I?????  Doh!

I must take my camera with me today and try to get some good shots of Spring Things in BFA.  There are pretty things blooming everywhere, and I need to take some pictures before it gets too damn hot for me to give a crap.

My beautiful girls are losing their winter hair and will soon be gorgeous and shiny equine beauties!  I wish I could be out there brushing them each day, but I can't.  Chuck does a little each night when he gets home, but I miss being able to do it.  Next year!  I'll be back at it next year! And the grass is growing nicely in their pasture, so that Susie is munching happily while Dixie looks longingly over the fence, watching her Mama eat fresh green yummies.  Dixie is on a diet again.  Poor horse is forever on a diet.  They need extra food in the winter to help keep up their body heat and Susie never gains, but Dixie blows up like a balloon.  She's on her annual spring time diet of hay and water....no grass, no grain, no treats......other than her morning carrots.   

There is a baby update, of sorts. Jin's contractions are too sporadic to amount to anything other than being annoying, so her Dr told her she could work if she wanted to.  That was her plan for today.  We'll see how long she lasts.  I'm making pretty good progress on the blanket.  I'm using a different pattern than I was originally and I like working on it much better.  That will make a difference!  Why?  Cuz that's how I roll!  LOL 

For now, I feel a wee cleaning spree coming on and shall knit a bit each time I need to sit down for a few.  Catch ya later!

Booth Update

Well, we got my pretty new red bench down to my booth today, and I got things displayed on it fairly well, I think.

Here's a new front shot, where you can see the curtains I hung above the top shelf to cover some of the ugly pegboard.  There's a light right above it, so the picture didn't turn out real well, but you get the idea.....I hope. :)

The next 2 photos are of a couple of booths across from mine, that the ladies have decorated up really nice.  In the 1st one, that gals husband makes all her cabinets for her.  They are so nice!  My husband would be great at making cabinets for me, but since he's not retired (like he should be) he just doesn't have time.  That booth is going to become available in April, as she is moving to an even larger booth at the front of the shop.  Susan offered to hold the booth for me if I want to move into it after I get back from Alaska.  It is a lot bigger, and much wider and not as deep.  I like that.  Plus it has electricity and mine doesn't.  Makes it nice if you have lamps for sale or to enhance displays.  I think I'll take it.  It's only $10 more a month.

I love doing this!  And will really be able to get into it more and enjoy it more, when I can get around better.  I have already sold a lot of stuff for the month.  Much more than I ever have, and I think it's partly to do with having a better display area.  Also, it's been quite a bit of my jewelry that I have taken in to sell in the display case.  It's encouraging and I'm very pleased!

It was very warm and sunny the past couple of days....in the high 60s.  This AM we awoke to pouring rain and whenever the weather changes so quickly, I hurt.  All over.  Big time.  I read up on it and it's all to do with the barometric pressure and such.  Makes sense, but oh how I hate it!  I would have been a day I would have stayed home and done nothing, but it's the only day Chuck can help me with stuff and I just had to get my new bench set up!  I hope I make it thru my San Diego adventure without any unexpected debilitating weather fronts!.  The girls will just have to roll me around....hahahaha

Wanna Give Someone the Finger!

The first thing I want to talk about today is my ring finger on my right hand.  Or, should I say, my 'Former' ring finger....since I can no longer wear any of my dozens of rings on it!  The knuckle on this finger has taken on a life of it's own, and I really, REALLY don't like it!  Today it hurts.  A lot! So I'm gonna share.  About a year ago I noticed that my knuckle was swelling and it was becoming hard to get my rings on and off.  I figured, okay.  I've got arthritis in various parts of my body, including both thumbs, so it stands to reason that my fingers will eventually be affected. Problem is, it just kept getting bigger and was hurting quite a bit.  I mean, I already take meds for my arthritis (which doesn't take care of all of the associated pain and/or discomfort, but helps a great deal) so why was it hurting so much?  I went to see my Doc so he could determine if mayhaps it was a cyst or a chipped bone or something, and he deemed it good old arthritis. Crap.  So, deal with it.  It was about that time that I took the 1st picture here, back in September.

It quit bothering me and didn't seem to be metamorphosing, so I decided to have some of my favorite rings resized.  At the going price of gold and silver, it is a little pricey these days to go up 2 full ring sizes, but Chuck agreed that it was fine so I did about 8 or 9 rings.  Now, my ring finger WAS a size 9, but this knuckle now required a size 11 for clearance. My middle finger is size 11, so I figured that if my ring finger decided to have another growth spurt, I could always wear these rings on my middle finger.

This second picture was taken this AM, and you can see that it has, in fact, started metamorphosing again. This AM the whole thing is just throbbing and hurts the entire length of it, not just the knuckle. Guess that's what prompted me to finally write about it.That had been my intention when I took the 1st picture, but I never got around to it.  That's just a really big change in 5 months time. I think maybe I'll let Dr. H take another look and see if I can inspire him to snap a little x-ray of it....just for peace of mind....or something. 

The sad thing is, that I have a massive jewelry collection.  Well over 100 rings.  Seriously.  All gold and silver and gemstone.  A lot of them can't be resized 2 sizes, because of their settings.  And the only finger they will fit on is my left ring finger, which houses my wedding ring.  Lots of $$ tied up and just sitting there, but worst of all is the fact  that I dearly love most of those abandoned rings and it gives me a huge sad to not be able to wear them.  Ah, hell...enough sniveling.

Yesterday I went for my 'annual' eye exam.  It's been 2 years :-).  When we 1st moved here I went to Fayetteville Mall, to Sears Optical cuz they had a great sale on glasses happening.  What I found was an awesome eye Doctor!  She's amazing and SO thorough and just plain adorable.  So I continue to go there.  Yesterday, glasses were 50% off and because I am a repeat customer, I got an extra 10%.....sooooo.....when I was having trouble deciding between the purple or the cranberry, I decided to get both :).  I'm really sick of my current glasses (except when I want to read something) so it'll be fun to have 2 new and cool ones to wear.  (life's simple pleasures). 

But, I do have to snivel a wee bit more.  The trek from the parking lot, through half of Sears, to get to the Optical shop, just about did me in.  And the trek BACK to the parking lot DID do me in.  Holy Crap!  I sat in the truck thinking, what the hell do I think I'm doing???  Going to San Diego in 3 weeks.  Going to Alaska in 7 1/2 weeks.  I should be doing these things after my surgery!  Well.....I WILL be doing them then, too. But still.....I need to see my friends.  I can't wait to be together with Poolie and Terri T again!  And God knows, I desperately NEED to see Terri and Riley and Maggie and Emily and Timmy and Xander and....yes, even my SIL, Michael :-).  I just SO hate to be an inconvenience or imposition because of my freaking limitations.  I feel like such a wuss.  But the reality is, not one of them will make me feel that way.  In fact, ALL of them will make me feel like I'm the same old Yankee Chick and the same old Mom and the same old Grammy and it'll all be good!  Damn good!! So what the hell am I whining about?!?!?  It's just been over 3 years of this shit and I'm so sick of it!!! 

It's been exactly 3 years this month since I last rode my Susie, so I guess that makes it 3 1/2 years.  I first went to see the Doc about my severe hip pain whilst riding  back in September of '08. (but I wasn't giving up on riding yet!)  Holy cow!  Holy Moly!  Holy Crap!!! 

Now I want to write about Susie and I want to write about my antique booth, but this is long enough!  Hopefully I will get my butt back here and write about that stuff tomorrow!  In case anyone decides to come and read. :-)

Bless Me Blog-Father...

for I have sinned.  It has been 2 months and one week since my last confession blog entry.  I haven't even been reading any!  Just an occasional peek at a few.  Blogging just doesn't hold my interest like it once did.  I try really, REALLY hard and I do think about it a great deal, but never quite make it here.  So many of my old blog buddies don't write any more and some of them are on FaceBook, so we keep in touch there.  That's not the same.  FB is a whole different ball of wax and shouldn't replace blogging, by any means. 

So, I'm here today but might not be here again for quite awhile.  Who knows.My life is so helter skelter.  I have no real (or reasonable) routine and it's hard for me to function and accomplish much of anything this way.  But I can't seem to find my groove.  And every time I try to establish some sort of routine to my days, if it gets interrupted, I get all flustered or even resentful of the intrusion.  Like....what the hell does it matter?!?  I'm hopeless. LOL

I do have some amazingly good news to share! Which is one reason I have been drawn to my blog. I am getting together with  2 of my bestest buddies in the whole wide world in March!!  My Senior Moments, Terri T and I will be flying to San Diego to spend a week with Poolie!  We met in the World of Blog and have had several get-togethers.  Always an adventure and always great fun.  I can't wait to spend time with them and I can't wait to just get away from it all for a few days! 

I will also be heading to Alaska for a month at the end of April or first part of May.  Haven't got that pin pointed yet, as it is pending pinning down the dates of a trip Chuck will be taking in the spring.  He'll be going to Wyoming with Dixie.  A guy he knows has a cattle ranch there and he wants to be in on Spring Round-up and Branding.  If he had a bucket list, I guess doing something like this would be right at the top, so good for him :).  I'm just enjoying a peaceful easy feeling of knowing that he doesn't mind my month long trip to Alaska again.  Last year was so awesome and this year will be even better! 

I think for now, I need to get off of here and go to some X-Mas decorating and stuff.  Chuck has been busy all week getting ready to have Dixie and her buggy in a local Christmas parade and so he only got all my decorations out today.  Puts me a bit behind schedule for trying to get my X-Mas spirit mustered up, but better late than never!  TTFN, if anyone is out there!  LOL

Priorities

I can never seem to get my priorities straight.   Why is it so hard for me to keep up with this whole blogging concept when it really is important to me?  I have a bad memory for details, like dates and timelines of particular events and I've counted on being able to refer to my blog for the bits missing from my wee little brain.  I think about things that I wanna blog about every day, but they don't materialize.  And yes, I make notes and jot things down and they get lost in the shuffle of grocery lists and reminders for other things and eventually just get purged from the clutter.  Then, of course, is the realization that I FaceBook with most of the few readers I have, so what I write is redundant. But I can't refer back to FB now can I?  So I need to do this for ME.  Heh.  There are a lot of things I need to do for me. So, I am just going to go forth with some photos and highlights and see what I can accomplish before my darling spouse demands something.  LOL

First. My adorable eldest grand-daughter and our Roller Derby team, the Midnight Sun Roller Girlz, had their 1st big Scrimmage against an opposing team, The Denali Destroyer Dolls, on Sept 24th.
Prior to the scrimmage, they had a photo shoot at a car dealership that is one of their sponsors.  Believe it or not, this is my little "Muffin Girl", aka Riley who is now know as "Boom-Dot Saint".  Boom for short.

Isn't she something?!?  A local Vintage clothing store let them pick outfits to use and she sure did good!

Here's a good shot of her during the scrimmage, slipping by the blocker (in the white shirt, that should have stopped her. heh)and helping to clear the path for the Jammer of the moment.  The MSRG won the scrimmage by an astronomical score of 149-15!  The team has been working SO hard and OMG, did it ever pay off!!  So proud of all of them!  Best part?  No serious injuries.

Next up is the news that I have rented a booth in a local antique shop, called Betty's Attic.  I have so much Depression Glass and other collectables that I really need to get rid of and what better way?  I rented the booth a week ago or so, but it won't be available until Oct 25, so that gives me lots of time for pricing and gathering my stuff.  I have no place to properly display my treasures and many of them are still packed away in boxes under the house.  I will keep my family treasures and a few other things and sell the rest. I'm starting with a fairly small booth and can always move up if need be.  If it goes well, i will buy more stuff to resell.  If not, no big deal.  This is my soon to be area (not my stuff in it, obviously)

I can paint, put up shelves (which I must do) add tables, etc.  Chuck is in charge of that, of course :)

And speaking of Chuck, he bought a buggy and has been training Dixie to pull it. She's a fast learner and eager to please.  Mission accomplished.

 The one above is them returning from about a 3 hour trip around the back roads yesterday.  She was a very good girl!

This, however, is how my Sweet Susie acted up  the whole time they were gone!  Actually she just paced and whinnied the whole time, only rearing up when they finally got back.  So anxious when her kid is out of her sight!!  And so excited to have her back :).  Dang horses are worse than kids. Well, actually, she acts like a typical mother!  What am I thinking?  LOL


Let's see, what else.  About a month ago I had a perm.  Bound and determined to have curly hair again.  It's been a couple years that I have been doing the straight thing after many years of spiral and piggy-back perms.  It came out good.  My wonderful Hairstylist did a great job. But.....I hated it.  It's just not "me" anymore.  SO.....last week she tried a new straightening process on me!  I had to leave it in for 72 hours.  Could not wash my hair for 3 days, which is bad enough on it's own, but the stuff she used was kinda icky.  My hair felt like it had been over moussed and gelled.  Dry and stiff and icky.  But now that I can wash it, which I did 3 times Friday pm, at the exact moment that the clock struck the 72 hour mark (6:58 PM) it is fairly straight and best of all....silky and shiny again!!  Yay!!  I love my Becky, like Poolie loves her Joannie.  She's a terrific gal and an awesome stylist and colorist.  We have a lot of fun with my hair and I trust her with my beloved locks!

As I was typing this, I was thinking that I wish I could get my s&%t together and chronicle everything via photos (with details) on Flickr.....like our lovely Karyl does.  I SO need to organize what pictures I have and need to be taking lots more!  One of my biggest problems is that I am not working and also that some days I am able to do more than other days, depending on my pain level.  I used to have such 'structured days' and I deffo function better that way.  I just can't seem to get a grip on this new way of life and make the best use of my time and resources.  I hate the intrusion of having to schedule anything, and yet I find I can't accomplish what I want unless I do!  Ah, well.....as one of my former blog buddies used to say (and probably still does!) "It'll all work out in the end. It always does!".  LOL

Clearing the Clutter

Well, I started with my computer area and now I'm making a sweep of the whole room.  Cleaning out and attempting to organize.  I tend to 'accumulate' and I never seem to have the 'proper place' for some of my accumulations.  Of course, it was too easy to let things pile up while convalescing from 2 major surgeries.  Just trying to keep the kitchen and dining table looking decent, resulted in a lot of things ending up in "My Room" to be taken care of later.  Ha!

I have to be in the right mood to do this sort of thing, because a lot of 'stuff' just needs to be tossed and it's real hard for me to just toss stuff.  I tend to hoard......like my Dad did :). Today was a pretty good day for it.  But I also have a lot of good stuff that I can't simply toss.  I need to donate it, or box it up for a yard sale or something.  That involves more thought.

So far I have cleaned off the pillows and bears that were living on my nice oak rocking chair and I bought a foot stool, so I have a nice little corner in My Room to sit and read or knit.  I bought that rocking chair 19 years ago, so that I could be a proper Grandma and sit in it and rock Riley when she was born.  I think I did that 2, maybe 3 times.  LOL  It just wasn't comfortable to sit and rock in, but it works good now with a foot stool.

Now for the rest of the room.  My 12 year old Babylock Embroidery machine and the multitude of stuff that goes with it, takes up a good portion of the room.  It's crazy that I have it set up and ready to go on this big ass table in front of my huge bow window and I haven't even turned it on in at least 3 years.  But I'm afraid if I put it away.....I won't ever use it.  How silly is that?!?  The first few years I had it, I embroidered everything I could get my hands on.  I'm sure I got at least 1/2 a life time worth of use out of it! 

My sewing area is way too small, and I really need to put away all the embroidery equipment and make room for that so that I can have room to more easily work on quilts.  I'm far more interested in doing that than I am embroidering.  I've had a quilt in progress for Timmy for EVER that I need to finish, I have the pattern and fabric for a quilt for Riley, and a pattern all set to go for Maggie, plus many others....but those come first.  After my back surgery, I couldn't sit at the sewing machine and do all that reaching forward and such {therapists orders...plus it hurt like crazy} so I just lost my mojo.

Now the knitting fever has struck and I'm acquiring yarn and patterns and have no place to put it.  Well, I have lots of room for it, as we have a huge house, but I have no 'proper place' for it.  I won't even mention the stacks of books tucked here there and everywhere {cuz my huge bookcase is full}

Then there is my computer area, with printer, scanner, copier, fax machine and the dreaded Eagle Construction bookwork stuff!  AGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!  Because of my {boring} limitations, I am only really able to do a little bit each day.  And sadly, I have to admit, I have been dealing with my 'physical problems' for so long that in the past 3 years I have just spent WAY too much time uninspired and had no incentive.  Just couldn't make myself work on any projects, read any books or do much of anything.  It's been crazy!  I am coming out of it, but still have my days. 

If only...........But in the meanwhile, I need to TRY to make the best of what I have, where I am.  And I do try......but I'm lost without my family.  It's been 8 years this week.  It was supposed to be 2 years.  And that's all I'm gonna say about that. 

Doctors, Tires and Toilets

I woke up this AM fully expecting to have a really great day.  I had my 1st follow-up appt with my surgeon, after which I was going to Sears to get much needed (and long awaited) new tires for my Tahoe and THEN, I was/am supposed to get my hair color done this afternoon.  That's about 2 weeks over-due.  Ick!  So, here's how it went......

Went to the DR, didn't even get to see HIM, but  saw one of his PAs, which is fine.  My X-Rays looked good, my progress and healing is all exceptional, but.........none, as in N.O.N.E. of my restrictions are lifted, except driving.  For 3  (THREE) months more!  I was crushed.  This DR is so over cautious.  I guess that can be a good thing, but man!  I did tell them that some of these restrictions (like the way I have to sit) are a wee bit hard on my back.  His reply was that if I was to dislocate my hip, I'd forget I even had a back!  Well, allllrighty then.....

So I go to Sears, so not in the mood to wait for tires and they tell me it will be a 2 1/1- 3 hour wait.  WTF?  No way was i gonna even attempt to sit there that long, even with my Nook in my purse!

Now, let's go back to last night......when I went to the potty and the toilet plugged... I plunged and plunged til I could plunge no more and called called upstairs for assistance.  By the time it was all said and done, BOTH toilets upstairs were backed up as well as the bathtub in one bathroom and the shower in the other.  Thank God we have a toilet downstairs....and it works.  So HE was supposed to have an early day of it today and be able to meet the plumber here this aft.  But NOOOO.  I just get a call and he told me the plumber (friend of his) is gonna try to be here before 2:00 (hair appt time) and for me to just let him in, show him where to go and it's okay to leave him..........Good grief.  It's 1:45.  He better be getting here!  Only takes me 4-5 minutes to get to Becky's, but still.

I'm thinking it might not be a good day to get my hair colored, but then again I am optimistic that she will make my day!  **sigh**

Oh, and BTW.  When you have one Brand New Hip and the other one NEEDS to be Brand New, it can make ones sex life......shall we say, a wee bit interesting......not!  Just sayin'.  Thought all y'all needed to know.

Time in a Bubble

Well, the time has come for Chuck to either put me in a bubble or lock me in my room.  My COBRA health insurance expired on July 21st and I am not eligible for any other health insurance coverage until April 2012.  8 or 9 months with NO coverage.  Pretty scary.  Especially since the 4 prescriptions that I take tally up to about $900 a month without insurance.  That alone is enough to make me need to double up on 2 or 3 of them!  LOL  God forbid that I have any illness or injury that requires much medical attention.  That's a long time to hold my breath and keep my fingers crossed.

Oh, yeah.....and the new deal about how insurance companies can't deny you because of "pre-existing conditions"?  Well guess what?  They have a way around that.  Surprised?  Not me.  I was denied by several companies because of "height, weight, blood pressure and age".  I know that it's pretty sad that I didn't lose 10 or 20 pounds for each of the 4" in height that I lost because of my back issues and subsequent surgery.  It's also sad that I have had high blood pressure forEVer, but it is perfectly controlled by one itty bitty pill I take every day, and I am certainly not clear on why it's not okay to be my height and weight with controlled blood pressure at age 59....but hey, what do I know?!

One insurance agent told me about something Arkansas has called State Pool Insurance and they will provide medical insurance to anyone that has been denied insurance coverage for any reason.  It's great......but the premiums are out of this world, with astronomical deductibles etc..  So we've decided to wing it and hope for the best!  Then in April I will be eligible for Medicare through my Social Security.....BUT, I won't be able to get any supplemental insurance to go with my Medicare until I'm 65!  What a mess.

This also means that my left hip better hold up better than my right one did, for another year!  I won't even be able to get injections in my left hip to carry me over, cuz I believe they are about $1,000 plus a pop.  Ah, well......hopefully it won't be an issue.  This is something I must maintain positive thoughts on!!

Yesterday was the Golden Days Parade in Fairbanks and my girls, The Midnight Sun Roller Girlz, were in the parade!  They all looked awesome (from the photos I have seen), but my Riley (Boom-Dot Saint) was looking especially SaSSy!  And it was reported that she was SUPER sassy and showing off some trick skating for the crowd.  How I wish I coulda been there!

Golden Days is a really big deal in Fairbanks that entails a week long celebration of the discovery of gold by Felix Pedro in 1902.  Everyone gets involved one way or another and it's great fun for all!  I'm so glad that they had such great weather and a nice sunny beautiful day for the parade this year! :).  I was trying to find a good link to the parade so you could see some of what it's like, but didn't have much luck.  I'll wait and post some pictures that the girlz took, I guess!  They should be good, good stuff!

Hot & Crispy

Wow.  It was 102 here yesterday and they are calling for 104 today. Ugh.....  That is just wrong! So, I shall light a candle and say a prayer for the man that invented Air Conditioning and stay inside and let my Bionic Hip heal, while the electric meter spins in a wild frenzy to keep me cooool............I think some knitting might be in order today.

Chuck rounded up a couple of strays young men in the neighborhood to help him get hay for "The Girls".  The guy we buy it from grows the most awesome weed free Bermuda and he was baling

yesterday, so Chuck headed over for a couple of loads.  208 bales of fresher than fresh, yummy hay for our babies.  They were sure happy last night to get that treat, since their pasture is all dry and depleted.  We need rain SOOOO bad!  It's been weeks upon weeks since we've had anything significant.  But what a miserable day to have to get the hay at 102 degrees!  With hay, it's all about the timing and ya can't take a chance and wait, so that hard working man of mine was hard at it yesterday!

Between the heat and the Japanese Beetles, my poor rose garden is looking pretty sad.  I do believe that Chuck finally got the Beetles under control and with plenty of watering, the roses finally seem to be making a come-back.  I'll be so glad when I am able to get out in the yard and take care of some of this stuff.  All of my flower beds and plants need a lot more TLC than poor Chuck is able to give them when he gets home at night.  Hopefully, it won't be long and I can get out and do more. {and hopefully, it will be cooler by then too, so this Yankee doesn't melt!}

Today is the half-way mark to being able to get back to doing some normal daily activities.  It's been 3 weeks today since my surgery and there are so many things that I can't do for "6 weeks".  My follow-up appt with the surgeon is the 28th and I can't wait!  The incision has healed 'nicely' and I'm finally able to leave it un-bandaged and I'm past the point of any risk for infection, so that's a plus.  They actually "glued" the incision, so I haven't had to deal with those nasty staples, like I did for my back (all 24 of them. yuck).  There has been so much improvement the past week or so, I am finally able to get a feel for how much better off I am going to be. I am feeling better in general, but also gaining in strength and stability each day.  The Physical Therapy is rather rigorous, but so very beneficial.  I have gone from my walker, to using only a cane and half the time, I walk off and forget that.  Chuck is paranoid that I'll fall and 'disrupt my ball joint" as he puts it.  LOL  Actually, as time goes by it IS getting harder to keep from doing the things I'm not supposed to do.  This last 3 weeks might be tougher than the 1st 3 weeks.  Still can't bend over (but I 'can') still cant get my leg past that 90 degree point, still can't sit in chairs too low, still can't 'twist & shout', but......Boy Howdy, can I walk!!  Not for miles and miles, yet, but a hellovalot further than I was able to!  Still can't drive, tho'.  Some surgeons say 2 weeks, mine is all about waiting 6 weeks.  I could understand that while I was dependent on Percocet to keep me pain free, but I'm down to Vicodin now and much less often.  Anyway, I'll be a good girl and wait for his okay, but I am sure antsy to DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!  Places to go. Things to do. People to see.  Primarily......lunch with Victoria!!!!!

Well, me thinks I shall go check on some blogs, check in with FB and tend to my knitting!  See ya'.

1st Official Post

Well, I've pretty much got the new place set up the way I want it, so I'll go ahead and write an entry!

I'll start by explaining the Title, "Mama Monroe".

As many of you already know, my daughter, Terri and eldest grand-daughter, Riley are both in Roller Derby. To be precise, they belong to Midnight Sun Roller Girlz.  Okay, so I had been hearing about this group and the girls joining for MONTHS and was totally caught up in the excitement expressed by both of them, that just kept growing in leaps and bounds!  I couldn't wait to get up there in April for my visit and see what this Roller Derby thing was all about.

Well, here's a little sample of what I found:

In this 1st shot, they are scrimmaging during practice.  Riley {aka Boom Dot Saint~her Derby name) is to the right and has a yellow star on her helmet.  In this scrimmage she is the Jammer and it's her job to get by the rest of the pack, twice.  Right in the middle, in blue, is Raggedy Andi.  She's watching for Boom Dot to come around so she can grab her hand and "whip" her forward faster, past the other skaters.

 The second one is a shot of one of the most amazing women I have ever had the pleasure to meet and befriend.  It's the great Camo-Cazi!!  Yay!!  Sadly, in this shot, she is being sent to the penalty box....which I'm sure now explains to you the expression on her face.  LOL

This is just a random shot of Boom Dot cruising the track.  She has learned and developed her skills so quickly and we are all so proud of her!  She is totally dedicated and extremely focused and oh, how I love to watch her!!

 And here is Riley.....I mean Boom Dot with Emily (aka Emma Lee The Strange and Maggie (aka Morbid Maggie).  They are all learning and all loving it! 

And here is my Terri aka (Marilyn Makeumoan Roe).  Sadly, she bit the dust and that is Camo coming to her rescue.  She found out later that she blew out her knee and actually had to have surgery on it whilst I was there, so no skating for her for awhile longer!

Okay, so now that you've had a glimpse and I have disclosed everyone's Derby names, I can go one to tell you about the name of my blog :).  I just loved it all so much and all the members of the team are so awesome and it was all just so exciting to witness, even if I couldn't participate.....well, one thing led to another and I was dubbed "Mama Monroe" (since Terri's name is a spoof on Marilyn Monroe and I'm her Mama...get it?? Thought so.  Figured I'd explain anyway.)  AND............the paperwork is in the process for me to become an official team member!  YES!!!!! Since I am unable to actually skate, I will be an NSO (Non-Skating Official) but that's not to say that I might not just get my butt on some skates one day!!  LMAO

So this new blog will have some fresh material involving some of my new interests.  Roller Derby, knitting and a new "lease on life" after finally having surgery that has resulted in me being well on the way to being ever so much more physically mobile than I have been in about 3 years!!  Things are looking up, I'm feeling good and it's all up-hill from here!  Weeeeeeeeeeeeee...............

What'll She Get Into Next???

Okay.....so Murphy likes to carry stuff around. I first noticed it when I saw her jump down from my sewing machine table and a minute later heard a 'clunk' from the dining room. Upon investigation, I found that she had picked up and carried off a small pair of scissors. Since then, she has graduated to my big sewing scissors, plucked a ring off my dresser, carried off post it notes and memo pads, as well as envelopes (the kind with important stuff inside!). She dragged a tote bag (with candles in it) from the sewing room, down the steps to the living room! She even managed to turn on the faucet at the kitchen sink one day. I rather suspect that was an 'accident', as it hasn't happened since and considering how much she loves water, she would do it again if she truly knew how.

So, I ask you......how does one 'cat proof' such items?? Yes, yes, Chuck! I know!! Put my scissors away, jewelry in my jewelry boxes, etc, etc. But what's next? Can't put everything away! This cat just gets more interesting {and challenging} every day. But her entertainment value is priceless!!

My PC is finally in the hands of the Geek Squad. I sure hope it's an easy fix and doesn't take them too long! Actually, I don't care what the problem is, as long as it's covered by my warranty :).

It was really hard to walk into Best Buy with it today and leave without looking around. So many toys and toy accessories! Too much fun stuff under one roof. I didn't dare avert my eyes from the front door as I was making my way back out.

Well, that's about it for today. I AM feeling some better today, which means I've had to start working on Chuck's paperwork for the business to get to the Accountant. I hate this stuff and if any of you knew what sort of bookkeeping system I have (as in NONE) you would groan at the stupidity of it all. Once I get my PC back, all that will change, because there has to be an easy peasy way to do all of this that even I can do, with out the aid of megabucks software!

Revolting Development #2

This isn't exactly what I had in mind for my RD entries, but it's pretty revolting, none the less.

I, once again, have another bout of Bronchitis and a sinus infection. It hit me hard on Sunday as we were taking down the X-Mas tree and decorations. Considering my allergies to all things green and outdoorsy, I assumed it was my allergies flaring up from rustling around in the X-Mas tree, but by Monday I knew better and Tuesday, it was off to the DR. So I have caught it quicker this time than I did in October, when I spent 2 weeks convinced that it was allergies before I gave in and went to see the DR. I've been pretty miserable the last 2 days, but I just know that today will be better.....damn it!!

And my poor sick PC is still sitting in the back seat of my Tahoe {buckled in, of course} waiting to go visit DR. Geek Squad. I have spent about a week screwing around with that, trying to get it running right when Tuesday AM I finally got on line with the Geek Squad (with whom I have a Protection Plan). The guy did the old 'remote access' thing, found a couple of things that 'concerned' him and told me to take it in. I had planned to do that before or after my DR appt, but that didn't happen. Maybe today.

So there, in a nut shell, are my 2 RDs.

On a lighter note, my kitty, Murphy, squeaks in her sleep

I'm not sure if that means she is dreaming of chasing mice in the garage or if she has a little kitty tummy ache. I guess I'll never know.

Revolting Developments

One of my Mom's favorite expressions that was suitable for numerous and a wide variety of occurrences, was "Now isn't that a revolting development!?" or some similar context of the phrase. Having grown up, hearing that all of my life, it often slips into my vocabulary as well. I was just thinking of something that happened New Years Eve that fell into that category and have decided to make it a regular theme in my blog. The occasional Revolting Development! Yeah.... I like it :)

The way things go for me, they will all most likely be more of a series of Unfortunate Events, but I'll stick with "RD" {revolting Developments} in honor of my Mom. Even tho' I'm pretty sure that she thought blogging could be a life threatening past time {and on occasion, I would have to agree with her}, I still think it would tickle her that I am using it.

The 1st RD that I shall write about will actually be my last RD of 2010, since it occurred on New Years Eve.

In all of our 40 plus years together, Chuck and I have only gone out on New Years Eve once. And that was about......40 years ago! This year my BFF, Victoria, conned us really wanted us to attend the New Years Eve party at the Elks Club {she is the Exalted Ruler, BTW}. So Chuck bought tickets and that included a catered diner and hors d'oeuvres, 2 champagne toasts, a band and breakfast. We hadn't planned on staying until midnight, but we did. The evening went fairly quickly.

The band was a really good one. They mostly play Blues, of which I am not a big fan but they were good. I found myself wanting to dance. Alot of the members dance and it was fun to watch, but I wanted to play, too! Chuck and I used to dance all the time, but it's been years. Chuck really is a good dancer and slow dancing with him isn't necessarily "slow". Anyway, most of you know that I still have my limitations since my surgery, as far as the use of my legs under certain circumstances, so I wasn't sure I could do it, but I wanted to try!

I need to interject that another "first" of the evening was the wearing of heels, which I haven't worn for well over 2 years (but used to all the time). So, here we are on the dance floor and I'm not doing so well. There was just enough of a twisting motion that it bothered my lower back and legs. I figured I'd kick my shoes off and see if that helped because, quite honestly, I never ever used to dance at all with my shoes on. {panty hosed feet slide much more easily on a dance floor, LOL}. So I ran over to our table, kicked my shoes off and went back to Chuck to resume my position.........and that's when it hit me! My final Revolting Development of 2010!! When he took me in his arms, I was looking directly into his shoulder. Not OVER his shoulder, like I used. Not with my cheek resting on his shoulder, like I used to.....but rather right into his shoulder! I almost had a melt down, but managed to get a grip.

You see, Chuck is 5'10" and I USED to be 5'8". Because of the deterioration and surgery on my back, I am now 5'4 1/2". I tend to forget that on the average day but has a very rude reminder that night!! Now THAT'S what I call a Revolting Development!!!

Once I got over the shock of my new dancing position, I tried to become accustomed to it and we actually danced several times. I was hurting a bit after the 1st time, but was determined to keep trying. I was pretty much using muscles in areas and ways that I have not used for awhile, so I kept dancing. And yeah, I could barely walk the next day and yesterday but I've GOT to do this stuff! As long as I can make myself do it and can keep doing it, then I will! It's just what I need to do!

I also need to get going back to the Wellness Center and exercising on the machines I was using there because I am not using the muscles or strengthening my legs if I don't.

So, there you have it. The 1st in a series of Revolting Developments :)