Author Archives

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Living the Random Life

My life is all about the random lately.  I feel like I am still trying to get into some sort of routine.  Girls and I moved into our new house almost two weeks ago.  That should help.  At least we will feel settled once the unpacking is done.  Man, I dislike moving and unpacking.  But it is getting done.  Slowly.

My work schedule is changing constantly.  You may remember my jobs in Oregon allowed me to set my own schedule.  Loved that!  Now I have a schedule that I have no control over.  And that schedule changes often.  Drives me nuts.  But I am grateful to have a job.

My foot.  My surgery was eight weeks ago today.  Supposedly, I have four more weeks of recovery.  I started physical therapy last week.  I have been twice now.  I will do a post about it soon.  But in the meantime, as the weather gets nicer, there are more and more people out running, walking, and biking.  I find myself getting more and more jealous.  I want to be out there.  I am trying really hard to be patient.  But this cast feels like nothing more than a torture device most days.

Since my life is so random, I thought I would share some recent random photos.

OMG Becky was relieving her days as royalty.  Did I ever tell you she was Miss <insert business name> at the Oregon Chocolate Festival a couple of years ago?

princess

Sometimes she likes to wear her crown and look down her nose at us.  It’s like she forgets I am also a princess.

My new cable has music selections included with my other 200+ channels I got a heck of a deal on.  Today’s selection?  80′s.

cable music channel

Of course, this song totally made me think of my love of Duck Dynasty.  Yes, I am still obsessed with them and will listen/watch that show every time it is on.

I spotted the first sailboat of the season out on the lake next to our subdivision!

sailboat on lake

I think this means summer has official begun!

Our new house has a flower garden in one corner of the back yard.  Best part of it is this azalea bush.  Such a vibrant color!

azalea

There are a few other flowering things that will be allowed to stay.  But I’m pretty sure half of it is weeds and baby trees.  Should be a fun project once I get this cast off.  I’m only half sarcastic when I say that…

Another thing that has to go?  This tree that seems to thinks my air conditioning unit would like to hug it.

This relationship is not going to end well for one of them.

Okie as photographed by OMG Becky.

cat inside patio door

Looking none too happy that he is not allowed outside.

Sadly, the squirrels at our new house LOVE to tease our cats.  The cats will sit at our patio doors and the squirrels will run by, getting closer with each pass.

cat and squirrel

Today one passed by while I was by the back door.  I started talking to it.  It sat there and listened to me for the longest time.

squirrel

He shall be my new pet.  Just kidding.  Maybe.

Speaking of pets.  Half the time, OMG Becky’s softball team practices at one team member’s house.  She has her own softball field.  How cool is that?!  Yesterday, while I was waiting to pick OMG Becky up, I noticed something move out of the corner of my eye.  Chickens!

chickens

I miss having chickens like we had in Oregon.  Fresh eggs are the best!

There were also a few other critters running around.  At first, I wasn’t sure if this was a pig or a dog.

FYI – It was a dog.  But I’m sure you can understand how I could have been confused by this sight.

This dog wanted in on the action.

Put me in coach!

And this one loves OMG Becky.

As soon as we pulled up, she came running over to our car while barking at OMG Becky.  She circled our car in excitement barking the entire time.  I thought she was going to jump in!

So was this post random enough for you?

How about a tease about my next post?  A man and his purse…

If you have a cat, does he/she live indoors, outdoors or both?

Are you a squirrel whisperer?

What’s the most colorful flower in your yard?

What’s your favorite 80′s song?  Anything from Michael Jackson’s Thriller album.  Early Madonna!

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Chocolate Toffee Strawberry Trifle

As promised and a couple days late, here is the recipe to the trifle I made for Mother’s Day.

Chocolate Toffee Strawberry Trifle

Chocolate Toffee Strawberry Trifle

Ingredients

  • 1 (5.1 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 1 package brownie mix for 13×9 pan
  • 1 large container Cool Whip, thawed
  • 2 Heath Bars
  • 1# fresh strawberries

Directions

  1. Bake brownies according to package directions. Cool.
  2. Crush Heath Bars.  I found it was easy to do by smacking the bars with a hammer lightly while still in the individual wrappers.
  3. Prepare pudding according to package directions; set aside.
  4. Cut the brownies into small bize-sized pieces.  Place half of the brownies in the bottom of a trifle dish or nice, large, glass bowl.
  5. Top brownies in trifle dish with half of the pudding, followed by half of the Cool Whip.  Next sprinkle one crushed Heath bar on top.  You can also add strawberries to this layer or wait to just put them on as a finishing layer (as in the photo above).
  6. Repeat all layers again.  Brownies, pudding, Cool Whip, Heath Bar, strawberries.
  7. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
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Donuts, Frappuccino & Trifle

Happy Mother’s Day!

Today has been great from start to finish.  First we went to church.  Eleven of us in two pews.  It was awesome.  (Our church offers five different services.  So we don’t always end up with that many of us at the same service.)

On the way to church, OMG Becky had asked me if we could go for donuts after church.  I told her no, probably not.  Then as soon as we get into church, she asked my dad if he wanted to go for donuts after church.  Of course, he says yes!  I told her I couldn’t believe she used her grandpa to get her way.  (Actually I can.)  She said he was her sidekick, her wingman, her pardner in crime.  Brat.

I think everyone else had the same idea for donuts because when we arrived at the donut shop, the line was out of the door.  Luckily, it was a nice day so we didn’t mind the wait.

We each ordered our donut and then they offered my mom and I our choice of a free donut for Mother’s Day.  Score!

donuts

No, your eyes are not deceiving you.  Those long johns and maple bars are as long as the food tray.

My German Chocolate Cake donut and free chocolate glazed.

German chocolate donut

I managed to eat half of the big donut and then had to pack up the other half and my free donut it to go.  Guess that means I will have to eat donuts tomorrow.  Darn.  ;-)

I think everyone else enjoyed their donuts, too.

donut shop

Then we had to get home so I could finish up the dessert my mom had requested for our Mother’s Day dinner.  She wanted a trifle and she wanted it chocolate.

chocolate trifle

I think this fit the bill.  Recipe to come tomorrow!

Before dinner we had a couple of errands to run.  First was Starbucks.  OMG Becky had finally clued into their frappuccino Happy Hour that offered half price drinks from 3-5 PM on May 3-12.  Since today was the last day, we had to go.

Starbucks frappacino

I had the new Mocha Cookie Crumble.  It was good, but not nearly as good as the Toasted Coconut they had last year.  But that’s probably a good thing.  Now I won’t feel the urge to go there all summer long!

Then it was time for fifteen of us at my parents’ house for dinner.  My dad fired up his new grill.  OMG Becky helped Hoppy finish up the last few bites of her meal.  Not sure why she was making that face.  Maybe because she hadn’t cleaned her own plate yet or because her frappuccino was all gone…

cousins

We enjoyed their new deck.

And then the cover came off the pool.  CANNOT wait for it to open!

A few of us got my mom a new swing for Mother’s Day. The men folk had the pleasure of putting it together.

image

My mom couldn’t wait to try it out.  But she wasn’t the first.  My oldest brother jumped on it.  He claimed he was testing it for safety reasons. Sure.

Did I tell you my nephew, Guy, broke his arm last week?  He fell off playground equipment at his preschool.  Poor little guy gets his cast put on tomorrow.  And my 13-year-old nephew broke his shoulder the week before by jumping off a swing.  We sure know how to have fun, don’t we?!

Guy and Hoppy are so cute together!  He tried to open the door with broken arm hand but couldn’t do it.  He finally let go of Hoppy’s hand, opened the door and then took her hand again.  Aw!

I hope your Mother’s Day was just as special!

Did you get your half price frappuccino at Starbucks?

Tell me the best part of your weekend.

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The Gun Show

Let’s start with a poll today for no other reason than I’m curious…

What did you think of when you read the title of this post?
Firearms
Arm muscles
“The Gun Show” song by In This Moment

www.poll-maker.com

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So what kind of gun show am I talking about?  Not firearms.  Not the song.  (Though I do like it.  Her voice is crazy!  I wonder if she will be able to sing like that for a long time or if it will eventually damage her vocal cords…)  I am talking about arm muscles.  More specifically mine.

You may remember I had just started working my upper body at the gym the week before breaking my ankle.  And because of that I had the idea to take a before picture of my arms.  The photos were actually taken just the day before my injury.  Two days later I was on crutches.  Though not moving around much the first three weeks.  I had to stay off my feet as much as possible with my foot up.  But the last four weeks has seen me getting around on my crutches constantly.  My arms are showing it!

Please excuse my poor flexing form…

Also, please overlook my gross bruise in the after photo.  Not sure what that is about.

bruise

I bruise easily normally.  Maybe due to my anemia?  But in the last five days I have gotten a couple of gnarly bruises that I have no idea where they came from.  I think my new prescription (gabapentin) may be the culprit.  Or the 800 mg of ibuprofen 3x a day, I was also prescribed.  Either way, these bruises are grossing me out.

Several people have asked me if the crutches made my arms, underarms, shoulders or upper back sore.  Nope.  I never felt soreness, pressure or pain from using them.  I’m glad I didn’t.  I had enough pain with the ankle to deal with, thank you very much.

What is your answer to the poll above?

Have you ever had to be on crutches before?

What type of arm workouts do you do?

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Ultrasound & Allergies

Friday morning, I went for an ultrasound on my foot to check for a hematoma/blog clot.  There was the fear that a hematoma might be the cause of my foot pain and swelling.

ultrasound

The tech took 20+ shots with two different cameras.

ultrasound

In a few of the shots, she highlighted my blood vessel with blue on the screen.  She told me my blood flow and vessels are normal and healthy!

ultrasound screen

According to her, no hematoma was found!  This means my foot issue is due to a nerve issue.  That will hopefully be corrected with the medication I started last Thursday and physical therapy.  PT starts this afternoon!  I admit I am pretty scared about what is going to happen there.  At this point, I can only move my foot up and down maybe two inches.  I am looking forward to more motion, but know it’s most likely going to involve pain of some kind.  :-(

Now let’s talk about something more pleasant.  Remember last week when I told you Sassy was on the roof with my dad?  It was 80-some degrees that day and they had to take a break for popsicles.  I dared to ask for one…

We are still working on our sharing as a manner.

My allergies have been crazy the past couple of weeks.  We wake up to our cars covered in yellow pollen.  And the ground cover below?

Not snow, tree petals!  This day it was another beautiful day in the 80′s.  And then the very next day?  Snow!  In May.

Criminy.

Love this billboard!

I couldn’t agree more, Wyoming!

Do you suffer from spring allergies?  I need to see if I can take some allergy medication with this new foot prescription…

What is your favorite flavor of popsicle?  Coconut, for sure!

When is the last snow of the season in your area?  This is the first May snow for us in like 100 years.  Crazy!

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Two Steps Forward, One Step Back. Literally.

Today was my third post-op doctor appointment.  It had been four weeks since my last appointment and six weeks since surgery.  I came prepared with a list of questions!

This was only half of my qustions.  (Love this Color Note app!)

Getting into the office was a chore itself.  It was raining.  A cold non-stop rain.  I had gotten to the appointment 30 minutes early, thinking I would wait in my car for a break in the rain.  Nope, didn’t happen.

I hurried myself, crutches and all, into the office without a problem.  Then my way crutches hit the tile inside the office foyer.  One crutch slide one way and the other crutch the other.  I heard gasps all around me as I felt like I was reacting in slow motion trying to get my balance.  Thank goodness for yoga because I’m pretty sure I was in some sort of tree pose when it was all over.  So grateful I didn’t fall down!

aircast

First the doctor removed my cast and butterfly stitches.  Ouch!  I think after being on my leg for four weeks, the tape became one with my skin.  It did not want to give them up!  Other than the skin peeling off with the tape, the doctor says the incision looks really good.  Score one for me!

Next was another set of x-rays to see how the bone itself was healing.  X-ray’s look great!  I could barely see the initial break.  So cool to see it shrinking!  I asked about the metal plate and screws.  I wondered if they would need to be removed at some point.  Doctor said they can stay in forever, but sometimes they iritate people in that particular location.  There is not a lot of skin/fat to buffer the metal from rubbing against some shoes.  Guess we will have to wait and see when I am actually allowed to wear running shoes again how it goes.

We talked about my next steps.  I got some GREAT news!  I can walk without my crutches as much as possible, if my foot allows it!  I still have to wear the aircast while walking, but such a huge change for me.  I am also to take the aircast off when seated at home, keep it elevated and work on moving my foot around as much as possible.  I can even sleep without the aircast!  Tonight is going to feel so weird without it on in bed.

I asked about swimming.  It was a mixture of good and bad, yes and no.  I can swim now.  I can water jog.  I can do water areobics.  BUT, I can’t stand on the foot in the water.  Only deep water activities for now.  But I will take it!  Looks like I need to pick up that hydro jog belt!

Then the doctor examined the top of my foot.  It is still swollen and discolored.  He didn’t think it should be at this point.

He reexamined the x-rays taken for the same issue at the ER almost two weeks ago.  He didn’t notice anything wrong with them either or anything to explain why my foot was swollen and painful to the touch.  He called in a few more doctors on the team to take a look at my foot.  A few more as in eight.  Yes, eight additional doctors and four nurses came pouring through my exam room to take a look and feel at my foot and offer their suggestions.  I felt like a hands-on exhibit at a theme park!

They ordered an ultrasound for tomorrow morning to get another look at it.  They think I either have nerve damage, a blog clot or hematoma.  Hopefully, the ultrasound will help determine what is going on with it.  They also gave me a medication that is to help with the nerves.  Oh joy, more drugs.

I am also to keep it wrapped at all times.  More fun.

Mummy foot!  I apologize for the horrible shape of my toenails.  It’s been months since these toes have had any attention.  They are beyond pitiful.

But more good news?  I get to start physical therapy!  I don’t know all the details yet, but will as soon as that office calls me to set it up.  Bring it on!

Now I have to tell you something that grossed me out, then I realized what I thought it was, wasn’t, but then was still eww.  But I feel okay sharing this with you because we are all friends here, right.  Are you ready?

While I was waiting for the doctors to come back, I was examining my incision.  Okay, I was peeling at the loose skin.  It had to be done!  But here’s the gross part.  I saw what I thought was a hair imbedded in the incision scab.  Gross, right?  So I tried to pull it away from my leg, I realized it was attached.

It was my own leg hair!  One single long piece that has been growing since the initial fall on March 18th, protected from the razor by the butterfly stitches.

And yes, I know I also need to pay some attention to my fingernails.  But I’ve been a little distracted.  Did I tell you we are moving?  My girls and I found a house in the subdivision next to my parents.  We are really excited to be right in the location we want to be.  We are hoping to be in this weekend, but not sure if that is going to happen.  Why?  Because the past few days we have had beautiful weather in the 80′s.

It’s been awesome!  But today the temps dropped into the 30′s.  Yes from 80′s to 30′s in 24 hours.  Welcome to the Midwest!  Jerks.  So today started with rain, then sleet and then snow.  It’s been snowing for hours now!  It’s due to change back over to rain, but the rain will then continue through Sunday.  None of that is conducive for moving.  Yuck.

But I don’t want to end this post with a Debbie Downer moment.  I want to share my deal of the week with you!  Yesterday at JCPenney, I found a set of pots and pans on the clearance rack.

(Instagram)

They were marked 65% the original price, plus they were taking 25% off all clearance.  And… AND I had a $10 off coupon!  When the register stopped ringing, I got this set for 1/5 of the original retail price.  ONE FIFTH!

What’s your favorite app right now?

What is the best deal you have gotten lately?

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Music Moves Me

It’s been too long since my last edition of MMM!  I have so many great songs to share with you this time around!

Did I ever tell you we had a puppy named Kitty when the girls were little?  Sassy named her, of course.

Kind of creepy video (zombies?), but I really like the song.  Added bonus, a Stormtrooper boot similar to mine makes an appearance in the video!

This may very well be my cruising song of summer made to be heard with a high volume and the windows down.  Though the video’s psychedelic feel kind of gives me a headache.

Love this version of one of my favorite songs!

Heaven help me for admitting this but I really like this song.  There I said it.  Out loud.

I should also admit, I totally thought it was LFO when I heard the song above.  Do you remember them?!  The song Chloe so reminds me of this one, Summer Girls.

I hope you find your dream…

Just a fun song.  And it makes me want to try skateboarding.

80′s music at it’s best!

He just wants to make you dance!  And he’s gonna drop the F-bomb to do it.

I CANNOT get enough of this entire album!  I have been listening to it nonstop.  And I take it back.  This is my summer jam!  And I love all the clapping in this song.  Forget cowbell, we need more clapping!!

This song has been stuck in my head for the last couple of weeks.  Now it will be stuck in yours.  You are welcome!

This song has been out for a while but I am really enjoying it lately.

Are we not all beasts?  Stand tall America!

Another song that I have to listen to at full blast.  Great running song!

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Spring Shopping & Eating

How have you been?

Things here are more of the same, it seems.  Feel like I am moving in slow motion sometimes with this dumb cast.  It is definitely holding me back.  But life goes on around me.  Here what’s new with us!

OMG Becky is learning to pump gas to help me out while I’m on crutches.

pumping gas

As you can tell by the look on her face, she is thoroughly enjoying this learning experience.  ;-)

I am enjoying up close parking, thanks to my temporary disabled parking placard.

disabled parking

Of course, parking this close to a softball field may not be the best idea…

SPeaking of safety…

apply sunscreen

We go through so much sunscreen in this family!  Between softball, running, hiking, swimming, biking and just being outside.  I really should have bought stock in it years ago.

I am still supposed to keep the foot elevated as much as possible.  I do what I can, when I can.

This is how I rest it while waiting for the girls’ softball practice to be over.  And sometimes if it is nice, I still the foot up on the open window.  I’m sure the other parents don’t know what to make of me.

Saw this poor doggie yesterday.  Looks like fun for him, but his riding position made me a nervous wreck!

Sassy had a spring choir concert.

The rest of the family had trouble sitting still until the music started.

And then just about every photo I took got photobombed.

choir concert

(Sassy is front and center, right above pony-tailed photographer.)

Shopping is an adventure now!  My view from the shopping cart attached to the store wheelchair.  I haven’t tried one of the electric carts yet.  They make me a bit nervous.  Though my daughters pushing me in a wheelchair is nerve-wracking, too.  They tend to run me into something every other aisle.

And my crutches in my mom’s cart above?  Yep, she knocks all kinds of things over/down with them.  I shouldn’t tell you this, but over the weekend she was pushing me in a wheelchair at a store and we came across a bit of a speed bump she was having trouble pushing me over.  I thought it might be a good idea for me to kind of jump a bit in my chair.  She had pushed at the same time.  This lead to the chair tipping way over.  I thought I was going to end up on the floor!  Scared my mom half to death.  I was laughing so hard!

Spring is here!  We have a mama bird that has built a nest at my parents’ house.

bird nest

Sassy climbed up on a ladder to check it out.  No eggs as of a few days ago!

I didn’t get to make coffee at home on Saturday.  Making coffee requires someone else’s assistance these days.  Saturday that just didn’t happen.

starbucks

I was forced to go to Starbucks on my way to work.  I thought I would be good and get a Skinny Latte.  Wrong choice.  I should have stuck with my usual Fattie Oh So Good drink.

Saturday, OMG Becky was supposed to have a softball tournament, but it was rained out.  Instead we went shopping for things for the new house.  Did I tell you we are moving?  We are.  In two days.  We needed fuel for the shopping.  My dad picked Chipotle.  Always a winner!

chipotle

OMB Becky and I split a veggie burrito bowl with steak on the side (for her.)  and chips and guacamole.  Love their guacamole!

After shopping, we absolutely needed dessert.  Yogurtini was near by.  I had never been there!

yogurtini

Some of us know how to do self-serve yogurt right.  So of us need to work on it…  Mine included four flavors (Thin Mint Cookie, Coconut Macaroon, Dark Chocolate Raspberry and Cheesecake)  and no less than eight toppings.  So good!

My parents have a few projects going on in their backyard including replacing a deck, adding a new deck and remodeling the pool house.  Sassy is in charge of making sure my dad doesn’t get hurt.  And feeding him, apparently.

Here she is delivering fresh-baked cookies to him.

Today they are working on replacing the roof of the pool house.  That lasted for about 30 minutes before they took a break to go to the store for popsicles.  Brilliant idea!  Cookies and popsicles should be mandatory on every job site.

Catch me up!  What have you been up to this last week?

What is your go to drink at your favorite coffee shop?

How do you do self-serve frozen yogurt?

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Our Backyard

Yesterday, the rain we have seen a lot of lately broke.  The girls and I decided a drive around the lake we live next to would be fun.  This is the lake we run trails on whenever possible.  It’s gorgeous!  We are so lucky to have it literally around the corner.

It was nice to see some of the first boats of the season!  I need to make friends with each and every one of them.  You can never had too many friends with boats.  ;-)

lake ramp

The girls then convinced me we should visit the fish that hang around the marina.

large fish

Here fishy, fishy, fishy!

feeding fish

The girls had a blast feeding them!

feeding fish

Some of us were more brave than others when on the dock completely surrounded by fish.  I’m not naming any names…

feeding fish

A little more scenic driving on the way to the other side of the lake.  The trees and grass are really starting to turn green now!

We saw turkey in one field and three deer in this one.

deer in pasture

Those were nice to see but we had bigger game on our mind.  Why?  Because this park has a native animal enclosure!  First we came upon the elk.  The girls were a bit nervous being that close to them.

elk

elk

This park allows you to feed the animals.

How fun is that?!  We got in on the action!

First Sassy tried watermelon someone had left.

elk eating watermelon

The elk basically ignored it.  How can they not like watermelon?!  So wrong.

Next we tried carrots.

elk eating carrot

 

Oh yeah!  They loved the carrots.  So much so they let the girls rub their noses while eating them out of their hands.

elk eating carrot

The elk were fun but we knew there was bigger animals to be found.  Bigger?  What’s bigger than the elk?…

Bison!

bison

Look at my little bloggers-in-the-making!

bison

Even though the girls had quickly warmed up to the elk, the bison were a whole other story.  There was no touching them.

bison

Many of them seemed to enjoy butting their heads against the fence.  It was fun to watch the girls reactions!

bison

I’m pretty sure the bison enjoyed it, too.  I think it’s a game to them.  :-)

Yesterday was the perfect way to spend a couple of hours outside together!  I was happy everything was so close to parking so I didn’t have to go very far on my crutches.  They certainly make things challenging, but I refuse to let them stop me.  Not when there is this much exploring to be done!

What was your favorite part of your weekend?

How often do you go to the zoo?

Most importantly, do you have a boat?

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I Shall Heal

Today, I spent 5+ hours in the ER.  There were concerns that my incision was infected.  The surgeon doesn’t think it is infected, but gave me an antibiotic as a precaution.  Great, more drugs.

(Instagram)

The doctor also noticed the top of my foot is still swollen and now red (for about a week).  He did some poking around on it.  Very painful.  Like make me cry instantly painful.  He sent me off for more X-rays to make sure they hadn’t missed something else broke in my foot.  Thank goodness!  Doctor thinks it is just a bone bruise.  Guess it will be fine as long as no one pokes at it anymore!

The hours in my room at the ER were spent watching today’s manhunt.  It was so unsettling watching the drama unfold.  I can only imagine the terror the residents of Boston were going through.  And the pain and memories that they, as a city, and runners, as a community, will carry from Monday’s tragedy.

I know my ankle and the inconvenience it has caused me is just that.  An inconvenience.  I will run again.  I will heal.  I am blessed.  That is my wish for our nation.  For Boston.  For our running community.  I wish for us to heal.