Fuzzy Orange Cat

The FOC is Back

2010-05-26T09:18:00.003-04:00

Perhaps I ought to rename this blog "Gail is on Medical Leave Again," since that seems to be when I pay attention to it. But I must say that it's a good way to keep everyone informed, since it also feeds to my Facebook page. And given that I can only type with one hand, it's nice to only have to type once.

I had surgery on my left wrist yesterday to remove a ganglion cyst and to arthroscopically explore my wrist's anatomical structure. Quite a mouthful for a procedure that only took about two hours, but there's apparently a lot going on in there.

I've had the cyst for a long time--at least six years that I know of--and have had other ones removed before. This is actually my third wrist surgery since 1998, the second on my left side. All in all, the cysts are no big deal unless and until they grow and start to impede activity. This one crossed that line about 8 or 9 months ago, and I've just been waiting for a good time to have this one removed. Of course, there's never a really good time for something like this. But this seemed as good a time as any. Besides, it was getting really, really annoying.

The anatomical stuff is a whole other issue. Apparently some of the bones in my wrist tilt in the wrong direction, which often leads to fairly severe problems that require fairly drastic repair. Since my x-rays and MRI seemed to disagree with each other, we went for the exploratory option to see what (if anything) was really wrong.

As much as I love our local hospital (though I don't really like to visit there, of course), there's a lot to be said for going to a teaching hospital and getting the benefit of lots of expert attention. Everyone was great. For the first time, I had a nerve block for anesthesia. It numbed my entire arm for about 24 hours (which is an incredibly strange feeling I might add--nearly impossible to describe). But the block eliminates the need for other meds, so I woke up very easily and felt pretty good rather soon after.

The cyst turned out to be rather large and a bit complicated. It had attached itself to two major tendons and an artery. Happily, Dr. Miller was able to get it out and all should be well with healing and time. The bones may be another story. He said something semi-cryptic, that they are on the border of the spectrum of more serious issues. So basically, we'll have to wait and see how things go. So far, my bones have managed somehow to adjust to their deformity so we'll have to hope they can keep it up for the foreseeable future.

For now I live with this rather annoying splint, which will come off next Thursday. But I'm feeling pretty good--pain is minimal for now, and Motrin seems to be keeping it under control. Hopefully that will continue to be the case.

Blogging on the Fly

2009-03-04T17:02:00.003-05:00

I'm creating this post in a matter of seconds so that I have some new blog content to show my class. Of course, I had fully intended to create a new post during the last few days. Funny how time escapes me (and perhaps all of us). The main thing to keep in mind when blogging (is there only one?) is this: remember that all the world can see what you post.

Or can they?????

25 Random Things About Me

2009-01-30T20:29:00.004-05:00

So my first post of 2009 is unifying my online locations, since this blog also feeds my Facebook Notes. The latest craze seems to be creating a list of 25 random bits of information that people might not know about you. I must say, I usually don't complete (or enjoy) these kinds of things. But perhaps I'm loosening up in my middle aged-ness, since I seem willing to complete this task.

1. For the first 30-odd years of my life, if you asked me what my ethnic background was, I would tell you I was half Portuguese and half French. It wasn't until just a few years ago that I figured out that my French ancestors had lived in Canada since the early 1700's, which probably qualified them to be acutal Canadians. Hence, if you ask me today, I will tell you I'm half Portuguese and half Canadian.
2. I have never broken a bone, but I have been in a cast.
3. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher.
4. I'm fairly certain that I could solve intricate mathematical equations, write the next great American novel, and develop a cure for cancer if only I didn't have so many song lyrics trapped in my brain.
5. I didn't get my first real pet until I was 21 years old. Having to put her down a couple of years ago broke my heart.
6. If you can name a crime/cop/detective show from the '70s or '80s, I'm probably a fan.
7. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would live in central New York, but now I can't imagine living anywhere else.
8. I drank legally for only one night in my entire life. When I was a sophomore in college, the pep band took a road trip to Ohio where the drinking age was still 18.
9. When I was about 2 1/2, my next door neighbor and I wandered into our neighbor's garage and painted their steps green.
10. Things I have inherited from my mom include my height, my obsession with keeping things neat and orderly, and my tendency to be almost late to just about everything.
11. Things I have inherited from my dad include my hair, my love for all things chocolate, and my obsession with standing up for the things I believe in.
12. For most of my life I tried to be an athlete, but I'm pretty sure I didn't learn to be one until I was in my 20's.
13. I have arthritis in my left wrist, but it rarely bothers me. Or perhaps I'm just distracted by other aches and pains...
14. The life I live today is about as far away as possible from the life I imagined for myself when I was young, and wow, am I grateful for that.
15. I can break things with my hands and feet, do pushups on my knuckles, and lift heavy stuff. But if you asked me, I wouldn't describe myself as strong.
16. I can wire an outlet or a light switch, use a torch to solder copper pipe or repair instruments, mix, pour and screed cement, install a faucet, hang gutters, swing a hammer to build stuff, and use power tools without too much trepidation. Thanks, Dad.
17. Other than the Basic computing course I took in high school, every ounce of computer knowledge I had when I got my current job came from years of trial and error. And frankly, most of it still does.
18. I love watching Canada geese fly, and will stop just about anything I'm doing to watch and listen.
19. I think everyone ought to save time, and just fall in love with and marry their best friend. It seems to be a good plan, even after almost 17 years.
20. The trip we took to Japan in 2002 was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I have never been so depressed to come back home from anywhere.
21. Without wearing my contacts or glasses, I'm only able to decipher fuzzy shapes and colors.
22. I have lived in four houses in my entire life, though I have also passed through two dorm rooms and five apartments.
23. I love watching football, and think that NFL Sunday Ticket on DirecTV is one of the greatest inventions of our time.
24. Though most who know me would never believe it, I'm actually terribly shy.
25. Even after almost two years, I still catch myself thinking, "I need to call dad and ask him about that."

Bits and Pieces

2008-11-30T20:18:00.004-05:00

Well, I have to blog at least one more time before November officially comes to an end in a matter of hours. The busy month that has just passed is about to give way to an even busier one. I'm having some difficulty with this whole almost winter/almost Christmas thing. Again, time seems to have slipped away. In the next three weeks, I have somewhere between 9 and 15 gym visits to make, 6 karate classes to teach, 3 tech classes to teach, a few social gatherings to take part in, some hockey games to watch, several meetings to attend, and, oh yes, one doctor's appointment to keep (yes, that doctor--the one who gets to decide the fate of my roundhouse kick). Throw in the rest of life, and I'm not anticipating a whole lot of down time over the next few weeks. Guess I'll have to create my own silence.

Not having a topic of particular import to share, I leave you with the random thoughts that seem to have collected in my head this evening:

Is it just me, or has it suddenly become mandatory to include Mylie Cyrus in every television holiday special? First she invaded my Macy's Parade, now she's going to intrude upon the lighting of the tree in Rockefeller Center. I must be the only one to have missed the importance of her stature in our collective culture.

Loving that the members of the gingerbread family have returned for another round of Sprint commercials this year. What's not to love about a gingerbread dad repairing his roof with an icing pack on his back?

Why is it that sometimes it feels twice as difficult to do half as much?

I have yet to tire of the San Diego Chicken in the Sony commercial.

Cats love being Christmas presents under the tree. And I love that they love that.

I love my new Blackberry, but have to admit that being constantly connected sometimes creeps me out a little.

I really love Thanksgiving, and can't believe that it's time to shift gears already. Guess I already kind of said that, didn't I.

It's too bad I don't blog about real stuff. But then, I probably wouldn't be very good at it.

Paradox

2008-11-01T17:27:00.006-04:00

November 1st. That just seems impossible. This morning, we sat through breakfast and wondered if the sun would ever rise (it finally did sometime around 7:30). I mowed the lawn today for what will, most likely, be the last time this season, and almost immediately regretted not wearing a hat and gloves. As I write this, the sun has set and the moon has risen. Wasn't it just a few days ago that it was hot, sunny, and the calendar read July? And the lawn stopped growing because it was so hot and dry? And it was light until 9:00pm? How did this happen? How did we get to cold and dark and dormant?

Though I'm no scientist, I think I get the concept of the tilt of the Earth and the passing of seasons, so my question is not about that. I'm much more perplexed about how life (or my perception of it) has changed. When did time begin to pass so quickly? There was a point in life when 40 seemed to be eons away, yet here I am. In my teens, days might as well have been years (for many reasons). Today, I'm lucky to fit my day into my day. Again I ask, how did this happen?

Of course, the one exception to the acceleration of time is any situation when I really, really want something. Now. It seems that in those situations, my perception of time hasn't changed an ounce during my life. It never moves quite fast enough.

The reality is that time has always taken time. One minute has always been comprised of sixty seconds, no matter how many times I doubt that fact one way or the other. Knowing how much my perception has already changed only makes me wonder how much faster life is going to move from now on.

It's a shame that youth is wasted on the young. And that no one ever warns you how much more valuable time will be than money.

Stacy's Mom

2008-10-13T11:08:00.004-04:00

Well, since it's been nearly a month since I last posted here, there's a lot going on. I'll try to be succinct (though it's not at all my strong suit, so consider yourself warned).

It has been an amazing fall weekend. Temps in the low 70s, lots of sun, and the leaves were just perfect. Autumn is my favorite season by far, and I'm not sure you could find a better place to be than here. Couple that with mowing the lawn (do you remember?), hanging out at home (for the first time in weeks, it seems), Sunday Ticket, an extra day off, and some serious garage-related productivity, and I'm not sure I could have asked for a better weekend overall.

The eternal PT patient will soon be on supervised furlough. My therapist is cutting me semi-loose after this Thursday, since most of what we work on are things I can replicate on my own at home or at the gym. But I've also considered the thought that she might just be trying to give me the slip. I've stepped up the attack on my IT band in hopes of loosening it at least a little, but I've had pretty much no success so far. A patellar tendon brace brought some amazing results the first time I wore it, including the ability to sit in a right back-leaning stance several times without pain (which hadn't occurred in over a year). Those results lasted until the next day, when my knee notified me that I had made a poor choice. It has steadfastly refused to feel better since then, and the brace is suddenly quite ineffective. My therapist's quote: "Well, I'm glad you had your moment." This morning we spent some time going over modifications to stances and kicks that I can start with and work my way into over the next few months. The three exercises I'm allowed: a modified (narrow and 50/50 balanced) back-leaning stance (so, not really a back-leaning stance at all), a back kick from all fours (instead of standing), and a straight-leg side kick from the floor (for which I have apparently practiced the incorrect form for years). No front kick, no roundhouse kick, no nothing else. My therapist's quote (which she repeated 3 times): "We're not there yet, and it's going to take a long time." But it's all I want, and I've waited for so long.

So now I face the remainder of my week which, for a change, does not feature a business trip. Holding true to form (as these weeks always do), it's a long, short week that involves lots of extra stuff, including the annual Seido Benefit Tournament. No competing for me--just helping out. Perhaps being there will help me to focus on how I can adjust my training to be more in line with my current abilities. Of course, I've had about as much success with that over the last year as I've had at skydiving. I don't seem to be able to stop myself from wanting to do more than I'm able. That, of course, is the true chronic condition from which I have suffered all my life. I know it might be wrong, but...

I Know You Can't Do This, But I Want You To Try

2008-09-19T21:02:00.004-04:00

Those were the inadvertently humorous and wise words of my physical therapist on Thursday morning. It was the most frustrating morning I've had in a long time, during a particularly frustrating week in the grand scheme of my recovery. It seems that my IT band has developed a mind of its own, and has made the decision to stop cooperating with my efforts at regaining strength in my hips. It insists on working when it should simply be sitting there supporting the work of other muscles. It thwarted the efforts of the ionto (on which we have given up), and remains as inflamed as ever. This week in particular, my knee has felt quite a bit like it did about 10 months ago when I first went to see a doctor--lots of biting pain when I climb or descend stairs, and frequent "bites" when it's bending and bearing weight (as I'm sitting down in a chair, for example). Over the last two weeks, my therapist has had me try several new exercises (as well as variations on some of our old favorites). Each time she asks, "where do you feel that?" And it seems that 9 times out of 10 my answer is, "on the side of my knee." (just as a clarification: the answer we're looking for is "on the outside of my hip," or perhaps "in my glutes.") The result of all this is a newly-limited number of exercises that I'm allowed to do, along with quite a pile of frustration through which I am now slogging. On Thursday, I wasn't really sure I was even capable of slogging. In fact, I felt worse than I had in quite a while (in my head, that is). But that's when the story took a really corny turn...

First, we have the quote that serves as the title for this post. Though she claims she didn't mean for it to come out that way, it did. And at the time, I found it hilarious. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was the first thing that made me smile that morning. Though I really haven't gone down the "I can't do this" road during my PT sessions (or even in my own head when I'm home alone, for that matter), I suppose there are things that I've decided I can't do for one reason or another--either because I lack sufficient strength, or they actually cause me pain. But why shouldn't I try? Excellent question. Of course, the number one reason not to try is the high probability of failure. When your muscles simply won't fire, you just can't make your body do what you want it to do--there's no way around that one. So there is a part of me that has to accept my current reality, whether I like it or not, and realize that I'm in for some failure. But of course, the whole reason for continuing to try is eventually to be able to keep doing things like karate (or, for that matter, sitting in a chair or climbing stairs) pain-free for a long time to come. I have to believe that continuing to try is the only way things are going to get better than they are. So I decided that those inadvertent, humorous words were simply going to have to work for me. And when I'm really headed for the dumps (which happens more often than I would like), I can recall the many occasions where she has tried to explain to me (I'm paraphrasing here) that a failure of my muscles isn't a failure of my character. But if you think that's as corny as this story gets, well, keep reading...

I finish my session, still in pain, still kind of depressed, but realizing that I have to get myself to a better place about this whole thing. Fortunately for the safety of all my co-workers, it's about a 40 minute drive from PT to work, so I have a bit of time to get my thoughts in order so that I appear to be a presentable professional before I arrive. I get on the road, and turn on the radio (love the XM 80's channel). [this is your final warning: I couldn't make up how corny this is. Read on with caution] The first three songs I hear, in order, are: Things Can Only Get Better by Howard Jones, Don't Stop Believing by Journey, and Get On Your Feet by Gloria Estefan. That's so corny, it would have been cut from an episode of Full House. I'm laughing even as I write this 36 hours later. I'm still trying to decide if there's anything cosmic or inspirational in those songs, or perhaps the order in which they were played, or maybe in how Gloria Estefan had to go through all that PT after the bus accident and look at her now (where is she now? I always loved Miami Sound Machine). I'm not sure there's anything there at all. But it did make me stop and laugh a bit, which is one of the things that keeps me sane.

When I got to work, the first thing I did when I sat down was print out a little sign for the bulletin board that hangs right beside my desk. I'm still not entirely sure why it's there or what it really makes me think of when I look at it but, if nothing else, it makes me chuckle every time I read it: I know you can't do this, but I want you to try.

A Public Service Announcement

2008-09-04T20:43:00.005-04:00

This is my knee.

This is my knee on ionto. Well, ionto on my knee.

MAFB, Ionto, and TSOP: Everything (and Everyone) Old is New Again

2008-09-03T19:10:00.007-04:00

Middle-Aged FaceBooking (yes, I know the 'B' really isn't capitalized; but MAF would make for kind of a sad acronym). It seems to be the latest craze sweeping through our office (even among those that aren't so middle aged yet), much to the dismay of some around us. Several of us have gotten into it, and meet up semi-regularly on Facebook while we're hanging out at home (see my previous post about how we can't do that at work). We all seem to have found long-lost friends, relatives, or classmates, and are having a fun time learning more about each other. We've also developed a new syndrome--profound irritation when someone we want to find does not have a Facebook page. How un-cool of them, and how very inconvenient for us. I mean, really. Get with it. Our goal is one day to eradicate the plague of LackaFacebookation that seems to be rampant across our land. So please--tell your family, tell your friends, tell your neighbors. Get a Facebook page. Then you can be cool. And hip. And young again. Like us.

My next reminder of middle age is the constant annoyance of my hip and knee. My PT has returned to an oldie but a goody (which means we've tried this before)--iontophoresis. It's kind of a keen technology actually. Basically, it's a way of using an electric charge to propel anti-inflammatory medication through the skin. The process is kind of neat, but feels pretty creepy--like really strong pins and needles. She puts the medication on one half of a patch, and puts a conduit substance on the other half. The patch has two small batteries on the outside, and has a plastic piece onto which you slide a small electronic device. The device stays connected to the patch for three minutes (which gets the batteries charged and going) and is then removed, while the patch stays on for two hours. [the picture is of the device connected to the patch] I usually wear the patch on the side of my knee, where things are most messed up at the moment. We're not yet sure if it's helping, but we should know within the next two visits if it's worth continuing or not. If not, we're back to the really old drawing board. Wonder if ACME makes IT bands...

TSOP. Who didn't love TSOP? For those of you who were perhaps doing other things in 1974, or perhaps didn't exist in 1974, TSOP was a song performed by a group called MFSB. Can't beat that combo with a stick, I say. Of course, I have no good reason to mention either the group or the song here, other than MAFB made me think of MFSB and TSOP. It's almost like a little electronic device is connected to my brain. It stays for just a few moments, gets my batteries charged, then....uh....oh.....maybe not. Though my head does feel a bit tingly...

Life is Like a Tootsie Pop

2008-08-16T20:08:00.004-04:00

The question of the day is this: how many lessons will it take for me to learn the Big Lesson-- that it's going to take a while for my leg to get back to normal? Perhaps, in the spirit of the Olympics, I'm holding out for a world record timespan. Perhaps, in the spirit of summer, I'm just taking my time accepting that fact. Perhaps I'm just in denial. Whatever the case may be, I seem to be a bit slow to accept what is quite an obvious fact to just about everyone else I run into.

In spite of my lack of ability to practice karate in earnest, I still teach class and do everything I can that doesn't cause pain or stress on my hip. Unfortunately, that doesn't amount to very much activity. I am continually frustrated by this, of course, and it's hard for me to stop myself from trying to do various things that I probably really shouldn't. It's especially difficult when I'm the lead instructor in a class. In that role, normally I would spend much of the class demonstrating stretches and various techniques. In my current circumstances, I have to fake a lot of stuff and not do even more, which is tough when you need to model something for a 6-year-old student. Consequently, I often end up doing more than I probably should. Such was the case on Monday. I made the mistake of saying something to the effect of, "I'm a little sore tonight." One of our students looked at me and said, "I wonder why?" Lesson number one.

I spend some of my time in physical therapy (and at home) working with resistance bands. These are pretty much overgrown elastic bands that provide various levels of resistance. The color of the band tells you how much resistance it offers: yellow is the lowest, then red, green, blue, and black. There are two exercises I can perform with a red band, and one on which I can only manage to use a yellow one. While working with my therapist the other day, we were both pleased to find that I was able to perform my yellow band exercise without pain. Feeling rather proud of myself, I smiled and said, "Gee--this'll be a red band in no time!" She looked askance, mustered up her best semi-positive-yet-totally-honest look and said, "Don't count on it." Lesson number two.

I was at the gym this morning for a full-routine day: 20 minutes of biking, a full upper body weight workout, PT exercises, and my second attempt at leg lifts and hamstring curls (both without extra weight on the machine). By the time I got to the last few minutes of my workout, I was done. My knee and IT band were cranky even when I was biking, and my hip was exhausted (which is sort of a good sign, since it means I'm using the right muscles). I ran into a friend who asked how my hip was doing, and I expressed some of my frustration at not being able to do things that used to be easy. "I have kind of a long way to go," I said. "Well, of course you do," she replied, with a big smile on her face. It was as though she understood that people who have surgery generally have a long way to go. Lesson number three.

So we return to the burning question with which we started: how many lessons is it going to take before I learn the Big Lesson? I'd like to believe the Wise Old Owl, but I'm more inclined to think that the world will never know.

Bionic Feet

2008-08-06T06:45:00.003-04:00

Well, not really. But if they actually were bionic, I'll bet they'd feel a lot like this. Last night I did my first pool workout while wearing Vibram FiveFingers. As you can see, they're a bit freaky-looking. They are form-fitting to your feet, separating each toe into its own compartment. They're very light, and actually provide quite a bit of arch support. Most importantly (for me, anyway) I no longer have to worry about scraping my feet against the floor of the pool as I run. I'm hoping I continue to be pleased with them as I use them more and more. They are also purported to be good for practicing martial arts. You know--providing lots of support for your foot while still allowing you lots of control while you kick. I'm hoping I'll get to file my report about the verity of that statement sometime around December 20th...

Should've Gone to Work

2008-07-29T16:44:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure this day could have gone more contrary to my hopes and plans. I'm also not sure that blogging while cranky is a very good idea. But then, if I waited for my crankiness to go away before I did stuff, I'd spend most of my life sitting around waiting.

My early morning trip to PT was the first part of the fun. My therapist is incredibly good-natured in spite of my terminal crankiness, and she is always trying to perk me up when I get frustrated by my lack of ability to do things. After several minutes of rather intense (pardon the descriptor) grinding away at my IT band (the band of tendonous fibers that runs from the knee to the hip on the outside of the leg), we moved into the gym to try a few things that will help my balance and strength. Ever try to walk sideways on a treadmill? Without looking like an idiot? Apparently it's harder than it sounds. At least I hope it's harder than it sounds, 'cause it was pretty hard. Then we moved back inside to try some controlled stepping--where I stand on a step with one leg and lower the other leg to the floor. The only problem is that regular stair steps are far too tall for me to perform this miraculous feat without pain, so I need to use something shorter. We tried a couple of heights to find the right one. The final result? 1.5". That's one-and-a-half inches of height. That's barely enough clearance to step on one of those bugs in Ellen's apartment. As I measured the height (so I could properly replicate it at home), I could do nothing but laugh. On our way out, my therapist said she thought it would be easy for me to handle how long this is all going to take, since I just had surgery and all. Apparently most people get the concept that surgery slows them down. Oh. Did I mention she does SARCASM really, really well? I must be rubbing off on her after all these months...

So then it was off to the big city once again to see Dr. Clarke, the patron saint of hips. After a few questions, pokes, prods, and stretches, he said he would need to see me again in about 4.5-5 months for another follow-up so we could see how things are going 6 months after surgery. "Until then, you'll need to keep kind of a low profile," he said ominously. "So, what exactly does that mean?" I asked suspiciously. After that, everything gets a little fuzzy. But in spite of my best efforts to misunderstand him, I'm pretty sure he said that I can't run (no worries there) or do any serious karate (uh, slight problem there) for 5 more months. So by my calculations, when all is said and done, that will amount to 12 kick-free months in total. (My pondering of this fact is usually followed by a sort of naturally-occurring stunned silence, which I will attempt to recreate for you now...........................................................................................................................................................

I got nothin'.

Back to BOCES

2008-07-28T21:28:00.001-04:00

So I'm pretty sure I've survived my return to work. Of course, now I'm taking another day off before I return for two whole days of work in a row. After all, I really need to ease into this whole working-like-a-grownup-again thing. Actually, it's all above-board. Really. PT first thing in the morning tomorrow, and then a follow-up visit to the doctor in Syracuse to see how things are going. Hopefully it will be a day filled with progress and good news.

Arriving in the 21st Century

2008-07-21T09:22:00.001-04:00

After what seems like an eternity, perhaps I have finally evolved. I've got this blog thing going, I'm making my own podcast videos, and I even use AIM a lot. Heck, I even have an avatar on Second Life, though I don't visit there often. And now, perhaps the last bastion of middle agedness has fallen--I actually have a Facebook page. I might be too cool for myself now. It's amazing how instantly I was connected with people all over the world--friends, family, and karate people, some of whom are literally halfway across the world. But of course, social networking couldn't possibly be useful in education. So I'm really looking forward to going back to work where pretty much all of those things are blocked by the filter. After all, we shouldn't really have people, well, you know, talking to each other. What would be next--working together? Collaborating on projects? Nah.

Better Late Than Never

2008-07-14T15:32:00.001-04:00

Close Call

2008-07-09T10:40:00.001-04:00

Almost had to re-name the blog yesterday. I was considering Cranky Orange Cat, Fussy Orange Cat, or perhaps Psychotic Orange Cat. But today it seems that the title can remain the same. Neko had quite a trip to the vet yesterday. While her appointment was just fine, the getting to and from left a bit to be desired. She really got herself worked up, and created quite a scene. Her brothers were kind of scared of her when she finally got home. It took her a while to return to normal, and we were all most thankful when she finally did. Today, she's just fine. But you might notice that her upcoming podcast is a bit crankier than usual this week...

As you all know, I'm greatly fond of watching the squirrel outside my office window. And when there are two squirrels running along the edge of the roof, why, I'm almost beside myself with happiness. This morning, we had the Newfield version of the squirrel experience--two woodchucks chasing each other along the Great Wall of Newfield. Their home is about 30 feet from our deck, so we're used to seeing and hearing some woodchuck activity now and then. But this morning, they darted out of the woods and ran along our wall before heading back for the woods. The Fuzzy Orange Cat was beside herself with curiosity, and demanded to be let out at once. Of course, she then just stood there on the deck and looked around. Gone are the days when she would join in the fun (she actually used to be friends with a woodchuck years ago--they would literally play together in the front yard). But it was quite a festive moment for one and all. See? You just can't get this kind of excitement at work.

Back to Karate

2008-07-07T22:01:00.002-04:00

Well technically that should probably say "Back to Dressing Up Like I Practice Karate, but Pretty Much Standing Around A Lot," since that's really what happened tonight. Starting a new session is always exciting, though, and it was nice to be able to be there. It will be a long time before I can actually do anything, though. (heavy sigh)

On a happier note, I did start driving again yesterday. Good news for one and all--I don't appear to have forgotten how :) I'll miss being chauffeured everywhere, but it's nice to be able to get myself out and about. It's even nicer to be able to sit in the car without wanting to jump out. Trust me--it doesn't sound exciting, but it really, really was.

Big day tomorrow for the Fuzzy Orange Cat--her turn at the vet. She's quite excited, as you can see.

Episode Two

2008-07-03T16:39:00.001-04:00

Tick Tock

2008-07-02T12:31:00.001-04:00

Geez. It's already Wednesday. My red text time is soon to expire. Oh well. I think I'll live.

A big couple of days for me. Lots of activity. Well, relatively speaking, anyway. Sunday's big field trip was topped off by a visit from Matt, Sherry, and the girls, as well as our friend Jeff. Quite the crowded house for a while (pssst. Lisa. they were a band in the 80's). Wii fever struck everyone as records fell one after the other. And now we have quite the collection of Miis on our machine. Kind of fun to have a gang playing along.

Tuesday was a REALLY big day--my trip to Syracuse for a follow-up appointment. All is going well, but I was disappointed to be told I have to continue to do close to nothing for another two weeks. That wasn't part of my plan, you know. But I really am trying to follow directions. Really. I am. Anyway, after the appointment we went to the Carousel Mall to meet our oldest niece for lunch. She's a student at SUNY Oswego and is living in Baldwinsville now, taking classes this summer. Hard to believe she's going to be 21 in October--she was only 5 when Robin and I got together. Time certainly flies. We had a great time catching up with her. We stopped in Ithaca on our way home to complete my longest field trip so far. Completely worth how tired I was last night. And this morning.

Today, I'm packing in as much red reading as I can, fearful of what will happen when I wake up tomorrow. So if you have any red comments to make, post them quickly so they don't evaporate...

Field Trip

2008-06-29T14:00:00.001-04:00

It's only 2:00pm, and already today has been a big day--my first real field trip away from home since last week (nine days, to be precise). My cold finally seems to be in remission, and the hip isn't feeling horrible, so I decided to venture out. We went all the way to Groton to go to Alex's high school graduation party. On the way home, we stopped to see Steve and Beryl since we were already in the area. We had a lovely time at both locations. Now, however, I'm done. Very tired. I didn't think a couple of low-key hours spent visiting friends would wipe me out quite this much. My endurance apparently has a long way to go before it's anywhere close to normal. Not sure if it's the cold or the surgery that did a number on that. Probably both. So, now I'm relegated to sitting on the couch watching a Wimbledon match from yesterday (of which I already know the result) while Robin slaves away mowing the lawn. I'd much rather be mowing the lawn.

The great debate is on with regard to how we shall celebrate the end of the era of my being able to read red text. We had hoped to have a gathering this weekend, but obviously that didn't happen. Perhaps next weekend. But of course, it's a holiday so many might already have plans (which, of course, is always the problem). Guess we'll see how things come together over the next couple of days.

Podcasting from Home

2008-06-27T12:45:00.001-04:00

The Fuzzy Orange Cat's Idea of Using Wii Fit

2008-06-26T10:36:00.002-04:00

Working from the Red Roof Inn

2008-06-25T18:37:00.002-04:00

Well, it's been quite a day of excitement here. Ok. It really hasn't. Things are coming along with the hip--haven't touched a crutch since I came downstairs this morning, and I'm still alive to tell about it. This cold has got to go, though. I can't breathe at all, and it's driving me nuts. I knew I should have bought stock in Kleenex when I had the chance...

The Vet called this morning to tell us that Simon's blood work came back pretty normal for his age. Our thought that he's going to outlive all of us continues. He seems to know the news is good, and has been outside playing with his siblings for most of the day, which is unusual for him. Maybe he's just trying to rub it in that he can go play in the woods and I can't.

Quite a festive speaker phone conversation I had earlier with the crew. It made me sad to know you were doing all that whiteboard training without me. Ok. Not really. But I do miss our daily banter. Don't get me wrong--I actually really love alone and quiet time (as most of you know). But it's moments like that that remind me there is no substitute for the lunch table.

Just got off the phone with my mother-in-law, who insists on worrying about me (though she's not quite as adept at it as my mother).

Just had some friends stop by for a visit. They brought me rice pudding from the State Diner. The other night, another friend brought me 4 pints of Ben & Jerry's. I could get used to this...

Gee...

2008-06-24T16:15:00.001-04:00

...this whole blogging thing is a lot easier to keep up with when you have nothing else to do. I should have tried this months ago...

Another day brings more fun. For those of you keeping score at home, that was sarcasm. The hip is feeling great, but the rest of me, not so much. It seems I have a cold now, though my fervent hope had been that it was nothing. Oh well. Can't have it all, I guess.

I am once again wireless, thanks to my other half's trip to Best Buy yesterday to get us a new router. And all it took was about 1.5 hours of telephone tech support from India to get it to work. But all is once again right in our computing world. And I've learned that if you ever want to call India, you should know that there's a 9.5 hour time difference (they're ahead of us) [for the sake of clarifying information in the spirit of the Info Wench, I'll include a comment here that there is always a 9.5 hour time difference, whether you'd actually like to call India or not]

It's been an exciting day for the kids. Simon got a trip to the vet first thing this morning for his semi-annual check-up. I'm told he did very well, in spite of having to have some extra tests we didn't have time to tell him about. He's such a good boy. Neko (the Fuzzy Orange Cat, that is) has spent her day going in and out. And Yoshi has spent his day sprinting across the yard chasing bugs and pollen. That's our little Einstein. Here he is during a rare moment of rest:

Gosh. With all of this excitement, I can't believe anyone can keep up with reading Fuzzy Orange Cat. I mean, really. It must distract you to no end, just thinking about what kind of riveting tale I will post next...

Lots of Sleep, a Shower, and a Dead Cable Modem

2008-06-23T16:11:00.001-04:00

There's my day in a nutshell. Didn't wake up until nearly 8:00--unheard of for me normally. The cats were most appreciative of my movement, and were grateful to be let outside after what must have seemed like an eternity being trapped inside the house on a lovely day. After breakfast (which felt more like lunch to me) I enjoyed my first shower in a few days (which sounds pretty bad). Happily clean, I thought I'd find out what was going on in the world. Sadly, I discovered no internet connection. Nothing. Zero. Geez--it was almost like being at work :) After milling about trying to reset things for a while, I gave up and called The Man--Time Warner. They sent a very nice and knowledgeable technician out this afternoon, who discovered one bad thing after another--water in the line (which he replaced), woodchuck gnawing at the roadside connection (which he also replaced [the line, not the woodchuck]), and finally a modem that was kaput (which he didn't replace, since it was ours). So we're back up and running on our old modem, but the happy wireless house is no longer, at least until I can get a new router. Ugh. Good thing I don't have a whiteboard session here tomorrow...

Amazing

2008-06-22T09:50:00.001-04:00

Well, it's over and done with. Friday morning, Dr. Clarke went in and cleaned up the tear I had in my right labrum. To make sure I never forget the experience, they actually provided me with 14 pictures of what the scope was looking at during the operation. Even though I think this picture looks more like the lunar landing than anything else, it's actually the inside of my hip. Happily, nothing but the small tear seemed to be wrong--ligaments and bone are all good, which means nothing more invasive will have to be done, and this should allow all my hip problems to go away!

While it was a long and uncomfortable day, all in all it was just fine. I got to the hospital at 6:45am, and was on my way home by around 1:00pm. The cats were fascinated with my crutches, and seemed to think I smelled a lot like the vet's office. They stuck very close to me all day and night. Interesting (yet not surprising) how they seem to know when we need extra comforting.

I am happy to report some already amazing progress. First, all the pain I've been in for months is pretty much gone. No shifting in my seat, no groaning, no nothing. Absolutely miraculous. Who would have thought this would work so well and so quickly. Of course, I'm still sore and it will be a while before I can do anything close to normal. But I can already tell that this was the right thing to do. I'm slowly regaining a normal gait, and think I'll be able to ditch the crutches in a couple of days.

Today has already been exciting for two reasons: coffee, and clean hair. Amazing what a difference the little things can make :) And for my excitement tomorrow, I actually get to take a real shower. Woo hoo!!

Welcome to My World

2008-06-18T20:53:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Fuzzy Orange Cat. I figured that since I'll be home with her (and the others) for a while, I might as well do something to keep my mind from turning to complete mush. Of course, writing about me and my cats probably won't do much for my overall intellect...