August 20th already?

The Minnesota State Fair begins Thursday - which means that summer is approaching an end very soon. I am not ready for it yet. But- whatday do. I am going to volunteer at the NAMI booth on Friday the 29th with a couple other of my ex-NAMI friends. We always have big laughs so I know it will be fun.

The family reunion was a big success. There were about a hundred people in town for it. We raised 900 dollars on the Silent Auction which was good. When I was going around and looking at the papers I didn't think we were going to make that much.  It is always nice to make around 1,000 to help us get started with the next reunion (although I am not sure when that will be).

I finally got my motorcycle running!  There was an issue with something in the carburetor. I ended up taking it into a shop. Well actually they picked up the motorcycle and dropped it off. So that was very nice. Hopefully this weekend I will get out for a ride.

My summer has been super low key. Pretty much just working and going to PT for my knee. Which by the way is doing really well. I think I have 2 more sessions of PT and then I am done.

So - just living life with the ups and downs. Working hard to not get too down. Lots of days are hard and I am sure that a big part of that is working over nights. I like the job but I think I will have to start looking within for a day job. I don't think my manager will be happy but I have to do what I have to do for my mental health. We'll see. I am at least working 4-10 hour days now - so it helps to have that extra weekend day - though it usually ends up being a sleep day anyway.

Catch y'all later!

Wednesday - Hump Day

Actually once I leave work this morning - tonight when I come in it will be my Friday. And so glad because I haven't slept that well all week. I had a follow up appointment with my knee surgeon last week.  All is well and I don't need to go back until a year from now. Unless of course something pops up.

The second weekend in August we have a family reunion. I started planning it and then my sister Julie and my brother Jon and some cousins have jumped in to help. I am very grateful because there is a lot to do and as it gets closer to the date - I was beginning to feel overwhelmed and my anxiety was increasing. I have to work hard at just staying in the moment - in the day. That is where I need to be so that I don't get anxious and overwhelmed.  I have been doing a lot of self talk about staying in the moment!

Our reunion is being held here at a park facility that is about 2 miles from my house. This will be the first time it won't be up north. The park has a nice pavilion with a kitchen and the city provides bocce balls, horseshoes and a volleyball. The reunion won't be as structured as previous ones. There are a lot of little kids that will need naps and with all the activities available I thought it would be easier to have less structure. If it is really hot, there is an outdoor waterpark close to the park.  We also opted for a Silent Auction (it is how we raise money for the next reunion). It will be a fun time for sure.

That will be my only summer excitement. I keep looking for airfares to Connecticut but they are always pretty high when I look. I suppose I might just have to pay the money because I don't think airfares will be going below three hundred dollars like the good ol' days.

Maybe in the fall.

I can't believe how lame I am with my blogging!

Well I guess it's because with working nights, I haven't been doing much of anything exciting. I did go on a St Croix Riverboat lunch cruise a few weeks ago with my friend Chanda. On one of the first few nice days we have had!  This has not been a great summer so far in terms of weather. We haven't hit 90 degrees yet.  I am still waiting for that.

For the Fourth of July my mom and I went to see the movie Tammy - it was hilarious. Then we went over to my sister Julie's for a bbq and I stayed for fireworks. We had two hours worth. It was a lot of fun!

The rest of the weekend wasn't much at all. Some laundry and some sleeping. I am having a hard time turning around on the weekends to a day person. And maybe that is okay. It's just that I don't like not getting out and doing things either. Getting sleep this weekend felt good though. I am always thinking about it. I need to let it go and just do whatever works out I guess. It is hard though - and hard to make plans.

I still haven't got my motorcycle running for the summer. I need to get on it. I haven't taken my golf clubs out either!  That is just wrong! I think those should be two goals I should try for this weekend. At lease hit the driving range this weekend if nothing else.

Summer is here and I am back to work

Wow been a long time. I had 3 months and 1 week off of work. One would have thought I would have blogged and blogged and blogged. Well recuperation has been a long haul. Lots of PT. Lots of doctor appts. I am getting there. Will just take tame. I went back to work last Wednesday and it was good to be back. I was able to start back on days. Back to nights this week. I am already not liking the nights - the actual night hours. But alas, the job is good. It will just be a matter of time before I move on to something else inside - to a day hour gig.  A positive though - I got to switch my schedule to four 10 hour shifts so will be working Sun night through Wed night.

My knee is constantly sore and it is just a matter of time. It is dragging on me. Of course, much better than before when the pain was worse and my knee was constantly going out. One day the pain will just be gone and I won't even realize it - just like my rotator cuff.

I really haven't done much of anything while I have been off. Sticking close to home so that I can rest and ice my knee as needed.

So, hence the lack of blogging I guess :-)

Oh Hell's Bell's

I don't know if my favorite peep will see this today but at some point she will. My INR (can't remember what that is for) something to do with blood clotting so I don't get clots is at 1.5 and they want it at 1.8 at least. I am on coumadin for that. Which means I am on a blood thinner. I already bleed like a mo fo and bruise at the site of looking at me but oh well. I have to do what they say. Yes I am following the doctor's orders.

We had another ton of snow dropped on us. Like 10-12 inches. Uffdaa I can't stand it. I think everyone in the US is so ready to be done.

I think I actually am ready for Gertie to come back!  It was a nice little break but I want her little snuggles and cuddles. I need those. So now I just need to get them thar back!

Well that is about it for now - took my morning meds (which are a lot ) dammit! LOL

Lubs ya!

Heidigaga

Post Surgery

Well, I did so well in the hospital - the whole floor was calling me a rockstar for getting up, walking around, doing my therapy - even though it hurt like hell - that they sent me home instead of to transitional care. I guess it is okay. It is nice to be home. But I miss the head raising bed, I miss getting fed three meals a day. And yet I don't miss getting woken up for vitals in the middle of the night, or asking how I am or how my pain is - so I guess either way is not Cherry Street. I have lots of people willing to help me anyway.

Thursday is supposed to be another blizzard. It is nice I can stay home and not brush off my car!  I have Nurses and PT coming to my home which is also a bonus. I swear I hear Gertie swiping her litter box, but she is at my ex-brother in law's at the moment. Him and my step-nephew are taking care of her until I can take her back and my knee is better. I was hoping Russ the Handyman would take her since he is so close - but he said he can't. So I am washing my hands of him. I put more effort into it - I haven't talked to him in over a month or more. Tired of any bullshit. And I expect the same. I know I give bullshit too. So if you are tired of my bullshit - then let me know so we are mutual. I know it ain't a one way street baby.

One thing I worked on a very long time in therapy was letting go of bad relationships - so assuming I can do this with Russ - that is a kudos for me since I tend to let them hang on forever. 

If it is a blizzard - maybe me and some of the old residents here can walk around the building for excitement!  And stretch our fake knees and hips! LOL

Anyhoo - I am in lots of pain - less than the hospital and doing my therapy - wish I had something more exciting. All I know is that my PT at home is more about quality than quantity - my kind of man!

My bloody Valentine

Well gang - tomorrow is the day!  I am the first surgery for my doctor on Friday. I have to be at the hospital at 05:45 and the surgery is at 07:00. Mom is taking me there. I will be in the hospital until Sunday. I had to take a prep class and they said if I had my surgery in the morning, they would have me up walking later in the day. When the nurse called to let me know when to come in - she said from prep until waking up is about two hours.

I know it is going to be painful but it will be nice to have a working knee and it will be nice to be a day person for a couple months!

On Tuesday I spoke at Cretin Derham Hall - a Catholic High School - about living with bipolar disorder. Every year they have "Justice Week" where they focus on social issues. This year is mental health. So they bring in speakers every day. I spoke to two classes of ninth graders. It is vastly different speaking students instead of adults because students are much more fidgety. However, the students ask great questions.

That is about it for now. I will blog post surgery. And will hopefully be better at it since I will be off for 8 weeks.

Oh Card Club was a bunch of fun! There were 6 of us and we played 500. I thought I had played it before but I hadn't. The team that I was on won though!  I am glad I hosted it!

Catch ya on the flip side!