Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching and summer's just around the corner. I can almost smell the burgers grilling. I admit, I'm antsy for the summer fun to begin.
And tonight, a summer staple here in The City on the Water began, Waterfest.
I was planning on heading down to enjoy the festivities, music and fun with friends. But it seems like Mother Nature had other plans. Mainly storms featuring sporadic downpours.
I could have braved the showers, because really, what's a little water, but I decided not to. Even thought it could have been a good time, I really didn't want to stand outside in the rain and risk getting sick, not when I'm still dealing with the aftermath of The Great Neck Slicing of 2007.
So instead of jamming to the tunes down by the river, I'll be chilling out here at my apartment. But I'll make sure to make it a point to show up for next week's Waterfest fun.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
The pages aren't turning
I'm almost embarrassed to say this, but it's almost the end of the month and I've only finished one book.
One.
Uno.
Five minus four.
This isn't good.
There are pages left for me to read in entertaining Michael Perry essays and I still have a few more great moments from Camp Randall Stadium to read about. And don't even get me started on Harry and his adventures at Hogwarts. I've finished three, but now the three longest years are sitting staring me in the face and according to the calendar, the release date for final book is creeping up way faster than I thought.
I'm going to blame my lack of reading on The Great Neck Slicing of 2007, because it's kind of pointless to read when your drugged up on morphine or Tylenol with codeine (good stuff) because inevitably, you read three or four pages, fall asleep and promptly forget everything you just read. At least that's what happened to me.
But the recovery? I'm well on my way to recovery and not taking any sleep inducing drugs. So falling asleep and forgetting what I just read shouldn't be a problem anymore. I can read again people! Last night I did a good chunk of reading. I've only got the four greatest moments left to read about. Hopefully I'll finish them soon, maybe even tonight. Then it's just another 100 or so pages of the Michael Perry essays, which I highly recommend by the way, and then I can give Harry some more undivided attention.
Now, it's off to read about moment 4.
One.
Uno.
Five minus four.
This isn't good.
There are pages left for me to read in entertaining Michael Perry essays and I still have a few more great moments from Camp Randall Stadium to read about. And don't even get me started on Harry and his adventures at Hogwarts. I've finished three, but now the three longest years are sitting staring me in the face and according to the calendar, the release date for final book is creeping up way faster than I thought.
I'm going to blame my lack of reading on The Great Neck Slicing of 2007, because it's kind of pointless to read when your drugged up on morphine or Tylenol with codeine (good stuff) because inevitably, you read three or four pages, fall asleep and promptly forget everything you just read. At least that's what happened to me.
But the recovery? I'm well on my way to recovery and not taking any sleep inducing drugs. So falling asleep and forgetting what I just read shouldn't be a problem anymore. I can read again people! Last night I did a good chunk of reading. I've only got the four greatest moments left to read about. Hopefully I'll finish them soon, maybe even tonight. Then it's just another 100 or so pages of the Michael Perry essays, which I highly recommend by the way, and then I can give Harry some more undivided attention.
Now, it's off to read about moment 4.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
The shoes are calling my name
It was beautiful outside today. Sunny, temperatures in the low 80s, a nice breeze. And I got to leave the office before 5.
Sounds like a perfect day for a run.
Except I can't.
Remember, that whole neck slicing thing? I still have another 4 days before my doctor says I can lace up my sneakers and head out for a run.
But then I got home, sat outside and read a book for a while. And then it hit me. I knew it would happen, but I don't think I realized how much an 8 1/2 hour day of non-stop running between the courthouse and the office would drain me out, two days after I returned to work.
So it may have been beautiful outside and maybe I could hear my running shoes calling my name, but it's probably a good thing I couldn't run today. Otherwise I would have gone to bed tonight and never woken up.
Sounds like a perfect day for a run.
Except I can't.
Remember, that whole neck slicing thing? I still have another 4 days before my doctor says I can lace up my sneakers and head out for a run.
But then I got home, sat outside and read a book for a while. And then it hit me. I knew it would happen, but I don't think I realized how much an 8 1/2 hour day of non-stop running between the courthouse and the office would drain me out, two days after I returned to work.
So it may have been beautiful outside and maybe I could hear my running shoes calling my name, but it's probably a good thing I couldn't run today. Otherwise I would have gone to bed tonight and never woken up.
Monday, May 21, 2007
I was never a contestant, but I would have liked to "Come on Down!"
Remember last week, when I was recovering? And it seems like all I did was sleep and watch TV?
That recovery gave me the chance to catch up with an old TV friend, Bob Barker and "The Price is Right." I remember watching it on days when I was sick and stayed home from school. I always like Plinko - which seemed to take no skill whatsoever - and the mountain climber game - where you could lose immediately if you really had no clue how much that blender cost.
But I hadn't had the chance to watch "The Price is Right" for a few years. I turned it on last week though. The games were the same, maybe a little more snazzy looking, but still the same. And Bob looked the same and still reminded me to "have your pets spayed and neutered."
It felt like a journey to the past. Me, sacked out on the couch with my mom taking care of me. Only instead of the flu, I was nursing a gash on my neck and instead of being 8, I was 27. But it was a nice trip back to childhood.
The only bad thing about it, seeing Bob Barker reminded me that at the end of this season, Bob's calling it quits. And I for one can't imagine "The Price is Right" without Bob Barker. It's like peanut butter without jelly or Sonny without Cher. "The Price is Right" without Bob Barker is more like "The Price is Wrong."
Hank Stuever, a writer with the Washingtonpost.com, takes a good look at "The Price is Right" and Bob Barker. Take a few minutes to read it, Stuever obviously knows his Price is Right and I bet he wouldn't lose on his first attempt at the mountain climber game.
That recovery gave me the chance to catch up with an old TV friend, Bob Barker and "The Price is Right." I remember watching it on days when I was sick and stayed home from school. I always like Plinko - which seemed to take no skill whatsoever - and the mountain climber game - where you could lose immediately if you really had no clue how much that blender cost.
But I hadn't had the chance to watch "The Price is Right" for a few years. I turned it on last week though. The games were the same, maybe a little more snazzy looking, but still the same. And Bob looked the same and still reminded me to "have your pets spayed and neutered."
It felt like a journey to the past. Me, sacked out on the couch with my mom taking care of me. Only instead of the flu, I was nursing a gash on my neck and instead of being 8, I was 27. But it was a nice trip back to childhood.
The only bad thing about it, seeing Bob Barker reminded me that at the end of this season, Bob's calling it quits. And I for one can't imagine "The Price is Right" without Bob Barker. It's like peanut butter without jelly or Sonny without Cher. "The Price is Right" without Bob Barker is more like "The Price is Wrong."
Hank Stuever, a writer with the Washingtonpost.com, takes a good look at "The Price is Right" and Bob Barker. Take a few minutes to read it, Stuever obviously knows his Price is Right and I bet he wouldn't lose on his first attempt at the mountain climber game.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Tomorrow I go back to the world of work
It took me a bit longer to recover from The Great Neck Slicing of 2007 than I had originally planned. I had intended to go back last Tuesday, but after the doctor's decided to remove a golf ball from my neck, plans changed a bit since it hurt more and I could barely stay awake for more than 3 hours at a time. However, after a little over a week off from work, I'm heading back tomorrow.
And the gash will be in plain view.
That's right. No bandage, no tape. Nothing. Just the gash. Which, honestly doesn't look too bad, at least that's what everybody keeps telling me. Mom said if people didn't know it was there, they wouldn't even notice it. I don't think I would go that far, but I do have to agree, it doesn't look as bad as I thought it would.
So it's back to work for me. I'm a little worried though. Yesterday was the first day that I didn't take a nap in over a week and I struggled. I'm worried that I'm just going to be exhausted by noon and not be able to finish my day. But I'll take it easy, finish my stuff and hopefully I won't have to go chase any fires or murders.
Once the clock strikes quitting time, I know I can just come home, change into pajamas and relax for the rest of the evening.
All thanks to Mom.
She came came back to The City on the Water with me today. We did my grocery shopping and made dinner. In the process, before she left, she made sure there was not a piece of garbage left in my house, a piece of dirty clothing or a dirty dish. All because she said she wants to make sure all I have to do this week is go to work and rest.
Aww. My mom's sweet.
And the gash will be in plain view.
That's right. No bandage, no tape. Nothing. Just the gash. Which, honestly doesn't look too bad, at least that's what everybody keeps telling me. Mom said if people didn't know it was there, they wouldn't even notice it. I don't think I would go that far, but I do have to agree, it doesn't look as bad as I thought it would.
So it's back to work for me. I'm a little worried though. Yesterday was the first day that I didn't take a nap in over a week and I struggled. I'm worried that I'm just going to be exhausted by noon and not be able to finish my day. But I'll take it easy, finish my stuff and hopefully I won't have to go chase any fires or murders.
Once the clock strikes quitting time, I know I can just come home, change into pajamas and relax for the rest of the evening.
All thanks to Mom.
She came came back to The City on the Water with me today. We did my grocery shopping and made dinner. In the process, before she left, she made sure there was not a piece of garbage left in my house, a piece of dirty clothing or a dirty dish. All because she said she wants to make sure all I have to do this week is go to work and rest.
Aww. My mom's sweet.
This makes me feel old
I can handle hearing about little kids I used to babysit for graduating from high school.
I can even handle hearing my 5-year-old niece tell me I'm old.
But this past week, I felt old merely because of a local TV station's "Athlete of the Week." Back between my freshman and sophomore years in college, I freelanced for a local, community newspaper. It was a weekly paper that focused on the different areas in Appleton. Anyway, the first assignment I got was to write this story about this 10-year-old Little League player who had hit something like 12 home runs during his Little League season.
It was the first story that I was ever paid to write.
Apparently that Little League player has grown up, drawn the attention of Division I college and Major League Baseball scouts.
And now I feel old.
I can even handle hearing my 5-year-old niece tell me I'm old.
But this past week, I felt old merely because of a local TV station's "Athlete of the Week." Back between my freshman and sophomore years in college, I freelanced for a local, community newspaper. It was a weekly paper that focused on the different areas in Appleton. Anyway, the first assignment I got was to write this story about this 10-year-old Little League player who had hit something like 12 home runs during his Little League season.
It was the first story that I was ever paid to write.
Apparently that Little League player has grown up, drawn the attention of Division I college and Major League Baseball scouts.
And now I feel old.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
The great neck slicing of 2007
Well, I survived the great neck slicing of 2007.
And let me tell you, it was quite painful. Mostly due to the fact that the thing they took out of my neck, yeah, it was the size of a GOLF BALL! A golf ball people, that's kind of big. And how is it possible that I never felt that?
So here's the abbreviated version of what I've done the last week:
FRIDAY: I woke up and was hungry and thirsty, mostly because I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight. Mom takes me to the hospital and I'm freaking out big time. I mean, did I forget to mention that they were going to be slicing my neck open? They stick an IV in my hand, give me a goofy blue bonnet thing to wear on my head and wheel me off to the operating room. The last thing I remember is the somewhat socially-inept anesthesiology saying "I'm going to give you some medicine now and you're going to start to feel a little drowsy..."
Three hours later: I'm groggy and am waking up in a strange room with strangers all around me. I vaguely remember calling for my Mom, who appears minutes later with my Dad. I don't remember much of this room other than begin really hot. They wheel me up to an actual hospital room, where the anesthesia doesn't agree with me and I throw up...twice. The rest of the night is somewhat more clear, but painful. Because remember, I had a golf ball removed. I remember watching TV and talking a walk to see the helicopter landing pad.
During the night: It's really hard to sleep when you have nurses coming in every hour or so to get your blood pressure and temperature. And the little Asian nurse, who demanded I spell my name and give her my birth date at 2 a.m. before she'd give me more pain medication? What would she do if I didn't know it? Leave me writhing in pain?
SATURDAY: I got my first look at my wound today when the doctor took off the big bandage today. It's kind of nasty looking. And large. I bet ya it's 3 inches long and goes across a good portion of my neck. But then I remember, golf ball. I got the OK to leave the hospital at 9:30. By 11 a.m. I was at my parents' house, taking nap number 1 of the day. Some friends and family visited and I slept. It hurt. Mom let me sleep at my apartment for the night.
SUNDAY: More sleeping and pain.
MONDAY: I slept, watched TV and took pain medication. I even sat outside for a bit.
TUESDAY: I actually got dressed in real clothes, granted it was for all of 2 hours, when I went out to dinner with my parents. It was also the first "real" meal I'd eaten since Thursday. Otherwise, I slept and watched TV.
WEDNESDAY: I tried to drive. It didn't work so well. While I was feeling a bit better, it was still really hard and painful to turn my neck. And if I would have to make a sudden movement, yeah, not fun. The high point of the day: I only took one nap.
TODAY: Mom and I came to Oshkosh. Her washer is on the fritz, so she's doing laundry and I'm putzing. Although a nap could be in my near future.
I've worn nothing but sweats and tank tops for the past week and make up? Yeah, haven't worn any of that either. My hair's been back in a pony tail for a week, only because it hurts to do anything else with it. And books? Those things I love? Even though I was fully stocked with good stuff to read during my recovery (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire along with the book of Michael Perry essays I was in the middle of reading), I've hardly turned a page. I did manage to read one short essay yesterday, so hopefully I'll be able to read a few more pages later today.
And let me tell you, it was quite painful. Mostly due to the fact that the thing they took out of my neck, yeah, it was the size of a GOLF BALL! A golf ball people, that's kind of big. And how is it possible that I never felt that?
So here's the abbreviated version of what I've done the last week:
FRIDAY: I woke up and was hungry and thirsty, mostly because I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight. Mom takes me to the hospital and I'm freaking out big time. I mean, did I forget to mention that they were going to be slicing my neck open? They stick an IV in my hand, give me a goofy blue bonnet thing to wear on my head and wheel me off to the operating room. The last thing I remember is the somewhat socially-inept anesthesiology saying "I'm going to give you some medicine now and you're going to start to feel a little drowsy..."
Three hours later: I'm groggy and am waking up in a strange room with strangers all around me. I vaguely remember calling for my Mom, who appears minutes later with my Dad. I don't remember much of this room other than begin really hot. They wheel me up to an actual hospital room, where the anesthesia doesn't agree with me and I throw up...twice. The rest of the night is somewhat more clear, but painful. Because remember, I had a golf ball removed. I remember watching TV and talking a walk to see the helicopter landing pad.
During the night: It's really hard to sleep when you have nurses coming in every hour or so to get your blood pressure and temperature. And the little Asian nurse, who demanded I spell my name and give her my birth date at 2 a.m. before she'd give me more pain medication? What would she do if I didn't know it? Leave me writhing in pain?
SATURDAY: I got my first look at my wound today when the doctor took off the big bandage today. It's kind of nasty looking. And large. I bet ya it's 3 inches long and goes across a good portion of my neck. But then I remember, golf ball. I got the OK to leave the hospital at 9:30. By 11 a.m. I was at my parents' house, taking nap number 1 of the day. Some friends and family visited and I slept. It hurt. Mom let me sleep at my apartment for the night.
SUNDAY: More sleeping and pain.
MONDAY: I slept, watched TV and took pain medication. I even sat outside for a bit.
TUESDAY: I actually got dressed in real clothes, granted it was for all of 2 hours, when I went out to dinner with my parents. It was also the first "real" meal I'd eaten since Thursday. Otherwise, I slept and watched TV.
WEDNESDAY: I tried to drive. It didn't work so well. While I was feeling a bit better, it was still really hard and painful to turn my neck. And if I would have to make a sudden movement, yeah, not fun. The high point of the day: I only took one nap.
TODAY: Mom and I came to Oshkosh. Her washer is on the fritz, so she's doing laundry and I'm putzing. Although a nap could be in my near future.
I've worn nothing but sweats and tank tops for the past week and make up? Yeah, haven't worn any of that either. My hair's been back in a pony tail for a week, only because it hurts to do anything else with it. And books? Those things I love? Even though I was fully stocked with good stuff to read during my recovery (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire along with the book of Michael Perry essays I was in the middle of reading), I've hardly turned a page. I did manage to read one short essay yesterday, so hopefully I'll be able to read a few more pages later today.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
What I have is a "To Do List" with nothing crossed off
There are so many things I should be doing right now.
Things like clean off my breakfast bar, throw away the old newspapers, fold my towels that are piled up on the couch, clean up the kitchen, finish cleaning my bathroom. In general, get rid of the clutter that I live with.
In other words, I need to tidy up. Normally I do it on the weekends. But it's going to be a bit different this weekend. See Mom is coming. And under normal circumstances, I wouldn't mind if there's a bit of a mess, she's cool and understands. But this won't be normal circumstances. See, Mom is coming to take care of me, after they slice open my neck.
Yes, you read that right. My neck is being sliced open.
They doctors are removing something that decided to grow on my thyroid. And to be honest, I'm freaking out a tiny bit. I mean, they're slicing my neck open! One little slip and BAM! I could be friends with Nearly Headless Nick at Hogwarts.
So Mom is coming to take care of me. Actually, I'm staying with my parents, but when it comes to sleep, we're coming back to The City on the Water, because my bed is just so much more comfortable than the one at my parents' house. Thankfully, it's only a 30 minute drive.
But since she's coming and sleeping here, that means my apartment has to be at least in somewhat decent shape. I'm not a messy person, it's just the mail from the week has been piling up on the breakfast bar and some stuff needs to be put away.
By no means would it take long if I just quit blogging and did it. Or just did it when I got home from work instead of deciding to go for a 4.4 mile run.
Maybe I'll suck it up and spend the next 15 minutes or so straightening up. The sooner I do it, the sooner it will be done.
Things like clean off my breakfast bar, throw away the old newspapers, fold my towels that are piled up on the couch, clean up the kitchen, finish cleaning my bathroom. In general, get rid of the clutter that I live with.
In other words, I need to tidy up. Normally I do it on the weekends. But it's going to be a bit different this weekend. See Mom is coming. And under normal circumstances, I wouldn't mind if there's a bit of a mess, she's cool and understands. But this won't be normal circumstances. See, Mom is coming to take care of me, after they slice open my neck.
Yes, you read that right. My neck is being sliced open.
They doctors are removing something that decided to grow on my thyroid. And to be honest, I'm freaking out a tiny bit. I mean, they're slicing my neck open! One little slip and BAM! I could be friends with Nearly Headless Nick at Hogwarts.
So Mom is coming to take care of me. Actually, I'm staying with my parents, but when it comes to sleep, we're coming back to The City on the Water, because my bed is just so much more comfortable than the one at my parents' house. Thankfully, it's only a 30 minute drive.
But since she's coming and sleeping here, that means my apartment has to be at least in somewhat decent shape. I'm not a messy person, it's just the mail from the week has been piling up on the breakfast bar and some stuff needs to be put away.
By no means would it take long if I just quit blogging and did it. Or just did it when I got home from work instead of deciding to go for a 4.4 mile run.
Maybe I'll suck it up and spend the next 15 minutes or so straightening up. The sooner I do it, the sooner it will be done.
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