Freedom!

I was finally released by my OS on Thursday.  No more brace, but lots of PT in order to get full range of motion back.  I was pleasantly surprised on Wednesday when I found I had an additional 10 degrees (to 95 now) all in one night.  My doctor said it may be the result of scar tissue breaking off.  Whatever…  He was pleased that the suture sight looks so good – it really does!  I can still see the staple holes, but the whole thing is a nice shade of pink and nothing is swollen around it any longer.  I can see my kneecap and yes, it does still move a bit more than it should, but I plan on being careful.  I still walk slowly because of the pull on the knee.

I hope that the physical therapy helps me overcome the last bit of movement.  I am a bit concerned about some popping on the outter side of the knee that I noticed yesterday – even my daughter heard it. 

All that said, I am still packing. I put a bid on a house and am just crossing my fingers right now.  I think that the stress of moving – with some unusual goings on at work is just building.  I have been snappy with the kids a good deal. They started to protest last night.  We had a long discussion about my bitchyiness.  It was weird.  About work, it seems that result of outside consultants coming in last year is causing some rather major reorgs in the company.  Right now we haven’t seen anything in my group – in fact – the consultants said the company needs more folks in our department.  I have a feeling we will be reorged under the development group which will not be good for my director.  She is feeling pressure right now and was even threatening to retire.  We will all just have to hold tight and see what happens.  I get along well with our development VP, so to be honest, I wouldn’t mind.  We need the support of that VP on a daily basis.  I also have some project going to Bangkok in the next several months.  It will be the first time projects are beling completely run there.  They are sending one expert out there to act as project manager.  I see late night meetings in my future without the system archecture managers around.  I also think that they wil end up reporting to the architecture analysts as part of the reorg.  Darn it all,  a trip to Bangkok would be interesting!

Back to packing!

Stitching:  “Summer Fairy” by Teresa Wentzler

Reading:  “Queen of Sorcery” by David Eddings

Watching:  I don’t really know….. my kids wouldn’t be surprised at all…

Beginning to pack..

My kids and I have decide that moving is a time for cleaning out items that we do not use.  I have a closet full of clothes that are either too small or too large or out of style.  I will donate them.  DD is in the same situation.  I began packing up books this afternoon.  I didn’t realize how many books I really have.  I will NOT get rid of a single one of them.  Books are precious to me.

I called a friend who is a realator and she is working on finding me the perfect place.  I am just scared being a single person almost 48 in buying again.  I am also very excited by the decision.  My landlord as actually helped me along.  I called an left a message. We have agreed that I will stay until the end of September and longer if needed.  He agreed that he overreactted, especially when he stopped to think about it.  Either way, my lease is up in March and I intend to be gone.  I hope to be gone by October at the latest.  It just depends.  I have to be out before my next surgery.  I just cannot do the stairs again.  It was way too scary! 

DD plans on moving in with her new boyfriend when his parents move out.  His parent moved in with him while they are waiting for the house to be done.  They sold their home much quicker than expected.  Her boyfriend’s parents moved in and he moved to his own basement. His roommate who had the basement was forced to move back home for the 4 to 6 months it will take to have her boyfriends home done.

I admit that my stitching is going very well.  I have been focused and am just moving along.  I only stitched two hours in Boston.  Mostly because I was so tired at the end of the day.  The first day, I was up at 3:30 to get to the airport by 5:30.  We left the office at 6 pm Boston time.  We were all exhausted especially after 4 bottles of wine amoungst 6 of us.  The food there is great!

Stitching:  “Summer Bouquet”

Reading:  “Queen of Sorcery” by David Eddings

Watching:  The VISA National Gymnastics competition

Better Day…

My son is working on the transmission of his car, my daughter is blogging or reading blogs, my dogs and cars are resting, and I am feeling a bit better today.  I have found several homes in my price range.  Now I just have to finish the pre-qualification and take a loan on my 401K.  All that said, getting out of here is a large task.  10 years of stuff.  The good thing is that I will have a place of my own and my doggies will be happier.  I just need to find a place on my side of the city, meaning Missouri and north of the river.  I have several excellent prospects.  That is helpful!

I read Annette’s blog on preparing herself with reading and stitching material for her recovery from surgery.  I wish I had preparation time.  I am thinking that next time I have time to prepare.  Hopefully I will be in a nice ranch so that getting into the bedroom and bathroom won’t be a killer.  Next time I will be non-weight bearing for 4 weeks at least.  It seems hard to imagine going through this again. I still only have about 90 degrees of motion still!  It has been 9 weeks.  I see the doctor again on Thursday.  I am hoping he will allow me into PT this time.  I am pretty sure that I have ligament damage as well.  Oh well, simple things like climbing stairs is long past.  Kind of scary. 

I was watching the competition for the National Campionships in gymnastics.  Every pound of their legs made my knees hurt.  I was a decent gymnast in high school although I am way too tall!  The thought of landing off of the bars is painful.  How little did I appreciate the things I did as a teenager.  Biking, swimming, gymnastics, hiking, motorcycling, tennis, badminton, volley ball, and soft ball. Today they make my head hurt.  Someday I will be back to doing the things I love, but it may be after a total knee replacement in both knees. My left knee is actually sitting bone on bone.  Someday….

Reading:  “Queen of Sorcery” by David Eddings

Stitching:  “Footprints” by Teresa Wentzler 

Watching:  “Storm Stories”

Home at last – sort of…

My trip to Boston was great in terms of getting through security.  We left during the media blitz at Logan with the diverted flight that should have gone to Dulles.  Camera men everywhere, a plan in the middle of nowhere with baggage laid neatly out on the tarmac.  Women crying because security asked them to throw away makeup.  The best thing was that boarding and deplaning went quickly since very few people brought on carryon baggage other than purses and laptops.  It was great.  I even had legroom!

I got home to the place I have rented for 10 years, with my landlord asking me to move out by the end of the month.  My dogs are his excuse and they have been with me all of the 10 years.  I am frustrated, ticked off, angry, and yet a bit glad.  I am prequalified for a house, I just now have to arrange the 401k loan to get the money for the downpayment.  I have to find a place, but I am going to the landlord with my knee brace in full view and ask if he will let me stay until the end of September.  I don’t believe he will mind as long as he gets his rent.  I just don’t get it at all.  10 full years and this, in October I will have been here for 10 years!  Of course, when I had realized how much rent I have paid, it makes me sick.  I was always just too lazy to move. Then again, a ranch style house with no upstairs should be nice.  I just now have to find a place quickly. 

Security?

I am safely past the security check for my trip to Boston.  I did take off my brace and let it run through the xray.  I proudly walked through the security gate.  Slowly, but surely. I just sat down afterward and put it back on easily.  Everyone was really nice, but then again, it was 5:!5 am or so.  Either you are asleep or helpful.  My poor son got up at 4 am to take me to the airport. 

My poor son, is working on the transmission for his car. It was giving him problems so it need to be rebuilt.  He waited during my recovery and drove my car all of the time.  I think if he had started mid-June, he would be finished by now, but he waited that 5 weeks.  Now his is working to finish everything by the beginning of school.  Of course, school begins on Thursday.  He could work on it after school, but he is still frustrated.  Personally I think the whole rebuild is an excuse for many, many new tools.  His collection is already larger than his dads!  I suppose I cannot complain beccause I always find an excuse for new cross stitching items, but believe me, they are a whole lot cheaper.

I also decided that I would go ahead and bowl this year.  That should prove to be interesting.  My timing will suck and so will my average – at least early in the season.  That may work out better for me when it comes to tournaments later in the year.  We shall see.

I think I will lay my head down and try to get some zzzz’s while waiting for my flight.  We board at 7:20 and it it only just now 6 am.

Enjoyable Saturdays…

I was in heaven this morning.  I sat on the deck and enjoyed my cup of coffee.  A tiny little butterfly was flitting around driving my little Parson Russell Terrier nuts.  Andy would lay down and magically the butterfly would land on his nose.  He woudl jump up and act all crazy. It was rather cloudy but windy.  Sadly the sun came out in full force later in the day. 

I have to pack for Boston tomorrow.  I went to DSW today to find a pair of shoes with a tennis shoe like bottom and dressy enough that I am comfortable in a dress.  I figure that trying to get in and out of my tennis shoes at the airport would be a lost cause.  I bought a cute pair of black Skechers that look a bit dressy. They have rhinestones and are designed a bit like pumps.  They slide on and off easily.  I am so happy.  I thnk I will leave my tennis shoes at home.  The great thing about these shoes is that bottoms are almost like my tennis shoes. I will feel solid in them. 

I have to pack my paisley corner.  All that said, I finished my Angel Procession rotation and am almost done with the Castle Sampler rotation.  Both of them are moving quickly.  I am almost half way on AP.  I am surprised that in only 65 hours, I have so much completed.  I am making sure that I am backstitching as I go, I certainly don’t want to get behind on either of these!

Reading: “Lord Foul’s Bane’ by Stephen R. Donaldson

Watching:  Saturday Night Live

Stitching:  “Castle Sampler” by Teresa Wentzler

Whew, it is so hot…

Actually, I feel like I am living in Arizona again and getting used to the heat – as long as it is not very humid.  104 today and I whacked weeds and trimmed the yard.  This is a first since mid-June.  I still cannot mow because I cannot manage to push the mower up and down the hill, but I can slowly walk and whack weeds.  At least the yard is beginning to look ‘normal’ again.  After I finished, I was actually able to get into my shower.  I have enough bend in the knee to get carefully over the edge of the tub and not hit the shower door.  I am not graceful and it takes awhile to get in and out, but it was so very, very nice! 

I actually thinik that I am ready for my trip to Boston next week.  I am able to walk faster – as long as I can keep up with my friend, Brent, I am okay.  I am actually going to pack the brace for the flight because it gets very uncomfortable.  I will just need to be very careful not to twist sideways at all.  I plan on packing it in carry on luggage.  Brent has agreed to carry my laptop for me so that I am not overburdered like a pack mule.  Sadly, this will be my first trip this summer.  Wait, we did go in early June – how quickly one forgets!  My boss has already agreed to send me back alone two weeks later to work on some special items with my teams.   How cool!

I haven’t had much time in the last several days to get much stitching done.  I was just so happy to finish Woodland Fairy.  I have decided not to have a focus piece for awhile so that I get directly to all of my pieces.  My focus piece would have been The Minstrel, but I really enjoy spending more time with them.  Besides, I have been in love with that piece since I first started it.  The colors are a bit different that most TW pieces, but yet alike.  I am so happy with it.  I am happy with the eventually recipant of the them as well.  It gives me motivation.

Work has been very fulfilling lately.  It always has been, but I have had more time per project lately so that I can really focus with my teams.  After last years chaos with a new client and huge changes to the system, this year has been great.  My boss loved the Covey concept of Big Rocks.  For the first time in almost 3 years, I actually have time to focus on several of them.  She seems pleased.  That may be why she is sending me to Boston without the rest of the architecture team. Usually whenever I have gone, she has gone – usually she has other things to do, but this will be fun.  One of my students from last year’s forensics team is attending BC and I will get to spend time with her.  That will be awesome.

Watching: Project Runway

Stitching:  “Angel Procession” by Teresa Wentzler

Reading:  “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck

Confetti!

After 243 hours, my lovely Woodland Fairy is finally complete.  I started her on 12/01/2002 and just finished her.  She is amazing.  I cannot believe that she took longer than Peacock Tapestry or the Mermaid, but she did.  Even though I have complained a good deal about backstitching, she is worth every minute of the work on her.  She is truly beautiful. 

My next focus piece is The Minstrel.  He will go to a dear coworker friend.  We share our love of fantasy books, dragons, wizards, etc.  He and his wife have both recommended so many books over the last several years.  I know they will love the piece and take care of it.  What more can I ask. 

I am finally beginning to give more pieces away.  I started that when Heather graduated high school.  Each of my speech and debate kids received a piece.  They were chosen with the kid in mind.  I have given several wedding and birth announcements, but never more than that.  I cannot possibly keep them all around the house.  I admit that I stitch for the joy of stitching and keeping pieces in a box is not what they were meant for!

Watching: “Fight Club”

Reading:  “Lord Foul’s Bane” Stephen R. Donaldson

Stitching:  “Angel of Healing” by L&L

Wow

I am finally moving a bit better.  I have 75 degrees range of motion and can finally walk a bit faster.  I actually kept up with my friend Brent this morning.  Quite an accomplishment.  I still fell ungainly, but all in all I feel better. 

My daughter finally finished moving home.  That has proven to be quite interesting.  The nice thing is that she is so busy getting ready for classes to begin, that she isn’t driving her brother and I nuts.  She won’t eat what we eat, so there are two dinnertimes at our house.  At least she is cleaning up behind herself.  I forgot how big of a slob she is.  I had to lay down the rules and tell her SHE MUST follow them.

I have to clean the heck out of the house.  I have limitations, but I am trying to overcome them.  I am getting bored just reading and cross stitching all of the time.  I cannot believe that I said that but it is true.  I am also hoping to get into the pool and hot tub this weekend. Swimming is excellent for bad knees and the hot tub will ease the tension.

Oddly enough, after having been buried for the last 3 years at work under projects, most of the work is being done on the main system.  While I have several projects on that system, the rest of my projects are simple fixes or do not take much work.  I am finally getting to some of the ‘Big Rock’ items that have been on my list for the last 5 years.  I am making rapid head way.  It is amazing how much work you can get done when you are not in meetings from 8 am to 4 pm!  Add answering questions, concerns, and reading emails to that list and I never, ever got ahead – I was lucky to stay fairly caught up.  I finally know what is on the horizon, I can thank our wonderful federal legislature for some retirement income taxe changes coming along. I hate it when Congress passes tax laws in August for projects that MUST be done by December 31.  It makes for rapid, not well thought out projects.  GRRR.. Between that and the Spitzer investigations, I have been a busy bee.  At least the SEC projects on a test platforms and migrating their way to production.  Gotta’ love the government!   The SEC legislation should have been approved several years ago.  Fortunately, we began working on some of the projects in advance and we were close to being spot on.  Now if fund companies could only have their legal (compliance) departments all agree on interpretations that would be lovely!

My goal for the weekend is finishing Woodland Fairy.  It shouldn’t take long.  If I could do a happy dance, I would, but heck, I don’t want to reinjure my leg.

 Watching:  “SG-1″

Reading:  “Lord Foul’s Bane’ by Stephen R. Donaldson first book in the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant

Stitching:  “Angel of Summer” by L&L