I'm Back

First of all, the surgery was considered a success, the recovery not so smooth. I remember sitting on the edge of the bed and the next thing I was laying down and there were doctors, nurses, techs all around. I apparently had such low blood pressure that it could not be measured in my arms so they had to take it in my leg. It was 50/30. Not being satisfied with passing out once, I did it again the next morning. The doctors retaliated by making me stay a few extra days and giving me four units of blood. That's the last time I'll ever make my pressure that low :)

All joking aside, now I'm feeling pretty good and the hospital was fantastic. that's all I'll say right now, wait until the bill shows up and I find out what this episode is going to cost. shiver.

Here are a few shots of some flowers I received. Thanks so much!

BTW - If anyone knows how to find pictures that were downloaded and then lost on the computer I need help. I downloaded 200+ pics this morning and then seem to have lost them, most are nature shots but there are pics of sweaters that I sent off to others and things that cannot be replaced. argh

Counting down to tomorrow

Again, time has gotten away from me, its been a few weeks.

Tomorrow at 6:20 I will be checking into the hospital to have my tucks done. Right now I'm not even a little bit nervous, but no doubt in the morning (middle of the night) when I start getting ready I will be.

How times have changed over the years with hospitals, 20+ years ago I had major surgery, a hysterectomy and the directions were: show up. Between then and now, I've had three other surgeries along with so many knock out procedures its hard to count and nothing like this prep. I've been given hospital packs that the surgeons use to scrub with and have been using those in the shower since Monday. They are very conscious of infections these days. At least I'm first up in the am so the OR will be in it's very best condition of the day.

Enough of that.

Trenton has said it will be sending lay-off notices to all employees who are not tenured. What a shame for those who chose to work with our population ~ I'm sure they had suburban choices ~ I hope that there is a change in funding so they can hold their positions. Thank God, I'm tenured in both the classroom and the library (there are 7 of 22 librarians who aren't), now its just keeping my fingers crossed that I stay in the high school. Its now a waiting game until the promise of employment notices are sent out in May.

Promise to post soon.

Not looking forward to tomorrow

Last Saturday was a fun day spent in NYC, tomorrow will be a sad day spent at St. John's Church. A colleague's son was unexpectedly killed in an automobile accident and will be buried tomorrow. While dying is inevitable, something about being a young guy in the spring seems so unfair. Sigh

On a little bit of a brighter note, spoke with my principal this week and he has assured me that my job is OK for next year. Keep your fingers crossed, and your legs, toes, eyes....

FYI ~ Dave had a customer who wanted his motorcycle seat done in crocodile, he ordered a hide, just thought it was kind of neat, when they tan it they left the legs attached. Guess I should wash the tablecloth before we use it again :)

this and that....

For the last few days, almost a week, we've been visited by Jack, the horse from next-door, since my sister-in-law left and his buddy horse died over the winter, Jack has been lonely. Today he went to live with another horse. He's been around for nearly 20 years so he'll be missed. Today when he was over he ate two apples from my hand and let me walk him back home. Hope he enjoys his new home and new horsey friends.

My good friend has been on Weight Watchers for a while and she has had great success especially since she's been blogging her progress. I'm not joining, but need to chart my exercising ~ Marlene and Carol and I were very dedicated to exercise at least 4 days a week before Carol had a grandson and my mom died, since then we've been hit and miss. This week I made it two days on the treadmill, each time at least a mile at 3.5 mph, not earth shattering but at least its a start. When I can do the elliptical for a half hour I know I'm back in practice! I have to ask my brother if he wants to sell/lend his elliptical, its much nicer than the one we have.

Surgery is just about a month away so I want to get into shape before (yea right) if I was in shape I wouldn't be having it done.

I'm also going to count yesterday, I was in NYC on a walking tour and walk we did! All around the lower east side - it was very interesting, it was sponsored by my Teaching American History course - we always have the greatest trips and excellent speakers. Yesterday was no exception, the girl who took us around Chinatown was very knowledgeable and had us in all kinds of little alleys and side streets. Then we had a tour of Little Italy, the African Grave Site, City Hall, Tammany Hall, the Jewish District and the first department store. An interesting day. Next month we are going to Harlem, it should be fun.

Snow Snow Snow

Yeah Snow, a day off today!! Not a real fan of cold but I do like being home.

Yesterday both Dave and I went to Tractor Supply and bought bird seed. At least we have enough if we get stuck for a month or two

Dolly made it out the back door, seems like she's trying to figure out if she likes it or not. NOT, she came right back in and promptly went to sleep.

Guests

Last night we had visitors, you can see the foot/paw prints in the snow. Too bad they didn't ring the bell!

Dave got right out there this morning to clear them a path...

... Or did he just want to be sure I got out to work? :)

On the mend ...

Great news, both Dave and Tony are well on their way to recovery. Dave had his stitches out today and is fine. He also had an eye problem which seems to be much better, too. Phew.

Tony came home from the hospital yesterday and was excited to have a group of us over to watch the Super Bowl with him. He was so happy just to be walking around. Tonight he called to see how Dave made out at the doctor, imagine, just four days ago he was 'dead' and he's home making calls about other people's health. What a guy! I'm so glad that Eric found Maia and we have a new family!

The other day I showed you my library at Medical Arts, today I'm showing Main Campus, here is what you see when you come in the door, and head down the steps into the library. Below are two shots of my office (how cool is that? I have an office, lad-de-da), well its really the magazine/storage room, but hey, I've got a desk, a computer that doesn't work, a phone that does and a great window with a non-working air conditioner. And it is my own little piece of Heaven in Trenton High. :)

You can see the ladders and shelves of magazines that are kept here, we have all the yearbooks going back to the early 1900's even before the building was built. Also, the red and green covered volumes are actually Time and Life magazines, from 1900 to almost present time, it's fun to see the magazines from different times in history and how events were portrayed.