Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Not again!?!

Never a dull, damn minute! I’ve done it again. I went out to get the paper, and tripped coming up on the porch. No blood, but I landed on my left shoulder. @#%$^&* I couldn’t get up, of course, and finally woke John up banging on the door. The EMTs got here, and got me to the ER @ 7:30. I was the only patient. IV, check-in, and x-rays, then diagnosis. Broken humerus, just below shoulder.

Sent me home with strap/sling, Rx, and to see orthopedist on Thursday. Still lots of pain, but I’m not shy about taking meds. At least, it’s the left side. And there’s 18 days before the next trip.

@#$%)(*&^%@#%

Monday, July 30, 2012

Monday, Monday!

I hate hearing that alarm go off on swim days, but it always feels so good to move in the pool. Bridge was so-so for me today - some good and some bad. John had pretty much bad cards all afternoon. But, he had the third highest average for the last 13-week period, so he won a $15 gift certificate to our favorite Chinese restaurant.

This is a busy doctor week for us. John sees his periodontist four times a year, and that's on Wednesday. I go to the rheumatologist tomorrow morning, and my optometrist on Thursday. It's always something. Couldn’t possibly have anything to do with age!
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Amazing canal-side buildings in Venice.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Silent Sunday

Basilica by Palladio, Venice

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

1. What type of errands do you like running?
I hate running ALL errands!
2. Have you ever eaten snow?
Of course! When I grew up, you made snow ice cream by adding some sugar and maybe some vanilla.
3. What color are your bedsheets?
The master bedroom sheets are dark blue; the guest room sheets are white.
4. What’s your favorite flower?
I don’t know that I have a favorite. I do love red roses - as long as they have a fragrance.
5. Do you do ballet?
Good grief, no! I’ve always been the epitome of clumsy.
6. Do you listen to classical music?
I love classic music - symphonic and chamber music.
7. What is the first TV Theme song that pops in your head?
NCIS.
8. Do you watch Sponge Bob?
Nope.
9. What temperature is it outside right now?
89F.
10. Do people consider you smart?
I guess so. I’m not so sure myself.
11. How many piercing do you have?
One in each ear.
12. Are you signed on [to] AIM?
No. I am signed up for Skype, though.
13. Have you ever tried gluing your fingers together?
Not deliberately.
14. How do you feel about your family?
I love them more than life itself.
15. Do you have an iPod?
No.
16. What time do you go to bed?
Usually between 11:30 and midnight.
17. What CD is currently in your CD player?
None in the house. There’s a Jimmy Buffett CD in the car.
18. What movie do you know every line to?
Singing in the Rain; Most of The Wizard of Oz.
19. What is your favorite salad dressing?
Balsamic vinaigrette
20. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Is it too trite to say world peace? That’d probably be my first choice. The second would be for our elected officials to stop being so polarized and learn to compromise.
21. What family member/friend lives the farthest from you? Where?
Our oldest grandchild lives in California.
22. Do you like hugs?
Love them!
23. Last time you had butterflies in your stomach?
Anytime we’re going to fly somewhere, until we get “into the travel system”.
24. What’s the way people most often mispronounce any part of your name?
They pronounce our last name with one syllable instead of two.
25. Last person you hugged?
A friend I saw unexpectedly this morning.
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Canal side near where our ship is docked in Venice.

Opening Ceremony

Just finished the opening ceremonies - certainly was an exciting evening. The spoof with the Queen and James Bond was a hoot - she always seems to be such a good sport. It's always neat to see the parade of nations and the excited athletes. That's always my favorite part. I thought it was a great touch to bring the torch in through the honor guard of the construction workers who actually built the venues, and then to have the upcoming young athletes light the Olympic flame by lighting smaller lights from each of the participating nations.

And now to find the various games we want to watch.
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Note: We never did see the yellow jackets that got into the house. I guess they’ve died somewhere.
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From the vaporetto, Venice.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Heat, yard, etc.

95 was the actual high today, and it was still 85 at 11 p.m. That, of course, means really high humidity. Ugh!

John mowed the brown stubble this morning, and managed to roil up a yellow-jacket nest. He hurried in with one sting over his eyebrow. I gave him some benadryl and put cortisone cream on the spot. Unfortunately, he's sure he brought a couple inside with him - but we haven't seen any sign of them so far. He did find their hole and sprayed it thoroughly, then again this evening. I wish he’d start getting somebody else to do the yard work, but he says he’s not ready to do that … yet.

It was good to get back to the painting class yesterday. It’s is an advanced, experimental class in acrylics and mixed media. The focus this session is learning to work in a series (using similar sizes or colors or subject matter, etc.) It's definitely something I need to work on. I'll try to be better about taking photos and posting them on the blog. Click here for my instructor's website.
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Venice canal-side from a vaporetto.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Busy Wednesday

It was a rare hard-working day for me today. The swimming is always a good start and then coffee, of course.

Today was the first session of a summer painting series. I'll be out of town for the last two classes, but she's going to let me make it up by staying for the afternoon session on two days. I was exhausted by the time I got to the chair at 1:30 today. I hope I'll be acclimated enough in a couple of weeks to do a second session. We shall see. Anyway, because we're the "advanced" class, she has special assignments for us. We'll really have to be doing some thinking and planning.

Just an easy supper for us tonight - kielbasa, pinto beans and coleslaw. And I get to sleep in tomorrow. I have a couple of errands to run tomorrow, but mostly I'm planning to just stay home.
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There was a rowing race in Venice the day we were there - any boat that could be rowed by a team.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Want to live in Venice?

Residential canal in Venice.

Monday, July 23, 2012

If it's Monday, it must be bridge

Bridge is a great game.
Except when cards are bad. But
You know that will change.
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Mosaic, St. Mark's Cathedral

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Sunday stealing

From Sunday Stealing:

1. You have 10 dollars and need to buy snacks at a gas station. What do you get?
Probably coffee and a sweet roll, maybe some orange juice
2. If you were reincarnated as a sea creature, what would you want to be?
A dolphin or a whale
3. Who’s your favorite redhead?
Right now, it’s Kate.
4. What do you order when you’re at IHOP?
It’s been years, but I think I ordered an omelet.
5. Last book you read?
One of the Linda Fairstein mysteries. Before that, The President’s Club.
6. Describe your mood.
Content
7. Describe the last time you were injured.
I lost my footing and fell flat on my face on our driveway. Nothing broken, but some stitches and steri-strips, a couple of black eyes, and a lot of ridicule.
8. Of all your friends, who would you want to be stuck in a well with?
John
9. Rock concert or symphony?
No question - symphony!
10. What is the wallpaper of your cell phone? The number? (We'll just say "hi" - promise.)
The last picture I took of Betsy. I’m not publishing my number - although I’m sure it’s easy enough to find.
11. Favorite soda?
I don’t really care for sodas, but I guess I’d take ginger ale or root beer.
12. What type of shirt are you wearing?
YMCA t-shirt
13. If you could only use one form of transportation?
My car; for public transportation, a train.
14. Most recent movie you have watched in theater?
The Help or The King’s Speech (don’t remember which was last)
15. Name an actor/actress/singer you have had the hots for.
Mark Harmon, Sean Connery
16. What’s your favorite kind of cake?
I’m generally not a fan of cake, but I am one of those rare people who actually likes fruitcake.
17. What did you have for dinner last night?
An artichoke with lemon/butter sauce, tomato slices, pimento cheese and crackers
18. Look to your left, what do you see?
John
19. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Of course, unless they’re slip-ons.
20. Favorite toy as a child?
I have no idea.
21. Do you buy your own groceries?
If I didn’t, nobody would.
22. Do you think people talk about you behind your back?
I would hope people had something more interesting to talk about.
23. When was the last time you had gummy worms?
I can’t remember ever eating one, unless it was when they first came out, when our girls were little. And that must’ve been about 40-50 years ago.
24. What’s your favorite fruit?
I couldn’t begin to pick a favorite. I can’t think of one I don’t like.
25. Do you have a picture of yourself doing a cartwheel?
You’ve got to be kidding!

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Smoke, noise, and panic.
Death and pain in Aurora.
Our hearts ache for you.

==========================

Friends

It seems like the weather gods are trying to make up our drought all at one time. We’ve had more pop-up thunderstorms today - enough that the pool stayed closed until past our class time this morning. It’s a shame that all our nice rain couldn’t be shared with the states in the plains where they’re having such a terrible drought. It always seems to work that way though.

Our core group from swimming did a bunch of back-and-forth texting, so we got together for our usual coffee/therapy session at the usual time. It’s a wonderful thing to have such a special support group.
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Venice

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Makes you wonder...

We went to Costco this morning for our monthly run. As we turned into the parking lot, the gas station on the corner had gas listed at $3.15/gal. When we came out an hour or so later, the price was $3.25! Makes you wonder……..
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Waiting to go to lunch at a place in one of Venice's tiny side alleys.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

12 hours!

Twelve hours of sleep certainly helped. I can't believe I actually did it, but it surely did feel good. And then I got into the regular Tuesday routine.

It was pretty hot and humid today, but about 10 p.m., the bottom fell out. According to the weather guy, we were getting about 2" an hour in our area. And, for the first time, my phone did a weather alert - beeping until I picked it up and looked. It was for flash flood warnings in the city. Fortunately, we live on a hill, so if it floods here, somebody better be building an ark.
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Not the best photograph, but even the squirrels in our back yard think it's too hot around here.

Monday, July 16, 2012

What's it worth?

My kingdom for a good night's sleep. I'm going to start early tonight.

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St. Mark's Square, Venice

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Weekend Wanderings

It’s been a really quiet weekend - boring actually. At least until I tried to get out of bed this morning, and my back locked up. It didn’t make for a pleasant morning, but at least there are pain meds. Oh, well….
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On the book discussion board I follow, someone posted about the Little Free Libraries . What a neat idea! If we lived in an area where there were ever any walkers, I’d certainly think seriously about doing this.
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And, on the political side, I thought Ezra Klein’s column, Fourteen reasons why this is the worst Congress ever was worth a look.
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St. Mark's Square, Venice

Friday, July 13, 2012

Friday Photo



The Doge's Palace, Venice

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Rain, knives, and Olympics

Mostly today was spent enjoying the much-needed cooler temperatures and rain. Lovely rain! We’ve had close to 4” at our house in the last 48 hours, and lots more in other areas.

This has repercussions, of course. As the temperatures rise, the humidity will make it worse. The grass will grow and John will have to mow when it finally dries out.
==================================
I had been trying - unsuccessfully - to find somebody in the area that does knife sharpening. I have some really good kitchen knives, but even they need professional sharpening once in a while. The only one we knew of went out of business last year, so I’ve let them go. About the time I found a place (a local kitchen-wares store), John got a hand sharpener. He’s going to use that with possible whet-stone finishing, and see how that works. If need be, we can still take them to the professionals.
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It’s almost time for the Olympics. We do love to watch - just wish they’d show more of the “orphan” sports and do less of the “human interest” stories. I hope we get to see some of the British women’s basketball games. One of the players from our Lady Mocs here was born in Bermuda, and is playing for the Brits. She was definitely one of the good players.

If you get the chance, look at the current issue of Smithsonian Magazine. It’s mostly about the Olympics, and has some really fascinating articles.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Trying ....

I'm trying to get back in my groove (or is that rut?).

Lots of the usual stuff going on this week: swimming, coffee, Aldi, bridge on Monday. WalMart today, plus getting back into my massage routine. That felt wonderful! Haircuts tomorrow. How normal can it get!

At least the heat wave took a temporary holiday. It only got to near 80 today, and it actually rained.
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There's always something to sell to tourists - even in Venice.

Friday, July 06, 2012

Beach storms

We've had gorgeous weather this week - until this morning. A massive, severe thunderstorm blew through an hour or so ago. It's still raining and blowing and dark, but not quite as bad. The chairs blew across our deck, and rain blew in around the east-side windows. All sorts of beach toys changed owners as they cart-wheeled down the beach. We even had a little house-shaking. But breakfast went on as scheduled.

There have been some bad storms all over. I know there are a lot of power outages back in Chattanooga, too. Hope everybody's okay - wherever you are.