So, I am doing pretty well. I am finding it inconvenient more than anything. As long as I keep the hand quiet and not used, it’s okay. One thing is for sure, I am glad it’s over.
Today I actually walked Lili, made my coffee and got refills, dressed myself, answered email, and made my own lunch. All with my left hand, but still I am proud.
I am so happy that the surgery is over and from here on out, it’s only going to get better!
Friday found my hand going under the knife. Since I know my doctor well (she did both my Carpal Tunnels), I was actually relaxed and calm before. She is such a gifted lady.
My neighbor drove me, and this was nice. It gave us time to chit chat and get to know each other better. I cannot begin to tell her how much I appreciate her taking such good care of me.
The numbing agent took a very short time to work and then she lay me down, draped my arm and twenty minutes later, the surgery was over, the hand wrapped, and off I went with a pain prescription, and instructions.
I felt a little light headed, but okay. We drove back, got my prescription, and then home. I grabbed a pillow to rest my arm, and relaxed.
I fell asleep after lunch, and when I woke, all the Novocaine had worn off. Oh my gosh, the pain was so bad! I took the medication, sat down and did some deep breathing.
I slept some in the night, but this morning, I still have quite a bit of pain. But it is over and will only get better from here.
I was just hanging up the phone, this morning, when my hand gave out, and I dropped the phone and it hit my coffee cup, which went airborne, and splattered half a cup of coffee around the table, the floor and worst of all, across my laptop.
I sprang into action, unplugging the machine unplugging the battery, and then I began praying.
Good thing I did. My computer is up and running and I am heaving a sigh of relief! Let’s just hope my hand surgery goes as well.
Wish me luck!
The summer of 1989 Hubby had a temporary assignment in Berlin, Germany with Pan Am. He and two other pilots flew over this A-300 Airbus to be used to bring vacationers out of Berlin to various European destination. It was before the Wall came down, so essentially, West Berlin was a closed city.
This is the A-300 Air Bus that Hubby was flying back then.When he flew it across the Atlantic from New York, the company allowed me to accompany them. It was one of the most amazing times in my life, as I was able to prepare their meals, like a Flight Attendant, and witness St. Elmo’s Fire.
The plane we flew over.
Here we are at Spandau, having a meal and of course, a wonderful German Beer!
The Girls standing against the Wall in a fairly safe place. Since they were both out of school, we brought them over to Berlin for a month. I am so glad we did.
The girls, Mandy and Hubby’s daughter Jessica, looking over the Glienicke Brucke. This famous bridge was used as the back drop in many movies made about the Cold War. In “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold” the bridge was used as the back drop where Spies were exchanged.
At Check Point Charlie, when it was still active.
I grew to love Berlin. I told Hubby if he ever had a chance to get transferred there, I would gladly go. We had a flat near the downtown area, and it was wonderful.
In my heart, I will always be a Berliner. I think my German Grandfather would have loved that!
Tuesday provided a day filled with incredible weather. Incredible strange and incredibly bad! It all started off with another hot and humid day, like all the others we have had the past week.
By noontime, the clouds began to move in, and the winds whipped up and we had the first of three strong thunder storms.
To our south they had terrible wind, rain and hail. At the end of the day, after three storms like that, you breath a sigh of relief that you made it through, and that no one was hurt.
In fact, in the evening, as the sun finally set, we were gifted with a beautiful sunset, and one full rainbow and the beginning of another. Reminding us, that God does in fact, love us.
The weekend went by far too fast, and this actually extended into Monday, as well. I’ve been trying to get caught up with miscellaneous cleaning jobs before Friday, and yet, I am saving the thorough vacuuming until Thursday.
Why, you might ask? Because all I have to do is vacuum the house, Lili will come into the room, sneeze and it seems all her hair comes flying out of her body and covers the floor.
The other last minute item, is the changing of our sheets. I want to do it on Thursday because it will be a bit until I can do it again.
Last night was a celebration at my neighbors. One of her daughters had a birthday, and the other leaves for Dhaka, Bangladesh to teach for the next year. She has been doing this for some time, and has been to Turkey, India, China and now Bangladesh. Quite a resume.
Anyway, cake was eaten, champagne drunk, and great talking! I love these types of events.
Today I dip my head, in the fountain of youth, and afterward stop at the dollar store to buy paper products, so Hubby isn’t overwhelmed with clean-up while my hand recovers.
So, off I go to start the day!
All weekend long, I have gotten the feeling that I am greatly loved. Who, you might ask, is snuggling up to me and showing me copious amounts of love?
If you guessed the dogs, you would be correct. I think they sense a disturbance in the force. Somehow they know, that this week is the week that the nasty, tricky, trigger, finger will be repaired.
The dackels are constantly by my side and even Lili has been staying close. I feel loved. I feel their warmth. Most of all, I feel reassured.
I’ve told them all that it isn’t a big deal. A quick twenty minute surgery and snip, snip, all will be well. Then it is just the recovery time.
So now, it’s the countdown. Laundry, meals put up and ready to go and sheets changed.
Hope you all have a great week!
Today I am writing about my dearest friend, Carol. I met her 8 years ago, and she quickly became one of the most important women in my life.
Carol is an identical twin. Her sister is named Carolyn. I cannot recall how many times I have teased her about this. After all, back when she was born, times were different. And with an identical twin, she may actually be Carolyn and not Carol at all! (lol)
She has told me many stories of her mother, affectionately called Ma, and I wish I’d gotten to meet her. She sounds like an amazing woman.
Carol is always a phone call away. She is never too busy to answer a call, or listen to my happy chattering, or hold me in her arms when I cry.
I’ve told her many times, that she is not just a friend, but a second mother to me. Someone who loves me regardless of my short comings.
She has said I am another daughter for her. I wasn’t looking for her, and she wasn’t looking for me, and yet, there we were eight years ago falling into each others paths.
Sometimes I believe that God finds people we should have in our lives. So he drops us into a situation and then lets us see how things work out.
So it was with Carol and I. We met, and decided that we really wanted to be in each others life.
What a blessing that has been in our lives.
1) Blanch your beans in boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and cool. Set aside.
2) Combine all the non-vegetable ingredients except for the oil (vinegar, sugar, lemon juice, herbs, spices, water, etc.) in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Briefly remove from the heat and add the oil. After combined, stir in the vegetables and bring to a simmer. Turn off the heat and let cool; refrigerate for at least 12 hours. (***This step is necessary to make sure that the vinegar actually penetrates the beans, making them safe for a water-bath canner.***) I usually let them set overnight.
3) When the beans are almost done marinating, prepare your canning supplies. Clean and sterilize 4 pint jars. Prepare a boiling water bath and heat the lids.
4) Bring the vegetable mixture to a boil. Fill the jars with the solids, then cover with the hot liquid, leaving a 1/2″ head-space. Cover with two-piece lids (remember, you can reuse the jars and rings, but use fresh lids every time) and process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Set on a double folded dish towel. You should hear the lids thunk down, letting you know they have properly sealed.
Another week has flown by, and also another month. 2015 is racing past me. The funny thing is, as a child I recall thinking how long time was. A day seemed to last a year and a year…forever.
Now, here I am in my middle years, and I’m quite shocked at how quickly time passes us.
Okay, here is my Friday Five, on this the last day of July.
