Almost finished

We must be getting slow in our middle years and here we are entering day 2 and we aren't quite done, almost though. I am ready to call it good. Store the containers, vacuum again, kick the feet up and enjoy.

However. I have to go to the store and get my meals for the weekend figured out. Launder my clothes. Take a shower. Take a nap. Go to work. Get tortured in the morning. Etc........

Can you tell we have been collecting Santa's for years. I have several on the tree. My oldest is over 100 years old and has been handed down from my in-laws to us. I do have some nativities also as I know the meaning of Christmas. I am just a sucker for a cute Santa though. We have to stop as I have no more room on my tree or on top of my TV. Hummmm the kitchen still has room

MRI's, what fun.......Not!

I hate MRI's. Not that they are painful like my last test, just you have to squeeze your build for comfort body in a tube built for a model, they strap you down and then they use a jack hammer right above your head. Every once in a while a far away voice reassures you your doing well and only 20 more minutes to go.

For this one you have to lay on your stomach and put your arm above your head like superman. Since I have a pinched nerve in my neck this made my arm immediately cramp up and my fingers curled into a claw. so they put these pads all over to hold your arm in place and keep it from moving. Except your muscles are still spasming the entire time. Its like a 25 minute charlie horse in your upper arm. Being the macho nurse that you are you smile and grit your teeth and tell them your fine when they ask. Because if you can't handle it, if you move in any way......it takes twice as long. And you don't want that.

So now I have achy sore muscles from my spasming muscles and my wrist is killing me. My head hurts because at least half the lights were broken for no apparent reason and we had to run to the store to get new ones because until the lights are on the rest of the tree can't be finished. I have plastic tubs all over my living room and it looks a disaster and I am starting to wonder why I insisted the tree go up. No wonder sometimes it stays up until March.

Whats up with these darn lights anyway. They all worked when we put them away carefully 2 years ago. Does some Christmas tree light eating ghost make its way into your basement and chew on your lights you've so carefully stored. And we noticed the lights we had had fuses but they don't sell fuses for lights anymore. And did they ever? They change them just enough every year to make you crazy running all over town looking for replacement bulbs and fuses just to find out they don't make that kind anymore. And they wonder why people go postal at Christmas. Its not the season, its all the other crap.

So now we are back and I am sipping on a Chai latte while Rick works on the new lights. We got LED's. They probably won't be compatible with the old lights that still work. Zoey is plopped down in front of tree making the circle around it while adding a new string difficult and she is pretending deafness when we ask her to move. Why is it on TV this always looks so charming and they are all laughing and sharing tender moments while decorating the tree. Why Why Why.

Friday after working 12.5 hours I get to go to the Doc's and get my wrist injected. My appointment was a hour late last time. So in stead of sleeping I will sit in a doctors office and wait for some PA to stick a long needle in my wrist and then send me on my merry way to try and get some sleep before I go to work that night. I have a feeling it is going to hurt. As a nurse I know better when they say, this is going to pinch a little.

Life, take it or leave it right......guess I'll stay.

Another of Donna's lovely designs. My house is getting ready for Christmas. I am hiding out in the bedroom and Rick works on the lights. Of course half the lights have burnt out so he is getting them all fixed and adding them to the tree. I forgot we packed the tree with cinnamon sticks and pine cones 2 years ago. What a thrill to open the box and smell that smell instead of fake tree. Last year with my MIL's death we didn't put the tree up.

I always use the artificial tree. We had a tragic fire years ago where the entire family perished and it scared me so much I got a artificial and have used one since. I had one year where a light string shorted out and the tree started to melt. If it had been real I don't like to think what would have happened. I am maybe too careful but heck. I sleep all day, I could sleep right through it.

I go for my MRI today. I was just reading Helen's post about the cost of her surgery and tests and am tempted to just cancel again. I should just learn to live with pain. After all it won't kill me, just hurts. The cost is going to be so high. I have canceled this surgery twice already, LOL. Can you tell I don't want it done.

It takes me about 4o minutes to type an entry these days. I have to type a little and then stop for awhile. I type all night at work. My hand hurts so bad by the time I get home I have trouble sleeping. It is better with my brace on but I wash my hands so often it is a pain getting in and out of the brace. Sigh. Sucks when your parts start falling apart, LOL.

Tonight I am doing my Christmas cards. I would love to do a card exchange f anyone is interested. Email me and let me know.

I see the family of the man trampled by greedy shoppers is suing the store. Why the store? It sounds like other workers tried to save him. Go after the greedy shoppers who acted like monsters instead of the store. This will probably end another tradition like sledding, ice skating, bon fires. People sue, we lose traditions. Lets just all stay home.

Well, I have to get ready, take all my jewelry off and give Rick a hug. I think it sounds like he needs it.

Managed care, yuck

So what a difference 4 years makes. 4 years ago is when I started messing around with this carpel tunnel and a ganglion cyst. I saw my hand doctor and he diagnosed both conditions. I had my right had done and was going to get my left hand done later.
Well I kept putting it off. My left wrist didn't bother me much except for off and on and I didn't think it was worth having the surgery.

Now however the cyst is quite large and I have that tendon that is inflamed. My carpel tunnel isn't bothering me much except for when I ride my bike, but with the pinched nerve in my neck I am not sure if the numbness may be from that.

So anyway, where is this leading. 4 years ago the doc looks at my wrist and says, yup, its a ganglion cyst. Yesterday he decided they need to do a MRI to make sure it is a cyst and not some other condition. Now I hate MRI's. I get claustrophobic and it is expensive. But they won't do the surgery without it.

Turns out fixing my tendon is a little job. Fixing my tendon, my cyst and the carpel tunnel is a big job. Arteries are close to the tendon and under the wrist. Bottom line? No surgery until next month.

Now next month my out of pocket doubles. So that doesn't make me happy. Then they had to gall to say I should have come in earlier if I wanted surgery this year prompting me to remind them that They had canceled my appointment that I had had for 3 months. Sigh. And it hurts. So 2 months to go. They have me scheduled for surgery on the 29th of next month.

The good thing is I get through the holidays working with double pay. I can work extra and put as much money as possible away. It gives my boss some time to arrange staffing. I will be off 6 weeks. I could go back in 2 weeks if I didn't have to use my left hand. Now that would be interesting in my job.

So I have been wearing my brace and resting my hand. And I have 2 months to lose all the weight I have gained. But will I?

We thought the lake was very interesting above as it is frozen with this perfect circle in the middle. Probably the deepest part thus the last to freeze or did a duck break through and then it refroze? Pretty anyway.

Finally today I see my doctor about my wrist. It will be at 1:15. I know I will be having surgery, the question will be if I can get scheduled this month. I really hope so but am not holding my breath as everything seems to take forever with this doc.

After we leave there I want to do some more shopping. Tomorrow we put up our tree.

The tree. What should be a joyful thing is always a source of stress. Rick insists on putting on a zillion lights. He spends almost the entire day putting them on and rearranging them. Cussing and sputtering he insists every year we need more lights. More More MORE.

He starts in the morning and finally late in the evening it will be deemed ready for me to finish the decorating. I throw on the rest of the trim and orniments and then he rearranges them again and everyday until we take the tree down. And to think, as a kid my mom and us could get a tree up and decorated in 30 minutes. Tinsel flinging all over, the youngest child lifting to put the star on top. Pulling taffy and laughing.

Now I pour myself a stiff one and stay out of the way, the kids know not to come home until the day after. Zoey hides under the bed. I get the phone ready to dial 911 if Rick finally strokes out. But it will be worth it. My lovely tree and decorations will be up. To be completely enjoyed by me. The only one who truly loves the season. The colors, the decorations, the scents. People can be friendlier, smile more.

Have I mentioned I love the music.

So, I guess I should get myself ready. Takes longer at my age, LOL. Its date night tonight. Rick and I will be going out. I need a new rose. Take care all.

After a long day Christmas shopping I am ready to just kick off my duck poop filled shoes and relax. We went on a photo shoot the other day. Geese actually as you can tell by the photo. They are pretty cool but the shore was literally full of duck doo doo. Yick. And it is impossible to avoid it. Tip toe, through the geese poo in the morning, that's what I do, anyway, enough of Tiny Tim. Anyone remember him?

I am waiting for Rick to grill my steak to the tender and perfect medium state I love. I have sauted mushrooms with garlic to a just tender but perfectly tasting perfection and the wine is getting to the perfect temperature to assure drinking pleasure. The bread is getting the perfect warm toast and the twice baked potatoes are perfect. The perfect ending to a long day of shopping. Which I hate.

I can't stand shopping. Crowds, pushing and shoving, and still can't get close to what I want. I would order everything on line from the comfort of my computer if I didn't have to pay shipping. Kids running around like hyper little robots pointing at this and that that they must have. Parents dreaming of nap time and a sedative and older folks hugging the walls and trying not to be knocked down.

I was simply appalled about the Walmart worker who was killed by greedy shoppers. Unbelievable. They are hoping to press charges and I hope they can. Nothing is more important then a human life. I just was in shock about that. This entire week was shocking with the murders in India and then this. When did people get this way?

Well. The meal is almost ready. We have a movie we have rented to see and then I have a book I need to finish. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Superior Scribbler award.

Jeannette from Jeannette's Jottings honored me by awarding me this award. She was kind enough to let me wait until after the holiday to do my pick. So I get to give it to 5 people I know are good writers. Please copy the award and add it to your journal.


Here are the rules:-

1- Post the award on your journal.

2. - Link back to the one who nominated you.

3. - Link back to the originating post for a list of rules.

4. -Give this award to 5 other people that you feel fit the criteria for this
award.

1. Jeanie from Genii in The Lakes. A wee Scottish lass who is back to thrilling us with an entry or two. A clever writer and a wonderful friend.

2. Patrick from Caregivingly Yours. Patrick has educated us all on the life of caregivers world wide. With a sense of humor and a strong determination Patrick takes his day of taking care and loving his wife Patty and puts it to paper. He shares the joys and difficulties of things we take for granted. Way to go Patrick

3.Veronica from Buffalo Squirrels Won't You Come out Tonight. This blog I find interesting with my medical background but I don't think you need to be in the field to enjoy her wonderful writing. Check her out.

4. Donna From Ds Designs and Other Things . I have been reading Donna's journal and snagging her graphics since I started journaling 3 years ago. She has an interesting writing style and a talent at making graphics that I can only admire.

5. Dornbrau from Dust bunny Club Of North America Very funny lady. I was a daily reader and then lost her during the move. Happily I have found her again and my daily laugh is back.

So here is my 5. There are many many many more that I could nominate but I will let others do the honor. It was hard just picking 5.