Saturday, December 31, 2005

Miss Ariel


Grand daughter
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
She is the highlight of Grandpa Rich's life [course I can't say she has NO effect on me!] I have discovered that being a Grandma is one of the best things that can happen to you!
Everyone was sleeping in the house--napping if you will from the big dinner served for our late xmas celebration.
That just left myself and Ariel. I couldn't find her gloves, but she wanted Grandma Val's anyway. And she always wears them on the wrong hands...also insisted on Grandma's ugly Fudd hat with the brim turned back and tucked down under the hood so the flaps protected her ears.
What a pair we looked like walking around the house. Ariel in her oh so pretty perfectly matched snowpants, jacket, and boots...
Well and Grandma in her chore coat with an old ugly scarf tied around her head. Ariel found 'pictures' for me to take, and we stomped in the snow and got the sleet blown on our faces.
All in all it was the best part of my weekend so far.

Hmmm, but my shoulder is saying--Grandma should not carry Ariel no matter how she insists!

I wish I could be a full time Grandma!

Thursday, December 29, 2005

A true friend


Badger's eye
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
I feel better tonight and even am typing with a nice smile on my face. I had a long 'talk' with a friend of mine via email and it felt nice. Funny how those things work out.
This morning is supposed to be dreary and kinda dull. If the sun shines--even if it doesn't, I may take Morris and go out about the yard and see what my lens will see.
It looks like I am off work until at least the 3rd when I get an MRI on my shoulder.
haha--no driving for a week!
Funny, the boss has offered to pick me up and have his wife bring me home or my hubby could pick me up.
There are a lot of the end of the yr stuff to do but nothing that cannot wait until the 3rd or 4th.

Thank you friend, I know you may read this.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Landmark windmill


Landmark windmill
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
Battered by this year's storms and strong winds, this landmark stands over the driveway to a friend's house. If ever I am lost or need company, I can always knock on her door.

Decisions, decisions


Mom's Tree
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
Well the State of WI will not honor the Federal VA's educational benefits. So now I have to choose a school in CA for my education.
The Feds will pick up 55% of the
Correspondence or 'on line training' for my classes. This is the good news. I will also learn three vital areas in the medical field. Transcription, Billing [electronic], and CPT coding. These jobs are becoming more and more important as HIPPA and the Feds stick their noses into all the medical fields.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

On the Road Again


Mailbox view
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
Off to work on this horribly foggy morning, I drove slowly because my tail lights didn't work...oh yeah hubby 'wuz gonna' fix that. Talk about a drive with sweaty hands and nerves of steel.

Well when I did get to work I stepped out onto the blacktop...it was black ice. My feet went one way, I caught myself with my--yeah you guessed it--left arm [of fire]...

The day pretty much stayed this way with more coming the rest of this week. On the way home I noticed the trees were getting a light coating of ice on them.

Perhaps I should get up early and catch some ice photos?

Black and White Sunset


Black and White Sunset
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
Gloomy yucky day, overcast and ugly. The snow was not fresh and the farmers had spread manure on the field staining the white snow.
Yet is was a wonderful day as I rode Badger bareback solo up along the ridge roads. I can't lift a saddle yet and when he did a startled 180° I nearly fainted from the pain in my shoulder ... but I just quietly hugged my mule by laying on him until it passed--swearing not to tell a soul.
I came home feeling like a million bucks mentally, the ride felt so good and so right.
No matter what I cannot give it up!

Thursday, December 22, 2005

My little walk


Cheyenne
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
I try to get out each day and take a little walk...to blow the stink off as Rich would say.
Cheyenne came up and we had a conversation. We reminesced [sp?] about the old days. I filled her in on my 'bum' shoulder and she felt sorry for me, even gave me a friendly head on the shoulder--I love you hug.
Sometimes she can be so endearing.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Missing summer....


August storm building
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
Already? Boy it is only -15° out, so I don't know why!

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Missing Dad.......

I look at my tree as I pass it and although Dad wasn't a big Christmas 'doer', he usually managed to find a book or something and get it to me. He thought Christmas was commericalized, overated, and stupid...but mostly for kids.

So I have been doing alot of thinking about him. I think about mom too and if she is spending a lonely chrismas or not. I'm sure Sara will include her in family functions.

Under the tree...


Under the tree...
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
I keep wishing that I had a house full of excited children! I feel that way when I take a look under the tree myself.

Update on the shoulder. Got some Tramadol which is powerful stuff. It has reduced the constant pain where I can almost be a nice human again.

Friday, December 16, 2005

Dreaming of a White Christmas!


Dreaming of a White Christmas!
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
Well I don't have to dream about a white Christomas, we are going to have one!

My hubby though had a shocker last nite and it looks like he wants to make some changes. Our taxes jumped by $800 for this yr, gas prices are on the rise, I am laid up -- he has cancelled his surgery.

He said to me last nite that he wasn't getting any more hunting dogs--a huge shocker--that I could sell the S10--and that he was going to sell some animals even though he would take a beating on the prices of them.

I wonder if this is just a temporary shock, or is it leading to another stay in the hospital. He tends to get outraged and upset when things don't go 'just his way'.

He is treating me like an invalid...so I have been inside playing with photoshop.

But I can't do this forever.

Also I am waiting on info from several schools.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Keep the chin up.


What is falling today!
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
Yesterday as I was in the bathroom at work, Morris decided to peek in and push open the door.
Not wanting to get caught with my pants down, I shooed him and then winged the door shut with my left arm.

Next thing I knew I was struck by blinding excrutiation pain. Pain so intense that I slide to the floor with the world going dark around me. It shot down my left arm and the pain left me numb and incapable for a while to pick up my arm.

I sat on the cold hard tiles [yeah really cold] sobbing and trying to catch my breath.

My boss and Morris heard it and wanted to know if I was OK. NO I was NOT.

I called my doc and she said -- gee I guess you are getting worse, perhaps it is time to see an orthopedic doctor.

My boss the chiropractor thinks things are so inflammed that I am pinching a nerve with each movement.

So now I wait for the busiest guy in town. If I can't get in to him right away I AM demanding to go to Gunderson Lutheran in LaCrosse.

I am SO SICK and tired of this intense pain...and the blinding pain of quick movements.

Ok, so now I am done with the pity party.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Take a trip


Creek reflections
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
Take a trip back in time. 5 yrs ago to be exact. I had one broken camera and an urge to take photos.
Now I have 3 35mm cameras, two digitals, and the urge to take photos.

This was after a very deep snowfall...I remember sitting on a rock and praying that this particular photo would turn out.

Funny how a picture can bring back a memory.

Friday, December 09, 2005

Reflections


Reflections
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
In quiet solitude I find a place to sit and reflect on the past year. I look up from my perch on a log and realize that beauty is before my eyes.

There is so much to life so much to living and I enjoy every momment.

I miss dad. He would have liked this picture.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

My tree


My tree
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
I've been confined to the house for a while b/c of two torn rotator cuffs...yep left and right. The left is hideous, but I am doing therapy and strength exercises to help it.
So I have been concentrating on wrapping gifts, decorating my living room and doing the physcial things I can.
Today hubby has promised me a trip to Cabela's sport shop to get my much anticipated xmas gift...snow shoes.
Even with my injury, I NEED to get outside! I love taking pictures and just walking.
I hope to ride this weekend, my therapist said as long as it doesn't hurt...
piishaw...
I will switch to an English saddle so I can put it on Badger without hurting myself...and then do a snowy ride...
Getting more snow as I type.

Friday, December 02, 2005

Ouch!


morning colors
Originally uploaded by Xena~.
Last nite I got a cortisone shot in the left shoulder. Boy that really kind of hurt. But the upside is that the pain of the shot is less than the pain of the inflamed tissues! That is good right?

Everyone is getting big into Christmas now. Xmas music on every radio, xmas decorations everywhere...I am thinking about dragging the tree out. But this year it looks like so much work. I think I'll wait another week and see how these darned old shoulders feel.