Another month almost goes by...

I do have good intentions of keeping my blog updated, but it just hasn't been possible.

#1 - I, of course, am in the 2% of people that have difficulties after carpal tunnel surgery. This means going to physical therapy 2 times a week, being strapped to a stim unit 4 times a day, and rubbing smelly pain reliever cream on my hand and wrist as needed. Good times! Ron, my therapist, has talked me into waiting until July when my new benefit year starts to have my left hand done. This way, if I am again the 2% group, I will have a fresh set of physical therapy allotments.

#2 - Jeremy is progressing nicely with his ankle. He still walks a little funny but other than that he is almost perfectly normal. He goes back for another check up next month. I am guessing that if everything continues to look good he will have the screws and pins removed in the winter.

#3 - My birthday was fun. Mom, Dad, and Beth all came out here to go to the 5th Annual Knit and Crochet Festival up in Cranberry. Emily came out too and on Saturday we went to the Andy Warhol Museum and walked around the Southside. Dad, Jeremy, and Marty went to the Carnegie Science Center and then we all met up for dinner at Quaker Steak & Lube. The amount of people that were there for dinner, on Valentine's Day, amazed me.





#4 - The following weekend was our annual shared birthday party. I chose swiss steak with buttered noodles which tasted great. We had an awesome cake that Mom and Beth made:


and awesome chocolate covered strawberries:


And Mom made Aunt Bon a crocheted hippo wearing a bikini. Too cute!


Some random shots I was able to take before my life was threatened...











#5 - Dad's paintings just keep getting better and better. Here are just a few:








#6 - On the 2nd, I seriously saw about 40-50 robins all at 1 time. They have taken up residence on a few of the trees in the woods where I work. I was so excited!

#7 - Even though I would consider myself an avid griller, I haven't grilled one darn thing in a LONG time. So, to celebrate the beautiful weather, I stopped and got some steak for Friday night's dinner and fired up the BBQ.


#8 - Yesterday, Mom and Dad came for a visit and to drop off the latest creation:

Yes, a booby pillow! It is great :)

#9 - While typing all of this, I kept hearing a strange sound and began to think it was a dog crying. I checked it out and discovered that it was a lone turkey outside of our window "talking" up a storm. Interesting....

And finally, #10 because you just need a good even number -
GO PENS!

I went out on the porch this afternoon to do a little cleaning up since it was covered in bird seed and pine. The cats were watching me the whole time and got really excited when I discovered that their planters of catnip had some new growth. I grabbed my little scissors and started to prune the dead off (left-handed!) and Buddy, Zoe, and Abby started going crazy. I picked off some nice pieces for them and brought it inside.... yay for the kitty crack!

Carpal Tunnel Release - Round #1

On Friday, I had the fastest surgical procedure known to man - laproscopic carpal tunnel release. Mom still can't believe how fast it went. It wasn't pleasant and I honestly don't know if I am going to have my left hand done or not. I have about a week to decide since it is scheduled for Feb. 20th.

Here I am recovering on Saturday, with help from Abby:


Under that band-aid is my incision - only about 1/4" in length and with only 2 stitches.


My hand and wrist are still swollen, but that should go away in a few days. I have to keep the incision sealed for the first 3 days and then I can get it wet and keep a band aid on it.

How precious!

Super, Super, Super Bowl...

Three quarterbacks, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Ben Roethlisberger go to Heaven to visit God and watch a Celtics game. God decides who will sit next to him by asking the boys a question.

God asks Peyton Manning first: "What do you believe?" Manning thinks long and hard, looks God in the eye, and says "I believe in hard work, and in staying true to family and friends. I believe in giving. I was lucky, but I've always tried to do right by my fans." God can't help but see the essential goodness of Manning, and offers him a seat to his left.

Then God turns to Tom Brady and says "What do you believe?" Tom says "I believe passion, discipline, goodness and honor are the fundamentals of life. I too have been lucky, but win or lose, I have always tried to be a true sportsman, both on and off the playing fields. God is moved by Tom's sincere eloquence, and offers him a seat to his right.

Finally God turns to Big Ben Roethlisberger, "And you, Ben, what do you believe?"

Ben replies "I believe you're in my seat."