Happy Memorial Day

Simply put, thank you.

Thank you to those who fought and fell, to those who fought and returned (and are still fighting their battles and demons), to those who bravely let them go, to those still mourning the loss, to those who were too young to say goodbye and never came to know their departed family members, to those who served in any way, shape or form at home or overseas - I sincerely thank you, and commend you for your selflessness and act of honor to our country.

Just priceless

My oldest son, Brian, has had the tasks of cat box duty and yard work for the past, well...let's just say, since we've moved in. Very occasionally Karl would have to jump in and squeamishly skreet the butt biscuits and urine-filled corners while Brian did some other chore. I shared the scooping privileges many times - probably half the time or better - as I room on the same level with the box. Now, there are some mornings where the girls all use the box within minutes of one another, and sometimes one of those little stinkers (literally) doesn't quite cover the lump, so the smell gets to be a l-e-e-ttle overpowering.

Ah well, every critter has their own particular set of care and needs to take care of routinely. The alternative is having no pet at all. With any other household pet you just trade off chores and routines, so, no real complaints with our girls.

I began saying that Brian has lately been better about mowing the yard without much procrastination (past years would find us arguing for a week before he would do as instructed, which then meant there would also be a need to either bag the clippings or rake them as the grass would be too tall to just mow and let fall to the ground); he has been more proactive and mindful of the appearance of the yard, which is a great thing (wish I could get him to pull the dandelions and other noxious invaders in my flowerbeds!), and so I am not looking the gift horse too deeply in the mouth. But he did kvetch when I asked him to also weed whack the perimeters and around the stationary objects in the yard.

"Why can't Karl do it?" came the familiar refrain (for everything).

Well, quite legitimately, Karl has vicious allergies which just renders him useless when it comes to tasks like yard work, so I let him have other duties where the sneezing and additional irritations are kept to a minimum. He has improved over time, too, with the stalling and whining, but I agreed that Karl could learn to do the weed whacking, so long as he could keep from sneezing his head off and see through watery eyes.

Brian agreed to, and understood these conditions, and then spent a little (stress "little") time showing Karl how to fill, start and use the cumbersome tool, but no real instructions on where or how to accomplish the deed. However, with the new found weapon of Karl destruction, and armed with little to no knowledge and experience, but with a new-found strange determination, he set off in helter-skelter fashion to trim some ground cover.

After 20 to 30 minutes Karl had had enough - even if the yard hadn't - and he compliantly walked the trimmer back to the garage for the day, covered in grass spatter and wearing a smile of accomplishment. That night he took a shower (which he should have taken straight away following the trimming) and then trimmed his facial hair. Surprisingly, he did it without prompting (or reason - at least with the beard and mustache part), and then cleaned up after himself for the most part. I guess this was Karl exerting control and making his own decision regarding his appearance - something he has more say over. It was surprising to see he had made that particular decision as the beard and all was his way of staying invisible to the world when he is out in it.

I have to admit to being quite proud of my sons - it was a priceless day of communication and teamwork for them.

You moms know where I am coming from.

It never changes...

Can you remember when you were a little kid, and everything seemed to be taking forever: Christmas arriving; the calendar rolling around to your birthday every year; trips to anywhere in a car; getting to that magic age where the next cool thing was in your realm (riding the "big boy" roller coasters at Cedar Point, staying up past 8pm, driving, voting, having a drink)...you get the idea. Do you recall that time - that feeling of anticipation, eagerness, the ants in your pants?

Well, now it's my turn, and I am itching to get back to walking, maybe some work on the exercise ball. The fact that I have been warned to take it very easy, "cautiously return to your routine" - is a little fear-inducing, I have to admit. I have been told to avoid doing anything which would stress the abdominal muscles and the corresponding/neighboring tissue.

Well, how do you do that!?!? There isn't anything that our amazing bodies do which doesn't utilize those core muscles.

The doctor said there was no way of knowing if there are any further weak areas within the peritoneal lining, so there may be another tear and resulting hernia - so just be careful. I wonder if a perforated bowel is any easier to predict.

Are you kidding?! Seriously...no push-ups, no sit-ups, no core Pilate's? That exercise ball targets the abdominal region for nearly everything. And my mid-section needs the focus, so how do I go about strengthening without jeopardizing?

Returning to normal routines is going to be a bit like walking on eggshells...on a tightrope, over the Grand Canyon, on a windy day.

So, maybe bike riding and casual walking for the time being will be ok. Short rides and tolerable walking distances for a while...I've already been warned about avoiding hills (and I live at the top of one), so as not to overdo.

I've been waiting for the end of the month so I can at least try getting back into light gardening, but have been told no excessive bending (none at all if it is possible), so there goes the weeding, and certainly not much shovel work. Wish this had happened last year, or at least over the holidays, then my waiting period wouldn't have bleed into the outdoor season.

Nope, it never changes. I feel like a little kid sitting at her classroom desk, the anticipation of summer stretching before me - just beyond the walls and doors - waiting for the last school bell of the year to ring, so that I can go happily on my way.

Missed opportunities

Beautiful friend Maria...I missed the opportunity to tell you Happy Birthday on time.

[Kicking self repeatedly]

Please don't let my tardiness diminish the sincerity of the thought or deed.

My wish for you is for a completely wonderful year of achievements, happiness, good health, exploration and discovery, and fabric for your budding quilting obsession!

Happy Birthday, Lady!!!!

Movie link is working again

If you tried that link to watch the movie trailer, and ran into a very strange message about the link being "bad", please try this one:

http://patriotpictures.com/

Remember to click on the All's Faire in Love photo at the top of that page (on the right) to watch the video!

OK. So...ouch!

Well, I have learned my lesson about overdoing it, and not that I ever intend for another Harvey, but I will definitely stick to not overdoing any activity when recovering from abdominal surgery.

Figuring that driving was a pretty tame necessary evil, I took Karl to his 6pm class yesterday, and sat with him as his tutor/aide/proctor/note-taker - since it appears the college is incapable of living up to their claims of support and assistance for at risk and "educationally impaired" students. The person they supplied last semester for the Java class didn't appear on the scene for help until two+ weeks into the semester, and then routinely wasn't in class or available for the three weekly sessions due to health issues. The aide was gone more than 50% of the semester. And before you ask, no...there was no back-up, so Karl floundered and eventually was urged to take an incomplete ( = having to repeat the entire class in order to achieve a higher/passing grade) or withdraw ( = not passing but not failing. Just paying for the wasted time and instructional book they had him purchase and never use in class). Aaaargh!

anyhow, after driving and sitting for several hours, I was in extreme discomfort upon arriving home.

I am now a sloth! I promise.

My one question, though: WHY is it taking longer to heal from this trouble than from the C-section I had for number one son?

Variables: The incision was horizontal and lower, but there was still gut muscle and tissue, etc. ?? Oh, and the biggest difference (OK, maybe not the biggest), am somewhat older, too.

Any takers for the answer?

Returning to actual blogging this week, for now, I have some resumes which need to be sent!

I'm b-a-a-a-a-a-ack!

Sad flowerbeds

I wandered out the back door this morning, onto the lovely little patio area I cherish - but have neglected over the last year. This is where one of two main flowerbeds resides at my home. Last year, due to the discomfort of Harvey (may he rest at the bottom of the pile of stuff removed from people's bodies) and the subsequent pain associated with any physical activity I would attempt, and because of a general unemployment malaise I was floating through early in the spring, I completely ignored my responsibilities in my gardens. The weeds took hold of every square inch (close enough for an accurate accounting) and made a pretty good mess of the front and back yards.

I am disappointed in myself, nearly to the measure I had reserved for my ex and his lying, drinking and continuous adultery. Trust me when I tell you that that level of disgust and disappointment extends itself to all cheaters and wanna-be cheaters.

But I digress.

I knew there was a losing battle to be fought in the gardens...and this short trip of mine confirmed the damage.

I noted the proliferation of mosquitoes from the unending rains, and the numbers of weeds (a HUGE amount of thistle) creeping into the beds, threatening even the hardiest perennials. I cried over the need to trim and till and pull the old growth from my lovely friends - all things I should have done last year.

I closely inspected my two honeysuckle vines, only to find my fears of their lack of greening were because they are no longer alive! How did this happen? These two beauties were five years old and thriving! Beautiful and prolific in their blooming. By all accounts they loved their pergola positions and the amount of morning to midday sun they have had for the past four+ years. Why didn't they survive this winter? Before you say it, let me assure you that I did, at the very least, water the bed...even if I didn't pull weeds as regularly as I should/could have.

Is it possible that there may be some hope if I cut them down to the ground? Sometimes a harsh trim is enough to jolt plants into sending out new growth. Tomorrow I will venture out again and arm myself with a pair of hand nips to see how far down I need to clip before I can find green wood on my old friends.

Keep a happy (green) thought for my beauties, and I will let you know what I find. Thanks for looking in.

Happy Mother's Day!

Here's a Mom's Day 'cartoon' for you...it's short and sort of funny. Watch and enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFAMtCWFZdg

OK, now you've had your fun, go mow the lawn and then take mom out for a nice dinner...in Greektown!

PS Sorry 'bout that Juicy Juice ad that pops up rudely. Just click it off at the X.

Finally, something more regarding the movie!

...and here is the link to view the trailer for All's Faire in Love. Huzzah!

http://patriotpictures.com/

Once at the home page for the link, look along the right hand side, top of that list for the All's Faire in Love button. Click and prepare to smile.

See if you can spot some Rennies while you watch it for the third, fourth, fifth time. Karl is seen many times with Miss Margaret, and in the full production is seen taking off Cedric's helmet in a pivital scene. (He had a blast that day!)

One tip: Let the trailer COMPLETELY download before viewing (click the pause icon to allow it to download) - it works much better that way.

Enjoy.

So bored

Recuperating may be a necessary evil, but rats! I want to take a walk. I need to take a walk!

I am Bill Bixby and my eyes are turning green! Psst - and Lou Ferrigno is waiting over there in the corner.

The girls are hovering, whether I am lying down, reclining on the sofa, shuffling to the bathroom, taking a quick trip to the kitchen for another glass of water or juice or milk...they are my entourage. The boys are super. Brian took Karl on a few errands earlier in the week, and Karl got a nice haircut (for a change), and from what I could tell they didn't squabble. At least, neither of them was calling the other one names once they returned home! Always a good thing.

Now, if their respective cats could keep from fighting, this would be Camelot. Actually, Cleo and Flop are constantly up for a game of 'tease and chase me,' lately. Most of the time, it is Flop inciting a game of tag - which is odd for her, but it is fun to watch, and they don't knock anything over (or, haven't thus far). Hobbes simply watches (if she isn't napping), and sometimes jumps in as referee when Flop becomes too hyper.

I have had the laptop with me in the lower level working on editing photos for my family production piece, and Karl has been using the Monster to get back into Maya while I am away from the library. Although, he has been also jumping onto the internet using the beast - a HUGE no-no. Then, when he is back in his room later on, it turns out he is up to all hours playing games! Argh!

Brian tries, but it really isn't his job to police his younger brother. I do think it will change once the new class begins for him this coming Monday. Karl will be in class from 6 to 9pm, and so will have other things to concentrate on - hopefully. Lately, I am completely disenchanted with OCC as a "learning institution". The money-grubbing butt heads! But this is about the only place we can afford to send Karl for the time being while he practices college skills and tries to become more independent and self-motivating. This has been a long process, and will continue to be so. Brian, on the other hand, is still resisting change, and forward momentum. He did finish the math class (or so he says), and he hasn't signed up for anything else to go towards the AA. There is no way of knowing where he is with that, although GOOD NEWS!...he did sign up for an illustration class (Graphic Novel Illustration) through CCS (Detroit commute! :^O ). It is only 6 or 7 weeks long - one day a week - but it is something. No, there will be no credits earned, but maybe this will be impetus to keep him moving in [any] direction. Also, hoping he will make new friends, contacts, networking skills and inroads. I will keep you posted on the outcomes of each of their summer efforts, Brian and Karl.

Received a call from a gal associated with the new Robert Deniro/Edward Norton film project... they wanted an office person in their art department two days after I came home from the hospital! I told her about my recent surgery and asked if I could join them in a couple of weeks, and she said she would "get back with [me]." That is always a "no". Ah well. [heavy sigh] There will be other opportunities, I just need to keep thinking that and saying it out loud.

That was a bit of a "too bad", though. I have to admit to being disappointed in the timing.

As I sit here at my desk I can see the 'little helicopters' on the maple tree out front, dangling in little bundles, ready to clog my eaves and litter the lawn. Some of them are greedily eyeing my flower bed, too, and I have so many things to clean out of there from last year, yet.! Waahhh!

So, until next time, I am going to cheese on outta here and take a shower. I am not too winded, yet, but I really overdid it a number of times early on and paid a price (but I also learned a lesson). So, easy does it!

Boredom, here I come. Keep in touch and let me know what the news is from your end of the bog.

Just keep learning

Kasey Kasem used to say "Keep reaching for the stars."

Huh.

Hmm.

I think you [we] must learn what you need to know about whatever it is that you want to do, and get to know yourself - inside and out. Once you are prepared, then reach for those stars.

Keep in mind, though, that sometimes, stars fall. And when that happens, those passengers clinging to all those stars better know how to operate their parachutes, or be able to bounce!

Jimminy Cricket: "When you wish upon a star...anything your heart desires will come to you."

Ri-i-i-ght.

But, didn't he also counsel and scold and cajole Pinocchio about his decisions and truthfulness and morals all along the way? Didn't he try like mad to keep the little toothpick thinking about making good decisions and listening to his conscience, and being a good example and a trustworthy citizen?

The answer you are searching for is "yes, he did those things."

Another little homily goes like this: "God never gives us more than we can bear," and I believe that is true. Although, the actual line is in reference to temptations, and that we are tested, but should always manage to overcome the tests and pitfalls with faith in the Lord and making the right moral decisions. But that comes from a belief in yourself, a knowledge of right and wrong and the ablility to make good decisions, and having faith. Faith in yourself...faith in whatever higher power you believe in...and faith in your family, friends and 'neighbors'.

Where is this all going?

I have no clue, I got lost myself while writing it...but it made perfect sense until the words hit virtual paper.

Kids, don't type on pain meds.

Mahalo.

Mostly back to normal

...and hello! to month number five!

Naw, that title may not be 100% gramatically perfect, but it is fairly representative of the happenings here.

Karl returned to his roost and slept in his own bed last night! Talk about a happy puppy. He graciously gave up his room for me to stay in after coming home, since there were no stairs to have to climb in order to get to the bathroom, and the kitchen is located on the same floor (making it easy for me to get to water and juice when I toddled around on my own). We spent about an hour removing the mommy remnants from his bedroom and returning his newly mended - and quickly shipped - PC back to its own digs (and cleaned out the library of his 'cloud'), but it turns out he wants to keep the tall chair and lamp that we moved in for me to use as a bedside stand, and a push off point in order to get upright out of bed. Funny kid.

This week has been an unusually cloudy one - except for Monday, which was perfect, save for the whole being-without-power-thing. Most of the days began with sunshine - just like this morning - but quickly became cloudy and gloomy, and if they didn't melt into rain ultimately, it got darned close for most of the past week. It managed to pour like mad Thursday when I had the staples out, and then again today...beautiful sunshine to wake up to! But here come those clouds and the dimming of the sunshine.

Sort of takes the teeth out of the smile, if you get my meaning.

Ah well, it is Michigan. :^)

Ah, yes, the doctor update:

I may walk, [yea!] but not strenuously :^o and no hills! LOL I live at the top of a hill, so it will be a short walk no matter which direction I go! No core exercises; that is to say, no abdominal workouts or stress of any sort. Argh! Holy smokes, this is limiting...and for the next month (easily), I have to limit bending, picking things up, moving things, no gardening, blah blah blah.

But I have shtuff to do-o-o-o-o-o.

So, today is the first day of May, eh...well, how do you like them green apples! April just sort of disappeared, then, and believe me, I had my eyes open (and I still missed it!). The last two+ weeks have been a little scattered and very poorly executed (at least from my point of view), and chock full of miscellaneous activities which were completely unnecessary, but that's the way life goes; rolling with the punches is a valuable skill, kiddies. Learn it!

I am feeling winded, and I want to tidy up a bit, so before I go wayward babbling one more time, I am going to log off and catch up on other needful things.

Have a great weekend and take care. Thanks for dropping in.