solid again

Well, after my week-o-liquids after the hospital stint, I am back on the solid foods. Again, thanks be to the gods!!! I was getting really tired of my homemade soup from the freezer. Granted, it was really good, but...everyday...every meal? Ugh! Yesterday's lunch was some stir fried tofu and carrots in a brown sauce. Yum! For dinner I was all stoked to go to Outback and get a baked sweet potato ('cause I didn't want to wait the hour plus to bake it myself). Would you believe they don't do them anymore?!? Sonsabitches! Way to ruin a girl's perfectly happy mood. Oh well, I got a plain potato instead. Not the same, but still a helluva lot better than that same soup again.

update-o-rama

Ya ya ya. I've been off the radar for a while. Some of it was completely unintentional and part was due to an out of town "family" matter.

For those of you keeping track of the personal crap I'm dealing with, yes, I was in the hospital again this past week. I was on my way to movie night last Tuesday and needed a quick protein fix. Instead of hitting the Taco Bell drive thru (which I intended) I picked up something full of protein at the CVS when I got a prescription filled. Oh my gawd. Biggest mistake of my heretofore life. What I got was loaded with wheat gluten--a big no no. Gets all big and poofy in the tummy. About 3 hours after eating, I starting getting crampy pains in my abdomen. It kept getting worse and worse until I called the doc's office at 11:30pm (yes, I waited two and a half hours...sometimes I'm not brilliant). He said ER, I called mama, and off we went. I must admit, while it wasn't nearly as busy as the TV show ER, all the people behind the scenes were television worthy in their looks. My main nurse was cute as a freakin' button! Anywho, after about 2 gallons of blood was drawn and a CT scan was performed, I got admitted. Simply put, never again will I think that a semi private room is good enough. I obviously pissed off someone really important to get put in the room with the woman I was placed with. Don't get me wrong, I felt sorry for her and all, but DAMN! Complain much? Not like there was anything I could do about it. I was willing to share my pain meds just to knock her out. Oiy vey! Two nights of babble made me a stronger patient--I would've left that hospital even if I wasn't ready! So I was home Thursday night, back at work for a bit Friday, and back to "normal" on Saturday.

Next exciting thing was leaving town Sunday after singing to head two and a half hours south for a "family" matter. Whirlwind tour of central Texas. I'm home again, and I've had a very emotional 24+ hours. Those who know about it know. I will not elaborate here other than to say that CM is one of the most extraordinary people ever, and the kid is truly amazing. I love that kid. I did find an amazing shortcut though--such a beautiful drive home until I hit the burbs.

it's solid

Yes, kids, I am officially on solid foods. Hell ya! Granted I'm starting with simple things, but the whole idea is exciting. Just have to remember not to take in too much at one time or I feel like I'll burst. Kinda like now, for instance. Nah, just a little full now. I made a tuna spread (ya, not too thrilling), and I had to keep tasting it to get it right spice wise. Trust me, it needed a lot. And instead of using a whole lotta mayo, I used half mayo and half low fat ricotta. Extra protein, baby! That and a lot of Penzey's spices. Thanks be to God for no spice restrictions.

In other news, I sang for the H-bomb's sister's wedding yesterday. I think it went rather well considering I had to sing immediately after the vows were taken. Okay, not that I'm a big softie or anything, but I know these people. I got a smidge teary eyed, and then I had to sing. Wow, that was interesting for the first couple of bars! :'-) Everyone loved it, especially the bride and groom which is what really mattered. Although the H-bomb's huge eye-wink and "rock on!" look almost made me crack up.

Finally, can you believe I actually turned down a lunch date Friday? I got a phone call about 10:30am asking if I could do lunch. Well, since I can't really eat anything good yet (and I looked like ass on a cracker that day), I turned him down. He asked how soon I could go out for lunch, and I estimated a couple of weeks. Let's see what happens then.... Why is it always the waaaaay older men? Meh, who cares! Bring it! He's fun, nice, honest, and uber safe. Case in point, I used to work with him. And I know his boss. Heh heh heh.

Well, I'm off to watch the rest of the Flyers/Penguins game to see who the Stars will play for the Stanley Cup. WHOOT! GO STARS!

2 week update

Well, I made it two weeks. Whoo-hoo! My risk of complications drastically dropped today. Sweeeet (in the Napoleon Dynamite voice, of course). I also decided to make today my first real(ish) food day. Lunch was Bueno--the side of pintos and cheese--and dinner was Friday's--loaded mashed potatoes. Ate half of the lunch and was stuffed. Ate only ~1/3 of the dinner and thought I was gonna die. I think I learned a valuable lesson tonight: bacon is not my friend. At least not yet. Ugh! The good side though? Still no reflux issues, my BP is still in the "normal" range, and I'm officially down 30 pounds. Go me!

In other news, the bride to be will be getting hitched this Saturday (ergo the dinner out--had to skip the rest of the bachelorette party due to tiredness and soreness left over from last night's STOMPING of the Stars over the Red Wings--omg, so worth the pain to be there to see it--but I digress). I finally found out exactly where I have to be at what time on Saturday so I can sing for the bloody affair. Ya, it's a hike, but it'll be worth it for her. Although, the best part was watching her open the gifts at the party tonight. Nothing better than Condom Sense for a good bachelorette gift! Funny, the three "older" friends (including the sister) all had the same idea and shopped at the same place. Gotta love us women! Of course, being sat in a back corner by the men's room drinking our drinks out of penis shaped straws was also a fun part of the evening. The H-bomb kept saying things like "Don't forget your penis!" and "Is that a penis in your mouth?" Wow, we are fun but juvenile! =) Now, they are all out having fun at the dueling piano bar as I type. I'm a little jealous, but my bed is sooooooooooo much more comfy than a bar stool these days. Nightie night, kiddos!

2nd post op visit

I have graduated to full liquids! Hallelujah! I also got the rest of my staples out. Hallelujah! I've even been told I can resume my walking regimen. Will the good news ever end?!?!? Unfortunately, yes. Life goes on. That means I've got to fill out reviews for work, go to the grocery store, and watch the Stars lose to the Red Wings AGAIN. Oh well. At least life goes on!

beautiful Sunday

Wow, today was gorgeous. Too bad I spent most of it in the lab. Silly supervisor can't schedule his way out of a paper bag sometimes. Oh well, not his fault my doc is going to Brazil and can't change my appointment for tomorrow. Thank goodness the May Boy was willing to give up some of his free Sunday time to come in and help me. We got a little more than half of tomorrow's work done today. Yippee.

Now I just have to wait until tomorrow to see what the doc is gonna let me eat. I'm not hungry at all today, and I should be. I've had next to no calories and not nearly enough protein. Oh, and I haven't taken my vitamins yet. Gotta do that.................okay, done. And 10 more calories in me.

I spent my afternoon after work over at mother's watching the local news while they broadcast the news from the field across from her house. Ya, they found a body over there this morning. Really awful Mother's Day for some poor woman. I can't even imagine. Maybe that's why I'm not hungry. Some sort of sadness for the family I never met. Or guilt for having such a loving family. Then I came home and watched Juno for the first time. Even knowing what it was all about, I still got all weepy. It was sweet, beautiful, sad, funny.... Good movie. Really glad I didn't see it in the theater though! I think I'll go and finish my pity party with a little frozen protein treat. And really, it's not that big of a treat, but I've got to eat something.

weekend update

Wow, I feel like crap. I went back to work for the first time this morning. I didn't get there until about 8:25--only an hour later than my best helper ever! Luckily with 2 of us reading slides, we were finished by 2:30. SWEET! Afterward, I went by the grocery store to stock up on some of the stuff I'll be able to eat starting Monday: yogurt, low fat cream soups (an oxymoron?), applesauce, etc. To beat it all, I bought some baby food. Yes, Organic Gerber baby food. Dude, I need some variety and flavor, and I need it now! Anyway, I'll let you all know how the pureed organic sweet potatoes work for me. It's got to be better than the protein drink I've got here with me right now.

Oh, as to why I feel like crap: I think I laughed too much yesterday. Granted, this is not necessarily a bad thing. I did, also, reach a tad too far in reaching for something and carried something on the edge of my weight restriction. Oops. I've learned a valuable lesson in all that. And now, I believe my bed is hearkening to me.

ugh

Don't get me wrong: I love my friends. They are the best ever. However, I spent way too much time today laughing. OMG, my entire abdominal region is sooooooooooo sore! That and it's 10 til 9 and I'm getting ready to hit the hay. Guys, let's try to keep the humor to a minimum for just another week. I am healing from a major surgery, you know! ;-) Guess I'm gonna have to hit the sauce before bed after all. I am doing a great job of weaning myself off that stuff though. Not nearly as much as the days right after the hospital release!

One more week--no more laughing! I mean it.

the "dealio"

Okay okay okay! I give. I finally have time to blog (when my mind is not in a fog from the prescribed post-op pain meds). So for those chomping at the bit, here you go.

I had my surgery a week ago today. Things went very well, and now I am at home recovering for a few more days. I was in the hospital for a couple of days, then I was at my mother's for a few days. Now, I am able to walk, drive, and do all those sundry things people have to do on their own. I'm mostly off the pain meds, and I'm already totally off the blood pressure meds. Whoot! While the doc was in there, he also found a hiatal hernia and repaired that. Since then, I've now had a lick of reflux problem rear its ugly head. Yay! Hopefully the singing will be better sooner than anticipated.

That's about it. Nothing else exciting in my life. I'll update with more when it happens.

for the Heather and addendum

Main Entry: an·ti·pode
Function: noun
plural an·tip·o·des
Etymology: Middle English antipodes, plural, persons dwelling at opposite points on the globe, from Latin, from Greek, from plural of antipod-, antipous with feet opposite, from anti- + pod-, pous foot — more at foot
Date: 1549

1 : the parts of the earth diametrically opposite —usually used in plural —often used of Australia and New Zealand as contrasted to the western hemisphere
2 : the exact opposite or contrary

(from m-w.com)

And the addendum, pretty much right after I posted "antipodes" I got a phone call from my father. He is coming around, and I have his support. Better than that, I know I always have his love and respect. =)

brilliant!

Sometimes I'm not as smart as people think I am. Either that or I completely lack common sense. Case in point: it is almost always cold as an ice box in this lab. I turned on my little under-the-lab-bench space heater. Well, the night time guy keeps it turned toward the edge of the desk. Whatever. I wanted it aimed at my feet. So what did I do? I moved it with the tip of my big toe to change the aim. Ya, my big toe without my shoe. Did you know the surface of those things can get pretty hot? Well, ya. This is your fair warning. Do not touch the surface of a heater without proper insulation.

Duh.

antipodes

You think you have a grasp on things and then WHAM! Out of the blue something happens to make you wonder if you really ever knew anything. My life (for the most part) is really coming into focus for me lately.

I'm having a life altering surgery for the betterment of my health--well, okay, so I can outlive my parents and take care of them instead of the otherway around. Yes, I'm frightened. Yes, I realize my life is totally gonna change. Yes, I'm going to be out of the loop for a short while. But I am happy about this! It will help me continue my singing "career" without being in constant throat pain. It will result in me not having to take meds for my high blood pressure anymore. My rheum says it will help my stupid (at the moment non-extistant) "disorder."

What made me finally listen to the doctors who've been trying to get me to do this for a couple of years? The death of a dear friend. The idea of surgery is gross. I mean, really, who wants to be poked and prodded and sliced and diced? Ok, I know there are people out there who do. Ick, I'm not one of them. I want to be healthy. I want to be able to walk up a flight of stairs without being winded. I want to be able to go to my yoga classes and actually be able to do all the silly poses correctly. I want to go to sleep without hearing my heart pounding in my ears. I want to be able to sit on an airplane and not feel guilty that the person next to me is loathing sitting by me. I want to be healthy. Lisa always said our health was something we should take care of while we had the chance. I have the chance, and I'm taking it.

No matter what anyone else thinks. I'm doing this for me!

You all know that I tend to overreact at times. Hell, I'm a woman! That's what I do! :) Anyway, the HSBF actually was sick yesterday morning. We ended up doing movie, dinner, and the Stars game (watching on tv, not going). We also had a really great talk. Again! Go fig. Simply put, there is no way he and I will work as a couple again. Mainly because of the, oh, about, 2000 miles of distance between us. I feel good about it. That and with all the health stuff I've got going on in the next month or so, I really don't need to be starting something new. However, we both admitted how wonderful it was to spend the day together. Kinda like falling back into your bed from childhood--all snug and warm and comfortable. Oh well. Such is life. Full of temptations and conundrums. Funny that my horror-scope today was the following: "Your romantic life may not be too exciting now, but you have worked long and hard to create the current stability in your life. Instead of trying to turn things upside down again, chill out enough to enjoy the pleasures available to you. Letting your true feelings out of the bag can stir up more than intended, so it may be wise to be patient for a while longer. " Hahahahahaha! What an understatement!

Sunday

Well, friends. it is Sunday. This is the day I'm supposed to be seeing the HSBF again for brunch and whatever followed. We'd talked about a museum or the Nasher or the aquarium. It is now 15 minutes past the time he'd agreed to pick me up. When I got home from church, I had a message (a text actually) that he was feeling not up to snuff so could we put brunch off a bit. MY first thought was "well, then it might as well be dinner at this point." I responded politely for him to let me know what he wanted to do. I have heard nothing from him yet. This is, unfortunately, probably a good thing. This way, I've already had my hopes dashed a little bit, and I really have no more expectations. In fact, I'm quite bit pissed. I could've stayed out later last night! =)

Anyway, thanks to those who were thinking happy thoughts for me today. I think I know where I stand.

long time, no post

Sorry kiddos. I've been so wrapped up in my little world that I seem to have forgotten about the land of blogdom. Anyway, this is what's going on with me lately....

Monday started off with a phone call from the father proffering tickets for the Tuesday night Stars game. Man, he didn't even have to finish the question before I accepted. Then he told me to bring two friends. I barely mentioned it at the lab before my two buds up there absolutely jumped at the chance to go. Whoot! We had a blast and sat so close we could see the studly men sweating. *swoon* Unfortunately, they lost. Damn. Then to make it all worse, afterward when I got home Wange called freaking out because someone had hit her baby car in the garage. Didn't leave a note or anything. Bastard! Of course, I felt guilty even though it was not my fault. Oh well. Thank goodness for insurance.

Speaking of insurance, I had to go for my stress echo today. I swear to Buddha, I haven't had my left breast touched that much in...well, a really long time! All that ultrasounding took forever, but at least the guy doing it was hot. I guess it should have been disconcerting, but hey, it's his job. I'm just glad my breasts are still somewhat young and perky! I can only imagine some of what he has to deal with. I think what made it extra interesting was the talk of dating the whole time this was going on. Go fig! I actually considered asking him what he was doing after work! He was funny.

Then on the way home, another uber random thing happened. We all know that the logo for Dodge is the stylized ram's head, and we all know what it has been likened to look like. So, I'm leaving the hospital and I get behind this truck. It's got the logo on the back, but it is all painted over patriotic-like with an American flag. Let me tell you, a shiny red ram's head looks amazingly like a vagina. I was so disgusted! I had to call Wange to tell her about it (she's a total car person). Man, did we laugh like crazy women!

So there. Those are the high points of my week. Enjoy!

am I a hex?

I apologize to all my friends for all their problems. I'm starting to think that bad things happen to people I care deeply about. I know it's not the case, but one can't help but feel guilty when things are just starting to go well for one's self and everyone else's lives fall apart. I have one friend who lost his wife, one who is getting ready to go through a terrible divorce after near financial ruin, one who got laid off with no warning (after a cross country move no less), and another whose father died with no warning. I wish I could make everyone's pain go away. If any of you need anything, please ask--I'll do whatever I can in my power to help you.

I love you all!

Tuesday

Well, I'm back in big D. Blech. I miss my god daughter and BFF!

I had a rather longish chat last night with the HSBF. It started off normal, but things got a little too comfortable and things were said that confused me. Then he had to ditch me to talk to his most recent ex. Strange. When I got to work this morning, I saw my horror-scope for the day. The clarity you had about your feelings for someone is dissolving a little bit today, but have no fear. This confusion you will be experiencing is a totally normal part of the deliberation process. You have come across new information about them, and it is only natural that this revelation makes you think twice about who you thought they were. No one is perfect, so if you thought they were, you now know you were wrong. Can you still accept them, once you've seen their imperfections. Strange. But then, I know he's not perfect. No one is. I just hoped for more....

the glorious Hill Country

Ah, Fredericksburg, how I love thee!

I don't think I realized exactly how desperately I needed to get away--if even for a long weekend. The past couple of days have been a great respite for my soul. I got to spend time with a dear friend (who actually needed me more than I needed her for once) and the most beautiful little red-headed girl this side of, um, well anywhere! Yesterday the kiddo had a dance recital in Kyle, so most of the day was spent going to and from there. Last night, KB and I hit the town and sat under the sparkling stars while listening to local guitarists play in a bar. Stars, music, Shiner Black, and good conversation. It was a night to remember! I even got hit on by some super cute little young thing (good for my waning ego!). This morning, we actually got up fairly early (considering how late we were out last night), did the breakfast thing, sat on the patio, then hit the road for Lukenbach. What a place! I'd forgotten how ridiculously small it is! For awhile we wandered by a creek and watched the fishlets swim under the huge live oaks filled with Spanish moss. The really funny thing about this side trip was that I got hit on again by some other random cutie. Go fig! KB keeps trying to get me to move down here, so maybe she just planted these guys.... Nah! After that, we came back to town, did the lunch thing, then took the kiddo to some friend's Bday party at the market platz. It would've been a great day had the fire siren not gone off 30 minutes into the party. Keep in mind, this is a tiny town so the fire department is all volunteer. Somewhere there was a fire, so they had to call in the guys--with the loudest siren I've ever heard. Now, after a night of dinner and Scrabble (which is not the best game for a 7 year old to join in), I'm off to bed. I dread having to drive home the 5 hours tomorrow, but there is only so long the boys can take care of themselves.

My soul has been refreshed.

but wait...there's more!

Yes, once again I have found yet another reason hockey is a superior sport. I've got the Stars/Coyotes game on while I'm cleaning the kitchen and getting ready for my F'burg trip tomorrow. The announcers were talking about how the different players bring different things to the game. One of the announcers (Razor) said of one player (I can't remember it verbatim, but the important words remain): "He brings a sagacity of having been in the league for a long time." Sagacity? C'mon! How many footballers or wrestlers (much less their fans) know what in the world that means.

I love hockey. And I think I'm in love with Razor. *swoon*

randomness

Well, it's the end of hump day, and I thought I share some of my random thoughts.

You know you've had too much coffee to drink when you can smell coffee when you pee.
You know you live in Texas when you use the a/c on Monday and the heater on Wednesday of the same week.
I've come to really enjoy chatting online. I can be doing other things around the house, walk past and type something, then keep doing what I'm doing. (yes, I'm new to the 21st century, leave me alone)
I think my clothes have multiplied. I've been trying to go through and "sort" (keep, donate, trash), but the pile never ends. Ergo, the clothes must be self replicating.
As much as I trash Walmart for its icky stores by me and bad employee relations, I love the fact that I can go there on my lunch break and buy a $3 Starter sweatshirt (necessity this week due to the ever-changing TX weather and lack of news watching).
It is good for the soul to get away from work at least once every two weeks for a relaxing lunch (away from the hell with fluorescent lighting).
Why is it when you clean a spot on the carpet you realize what color your carpet should be? Think I'll be calling the professional carpet cleaners soon....

Well, that should be enough to keep you kiddos entertained for a while!