The Year In Review

I was going to publish an END OF YEAR NEWSLETTER, I had stories written, picked out all these pictures, created this collage, but I stopped right before I sent it out. Instead I thought I'd recap the highlights here and post the pictures!! Hope you enjoy it!



1. Moved to San Diego, got a GREAT job!!
2. Tamara visited us in July for her birthday, BIG FUN!
3. Beka moved in with us in May and started college.
4. Jake and Michelle got married in October!!
5. Got to travel all over So. Cali and see the sights!
6. For Christmas, I received the BEST present EVER - a high powered, computerized, professional-type telescope!
7. Sherry came to visit us in April.
8. Had reconstructive foot surgery in December.
9. Rollie started dialysis in July.
10. Made some friends!
11. Went to Las Vegas and won!!

Enjoy the pics!

"Here's all you need to know about men and women: Women are crazy, and men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid."

-- George Carlin

I LOVE MY LIFE!!!

Do you love your life? I sure LOVE MINE!! I have many things going for me and even though it's not perfect, it's damn close!! Closer than I've ever been before!

I mean, I have the love of my life back after 30 years and I have to tell you it's AMAZING!! We are so much in love even after all these years. If we had stayed together, we'd be celebrating our 35th anniversary this year!! And to be honest, we feel like it's always been this way. We were madly in love in the 70's and are still madly in love. It's cRAzY, I know, but we really have loved each other all this time and still do. We've only been living together for 1 1/2 years right now, but it's GLORIOUS!! I can't imagine my life without him.

And you know, he overlooks all my "idiosyncrasies" and loves all parts of me. I feel the same about him and it's wonderful.

I've waited my whole life to be loved like this and now I have it and I'm not letting it go. I am going to cherish him, love him, and take care of him no matter what! It's more than wonderful!!

And you know, the kids love him, the girls live with us and they think he's great! They see how much he loves me and that makes them very happy. All-in-all, he did manage to put things back together and make it all right!! Thanks, honey!!

"Here's all you need to know about men and women: Women are crazy, and men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid."

-- George Carlin

moving update

We're moving in a couple weeks. I am so excited because it's so great. And in the meantime, I totally lucked out and bought a patio set for $50!!! I LOVE IT!!

Moving is a hassle, hopefully this will be the last move for a while. Or until we move to Cincinnati. So, I'll post some pictures of our new digs when we get in there to take pictures on 2/5. Furniture getting moved in on 2/10. Boxes and clothes all week up til Sat and all week after as needed.

Have a great weekend!!

"Here's all you need to know about men and women: Women are crazy, and men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid."

-- George Carlin

The weekend is here

I'm so glad that it's the weekend. It's been tough going to work with my foot hurting. But I made it an entire week, I stayed all day every day and that's whats important. I tackled some big projects, got quite a bit done and am well on my way to leading a few teams to successful delivery. I have some hard deadlines to meet and some of the teams are VERY hard to "herd" - but I will drive drive drive if I need to!!

The one thing that's fun for me over the weekend is that I use my DVR and record many of my favorite TV shows and then watch them early Sat morning, while he's doing laundry. Of course, once we move, the laundry will be in the garage and can be done as needed :) but until then, he's been going by himself because of my foot. He does a great job, so I don't fear everything coming home "pink"!!!

Speaking of my foot, it continues to "look" better, but of course I can't see inside. But I believe that whatever is going on inside my foot will be reflected outside. So, I'm being very optimistic, claiming the healing and waiting to see what happens when I go to the Dr. Wednesday. I would like to be told that it's "all good" and I can soak my foot or something to help ease the pain in my big toe joint. You would think that I'm used to it, since it always hurt before the surgery and I walked on it anyway. But not now, I am still following EVERYTHING the surgeon said to do because I want to come out of this with a wonderful looking and functioning foot. :)

We have no big plans for the weekend: running out to the farmer's market, taking Tamara out to fill out applications, get a Rx filled, cook ham and bean soup with cornbread, watch football, keep packing boxes. Pretty soon the apt will be full of packed boxes!!! All ready to move out starting 2/5. Geez, it seems so far away but I know that it's not.

Hope you have a great weekend!

"Here's all you need to know about men and women: Women are crazy, and men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid."

-- George Carlin

Foot update

Just a quick update on my foot: went to the Dr. yesterday, he was not too happy about the infection in my foot and the instructions I received to go to Urgent Care of Primary Care. But all in all, he's definitely keeping an eye on it, and today is the first time that I can honestly say it looks better! THANK GOD! If the antibiotics don't clear it up, then surgically removing it is the last resort. I really don't want that.

My instructions are to still prop it up, stay off of it as much as I can, take the rest of my antibiotics and rest as much as I can. So, following Dr's orders, I'm working from home this morning, propping it up when I do go in and limiting how much I'm on it.

Appreciate your thoughts and prayers on this. It would totally suck if I had to have another surgery. YUCK

"Here's all you need to know about men and women: Women are crazy, and men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid."

-- George Carlin

New Quote

Got a new quote that I love from one of my favorites George Carlin! Enjoy!

"Here's all you need to know about men and women: Women are crazy, and men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid."

-- George Carlin

still fighting the pain

The foot doesn't seem any better or any worse. I don't know what to make of it really. I guess Tuesday will be the deciding factor.

Also, today it became apparent to me that I have to move a little quicker on therapy for my oldest. She has been out Wed, Fri, Sat, and today. And she's only been here since Tues night. I don't mind if she goes out, but this is a little much. Then today she went out to watch the Chargers game and then came home and wanted to go somewhere else just because it is early. I'm not too happy about that at all.

So, I know tomorrow is a holiday for most people around town, but I will find the number for my EAP benefit and get calling. It's too important to wait.

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

-- Colin Powell

Surgery Recovery

It's been a ride this week!!

Monday, 1/8: got the pins removed, taken out of that bulky ortho boot and into a reg ortho boot which is much nicer, was released to drive and work starting Wed, allowed to take a shower on Tuesday night without a plastic bag! Wow, what a great recovery........

Tuesday, 1/9: can't walk, totally swollen, suffering in excruciating pain just like the first day of my surgery. Called Dr's office, attributed pain and swelling to trauma from pin removal. Was home alone all day, couldn't even get out of bed to get a drink. I stayed in bed, slept through the pain.

Wednesday, 1/10: swelling down a little. showered but wow, the water was like pins and needles on my foot. I stayed in bed again all day, worked from home. that night, the "scab" didn't look right and upon cleaning it, it opened and oozed (sorry, it's gross) some gross yellow stuff. when I pushed a little on my foot, the pus was oozing out. GROSS!!

Thursday, 1/11: called the Dr office as soon as they opened. Then the following course of events ensued:

1. went to work, got a call back, explained my symptoms, was instructed to get an urgent care or primary care appt.
   
2. Blood pressure was high - wonder why? Temperature was high - gee, can you say "infection"?
   
3. One Dr and Three Nurses took a look at my foot individually. Funny, their reaction was the same, they GASPED loudly and said, "OH MY GOD!" Great.........just what I wanted to hear. They must have missed that part of the class about "BEDSIDE MANNER".
4. Dr cleaned up my foot with Betadyne
   
5. OUCH! - antibiotic shot in the hip
6. Wrap up my foot - nothing personal against the nurse, but you should have seen this wrap job. OY!! while wrapping my foot, two nurses were saying these things to me, "Oh, Dr. Pfeiffer wouldn't want you here today with us. Oh No, he wouldn't want us touching your foot. He would not be happy. You should not have come here." WOW!!!
   
7. OUCH! - blood draw in right arm elbow bend for CBC
8. picked up TWO antibiotic prescriptions from the bitchiest Pharm-Tech on the planet!!
   
9. 2 HRS LATER!! Got the hell out of there and went straight home
   

During my drive home, I decided to call the nurse in the surgeon's office back since those other nurses made such a BIG DEAL about my being there. Here's the events that followed that decision:

1. Talked to Penny, she seemed to start back-peddling and telling me that I should go to the ER and see the Ortho Dr. on call. OR maybe I should wait, go to the nurses clinic in the morning get my wound checked and then go down to the Dr's main offices at Zion (like Clifton in Cincy) for their opinion. But, maybe I shouldn't wait, yes, definitely go to the ER tonight. blah blah blah.....
2. Went to the ER, prayed all the way there, scared shitless, expected the worst
   
3. Saw the Ortho guy
4. OUCH! got an IV in my left arm elbow bend
5. OOOH, got a morphine shot in my IV - wow, that was VERY different than in the hospital. The Dr said it was because of the level of pain I was in. Morphine just makes the pain bearable but not for everyone, It was such a weird feeling - like a huge bag of flour, breaking and dumping on my chest all at once - but not hurting, definitely soft, but all over at once. OOOH!
6. NO Ouch - drew blood from the IV for more CBC's and other tests
7. Dr was pressing and squeezing on my foot - good thing for the morphine - nothing would come out
   
8. They ordered a bed for me and I really thought I'd stay, get IV antibiotics, possibly have it opened in a surgery room. SCARED!!
   
9. got X-Rays - they were fine, looked good, NO Bone Infection
10. blood tests came back and everyone was perplexed - NO INFECTION ANYWHERE IN MY BODY - What the heck!! The infected area was at least 5" x 4", red, squishy white and you could easily see it. EVERYONE agreed it was infected EXCEPT the blood tests.....that could lead me to only ONE conclusion!! THANK YOU FATHER, GOD!! I prayed that he would just take this infection from me and by the time I got to the hospital the tests proved that he took it away. I still have symptoms, improving, but no infection!!
    
11. Got released for the night!!

Whew!! All I had to do was go to the Nurse's Clinic today and have them "look" at my wound and make sure the infection is receding. And it is.

Seeing my surgeon Tuesday morning - wow! what a week!! TGIF!! HEHE!!!

Another Day in Paradise

TGIF!!

That's a funny saying for these days, isn't it? TGIF! Why? Seems like most people are super busy over the weekend, cramming in housework, laundry, grocery shopping, movies, running around here and there. We are so good at being a Weekend Warrior. And to support the "Weekend Warriors" and all of the things they want to do, places to go, people to see, it requires people to work. So, for some people, Friday is not a big deal, maybe even it's a day of the week they dread because maybe they have to work doubles all weekend, or have to go to their second job or maybe their third!!

And with the minimum wage rates going up, I wonder if all the "Weekend Warriors" will continue to spend their money and support all the minimum wage workers jobs by paying higher prices for hamburgers, tacos, beer, car washes, amusements parks, and all other places that serve the public and will have to raise their prices in order to pay people more. Unless of course, you live in San Fran and work at Starkist or Chicken of the Sea - click on these words to ready story!

Happy Weekend!!

worked from home today

Still don't know why, but my foot is so swollen that I can't put any weight on it. It's a total bummer, so I worked from home today, but would have preferred to be in the office. I know my presence is required, sure makes life a little easier. I managed to shower, do the toe exercises the Dr. suggested and walked around the apt a little, but that's about it. BUMMER! Hoping tomorrow will be another day of less pain!!

I am hunting for a bed for Tamara's room, have plenty of time to find one - need it after Feb 5th when we have the keys to the new place. I'm trying to get rid of stuff that we don't need to move that we don't use. Including my stereo. I would like a small unit - something that uses my iPod as the music input, like the Bose system. I'm going to look around and try to come up with something like that. Then I guess I'll buy my music from the iTunes store.

Hoping to move into the new place the weekend of 2/10. Some of our Marine friend's are going to help us, so I have to be sure they know the date. I'm going to supply beer and food for them! And a truck that we have to rent from UHaul, I guess. It's going to be a good time getting moved in and settled into our new digs. I'm going to hang everything on the walls, unpack everything I brought from Cincinnati-some of it I haven't laid eyes on since I packed it "oh so long ago"! I didn't keep much, but the things I did keep had special meaning to me.

I'll post pics of the new place when I can get in there to take them.

If you can pray for my foot, I would appreciate it. I have two prayer requests: the immediate - swelling and pain to decrease quickly, long-term - that the "memory" in the cells is forgotten and it doesn't try to go back to it's old self. turning inwards.

take care, more later. Should I post pictures of my foot? I'm still afraid it might gross people out.

worked from home today

Still don't know why, but my foot is so swollen that I can't put any weight on it. It's a total bummer, so I worked from home today, but would have preferred to be in the office. I know my presence is required, sure makes life a little easier. I managed to shower, do the toe exercises the Dr. suggested and walked around the apt a little, but that's about it. BUMMER! Hoping tomorrow will be another day of less pain!!

I am hunting for a bed for Tamara's room, have plenty of time to find one - need it after Feb 5th when we have the keys to the new place. I'm trying to get rid of stuff that we don't need to move that we don't use. Including my stereo. I would like a small unit - something that uses my iPod as the music input, like the Bose system. I'm going to look around and try to come up with something like that. Then I guess I'll buy my music from the iTunes store.

Hoping to move into the new place the weekend of 2/10. Some of our Marine friend's are going to help us, so I have to be sure they know the date. I'm going to supply beer and food for them! And a truck that we have to rent from UHaul, I guess. It's going to be a good time getting moved in and settled into our new digs. I'm going to hang everything on the walls, unpack everything I brought from Cincinnati-some of it I haven't laid eyes on since I packed it "oh so long ago"! I didn't keep much, but the things I did keep had special meaning to me.

I'll post pics of the new place when I can get in there to take them.

If you can pray for my foot, I would appreciate it. I have two prayer requests: the immediate - swelling and pain to decrease quickly, long-term - that the "memory" in the cells is forgotten and it doesn't try to go back to it's old self. turning inwards.

take care, more later. Should I post pictures of my foot? I'm still afraid it might gross people out.

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

-- Colin Powell

Night of Pain

Not sure if I did something wrong last night or not.

As I reported after I left the Dr. I was able to walk on my foot - it was awkward, but I was allowed to walk on it in the ortho boot. It wasn't that bad, just a little slow and deliberate. When we got home, Roland dropped me off so he could go to dialysis and I was fine. I mean, it hurt where he removed those pins and I'm sure my foot was experiencing some trama. But I was able to walk around the house - fix something for dinner.

By the time I got off the phone, relaxed for a while, ate dinner, my foot was really hurting. But I could still walk - it just sucked because it hurt. When he got home around 9pm I was in pretty much pain. I hung on the couch, kept it up and tried to feel better. I finally came to bed around midnight and only got a little sleep.

By the time I came to bed it was ridiculously hurting. Pain, big time. I made it to bed, and didn't get much sleep, even with all the drugs. When I woke up this morning and actually had to get out of bed - take 3 or 4 steps to the bathroom - WOW! I was in PAIN!! Big pain, really hurting pain, so much so that it is making me sick to my stomach. I need to eat something but I can't get out of bed.

This sucks.

I'm not sure what's going to happen, but Rollie can't get home today fast enough for my liking.

I'm going ot try to sleep while I'm waiting for the nurse to call me back. Maybe I did or didn't do something I was supposed to do.

So Cool - Home from the Dr.

no problem, I went to the Dr and much to my surprise he decided to pull the pins out of my toes. Well, I kept saying toes, but when I saw the pins and the X-Rays, it is more like my foot. On all toes except my big toe - the pins were 6 or 7 inches long - helping my bones heal straight. The big toe was smaller, about 3 inches.

I didn't know what to expect, but when he pulled them 2 didn't hurt but the other two hurt like hell. Kind of felt like I was being turned inside out or something. AAAGGHH!! But then he bandaged them up, showed me what to do and I was able to walk out of there with a different ortho boot and not have to use my crutch. Wow! Didn't expect that for quite some time. In fact, I can head back to the office and I can drive starting tomorrow. My expectation was 3 months, March, before I could drive. Now, I go back to see him in 4-5 weeks and get to the next level of healing.

He told me that the worst is behind me. Now it's just a matter of keeping propped to help the swelling go down - which is no problem, I do that all the time anyway. I can finally take a shower without a plastic bag on my foot. It's all downhill from here!!

Dr. Today

I am heading to the Dr. today to see him for the first time since the surgery. He's a great surgeon and when I do post pictures you will be soooooo shocked!!

From what I can see so far, the scar is very very thin on the top of my foot. It's great! I don't have much pain, just shooting things from time to time and the occasional ache if I've been on it too much. I hope he takes out the pin in my big toe - it's starting to move, change the pointing direction, that kind of tells me it's ready to be taken out. Plus, it bugs me, kind of hurts. And I can't wait to find out how long I have to wear this ortho boot. It's different from others I've seen and it's like walking on a wood plank which isn't very comfy. Besides, once I get the pins out of the other toes and can quit wearing this boot, I can start driving. It's getting to be a pain not being able to drive.

Well, I'll check back in later on with a "Dr. Update".

Starting the new year out right

Tomorrow morning we are going to see the rental agent and pay our holding deposit on the new place. Right now our living room and hallway are full of boxes that are broken down, ready to be taped and packed. I have already made a list of things that need to get done. I know it's going to be a little crowded in here for a few weeks, but it's only temporary - just until Feb 5th when we pay the rest and get the keys. Then start moving in!!

I'll try to get some pictures of the place as soon as possible and then once I have them. I'll get them posted to show you.

The weather here is a little crazy, rainy, windy, chilly. We've had the heat on every day for at least part of the day. But the good news is that it's not everyday all day long, not a long, gray, cold winter. Only a day here and a day there.

My foot is getting better, but it's at the point that the healing went fast then got to this point and I think it's slow now. I go to the Dr. on Monday to see him for the first time since the surgery. I hope he is pleased with the healing progress so far. I have followed the instructions to the letter and the swelling is mainly across the top of my foot where most of the incisions were. All to be expected. Overall, I think I'm doing good, we'll see what the Dr. thinks on Monday. Wonder when he's gonna do the left foot......hmmm.

Work going well, in fact, my job has been "re-prioritized". Simply put, I have been relieved from part of my duties and it's the part that I have the least control over, but have the most frustration due to lack of accountability. The priority is now working closer with my own group, helping them with their projects and their deliverables. Driving business requirement's docs to be delivered on time, leading reviews and signoffs. I am sure that these new priorities will challenge me as well as allow me to "shine"!

The girls will be here in 5 days. I can't wait. It seems like its been FOREVER since I saw Beka and it's only been 16 days. But so much has happened in that time! Healing, Christmas, New Years, Presents, Vacation, time with Roland, found the House, starting packing. Dr. visit and hopefully release to go back to work. I haven't seen Tamara since October over the wedding weekend. It will be good to have some time with her, talk to her, help her through her problems. I'll try to do it as a friend and mother.

The house hunt MIGHT be over

I THINK we found a place. The only reason I hesitate to tell you that we do have it is because I haven't heard back on the credit check. There should be no issues with that step, but I don't want to "jinx" myself. When our credit was run back in the summer for a home loan, we had very high numbers. Nothing should have happened to change that.

So, I'll tell you about the place and continue to hope that when I hear from her today, it's all good.

It's in Vista, CA. This is not very far from where we live in Oceanside. It's a smaller community and this townhome is near the library, town center where the movies and a quaint little shopping area, the farmer's market, the community center.

The townhome is a 2 car garage with washer/dryer hookup, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, living room with fireplace, large kitchen with lots of storage, small dining area that leads out to the patio which is bigger than our current patio - plenty of room for plants, some patio furniture, and we can even grill out there!! There's a pool and spa for the community. The house is about 1500 sq ft, which is BIG for out here. And the price was right! We were VERY happy with it.

Hoping to report that we get it! Then all I would have to do is start packing!! (which I am doing tonight!)

Dream about my Mom

I have to confess - the other day I saw John Edward, the psychic, on Glenn Beck's show on CNN. Someone called in and asked about "encounters" that they believe they are having with their dearly departed - how do they know if it's just them missing the departed OR the departed trying to come through. He suggests that we write down these experiences and then we can glean after so many if it's a period where we are missing them or where they were trying to communicate. So here goes:

Last night I had a dream about my Mom. [For those of you that don't know, my Mom died on Jan 30, 1992 of cancer - I quit smoking at that time.] In my dream, we (my cousin Carol, cousin Don, Mom, myself at my Aunt's (my Mom's sister) house. I think we were there because my aunt was sick, but I never did see her in the dream.

My Mom and I were talking, but I can't recall the details of the conversation at all. It was time for me to go, but I didn't have a car there. I was dropped off by a co-worker. I took my Mom's 1969 Dodge Dart and started driving up the street. I realized that I left my Mom stranded so I was going to pull over to ask if Don or Carol if they could drive her home.

Roland was walking down the street to meet with me. (specifically wearing the pink Ralph Lauren shirt I bought him - don't know if that's significant, but it stood out so clearly!) So, I pulled over to get him and call my Mom.

The next thing we were at my Mom's and she had passed. I parked her car in the garage and the garage door was made of paper, you know the kind that paper lanterns are made of - very strange. And to secure the car, we had to padlock to a post of some kind, including the battery - I don't know that part was weird.

We went inside her house and I remembered everything around, but nothing stood out except a piece of furniture that I've never seen. It was a buffet, full of linens and dining accessories. But it was VERY unique. It was a wooden and marble inlay pattern, very distinctive and totally unique. One drawer in particular was of interest to me. It was across the entire width of the piece and in the middle of the drawers. It was kind of a thin drawer, not very deep at all. Inside of it were smaller "blocks" of this same inlay wood and marble pattern, and linen napkins and so on were "wrapped" around the "blocks". It's hard to explain, but the blocks were attached to the drawer bottom with a hinge, so they would lift up and come forward, but stay attached to the drawer and I could remove the napkins and towels that were wrapped around them.

It was very quiet in my Mom's house and my entire focus was this piece of furniture.

That's it.

Now, I do have another dream from quite some time ago that has stuck with me that I feel I should write down to remember - so here it is:

It happened before I moved to California, but while I was planning the move. I was in my old room, in Reading. And I was sleeping (obviously) but in my sleep I smelled my Mom's perfume and she came to me and shook me to try to wake me up. I kept rolling over to try to stay asleep, but she kept trying to shake me and wake me. I resisted over and over again and then finally she must have given up because the shaking stopped. Of course, as things would go, when it stopped I woke up, sat up in bed and looked around for her to talk to her. I could still smell her perfume - she always wore Foxfire by Avon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Happy New Year!!

We had a great evening!! Believe it or not, we're already done celebrating and it's only 11:27 pm!!

We went to a friend's house for a nice, intimate New Year's Celebration with a twist. First, there was quite a few people there, about 35 people accepted the invite. Her parents were visiting from Hawaii, so I finally got to meet them. Very nice, sweet couple. Lots of great "kid" stories about their daughters, both of which are my friends! I loved that!!

The food was great, which was no surprise - some wonderful spring rolls, egg rolls, rice, corn salad, and homemade desserts. Of course, I had the chocolate - I've become such a chocolate freak - I never was that much before!! But anyway, it was so homey, comfy, fun.

We donned New Year's hats, lays, noise makers, glow-in-the-dark bracelets, champagne and at 9 PM Pacific Daylight Time which is 12 AM Midnight in Cincinnati or NEW YORK - so we watched the ball drop, counted down EAST COAST TIME and had a wonderful time!!

By 9:30 PM we were on our way to our next stop - Del Mar Holiday Lights! That was pretty cool, we drove through the Del Mar Racetrack which was all decorated with Holiday Light displays. It's great, we drove through a lighted tunnel, drove all around past all of the displays - tons of lights, interesting displays, like not only the typical Santa, Reindeer, Rudolf, Snowmen, twinkling lights - no, they had all of those plus really cool displays - snowmen playing golf, volleyball game, Santa surfing, Iwo Jima, American Flag, icicles, guys fishing, ferris wheel, castle, and a bunch of other lights.

I guess you had to be there - but nevertheless - it was really good. My sweetie is such a sweetie! He thinks of everything and likes to share things with me. I love that about him. He's so fantastic!!

He made this a PERFECT New Year's Eve! Thanks!!

p.s. - I heard from my kids and they were all celebrating the new year, being safe and smart!! Thank God for that!

p.s.s. - I can't wait for Beka to get home next week! Tamara's coming with her and I can't wait to see both of them.

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

-- Colin Powell