Day 5, 25 more days to go. . .

It has been an interesting five days since my surgery. I am averaging 20 hours a day on my back and the remainder of the time either sitting up for short 20 minute blocks or going for walks. The going for walks, short as they may be, I find to be invigorating and rewarding. I’m encouraged by the doctor, to either lay on my back or to walk. My spine (lumbar vertebrae), my S1 nerve, and the muscle tissue all need to heal. Sitting is discouraged because it does not promote the healing process.

As I have adjusted to spending a lot of time on my back I have discovered just how little there is to watch on television. I came home on Thursday afternoon and JoAnn made a bed for me on the floor in the family room so I could watch television. By Saturday evening I realized that I’d had enough television to last me for several months. That included football, baseball, and movies.

So the question was, what do I do with my time? The last time I had the surgery, some 22 years ago, I edited a book. And I do have a book contract waiting for me. So today JoAnn helped me set my computer up adjacent to the bed. I can contort myself into a number of positions and almost see the screen comfortably, which is not the least bit helpful. The keyboard, however, wasn’t quite as accommodating. The keyboards of 20+ years ago were far heavier and easier to keep on my lap. Visualize this if you can: I am laying on my back with my head on a pillow and a firm king size pillow under my knees so that my knees are raised with my hips and feet touching the bed. Now I put a keyboard on my lap and try to type from there, but the new keyboards are so light that I can’t get them to sit still. Before I allowed that to become a major frustration I remembered that I had dictation software. We set it up and now I am able to dictate my blog. Of course that is not without frustration, but as I learn the software it will be easier. I couldn’t find the printed copy of the manual so I transferred the electronic copy to my iPad and I have it at my side when I need it.

Then there are the diversions that occur during the course of the day as JoAnn does such a great job of taking care of me. She has just brought me a second piece of wonderful flat bread that she found in the freezer and it’s far too good to pass up.

Only 25 more days of laying on my back and I’ve got to figure out how not to go stark raving mad. More importantly, I need to find ways to not impose myself so much on JoAnn’s daily routine.

The only sad thing is that I’ve yet to see any brown sugar brownies. But it’s a long month, so I may see some yet…

Catching up

It seems like just yesterday all the kids were in Idaho, but for me it's been almost 3 weeks and in that time I have not gotten any of the photos I took processed. I have been a little busy with work. That happens this time of the year. Students are thinking about the end of the semester and administrators (that's me) are trying to get everything done we put off the whole semester. Since I'm at the near bottom of the slide a lot seems to end up on my desk. Oh yes, I've had a couple of other projects too.

Most of the photos, and I'm still working on them are on my Flickr account (just click to see them), but I thought I would put a couple here to tease you. I'll get to the wedding photos tomorrow or later this weekend.

Mike and Allison keeping an eye on all the preparations.

We really came to see cute little Charlotte.

All of the getting ready for the wedding just wore me out! But Chas kept me company!

Lots of help writing

I'm sitting at my desk writing. JoAnn is out for the evening and I'm fighting a cold. However, it's a great time to be working on my book. It is due to the publisher at the end of the year. However, we have this cat. You know, the devil cat to everyone else and sometimes us. She has gotten into the habit of jumping up on my desk and if she can find paper laying on it and purring. It just so happens my cut sheets are 11x17, almost the perfect size for the cat.

I was about to quit for the evening and fix myself some chicken noodle soup, compliments of Albertsons - and yes it is pretty good! When who jumps up on my desktop? Whisper of course. First she sits right in front or me. It's difficult to type when her face is just above your left hand and she wants to be petted. Failing to pet her can result in a nip or bite. I can type with one hand, but it is really slow and even slower when one hand is trying to type and the other is occupied petting the cat.

When she had enough of that she moved t0 the left side of my "L" shaped desk and took up the whole 11 x 17 inches and spread across back into my working area. It's always nice to have a little inspiration, but she purrs almost as loud as some people snore (and no, I'm not referring to anyone in our family).

She is gone and I'm ready for dinner, plus I'm flat tired of writing today.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Sometimes I'm just overwhelmed by the commonality that exists in our family. And of course the differences. But that is what makes a family and we are constantly amazed by the commonalities. I shot the photo below while we were at a bookstore. Okay, I was at the bookstore and drug my daughter and wife along. As I was looking at management books my eyes drifted towards my loved ones, and what do I see - two peas in a pod. You gotta love them. They were boredom exemplified and with amazing patience.