It is what it is

Glad to be able to sleep in a bit without Casey's whining wake-up too early. I gotta feelin' tonight's gonna be a good good night! It is dark and dreary and a good day to burn candles all day, have the fireplace burning, keep the tree lights and all the decorations lit all day! I only have to leave the house for a nail appointment today and that is it. As usual, it has been a whirlwind week, year, life. Like everyone else, we pause and reflect on the year and how quickly it passes. There never seems to be enough time to do all we intended to do but we do accomplish a lot! I was lucky enough to take a trip to AZ in April and spend Easter with Amanda, her roommates, Cindy and her family and wonderful weather. In September I was delighted to spend a couple days in DC again with Brian and Andrew. JJ & Jackie's wedding in Madison in July was the destination wedding of the summer with our whole family together. When Katie Benages got married at our church it was ...

Oh wait, crap, its over! We anticipate for days, weeks, months, and suddenly, I am in Target buying wrapping paper and ribbon at 50% off and Matt, Andrew & Brian are on their way home. Michael is headed for Florida, Lexi is IN Florida at the Harry Potter theme park and I spent the day cleaning up, doing laundry and being with Matt. I haven't blogged for over a month. Amanda is home again, had her 21st birthday, I have been in PT for my foot for 2 weeks, Christmas has come and gone, we played games, ate too much, opened presents, stayed up too late, laughed till we cried, watched Christmas Vacation, went to Christmas Eve service together, lit the Advent candle, went to Stanley's house for Christmas Eve, spent time with Grandma, took Amanda out for her first drink with her parents, did Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village, shopped, wrapped, visited, hosted, hugged, laughed and I am already missing it all. Will be glad when they are all back safely. East was hit hard wit...

Casey is permanently blind...we took her to the doggy eye dr. this morning and she has SARD....Sudden acute retinal degeneration. Nothing we did or didn't do. We took her in to see Dr. Jill last Sat., and she ran every test in the book. Nothing. Everything was normal. We needed to find out if there was anything we could do for her. Eye Dr. said she will adjust and also commented that she is doing VERY well. Poor dog. She runs into everything. I feel so badly for her. But...she is learning. When others are here..she has the right of way. Haircut, nails and outlet shopping with the girls. Emily and Amanda arrived safely on Thursday and I took a half day to get my hard cast off. Thank God for that. I have a soft one on about half of my foot now and all the stitches and pin are out (ouch....leave it at that!) and it still hurts. Hoping to wear heels for Christmas. Bought dress for Christmas party for Otto's office today...wanted to get cute shoes....NOT. Starte...

First day back from surgery a week ago. I may need a new cast...I wore this one out. I lost count of how many times I climbed those stairs. Still so much organizing and planning and still unpacking. C'mon Motrin...kick in! Went to the community center until Otto could pick me up to hear the district "Doom & Gloom". The auditor droned on and on. (Bueller....Bueller....Anybody, Anybody?) Thought I would fall off the bleachers from boredom. It was just getting interesting and Otto arrived to whisk me away. I could barely crawl to the car. Tomorrow I will email everyone and ask them to send their kids to ME!!!! Please!! I can't do this again. Off to bells but I can use an ELEVATOR and sit the evening away. I would go lay on the couch, but I will not get up until morning. It is what it is!! Actually slept upstairs in a real bed last night....good sign!

I have been home since Wednesday November 3rd after having major foot surgery. I have a beautiful purple cast that will be on for 2 weeks and have been on crutches.....all a first for me. I have not returned to school but will try for tomorrow. Dr. Janigian faxed the ok to work, if I stay off my foot and do limited walking. I had two toes straightened and some bone shaved and other stuff that I don't even know about. I had planned to do this BEFORE my classroom closed on October 22nd and my students were sent to other classes. Then I had to apply to get the math Title I position that had been created for me at another building. I was given a whole two days to pack and forced the district to move me, they took their sweet time to deliver my stuff almost a week later and I had no time to unpack before this surgery last week. The crap I am taking from the janitors to the superintendent is unbelievable...shadows of 6 years ago when I was moved 4 times. I have filed a grievance...

yes it was quite a trip. I did try to rest my knee and not do too much. I didn't know I could be on the phone as much as I was today. I am glad everyone is sooo concerned. Met for my new job today..as long as the knee cooperates and I get settled I will be ok. Baking cake for ADK breakfast tomorrow....ooooo all that up and down those stairs. Have to go practice piano, hands have healed enough now. I said...imagine you have your arms out in front of you and you fall straight down. My right knee took the brunt of the fall but my hands stopped it from being worse...like a chin or teeth...ewuuuu. Bob, my brother has been transferred to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Long story but he is suffering from COPD, bronchitis, emphysema and now heart problems and circulation maybe from a blood clot. He was to get a sonogram this evening. He really likes his doctor and is optimistic somewhat but falls into the pessimism easily. I understand and really don't have anything to ...

It started out as a normal Monday. I decided to take my class to the Hamtramck Public Library on a field trip to get their cards and an orientation to the library. Nice cool morning, great mile walk, no rain, great tour and coming out to return to school, I turned to look at my line and in front of St. Ladislaus, I tripped on a broken sidewalk that was higher than the rest and splayed on palms and landed on my right knee. Well, the kids didn't laugh, helped me up (yes I wanted to cry) and we cleaned up the blood off my palms. I was more worried about my carpal tunnel surgery scars and areas than my knees which were un cut. I ended limping back to school (a mile) and filled out an accident report, took a motrin and ate lunch. By 2:00 when I walked down the 30 some stairs, I could barely walk. Ended up in the shithole they call Concentra, where I was told to go for 2 hours sitting waiting to see a doctor. The clientele......eyiyayayai! I think I was the only non-drug test t...