Post Procedure Day 2

 Well, comparatively speaking last night could have been a lot worse. But it wasnt fun. Moving around woke me up. And yes, I kicked my own toe once. Ouch.

But I kept thinking it would be much better when I could take the big bandage off today.

Thunder startled all of us awake at 3-something this morning. By 0400 I gave up, went to the bathroom, and took some acetaminophen. My toe was just throbbing. But the acetaminophen worked, because I went back to sleep until a bit after 0700.

And then bided my time until we could get the big bandage off. Had to have husband help with removing the coban, and that was a real job. It hurt trying to get that off - finally had him cut it off. And then I went to soak my toe - supposed to soak it for 10 minutes. After a few minutes of soaking I could remove the bandaid - YUCK! But I could not last 10 minutes of soaking - it hurt too badly. I made it almost 8 minutes, it was the very bottom where the nail roots were that hurt so badly. 

Dressed with my neosporin and a bandaid and boy does it feel better! And then when I put a soft pair of bed socks on, it felt even better! I can even wear my slippers as long as I remember to slide that foot along, instead of "walking" it along!

But I did learn one thing - a quick walk/slow run is DEFINITELY OUT!!! Ouch!

So I dont think there will be a try at a shoe tomorrow yet. Today, I dont even feel like getting out of my pj's so I am not.....but I am moving around more and not being a total couch hog. And I dont feel as though I have to take a nap today!

Lots of rain off and on. It sounded like light hail after the thunder that woke us up, but I didnt get up to look; and by the time I did get up, it wasnt even raining. 

So PG&E came back. And she spent about 2 hours setting in her truck. Husband needed to go to the grocery store so he got the scoop. Apparently some modum/module on our smart meter for the gas is not working and needs replaced. But they cannot replace it when it is raining. And she was told to sit and wait until it stopped raining. Which she did. Just before noon it was no longer raining and she started getting ready to replace it - and she got a call about a gas leak somewhere else which she had to respond to.....Been off and on sunny since she left. She is supposed to come back - but who knows when!

Big Sigh of Relief

 So the day of dread is over. After anxiety setting in the day I finally made the appointment, it is done, and I survived.

As of this morning I still have 10 toes, but only 9 toenails.

Treatments did nothing to treat the fungus that gave me my "Ugly Toe". So last year it was decided it had to come off.

Yeah, last year.

So today I showed up for my appointment at 0800 after waking up at 0400, 0500, 0600....sick to my stomach, sweaty palms, etc.

And the doctor was so nice. And the "freeze spray" worked wonders, the shots resulted in a wooden toe, and it was all over in just a few minutes.

Thank goodness I did not have to look or watch....gag.

And I think the adrenaline bottomed out on me after lunch today cause I fell asleep for about an hour and a half!

I have taken 1 Tylenol this afternoon, and that was mostly because of the feeling as the local totally wore off....

The bandaid comes off tomorrow, I have to soak it, and replace the bandaid. I was surprised when he said I could go back to my walking in 2 - 3 days IF I could tolerate wearing my sneakers.....we will see!!

Elope

 "run away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental consent." (from www.dictionary.com)

On one of the groups I belong to on FB several people have posted that they have, or are going to, elope.

Now, I want to make sure you understand that I do not know the story behind these elopement. Dont know anything about these people at all.

But the posts made me think. Think about things like how the media colors our definition of things. And how the media has changed the meanings of words over the years.

If you say "elope" to me, I think about what I have read, or seen on TV or in movies, about eloping. Generally speaking, it is a couple who cannot or is not allowed to get married in the "traditional" way. And so they run away together. Usually to city hall, or some place there is a magistrate to perform a legal ceremony. Sometimes it is right there in the town/city where they live. Sometimes it is several towns away; sometimes in other states.

Often these people are married in the clothes they were wearing when they ran away, whether it is a nice dress for the woman, or a business suit, or jeans. Maybe they stopped to buy a bouquet of flowers. But usually there is none of the usual wedding  falderol involved.

Sometimes it is planned well in advance, sometimes it is a last minute thing. Sometimes a couple of other people know it is happening.

But the ones I have been reading about do not follow my traditional understanding of "eloping" at all. These women - and the posters thus far have all been women - talk about the issues of taking a full length wedding gown on the plane, and finding someone/someplace to press it once they arrive, so that it looks new and not wrinkled and packed.

And they have hired a company to plan this wedding. A wedding that includes a venue; someone to perform the ceremony; flowers; photographer....A complete wedding in other words. Not just a couple standing in front of some civil magistrate saying a few words, and signing on the dotted line of the marriage license.

Not only that, they have had to make preparations in advance - time off of work, someone to care for maybe other family members, or pets. They have had to book a room, make plane reservations, transportation to and from the airport. All of these, including the wedding company and the dress, involve quite a bit of money. Maybe not as much as a full blown traditional wedding, but more money than a tankful of gas, money for the license, and probably a celebratory meal of some sort afterwards.

So I have trouble getting my head around calling all this an "elopement".

And again - I have NO knowledge about the backstory of why they decided to do it this way - Pandemic anyone? 

But is also makes me feel sad for them. Because the use of the word means running away. Running away from family and friends. Hopefully running towards something that will bring a lifetime of happiness but still....leaving behind those who would possibly love to see the joy and happiness this marriage would bring their love ones. 

So it makes me wonder if these are truly elopements - or are they a new definition of an old word (this word is from the late 16th century according to the definition). And am I just missing the new usage of this word? Is there support for these couples? Will family and friends be at this wedding?

Who knows. 

And I will probably never know.

But it is interesting how brief glimpses into other people's lives make you ponder things. 

Venting

 I want to start of by explaining....that I feel so very very lucky that we never experienced a miscarriage or a fetal demise. We were too young and dumb to even worry about it as much as I would knowing what I know now!

I have taken care of many women who have lost babies at all stages of their pregnancy. And I have many friends who have lost pregnancies.

So I am not without empathy or understanding.

But to see celebrities SUCK THIS SUBJECT dry in order to keep their name in the news just irritates me no end!

I am sure most people will be able to figure out who I am talking about.

I get it - it is devastating. I even get wanting photos. Shoot we took photos of the baby and held onto them for a year in case the mother/family ever wanted them. We put together memory boxes for them to take home with them, or come back and get.

But know this - there is not one woman I have ever met that needs/has to have photos to remember the experience of losing a baby....it is burned into her heart and soul forever. Every minute of the process - from moment of conception until delivery and beyond. 

But you know - not everyone in this world is privileged enough to LIVE OFF of this for how long now?

And really - a month out and you still need a nurse at home to care for you?
WHY?

And what does this tell the average woman? Her loss wasnt as important and earth shaking as yours?

That maybe she shoulda/woulda/coulda had a nurse if she made more money? Had better insurance?

Just because you have never been as talented and famous as your husband, doesnt mean that you have to milk every second you can to make sure your photo is in front of everyone everyday.

Give it a rest.

My heart goes out to everyone else who has experienced these losses.

Garage Sales

 A friend asked today - why do you go to garage sales? Don't you have enough junk?

So on our way to our first garage sale today, hubby and I were discussing these questions; and we cam up with these answers:

    1. We get to explore the area. We get to see neighborhoods we have never had reason to drive through before. Several weeks ago we found that block that has I don't know how many free libraries! That was a thrill! And because we found those, we have already been back to give a book/take a book....

    2. We have gotten to see some very very interesting houses. In all the ways you can translate "interesting"!

    3. We have gotten to "meet" - meaning hear about - some very interesting people.. Whether it is actually hearing about the people, or interpreting our ideas of the people from the things that are being sold

    4. We get to walk down memory lane - hey, we have that! We used to have that....my parents had that!

    5. And sometimes we actually find things that we want/need/planning to buy! We have been wanting to buy a firepit - waited until the backyard was done - then more discussion about what we wanted in one and how much we wanted to spend - and then a week or so ago we found one in GREAT condition at a garage sale for $5!!!!

    6. Last week we found one that was someone cleaning out her antiques. I guess she use to own a store. And there were so many things I "wanted" but I didn't need them or have room for them.....but I did come home with one thing - only because it made me smile!!

    7. Today we went to 2 "estate sales" in Pebble Beach. First of all - going to them gets you into this compound for free - and it is a lovely place - whether it is nature or the houses. The first one we went to was a lovely house - filled with lots of art, Asian art, Hawaiian art.....I found 2 placemats that I bought because I have been looking for more placemats (and these were cheaper then the store and in brand new condition) but mostly because they had a photo of Shakespeare & CO on them - a perfect souvenir of our Paris trip! And two brand new Christmas hand towels.....now I did give into a lovely pashmina shawl which I don't need but.....The second one was probably built as a I don't know, a vacation place way way way back before Pebble Beach became the compound it is now. Old, added on. Interesting. We left without buying anything. That was because although they had some things I loved there was nothing that we needed or had room for. And things were oddly priced - an older plant stake they wanted $5 for - about what you would pay for brand new....or more! They had lovely vintage quilts for $60!! BARGAINS! A beautiful Navajo woven wall hanging for $300 - a steal! An iron twin bedstead for ~$200 and a lovely wicker trundle bed for $200. But then they had tchotchkes from Target priced at, or more than their brand new price! 

So honestly, it is about the hunt. And no we have never found the publish-worthy finds, but we have found things we enjoy. And we go in with an idea of how much we will spend on things and rarely go above it. It is a rare day garage sale-ing that we spend much more than $20!

June?!!

I have no idea how many weeks we have been on quarantine, but things are starting to open up. Which in many ways is nice - and in many ways, scary as all get out.

This months has been a very busy month. I swear, if my husband tells me he is "bored" this month, I might have to, I don't know what, cause bodily harm I guess!

1. The house has been repainted AND I AM THRILLED with how it looks!

2. Husband has:

    1. repainted the lamp post, cleaned the glass inserts, replaced the lightbulb

    2. repainted the sorry looking mailbox

    3. dug out the other two plants that he hated so much

    4. replaced the front door light (which of course ended up in not 1, not 2, but THREE trips to Home depot and a hardware store

    5. replaced the 2 ancient and falling off lights on the patio

    6. replaced the house numbers on the garage

We also got new gutters - we did not replace any because they were still good, but added to the 3 sides of the back of the house that badly needed them.

And tomorrow or Saturday we are having the horribly overgrown oak trees trimmed, and the 2 dead palm trees (dead because of the oak trees probably) removed.

He is working on getting a shed put into the back yard. His idea of the size he needs, and mine greatly differ. It feels like the shed he is looking at is going to be taller than the house! And since we have so much house paint left over, he will paint the shed to match the house.

We took a last minute trip to Gilroy to look at and discuss sheds. Missed out on an online class I really wanted to take. But most importantly - I did not have time to change clothes and boy it was warm in Gilroy! Only mid 80's but I was dressed for the foggy/sunny day here!

BEST NEWS EVER - I got to go to Barnes & Noble! I wanted to go to the needlework shop too but he didn't give me time or notice to plan for that

So these are the new lights on the patio. We both really love them

The oaks (there are FOUR of them) will be trimmed - and you can barely see the palms that will be removed

The new house numbers are on the post area between the garage doors. And we also got a new screen door. But I love this serene color! So much better than the faded yellow, and peeling green trim!

I found a photo of our very first trailer - before the axle broke!

So now we have this empty space to fill right under the living room window. Hubby wants rose bushes - which I remind him will also need to be trimmed, and which will (hopefully) attract bees - which he hates!

Our first squash - which is long gone! So tender and good. There are 4 more on the plant - lots of tomatoes - a couple of cucumbers - and I have already had to put a second layer of dirt over my potatoes. The carrots and lettuce were total failures, who knows why. The beans are growing, but slowly. And the artichoke is growing. We will hopefully get an artichoke or two from it next year!

My regrown celery is growing, and I have a 2d one planted. One avocado put out roots and looks like a stem is slowly making its way out. I have 2 more pits in water - 1 is starting  to split, so I am hopeful for it!

End of 7th Week

We started Stay At Home on the evening of March 6. Before it became mandatory. It feels like so long ago....but like parents of toddlers, the days are long but the weeks are short.

As retirees, is anything different? Yes and no. What is different you say? Our camping trips, in April and in May (and realistically in June) have been cancelled. My husband is no longer doing his volunteer work, and no longer able to play golf. He is BORED.....me? Not so much. I miss not being able to go to my favorite 2d hand stores. but since there is a dearth of book stores down here, I have been missing going to them since last June.

Oh yes - we have learned to Zoom! Have been having a weekly Zoom meeting with the girls - with flyby glimpses of the grandkids!

Today I was wishing I had kept count of all the books I have read in this time. I went through my donation bag, but I am not sure that there weren't books in that bag prior to this. I came up with the number 28. Plus there may be a couple of kindle books to add in there.

I have finished stitching several UFOs. And started and finished 2 new projects.

When I figure out how to finish these, they will go in the trailer!

I knit 3 sweaters (photos posted in previous posts), a pair of socks (and misplaced a pair of socks in progress), started several other projects.

Joined the "Ramp Up To Camp" challenge at The Loopy Ewe. We have one month to finish a project that is a minimum of 400 yards.

We have planted tomatoes, radishes, a zuchinni, a cucumber, an artichoke; now we have added carrots, lettuce, and bush beans, and a few sunflowers. 

Today we got to watch one dog who desperately wanted to get the gophers he was able to hear under the ground - under the weed block and the bark. I just dearly would like to know what he would do if he was able to catch one!

Oh, and cant forget the other one - whose job was apparently to look pretty!

And also vaccuumed, dusted, did 3 loads of laundry, vaccuum, stripped and remade bed, and vaccuumed. 

Now wonder what is on the schedule for tomorrow???