Happy Friday all! Overall it has been an average week for us, just a few out of the ordinary and eventful things...
Last weekend we went out and bought a new couch and ottoman which were delivered on Thursday. Kate has been looking online for quite a while for the perfect size and style for our small living/dining room, finally finding a new one that we both liked very much. Before, the room only had 2 recliners and the four dinner table chairs for seating. Fine for us, but inconvenient for entertaining. We moved one of the recliners to the porch and a bookshelf to the back office/computer room and now we have seating for 3 more people, including the ottoman. This morning I got it all Scotchguarded except for the ottoman. We're not happy with the, um, centering of the pillow top on the base. It's hard to describe, but there is a tech due to come out and assess it on Tuesday. It's not something that can really be fixed so we want it replaced. For almost 300 dollars just for the ottoman I expect a little better quality. Bonus: The pillows came with the couch!
On Wednesday I had a mobile repairman for small equipment out for my snow thrower and lawn mower. The snow thrower has had an oil leak since about 18 months ago, so while I was laid up with a busted up leg last winter my wife used a shovel with a little help from the neighbors here and there. I saw an article in the newspaper about the owner/operator earlier this Summer and saved it but thought I better have him out now before I go back to work. Both machines are only a couple years old so there were no major repairs, but it was worth it to have the leak fixed, blade sharpened, oil changed and both tuned up without having to load them up and take them somewhere.
Beside all that, Jerome stopped by for a nice visit on Wednesday. He and about a dozen or so more friends will be here tonight for our belated Strawberry Mojito Party! This party was supposed to happen in early July after our strawberry harvest but was delayed due to my back pain, then recovery, this Summer. So today is all about cleaning and preparing for that, with most of the work, and
all the food prep, falling on my wife's lovely shoulders. She has been good about keeping me from doing anything to hurt my recovery. I
do do what I can and my wife is still very supportive, but I hate that I can't help more yet and am very thankful for her patience. I will try to keep the camera out so I can share some pics of the party here this weekend!
We had to have our cat, Puddy, put to sleep yesterday afternoon. We guess she was about 17 years old or so. She had been going downhill for the past few weeks and, well, it became time. My wife got her a few years before we got together, Kate was the only one she ever even half trusted. She may not have been the best cat, but she was ours and she will be missed. Bye, Puddy.
I had my last follow up appointment for my back surgery yesterday. All seems to be as it should be. I still get some tingling in my right calf and foot, but less and less as time goes by. Hopefully it will eventually completely disappear, but I'm at peace with the fact it may not. Starting on Monday I go back to work part time, just 4 hours a day all week, then after Labor Day weekend it's back to a full, regular schedule. It is nice to have time off, but it would be nicer to be fit enough to accomplish something with that time off. That is why it has gotten boring, not being able to physically do many of the things that I normally would like to do with all that free time. In a week I can resume some light exercise and stretching. I will have to get used to doing my morning physical therapy exercises again every day, and I may start getting on the exercise bike for a leisurely workout after my half days next week.
We had a nice gathering of friends on Friday night. The strawberry mojitos, three big pitcher's worth, went fast but there was plenty of beer for after. Thanks to all who came, I hope everyone had a good time. My wife put on an impressive spread. Four grilled courses (jalapeno poppers - plain and bacon-wrapped, marinated shrimp, fresh pineapple and beef tenderloin on skewers), plus a table full of sides for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Everyone seemed very impressed, but they usually are. My wife really enjoys this kind of thing and she does it very, very well.
The Packers were also on, playing a preseason game, so I kept going back and forth a bit to check on the game. I heard many nice things said about how well I was getting around. I did cheat a bit, however. I took my last two 12-hour oxycontins that day. I had much to do all day and then play host that night and the pills stopped all those nagging aches and pains from getting in the way. I did hit a wall, right about the time the party ended - and it ended early, about 8 or 8:30. The rest of the weekend was spent dealing with those aches and pains I got from moving around so much that day. It was well worth it and hopefully I can stay healthy so we can do this on a more regular basis again.
Last weekend we went out and bought a new couch and ottoman which were delivered on Thursday. Kate has been looking online for quite a while for the perfect size and style for our small living/dining room, finally finding a new one that we both liked very much. Before, the room only had 2 recliners and the four dinner table chairs for seating. Fine for us, but inconvenient for entertaining. We moved one of the recliners to the porch and a bookshelf to the back office/computer room and now we have seating for 3 more people, including the ottoman. This morning I got it all Scotchguarded except for the ottoman. We're not happy with the, um, centering of the pillow top on the base. It's hard to describe, but there is a tech due to come out and assess it on Tuesday. It's not something that can really be fixed so we want it replaced. For almost 300 dollars just for the ottoman I expect a little better quality. Bonus: The pillows came with the couch!
Yesterday I had my first follow up appointment, 2 weeks after back surgery. This morning I took a note in to my place of work. I walked through my area, only seeing one or two heads look up, to my supervisor's desk. After chatting with him briefly I walked back through to leave. It made me kind of sad. I wanted to stop and talk to people but, when it comes right down to it, no one really cares. There was a time and a (different) place where my workmates were some of my best buds. Several of us would meet up outside of work and even vacation together. Where I am now there are some very nice people but no one I trust completely or really even want to know better, anymore. They all care about themselves mostly, and I can't blame them for that, I guess. This is the third time I've been out for surgery in the last year so I have noticed this before, but it still makes me kind of sad and I know I will be a more closed, superficial person with them when I do go back to work.*
They say you shouldn't blog when drunk. I did that early this morning and, well, I don't think it turned out too bad. I was just enjoying one of my favorite bands. We went out for dinner and drinks with friends last night. I can't remember when I last had more than 3 drinks, but I may have tripled that last night. I am one hurting son of a gun today. Thanks, Jack.
