Ok, one down

Got through the biopsy this morning, the hardest part was getting to the hospital at 5:30 am. And now I have "discomfort", although John filled my prescription for painkillers - I just haven't taken any yet. Probably before bed.

And the antibiotic for the leg will take care of any infection issues for the root canal, so the attending dr. said, "that works out well!" Yeah, well, he can go have the root canal.

So I'm a little achy and grumpy, but pretty mobile (a little freaked out by that, seems like should need to stay off it more!), and in some pain but not too bad yet. I suppose it could be worse. It is worse - I can't think of any witty, pithy comment to make about this!

Warranty Expired

Thanks for putting up with my "it sucks to be me" post yesterday. I'm in a better place now, though still shaking my head at the confluence of events.

I did library volunteer today (so I don't have to do it next week, right after the root canal), and the librarian and I were talking about feeling like you're falling apart. She said she hit a certain age and felt like her warranty had just expired, because all sorts of things started going wrong.

That's it, exactly. My warranty has expired, and of course now everything is breaking down. I thought I was going in for basic service and here I am with lots of expensive repairs.

I suppose my only hope is that my husband doesn't decide to trade me in for a newer model.

Joys of Getting Old, part 2

I can't decide if its that I really am falling apart faster in my 40th year, or just paying more attention to it because I feel like it's time to take care of myself.

Found out today I need a root canal for an infected tooth. Like, urgently, we would love to do it today. However, I have a biopsy on a nerve in my leg scheduled for Thursday, so how do these two things mesh? I've called the surgeon to find out if I can take the dentist's antibiotics after the biopsy and before the root canal, and I'm waiting for the call back. The current plan is the root canal on Monday, so my leg will hurt and my mouth will hurt. Bleah.

The last time I had surgery, which was much more complicated and I won't go into gross details, I was in the hospital for 2 days and recovering for weeks at home before I felt "normal" again. I realized I'm sort of expecting that, even though this is a biopsy, really just a deep cut in my leg. I don't know whether I should do more internet research, or if it will only make me more stressed about it. And then of course, I will be waiting for results this time, which is a little different.

I suppose I should look at the root canal as probably no more painful than what I've been living with all this time. And the biopsy site may hurt, but nothing like what I went through before. Oh Joy.

Thanksgiving

We had a really nice Thanksgiving. No, we didn't have a houseful of friends or relatives, it was just us. I had a friend ask, "are you ok with that?" I thought that was an interesting question. I hear so many people moaning and complaining about having to cook for everybody, or having to spend the day with everybody, and it was a nice reminder that getting together with friends and family is a reason to be thankful, despite (maybe because of?) the effort.

So yes, I was ok with just us. And we made our favorite foods, except for sweet potatoes and/or mashed potatoes, because I was the only one who wanted those. And I had no set time that dinner had to be ready, so we just cooked at a leisurely pace and ended up eating about 2pm, which was just about perfect. And John got the dining room and front hall cleaned up while I cooked, so I feel like we're ahead, not behind.

And then Friday night we went to a friend's house for turkey soup and games and the kids played and adults talked and it was great. Best of both worlds.

The Geriatric Cat

So how is my poor Jenny, who I was convinced was taking a one-way trip to the vet? It is a miracle of modern science. We have been feeding her the prescription cat food, and the 2nd choice one, at that, because her kidneys can't handle the high protein version. She is now jumping onto the family room sofa, venturing up the stairs into the great room, and actually interacting with the family!!!

It has been a long time since she did more than eat and sleep, so this is very wonderful. Soon, I will take her back to the vet for a bath (really, she needs help grooming) and probably arthritis medicine. And then I won't know how to keep up with her!

And she's still the same old Jenny. I pet or brush her as we sit on the sofa, and she'll lick my hand, and purr, and then chomp down on me. Or dig in her claws as she stretches. Her love nips are on the vicious side...

Surprise, surprise, surprise!

We woke up to snow on the ground this morning! Not a huge amount, maybe half an inch of heavy, wet snow, but big flakes in the air still coming down. This is the first time in 17 years of living here that I remember snow on the ground BEFORE Thanksgiving. A flurry, yeah, but sticking? As William would say, "Whoa!" Actually, what he said was "Awesome!" All the kids were excited, even though school was neither cancelled nor delayed.

It's funny how the microclimates work around here. Down the hill from us, there was nothing on the ground and it switched over to rain very early. Up here, we still have good cover, and a few flakes in the air even an hour ago. Rachel scraped up enough to make a very short and squat snowman. Or snow pile with a hat, actually.

I'm an idiot

Or, at least, I can't read. We winterized the trailer yesterday. John mentioned that he hadn't gotten much antifreeze in the sinks and the traps might freeze. So I went in the garage, grabbed the jug with the pink liquid in it (only an inch or two left, as he said), and poured it down all the traps.

Tonight, he came in asking if I had put windshield wiper fluid in my car. Noooo... Yes, the brand he's been buying is pink, not the traditional blue. And yes, I never even looked at the label of the jug I poured down the sinks. So, yes, the trailer has windshield wiper fluid in the traps. Sigh...

I always tell the kids to read labels. I really do have a master's degree in science!