Out Visiting

Yesterday I went to see Firefly at the restaurant where she works. I am proud to say she is doing good. She looks healthy. Firefly is a bit stressed but happy. Her baby is a chubby bundle of joy. I think little Ava has given her something to focus on. I am really happy for her.

We chatted for an hour while I ate and she worked. The restaurant was slow, so we had time to swap a few stories. Firefly is engaged to her boyfriend. They hope to get married in September, but as with all kids their age, money is tight.

Went to see Jay and his wife after. Jay finished the remodel of his basement and is now embarking on a new project.  His 82 year-old mother just bought a condo, and Jay will be working on that.  It keeps him busy. He enjoys remodeling and gets antsy when he doesn't have a project.

My arm is still on the mend. I have mostly stopped using the sling. I go back to the doctor tomorrow to find out the next steps in my recovery. Otherwise, things have been peaceful here. 

Christmas Present and Past

It is the day after Christmas. Twin A spent the night yesterday. This morning, I got out of the house to pick up a few supplies. When I got home, I noticed my phone had stopped working. The clerk at the phone store said it was the screen, but I had wanted a new phone anyway, so I bought a new Galaxy flip for myself. I can afford a Christmas present. It is the only one I received. Not that I was looking for gifts.

I went to have dinner with Alexis and Sam on Christmas eve. Alexis made ham and other accompaniments. I heard from Ava, my kids, and a few friends on Christmas. The only one who didn't reply was Tinkerbell. She was silent. 

I stopped enjoying Christmas about the time I got divorced. Though, it has always stressed me out. The best Christmas I've had lately was when Firefly and I were on the road trip, and we did Christmas in Tucson. I did a brief search through old posts. There were no happy Christmas posts. Even when Billie and I were together, we went to Milford and spent the day with her extended family. I never enjoyed that. I felt like a fish out of water.

Here is a post from a December past.

All I Want For Christmas
Originally Posted Tuesday, December 15, 2009

All I want for Christmas is Miranda Kerr with a bow on her ass. I'd settle for a select few others if there are no more Mirandas on the shelf.

Presents show how well a person knows you or how much a person thinks of you. I hate getting presents. Luckily I get very few anymore, so I needn't worry much. A few years back, I was picking Max up on Christmas Eve. He came out of the ex-wife's house with a present wrapped for me. It was a few of his own toys. The poor kid felt so bad. Luckily now he gets to buy things at Santa Shop at school. What a mother.

I like giving gifts. Tinkerbell was always a fun person to buy for. She liked anything I picked out. The Twins know how to suck the joy right out of Christmas lately. We will see how THAT proceeds. I swear I've raised them wrong. They are greedy little bastards. Honestly, I'll be glad when the holidays are over, and everyone is gone. The shit just stresses me out. Besides, what's the point if Miranda Kerr isn't under the tree?

*     *     *

When the kids were little, I always ensured they had something for their mother for Christmas. I didn't put much effort into it, but I ensured they picked something out. 

Christmas now is time away from work. A chance to do for me and relax. That is where the joy comes from. Maybe I am bitter or just being realistic. Next year, I should plan another getaway.

A Snapshot Of December

 In homage to Sarah H. at Death Wears Diamond Jewelry, who is no longer blogging but is missed.

Listening…  A Charle Brown Christmas

Reading…  I downloaded Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson but have only started to read it.

Watching…  DVDs I watched both seasons of Dark Angel, Jessica Alba at her hottest. I swear the network told the studio to tone her down after the first few episodes and Firefly, Josh Whedon's space cowboy series.

Creating … Things are slow on the creative front.

Hoping… For a speedy recovery and to see Ava come the new year.

Buying… I have managed not to buy anything lately. Just paying for medical expenses.

Loving...  My time away from work. I don't feel the need to check on things.

Planning… NO plans for next year as of yet, but hopefully, soon.

Missing… Ava's booty calls. It has been a while since I have seen her.

Feeling…  Optimistic about my recovery time.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Day Three Through Five

 Day three was uneventful. I watched DVDs and sat around. On day four, I pulled out the PIK line for the pain pump and took a shower. There is little to see. I have four insertion points, one at the armpit, two at the side of the shoulder, and one at the back.

The pain is mostly gone. I have been taking the sling off more and more. I am down to using a half-pain pill when needed. I can raise my arm to a horizontal position. I would say it is going well. I am optimistic about the speed of my recovery.

We have been under a Winter Weather Advisory for forty-eight hours. We only received an inch of snow but have been plagued with high winds and single-digit temperatures. It is an excellent time to stay indoors.

I am typing this two-handed, but still, I need to do most things with my right arm. Shaving, brushing my teeth, and anything that requires strength. 

Max came over yesterday. He brought me a new vape, had something to eat, and watched the first episode of Wednesday.

Alexis is having dinner this evening and has asked me to join them. She is having intermittent trouble with her heat. It sounds like a pilot light issue. It could be the winds. I wouldn't mind getting out of the house. It has been five days. I need to sit down and work on my Lego project. I have been too antsy to do so.

I've managed to get in an average of 8,000 steps a day for the last 4 days by pacing downstairs. I don't want the rest of my body going to seed while I recover. I plan to get back on my bike downstairs next week.

Day Two

 Day two seems like it will be the worst. I may have overdone it. I woke up early. I cannot sleep on my back, yet that is my only option. Feeling and movement came back to my arm and hand. Along with that came the pain. I started taking the hydrocodone along with the pain pump feeding directly into the area. First, one pill, then two.

I built a store-bought Lego to keep myself occupied, and I paced the first floor to get my steps in for the day. I saw the mouse at the trap. He sat there eating away while Max and I watched.

The pain continued to get worse throughout the day. I was napping upstairs when Sienna started meowing at me. I got up and checked the trap. It was still empty, but something else was going on. Does anyone remember when the carriage unit attached to mine had a leaky hot water tank? Water leaked down from their utility room into my laundry room. Well, it happened again.

This time it was water from their washing machine. I was so pissed. I threw a coat over my shoulder and knocked on their door. I looked like a deranged homeless man. This was a new renter. She was reluctant to open the door.

"Your hot water tank is leaking again," I started bluntly.

"I just moved here," she replied.

Honestly, all these overweight middle-aged women look the same to me. I apologized and explained the situation. I asked her if she knew how to shut the water off. She assured me she did. I left unsure and promptly returned. I didn't want forty gallons of water pouring down the ceiling. That is when she informed me she thought it was from the washing machine. The drain pipe was not appropriately secured.

Angry and in pain, I called Max to come help with the ceiling. I was lying in bed at the end of the day. My shoulder was throbbing, and I was feeling helpless. I was on the phone complaining to Sam about my situation when I heard the snap of the mousetrap. Things are starting to look up.

Day One Part II- Mousetrap

While pacing downstairs, waiting for my meal to cook, I spotted the mouse on Tuesday night. It scurried around the corner from the living room into the kitchen. I wasn't sure I had seen it at first. I camped out in the kitchen, and it reappeared from under the dishwasher. I called Sienna. The cat was sleeping on the couch. Sienna finally saw the mouse but failed to catch it. She had a second chance a half hour later and failed again.

I found an old trap in the garage and baited it. I used chocolate pudding left over from my first road trip with Ava. Ideally, I like using peanut butter, but I don't eat the stuff, so I don't have any around. I placed the trap in the small gap between the refrigerator and the wall, fat enough back that Sienna would not trip it.

I checked the trap later in the evening, and the bait was gone. Now I know the mousetrap is in a good spot. I rebaited it with a piece of a chocolate cookie. I smashed it into the center. The trap is old. It might have lost its sensitivity. I will need to ask Max to pick up some more and some peanut butter.

Surgery

 I am typing this one-handed. The surgery went well. Max and I arrived at 5:30 a.m., and we were out by 10:00. There is no pain. The only thing I do not like is that I cannot move my arm or hand. It is from the nerve block. My hand is lifeless. It reminds me of that stripper I met a while ago. I wonder what happened to her.

So far, I am just feeling restless. I have been pacing the condo and searching for things to do with one hand. Sleeping will be hard. I cannot sleep on my back. I think I'd rather be in pain than have a dead arm. We will see.