Back to the Salt Mines

Friends!

Well here I am, back at work after a month off.  Naturally, the first day I forgot my keys and badge, but at least I remembered my lunch!  I had to mortgage my soul to Security to get entry and a spare key...who runs this place, anyway?  The security here is pants.  I hope to regain my vital essence when I turn in the key at 15:00...especially since it only opened about half the doors I needed it to.  Guess who has a note in their bag that says "KEYS!!!" on it?

So, first thing, I sat down, and couldn't remember my password to get on the computer.  No problem, there's a workaround, but then the system didn't like any of the NEW passwords I selected.  Stupid technology...when I finally got logged on there was an email from the IT team stating that the password requirements had been tightened up.  Sheesh.  No wonder I had such a hard time.

I read a month's worth of mail in about ten minutes.

I read a month's worth of log entries in another ten.

I ate my sandwich and walked around the plant.

And now I'm bored.

Before my surgery I was afraid I was going to go batshit with boredom.  The funny thing is, it didn't happen!  I dug deep and discovered heretofore unknown reservoirs of lazyness.  At first I resisted, reading books and doing small odd jobs to combat ennui, and then, as time wore on, I caved into the compulsion to nap.  From there it was just one small step to sleeping late, and a tiny nudge into wearing pajamas all day.

I was actively lazy for three weeks, and boy, was it ever great!  No deadlines, no compulsion to clean, no nothing!  Just hang out, watch the Cats, and enjoy life.
How soon to retirement?

Gutsy!

Friends!

I've got guts!  

I know, because I saw the pictures.

It was cool, I'm all pink and healthy under my skin.  It was fascinating to SEE what lurks inside of me...

I went in for a follow up with the surgeon, and he had photos of my innards...as well as the stuff that became my outards.   I had several large fibroids in my uterus, and a cyst the size of golf ball on my left ovary.  No wonder I had pain all the time in my guts!  In fact, it's kind of strange not having that constant ache all the time.  Not that I miss it, but I do notice it's no longer there.

Everything came back benign, hurrah!

So the weather here has finally turned to Spring...it's been in the 80's on the Catio in the afternoons, perfect for reading and napping on the chaise.  Yup, I've found my lazy groove.  And here I thought I was going to be bored!  Riiiiiiight.  

Looks like I have the guts to handle ennui, after all!

xx

trish

Unglued!

Friends,

This is it.

I have come UNGLUED!

Rather, my incisions have.

After two long, itchy weeks the last of the surgical glue peeled off today in the shower.  What a relief!  I still have a couple of stitches poking out which are supposed to dissolve and fall off.  We shall see how long I can put up with them poking before I do a little creative surgery myself.  Any bets?

I went to the Doc today for a check-up and as I was going into a room he went running out of the office, to attend at an emergency C-section.  I rescheduled for another day...I sure hope the Mom and baby are OK.  I was cleared to drive...which I've already done.  What a rebel, I putted over to the grocery store--pretty tame.

I finished "The Emperor of all Maladies".  An excellent book--you would think a history of cancer would be dry and boring but I was fascinated.  I've also read "Unbroken"--the life of Louis Zampirini, Olympic champion and WWII Japanese POW.  What a powerful book, I stayed up way late to finish it.  This one will go on my top 10 list for 2011.  I have some fiction written by women in the 1940's on my nightstand, more on those later.

So my convalescence is passing pretty well.  The cats are thrilled to have me home, it means another person at their beck and call all day, and usually a lap with a blanket on it is available, too.  And nothing heals better than a purring cat.

xx

trish

Yes Virginia, it DOES Snow in Arizona!

Friends!

My Mom and Dad had snow at their house three weeks ago...they live just north of Tucson.

Here's a few shots my Mom sent me:

Looking off the back patio towards the Catalina Range.

The Texas Ranger.

View out the front...check out the snow on the palms!

Of course it was all melted by noon...but it was pretty while it lasted.  I teased 'em and asked if they had to buy a shovel...Always the concerned daughter.

heh heh.

So you folks up north, don't feel bad, it snowed everywhere this winter!

xx

trish