The patient’s finger is healing nicely. These simple words spoken by his orthopedic PA were music to our ears. They took some X-rays, removed the stitches, and cast. For the first time since he broke the finger, I saw him wince with pain as they removed the bandages. Unfortunately, he still has the pins in for the foreseeable future. We’re hopeful that they’ll be able to remove the pins at his next follow-up appointment two weeks from today. Crossing my fingers that it’s still healing nicely at our next follow-up!
In the meantime, he’s in a smaller bandaged splint. He’s supposed to remove the splint and work the lower joint on the finer several times a day. This will prevent the joint from getting stiff. Additionally, he still has to keep the cast and his claw, I mean pins, dry. Not that he is one to spend a lot of time in the pool or ocean. He also has to be careful not to knock the pins as they extend beyond the tip of his finger.
What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?
I would love to scuba dive but I’m terrified of the water and can’t swim. It’s hard to reconcile my abject fear of water with the desire to Scuba, but life underwater looks so peaceful and beautiful. I’m not sure there’s anything that could convince me to get into the deep.
This week I found myself getting started again on my workout routine. Illness knocked me out of my routine over the holidays. I had resumed it, but a trip and then another stomach bug interrupted my progress. Unfortunately, last week’s bug knocked me out, so I took a week off to recover. Yesterday I started again with an amazing cycling routine with Emily on Apple Fitness+. Today’s workout was a Rihanna-themed treadmill workout by Sherica. As always, the workout was fire.
Taking a week off every few weeks is a nightmare scenario for me. It’s challenging after making so much progress over the late summer, fall, and early winter. Now I feel like I’ve lost some of those gains and am back at square one. Thankfully, the difficult part, which is getting started, is over. The trick is to be consistent and disciplined like I was throughout the fall. Hopefully, it warms up just a tad, so Arrow and I can return to running outside again. I’d run with Anakin, but honestly taking him outside to walk is akin to a CrossFit class. He wears me out.
What do you complain about the most?
At the risk of alienating myself or sounding too cliche, I complain the most about the quality of consumer goods. Not only does this make me feel old and that I’ve turned into my mother, nay my grandmother, but it grinds my gears. For example, we are on our 4th washer and 4th dryer. We’ve lived in our house for 17 years. These appliances should have a shelf life greater than four years. When they sold my great aunt’s house a few years ago, it had a washer and dryer from the 1960s that worked better than my current duo work.
One could argue that three hockey-playing boys take a greater toll on a washer and dryer than aging adults. However, I don’t expect my washer/dryer to last fifty years. I do expect them to last at least ten years. Honestly, I don’t think this is an unreasonable ask. I know I’m not alone in this as family and friends have experienced this with several different appliances, so there’s some truth in the cliche “They don’t make things like they used to.”
We had a great weekend around these parts. Our patient continues to heal nicely even if he is a bit cranky and annoying. Fortunately, he is not experiencing a lot of pain. Unfortunately, the lack of pain makes it harder to keep him compliant with his activity restrictions, icing the finger, and taking his medications. It’s been a constant battle for the hubby and me to get him to ice and elevate the injury. No matter how many times we tell him these things are designed to facilitate his recovery, he ignores them.
Thankfully, both Friday and Saturday nights provided a respite for me. Friday night I had the house to myself as the Mayor was at his girlfriend’s house and the hubby had a hockey game. I cooked a nice dinner, courtesy of HelloFresh, watched TV, and cuddled with the dogs. By the time, the Hubby got home dinner was waiting for him, but I had already fallen asleep. I was still exhausted from being ill earlier in the week.
I worked Saturday, but it was completely dead. It was an absolute waste of time. I would have been equally productive as an outfitter. Nevertheless, I spent the day counting down the hours to dinner and a show. After work, we headed to HardRock to have dinner and see Seinfeld with our besties. Dinner at Cipresso was outstanding. I had the best veal parmigiana I have ever tasted and our appetizers were equally as tasty. Afterward, we hit the slots before heading to see Jerry. The slots were kind to us, which was a bonus.
The comedy show started late as people came in to find their seats. Honestly, it probably got off to a late start because the concessions (aka alcohol) were closing once the show started. I didn’t mind the late start as it would have been disruptive to start while people were still finding their way to their seats. The opener was Mario Joyner, who was fantastic. He had us laughing throughout his entire set.
And then came Jerry. I’m a huge Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm fan, so seeing him live was a big deal. He lived up to, nay surpassed my expectations. His set and material were so relatable. We can all relate to going on a family vacation just to “fight at a hotel” instead of at home. His take on marriage, cell phones, and water features in Florida neighborhoods was hysterical. We didn’t stop laughing the entire time he was on stage. He is so incredibly talented. I’m glad we had the opportunity to experience it in person.
Naturally, we stayed up a bit later Saturday night than we are accustomed to doing. Consequently, we slept on Sunday. I had grandiose plans of baking cookies, and bread, planting herbs/tomatoes in terracotta pots for the patio, and trimming the hibiscus. Regrettably, fatigue prevented me from making my way outside to engage in any gardening activities. On the other hand, I found plenty of time to bake cookies and bread. It was my third attempt at a sourdough loaf and it turned out pretty good. They say practice makes perfect, so I’ll keep working on it.
What are your favorite sports to watch and play?
This may surprise all of you, given the name of my blog, but my favorite sport to watch and play is hockey. I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to get back on the ice someday. I had to retire after tearing a tendon in my ankle and the whole thyroid thing. Nevertheless, I enjoy watching hockey whether it’s youth, high school (MN,) college, or the NHL. Each level of hockey brings something to the experience of being a hockey fan. It’s the greatest sport and community in the world. Our hockey journey has blessed us with the opportunity to meet some incredible people.
We’re home from the Mayor’s surgery. Everything went well. The eighty or so minutes he was in surgery were not super fun. I really didn’t like the helpless feeling that comes with waiting for a loved one to get out of surgery. His finger was quite a mess since it had already started healing. For the next week or so, he’ll have two pins in the bone to facilitate the healing. We’ll see his surgeon in about a week. She said he was dancing and giggling on his way out of the operating room to the post-op area. Needless to say, the nurses appreciated the levity he brought and a happy patient in recovery is better than a cranky one.
She estimates he’s facing a four to six-week recovery. We’re all hoping for a quick recovery, so he can play in the state tournament. Of course, his recovery is predicated on him being a compliant patient. This, of course, is where things will get complicated. He doesn’t want to wear the sling or sit down. At this point, he should be sitting down and relaxing, but he’s fighting us at every turn. Lastly, he’s insistent on having Chic Fil-A tonight for dinner, which may be a bit difficult on his tummy.
The funniest thing I noticed was he wrote himself a reminder on his leg, so he wouldn’t forget he wanted Chic Fil-A. As if, he’d ever forget he wanted food. In the post-op room, he was saying all sorts of funny things. He opted to wear sticky socks at home instead of his shoes. Halfway home he forgot he had worn the socks and was wondering where he left his shoes. At any rate, we’re glad to be home with our funny yet challenging patient.
Name an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting.
I’d love to visit Stiltsville, a collection of silted houses located off the coast of Miami. Builders started constructing these houses in Biscayne Bay in the 1930s. There were a lot more of them, but hurricanes and fires have left only seven remaining.
I’m a bundle of nerves over here as we’re now twenty-four hours out from the Mayor’s surgery. Of course, some of the shakiness may be low blood sugar due to a lack of food since Saturday. Fortunately, I am starting to feel somewhat human again. My stomach isn’t fantastic, but I no longer feel like I’m going to throw up every time I stand up. Which is a win, so I’ll take it. Thankfully, my neck, shoulder, and back muscles no longer feel like they’re in a vice grip. Nevertheless, I’m staying away from the Mayor so he doesn’t get whatever this is. I took two Covid tests and both were negative.
The urgent care doctor gave me a note excusing me from work today and tomorrow. Knowing that I’m already scheduled for surgery tomorrow, I didn’t want to miss today. Plus, now that I’m not constantly throwing up, there’s no reason I can’t work. I work from home, so I won’t expose anyone else by going to work. The alternative was to lay in bed all day and get sucked into the black hole that is streaming.
Yesterday, I finished Hillary Mantel’s Wolf Hall on Masterpiece Theater. First of all, I love Mantle’s work and am so sad we lost her last year. Secondly, the show is well done. I can’t wait for them to finish the remainder of the trilogy. Thankfully, I also felt well enough to read last night, so I was transported to yesteryear via Alison Weir’s work on Medieval Queens. Her first book in the Queen series takes on the Queens of Conquest starting with William the Conquerer’s Queen Matilda and ending with the ascent of the Playangenets. So far it’s a good read. She does a good job telling the story with some brio.
I wanted to drop a brief update on the Mayor. He saw the surgeon this morning with the hubby. I’ve been bed-bound since Saturday with some sort of nasty bug, so I attended briefly via FaceTime. The bottom line she’ll be operating on him Wednesday afternoon. Since the break occurred earlier than he let on, she could see healing on the X-ray, it’s going to be a bit more extensive. To be fair to him, there was some swelling when he got home from Pittsburgh, but it wasn’t extensive and he had a full range of motion.
It also sounds like she’s treated plenty of hockey players. The doctor made comments on the toughness of hockey players and continuing to play through injuries. We had hoped that they’d be able to for surgery while he was awake. Unfortunately, given the extent of the damage and healing that has already started, he’ll need to be put under. Naturally, this makes all of us quite nervous. Today, the urgent care doctor I saw advised me to stay away from him until after the surgery to prevent him from contracting the nasty bug I’m currently fighting.
If you could make your pet understand one thing, what would it be?
I wish my pets understood how much we love them. I think they have an idea. However, I would love them to know they’re completely and unconditionally loved. Both Anakin and Arrow have been at my side since I got sick. Anakin hasn’t left my side except to eat and go outside. I crated Arrow overnight since he marks, otherwise he would have spent the night by my side.
The hubby and I are heading to the hockey game tonight. It’s always fun to go watch our Minnesota Wild take on our Florida Panthers. We’re Minnesota fans at our roots but have adopted the Panthers as our Eastern Conference team. Hopefully, both teams will look sharp tonight. All I want is a good game.
The Mayor, being a typical teenager, decided he would have a better time staying at home. At least the puppies will have someone to keep them company tonight. Predictably, he did text me as soon as we left asking for Sushi Yama. Because naturally, we have nothing to eat in the house. Never mind the three fridges, two freezers, and pantries full of food. It’s a hard-knock life.
The boys with Eric Haula and Goalielocks and Zach Parise
What makes a good leader?
A leader is someone who works to bring out the best in their people. To me, a leader is more of a coach than a manager. Anybody can manage people, but few can truly and effectively coach people. I’ve worked for plenty of people who thought they could, but they had the emotional intelligence of a hippopotamus. Unfortunately, they also had the temperament of a hippo. Sadly, the happy hippos seen in the Hungry Hungry Hippos’ commercials were a lie. If someone lacks emotional intelligence, they may be a great manager, but will never be a great leader. And now I’m working and heading to the hockey game!
I love the prompts from bloganuary. I participated in bloganuary last year and enjoyed it. First, it’s a great way to get back to blogging regularly. It’s also a great way to discover new blogs to read and meet new people. Of course, it also helps get the creative juices flowing, especially on days when writer’s block is killing you.
If you could un-invent something, what would it be?
I found today’s prompt thought-provoking with an easy answer. If I could in-invent something, it would be social media. Honestly, it’s turned us all into terrible, self-centered bullies with no sense of decorum. We have become inured to violence and bullying as internet trolls hide behind the safety of social media. Naturally, these internet trolls would never be brave enough to say anything or do anything in public, which makes them cowards.
Social media bamboozles people into thinking everyone else is living a perfect life. The problem is most people aren’t and the image being put forth on social media is fake. Or how about the influencers who are impossibly skinny, plastic, and over-filtered that create a false idea of what women look like. Honestly, I’m glad I have boys, so I don’t have to combat the impact those images can have on a women’s psyche. My job is to ensure my boys can delineate what is true and what is false.
Perhaps in its infancy, social media did what it was supposed to do, which is connect us. Now it’s a bastion of misinformation, hate, fake images, and impossible beauty standards. Before the internet and social media, most uneducated fools had no platform to spread their garbage. Now social media amplifies their inaccurate and dangerous messages. In the final evaluation, I think we’ll find social media did more harm than good to our society.
My work computer is moving at a snail’s pace and it’s driving me absolutely bonkers. I hate when the laptop doesn’t want to cooperate. The system is moving so slowly that I’m worried it’s going to drop my calls. Of course, it’s hard to get a call when nobody can reach you via IM, so there’s that. At this point, I’m hatching a plan to try and fix the problem. Hopefully, it’ll stop moving at a snail’s pace and start moving at a cheetah’s pace.
Speaking of problems, were the walking wounded over here. The Mayor sees the surgeon next week for his finger. He’ll likely need surgery to fix it. The hubby has an MRI next week for his knee, which he blew out in Jiu Jitsu. Unfortunately, he’ll likely need surgery as well. And here I am with a bum knee from who knows what. Fortunately, I don’t think it’s a serious issue. Nevertheless, we are a bit of a mess.
Our weather here is sunny and 68, which while cool for South Florida is much better than the weather everywhere else. Up in Tally, they saw low temperatures in the single digits. In Orlando, they were near freezing. I thought we might get a little cooler with this front, but I guess not. At least we can give the AC a rest for a few days.
Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?
There are so many times in my life that I have felt loved. The time I’ve spent traveling with the kids has filled. That they desire to keep exploring the world with me makes me feel loved. And of course, my puppies make sure I know they love me every second and every minute that we’re together.
Well, the Mayor’s season is over. Of course, the orthopedic surgeon will have the final word. Hubby took him to urgent care last night where they confirmed the fracture via x-ray. The x-ray shows a nasty fracture but is a bit comical since it’s an x-ray of him giving the middle finger. Unfortunately, he will be seeing an orthopedic surgeon on Monday due to the severity of the fracture.
He originally injured his finger in Pittsburgh, but it wasn’t broken only a bit swollen. Of course, there may have been some mendacity on his part, so he could still play in Canada. I will say I’m a bit envious of his pain tolerance. The way he played and acted, you’d think everything was completely fine. We had to beg him to take ibuprofen to help bring down the swelling.
Where can you reduce clutter in your life?
Over the last twenty-four years or so of raising kids, we’ve amassed a lot of stuff. A lot of which is no longer necessary. We no longer need any of the hand-me-downs since the boys are all in adult sizes. Slowly, but surely we’re going through their bedrooms to clean out the clutter. Fortunately, we have a lot of stuff that we can donate to Goodwill, so these items will get more use. Some of the stuff, however, will need to go straight to the dump.
I started cleaning out the clutter from the laundry room and kitchen while the guys were in Pittsburgh. Honestly, it looks so much better and induces a lot less stress. We still have more stuff to work through, but hopefully, we’ll be fully de-cluttered in the laundry room and kitchen before the end of the month. Lord knows we will have plenty of time now that his season is over.
