Merry Christmas....more or less.

Wow, where did the past 19 days go??
It is Christmas Day, and soon I will be headed over for dinner.

It was a wonderful holiday, as usual, with the usual overabundance of gifts for everyone - except for me.  That was on purpose, though, and totally with my OK.  See, from Dec 9-15 was employee appreciation week at the home improvement place.  We got free food one day, and all week we got a double discount of 20% on anything we bought.  I decided to bite the bullet and get a snow blower.  I couldn't get the lowest level one, but it turned out that I didn't want that one, anyway.  The one I did get was originally $499 - much more than I wanted to spend, but it has an electric start, which I am assured that I will be glad of.  Of course, the fact that I bought a snow blower more or less assures the community that it will not snow this year, or possibly even next year.  Anyway, David went with me to get it, and I was explaining to him that it was going to have to live on the patio square, covered with a tarp, because there was no way to keep it in the garage.  The only spot would be in front of the car.  But to get to it, I would have to pull the car out, and to do that we would have to shovel enough of the drive to be able to back the car out (and maybe two cars, if there is a snow ban and Kym is in the drive behind me).  So, the shoveling that the snow blower would be needed for would already be done just to get the snow blower out.  In the back, we could just fire it up, snowblow our way to the front, and use it.  David was apparently a little horrified that the snow blower had nowhere to live, and proposed to everyone else that they get me a shed for Christmas.  Just a small one, but large enough to get enough stuff out of the garage that the snow blower could be accessed with the car inside.

I thought it was a great idea (Mom warned me repeatedly that it would be all I got - and I had to chip in $50 if I wanted a slightly larger one, which I did).  So it was purchased, and on a reasonably warm Sunday afternoon 10 days ago, Lynda, David, Jenny, and I put it together.  It is wonderful, and I love it.  Right now I have the mower, seed spreader, sawhorses, lounge chairs and plastic chairs in it, and it isn't even halfway full.  And I have been able to rearrange so that the snowblower is appropriately staged, with the snow shovels right next to it, easily accessible with the car in its usual parking spot.  Yay!  We were supposed to get snow last night, but....the storm moved east.  It stayed warm here, rained a little - it must have heard that I bought a snow blower.

We had dinner, then went to church before doing presents.  For some reason, they selected the 9:00 service, and we didn't get out of there until nearly 10:15!  The minister did an actual sermon (an endless one, at that) and I spent most of my time stretching my hand and rolling my eyes (more about my hand in a bit).  We have since decided that we won't go next year. Once we all got settled back at the house, it was going on 11:00. I actually did get a couple of gifts anyway - an enormous Pyrex measuring cup (both of my sisters think it is the greatest thing ever invented), a necklace and earring set, and a Chili's gift card from the Hruska kids.  And of course, I got stuff from my kids this morning.  It was an interesting experience, watching everyone else open things when I had basically nothing to open.  I did have the photo of the shed from the front of the box in my stocking, along with the magic "spatula" that came with it.  The spatula was necessary for snapping the plastic panels into the tracks of the trim.  It was instrumental in the perfect assembly of the shed, and I had wondered what happened to it afterward.  :)

Not having to make a Christmas list was sort of a relief, and it was nice to be able to focus on others and watch them open what I gave them, and not worry about what I was going to open next.  Also, during shopping, if I saw something I wanted for myself (a movie, for example), I didn't have to worry whether it was on my list, and therefore off-limits until after Christmas. :)

I'm not really a big Christmas fan.  I always get a little sad, no matter what is going on (I think I have talked about this before).  I thought maybe it would be especially bad this year because of having limited things to open, but it really wasn't.

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OK, backtracking a bit.....
I had my trigger finger surgery on Dec. 18, just a week ago.  It seems like so much longer!  It went well, no pain, and I have been able to start stretching, bending my finger, making a fist, etc., without a lot of pain.  I worked on Saturday at the tax place, and on Monday at the home improvement place with the big surgical bandage still on.  On Tuesday, that was reduced to a bandaid, but I don't get my stitches out until next Monday.  I don't expect that I will need much, if any, therapy.  It really is very flexible already.  The only reason I hesitate when stretching is because the stitches pull.  Once they are out, I can do more.  Hopefully, this will be the end of surgeries for awhile!  I also got my permanent crown on the 15th.  Now I just have to pay for everything.  The copay for my knee was $100, and I still have some therapy copays to take care of.  Then there will be the copay for this surgery.  I better be making some money this season at the tax place!  Of course, I will also have the home improvement place three nights a week, so that should help.

More Repairs

Last Monday Mom got her new lighter-weight brace instead of her cast.  Gravity is supposed to take care of keeping the bone in line, and she can move her lower arm.  She keeps it wrapped to her side much of the time, but it's mainly for security.  Right now she, Dad, Lynda and David are in Florida for a long weekend.  They left on Thursday night and will be back on Monday, I think.  They are there partly to take delivery of a new fridge, stove and microwave for the condo. Since everything will work again, I think I need a do-over for my messed up trip in September!

On Dec 4 I had a followup appointment for my arthroscopy.  It's doing a lot better, though not perfect.  He told me to massage it to keep the scar tissue from re-forming (though he also said he had never had to redo a scope because the tissue came back....).  I also reminded him about the trigger finger issue in my left "bird" finger, and we set a surgery date for Dec 18.  I don't work again at the tax place until Dec 20 (unless she cancels me because it's not busy).  They had already put out the schedule for the week of Dec 18, but I don't expect to have a problem being off since I said it was for surgery.

BCPA has a new online scheduling system which is fantastic.  It became available on Friday, Dec 5 and I immediately signed up for the spring season.  Now I have to decide what to do about asking off from the home improvement place, since the shows I want seem to fall either on the weekend or one of the nights I am supposed to be there.  I don't want to ask off too far in advance, anyway, so I have some time.

So now that all schedules are settled and coordinated, I better get my butt busy doing some Christmas shopping before surgery day.  It won't be much of a hindrance, but I'd rather get it out of the way as much as possible.  Dec 18 is only 6 days from when I need to be done, anyway.  :)

December already??

How did that happen?
As usual, it just seems like it was September, like, a couple of weeks ago, and then suddenly it's less than three weeks to Christmas!  I may have said before that I am not a huge Christmas fan, and that is still true.  I just always feels like I don't have enough money to do for people what I would like to do.  And I hate those "every kiss begins with Kay" ads where the wife/girlfriend gets some stunning piece of jewelry that looks way out of scale for their apparent income level.  It's not that I am jealous, or that I want jewelry, too.  And in general, I am far from lonely and not all that interested in being in a relationship.  But somehow, at Christmas, it does make me a little sad.

We Gather Together

Thanksgiving was great, as always, though it seemed a bit odd for a variety of reasons.  Of course, there was still concern for Mom, and the need to take care of her.  I worked so much early in the week, between my two jobs, that I couldn't be around much.  Lynda and Jenny took turns spending the night, and I spent afternoons and all day Wednesday there.

Mom couldn't do the mashed potatoes or bake a turkey, and at the last minute Bob and Sharon canceled due to Sharon's health problems.  (I suspect it might also have had a bit to do with being told by Dad that they couldn't stay at their house, as usual, but everyone else says that's not true.)  They usually bring Fannie May candy, and they just hadn't managed to order it, so Lynda bought some.  Diane and Ted brought along their son Chris's friend Felix, from Germany.  He had not experienced an American Thanksgiving before, and was a little taken aback by a holiday devoted to eating.  He certainly did his share.  :)  Because Bob wasn't there to do the grace, I was tasked with finding one online.  It's harder than you would think to find one that is enough religious without being all King James-y or Bible thumper-y, that says what you want it to say without being too.....too something.  In the end, I found a perfect one:

Lord, as we pause in our busy lives
to gather around the Thanksgiving table,
sharing the precious bond among family and friends,
let us remember that this abundant harvest,
this feast of delicious and nourishing dishes
is the fulfillment of our faith
that You will always provide for us.
As we go through this cherished ritual,
the Thanksgiving holiday ceremony,
let us feel the comfort of Your care for us
in every bite we eat and enjoy.
In this tradition,
begun by courageous travelers long ago
to thank you for their lives and safety,
we thank You
for the joy and happiness you give us, to lift us up,
and also for the sometimes difficult lessons and challenges
You give us to make us stronger, better,
and more aware of our need for You.
Thank you for the support and courage You give us
to get through troubled times.
Thank You for answered prayers
and also for the times You said "no,"
to keep us from stumbling off Your path for us.
We know that in all things,
You are working for our good.
Now, as we draw together in unity
to savor this wonderful dinner,
we are thankful for those who prepared it,
for those who join us to enjoy it,
and most of all, we thank You, Lord,
for the many different kinds of blessings
You continually grant us.
We pray that You'll bless this food,
and bless all of us as we gather together.
In Jesus' name we pray; Amen.

By Joanna Fuchs

  

The next day was the brunch at the farm.  We started a little later than usual, so in addition to the breakfast foods, we hauled out all of the Thanksgiving leftovers, too.   We had simplified by eliminating waffles and a couple of other things, but believe me, there was plenty of food.  Afterward, when Diane and Ted were getting ready to leave, I asked Felix if he enjoyed himself and if he got enough to eat.  Did he want to make a sandwich to take with him?  He said he had a great time, and he didn't think he would ever want to eat again.  Then he pulled off another piece of monkey bread.  :)  I have often wondered what Jorge or someone would think if they were here for Thanksgiving.  Now I kind of have an idea!

Worked Out at Work

After a lot of "whatever you wants" and "whatever works best for you", I have finally gotten an answer from the home improvement place about what my tax season schedule will look like.  I will be working there Tues, Thurs, and Fri, 5-9 from Jan 12 to April 15.  Mondays always seem to be busy at the tax place, and having Wednesdays free (from the home improvement place) will give me the ability to go the alumni board meetings on the one Wed a month that they meet, without asking off work.

I adjusted my availability at the tax place, and all is well.  I am still available plenty of hours there, and will most likely be working a lot of Sundays, since our regular Sunday person is not coming back this year.  So once I get my head on straight, it should all work out well.  I'm actually looking forward to getting back into tax season.  I know that's a little sick, but that's me!

One of Those Days.....

Any woman can relate to this:
You know how, while digging around in your underwear drawer, you come across a bra that you forgot that you had?  It looks practically new, everything intact, and you can't remember why you didn't wear it.  You put it on, look in the mirror, move around, maybe bend over..... everything looks good and feels good, so you decide to wear it to work.  And then approximately 37 minutes into your day, you remember exactly why it was exiled to the back of the drawer..... it's one of those days.

Actually, it started yesterday.  I was supposed to work at the tax place until 4:00.  Things ran late, but it didn't matter.  I got done about 4:20 and just sauntered on out like I had all day.  As soon as I started the car, though, I remembered that I had to be at the home improvement place at 5:00!  So I rushed home, changed clothes, grabbed something to eat, and went to work - again.  Just as I arrived there, I got a call from Jenny, saying that Mom had fallen and broken her arm, and was then in the ER.  I was told not to leave work, so all evening long I was texting back and forth, until it was determined that she would stay in the hospital last night.  It turned out that she not only had a broken arm, but also three broken ribs, and she was in a lot of pain.

Chad's phone was out of minutes, so I had no way to call him to tell him.  When I got off at 9:00 I drove down by the house to see if he was there (no).  Oh well.  Then at 10:30, he knocked on the door - he had been at work.  Duh.  The last place I would have looked.  :)  So this afternoon when I get off at 2:00, I will take him to get a phone card, then go see Mom.  She expects to get out today, but probably not by 2:00.  She didn't even get sent to a room until going on 11:00 last night, after arriving at 5:00 in the ER!  My brain is completely scrambled as far as days and times.  I am not geared up mentally for combining two jobs, let alone the extra stuff like 80 yr old parents who climb on ladders.

What actually happened was, she was on a ladder touching up paint in the bedroom.  She was coming down frontwards, started to fall, and Dad tried to catch her.  He couldn't hold her, and she fell anyway, then he fell on top of her.  She had fallen against the bedroom door, so he couldn't get out, and he called Jenny, who then called 911.  Just before getting on the ladder, she was up on the dresser painting that wall and then discovered that she couldn't get down.  I talked to Dad last night, and it really rattled him because she lost consciousness briefly. Jenny said the EMTs were great, though. Parents!  It's hard enough to think about people dying eventually, and I really don't want them dying from something stupid like climbing on ladders.

So as soon as I get off here at the tax place, I have to run home, get Chad, go to the hospital, then run him to get a phone card before taking him to work.  Tomorrow I have no work anywhere, but Monday and Tuesday should be....interesting.  I work 9-4 here, then 5-9 there both days, so I need to get groceries tomorrow and be ready to quickly assemble break stuff and dinners.  Then I don't work again at the tax place until Saturday (though I work at the home improvement place both Wed and Fri nights, 5-9).

This week is Thanksgiving, and I think the number one thing I will be thankful for this year is that my mother will be OK, except for that hardheadedness that we can't seem to do anything about.

This and That

Last Friday was the cookout that Lynda and David usually have at the farm every year.  The weather was terrible on Thursday - really windy, cold, rainy.  But Friday turned out perfect.  It was mostly sunny, though cool - a perfect night for a bonfire.  David had built these little temporary walls that were wedged under the shop door, blocking most of the entry.  But because they were a wooden framework covered with plastic, you could still see through them  They really helped block some of the cold without seeming closed off.  Braden's group, Red Scarves, was the musical entertainment, and Cindy, from Lucern House, danced in front of them.  At one point, she grabbed beer (cap intact) and pretended to drink it.  I have a short video of her with the beer bottle.  When Lynda appears in the frame, she quickly puts it back down.  Hilarious!  I mean, Cindy is plenty old enough to drink if she wanted to, but.....  It was a nice mix of people, and a good time, even though it was pretty cold by the time it was over.  The couple whose wedding we attended (Kendra and Janae) was there, and I was telling Kendra that I was helping with a geocaching class on Saturday.  She looked surprised, and said, "Are you are geocacher?"  Turns out that she has tried it a couple of times when she lived in Vermont, and she wants Janae to try it.  So we might possibly be getting together to go out sometime!

On Saturday, I spent the morning at the park with the geocaching class, then came back to town for a memorial service in the afternoon.  Today I didn't do a whole lot, except rake the backyard with Kym.  I wanted Chad to get out and help, but he found one excuse after another not to.  He was supposedly going to be going to work on this house they are fixing up to move into.  But his ride didn't materialize, and eventually, after Kym and I were done and were discussing what to do with the patio furniture, he finally came out, grabbed a rake, and started on the front yard.  I just didn't say a word.  He has been in a snarky, nasty mood for days, partly because his hours are getting cut (along with everyone else's) since the "new" has worn off of Pizza Ranch.  I guess he is going to be looking for another job to mesh with it to pay for this new place.  Pleeeeease let him be successful in finding something!