Getting Through the List

Happy Halloween!

Knowing I will be out of commission for a while again beginning Friday I’m trying to do what I can to prepare while I’ve got 2 hands.

Of course, I’ve got a list and I’m making progress.  The problem is each day comes with some additions to the list that I didn’t think of or didn’t anticipate.  The good news is that somewhere along the line I thought my surgery was on Thursday when it actually is on Friday—so I gained a day.

I try to keep an eye on the sky this time of year for good sunset cloud conditions.  Yesterday was a good day so despite my list I drove to the beach with my camera hoping for a good sunset.  I’m glad I did.  The sunset started slowly and looked as if it was only going to nice and not spectacular.  But after the sun dropped below the horizon its rays light up the bottoms of the clouds and turned everything a beautiful glowing red.  Here are a few pictures.

We picked the first tomato from my fall garden (not counting the one Kathy picked) and had BLTs.  The tomato didn’t have great flavor but it was still better than store-bought.  I made a plastic “tent” to cover the tomatoes and basil to keep them warm.  The temperature has been dropping into the 40’s this week and although the fruit will ripen the good flavor won’t develop if they see low temperatures.  I counted the tomatoes that are growing and I got 95 – with a quick count.  I figure if I can keep them warmer I might get some to harvest that might develop better flavor.

                                        see all the tomatoes?

It is nice to be able to do things with my right hand without experiencing the severe pain.  Here is a list of common everyday tasks that I can now do with little or no pain:

-plug and unplug electric cords.

-use shop clamps / use a screwdriver

-fold socks / squeeze hangers open / do laundry

-tie shoes / pull on socks / button things

-pump gas

squeeze Ziploc bags shut / pull them open

-open jars / kid-proof lids

-tear open sweetener packets / pull open a bag of chips

I can also snap my fingers again.  The thing is I’ve done every one of these tasks in the last 2 days.  It is nice to not have to consider the pain penalty before I do something and I’m surprised at how quickly my mind has adjusted to it.  I still have pain from the surgery but it is a different type of pain.  It is slowly abating.

Oh,  and today is the 42nd anniversary of Penny and my first date.  Happy anniversary baby….