Stopped the oxy five days ago. Got my bowels back. Graduated from walker to single crutch. Took a shower by myself today. Cooked a couple meals (with Ken’s help). All good news.
Still, I get tired (and sometimes a little discouraged) and sleeping is difficult due to how painful it is to change positions in bed.
A spring-like breeze is sweeping the neighborhood this afternoon. Whistling.
Things I wished they’d told me:
You don’t need a toiler extender if you’re five feet or under (picture me hopping UP to the seat, then legs dangling!)
The post-surgical bruising will be extensive, ghastly-looking, and normal. I did not know this. The blood’s working its way down my leg: inner thigh to knee and calf, and this morning, a purplish foot!
Viewing from the couch:
Perfect recovery TV show: Bad Monkey on Apple. Based on a Carl Hiaasen novel, so you get some of his classic trademarks: South Florida and the Keys landscape, high jinx, and humor. There’s a bromance, a romance, a sociopath, a suspended detective, a Voodoo Queen, and lots of twists and turns.
Favorite movie seen recently: The Secret Life of Bees. How did I miss this one? A traumatized Southern white girl ends up at the household of three Black sisters, one an accomplished cellist, another a locally-famous beekeeper (played by Queen Latifah). The girl, played by Dakota Fanning, runs from her abusive father and searches for information about her long-dead mother. The image of a Black Madonna is the clue that leads her to the beekeeper’s house.
Although I had a little problem with all these Black women focussed on saving the poor, scrawny white girl, a lot of tropes were avoided and a good story told.
Thanks Tina, for recommending Winner — a bio pic about Reality Winner. I learned more about her story than I’d known from reading the news.
Last night, we watched a movie based on much older national events (the end of the Cold War and the war in Afghanistan): Charlie Wilson’s War. Learned a lot. Tom Hanks plays Charlie Wilson, Julia Robert’s a Texan socialite, and (my favorite character) Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a schlubby, super-smart CIA agent.
We finished re-watching the HBO series John Adams and it is timely to say the least and not in a good way. It made me grieve even more the epic destruction of our country. When you see what people sacrificed to gain our independence and to craft our foundational documents, you have to wonder, what are we being asked to do now and will we succeed? They didn’t know how things would turn out and neither do we.
I’m ending with a studio tour slideshow/video that I posted on Instagram because I want it for later. Meant to celebrate son #2. All photos are posted around the basement/studio space. 57 seconds
Bruising is so scared looking, I always freak out.
I don’t have a TV or big screen any more, left it behind.
Nice tour, thanks, it has a happy vibe.
The bruising is extra scary because of the post-op risk of clots.
Yes…
Dee~ Yay! So glad to hear you healing up so well! Yeah, the over the toilet thingy was pretty useless, even with two very bad hips. But, the “reacher” tool Hazel sent was a lifesaver (for me too, when he could do more!). And the tub/shower bench was totally needed. I’m particularly fond of the Frankenstein scars because they stand for so much healing.
I really liked “The Secret Life of Bees” – watched it more than once. I liked the fact that it was the young white girl who needed the rescuing and protecting, instead of the usual reverse story.
My friend sent me this podcast, which I haven’t started yet. Maybe you will like a lil mystery?
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYApml9ZfRZ4aap6-vl9-hSHjcXUU4FK-
She also sent this one, which I’d heard in 2020
https://stownpodcast.org/
Take care Dee. ❤️
I got the long handled shoe horn! Didn’t get the gripper because I tend to use my long kitchen tongs to reach stuff in there. But yeah, the shower stool is nice and the new hand-held sprayer is a keeper for sure.
Thanks for the videos. I’ll take a look. I promise!
Ah, yes…the hand-held shower – why didn’t we just have one of those?!! haha He used the tongs too for a very long time, but the gripper helps more with the socks getting put on – so it helps me too 😉 He just wore slip on shoes for the most part.
Funny all the things you don’t really think about, til you need to.
They are podcasts, so you can just listen. 🙂
And I forgot to say how sweet the video is. They just shout family and parents of two boys. Your younger son reads as having a lot of spirit, rascal energy…true? I was always drawn to those boys in the classroom. lol Love seeing them with their dad too, so important (in my opinion). Okay, enough…you get it – your video was very touching for me. (((hugs)))
Yes he was a pistol.
I’m so glad you are feeling better. I’m pretty weepy these days anyway, but the pictures of your boys, especially the ones with their dad, had me bawling again. Wishing you continued improvement…..
Bad Monkey is a great diversion!
(Both the show and the book, although the book is better, of course!– Love Hiassen!)
I don’t know if I’ll ever be in your shoes (fingers and toes crossed) but the notes from the other side are duly noted and appreciated
and I loved the slideshow
Liz A
Sounds like good healing progress. I hope the pain subsides soon! Nice to have these recommendations for stuff to watch!! I need distraction. But today my goal is to complete All The Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley. Total immersion away from the watching the destruction of our country proceed unheeded.
May I grant you my horoscope for today?
“It’s more than alright to keep to yourself today. There is a decidedly quiet air overhead as the Moon settles down in your comfortable 4th house, which can make it difficult to summon the energy to even leave your front door. Feel free to putter around the house, potentially handling any tasks you’ve been putting off, but primarily enjoying yourself. Why not treat yourself to your favorite meal while enjoying your favorite film or a few episodes of a show you’ve been meaning to finish?”
Just looked up the book. Some reviewers were pissed that there were no pictures and that he writes about his own personal grief. I’ll be curious to know do you think his memoir got the balance right.
interesting. There *are* “pictures” as b&w drawings and photos of drawings. The ones not referenced as owned my the Met or actually the referenced artist study described in the text, may be the author’s own studies of specific works? I can’t find the illustrator’s name yet. And it’s not an art history book, so If one is not familiar with the works mentioned – which is a huge number – a perfect reference is provided in the back. The author’s mourning, thus far to me, is nothing less than authentic, beautiful and admirable.
I found the one star reviews to be cranky and pretty ridiculous.
Your talents blow my mind. Amazing video. Wow.
Betsy
Thank you, Betsy!