Home from the hospital! Will blog after I get a HazMat team to clean up this oil slick:

Footloose*

So I was able to see Dr. Benirschke today at 8:45 because there was a cancellation in his very busy schedule. Although we didn't actually meet with him till 2:00, it was worth the wait. He talked with us as if he had all day to answer questions, teach us about the fascinating (to him) human foot, and to explain what I'm in for.

Here's one of the things he taught us. I broke these two bones, apparently in a total of three places:

So here's what I'm in for: Surgery is tomorrow morning at 7 AM (we have to be at the hospital at 6!), will last about four hours, I will be in the hospital for about three days, and the recuperation will be long (8 weeks before I can even put any weight on it!).

I know. One stupid little slip got me here. And I don't even have a good story to tell! I'm just gonna have to make one up.

I begged to take my laptop with me to the hospital, but they forbid it, which means NO work blogging until at least Sunday. OK, so the surgery will be an ordeal... but no blogging?! Now that's an ordeal!

Soooo...can anyone suggest a good book?

*Title courtesy of my creative friend, Lynn!

Anti-Cat Cage

I love having the cats with me on the bed, but the thought of them jumping onto (or even brushing by) my injured leg kept me from getting any real rest after I came back from the ER. Elisabeth suggested protecting my leg with an upside-down laundry basket, so Tom crafted this personalized, blog-colored (!), protective anti-cat cage:

Doesn't Bailey look positively thwarted?

Thanks so much to all of you for support and helpful suggestions. I really appreciate all the kind words and feedback. It sounds like my hope for a two-week recovery might have been a little off, eh? Dammit!

I'm still working as much as possible. The loopiness and nausea caused by the meds makes it hard (I've woken up finding myself typing -- or trying to type -- an e-mail!), but I'm doing what I can. Fortunately, my job can be done from home... assuming an ability to concentrate. Funny (not), the effect pain has on concentration!

Unfortunately, Tom is now being called on to do all the things I normally did, plus all the stupid little things like getting me water and bringing me toast in the morning. And making me cool inventions that make my situation more interesting and exciting -- like a laundry basket cat cage!

And now I'm off to project manage my recuperation... because project management is what I do! And this will take some good PMing because I'm hoping to have the surgery done by one of the nation's top ankle and foot surgeons, Dr. Benirschke, who practices out of Harborview Medical Center in downtown Seattle. Since we originally went to a different ER on the eastside, this means some real coordination and project management opportunities! (Trying to stay optimistic...) First step (pun intended) is to orchestrate the sending of my x-rays (do NOT believe them when they tell you they need to be picked up; this is the digital age, so they can be e-mailed!), to visit the surgeon early tomorrow morning, and to set up a time to go under the (gulp) knife.

Give me a break! (Or three)

Last night, just moments after I'd finished work and completed a post, and just moments before I was planning to head to bed, Tom and I decided to take Shasta for a walk in the lightly falling snow. What was to be a quick 10-minute walk ended up being a ride in an ambulance, a night in the emergency room, an x-ray with white broken lines all over it, and a scheduled surgery.

Last night also included the most pain I've ever felt in my life -- natural childbirth included!

I was just heading down the three steps in front of our house when I slipped and fell. I immediately knew something was very wrong. The immediate pain was indescribable and I was anything but quite or demure about it. Nope -- I was absolutely screaming in agony.

Tom went in the house to get Peter who has some EMT training and suggested that Tom call an ambulance. (I was coherent enough to tell them that no WAY would they try to move me on a sloped, icy driveway and drive me to the hospital themselves!)

The paramedics arrived in no time and they somehow got me into the ambulance in spite of my screams of agony. I don't think I opened my eyes the whole time because I was turning very much inward, trying so hard to practice the breathing and relaxation I used to teach as a Certified Childbirth Educator.

But it was no use. This thing hurt like a MF! And because of the snow, it took what seemed like an eternity to get to the hospital and I was hyperventilating the whole way there. Once we got to the ER, I wanted one thing and one thing only: drugs to dim the pain. It again took forever to find a vein, just like it did back in February when I had surgery on my eye. But one talented (lucky?) nurse finally got in and I got my drugs (propopal?) -- which only slightly dimmed the pain, but made me very loopy.

It turns out that the guy who was assigned to us was in Peter's firefighting class (NEVAC) years ago, which was nice... for Peter; I didn't really care about anything but dimming the pain!

Tom took a few photos at the hospital (he knows his blogging wife well!). This was what my leg looked like when we arrived. As Peter and Tom said, it just doesn't look right!

I'm sure glad I didn't see this photo yesterday!

I was then wheeled to x-ray, and soon after that the doctor informed us that my ankle was (is... sigh) broken in three places and all the ligaments around the bones tore as well -- and that I'll need SURGERY in 5 - 7 days, once the swelling goes down. All from a silly little spill on our front steps?!

Peter's friend, who he knew from EMT training (dang -- I promised him I'd remember his name... he told me I wouldn't... he was right) then cut my boot off, very, very (very) gingerly, per my instructions demands sheer panic. This is what's left of my boot:

They also cut off my new snow pants, my sleep pants and my fleece top -- don't ask me why. Then the doc put me out completely and set my foot (meaning he pulled and tugged at it... a thought that still sends me reeling!) and I woke up with this:

It's temporary, just until the surgery.

Would you believe that, in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, in the midst of the worst pain I've ever felt in my life, I was thinking about work and how I can possibly start on all these projects. In my panic, I even mentioned to Tom at the hospital at 1 AM that I needed to call my boss and ask him about his priorities. Oh brother!

So I'm home for at least a few weeks, the first two of which (one before and one after the surgery) will be spent here...

...working at home, in bed -- at least to the extent that I can while on these really, really strong drugs!

So it is what it is and, as bad as the timing is, I just have to deal and get through it. I keep telling myself that it could have been worse.

It also could have been better. Sigh!

A looking-backward, looking-forward meme

It's been a long time since I've done a meme and there are some good ones making their way across the blogosphere these days, so I'll combine two and make this my third "50 tidbits" (the first two are under "about me," to your right). Feel free to swipe!

1. Looking back on 2008, what might your theme song have been? "This Old Light of Mine, I'm Gonna Make It Shine!" (That is a song, isn't it?)

2. If 2008 was a movie, who would play you? People have told me that I remind them of Sally Field. She seems as good as anyone (over 40), so let's go with her.

3. What was your greatest gift of 2008? A deepening friendship with my dad's new love Lou, after the death of Mom in 2004. I liked her very much when I first met her; now I love and adore her -- not only for who she is, but for making my dad blissfully happy.

4. What is your New Year Resolution, or, what are you committing to this year? I really don't like New Year's resolutions. They seem so contrived. I should say to lose weight, work out, and eat healthfully. But what I really want to say is to write more (not just blog more, but to really compose thoughtful posts), to be more creative, and to learn more about photography.

5. If January could be represented by one song, what would it be? Rain Rain (and Snow, Snow!) Go Away!

6. What do you wish for your body in 2009? I'd like to just feel comfortable in my own skin, like I used to. I like feeling strong and healthy. Now I feel like my stressful job shows all over in my physical appearance. Of course, that's likely just an excuse because it IS, after all, 100% up to me to change that.

7. Name one new thing you would love to try in the New Year. My sister-in-law invited me to train for a simple triathlon in Seattle in August (12 mile bike ride, 1 mile swim, 3 mile run). It's not that I'm excited about trying that (I'm actually scared to death!)... but I'd feel so great if I actually DID IT.

8. What do you long for 2009 to bring? Peace and renewed world respect for America under Obama.

9. If that happened, how would you feel? Calm, happy and hopeful.

10. Where would you love to vacation in 2009 if money were no object? Maldives... with Europe on the way back. Oh, and Australia. Thailand would be nice too. And I've heard amazing things about Africa. Aw hell, I'd take a year and travel around the world with my whole family. We're all at SUCH great ages for it, too! Tom and I are still young enough to do it and the kids are all adult enough to do it. Wow -- THAT'S my dream!

11. What would you like the theme of 2009 to be? Change -- just like Obama says!

12. If 2009 was a book, and the title was 5 words or less, what might the title be? Be the Change You Want

13. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? I took a job NOT in education and media production for kids and teens.

14. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't make resolutions because I could never keep them!

15. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My dear friend Rebekah!

16. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.

17. What countries did you visit?
Just Canada -- which is just about in my backyard.

18. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Time.

19. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 20th, September 1st and September 10th -- the days three of the kids flew the nest and went to college.

10. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Successfully empty nesting. Miss them, but also enjoying just being Tom and me again.

21. What was your biggest failure?
Not taking better care of my health. Letting stress eat me up.

22. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, thank goodness.

23. What was the best thing you bought?
My camera.

24. Whose behavior merited celebration?
People who voted for Obama and change.

25. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Sarah Palin.

26. Where did most of your money go?
With four kids in college (three for whom we pay tuition), you know the answer to that!!

27. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
November 4th, 2008 and January 20, 2009!

28. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"Hey! I Love You!"

29. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a. About the same
b. Fatter. :-(
c. See #26!

30. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing. Moving. Dancing.

31. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying. Working before 8 AM and after 8 PM.

32. How did you spend Christmas?
With the immediate family only. All the celebration, none of the stress!

33. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Like for the first time? Nope.

34. What was your favorite TV program?
OK, embarrassed here, but... THE BACHEOLR! And this season starts TONIGHT and features Seattle's own Jason. You better believe I'll be watching!

35. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone.

36. What was the best book you read?
Born on a Blue Day, Blink, and a bunch of others. I get engrossed in books, then forget their names. Weird.

37. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ben Folds

38. What did you want and get?
A new president!

39. What did you want and not get?
An iPhone and an iPod.

40. What was your favorite film of this year?
Saw a bunch, but none sticks out.

41. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 52 and went to the spa with my two daughters. Heaven!

42. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Doing more (career-wise) for kids and families. Helping to bring about a different type of "wealth."

43. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
If my daughter's approved it, it was deemed fashionable and acceptable... and sometimes I vetoed them because... hell, I'm 52, not 25!

44. What kept you sane?
My husband's love and support.

45. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Barack!

46. What political issue stirred you the most?
I was PISSED that we could elect the first black president but take away human rights on the same day! Prop 8 mortified me.

47. Who did you miss?
My mother. Always.

48. Who was the best new person you met?
Rebekah and her kidlets and all my wonderful new friends in Mumbai.

49. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Sometimes you gotta forgo the dream and just take care of life's necessities.

50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it’s time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years." (Tim McGraw)

Don't make me do it!

Don't make me get out of this...

(Of course, I refer to the robe only, a Christmas gift from Aleks and Peter.)

....or these...

(a gift from Tom's mother)

...to make me deal with this...

and this...

and this...

...and especially this -- a dry, droopy, dismal fire hazard of a tree that the cats have used as their playground for the past month...

Look at that mess -- and she's just plotting her next attack!  Do you see any shame or remorse in those evil eyes?  Neither do I.  Today, I'm taking the playground away!

As much as I love putting up the tree on the early December weekend when we bake cookies, listen to carols, and sip spiced cider, I hate the cold day in early January when I (singular) take down the tree, sweep the dry needles, stuff everything back into Christmas bins, and cram it all back into the closet under the steps.

Last year I decided to have a little fun with it all and I told the picture story of the Christmas Decoration that Wouldn't Leave, but this year I have no time for such frivolity because I have a job that is going to kick my butt with an unrelenting fury starting again on Monday morning, and I have to set aside time to mentally prepare for the insanity that's to come in the next few months as I get sucked right back into the mind-numbing world that is Microsoft. 

What happened to my creativity, my independence, and my focus on education and changing the world for kids and families in ways that matter, you ask?  (You are asking that, are you not?)  I dunno, my friend.  I do not know.  But I miss it.  I miss producing cool media that makes people think.  I miss feeling that what I do is important in a change-the-world sort of way.  I miss being a renegade instead of a cog. And I miss feeling energized, rather than exhausted, by my job.  It's a job I'm grateful for and I'm surrounded by great people.  But I'm a worker now -- just a worker -- instead of a writer, a designer, a producer, a developer, or a creator of anything innovative or important. 

I guess I just need to be OK with that.  

Another annual sauerbraten, käsespätzle, und rotkraut dinner

Every year when Tom's mother and brother visit for the Christmas holidays, we gather for our annual sauerbraten, käsespätzle, and rotkraut dinner. Usually we do it between Christmas and New years, but Seattle's weather threw everything off this year, so we ended up having our traditional dinner today.

This year we decided to forego the "quick sauerbraten" that I've thrown together in previous years. Instead, we made sauerbraten the real way, the traditional way -- soaking the meat in wine, vinegar, and spices in the refrigerator for a full two days. Thanks to Craig, who orchestrated it all, dinner was delicious... and oh, so much fun!

Elisabeth brought her boyfriend, CJ, and two of her housemates, Blake and Lauren, making for a grand total of eleven of us.

Here's a little photographic tour of our evening. One of these days, I'll need to post the recipes. Remind me before next year, OK?

Cutting 15 onions calls for "onion goggles." What? You think I'm kidding? Tom swears by these things!

Maybe it was more like 17 onions?!

I'm responsible for the rotkraut. First, take two heads of red cabbage and act like a junior high schooler:

Then steal some onions, add sliced apples, red wine vinegar, wine, brown sugar, and all kinds of spices:

Add the cabbage:

Let it all cook for a long time.

Meanwhile, bug Craig. Take pictures of everything he does as he prepares the sauerbraten:

Hey, Tom's bugging Craig too. But that's the job of a little brother, right?

This sauerbraten recipe is nothing like the recipe I've made for the past few years. First, the meat soaks for those two all-important days.

And this recipe has leeks...

and carrots:

Oh, and onions. Did I mention the onions?

Pretty, eh?

And now for the käsespätzle. It takes at least four hands to make them.

Awwww... brothers! Aren't they cute?

While those four hands are making the spätzle, grate the käse:

Then solicit three cute young ladies...

...to help assemble the käsespätzle.

Wait -- where did all these people come from? We SO need a bigger kitchen!

I think we might have made a little too much food!

Yup, we definitely did!

Now set the table all pretty and holiday-like...

And, after posing for yet another picture, dig in! Until next year, auf wiedersehen, tschuss, und GUTEN APPETITE!

Hey! I Love You!

This is for you. Yes, you.

If you see yourself here, this is for you. If you don't, and you're a faithful visitor, well -- this is for you too, but I don't have a picture of you.

It was quite a year, wasn't it? I made a somewhat feeble attempt to capture it chronologically in pictures, but of course much is missing. I could have made this last an hour (because it was that sort of year), but I respect your time more than that -- especially today, when some of you (you know who you are!) are probably a tad bit tired and have a teensy little headache and your stomach is kinda sloshy and... here, take this aspirin.

Enjoy! Here's to a fantabulous 2009!



Now go lie down.