Update, as requested.

I got a sweet email today from my friend PrairieBluestem, asking that I post an update. So, as requested by my buddy, here's an update for you:

First, I still have the walking cast. Getting around is easier, thanks to practice and a lovely cane. I've been able to get out with hubby a couple of times, just to the grocery and riding in the country, but it was wonderful to escape the same old four walls. Next doctor's appointment is on the 25th, and we'll see what happens then. Wish me luck!

Second, I've recently been put in touch with some long lost cousins and other family members, along with a great deal of genealogy information. My father's family is now traced back to 1768, which is pretty good, considering I knew nothing about my Dad's family beyond my own grandfather until just last week. As a result, hubby and I spent the day yesterday categorizing and scanning photographs and documents to share with the rest of the family. Luckily, I had photos of two of the cousins who said they didn't have any pictures of themselves from when they were children. I felt so glad to be able to provide them with at least some remembrances of their childhood.

Third, most other family members are doing pretty well, with the notable exception of one family branch. My father's oldest sister's oldest son died about a week and a half ago in Costa Rica or Guatemala, apparently having had a fall and head injury. He will be memorialized in our hometown this weekend. I remember this cousin as my "coolest", since he was in a band, The Rogues, that toured the world back in the 70s. This cousin also had one of the first degrees in computer science, also back in the 70s, or maybe even the late 60s. This cousin had the most beautiful long brown hair and was incredibly handsome. He gave my brother his start in what is now his career as a Project Manager for an electrical contractor. I remember this cousin bringing something to my Dad when he was sick with cancer, and how much it meant to my Dad that he was the one who brought it. This cousin was also a very talented photographer, among many other talents. He will be missed.

Last, I am going to close this blog in the next few days. No, I'm not dropping off the face of the earth. Rather, I'd like to "come out" and be able to identify myself on my blog. But, considering some of the topics I've written about in this blog, I'd rather start clean with a brand new blog. If you'd like to be notified when I set up the new one, please email me at wrkinprogress at gmail dot com and I'll be glad to let you know the new address.

I hope all of you are safe & warm & have electricity/heat! Some of my friends in NY and OK are not faring quite as well.

Peace!
WIP

For the * v o y e u r * in all of us...

I found this site, DirtyFound, and HAD to share it. Y'all, check this out!!! It's a site where people submit things they find, in this case, *dirty* things. Ooh! Why do I feel like an 8th grader mentioning this? lol They also have the site, FOUND, which is for "normal" found stuff, too.

Let me know what y'all think!

Peace,
WIP

PS I'm so TIRED of this damn broken leg, and it's only been a little over a week!!! How am I going to survive??? Oh the paaaaaaaiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

"Walking" boot

The quotes were intentional, though I guess that sort of indicates that I'm less than happy with the boot, which is *not* the case! I'm relieved to not have a cast, or, worse yet, surgery!

Saw the Orthopaedist, who, with an additional x-ray involving him actually FLEXING MY ANKLE (mercifully brief, thank God), confirmed that I have indeed fractured the right tibia near the ankle, and may have also had a little bone fragment tear off with the ligament or tendon that was connected to it. I don't know if that means I'll have additional treatment later, or if it's insignifcant. What I do know is that I have to wear this thingie for at least a month, until I go back to the Orthopaedist.

Hubby went to work this morning at my insistence, but was able to leave at noon to come home. He's running a few errands, including picking up my Lortab prescription (another reason to be thankful), but should be home any time now. Needless to say, our New Year's weekend will not be a very active one, at least physically. But hey, I'm cool with that. This could be a LOT worse. I truly believe I am fortunate not to have injured myself worse, considering the possibilities.

I truly hope the rest of you stay safe this weekend (and always, actually). Feel free to regale me with any amusing tales you may have, whatever the subject, as distractions will be much appreciated!

Take care, lovely people. 2007 is going to be a good year -- I can feel it in my bones. (typed with only a trace of irony there)

WIP

Just call me Grace

So, after a lovely Christmas and safe traveling, we made it home last night around 6pm. Apparently, there had been rain while we were away. (Cue ominous music) I got out of the car and retrieved a couple of bags to carry inside. I began to walk down the slope beside the driveway when my left leg took off and my right leg didn't. I ended up prone on my big ass, bags still intact, but right leg bent underneath me. When the bending was occurring, there was probably also a little breaking going on.

We got me inside somehow and immediately began RICE -- rest, ice, compression and elevation. Then my darling sweet hubby ran to the pharmacy and brought home all kinds of devices to wrap or otherwise encase my ankle. We continued RICE and ibuprofen all night, and went to my doctor's office this morning. I figured that since I wasn't dying or in excruciating pain, it wasn't an emergency and could wait till the morning. The PA I saw sent me for an x-ray, thinking it may only be a sprain. However, he phoned us within about 30 minutes of leaving the facility saying that the Radiologist thinks there may be a tibia fracture going on here.

So, I'm laid up, for the first time in my life, and really, *really* don't like it. Tomorrow I see an orthopaedist, who, fortunately, is the same Doc who beautifully corrected hubby's DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis a couple of years ago. My PA said that he wanted me to just go ahead to the Ortho because the Radiologist said they could do a CT to determine if the bone is actually broken, but that considering the extent of the injury, the Ortho would probably cast it anyway. Oy vey!!!

New Year's Eve won't find me tripping the light fantastic this year, but still, things could be worse! I hope that having a cast will make maneuvering around a little easier. Using crutches is quite difficult when you've never had to use them before. I'm trying to learn not to feel guilty about asking for things from hubby, but it's difficult not to when you're so dependent on someone else! Lucky for me he's an angel, and the most good-natured guy on the planet. Y'all keep him in your prayers as he nurses me through this period of, let's say, adjustments. lol

And for heaven's sake, BE CAREFUL! I know this accident was relatively unavoidable -- I didn't trip or even lose my footing -- it was just a simple matter of wet leaves, wet grass, and wet mud combined with an unsuspecting person stepping on such.

Oh! I just realized! Now I'm just like my local blog celebrity SuburbanTurmoil! Except for the gorgeous, young & pregnant parts, of course. Be sure to check out her blog if you haven't already. She has a much better story about breaking her foot than I do anyway.

Peace,
WIP

Greetings

It's been a while since I've felt like writing, but not necessarily because anything is "wrong". At the moment, actually, things on all fronts, or at least all the ones that really matter, are good. We are currently at my middle sister's home, waiting for dinner to be ready. Her son, my oldest nephew, has been enjoying all of his presents, and everyone's scattered throughout the house, doing their own things. My brother and his family are on their way over, as well as my sister's oldest stepdaughter and her fiancee'. Her mother-in-law is on her way, too, so it will be a full house.

After dinner, hubby and I are driving over to spend the night with my aunt, who was recently widowed. She wouldn't agree to coming over for the holidays, not wanting to "burden" us with her grief, so hubby and I just decided we'd take ourselves to her instead. Luckily, she was happy about that, so we're looking forward to a nice, if tearful, visit.

We've been to visit several friends and got to take a nice drive out to the beach Saturday just before sunset. Hubby got some beautiful shots of the water and sunset, and a cute little couple took our picture together, and we reciprocated. :) What a pleasant, peaceful afternoon! A little time to ourselves, alone with no agenda! Novel concept, that!

Hubby will be working hard this week, but we look forward to a quiet New Year's celebration, eventually. He may actually have to work over the weekend, which is very uncommon, but there's a big project reaching the finish line and he's been the architect of the report that's being produced and which may be used as part of a political platform in the next year. Hence the time crunch for him. Tough as that part is, it's important, good work that will benefit the citizens of our state, and then by proxy our country and our world. I'm so happy for him to have such a meaningful thing to do!

Here are my wishes for you all:

Love in great abundance -- both coming your way and going out from you
Peace -- peace -- peace -- in all things and with all people.
Success -- whatever that means to you.
Understanding -- of yourself, most of all, but also of the others you come into contact with. Try walking a mile in their shoes...
Interest -- monetary, if you're lucky in that way, but mostly interest in LIFE. We're not getting any younger, people....this is the BIG one...GO FOR IT while you have the chance.
Hope -- this too shall pass, really!
_____________ -- whatever it is that will satisfy your soul.

Thanks for stopping by this year -- it's been an experience, for sure! Maybe next year I'll actually write about something outside of my own self. lol I'm sure anyone who reads here would appreciate that!