Fun Friday

Mom made it to the doctor’s office so she can get some blood sucked out of her for lab work. I tried to buy Mom a wing chair today but the JCPenney Home Store doesn’t have furniture available to bring home. You have to order it for future delivery. I’ve tried to do some work from home and it’s been a challenge.

Anyway, that’s all past and now I can relax…until Mom needs dinner.

Okay, it wasn’t that bad. I did stop into Borders and did some book browsing, which always calms me down. I even found a few books that looked interesting that I bought for my Kindle. Now I just have to go put my feet up and do some reading. Now that could qualify as fun.

Here’s a video that also looks mighty fun (you can’t go wrong with Fred Astaire…or Rita Hayworth):

So Much for Work

I’m back down in the Phoenix area taking care of my mom. Silly me. I had planned to do a lot of work from my sister’s house today. It didn’t quite work out that way. Between Mom’s physical therapy visit, grocery shopping, sundries shopping, fixing lunch, picking up my brother-in-law’s SUV at his office (they’re all heading off to Disneyland) and driving it back to the house — yeah between all that — I didn’t do much work.

Tomorrow looks no better. Sigh.

Cardinals Win!

Whoo hoo! The Arizona Cardinals win their first home playoff game in 61 years. That’ll teach me, I didn’t think it would happen. Though me and my sister’s family are all wearing Cardinals jerseys and t-shirts. Hmmm…you think that just might have helped the Cardinals?

Quickie

I’m here at my sister’s house, helping to take care of Mom. I’ll post regularly again after I return home tomorrow. Meanwhile, no one spoil this nice, clean, new year for me, okay?

Is It New Year’s Yet?

I’ve survived Christmas. Really, it’s easy to do when you don’t have children. I can play with my own toys and not have to worry about any kids fighting over theirs. See, easy, isn’t it?

The good post-Christmas news is that Mom won’t have to have another operation to put in a defibullator. She gets to come home on Monday. She’ll be staying at my sister’s place until next New Year’s Day, when I’ll come back down and care for her at her place. She’s able to get in and out of bed, walk with the aid of a walker, and do some things. She’ll need help at first, but it’s almost three weeks since her operation and she’s doing a lot more than her first week.

It’s hard to believe that 2008 is almost over. It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it?

Happy Holidays!

I’m off to visit family for Christmas. We won’t have the usual Christmas Eve at my brother’s due to Mom being stuck in a health care facility (she’s getting over an infection before they install a defibillator on Monday). Still, some family are gathering tonight.

I also have a play to go to. There’s nothing like a church Christmas pageant with a niece and a nephew having lines. Even better, I’m bringing one of my great-nieces who came to Flagstaff. Catherine will drive down to Gilbert (Phoenix suburb) with me and have time to play with her cousin Jamie until we head to church.

It should be the normal stressful Christmas Eve day. My sister is co-director of the play, so she’ll be in a dither before the show. I’ll be rushing around to try and get a last minute gift, plus visit my mom. The kids will act in that day-before-Christmas way. Should be fun.

For the rest of you, may your stress be minimum, may your family be fun, and may all of you stay safe and healthy. Merry Christmas!

Family Fun

My niece, Lisa, and her family came over this afternoon for dinner. I roasted a chicken (see recipe here) and veggies, made a salad, and had little Allison help me fix an apple crisp for dessert while the rest of the family watched Wall-E on DVD. Lisa even got some work done — she needed to complete some grading for an online class she is teaching.

After Wall-E we watched the shorts that were on the DVD. “Burn-E” and “Presto” are cute and funny. After that, we put in the Wallace and Grommit shorts, “A Grand Day Out” and “The Wrong Trousers.” The kids had never seen the Wallace and Grommit shorts and found them interesting.

The real fun is watching them all react to the snow. From southern California, they learned that it is necessary to sometimes scrape snow and ice off your car before driving. Ha! Welcome to my world. At least they’re enjoying their Christmas vacation more than they ever expected.

Monday Puttering

Aaah, the joy of puttering around the house on a vacation day. It doesn’t get any better than this. I’ve a cup of coffee and have done some minor chores, and really have nothing much to do than start on a some home-made bread I’m making for a family lunch.

The sledding yesterday was successful, plus we found a playground for five-year old Allison to play on. She’s never played on a swing or the monkey bars with a foot of snow on the ground before. Pretty cool…in so many ways.

Well, back to puttering. I don’t have to go to work and it’s a good day.

The Joy of Snow on the Ground

I just got back from dinner with my niece and her family. My two great-nieces find real snow on the ground most fascinating. They’re loving it. From southern California, they’re not used to snow.

Tomorrow we go sledding. The sun will be up and the two girls should find it all a blast (fingers crossed). I’m really looking forward to the outing myself.

Tonight I’m relaxing with by putting one of my annual Christmas films in the DVD player. Last night was About a Boy. Tonight it’s Die Hard. Hey, there are plenty of Christmas references in it.

Feeling Good

My cold seems to be winding down. I have energy and enthusiasm about life again. My mom is still in the hospital due to an infection, but they have her walking, which is a very good thing.

My niece is about to hit town with her husband and two little girls. Yay! I get to play aunt at two different levels. Aunt to my niece who hopes to enjoy Flagstaff, and great-aunt to my great-nieces (great is the operative word here).

Lisa was hoping there might be some snow on this Christmas vacation and I kept pooh-poohing that hope. It never snows when you want it to. Yeah, right. I have over a foot of snow out there. There’s even more planned for Monday night! She and the kids will get their snow.

Tomorrow we’ll go sledding. I picked up a couple of cheapie plastic sleds. I just hope I can tour guide the sledding locations well enough. I’ve not really taken advantage of snow in that way. Silly really, as I’ve lived in Flagstaff over 15 years now. You think I’d go sledding sometime, wouldn’t you?

So, feeling good overall. You know, as it should be.

Jeez! Another Snow Day!Yes! Many Exclamation Points!!!

What a great week to nurse a cold. Work is canceled again today. I even planned to go in as I’m feeling better. They started with a two-hour delay, but eventually called it. I gather the roads are nasty.

All I know is that my niece and her family better be happy. They are visiting Flagstaff starting Saturday until Christmas Eve day. Lisa so wanted snow so her kids could play in it. Well, Lisa, you got your wish. I hope you will enjoy it. I, unfortunately, am the one shoveling the snow every day. I also need some groceries. Humph. Maybe later today. Still, it’s a snow day! Whoo hoo!

Hallelujah!

My mom is out of  Intensive Care and is now in a regular hospital room. Whoo hoo! I got to talk to her on the phone and she sounds pretty darn good. They have her walking from the bed to the door of the room, and she’s using a walker, but this is definitely progress.

Coronary bypass surgery sure takes a lot out of a person. Let’s hope it also helps in the long run.

Sunday Evening — Or I Hate to Go Back to Work Evening

I’ve done nothing today, but watch DVDs, drink hot tea, and nap. Not bad for a Sunday and having a cold.

I was stressed out over news that my mom had suffered a setback in the hospital last night. She had a fever, was no longer lucid, and things just seemed grim. Today? She’s joking with the nurses, wants her toothbrush and toothpaste, and seems pretty darn good. Whew. I hate not being there, but as long as I’m hearing good news, I’m able to deal with it all.

The movies I’ve seen this weekend include A Shot in the Dark – one of the first Pink Panther movies — along with Fred Claus, Wanted, and then the original Pink Panther movie. Let’s just say that Fred Claus and Wanted were silly movies. I enjoyed Wanted a bit more, but the story did seem too far fetched.

So, it’s Sunday night. I have the choice between Hancock or In Bruges. I may stick with the more stupid film, which should be Hancock. What can I say? I’m in a non-thinking mood. After all, I have to go back to work tomorrow.

Saturday Morning Tea

It’s a windy Saturday morning and snow is on its way. Due to the week of stress, lack of a good night’s sleep, and a bit too much sugar, I’ve got another common cold hitting me. This is at the worst time too. I would love to get through the Christmas season without being sick.

I planned to go back down to Phoenix last night, but was feeling awfully tired, so decided to head out this morning. The spicy curry for lunch yesterday and the homemade soup last night with lots of garlic didn’t fight off the cold though, and I’m staying in this weekend. Part of me appreciates that I can now relax and stay at home, but really, I’d rather be down in Phoenix to visit Mom at the hospital.

Mom seems to be recovering well from her surgery. She should be walking the hospital corridors soon. My family wonders what happens next? How and who and where shall she be cared for? It’s incredibly unsettling. I can take off of work, or even work from Mom’s or my sister’s house, but I just need to know when.

Anyway, I’m here at home, sniffling away with the cold, which hasn’t hit too bad yet. In fact, I’ve managed to clean my place and emptied the garbage. Now I’m just sitting back drinking a hot cup of green tea with lemon.  Thus, a Saturday morning tea.

Feeling Good

I’m feeling rather happy today. My mom actually sat up in a chair and ate some Jello. Funny how little things like that can make you feel good.

I’m back up in Flagstaff, which makes my cat Lulu quite happy. Tomorrow I’ll go to work, and return to Phoenix for the weekend. Tonight, I’m watching  Hellboy II and planning an early night. Let’s just say that worrying about your mother in the hospital messes with your sleep.

Still, I must say, I’m feeling mighty good.