True Musings

It's been almost a month since my last post - and I must admit that I've been in the dumps most of that time.  It's not an easy process and it takes time to work through - but I'm getting there - slowly but surely.

Work is work - some things are great and some not so great.  For the first time in a long time I'm seriously looking forward to and actually planning for retirement.  We'll see what the future brings - I'm thinking that I won't be in any great hurry but it's too soon to tell!

It's Father's Day - Happy Happy to all Dads - they're very special people!

All By Myself (with two cats!)

This will be a different week for me - I'm in the last day of dogsitting (my oldest will be home tomorrow), Don is off to San Diego on business and I have the week off - whew! 

The dog is good and, luckily, she & my son live close by because she wasn't really happy here - anxious and pacing the few hours she was here. So I've been going over to her house several hours at a time, several times a day and last thing at night.  She's fine over there - relaxed and happy to be home! I know she'll be happy when her "Daddy" comes home tomorrow.

This week will be a busy one - even without going to work.  The car needs its inspection and an oil change, I have plenty of "stuff" to clean around the house (yuck) and I do have to go into work once this week to make sure timesheets are finished on time!  But it will be good not to have to get up and out early!  I'm sure the week will fly and all will be back to "normal" faster than I can imagine!

Wish me luck on the cleaning  -  I'll need all of it I can get!!

Losing my Mind

There are times I think I'm truly losing my mind and the past few days have certainly fostered those thoughts!  For a couple of days I couldn't find my credit card - not a good thing - but I was fairly sure where it was - but it wasn't where it was supposed to be!  Luckily I was right and I had put it down where it didn't belong instead of putting it away!!  Today I was getting change from my wallet and noticed that my driver's license wasn't there - I remembered immediately when I took it out - and I could have sworn I'd put it back.  Well - good thing I didn't swear!!  Anyway - I told my boss that if I couldn't find it where I thought it might be (at home) I would be stopping by DMV before I came to work on Friday!!  It was at home (not exactly where I'd imagined but still in the house!) and is now safely back in my wallet....

I don't know what's happening - stress (I don't think there's more than normal), old age (there's always that!) or just plain need a vacation (I vote for that one!!) but the past couple of weeks have been hard on my cards! 

Oh well - this too shall pass - course it would pass better if I could keep in touch with important government documents!!

Back to Work . . .

Today was my second day back at work - and I want to thank everyone who suggested I go back part-time! Four hours seems to be the limit my arm and I can handle!

Monday I did too much with the arm - I had the sling but not the waist band and that just allowed me to do more than I probably should have.

Today I had the waist band but I was still tired enough and my arm ached enough that when I came home at noon I took a pain pill and had a nice nap!! This evening has been much better!

I know that slow and steady is the way to go but I don't have a lot of patience - I'm sure that will come as a complete shock to my friends! - and it's hard for me to wait - - but, of course, I will!

PS: to my bank, co-workers for whom I've signed leave slips, etc. - that's not a forgery . . . it's my poor attempt to write with my left hand!!

PPS: kudos to the programmers who created an easy way to switch mouse buttons!!

Two Weeks & Counting

I have fingers!! On my visit to the doctor today he said the cast was too big and I said I couldn't use the sling because the angle wasn't right. He also said that the fracture has slipped a little but not significantly - probably because the cast was slipping.

Anyway, I got a new cast today and my fingers and thumb have been freed! I might actually be able to sign my name soon! My wrist (outside the cast) is a lovely shade of yellow!! My cast is now a "healing" purple - and I am using my sling!

Next appointment the 31st - and another cast - this time a short one!

Alone and tired

I'm exhausted and I haven't done anything! I had a great visit from a friend I haven't seen in quite a while! She was here a couple of hours and all we did was talk - me with my arm up! but her visit reinforced my decision not to attend All Staff Day tomorrow. Getting dressed and simply sitting up on the couch did me in!!

Well, it's also my first night since the "event" by myself. Just me and the cats. But not for long - companionship will return Thursday evening. I quickly got spoiled though!! It's really nice having another human in the house - the cats are good but don't talk much - well they do "talk" but not so I understand.

One Week Down - Five To Go . . .

Well - almost a week now and my cast is like an unwelcome guest at a party! I took this week off and called Thursday to take next week off too. It means that I'll miss All Staff Day - double bummer - but since getting bathed and dressed is a MAJOR issue I thought it was a wise decision!

It's been amazing finding out just how hard it can be not to have use of my arm - even more amazing how cumbersome this silly cast is! And how right-handed I am!! The simplest things are now difficult and don't even ask about a signature!!

I have to say that sleeping has been ok - but I've noted more dreams using my right arm! It does help when it's cold so I guess Va. Power will be happy (when the weather gets warmer)!

PS my cast is bright blue!!

Broken . . .

I now am the proud "owner" of a shoulder-height bright blue cast that has to stay 4 weeks with an additional 2 weeks in a shorter cast. And hopefully this will be all that's needed - the doctor did mention surgery but said this should be enough. Apparently the wrist wasn't terribly out of line - thank God - because the setting was horrible as was the numbing beforehand!

Oh well - one day at a time!

What a Day . . .

This morning I went out to get the paper about 7 - barefoot. On my way back into the house, my foot caught on my pants leg and down I went. My wrist led the way into the door, which luckily wasn't closed tightly - but my pour right wrist didn't fare well at all!

After a trip to the new emergency room down the street. I have a splint on my broken wrist, instructions to call the orthopedist tomorrow, a bandaged toe and a prescription for vicodin . . . what a flipping mess!

SIGH

Time moves on

It's hard to believe that it's March - even with an extra day February seemed to go fast! And March looks (on paper) to do the same! There aren't as many meetings or trainings scheduled (right now) but that may change in the next few days!

There was a big push to finish Learning 2.0 and I think everyone who registered and wanted to finish was able to complete the training. We had several labs and worked to give people time on the schedule to complete their work. It'll be interesting to see the final numbers!

Next month I'm going to the Computers in Libraries conference in Arlington - this will be the 4th year I've been able to go - it's a great conference and I always see a lot of new things and learn stuff too! And I get to have fun with co-workers who attend also!

Can't believe that Daylight Savings time starts next weekend! Time certainly will FLY then!!

A Day to Celebrate

On February 27, 1951 the 22nd amendment to the US Constitution was ratified. After electing and re-electing FDR 4 times, the citizens of the US decided to have Presidential term limits.

It took from 1947 until 1951 to follow the entire amendment process - but the 22nd amendment passed all the hurdles and was ratified today!!

Because of this amendment, Presidents are limited to 2 terms - and that's a good thing!

Still Playing with 2.0

I'm still having fun with the various image generators and thought this was particularly appropriate in light of Quincy's "Great Escape" on Monday! He looks like a hardened escape artist - when in fact he's a real softy - and loves sleeping under the down blanket!

Movie Date

We went to the movies today and saw Vantage Point. It looked interesting from the previews and, in my opinion at least, lived up to it's advertising!

The premise is a bit far-fetched - not that the President could be shot - but that a double would be sent out to do a major speech for the President! I guess that might happen, but I would hate to think there are two (or more) GWBs out there somewhere!

The viewing of the situation from many viewpoints (8) was interesting and good (perhaps 8 was a bit much!) and certainly led to several twists and turns as each viewpoint gave additional information about what actually happened.

Great "cinema" - no. Good hour and 1/2 entertainment - yes! Especially if you like car chases! Gotta get me one of those cars - almost as good as the Russian cars in the Bourne movies!

What a Week . . .

I'm not sure what the reason but this week has been a long and difficult one - and not just because of meetings (although they contributed some). I'm betting on age myself! I've found I don't "bounce back" like I used to!

It's one of the very few weeks I worked all days and I discovered that I truly miss not having my mornings off - a slow start to the day is welcome twice a week and dearly missed when it doesn't happen!

The light at the end of the tunnel was today (Friday). It's my day off for working tomorrow and I got my "easy" morning today. I woke up just about on time, but was able to go back to bed and back to sleep (with a warm kitty next to me)! Now, watching a little TV and relaxing in front of the fire, I'm not really having to "think" much! Regeneration is taking place!

Next week is busy too, but that's ok. I have today!

Meetings

We, in the library, have SO many meetings! This week I had 4 scheduled but one was cancelled. (Actually one of what I'm calling a meeting is truly a training - but the result is the same - I'm away from the building.)

Today there were two meetings and I have to admit they're two of the most fun! It's always good to have a good laugh and I can usually manage that in these meetings! What can possibly be wrong with a meeting with accomplishments, laughter and chocolate??!!

End of an era . . .

Fidel Castro has resigned as President of Cuba. I was in elementary school when he took over the country (I don't remember much about that!). But I do remember the Bay of Pigs in 1961 right after the election of John F. Kennedy.

I remember because my parents were convinced this was a sign that the new (non-Republican)President was going to have major problems during his tenure (little did we all know!).

I was amazed when the Berlin Wall was taken down (I vividly remember it being built - with tanks facing each other) but this has almost had a bigger impact on me for some reason. For so many years we have been warned of the dangers of Communism only 90 miles off the shores of Miami and we've had so many people fleeing in boats, rafts and even trucks trying to leave Cuba.

I honestly didn't think I would ever see a Cuba without Fidel! (I can't say without Castro since Raoul is now in charge!) I knew he wouldn't live forever but it certainly seemed as if he were trying!

Oh well - guess it's a sign of advancing age - these changes seem more momentous to me than they probably would have 20 - 30 years ago!

Bad Kitty!

This morning we had horrible thunderstorms - and it was still sprinkling when I left for work just before 7. As I was leaving - Quincy - also known as Bad Kitty - ran out the front door into "the world"! And he was off - into the front yard - across the neighbor's driveway and snooping in their bushes. No amount of calling or rattling of dry food would entice him back home.

I had to go to work - and Don was left on Bad Kitty watch. He said he saw him several times - in the back yard and the front - but he wouldn't come in the house! Quincy went under the house (protected from the rain there) and wandered around most of the morning.

Finally, after 4 hours the silly thing was captured and back in the house. Such a Bad Kat!!

Don is owed a great deal for putting up with the cat (and me!) this morning!

An Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett

A small book (only 120 pages) that is a complete delight. The Queen (of England!) is out with her Corgis when they take off after a mobile library that is parked in the lane. Feeling guilty that the dogs are so noisy, the Queen checks out a book and discovers, after years of not reading, that she likes to read!

The problems that the Queen's reading brings to the Court are amusing and not only among the humans! "Indulged and bad-tempered though they were, the dogs were not unintelligent, so it was not surprising that in a short space of time they came to hate books as the spoilsports they are (and always have been)."

Check it out - Enjoy!

Back Online! Yippee!

My wireless adapter is in Automated Services fighting the good fight - hoping that "the powers that be" will purchase something similar for my work laptop. (Apparently a picture and written description weren't enough and an example of the "actual" thing was needed.)

Since Thursday, then, my personal laptop has been "disconnected" and unable to talk with anyone else - sob! That's not to say I haven't been able to talk online - after all there are other computers in the house - but it hasn't been the same!

Today, though, my honey decided he needed a wireless adapter for one of the computers upstairs - and, until mine comes home, he's put it on my laptop! Luckily he was the one to do it too because the enclosed disc didn't play with Vista at all (what does) and it took a bit longer than it should have to get it up and running.

But as usual, he was successful and the computer, Vista and Belkin are all happy! (Netgear will be jealous when it gets back!)

Happy Valentine's Day

May you have a wonderful day with friends & loved ones!