Sunday, August 31, 2008

Sunday - Day of Rest


The rabbit sat on the front lawn surrounded by crows. There must have been eight of them surrounding the bunny as if he had the key to some locked door full of crow treats. As I came out the door, most of the crows flew away. One stayed locked in an eye to eye stand-off with the bunny. I slipped inside to get the camera. When I opened the door to get outside, they had danced around some so the crow could see the door. He flew off but the bunny say in the long grass trying to decide whether to leave his buffet. The door opened again and kiddo came out with his neighborhood friend. The dogs flew out the door and the bunny dashed into the pasture away from instant death.

Sunday used to be the day of rest and refection. I spent lunch time lying on the couch resting after spending a few hours with me friends and his 9 yr. old daughter. He came over as part of a barter for speaking to my class at UT. He is an amazing photographer who lives in town. His daughter loves horses and he loves his daughter. They drove an hour this morning to spend time with Bailey, the grump.

She brushed him and groomed him and I taught her her how to act and move around horses. I put her on with an English saddle. She rode while I had a lede line attached to his bit. We walked around the pasture while dad busily took pics. She did great in the pasture so we decided to have a walk around the neighborhood. I was having such a good time and she was doing so well that I walked a bit too far. I was not wearing good shoes for walking and it was the first walk since the fall off the horse. I was tempted to hop on with her and ride home but I am not sure Bailey would behave with 2 riders and I am not supposed to be riding yet. So I braved on trying not to limp home. After washing Bailey down, we hydrated, chatted and my friend's daughter drew a very cute thank you card for me. It was fun.

After the rest, kiddo's little friend came over. Actually he is a year older and really has just wanted to come over so he could play with kiddo's toys. That was fine with me because we spent yesterday afternoon at his house playing in the pool. They played well together.

When he left, we played games until we decided to go to Rachel's house to drop off a table and chairs. She was having family dinner at her house. I though kiddo would like to play with her nieces and nephews. We were not even out of the 'hood before the little one was sound asleep snoring in the car seat. Went to Rachel's, he never woke up. Looked for her lost cows in the car a bit, still asleep. decided to drive into town to get gas. After gassing up the car, he woke up wanting to go to Tractor Supply. I told him that I just drove by and it was closed. That was half true, I knew it was closed but had not driven by. I offered to go by again and we did. He cried and said he didn't like T.S. anymore. He wanted to go home and he said he didn't want to go to Rachel's either. Smiling and sighing, I said "all right, we'll just go home."

Friday, August 29, 2008

okay really, no more!


Yesterday was my first class of the semester. Quiet kids so far but I hear they will perk up. All went well.

Katie, our babysitter, picked up kiddo from day care and I met them at the grocery store with the playground after class. They were eating dinner. This will work great, I thought. Since husband cannot be counted on to be in town on class days, I needed someone to get him because class does not end until 15 minutes past day care closing time.

We got home and I got kiddo settled in my bed watching some Noggin. i went out to feed the horses. I thought maybe I would string up the temporary fence and let Bailey eat some grass. As I went to tie the rope on the fence, my hand brushed against a yellow jacket nest. I did not even see it. All of a sudden the neighbors were serenaded by my string of obscenities. I am wondering if I should call an apologize for destroying the peacefulness of the evening. I ran in the house, doused my hand and arm in alcohol, not really sure why. Then I went upstairs and took a few slugs of children's Benedryl. Still in pain, I went back outside, cussing under my breath, to feed the horses and kill the friggin' wasps. After I accomplished both, I went back inside to put ice on. At Rachel's suggestion, I put on baking soda and took my 800mg ibuprofen.

I had no energy to bathe the kiddo. So he went to bed dirty. I pretty much crashed after that. I woke up many times in the night because of the pain. I still went to work today because of all the time I had missed from the horse fall. Late in the afternoon the staff convinced me to go to the doctor. I went and 2 hours and a shot later I went back to work.

That should be three huge painful things. I am done. I have had my three (or six even). I have to laugh because it really is getting absurd. At the doctor, I counted 14 spots that were entry points. No wonder my whole arm is so swollen.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

The Boys are Back in Town


My guys are back from the NY adventure.
Kiddo got to spend days at the beach on Long Island, where the in-laws have a cabana at the beach club for changing. His Oma even got him a blue blazer for the fancy dinners they have there. Turns out he really didn't need it but he looks so darn cute!
He went to the local pool where his dad went as a boy and met some new friends who he wanted to fly back to Texas.
He saw the dino bones at the Natural History Museum in NYC.
He journeyed to the Hamptons to meet the family of one of husband's friends.
He went to the candy store with Oma and learned what a ring pop is.
He saw a professional baseball game. The Mets were in town and Opa, Husband and kiddo ate ice cream and ball park dogs.

I would say he had a pretty good vacation. And while I am sure there were times he missed his mommy, I am thrilled that he had that time with his grandparents. I want to make this a tradition every summer. They also want him around Christmas time for a few days to enjoy NYC traditions.

What did I do while they were away? Fixed the handle of the shower in our bathroom that has been loose forever. Took a truck load of stuff to Salvation Army. Enjoyed watching the nature around the house. Took the dog to the vet. Had the sprinklers fixed. Hung some pictures in kiddo's room. Got my hair done and got a pedicure (I LIKE those). Went to be early every night and slept until I was ready to wake up.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Coming Home


Coming home tonight I saw the roadrunners in the pasture. Two of them ran around Dewey like they were trying to entice him in a game of tag. As I paid closer attention, they noticed and hopped up in the tree. Dewey still seemed oblivious as he screamed at me to let me know he was ready for dinner.

I have not idea where the cartoon folks got their idea of what a roadrunner looks like. Theirs looks more like an ostrich except for the comb on the head. As for the "beep beep", I really don't know. They make a clicking noise sometimes and another noise which escapes me right now.

For the past two days I have been trying to remember the name of an author who used to live in Central Texas. He is British or South African. Google and Amazon are not helping much. He trained horses in England. Wrote travel guides and wrote a book some years ago about living in Africa amongst a tribe. Drives me bonkers when I can't remember something like this. I'll remember it right before I go to sleep and then promptly forget it again.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Okay Universe...are we done yet?

I am going to layout all the cruddy things that have happened to me this past month or so and then counter it with what I have gotten out of the situation. I am doing this in hopes that the Universe will see that I have gained something and let me off the hook for awhile.

July 19 - got buzzed by a copter while on my horse. I dove off because we we headed for the barn. I was knocked unconscious and have been in pain ever since.

My lesson: I have wonderful friends and neighbors who not hesitate to help out when the times get tough. I had time to relax and slow myself down from the break-neck pace I usually keep. I got my UT class organized and feel very prepared for the Fall semester. Got my body realigned by the chiropractor. Found out from the orthopedic surgeon that my bones are strong and healthy. Got to visit with my sister for a whole week. Got a tasty Eggplant Parmesean from Rachel's sister Becky who makes the best Eggplant Parmesean in the universe.

August 7 - husband out of town for our 9th anniversary.

My lesson: actually I am used to it so it really was not too bad.

August 12 - rear ended an out of towner on Riverside Bridge because she slammed on brakes on wet road for an ambulance that she was not even close to.

My lesson: husband is not as forgiving as I am. I was not hurt, the truck still runs and I don't need to get it fixed. It will still pull a horse trailer. At least I was not in my Subaru which is newer (but whose brakes my have been more reactive).

August 13 - Learn the paper is on the market. Cox no longer wants us. Future seems very uncertain.

My lesson: think about other jobs I can do.

August 15 - Take Daisy to the vet and learn she has a urinary tract infection. $200 later, I take her home.

My Lesson: I am much more in tune with my pets than I used to be. I think I caught this one pretty early. Daisy LOVES wet dog food from Science Diet. She actually pouted when we ran out.

August 16 - Had to cancel a shoot because I can't sit in the car for two hours yet.

My lesson: It can be rescheduled

August 18 - Can drive Subaru again! Unfortunately it has a slow leak in the tire.

My lesson: take care of the tire, filled it up and it seemed fine

August 20 - oops Tire is not fine. Light is on again. Drive car back home and take different car.

My lesson: Make an appointment with dealer for check.

August 21 - take car to Subaru and find out tire has a leak in the sidewall, which cannot be repaired under warranty. Further more, non of the tire places in town have the tire in stock, AND it costs $230 to replace the ONE tire. Cell phone battery is dead and I pray I make it home ok.

My lesson: At least I had less than 15,000 miles so I don't have to get FOUR new tires because the car is all wheel drive. Take the car home and get there in time to see the cute sprinkler guy mulling over our crazy mixed up sprinkler system. Order tire.

Well that about does it. So really....I think I am done Universe. You have taught me some valuable lessons and now it is time to move on. I am healing from the accident. I am trying to be positive and laugh at the craziness of the whole summer.

Tonight I spoke with my mother-in-law who said I should ask my doctor if it will be okay to fly come late September when we are supposed to go to Italy. She was very serious. I am pretty sure we are going first class so I will have many seat positions to choose from, including flat. This may be the icing on the cake. We'll see.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Weird Dream

Okay so I had this very odd, highly involved dream last night.

My family and I were traveling to some place on the water to go para-sailing. My step-uncle, who is now in his 90's but very cool back in the day, was arranging it. We were on a plane. I was sitting in the front row with a man and his wife next to me. He was an average everyday business man type, with an unremarkable wife.

In the very front of the plane there was this room off to the side where a crazy guy high on crack was put after he freaked out in the main cabin. A blond flight attendant was put in there to watch him. The other flight attendant, a brunette, went in there to check on her and she was making out with the crack guy. Then a male flight attendant came down the aisle calling my name. He handed me a Blackberry type thing and said Don Henley is calling for you (I don't really even like Don Henley). He was wanting to know where we were and how soon we would get there. I texted back and said we were on the way. The man next to me kept trying to see what I was doing. He was practically in my lap.

Then we found out the plane was not going anywhere. We all got off and were on some sort of loading dock/ tarmac sort of area. We were taken by boat across some rough water. My dad handed me the parachutes.

"Parachutes?" I asked him, Why? We are in a boat."

For para-sailing! oh yeah. We docked at a lagoon and were told we would have to take the water bus to the area that was our final destination. The water bus did in fact look like a bus floating on the water. Only there was no way to get to it.

I look and saw a large group of men without shirts, wearing short sarongs, looking very island native-ish. Apparently they were supposed to carry us to the boat/bus. A young, tall, handsome one came to me. He scooped me up in his arms effortlessly. I was carrying a scrapbook and my bathing suit. I was worried that my scrapbook would get wet and be ruined. I held it high above my head as he jumped in the water with me. It did not get wet! AS we swam in the chilly water, I felt the warmth of his body and felt very safe. He decided that we were not going to the boat and that I would stay with him on this island paradise. I woke up feeling happy.

What does this dream mean?

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

All things Gross


I know a few things about animals. I actually have a few theories that I have not scientifically proven but I am pretty sure they are so.

I have pictorial evidence on this one (note the very old dead armadillo in the pic). If it smells bad, dogs will eat it or roll in it. Dead animals, horse poop, yucky smelly ponds, dirty diapers....you name it. The tough part is remembering this fact especially when you say to your pup, "Come here and give me a kiss." It must be said in your best baby talk voice of course. Just remember what that dog has been eating. Usually before you snuggle your dog, you can smell if they have been rolling in anything disgusting.

My second theory is about white horses. I think white horses always want to be brown. they roll in the mud every chance they, hoping to fit in. Maybe it is because many white horse start out dark and shed to white. I'll get to prove this one as Dewey grows up.

Rain=Rain Lilies


One thing about Texas rain is that it brings out rain lilies. They have white and yellow. The yellow are my favorite. When I came home from work tonight, they were all over the front yard waving cheerily. How do they know when it has rained and not just the sprinkler going for hours?

The sprinkler guy was supposed to come last night and fix what he messed up last time. He is extremely handsome but full of excuses. I suspect he relies on his big brown eyes with the long eye lashes to get out of a jam or two. His excuse this time was that one of his managers banged up his knee with a shovel. Maybe so, but now he is coming out Thursday. If we had not had rain, I would have been pissed, no matter how cute his hair looks curling out from under his ball cap.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

YAY RAIN!!


I woke up from my nap to the sound of heavy raindrops on the skylight. Plunk, plunk, platt! It was good to hear. I lay in bed listening for awhile as I tried to determine what time of day it was. Gatsby was whining on the stairs and I remembered that Daisy was outside in the rain. We went downstairs and outside to the porch. The rain let up a bit and Daisy had been hiding under the shrubs.

I let her in and Gatsby and I went outside to enjoy the rain. I decided to clean the tack/feed room. Gatsby, who is afraid of the weather followed me closely. As I knocked down the mud wasp nest and swept up the lizard eggs, the wind picked up. Really started blowing hard. Gatsby could not decide whether to stay or run back to the house. I let him go but shut the door and thought I would wait it out.

The lightning flashed and the thunder roared. I was so happy we have not had rain for so long. Neighbor Kellie was just saying this morning that it was strange to go through a whole summer without a thunderstorm. At the time I had hoped she had not jinxed us. I told her non-husband David to do a rain dance. He must have.

I dashed back to the house, getting thoroughly soaked. What a wonderful feeling! I laughed as I climbed the stairs to get into dry clothes.

Later I went to the porch to see the wind had rearranged the furniture. The rain even blew in on the screened porch to water the lime and lemon trees.

It is still raining two hours later.

Olympic Waterpolo

Olympic water polo is on TV. I think part of Croatia's uniform is the mustache. Even the coach has one! I wonder why the players have to wear the bonnets with the ear guards. Rugby is a rougher sport and they don't wear helmets or bonnets. I find it extremely distracting. I can't enjoy the beauty of the sport because of them.

Also why do they wear little swim suits? Why not the long swim suits the swimmer are wearing?

The cool thing is that these guys basically have normal bodies. Not hyper cut like the other athletes. You can tell they enjoy a beer or five. Although the announcer just said that water polo players have the best bodies based on the fact that a sculptor chose Terry Schroeder for a generic Oly statue for the 1984 games. That WAS 1984 though.

How does a guy decide that water polo is the sport for him? Growing up on the east coast we never played it. I certainly have not noticed it in Texas. NBC.com even has a link to water polo plays of the day.


Oops USA just upset Croatia. Guess the mustaches did not help.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Our Drought


It has been so dry here. The grass is crispy, the trees are losing their leaves and I am praying that no one gets stupid with matches. I am watering the trees but it has not seemed to help. I was using the sprinkler but now I am just using water directly from the hose at the roots of the trees. I hope they are just going into emergency distress and defoliating not dying.

I hobbled back to the back yard to have a look at a cross rail to the fence that needed to be put back into the post. We have the plastic fencing and I think since Dewey is still a stud colt, I need to make sure he has no escape routes. So anyway I grab the cross rail and see something move inside. A bright green tree frog has decided that this is a good cool place to hang. I decide to let him have his home and I will put the cross rail back later.

Soon Dewey was at the fence wanting attention. Daisy came out to herd him and Gatsby was hanging around being a golden retriever, not bred for intelligence. Daisy and Dewey played a bit and I looked over to see Gatsby eating cherry tomatoes off the plant. Just a little snack before dinner.

The main vegetable garden is dead but the plants that I put in the regular flower beds get watered by our sprinkler system. So the peppers and tomatoes are thriving. I just need to pick them once in awhile.

I am going to give the lawn a good "rip" tomorrow. The blades on the rider mower are not quite sharp enough to actually cut. We need to take the deck off and take it in the have the blades sharpened. We could just take the deck off but that may cause WWIII trying t get it back on.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Mind Blowing Announcement

I spent the morning doing errands, seeing doctors etc. I stopped for lunch at the sandwich shop across from work and saw some coworkers there. Having not been at work yet, I asked how the day was going.

"You didn't see your email?" one asked.

Uh no. I did not answer but looked confused.

"We have a MANDATORY staff meeting at 2pm," the other added.

Seems like the universe has not wanted me to go into work lately. Was this the third THING? Buy-outs? Lay-offs? Is it time to choose career number two?

Back at the office we discussed the pros and cons of being a plumber vs. being an air conditioner repair person. Raw sewage vs. 150 degree attics. We all thought raw sewage would be more manageable.

The office began to fill up with staff, all staff from community newspapers as well as our regular editorial staff. There was a nervous buzz around. Finally the publisher, who is set to retire at the end of the month came down. He looked tired and had lost much weight. He may be battling a serious illness. He began to read a letter written by the head of Cox Enterprises.
" Cox enterprises plans to put the Austin American-Statesman, and the community newspapers in Texas and North Carolina up for sale."

WHOA! did not expect that. The was shock amongst the younger employees and panic from the older ones. Pretty bad time to put a newspaper up for sale. We'll see what happens. I wish I had the money to buy the Bastrop Advertiser so I could have my own newspaper to run like I think it should be. With my luck Gannett will probably buy it and I will have to work for them again.
For now, we keep doing our jobs, let things sink in and consider a "plan B".

Leaving the building tonight, one friend who usually has a positive frame of mind and a cool head, turned to me and said " I feel like I've been bitch-slapped."

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

ARGHHHH


Okay, this is going to sound unbelievable but this morning, on the way into work, 5 minutes from work in fact, I rear ended a car. We were going through a green light over a bridge when the car in front of me slammed on her brakes because she saw an ambulance approaching from the access road on the right. The ambulance was not really near the intersection but she stopped. Unfortunately for me, I tried to brake but ended up sliding into her on the wet road. We moved the cars and made sure we were all right.

An ambulance and fire engine came. the fire engine stopped but left when they saw we were fine. The ambulance stopped, we signed papers saying we refused treatment. I could have sworn it was the same ambulance that caused the accident in the first place but thought it would be crass to ask.

Poor girls were in a rental car on the way to a meeting about starting a business in Austin. They were from New Orleans. We exchanged info. We waited for a policeman. They didn't their car was drivable because the muffler was hanging a bit. The handsome officer got there and looked over our situation. I told what the deal was. He gave me a case paper and checked to see that I had gotten and given all the right info to the other driver.

My truck was mushed in front but ran fine. In fact, the impact may have made my back loosen up a bit. We will see tomorrow.

I am now nervously waiting for the third bad thing to happen. Things always seem to come in threes. Fired from my job? divorce? lame horse? cat puking fit all over the white carpet? okay so some of those are not as serious as others but it still worries me. Positive energy, I need positive energy. Good karma....I need to do some good to turn things around.

OR maybe the universe is simply trying to keep me from going to work. I wonder, what is the other thing that my authentic self is supposed to be doing?

Monday, August 11, 2008

Almost Four is Fun


Having a four year old is as much fun as it can be frustrating but you really have to enjoy the fun part and try to ignore the times when the kiddo pushes those buttons.

My sister left today after being here a week to help me. Man, it was great to have her here. Jake loved her, the dogs really loved her and I am sure if the cats were able to come downstairs without being eaten by the dogs, they would have loved her too.

Last night she gave him a bath and they had a huge pillow fight. He was pretty worn out. To hear them laugh together made me laugh. She bought him a Spiderman costume at Wal-mart that he LOVED. I think he wants to wear it to his birthday party.

He is such a little parrot too. He picks up the smallest expressions and then uses them when you least expect it. He loves saying "Actually". It cracks me up. " Actually mommy, this grape looks like a squash."

Lately the house has become a spaceship or a regular ship and we have to take our seats before we can go anywhere. The imagination is huge. I love lying in bed in the morning listening to him play in his room. Tonight at dinner we had to all sing the Multiplication Rock song for Three.
"Mommy you sing!
"3, 6, 9"
"Daddy now you!"
"12, 15, 18"
We both look at the kiddo and he sings "21, 24, 27....30!"

Saturday, August 9, 2008

My wild garden

My garden is desperately overgrown. The grasses have invaded the beds and the vegetables need picking. I might add that is is had been over 100 degrees for weeks now and the only time to be doing yard work is in the early morning or evening.

The wildlife seems to like it though. This morning two cardinals were playing among the weeds. I wonder what they are finding to eat but it looked like they were chasing bugs. They are fun to watch as they dart in and out of the overgrown roses.

The rabbits snack in the evening and early morning too. They venture in to the yard when they know the dogs are in the house. We have such fat bunnies. I can't help but think it is too bad that we don't eat them. I can't imagine skinning them but I am sure I would not mind trying them.

Come Fall I will take my tiller and stir up the earth. I will add horse manure to try and enrich the clay based soil. I will wait until the rains come again to pull the weeds. They will be huge by that time and I hope they do not seed. My plan will be to forget the plants I love. I will try to be more practical and put more natives in. My rock rose is doing so well I should put more of that in. I will keep my antique roses but I am going to try and fill the garden with natives so the weeds cannot sneak in again. Functional and beautiful. That is my aim. I wish in these past three weeks I had been able to weed or do yard work. I feel so very useless.

No Pain Meds=No Sleep

It has been three days with out pain meds. I have been taking the super strength Ibufrofen but that honestly has not been making much difference. I was taking hydrocondone. It helped me sleep, that's about it. It dulled the pain enough to sleep.

I ran out so I called the pharmacy for a refill. They are supposed to fax it to my doctor. I called the doctor to let them know it was coming. I called the pharmacy to see if they had faxed it, nope but they would do it right away. It was too late in the day to call the doctor back. The next day, I called the pharmacy to see if the doctor responded. NO. I called the doctor and they said they didn't get a fax. I got a call from the doc's office who asked me if I had made an appointment with a back specialist. " I asked you for names of specialists and physical therapists last week," I told them.

" You did?" they seemed surprised. " Well make an appointment with the back specialist we recommend and we will take care of the pain meds. Call us back to let us know when your appointment is."

So, frustrated and annoyed I call the back doctor. I have to pay out of pocket because they do not take me insurance. If I submit the bill my insurance will pay 80% though. I make the appointment. I call my doctor back and let them know I made it. They assure me they will take care of the prescription.

I call the pharmacy. Nope, they have not heard from my doctor. Doctor's office has not heard from the pharmacy. This is getting insane. I have given up. I am currently self medicating with Jack Daniels before bed. It is not as effective but at least I can get a few hours of sleep.

I am going to give it one last try today at the pharmacy and if the prescription is not there, I am canceling the very expensive back doctor appointment that I feel blackmailed into making anyway. I HAVE been seeing the chiropractor who is a back specialist as well. He has never failed me in the 8 or so years I have been seeing him. I hate being in pain but what I hate more is feeling like I am not being taken seriously or listened to.

I hope I can get a good long nap today.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Some planet must be in retrograde


This has been a tough summer for most of my friends. Injuries to humans and pets, money troubles, not getting "sure-thing" jobs, break-ups and fights. Something powerful be in retrograde. I thought perhaps Saturn but on further inspection, I saw that is is actually Neptune and Pluto. But Saturn is the big nasty planet according to astrological sources. I do wish I had an idea.

Who knows? I am an Aries with a Cancer moon. That give me my domestic edge. Rising sign is Leo which I would think would give me strength and self confidence. My other match-ups are Venus/Aries, Mercury/Aries, Mars/Virgo, Jupiter/Taurus, Saturn/Pisces, Uranus/Virgo, Neptune/Scorpio and Pluto/Virgo. Now really, I have no idea what any of that means. If anyone has a clue, I would love enlightenment.

View from the couch...squash bug is finally off the screen on the porch. No grasshoppers either. I think our fat lizards are getting some good eats. The lemon trees are thriving on the porch since I remember to water them there and the grasshoppers cannot eat the leaves. I had to wipe all the scale off the lime tree. That seems to have revived it a little bit. Someday I would like to plant them outside but for now I htink the pots are best.

I did see one of our roadrunners with a snake in his mouth yesterday morning. I hope it was a copperhead baby not a simple garden snake. I have not seen any deer lately. Wonder if the neighborhood cougar has been eating them or if they simply at staying closer to the river.

The grass is crunchy. I am having my sister move the sprinkler around the trees so they can have a drink. I am worried that the foundation of the house is going to crack with how dry it has been, especially the new addition. Even the sprinklers don't seem to be putting out as much water as I thought would keep the lawn green. I wish I could check them all but that is a bit too much mobility for me at this point, our garage where the controls are is like an obstacle course. More on the garage later....I shudder thinking about it.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

The "Miss It" list

Things I miss since I have been limited by the horse fall.
1. driving
2. wrestling with my kid
3. riding my horse
4. gardening
5. mowing the lawn (yes I really like to do it)
6. baking
7. going to work for the whole day and being able to laugh at daily B.S.
8. sleeping 8 hours straight
9. the tough workouts with Minna at the gym
10. climbing at the gym
11. grocery shopping
12. drinking (my drugs and alcohol do not mix very well)
13. sitting down to eat dinner at the table
14. deciding to tackle any home project at the spur of the moment
15. taking the kid do day care and picking him up

I guess the universe was telling me I need to slow down and take a closer look at a few things in my life. Things I don't see or don't want to see when I am moving 100mph. I am going to have a few things to tackle when I am well. I wonder, will I? Or will I just get going again and ignore the problems I should be fixing.

Things I have enjoyed about the injury:
1. seeing friends and my sister
2. reading
3. naps
4. less responsibility

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Slow Recovery

I gotta say, this has been the slowest recovery for me EVER. Yesterday at the chiropractor, we discovered another injury while trying to make an adjustment. Seems I likely tore my cartilage away from my sternum. OW! I thought it was muscle strain. This means no horse riding for at least 2 months while it heals. If I am patient and heal correctly, I can enjoy pain free riding in the future. The set back was depressing though. Then i went to the gym and worked with Minna on the power plate. People swear they recover from injuries twice a quickly when they use it so I am going to make it work. Minna has another client recovering from a car wreck that happened the day before my accident. I am hoping she get us doing rehab together.

I worked for about 4 hours and was very tired. I think the issue there is that I cannot lay down and work. There is just standing and sitting with walking as a break in the two. It makes me very stiff. The whole work thing is good for my brain though and I like being back in the action. I am just pitifully slow.

My sister Suzanne got in last evening to help out this week. I am so happy. I keep getting a vibe from husband that he is angry with me for having the accident and if he ignores it, it will somehow go away. I am sort of glad he left this a.m. even though our 9 year anniversary is on Thursday. Oh well, life with a self employed, traveling man.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Single Parenting with an Injury


Yesterday began easy enough. Terri stopped by to bring me horse feed and I asked her to leave her son at the house to play with the kiddo. She asked me if I was up for it and I thought yes because they play well together.

Those two little rambunctious dudes..... they were running around having fun. I laid down in the next room to read a book. They come running in saying " Look! We look like the domination puppies (translation: the Dalmation puppies)." They did in fact have little dark spots all over their faces, arms and shirts. Seems they had been shaking their sippy cups of chocolate milk and this was the result. I had to laugh but decided that I should be with them at all times.

Made the boys funny face sandwiches for lunch. They picked off the good stuff and decided yogurt would be much better. Terri came back and finished up the rest of te sandwiches, which were by now, peanut butter on bread.

Later in the afternoon, I tried driving. Kiddo and I went to a neighbor Karen's to play with her son and another hellion from the 'hood. I basically sat in the Lazy Boy watching the kids play. Then everyone wanted to go outside. I sat in the 100 degree shade in a zero gravity recliner which was heaven for my back. I actually ordered one later that night! Karen's husband made wicked cosmo's and since I had not had drugs since the am, I decided to partake. I must say it was a very relaxing afternoon as other neighbor's came by and hung out. We watched the boys play in the pool with Karen's husband. That part of the hood is very social and easy going. We begged off dinner and went home. Driving was a bit more painful. I was followed home by John B, the neighborhood handy at everything guy, whose wife is out of town. He had kiddo's friends in his golf cart and brought the stuff I didn't feel up to carrying.

Maybe the day was too much for him but the meltdown began when I told him it was time for bed. He wanted to sleep in our bed. N - O! is always my answer. Being physically unable to carry him from our room to his like I normally would, I turned off all the lights and the TV. He turned the TV back on because he wanted to watch more Noggin. This went on a few times before I got the remote and put on the weather radar.

He cried more and would not go into either one of his TWO rooms. He has his play room with his old Thomas the Tank Engine toddler bed and his new bedroom with a double bed converted from his crib. I began taking way things..no going to swim at Nathan's tomorrow was the big one. Finally, I had to threaten to spank. "If you are not on your way to your room by the time I count to 3.." He just lay there crying. I could not physically move him.

One...Two....Three....Spank! Not hard but since I have not done it before, it was shocking and he ran into his room. By this time it was past my bedtime too. I got him in bed and lay down with him. He wanted me to go. "OK, when you lay down properly, I'll go." No he wanted me to stay. "OK, when you lay down with your head on the pillow, I'll stay." He snuggled with his leg across me as if to ensure I would be staying. He fell sleep in 10 minutes.

I wish I could have said the same for me. I could not get comfortable in my bed. He put his little toddler curse on it I think.

Today began as badly as it ended. He ate a frozen fruit bar for breakfast when I said no. Begged for cream of wheat and ate 4 bites old me he was full then wanted an Oreo. When I said no, he went to the pantry found the very old box of them and took the last one. I took the box and threw it away. Tried to get the cookie but he was too fast. I waited until he sat down to eat it. Then I took it away and gave it to the dog. More crying, more time out...I walked to get the newspaper and when I came back he was on the porch telling me he was sorry. He tried to be good the rest of the day.

So did he get to go swimming at Nathan's? Well no. But I needed some quiet time so badly, that Terri came up and got him. He'll get some energy out and I can have a healing nap.

Friday, August 1, 2008

By the Light of the Slivery Moon

I am jolted awake by the deep and throaty bark of Gatsby. I wait for him to finish and choose not to open my eyes yet. His bark is followed by the shrill and urgent bark of Daisy. She barks like a machine gun fires....aah raw raw raw raw raw! I think that if it were a prowler, they would surely be detered by now so I stay in bed but peep at the clock.

3:14am.

I hear the long nails come clickity clacking down the hall toward the guest room where I am trying to sleep. I feel a long nose snuffling me and reach my hand out to find Gatsby. I pet him and he slams his paw on my arm to prove he is the boss. I pull my hand away. He goes to the other side of the bed and jumps up. Please don't step on me, I think drowsily. He settles in, his back providing support for mine. Feels good. Feels good until he jumps up and gets excited about something he sees, dancing all over me and the bed. Daisy starts up again too.
Surrendering, I get up and let them out. I suspect they are going to chase something, perhaps kill something. They dash out the door like their tails are on fire. The just can't get out fast enough.

I go get more meds. They need to be taken with food so I grab a hand full of fruity cheerios in the dark, mix up some chocolate milk. After I take the meds and down my snack, I go to let the dogs in. I open the door and listen. I hear a nasty crunching sound, shut the door and go lay down for a bit. They will be occupied for awhile I think. I drift off on the sofa until I hear them barking again. Now 3:30 am or so, I think I better get them in before my crazy neighbor, who lives a mile or so away comes over with his gun.

Knowing they were into something. I let them in to the mudroom. They both come panting in. I turn on the light to give them water. Daisy has blood on her paws, and on her mouth. I am too sore and tired to see if it it hers or the unfortunate prey. I go back to sleep on the couch and fall into a deep sleep dreaming of adopting a pregnant dog who looks like Daisy.

I take a peek in the morning and see that this was armadillo #3. Mark across the street was kind enough to move it out of smells way this morning.