Basketball..

I love, love the late winter and early spring. It is basketball time – I mean college basketball preferablly NCAA Division I, but any will do for me.  I have had more time to watch basketball this year than ever before – largely because I have been stuck at home more, but I haven’t gotten to a KU game this year.  I admit that Allen Field House isn’t really set up for someone with a knee in a brace.  Besides I would have to stay sitting – that would suck!  Basketball is meant to be an emotional thing. 

My travel work brother, B, and I have a friendly rivalry every year.   I am a die hard KU fan, being from Lawrence, Kansas leads one naturally to be a Jayhawk fan. I also love Arizona.  I grew up in Tucson and saw more games there than anywhere.  Mom and dad know Lute Olson so that helps as well.  And yes, I am still angry at Roy from wandering away back to UNC after promising to stay in Lawrence.  Then adding insult to injury by wining the big dance at UNC.  Grrrr….  B made a prediciton early in the season after we lost to Oral Roberts – that KU would be in the top 10 and drop out and never get back.  Guess he owes me!   Can you tell he HATES KU.  Being a Nebraska fan, I understand.  We have our private pool for the tournament each year.  So far we have gone back and forth.  He won last year, by 2 points.  We both sucked!  I cannot wait until the Big 12 tournament.  I cannot wait until the selection day.  For me it is better than the Oscars.

Speaking of Oscars, H and I will do our traditional evening.  We watch the red carpet shows and talk about clothes,  Then we predict the outcome of the categories and criticize the speeches.  It just proves that actors are not necessarily good speakers.  Always a fun night. 

I have my first conference meeting tomorrow night.  Diana should have signed the contract by then.  Mike has approved the agenda, but Diana doesn’t wan the business meeting first thing in the morning because that isn’t how we have done it in the past.  Too bad, so sad, she should have spoken up far earlier.  Drives me nuts.  I am getting pictures of my speakers (2 of them) this weekend at our National qualifer for debate.  I so love debate weekend.  I typically get two a year – one in Kansas in the fall and one in Missouri in the spring. I hope that I have the laptop and spreadsheets ready. 

I am feeling better.  After yesteday being warm and rainy – fog in the evening – and tornado warnings in Warrensburg – it snowed – a dusting during the night.  How weird.  At least the dogs will go out in the snow.  It froze the muddy water which is a bit nice.  This spring my son and I will have to figure out how to drain the backyard better.  My brother is willing to come up and help me build a stream, waterfall and pond.  I cannot wait!  

I did decide to do only 2.5 hours on the pieces at the end of my rotation this month to see how far I can get.  Knowing that Monday will be filled with Toastmaster stuff, I am not optimistc that I wll get far, but I have seen Blue Staccato, Fairy Idyll and Romeo & Juliet doing this.  I am struggling with Blue Staccato because the fabric must really be a 32 ct. not a 28.  Doing over one is struggle on this one and I am bit surprised.

Watching: Duke and St. John’s Basketball

Stitching:  “Romeo and Juliet”  by Teresa Wentzler

Reading:  “Naked Empire” by Terry Goodkind

Rain, rain, rain…

Well, I finally caught the cold that is going around.  I took Friday as a sick day.  I went to bed at 9 pm and woke up at 4 pm the next day.   I did get up just long enough to call into work and watch an hour of news.  Sleepy time then.  I went to bed last night (Friday) at about 1 am and slept until noon.  I guess I had better get my sleep cycle back in gear.  Today it has rained and rained.  That gentle sound always sends me off to sleep.  I am not sure why, but hey, I won’t complain.  The dogs hate going out in the rain though.  I have to push them out and then wipe their feet when they come in.  They are so full of mud!

I have had time to read and continue being frustrated because the hotel contract still isn’t signed.  The Top 2 have promised to have it signed on Monday.  Otherwise, this is a pain in the ass.  I am beginning to understand why nothing gets done quickly.  Oh well,  so be it!

I have done a bit of stitching.  I wish I had as much time as I did in January.  I expanded my rotation knowing that I wouldn’t get through it all until May (speech tournaments and the conference will take most of my weekends until mid-April).  So be it.  Debate Nat quals are next weekend and I have kids showing up unannounced asking for help.  I don’t mind at all, but can they call ahead?  Being and sick in my jammies is kind of embarrassing.

Stitching:  “Legends of the Dragons” by Karen, Teresa, and Jennifer

Reading:  “Naked Empire” by Terry Goodkind

Watching: “Law and Order :  SVU”

Feel Sorry for Myself

I admit, I had a great day yesterday after a pretty long week.  I missed work on Tuesday because of the ice and snow, Wednesday because I felt a cold coming on pretty quickly.  I just slept most of both of those days although I did get some Toastmasters work done.  Thursday I held at club Toastmasters contest and Friday – well Friday was interesting.  I went to my last meeting of the day at 3 pm.  I took my coat because the bus comes at 4:10. Given that the elevators are packed at that time of the day – it made sense.  When we left the meeting at shortly before 4 pm the snow was just falling out of the sky in a beautiful downpour.  The flakes were huge and falling fast.  I made it out on time, the bus was pretty close to being on time.  It took forever to get out of downtown!  Once we got off the freeway, life was good until we made the 4th stop and the bus got stuck.  The driver stopped a small bus that runs the last part of its route along the same path.  We all got off the big bus (which was full) and got on the little one. I had help getting off the bus, through the snow and onto the new bus.  Two stops later most of the passengers got off as usual.  We finally made it to our stop about 45 minutes late.  The kids picked me up in the Jeep and we stopped by to get groceries.  Again I had plenty of help to get across the parking lot.  I count my blessing for the help!

 Once I got home, I was exhausted and went right to sleep.  Saturday dawned and I had agreed to judge our conference speech and debate tournament.  I ventured out in the new 2 inches of snow and drove the 16 miles to the hight school to get on a bus to drive another hour.  Now I must note, that had my leg been feeling stronger I would have drive the entire way myself.  It would have only taken 45 minutes, but between the snow and my leg, I said forget it.  I will ride the bus. 

The coaches (who run the conference tournament) made sure I had rooms close so that I didn’t have to walk forever.  Typically I can get an easy 5000 steps in at a tournment judge going room to room, to judges tables, hospitality room etc.   I think that I was probably only went 1000 steps.  Quite a difference.  They were also short of judges because of the weather.  I ended up judging kids from my own school – I admit I haven’t spent time with them this year because of my knee.  Out of the 6 kids I heard from my school, I only knew 2.  It freaks the two of them out to have me judge.  One simply didn’t handle it well.  We had a talk about that later though.  In reality since I haven’t coached this year, and my daughter has been out of school for 3 years and my adopted daughter 2 – I really don’t have a school affiliation this year.  In all honesty, I can truly say that I am unbiased.  Heidi actually likes it when I judge the kids, because she trusts what I say and knows I am honest.  I went back an looked at the ballots of the kids I judged and I was spot on with other judges.  That helps!

Then today I had a melt down.  I was watching the SEC gymnastics championships and was thinking that back when I was a gymnastic in high school (JV my soph and junior year in HS) and then I did announcing my senior year for most of the athletic events so I quit (besides I would never have been varisity).  I don’t ever remember my knee hurting.  I then watched cheerleading and bowling.  I started to cry thinking that I will never bowl and remembered the doctor telling me that the tennis, gymnastics, and backpacking early on, probably began the knee issues.  Sad to say… I just bawled like a baby.  I would be happy to just be able to bend the knee past 85 degrees.  I don’t yet have 90 degrees 6 weeks post op.  Granted, my OS doesn’t want me any past 90 degree to protect the graft, but hey…

I have had a bit of time to recuperate, but still.  I guees everyone gets some time to feel sorry for themselves, but I still feel like a crybaby.  I didn’t feel this way last time.  I think because once the ROM started coming back it came bit by bit every day.  I could see the improvement.  This time, I have to push past the pain to get the ROM.  I know that long run, this surgery will get me there and I will be bowling agian, but it is hard to see right now.  I truly didn’t expect it to be this way, but…

I admit that part of it, is my leg is achey by the time I get home.  I am reading and watching TV, but I haven’t done much stitching since getting back to work.  I fall asleep pretty quickly once I settle in.  That makes me sad and frustrated as well.  I just cannot wait to be reasonably normal again.

Reading:  “The Pillars of Creation” by Terry Goodkind

Stitching:  “Merrick” by Karen Weaver

Watching:  “UCA Cheerleaing Championships”

Great Sleep!

Wow, I went to bed at about 11 pm last night.  I woke up as usual for a Sunday morning at 8 am to talk to my mom.  I apparently went back to sleep and slept until noon.  This is the first night that I have had without waking up with any pain as I move in my sleep.  Yes!!!

I also drove for the first time yesterday.  At least with the brace set a 60 degrees ROM, I can get behind the wheel.  I finally have enough strength the handle the pedals.  I was so excited.  After PT yesterday I was at 71 degrees ROM – although my doctor doesn’t want me past 60.  On Tuesday, I was at 43 degrees without pain and 52 with pain.  What exercise and diligence does is amazing to me.  I really like this therapist.  And they ice at the end.  Wow!  Now I am hoping that the OS opens up the brace all the way on Wednesday and lets me try to get everything back.  We shall see.

My conference hotel is all set now.  The district asked me to get a contract together for the April of 2009 conference as well.  Okay, I can do that without any pain. Diane can sign everything and life will be good!  That is helpful.

I also finally caught up on work emails on Thursday.  Who knew it would take so long.  I only worked a half day on Friday due to PT in the middle of the day.  My boss wanted me to go home early Thursday because my knee was so swollen from PT on Wednesday.  I declined.  At least from now on, I can get in at 5 pm and don’t have to miss work for PT any longer.  The only day I will miss, it maybe two hours for a noon doctors appointment on the 14th.

BTW, my oldest turned 21 yesterday.  Boy I feel old.  She and her boyfriend met up with two good friends (who used to live together and are now good friends) to go to dinner.  After dinner her female friend had to go to work so the two boys took her to the casino where the girlfiend works.  She got to gamble (she isn’t interested) and drink both in a safe place.  Her boyfriend is diabetic so he doesn’t drink at all.  She had a great time and apparently was ‘good’ and isn’t suffereing from the drinking last night.  Thank goodness.  She was smart enought to take the say off today just in case…She usually works as a waitress on Sunday morning.  That woudl be awful to serve drinks with a hangover!

Reading:  “Faith of the Fallen” by Terry Goodking

Stitching:  “Summer Bouquet” over one….

Watching:  “Cold Case” TVIOed from the other day

Back to “real life”

I went back to work on Monday as planned.  It was a really, really long day.  My daughter drove me in, but I took the bus home.  It wasn’t bad at all.  My VP stopped me and asked what I had done this time.  He is an angel.  He just mentioned that this must really hurt my bowling game.  Yup, he is 100% correct.  Oh well, just being able to drive again would be awesome!

All in all I was buried under 1000 work emails and probably another 100 just from friends, and fellow Toastmasters.  It took me until today to get them read, filed, responded to and action taken on them.  Wow.  I hope not to go through that again for a long, long time.  It is scary to handle that crap and try to decide what to read first.  I chose to accept all meeting invitations blindly.  If I was double booked so be it.  Then I read emails from my boss and VP.  I responded to those immediately and then priortized everything else.  Some I could just delete because they were parts of an email chain.  Lucky me.

I am glad to be back though.  I miss interaction with my coworkers and friends.  It keeps me active.

Watching:  “SG-1″

Stitching:  “Noah’s Sub”

Back to work

Well Monday I go back to work.  I have not yet decided if H will drive me in or I will take the bus.  Either way it will be a pain.  I still have to pick up my bus pass which will involve a jaunt acress the street to grab it – to cross the street is a challenge with good legs, what will it be like on bad ones!    I still have to get back on a real world sleep cycle.  By nature I am a late night – late riser kind of girl.  The last 3 weeks have proven that.  On Monday I will have to be up at 5:30 am.  Maybe I should take another week off  

All that said, I will be happy to get back into the swing of things.  It really does help one to heal.  Besides that, I want to see this HR person in person – maybe when I pick up that bus pass it the opportunity!  Monday everything will be faxed to the insurance company and they will deal with it!  My OS is being great about the whole thing.  Then I can pay my bills on the 12th – a bit late, but hey….

Did I mention that I hate the superbowl hype?   It drives me nuts.  On the other hand I love the NCAA Basketball tournament – I love March Madness!  To be honest, I have watched quite a few basketball games in the last several weeks.  I love basketball!  My daughter’s restaurant is closing at 4 pm because they know that they won’t have any business during the game – hence closing early.  The kids are all pretty excited because they can go to parties, but that just means booze – my girls know zip about football even though they went to one of the schools that lives for football – Platte County High School. The varisity team lost one game when she was in high school.  They held the 2nd place record for the longest winning streak.  They lost that game only because the other team in sectionals broke legs and arms.  Sad, isn’t it.  I remember being at the muscial practice with the kids running back and forth to watch the game.  When they lost it was as if someone had died.  The city still mourns the loss of that game.  3 years as winners at state and they missed it by one game!

Stitching:  “Angel Procession” by Teresa Wentzler

Reading:  “Soul of the Fire” by Terry Goodkind

Watching: “MSNBC”

Frustration..

Well between my conference hotel cancelling before the contract was signed and the ignorant HR person handling my short term disability claim I feel like screaming.  I used my extra savings to fix my car so that I didn’t have to file an insurance claim, so I you can tell I didn’t expect my short term disability claim to still be in the works because of a missing form.  It has been faxed 4 times to my HR contact.  I swear, she is a ignorant bitch. Typically I don’t make comments like this, but this woman is impacting my finances because she cannot figure out her job – and disability claims are the only things she does.  She cannot find my file, or she claims she hasn’t received the fax – although my doctor has two copies of a completed tranmittal and my ex has 2 – GRRRR…..

I now get to spend the weekend and next week trying to find another hotel.  I know I can get the Marriot next to my work, but I was hoping not to put us downtown because of parking, but what the heck.  The catering is a bit more expensive, but oh well, I can handle this!  It is just frustrating.  The hotel cancelled because they felt that we were going to have too many people to handle.  They are probably correct, but …. I guess it is better to find out now!

I put my PT away after 20 hours.  I am still amazed that I am redoing this piece.  I worked on my Minstrel today. I am just doing backstitching and finishing the specialty stitches in the border.  I then ran out of the #4 202HL braid I was using.  I get to go hunt up some tomorrow.  Oddly enough, I didn’t have any more here at home.  That was odd!  I usually have a bunch, but I supppose I didn’t keep track on my palm well enough!  Dang it!  At least that isn’t frustrating me!

I am glad to be going back to work. Me and my polar care chest on Monday.  I just hope the stupid HR lady has me set up to get back to work!  I hope she can figure that one out!  If I end up having a day off due to her all hell will break loose!