Finishing up 2012

The odd club here, the occasional concert there, visits and dinners, equals a balanced life back in the end of 2012. 
Speaking of balance, this is something I haven't been doing so well this year.  We determine in October via the findings from an MRI or CT scan that I am in need of a hip replacement. So lets go back to the Olympics year where I spent 8 months on crutches due to not one but 2 fractures on my right pelvis.  So now 2 years later we need a new right hip. Not the same animal, keep this in mind, same vicinity, but two entirely different problems.
I saw the orthopaedic surgeon in December and he says, yes, I am a good candidate for the surgery.  Just worn out. (Too much Hula is my story and I'm sticking to it!)  So anytime between December 4th and the end of March 2013 is when I can expect to have this done.  So in my mind the timing for this is not that bad.  What is the problem is that I just don't know when to give in to pain and see the doctor, sooner rather than later.  I'm sure I could have been healing sometime in the autumn had I pursued the pain sooner. I have seriously learned my lesson.  In fact now I go to the doctor for every little odd sign that is out of the ordinary. 
Ok, I can accept this, pretty much have to and I am ok with major surgery.  I Google, and Youtube and read as much as I can and am pretty comfortable with the whole concept. Some of the scientists are finding out things for me. I throw some test questions at the surgeon, hmmmm, now I might have concerns as I'm not liking his response to my questions - he has given the wrong answers. I have up to 3 months to get my house in order both at home and work.  Tough task.  I also have lots of Groupons to use up before I go to the hospital so I time those throughout the months and before they expire.  Organization is the key.  I call the surgeons office frequently and send them information so they know that I am keen and knowledgeable.  I ask lots more questions. Getting good answers now.
All my people at work have been extremely kind, helpful and understanding. Very supportive too. I am very lucky.  The pain at this point is more ingrained now but movement is more debilitating than anything. Really tired of taking the painkillers. They almost do the trick.

know thy blog(s)!

Note to self - know thy blog(s)! apparently I wrote about random formations when it happened back in Nov 2010. Sheesh, I am embarrassed. :(

I wrote the following on November 21, 2010. I opened the blinds to expose the light of day. I looked away, then back to my view; there was one, then another, oh really? Is this true? Another and another, more falling ever so quietly in random formation. Large and small in silent attack of my yard. Their approach made me think of aliens beginning their ascent to earth. My earth, my yard no less. I retreat and returned armed with pen and paper - they knew something was up. All was still. No aliens. They dispersed to examine and report to the Head Ice. I knew it wouldn't last, the second set of rookies are falling in willie-nillie fashion. Rookies. No control. They'll be salted for sure. The straight shooters are coming in now - with slow and graceful control. Only once in a while, with the help of some sharp wind, one will be catapulted diagonally to the ground at a speed that is sure to sting upon landing. Quiet again, then one and another. No doubt it will be a slow and chill takeover today. Best to stay out of sight. Ouij.

Yes another year has sped past me yet again. However so much has happened - I have been poised to have a total hip replacement in 13 days from now. So let me take you back to April last year where we last left off. I had 3 weeks holidays where we went to Kauai, Las Vegas and Nelson BC. Kauai was lovely but this is where I started to feel uncomfortable. I thought it was the combination of the car we rented (seat seemed uncomfortable) and the fact that I didn't sleep with pillow under my knees. Then the Vegas trip had me walking the strip shaped like the letter C. We went for massage and I thought the woman was going to rip my leg off. The Nelson trip was nice - we doddled across the lower level of the province and back again. Visited some cousins in Montrose and looked for my childhood house. The fact that we were driving was nice and it caused no strain on the body until I had to exit the car. So thinking that I've just pulled muscles somehow and the fact that I was finding it brutally difficult to do anything in Yoga let alone anything else in the gym, I finally decided to go see the doctor. First he said, well we will just manage the pain. Started back at my chiropractor - but that wasn't doing anything for me. I had a reservation to rent a scooter but when I looked at it, the mere thought of sitting on it wondering if I would tip over and not be able to save myself (on the right side) just had me walking away sadly - I have wanted to ride a scooter for a number of years now. Now it will never happen I am sorry to say. I had an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon at the end of June but for my shoulder. Well don't ya know that my long-head bicep tendon on my left arm has been sprung. But it gets better, when they compared the left shoulder to the right shoulder they found they match! yessirreebob I blew out the right arm tendon a bunch of years prior. So presently this pain was overriding the hip pain. I bought a new car. My little lovely Malibu Maxx was giving me some signals that it might be time to trade it in and I was correct. Got quite the $$$trade in. Timing is everything. So the new ride is an ashen-grey 2012 Chev Equinox. Loving it. Didn't even have separation anxiety when I left my Maxx in White Rock. Meanwhile the pain in lower quadrant is looming - I went to the pool and discovered that the buoyancy allows you to do things you just can't do on land. Yay. Walking is still a struggle. I canvassed my workplace and gathered quite the list of physio people to see. I chose one in Surrey. The man is marvelous. TENS therapy, Heat, Accupuncture and pelvic manipulation. Can you spell Relief!!!!! Finally........ Went to Lions game with Mrs. Cox. that was fun, difficult walking - she was quite worried. Lions lost. Two weeks after I take delivery of my car I get a call to test drive a BMW. If I do I get a $50 Fairmont Hotel gift card. Ummmm Yeah... well what a surprise that was. Great drive, great car and I talked it up to everyone I saw after that. Gee I could become a convert from Chevy to BMW. It was amazing. Went to my FIRST Roller Derby match - no I wasn't skating - I was in the audience cheering on one of the former lab students who has taken up the sport. That was a lot of fun. Went to a bigger and better match in Richmond with Mary Mary from the old 'hood. She enjoyed it too. We went to see Bonnie Raitt. Was royally entertained. She is amazing. Spent my 2nd not so happy birthday. I think I've figured it out now. I'm not letting that happen again. Already started planning a party for myself for 2013. I'm going to close this entry by telling you that I drove to Seattle early October to see those charming Italian youth known as Il Volo - they are 18 years old and put on a wonderful show. They were coming to Vancouver to sing on the Barbara Streisand concert but I didn't want to see her,, I wanted to see them. So glad I went. Next I will fill you in on my antics from November 2012 onward. Oh, also, you must log onto a Blog entitled "2 Fat People in an RV", hilarious. enjoy

I'll be right back

Where does that time go?
Yes, like the title said, I'll be right back.
seems that I'm having log-in troubles with this.
Hold that thought, ok? ok!, Thanks

Almost ready to walk away from technology

hmmm
I'll be up for sainthood soon with the patience I have been showing since December 22, 2010.
New Blackberry Bold 9780 to replace my sweet little friend BBCurve. I broke her. Bold is giving me attitude. Keyboard is stiff, unintuitive, unfriendly. And the biggy - I can't sync my old calendar to the new phone to my laptop and have all events showing back to 2008. Any suggestions to this?
As of yesterday we have the calendar from old phone sync'd to new phone and that is where it stops. So I might be half happy.

Next my work computer packed it in on Feb 24, 2011. Capacitors blew up. So the hospital doesn't seem to want me to work very hard very soon. Received a new computer and eventually they hooked me up to the network (only in a partial capacity) and now waiting for the finalization - desktop, permanent profile and admin rights to install software. Well don't you know - the new one packed it in today too. So now we repeat all the above. Sorry Doctors - can't help you - Hospital doesn't want me to work for the next couple of weeks.

So on top of all this mayhem, Rogers land line was sold to Primus. Primus to migrate our data on March 1st. Home line done ok. Manly Mann's business line - not done, not good, 11 days with out a phone. We call them daily - they write up tickets. We email PR dept - get a call. We write to the CEO - TBA. We are losing business and need to pay bills. What do we do? On Day 9 I was told they take this very seriously. hmmmm

We'll see what the CEO has to say. Stay tuned for this one.

Falling in random formation

November 21, 2010
I opened the blinds to expose the light of day. I looked away, then back to my view; There was one, then another, oh really? Is this true? Another and another, more falling ever so quietly in random formation. Large and small in silent attack of my yard.
Their approach made me think of aliens beginning their ascent to earth. My earth, my yard no less. I retreat and returned armed with pen and paper -- they knew something was up. All was still. No aliens. They dispersed to examine and report to the Head Ice.

I knew it wouldn't last, the second set of rookies are falling in willy-nilly fashion. Rookies! No control. They'll be salted for sure.

The straight shooters are coming in now -- with slow and graceful control. Only once in a while, with the help of some sharp wind, one will be catapulted diagonally to the ground at a speed that is sure to sting upon landing. Quiet again. Then one and another. No doubt it will be a slow and chilly takeover today. Best to stay out of sight.