Author: Dackel Princess

Down For The Count

What gets you moving up and out of bed in less than three seconds?

I woke suddenly this morning to the sound of Shubi next to me starting to throw up! I threw back the bed covers and grabbed the dog and literally leapt out of bed and ran, holding my hand under her mouth, into the bathroom. I made it to the sink just in time for her to “get sick”.

Such as it was, my day started.

Yesterday, Hubby went outside with the dogs to toss the ball for them. A few minutes later, the door opened and he stumbled back in. His knee had completely given out on him. He was pragmatic and told me that at least if it had to totally go, it went on the day in-between doctor’s appointments. It’ is so hard for me to see him unable to put any weight on that left knee. The pain etched on his face, makes you twinge.
I got his cane and his crutches so he can get around the house until Monday. I suggested a nice tall brandy for the pain, and then I built a cozy fire in the hearth, and he settled in his recliner.
Greta immediately jumped up and was full of love and kisses for her Daddy. She is quite sensitive to people and their feelings.
We were supposed to go get wood at my cousin’s house on Sunday, but we had to cancel that. Needless to say, my Lumberjack is down for the count.
I sure hope he can get into surgery quickly.

Meg’s Friday Questions

1. If you have a full-time salary paid job and are expected to work at least 40 hours each week, many hours do you really work.. more or less? [Thanks Jimbo!]
As a stay at home wife, I’ll tell you I work more than 40 hours a week! Getting paid? Ha!

2. Which way does your toilet paper roll? Forward or backward? [Thanks MB!]
Forward

3. Whats your favorite candy? pick only one. [Thanks Liz!]
Anything dark chocolate.

4. What book are you reading right now? [Thanks Liz!]
Nothing. Too much going on.

Continue reading “Meg’s Friday Questions”

Your Life Path Number is 6

Your purpose in life is to help others

You are very compassionate, and you offer comfort to those around you.
It pains you to see other people hurting, and you do all in your power to help them.
You take on responsibility, and don’t mind personal sacrifice. You are the ultimate giver.

In love, you offer warmth and protection to your partner.

You often give too much of yourself, and you rarely put your own needs first.
Emotions tend to rule your decisions too much, especially when it comes to love.
And while taking care of people is great, make sure to give them room to grow on their own.

Hubby Update

Hubby and I met his doctor yesterday. We both liked him very much. I think Hubby wishes the news had been better, but he definitely needs surgery on both of his knees. He had a replacement done on his left knee back in 1996, and that knee now has a good sized cyst growing on the bone. They will probably operate on that knee first. His right knee definitely needs a replacement, but the left knee has to come first.
So, Hubby’s ski season is over and he will be in and out of the hospital quite a bit over the next few months. Poor guy, he is not happy at all. I have tried to cheer him up and remind him that we have to take care of this now so he can enjoy the rest of his life pain free and active.
So everyone hold good thoughts for my guy. He really needs them right now.

Hubby’s Knees

I’m taking Hubby to the Orthopedic surgeon today to have his knees examined. We already know that his right knee is in serious need of a replacement, but the one he has already had done is more painful than the other! This is not good. I told him I was going with him to make sure he doesn’t try to act like a tough guy and down-play the pain. Probably the fact that he can’t walk very well will be a big tip-off to the doctor, but I want to make sure that Hubby is well taken care of!
Since our appointment is at a bad time as far as getting lunch, I have packed a picnic. A sandwich for Hubby, with chips and a pickle and a big chef salad for me. We’re leaving the fur babies home so we don’t have to fight them off while we eat!
I’ll post an update either tonight or tomorrow on what they find. I have to get my skiing partner back in shape!

Pedaling Princess

Yesterday I jumped on my exercise bike and headed to no where special. I put in my 24 minutes at level 4 (!) and then came up, drank two large glasses of water, collapsed in front of my computer and waited to cool off.
This proved to be difficult as I sat reading my e-mail and discovered that this site has been hit by spammers once again. Darn it, why don’t they just hang it up and realize that the people who read my blog aren’t interested in their products! They should, perhaps, look for Daddy blogs!
I did the maintenance on Princess to remove their comments and to freeze them out, and then hit the shower. Why I did this, I am still not sure, as I headed out to the grocery store in a driving rain storm and got drenched. I should just have brought my shampoo with me and I could have accomplished two things at once!
With all of this rain, I think it is safe to say I won’t be skiing anytime soon. When we skied the other day, there were so many bare spots, and icy spots that I am sure that all of this rain has simply washed away what little snow there was. (Can you hear me crying?) I was just finding my groove and now it is over, at least until we get a good storm. Since there is no great big snow storm in sight, nor any cold temperatures, I will be forced to use the exercise bike daily to get my workout!

Hubby and Me

Since many of you have written asking questions about my ability to ski so much, I’ll tell you a bit more about Hubby and me.
Hubby is 20 years, 6 months and 13 days older than me. At first Hubby wasn’t at all comfortable with it. I think he felt I should be with someone closer to my own age. The truth was, after I lost my daughter when I was 26, most guys my age just didn’t have the life experience to understand me.
Hubby did.
It took a while for him to understand that I’d rather have whatever years of wonderful with him, than 50 years of nothing special with some guy my age.
We married when I was 29 and Hubby was 49, and we have now been married 18 years.
Hubby worked as a pilot until he retired at age 60 in 1998. In 1999 we moved back to our home state of New Hampshire and built our home.
We both love to ski, to hike and we wanted enough of a yard to have fruit trees and a garden, as well as play area for our beloved pets.
At times I find it is a bit odd to be living in retirement at age 47. The friends we do things with are all older than me, but over the years, that fact has become less and less important. Now, they all look at me as a contemporary.
I love the time Hubby and I have now. We spend our days together sharing life. Skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, but always we’re together. That is so nice.
Even after 18 years, he is the first person I want to talk to or share with or show things to. I feel incredibly lucky that we found each other.

Goodbye Uncle Betty

There we were, my family and I, gathered to say goodbye to my Aunt. It’s a small family now, as we’ve said goodbye to too many of our loved ones. Yet, we sat side by side, sang some hymns and listened to the minister. My cousin Larry spoke about his mother. He did a great job, and he nearly had me in tears. Which was not too good, because I had to speak next. Somehow I cleared my throat, which felt very tight, climbed to the podium and told everyone about my special Aunt, “Uncle Betty“. My voice didn’t falter, and I got through okay, but right at the end, when I finished I suddenly felt like I was going to burst into tears. I couldn’t breath and I had a small sense of panic overcome me. I did not want to cry like that in front of so many strangers. So I held my breath until I sat down with my cousin Janet and I grabbed her hand and held on. I could feel her warmth and her love and slowly I could relax and breathe.
The service ended with the choir singing “Amazing Grace”. It was done as a spiritual, and I just loved it, (I usually cry buckets when I hear that song). This arrangement, however, was so uplifting and fun, that it really lightened the mood.
Jan 15 013.jpg
My cousin, Rikki, my sister, Mel, my cousin, Larry, my mother, me and my cousin, Janet.
After the service, we celebrated Uncle Betty with a buffet (she would have loved that, as she was always the first one there for a “food” event), and we all were telling our favorite stories of her. I got to meet many of our northeast Blogging friends, and at the end of the gathering, I brought in Shubi and Greta to meet everyone.
I’ll miss Uncle Betty so much. She was one of the best parts of this group of people that I call family.