Progression

I had my three month follow-up appointment with the surgeon today. Has it been three months already? Or, at times, it feels like it's been way longer than three months. What's up with that? A rift in the time-space continuum, perhaps?

He's pleased with the progress I am making in my rehab, and says I am where he would expect me to be, if I was doing physio the way I should be. So that was good news. I have another appointment in six weeks, to see how things are then, and to discuss back-to-work strategy. He figures it will more than likely be 5 - 5½ months post-op for rejoining the workforce. That would put me right at Christmas, so I am going to opt for after New Year's.

But he also said that he wants me to have "light duties" when I go back, which could be something like paperwork only, or some kind of a desk job. I also spoke to my unit manager and she said the hospital has a form that guides the doc in giving more specifics about what he means by light duties. So I will have to get that form before I go back to see him in early December.

I did receive instructions to start pushing through the discomfort more with my exercises, to get the maximum range of motion out of the joint. He basically expects me to do the exercises every hour, for crying out loud! I don't even always remember to do them every day... but will try to be more vigilant from now on.

When visiting the dialysis unit at the hospital today, I noticed they are rolling out the new machines. The old ones had been in use for the past 10 years, so it was time to upgrade. Everyone is a little overwhelmed with learning the new one, which is just an upgrade from the old as it is the same manufacturer. But given that it is en mass, and that some people just don't do well with newer technology, that's to be expected. By the time I go back in January, I will have the trainer all to myself!

Sneak Attack

While on the computer today, I became aware of a scratching noise coming from behind my keyboard. Having the camera handy, I recorded the attempted theft in progress.

This is the stuff I have to put up with on a daily (no, make that hourly, or even minutely) basis. *sigh*

Wow... a week already?

Time certainly gets past me these days. Just now, I realized it has been seven days since I last posted anything. But I guess when every weekend is spent at the MoS's place and not mine, I don't spend much time on the computer at all. I do a quick check of emails, and zip through facebook for the latest, but that is all.

It was Thanksgiving this past weekend up here in Canada. My American neighbours to the south have theirs towards the end of November, so there will be a flurry of Thanksgiving posts from them in a bit more than a month. The MoS and I had a turkey dinner, with all the fixings, all by ourselves. It was very scrumptious, if I do say so myself!

I had picked up a fresh turkey (12 lbs) from my local meat shop, made a bread stuffing and roasted it to perfection. There was potatoes and other assorted veggies, a lusciously dark gravy and for dessert, something a wee bit different. It is very traditional to have pumpkin pie. I didn't feel like making one, as I had whipped up another one of those maple pumpkin cheesecakes for Monday's family gathering, so I picked up the next best thing: pumpkin pie ice cream!!! The MoS had never had it and wasn't too sure he'd like it. He loves pumpkin pie and I assured him since that was the case, he would definitely like the ice cream! Needless to say, it was a hit.

Monday saw us get together with my family for lasagna. Not your usual Thanksgiving dinner, but none of us care what we eat... we just like to hang out together! My two great nieces were very wound up (they are 8 and 5) and kept us very entertained. The 5 year old handed out fake $100 bills, which she then proceeded to collect from us for some very pricey "popcorn" she was making using yellow game pieces. She's going to be a shyster when she grows up! The 8 year old spent a lot of effort trying to convince her mother why she shouldn't have to eat any more veggies but should get an extra piece of cheesecake. We all agreed she's going to be a solicitor.

This week has been (and will continue to be) an assortment of appointments. Physio on Wed., the chiropractor Thursday, winter tires ordered Tuesday and arrived on Wednesday so I need to call in the morning tomorrow to make the installation appointment. Hoping tomorrow afternoon will work. Then Friday morning sees a trip to the podiatrist to have a minor ingrown toenail dealt with. It has been 20 years since my toe was crushed by a box containing a computer desk, and I've always managed to keep it trimmed but lately it's always tender so the time has come. Thankfully, it has never been infected but the older I get, the harder it is to trim and the less flexible I am. Cross your fingers that we don't get rain for a few days after that, because wearing a shoe will be a bit difficult! Better now than the middle of winter, though.

Friday evening it will be back to the MoS's place for the weekend. We met for a couple of drinks and dinner this evening and when I asked him if there was anything he'd like to do this weekend, he said "Yes... fly to Vancouver for a few days but I can't... because I'm broke!" Being in the same state, plus being on a restricted income, I can commiserate. One day, I said... one day.

I know I am not posting as often as I used to, and not even commenting as often either, but I do try and get around to read everyone's blogs when I can.

RIP

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.

Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.

Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.

And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

They somehow already know what you truly want to become.

Everything else is secondary.”
~ Steve Jobs

It's that time again!

(Fall on the hobby farm I lived on a few years ago. Isn't that gorgeous?)

It's officially Fall. Although you'd not know it by the weather here. It's been unseasonably warm. In fact, we've had days where the high was a good 10+ degrees C above the norm!!! I am sooooo not going to complain about that! Winter will be here soon enough, requiring multiple layers of fleece and down to ward off frost bite and death by solidification. (Which reminds me... I need new boots.)

It is Thanksgiving here in Canada next Monday, October 10th. Time for turkey! And pumpkin whatever! Time with loved ones, laughing and talking and playing with the little ones.

Although turkey is available at anytime in the grocery store, it seems we only have it a few times a year. I don't know why. It's not really a conscious decision, because I could eat it every week if I so desired!

My vegetarian niece is hosting this year's gathering and in years past when she's had to handle a turkey, she's been so totally grossed out that she asked if lasagna would be okay this year instead. We all agreed that would be fine so non-traditional dinner it is! I am, however, making that Maple Pumpkin cheesecake that I made a while back for that dinner party with the MoS. I am pretty sure it will be as big a hit with my family as it was with his friends!!!

Besides, it is the time of year for all things pumpkin. I need to get to the ice cream shoppe on the other side of town for their pumpkin pie ice cream. Maybe I will just buy a tub of it and share it with the MoS... With him living north of the city, getting to places like that aren't always easy and that shoppe will be closing for the winter soon.

So because Thanksgiving dinner with my family will not involve a large roasted and stuffed bird, the MoS and I are going to have our own little turkey dinner on Sunday. I'm going to order a fresh bird (the smallest turkey they can find since it will just be the two of us and a chicken just will not do!) from the local meat shop and will pick that up on Friday. We'll do the whole nine yards, with stuffing in the turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy and some vegetable... candied yams come to mind. Pumpkin pie ice cream for dessert, and we are good to go!