Healing

Wednesday was such a great day as I wrote about last - so true to form Thursday was not so good. But I'm now calling those Healing Days instead of Bad Days. My body knows what it needs to do and my mental timetable means diddly to it.

Besides healing on Thursday, I drove my car! Poor Steve -he had a lens pop out of his glasses so he called home (and woke me up at 10:30! see what I mean?). He has a glasses repair kit here and wanted to know if it had any screws left in it. It did so he said he was coming home to get it. No way was I going to "let him" drive. His eyesight is so poor he wears glasses & contacts at the same time - and the fallen lens was for his "good eye". So I drove the kit to his office and tried to fix his glasses in the parking lot but it required a special screw or something. So I drove him to my eye doctor's, which isn't far away. They very kindly fixed his glasses right away.

Then he wanted to go to Burger King to grab lunch to take back to the office, so we did that. My car still smells like French Fries!

Funny note about food. I'm very surprised it's not bothering me more, not being able to eat my favorite foods just yet. In the weeks before my gall bladder was removed, the idea of enduring that pain put any notion of anything remotely fatty right out of my head. And now, I've eaten stuff with as much as 4 grams fat per serving with no serious repercussions. The first question out of my mouth when I see the surgeon Tuesday will be when can I eat what? When I first visited him he told me I should continue to eat low-fat for two months after the surgery, giving my body time to adjust. When he spoke with Steve after my surgery, he told him I shouldn't eat anything fatty for 6 months to a year! When Steve told me that I thought he was joking. Some clarification is definitely in order. (I told Steve, I think the surgeon is just trying to get me to lose weight, it has nothing to do with my lack of gall bladder.)

Yesterday I never quite got to make any art, which was my number one intention. I did some deskwork, which led to cleaning out some files and lots of shredding. I did laundry. I made a pot of soup with the leftover Wonton Soup from the other night. (Note to self: never put a cup of rice in any soup of any size - it's waaay too much - became porridge like, after absorbing all the liquid!) I made pizza dough in the bread machine so we had pizza for dinner. See paragraph above - I have been craving pizza, I guess. My pizza was made with onions and fat-free cheese. Steve's pizza was made with pepperjack cheese, provolone, chopped leftover Christmas ham, peppers and onions. He raved about his and I could barely choke my down. Until I hit on the idea of making my own pizza I was going to try baking one of our frozen pizzas and take the cheese off of mine, but then I chickened out.

And I have decided that, whenever it is I can eat normally again, my celebration food will be mozarella sticks. I haven't had them in forever!! Fried cheese!! Can you imagine?

Gall bladder-free readers: what was your experience with eating post surgery, time-wise I mean?

I've become so dull, haven't I? When Steve and I were driving from the doctor's office to Burger King on Thursday, I found myself telling him about a bad accident I saw on my way to his office. Fortunately, I stopped myself mid-sentence when I started to tell him there were two road construction sites I had to drive through too. Oh my God! We started laughing at how hard pressed I am to come up with anything intelligible to talk about.

Yep, there were two road construction sites. The first one was on Turk Hill and I had to wait for 3 minutes. There were 4 cars in front of me. The first was a sedan. It was blue. Or was it green? Next was a black SUV.

Arrrrgghh!!!!

We watched the rest of Season 5 of The Sopranos last night. Then I read a bunch of stuff online when I was looking up when Season 6 begins (March) - so my dreams were filled with mob stuff! Not in a bad way, just an interesting continued story way. That whole Tony dream sequence thing in the 2nd to last episode couldn't be over fast enough for me - not my thing. But the episode where Adriana is killed - was so well done. Drea de Matteo deserved that Emmy she won.

I don't think I've mentioned that I bought myself a Tivo unit a few weeks ago, for my studio. I tape a few craft shows, occasionally Phil and Oprah and other things once in a blue moon. I've wanted a DVR for sometime - very cool technology, but Steve wasn't for it because we have plenty of working VCRs. (Odd role reversal, I'm usually the one not wanting to spend money.) Anyway, I love it. I can list the shows I've recorded alphabetically, and blow through a bunch of That's Clever shows in no time flat. For those who don't know, it also has a feature where it will record shows it thinks you might like, based on other stuff you've recorded. Obviously, it's a little dicey in the beginning because there's no history for it to know what you like so I was going to turn that feature off. But it's also recorded some interesting things. Yesterday I watched Jon Stewart's Daily Show for the first time ever. I knew it was an award-winning very popular show - but man, it was laugh out loud funny.

When I started feeling poorly I wanted to move my Tivo out to the family room TV but it requires being hooked up via phone line (for updates) and there isn't an existing phone line handy to that location. So I never did. I was desperate on Thursday to watch some of my recorded stuff that I made myself a nest of quilts and pillows on the floor in my studio so I could watch stuff. That was my Healing Day and sitting in a chair just wasn't cutting it for me. I wouldn't want to do it long term but it worked for then!

Then I got it in my head that I was going to order a DVR through our cable company for our family room TV. It's only $10/month, which I would pay for and I know Steve would just love the technology. We tape about 4 shows during the week that we watch together on weekends and we're constantly juggling tapes between VCRs (some TVs get better local reception than others for some reason we've yet to understand - they all have cable connections). It happened to be the day I drove Steve to get his glasses fixed so I told him about it then - and he was for it! He really just hasn't known how a DVR works to appreciate it until I educated him. I know he'll love it. The new cable DVR box is backordered - they'll ship it to us in a week or so. I can't wait.

Okay, I've about put myself to sleep. Time to shower and start the day!

Finally

Finally - Stefani's back! I feel more like myself today than I have since Friday's surgery. I'm so relieved - I was starting to worry about me. I was worried I'd never have the same stamina and spirit I used to. Whew!

Steve's mom and sister brought food from PF Chang's over last night. His sister flew back to Colorado today and I'd only seen her once this visit. I found low-fat food on their online menu and it was delicious plus I think their visit cheered me up. I sort of was not looking forward to their visit that much, preferring to be a miserable curmudgeon all by myself - turned out it was a nice thing! Plus I have about 2 gallons of won-ton soup to last a few meals. (They brought these flowers over Saturday night, on their way to the family Christmas Eve festivities that Steve and I sat out.)

They commented that I seemed so much better than the last time they saw me - and that clucked me on the head - I realized I AM doing better! I'd been feeling kind of down the last couple of days, not sure if I should be pushing myself harder or if this is just how long it takes to heal 7 holes in your stomach, not to mention the internal healing of the gall-bladder-free spot. One thing I noticed today is that my back muscles tire easily. I guess that's because my stomach muscles are not doing their usual thing for now. I should put "stomach muscles" in quotes because I'm not sure I've had any actual stomach muscles since the late 70s. :-)


Mom stopped over today and brought me these flowers. She called first and asked if I needed any groceries so I had her pick up a couple of things that I was just about to ask Simon to go get for me.

Gretchen called while she was here so they talked, we talked, it was all nice. Dad called shortly thereafter and they could all tell I felt so much better.

These flowers were delivered after dinner - from my work.

And the number 1 sign I'm feeling like myself again? Food pictures! I baked these low-fat Oatmeal Applesauce cookies today. I wanted so badly to stir in some chocolate chips but I was a good girl and used dried cranberries instead. They were moist, sweet and tasty. Not chocolate, but good enough for these days. (I've lost 14 lbs since this gall bladder episode began so there's that.)

I've been having some "staple issues" tonight and feeling kind of tired after today's activities but I'm so proud I've made progress. (I also did laundry and worked on two framed quilted pictures for Mom and Gretchen I didn't get finished before Christmas.)

Still Recovering

I haven't posted because I have nothing to say. I'm trying to listen to my body and use my intuition and hope I'm getting it right. I'm so dang tired all the time - or is it that I'm depressed that recovery isn't quite as bang-zoom as I thought it would be? Each day I feel a little better and each day I move around and do a little more around here. I guess that's the best that can be expected - that each subsequent day shows improvement.

I called the surgeon's office bright and early this morning in hopes of getting an appointment on January 3 for follow-up as he suggested. I cannot wait until this drain thing is taken out of my side - it's totally bugging the shit out of me. So yes, I see him on Jan 3 - and presumably return to work Jan 4. I took the bandages off 48 hours after surgery - I have staples! Ewww. That kind of freaked me out - don't know why. Sometimes that drain rubs on the staples which doesn't feel great.

I slept in bed one night but it's really a lot more comfortable to sleep reclined in the fluffy new chair. There I know I can't roll around and in bed that's all I want to do is roll on my side but that kills so I don't. Steve has been sleeping on the couch in the same room with me - isn't that the nicest thing? We even pull Reggi's bed into the room with us. None of them seem to mind at all and I appreciate the company very much.

I'm way caught up on email and getting there on journal reading so that's been a very good thing. I've missed my online friends when I've been so busy, prior to this gall bladder thing. I've been reading some and watching a little too much HGTV, which I didn't even know was possible. I worked in my studio a tiny bit today and will do more of that tomorrow. Today's work consisted of moving papers around and deleting unwanted shows off the Tivo unit. It's a start.

Simon worked last night - the day after Christmas - the store was open until 11:00 I think. He gave a girl a ride home, then got a speeding ticket in Victor, on his way home. He called me at midnight to tell me. I was too sleepy and incoherent to panic when the phone rang at midnight, thank God. Dumb ass. Guess he's one of those people that needs to get conked on the head a couple of times before the lesson sets in. I don't believe he's in danger of losing his license unless he gets another ticket, points-wise on his license - but that will piss me off royally because that will really hamper my lifestyle, if I need to drive him to work. Meanwhile, he goes to court mid-January and it will cost him a bundle. Serves him right. He's talking about taking the points reduction safe driving class again - I think it might be too soon after he took it last time to get a discount on our car insurance. Maybe he'll pay attention this time!! Jeez. Dumb ass.

Christmas was nice, very relaxed. Steve and I usually spend Christmas Eve with his family but Steve stayed home with me that night. I didn't know he was going to do that - I thought he'd go anyway. It turns out I was still a hurtin' turkey by then, once the euphoria of getting the surgery behind me and "good drugs" wore off - so I was grateful he stayed home.

Christmas day, Simon and I went to my parents house, as did Gretchen, Nick, Paul and Nick's girlfriend, Jill. I ate a little bit - wasn't as tempted as I thought I'd be by the fattier food. Then we opened presents and hung out for a little while. Simon brought me home then went over to Gretchen's to hang with the kids. I immediately took a nap in my chair until Gretchen woke me up with a phone call at 6:00. They all came over and brought the party to me! We played Scene It and Scrabble and Nick, Simon and Jill played a game of Monopoly that went on waaay too long. Gretchen and I were snoozing on the couch by the time that was done.

A very nice, subdued Christmas.

I'm b-a-a-ck.

I think my doctor is a quack! I've got SEVEN holes! "Now where the heck is that gall bladder, I know it's in here somewhere....."

Everything went just fine - surgery was on time - no nausea, no pain yet - back home by 3:00. The place was very quiet, guess most people who have a choice don't opt for surgery 2 days before Christmas. In the recovery room the nurses were singing Christmas songs along with the radio. Okay, at least one was, for sure - I might have been loopy about the rest. But everyone was in a good mood. I liked that.

I had lots of firsts today - never been in the hospital before (except for the colonoscopy a few years ago but that doesn't really count), never been in a hospital bed (kinda hard!), never been wheeled down the hall on a gurney/bed, never been in a wheelchair before. That drain thing I have to wear until I see the doctor next week is kind of a trip. Not so bad, really.

Waking up in recovery was very surreal! I have some wacky dreams every night so it took me a while to sort out if I was dreaming or it was real. Probably true for everyone. Good drugs!

I was truly not nervous about this - just eager to get on with it. But I'll confess, I wrote a letter to Simon, sealed in an envelope and told Steve where it was hidden, only to be given to Simon if I died. I told him how he's the absolute sunshine of my life and even if I'm not here physically, I'll always be watching over him. Told him how proud I am of him, how I love being his mother. Blah, blah, blah. Made me feel better to write it, even though I tell him that kind of thing a lot anyway. Still makes me teary thinking of it now. (Maybe I better save it and read it when he's on my last nerve with his teenagerness!)

Steve's been a great caregiver. We watched some Sopranos on DVD when we got home. He could barely keep his eyes open. Poor guy has been overwhelmed lately, with work, family stuff, me. So I told him to take a nap on the couch and I'd take a nap in the big new, comfy recliner, the most comfortable place I've found. Except I really couldn't sleep much - guess the Darvon makes me kind of speedy. Don't think I'll be taking much of that, if I can help it.

Thanks for all your notes - I really appreciate it!

Early In, Early Out

My surgery time tomorrow has been moved from 6:45 PM to 10:40 AM! I'm very excited about that - get in and get out. Should be home by mid-afternoon, if all goes well.

Simon went to his store to pick up his new work schedule - that boy cannot stay away from the mall, even on days he's not scheduled to work. He be crazy, if you ask me.

Steve is visiting family.

Think I'll spend a few nice quiet Stefani hours reading journals & blogs, by the fireplace, trusty canine and felines by my side.

See you on "the other side"! Thanks for all your support and well wishes. As Gretchen said, I'm about to be welcomed to the GBF Society. (That's Gall Bladder Free Society to you.)

Suspension

The weirdest thing has happened. The part of my brain that knows how to take pictures has taken a hike. The last few times I've attempted to take pictures, they have turned out lousy, even after numerous attempts, and I don't know how to fix them. Weird. Let's hope this passes.

Meanwhile I give you "Suspended Snowflake". I made a batch of these today, most of which are for Steve to give his staff and co-workers. Yes, the ones I thought I was going to make Monday. See what I mean about the "can always do it tomorrow" syndrome? Mom, these are the same ones I made for you but I engineered these a whole new way that is much better. Sorry yours were less than perfect but thanks for being my guinea pig.

I wanted to photograph this, rather than scan it, to show you how the snowflake is suspended on fishing line in the square cut out in the front. The inside of the card is a 3rd blue to provide a different background for the snowflake and to cover the fishing line attachment part.

Today was a good day, therefore once again proving my alternating good day/bad day theory. I finally figured out what my main problem is. I feel like I'm in waiting mode and that's all I can do is wait, nothing else. I'm so mad at myself for not using this gift of time more productively. Then I get off my own back by considering the circumstances and the energy my body requires to contend with this skanky gall bladder. And the mental gymnastics I'm going through are apparently pretty common from what Gretchen says. So overall, I'm just relaxing and going with the flow. Steve always tells me life doesn't have to be all about being productive; down time is good too.

I ventured out for a bit today to buy gifts for my nephews and stock up on more food, largely for me, but for the family as well. This weekend is a scheduled grocery shopping weekend but I know that won't be happening, being post surgery and with the holiday and all. After being home for almost 2 weeks solid, other than the three doctors' appointments, it's weird being out. Kind of overstimulating or something.

I also decided today to stop worrying about what people will think if I leave the house or don't lie around in bed all the time. I've been feeling ridiculously guilty for feeling fairly good this week. Simon calls the fact that I'm on short-term disability this week, a "scam". He's kidding, of course. I decided today that I've already wasted far more brain cells on this guilt than anyone else has ever spent giving my situation any thought. I definitely made the right decision for me, in not working this week. It's just a week of work, not the end of the world, not an indicator of my moral fiber or internal fortitude. It's just a week with a sick gall bladder.

I had to laugh though. My boss called me the other day to see how I was doing and ask me a question about the New York State quarterly sales tax return he was doing in my absence. Simon answered the phone. "Mom, it's for you. It sounds like work, probably checking up on this scam you're pulling!" Yes, he had his finger over the mouthpiece! When I kiddingly got on his case about it, he told me he had his finger over the mouthpiece extra hard, just in case.

Then, did you see Hilari's comment yesterday: Um, aren't you supposed to be in bed with your feet elevated or something? Moaning to loved ones about your suffering in tones so plaintive they appear every ten minutes to fluff your pillows and bring you tea?

That reminds me that I had decided to milk this situation for all I could - and I haven't been! Shame on me! :-)

I haven't, nor has anyone else, mentioned putting up the Christmas tree. I'm the only one who participates or seems to care and until today, I really haven't been in the Christmas spirit too much. Since I'm not sure how I'll be feeling next week, I don't want to put myself in the position of having to take it down either, so we shall have a tree-less year. Not all that uncommon, from people I talk to and stuff I read. But I come from a family of non-traditionalists who don't put a lot of emphasis on holidays, so it doesn't feel all that weird. I almost didn't put the tree up last year but then worried I was scarring Simon for life, so I did anyway.

For a person who tries to lead a guilt-free life, I don't sound all that successful, do I?

Venus & Eight Things

I wrapped Christmas presents today - and ordered Simon's gift online, paying for 2-day shipping because it's sold out locally, per the phone calls I made today. I'm so out of the consumer loop, I don't know what's Hot and What's Not. Guess this is a popular item. Once I had it in my head I wanted to give him a surprise gift (not something he's mentioned wanting) instead of cash, I couldn't let it go. The shipping wasn't that much - and the item shipped today. I'm pleased and I hope he likes it.

I mentioned previously that my family and Steve's family too - are making donations in lieu of gifts to each other, kids excluded. My family is exchanging small gifts - so that there is the whole enchilada.

Quite some time ago, Heather tagged me to post 20 Things About Myself. I'm not good at this sort of thing - so here's 8 things I've had stored as a draft entry. I'm posting it now so I don't lose track of it - and because my days are so dull with the waiting for Friday's surgery, I have nothing else to write about. I did start a batch of cards, 14 of which are for Steve to give to his staff and co-workers. I had plenty of time to finish them today but I've already found how easy it is to get into "I'll do it tomorrow" mode. I could certainly be working faster on getting my own holiday cards out. It's like I've accepted the fact that they will be late so I'm not even trying.

My days have followed a pattern, whether mental or physical - a good day, followed by a not-so-good day. Had the blues today, for sure.

So here are those 8 things, fascinating as they are.

1. It annoys me to see Girl Scouts wearing their sash with street clothes instead of their uniform.

2. I can eat 8 Girl Scout Cafe cookies in the time it takes my laptop to reboot.

3. Being ignored is my number one hot button.

4. Celine Dion is one of my guilty pleasures.

5. Oatmeal, as a cereal, makes me gag.

6. Those giant inflatible yard decorations are tacky as hell.

7. I refuse to put up any Christmas decorations before December 1.

8. I hate when people talk to themselves.

Pretty Venus kept me company today, sleeping on top of my computer desk. Her coloring is so beautiful!

A Good Day

I had a dandy day yesterday! I felt like crap the night before so when I woke up Sunday morning, I was relieved to feel better. I took a shower, did some stuff around the house, read the paper and even ventured briefly outside to go to the credit union and to (unsuccessfully) pick up a Christmas gift for Simon. The boy only wants cash but I saw something in the paper I thought he'd like but they were sold out - expecting more this week. I might be back to cash after all.

I got caught up on all kinds of mail and paperwork - even filed my quarterly Pine Tree Designs sales tax early. I'm balancing my MS Money checkbook now, taking a break to write this.

I had to laugh at myself the other day. Obviously, I've been very careful about what I eat. This is good. Let this be the start of a new beginning. Then I heard a Tofurkey commercial on the radio. Hey, maybe I'll become vegetarian. I could do it. Maybe I need a complete change. I'll become born again about food. That's it!

Then I laughed out loud because I remembered eating pizza in my dream the night before! I was at work and took a bite of cheese pizza and as soon as my teeth clamped down, I spit it back out, "Arrgh!" Then I decided to pull the cheese off and eat the pizza.

(I know vegetarians eat pizza.) (Better go check my pillow, with these eating in my dreams stuff!)

Thanks, Dara, for your note about my new gall bladder free life. Gretchen had told me the same thing. I appreciate it. All the more reason to still watch what I eat, I guess.

I couldn't believe the ads in the paper yesterday - "Pre-Christmas Clearance Sale"?? JoAnn's has 70% off Christmas stuff - with a full week to go? I guess it makes a tiny bit of sense - crafters start Christmas stuff in August. Didn't see anything I couldn't live without.

Here are a couple of blurry photographs of framed paper quilts I made for an order. I finished the 2nd one last week and framed it. I included glass on these, which I don't normally do but I wanted them protected, since there are so many teeny pieces. I was feeling too crappy to keep trying to get better photographs so we're stuck with these until I make more.

Eating is Over-Rated

Eating is definitely over-rated.

I gotta stop this roller-coaster! After the pre-op appointment yesterday, Gretchen and I stopped at Wegmans so I could buy some more no fat/low fat food. I got home around 3:30, made myself a smoked turkey sandwich, chips and salsa and a small scoop of ice cream. Sounds decadent I know but everything was fat-free or had 1 gram of fat per serving. It was SO delicious! I mushed around every mouthful, so happy to be eating something different.

Note to self: tiny "meals" are much better.

I paid for that one all night, well into this morning. More like bloatedness than severe gall bladder pain. Usually food exits my body pretty quickly (sorry!) but not this meal. It stuck around, torturing me, insistent upon teaching me a lesson.

Okay, thanks, got it.

So now I'm not feeling as perky as I have been the last two days. I've been trying to pace myself, knowing I've got a long week ahead of me. This is the emotional roller coaster I need to get off.

I sorted through a large box of mail and stuff that had accumulated - have it all divided into piles: reading material - and high, medium and low priority computer/Microsoft Money related. I don't feel like doing anything except lying on the couch watching TV. Gretchen said she felt like this too when she was in the week before her gall bladder surgery. I thought by getting on the computer (God bless laptops), maybe I'd feel better. Distracted, anyway.

I certainly didn't help myself by not taking my Effexor yesterday morning. (Obviously, I thought I took it.) No wonder I felt all over the place by evening and had a hell of time getting to sleep. Steve drove Lizz's apartment belongings from Indiana to her new place here all day yesterday, lousy weather adding at least 3 hours to his (normally 8 hour) trip. We talked a bunch during the day, but I know my sleep wasn't helped by being worried about him. He didn't get home until midnight but I had gone to bed long before that. Just couldn't turn my mind off. After he finally came to bed around 2:00, naturally he felt to sleep immediately (bastard!) - and proceeded to snore, poor guy. I moved to the couch. He had been sleeping downstairs the previous few days because I was having such trouble sleeping with constant tossing and turning. We finally thought we had our act together. Not yet, apparently.

I'm not sleeping during the day today so hopefully, with Effexor back in my system, Steve back at home and teeny meals; I'll have a much better night. (Even in my myriad of dreams, I was telling people, "I'm having my gall bladder removed in 6 days, 8 hours." Also dreamed I was one of the Olsen twins. Yeah, it was a hellish night alright.)

The pre-op went well; EKG, two vials of blood, lots of paperwork. My biggest concern was would I be able to take the Effexor the morning of the surgery. Yes. But the nurse practitioner said I should stop the Remifemin now. So I'm going to be one Hot Flashy Mama by the time Friday rolls around. Oh well.

I'm disappointed that I don't check into the hospital until 3:45 on Friday. I'm a morning gal, you know! Someone has to take the later appointments and I'm not in severe agony, so there you go - I'll do my part. They'll call me Thursday if the schedule changes so maybe.....

I'm really going to try not to make this blog into Gall Bladder Watch 2005.

I bought myself a Tivo a few weeks ago, for my studio. I really love it! (We also watched American Beauty recently, so now I finally get it, why Weetabix named her Tivo, Ricky Fitts.) I haven't even cracked open the manual yet, the unit is so user friendly. Since I've been sick, I've been watching the butt-load of VHS tapes I've accumulated over time but I'm almost through them. I've asked Simon to help me hook up the Tivo in the family room for next week so I can lie in my nest on the couch and watch some of that stuff I've recorded there.

I've been working on my Christmas cards as I can this past week and will continue with that. So you may or may not see your card before Christmas. The cool thing - I'm not stressed about this at all. It is what it is.

Think I'll read for a bit. My new Expressions came the other day. (Hi Hilari!)

Thanks for all your kind words, comments and emails - and for all the wonderful Christmas cards I've been receiving! They had really stacked up so it was very fun opening them all today. The wall where I hang them is perfectly aligned with my couch nest so I shall continue to enjoy them.

Score!

I had my ammunition all ready for the surgeon today - didn't need it. The good news is the gall bladder shall be removed! The bad news - not until 12/23. I asked if they ever had cancellations and the scheduler said not really. He operates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays so Gretchen said I should call Monday and Tuesday and ask if there were any cancellations.

Gretchen: Why not? Someone could die and would no longer need their surgergy! It could so happen.

Always the optimist, that one. Depending on your point of view, of course.

Gretchen was a great distraction today, yak, yak, yakking about herself for hours. Jeez Louise, woman! Stop making me laugh.... which only egged her on more.

We're taking our show on the road again tomorrow - she's going with me for the pre-op stuff. God, she loves to torture me.

I felt so high after the appointment, now that we have a plan. It actually took me a few hours to realize it was only my head feeling better; my gall bladder still sucks.

I'm taking next week off - using short-term disability. I felt a little initial guilt, and not for any good reason that I could think of. See above paragraph about gall bladder still sucking - no more guilt. That's what it's there for, silly goose!

I must say I was a little surprised that Simon wasn't more joyous about the timing of this surgery. A couple of years ago he had four wisdom teeth removed on 12/23 and "totally ruined" his Christmas. Paybacks really are a bitch.

What a Week

Whew, what a week, for sure.

I've been out of work all week with gall bladder issues, as I like to say. It started Saturday night. I thought it was over and it flared again Sunday afternoon, as the result of eating something, nothing out of the ordinary fat-wise. I stayed home Monday to make sure I was really okay. It didn't get better so I went to my doctor Monday afternoon. I actually didn't see my regular doctor, but his partner, whom I've seen before. Because I don't have a fever and the pain isn't excruiciating, it seems it's not infected. He spoke with my regular doctor who suggested I consult with a surgeon to see what the next step is. Glory hallelujah!

So I've been miserable all week. I eat maybe once a day and that doesn't stay with me, if you catch my drift. The doctor said I could take Tylenol so I've been doing that religiously, around the clock. I've been sleeping a lot, in order to ignore the pain (which isn't severe but is constant) and to pass the time until my appointment Thursday morning with the surgeon. Gretchen very kindly offered to go with me, which I accepted.

Poor Steve is beating himself up because he's going out of town on Thursday - a trip that really can't be rescheduled due to various reasons. (Gretchen didn't know this was the weekend Steve is going out of town, that's just how nice she is, to offer.) I would never ask him to change it - it's too complicated and already arranged on both ends of his trip. He says, best case scenario, he'll be home Friday, so we'll see.

I told Gretchen yesterday my biggest fear is that my gall bladder isn't "bad enough" to warrant surgery. She said she felt the same way a couple of years ago when she had hers removed. Poor thing, she was in FL on business when it happened and had to fly home in that condition. I feel so crappy and weak, I can barely function for 15 minutes without getting exhausted and have to lie down again.

Good news, there is some. At last check, I've lost 10 pounds. No matter how much sleep I get, I seem to wake up just in time to watch Martha every day. I'm kind of getting hooked on her! Damn, I was thinking I had more good news - can't think of it now. It's 3:30 am and I couldn't get back to sleep so I got up to post this. I've been sleeping so much I can't tell day from night anymore. And my 15 minutes is about up so back to bed I go.

I'll post again after my appointment with the surgeon. Please, oh please, let him do the right thing and do it quickly. I've gotten on a couple of crying jags this week - I know, big surprise. Releases the stress, don't you know? I'm sick of feeling this way and I miss ME!

Please send healing vibes my way. This invalid stuff is for the birds - I want to be my perky, productive self again!

Birthday Card

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Birthday Card for our CEO.
He loves orange.

This card size is two full sheets of (my new!) cardstock.
The entire Rochester office will sign it.
I used Yam, Pumpkin and Cantaloupe.
I've always said these colors are good enough to eat!

I love my new stamp. It's Outlines Rubber Stamps all the way, baby!

It's Here!

It's here!!! 41 packages of 50 sheets each = 2050 sheets of paper in glorious living color!!!

Copper paper, gold paper, vellum, mulberry and a combo pack of 5 colors.

The thing on top is an accordian card, if you will, which comes in that tied cover. I bought 4 of these - they are perfect for a group signing (like we do at work) or when the card is the gift, with each page all decorated up nice.

Oh no! I just realized. Now I don't want to open the packages or use them! They are too perfect. Guess I'll start slow. Tonight I'll have fun reorganizing my paper sorter to make room for this new paper.

Breathe, Stef, breathe.

Family Room

Oh look! It's Verona, skulking past the scene of the crime. No one's talking but she's the only animal that pays any attention to this asparagus fern, so I'm quite sure it was she who knocked the stool over so the plant landed 100% upside down. The good news is that thing is so completely potbound that this is the only dirt that fell out. It's actually 2 ferns that I bought for 25 cents each at the end of summer 2004. I have repotted it a couple of times but it becomes potpound about 5 minutes later. I can't remember for sure but isn't this one of those plants that likes to be potpound?

I understand this plant has some low toxicity to it but I haven't seen Verona eat any of it; she just plays with the fronds and hides under the stool, thinking no one can see her. If she keeps up her recent behavior, I may just make her a little fern snack however. Verona, or Sleepus Interruptus, as I'm now calling her, has insisted on waking me up the last three mornings, ranging from 3:55 to 4:15. She touches my face with her paw, she licks my fingers, hands and arms like I'm a giant lump of catnip and she moves my hand to her head with her paw. It's cute as hell, just not at 3:55 am! After I finally extracate myself from her, I lie there for 5-10 minutes, covered with cat spit, trying to get back to sleep, to no avail.

(That line is a cat toy on a string, hung from the doorway. And that's Venus, the totally sweet, innocent cat in the family.)

This is a picture of our new-to-us family room. This room connects to our dining room, now known as The Pet Room (pictures in a future entry) so I'd like to paint them two complimentary colors, to be determined. When we moved in, all the walls in the house were painted this very pale blue - almost a blueish white I guess - with this blue carpeting throughout. When we moved the furniture we saw how much we've worn down the carpeting - amazing. We're going to take down those curtains and install white mini blinds. Cringe if you must, but we like white mini blinds throughout the house. Because we have no close neighbors, we leave them open, pulled up, most of the time. These curtains are closed now because it's Christmas Tree season which means Reggi spends waaaay too much time barking at the people parking in front of our house and the people wandering out behind our back yard. Oh well, one month each year, living in a cave isn't too much to bear, to get to enjoy living surrounded by a tree farm the other 11 months of the year.

That recliner in the foreground is older than Simon. In the other room, it sort of became Reggi's chair. Now Steve sits in it and has realized how old and worn out it is. We're looking to replace it but waiting for the right thing at the right price.

El cheapo coffee table, Yankee Candles and ugly (free) pillows. Simon hates that this couch is supported, under the cushions, by a piece of plywood. I say, it doesn't show and is functional. I don't have money for new furniture, I have a paper habit to support. Where are the boy's priorities??

Plants and candles in front of the big windows. This was a bedside table in it's first incarnation - matched our headboard, back in the day. Simon's dad has the headboard and the other table. I'd like to ask him if he's using the table because I'd love to have it. We'll see. (Guess I could have shown you the whole thing, eh?)

This is what's known as a "In Front of the TV Holiday Card Making Station". I make about 100 and expect I'll be able to mail them before Christmas this year - what a concept! Not bad for getting a late start when I learned that the really cool ones I was going to buy were backordered forever and a day. If you'd like me to send you a card and you know you're not on my list, please email me, using the link in my profile.

Nosy Nate is Verona's other name. I finally got to bring one of my two quilt racks out of storage to use in the family room. Mom made the afghan, my Granny made the purple quilt and there's another one under there made by me. This placement works out pretty well because we used to have our stereo there with that stained glass window cling above it. I still like the window cling but it looked dumb without something below it because it doesn't fill the window. This quilt rack fills that bill and blocks the view which is just the side of the hot tub.

Tuesday

Check out Peter Callesen's paper artwork!

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I received this picture with the story that it's a bridge/tunnel combo platter between Denmark & Sweden. You know I had to verify it with Snopes - turns out it's real - but in/on a river in Virginia. There are a bunch of fun facts about it at that link. For instance, drivers don't lose radio reception in the tunnel because their communication system rebroadcasts all local AM & FM stations. Cool stuff.

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Here are a couple of things from our mantle in the living room. Jen made that mitten candle holder for me for Christmas a few years ago. Those little mittens are wood, each one is painted differently. I bought that little snowman votive holder - I'm ashamed to say it was made in China. A bunch of the other stuff is handmade though, she says defensively.

Steve's aunt painted the snowmen on this glass candle holder. I bought the primitive snowman when I rented at Celebration Gifts. A couple of vendors sold primitive stuff there and it kind of grew on me. I bought that little red church in the background, at a craft sale years ago.

This Frosty book is from Simon's childhood but this exact version is reminiscent of mine as well. That wooden snowman in front of the book, lost his orange nose when I unpacked him and I've yet to glue it back on. The blue tea light holder with the glittery snowflakes was a gift from my friend Kim, who is the Queen of All Things Glittery. Steve's mom gave me that glass tealight holder in the front. The little round ones scattered throughout are from Ikea. I noticed some at Mom's house the other day and I bet Gretchen has some too.

Saturday

Thanks to Jeannie, for telling me about the podcast for Bruce Springsteen's 30th anniversary of Born to Run. I listened to a couple of minutes - sounds like it's the DVD that's available, the same as we saw in the theater the night before the DVD was released. I saw in the TV Book that the concert portion is on PBS Tuesday - at 9:00 or 10:00 - check your local listings. If you can get past wanting to jerk that stupid hat off Bruce's head, this is some fantastic concert footage!

Please check out Jeannie's photos linked above - she is amazing. Dad - I think you especially will enjoy all of her nature photographs.

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The page for my holiday cards is up. I only have a link to it on the home page - will be fixing the rest after I post this entry. Buy early, buy often! Free shipping!

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I went to two craft shows yesterday; Lordy, there were a lot available! One was an open house at a row of artist studios off Turk Hill Road in Fairport. I know one of the artists and have always wanted to see what those spaces look like. I have no need to rent a space - just wondered how big and how much. I bought this polymer clay pin - her show special - to wear on my coat. I'm quite sure that center piece is a cane; they just fascinate me. The canes are built with ropes of clay, then reduced by rolling and squeezing. She sliced a thin slice and applied it over a round white clay disk. I've seen people make amazing faces and all kinds of detailed work with canes. Cool stuff.

I then went to the show at School 46, off Blossom Road. I worked that show with MJ last year and she asked me to work with her this year. I agreed to, but only for a few hours because I was going to Geva Theater in the afternoon. Turns out she didn't need me, which was really just fine with me. I went to check it out and get the organizer's name and phone number. MJ had one of her snowman designs machine embroidered on her denim jacket - it was exquisite! She said the woman who did it for her is working on a pattern for it, which MJ will then sell. Great idea!

I also went to say hi to Holly since we've been emailing about our websites. I bought a piece from her at the Museum & Science Center show, as a gift and deeply regretted not buying something for myself. I went with the idea that I'd buy something reddish since I tend to gravitate towards blue/green/purple/turquoise all the time. And I wear a good deal of red. Man, the choices are numerous and the decision was hard! I ended up buying a piece, for a pendant, that has red in it but lots of other colors.

We were commiserating how difficult it is to keep up with updating our websites and she told me she has people 'stalking' her website and buy stuff the minute she puts it up! I should be so lucky!

I'll post pictures of both glass pendants later.

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I met Lynn and Linda at Geva - we saw Shear Madness which was just wonderful! The smile never left my face the entire time and it was laugh outloud funny a lot. It was cool because the characters were onstage when we arrived and stayed onstage during intermission. It's one of those audience participation plays, which turned out to be okay. The characters talk to the audience from the stage - that kind of participation. There were lots of local references and some were very current. Lots of fun.

We went to The Olive Tree Restaurant for dinner. We had a coupon in our Geva brochure for a free appetizer and it's very close to the theater. We had planned on going to the Dinosaur BBQ but there's a notoriously long wait and this was 6:30 Saturday night so we changed plans. We wanted someplace relatively quiet where we could talk, you know?

The food was good - we split a 3 meatball appetizer with lemon egg sauce. I had dish I couldn't pronounce but it was chicken and vegetables in a filo pastry - divine! I ate about 3/4 so I brought the rest home.

Oh - and Steve and I went to dinner at Otto Tomato, in Victor, on Friday night, after work. I had Penne Alfred with Grilled Chicken - and there some of that in the refrigerator too! I guess I know what I'm eating today.

I took some close-ups of the snowmen and snow-related stuff on the mantle but I'll show those another day.

New Living Room

First - old business. All the people that want me to paint their rooms - sure! I have some conditions though. I have to bring Gretchen because she's really the pro - with colors and ideas. I'm just a wannabe. You don't even have to pay us - but please pay for airfare and put us up in your home, wait on us hand and foot and treat us like the queens we think we deserve to be. Deal?

In the ladies room pictures the other day, what I didn't show you was the god-awful orange sink. I told you the walls were orange tile - and you saw the floor and urinal are yellow. This place screamed 70s. No, Ann Marie, we are not going to paint the urinal, though we considered it! We are, however, going to paint the sink! A former employee found special paint, made for this, which we could have tinted but we're going to use as is, white, I think it is. I'd asked our building dude to find that paint for me because I thought I'd do that last Friday too. I just got it yesterday so I'm not sure when that project will take place. Maybe one of the slow days before or after Christmas.

And sorry, Krissie, I don't remember the name of the blue - I think it was Behr paint? We've thrown the paint chips away or I'd tell you. You know I like it a lot when I decided to change the color of my web page to match!

Marilyn asked for pictures of our living room and family room switcheroo. Here are a few for today. I don't have befores, just these afters.

This is the corner of the now living room, where the TV used to be. That colorful thing on the wall is a wall air conditioner that we don't use anymore, now that we have central air. Eventually I suppose we'll remove it and have the wall patched but that just seems like way too much work and expense now. It has a white quilted cover on it but I found this fabric in my stash the other day and remembered how much I like it. I used it to make a flag for the deck a couple of years ago. I just have two small strips so I tucked them under the elastic of the white cover, just to see. I think I like it. I'm thinking that thing was an eyesore either way, so better to embrace it's eyesoreness!

To no one's surprise, the fountain has become a drinking fountain for the cats. There's a blue bulb in that lamp - Steve's idea, no less - for a little ambience. The black picture above is one I made in a class I took at the stamp store that no longer exists. It was taught by a woman from Magenta, one of my favorite stamp companies in the whole wide world. It's 3" squares of paper, inked and stamped with Magenta stamps. Doesn't it just call my name? It's Magenta, it's squares lined up!

This is the mantle, draped with blue fabric, which displays my snowy and snowman things, with Koray, Lizz's beta fish on the far right. I see now I should probably take closeups of some of the snowmen. Some of them are candles plus there's about 6 white tealights in clear glass holders. That's a string of white lights behind the whole thing. I'm looking for something winterish to replace that goose quilt picture. I bought it and a couple of small ones at a craft show eons ago. Hmmm, little squares all lined up - are we seeing a pattern here??

More to come. (I'm working on keeping my entries shorter. Lotsa luck. Why do you think I titled my journal "And Another Thing . . . "?)