Second 2 Last

So, our 13-month old, 60-lbs., black lab mix, Kaida, has finally put Eric over the edge.

It wasn't enough that she put me through a $50,000 surgery, ruined furniture, went through countless toys, etc. and has since moved on to destroying our yard...
   Today she managed to get up on the hood of Eric's Mazda Miata and scratched the ever-loving shit out of the hood (I saw metal).

And now it is finally time for me to really do the "I told you so" and begin looking for a new home for the mutt.

It's not that Kaida is a bad dog... she's a puppy, and a Labrador puppy at that, and the truth that the other members of my household have finally come to realize is that she is WAY too much for our family to handle right now.
   She will be a great companion, especially to anyone who loves the outdoors (and HUNTING!), and she has already shown to be very smart.
   She is crate and house-trained, plus knows/responds to a number of commands.

If you, or anyone you know is interested and has time for our wonder-mutt, please let me know ASAP.
Or, if you  can offer advice on where I should post or anyone I should give this info to, please, PLEASE help me out.

Thank you,
   Shae

01) Are you currently in a serious relationship?
02) What was your dream growing up?
03) What talent do you wish you had?
04) If I bought you a drink what would it be?
05) Favorite vegetable?
06) What was the last book you read?
07) What zodiac sign are you?
08) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.
09) Worst Habit?
10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?
11) What is your favorite sport?
12) Do you have a Pessimistic or Optimistic attitude?
13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?
15) Tell me one weird fact about you.
16) Do you have any pets?
17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?
18) What was your first impression of me?
19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
22) What color eyes do you have?
23) Ever been arrested?
24) Bottle or can soda?
25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?
26) Favorite band to listen to when you're mad?
27) What's your favorite place to hang out at?
28) Do you believe in ghosts?
29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
30) Do you swear a lot?
31) Biggest pet peeve?
32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?
33) Do you believe/appreciate romance?
34) Favourite and least favourite food?
35) Do you believe in God?
36) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

My Aunt Judy (Mom's oldest sister out of the 8 of them) emailed this to the whole family.



I never really needed to guess who she is (or is NOT) voting for,
But I guess the fact that I laughed my ass off gives away who I am (or am NOT) voting for.

... is the first day of the rest of my life.

Damn am I nervous.

I have read exactly 75% of the books on this list - and none of them in the last 2+ I've laid-up because of my surgery...
Either I have/had no life or I should thank good schooling and strict parenting (my parents had a code lock on the TV until I was 20)...

I made it home.  I'm hurting and there's no true way to get comfortable (even with heavy doses of some very fun medications) but everything went well and my doctor was really positive about the whole situation and I should be moving faster in no time.

I got a bit of a surprise when I found out that puppy-Kaida tore my meniscus last Monday, along with having torn my ACL six weeks ago, so I got a bit more "surgery" than was planned, but, again, the doctor was positive and said it was a quick fix and nothing to worry about.  The biggest scar of the four I got today was only three-quarters of an inch... 

And I might not have much to worry about by the puppy might... that's two strikes.  One more and I'm giving her over to the Chinese restaurant a few blocks away.

**EDIT: Funny story about the pre-op nurse who, for all intents and purposes I called and will continue to call Nurse Ratcheted.  I get in there and she's all business - not even a smile - which is a great person for me to deal with considering I'm as nervous as hell and trying to keep it together without my clonazipam.  So, she's telling about this, that and the other thing, gets pissed off that I forgot my all my medications (although they have a fucking list from my pre-surgery check-in) and I know all the shit by heart, and then she starts getting into the part to have me change into my gown and tells me I can keep my underwear on... and of course, without thinking, I say, "I'm not wearing any."  Nurse Ratcheted's response, "I didn't need to know that," and I let me tell you, her tone was somewhere around trying to hide her disgust.  Ah, Oconomowoc, you never fail to remind me EVERY FUCKING TIME I visit why I left and never came home.  Thankfully everyone else was really cool, but this woman... she's lucky my dad wasn't there or she would have gotten a painful, firsthand lesson in bedside manners.

ACL surgery today...

Then months of recovery.

Second surgery in less than 6 months.

Suck.

I'm sore, and I not feeling completely normal, but I'm alive and, for the moment, lucid.
    Many thanks to all where were thinking of me today as I went under the knife
    And special thanks to madstfu and Scott (of no LJ) for being there with me today.

I'll be taking it easy all week, so feel free to stop by, call or look for me on various instant messengers (comment for details).

For all those paying attention and voicing your support - I will be having surgery on Friday, January 25th at 7:45 am.
   I can return to work (with a note) in 7 -10 days.
   Still not clear on when I can go back to the gym OR what will happen to my diet, but I'm sure I'll get instructions before the week is out...

Beyond all that, the surgeon is a good guy and explained EVERYTHING -
   It's nice not to be in the dark about what is going on OR why I had such intense pain last Sunday.

I'm not sure how much I'll be in and out, around and about,
   BUT feel free to email, reply, call, stop by, etc... entertainment will be crucial to my healing.

Let the distress begin!

I just realized that everything I have posted in the last few months hasn't been anything more than a captioned picture or a meme.

In light of that, here is a public service announcement and an update on my life.

PSA: As affectionate, loving and caring as I am, I have spacial issues; always have and always will.

Please do not assume that every time you see me that I want a hug or even a tap on the shoulder.  May I recommend that you simply wave and say "hello" and wait for me to initiate contact.  If I make no move towards you for any such touching, for your own safety, just leave me be.  I will be sure to extend the same spacial courtesy to you.

Also, if I am in the middle of a conversation and you want a hug, etc., please catch my attention (perhaps by placing yourself in my line of sight) and wait to see my reaction.  I will either momentarily excuse myself from my conversation, give you a hug or handshake or whatnot and then tell you I will talk with you later, OR I will acknowledge you with a wave or smile and probably say I will catch up with you later.  If either occurs, I have seen you and I WILL find you to talk.  If I ignore you, find me later when I am NOT in the middle of talking, dancing, etc.  And if I seem to be ignoring you, I probably have a reason and will tell you about it when I am fucking ready.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

MY LIFE: Just went upside-down on Sunday.

As many know,  I started a new job as a project engineer at the beginning of this month.  For the most part, things are really good.  There's a steep learning curve, but people understand this and most are very happy to help keep me on my feet.  I still fear that things are going to be like they were at my first engineering job, but I'm slowly accepting that all of that happened a long time ago and that this is a completely different situation and that I am in a completely different place in my life.  Overall, my job suits me well and continues to be interesting with only a few minor issues with a co-engineer or two (yes, I have stories, but it's not worth the time... ask me later).

Otherwise, I am relieved that the holidays are over (4 events in less than a week is too much...and that was just counting Christmas), and   over that last few weeks I've settled into the work week routine of work, the gym and time at home with madstfu (and the kid at times).  Weekends vary depending on how tired I am and what's going on at home and elsewhere.  Things have moved into the "slower" lane, and honestly, I'm quite OK with that.

At least, that was the routine until 5am on Sunday when I wound up in the Meriter Emergency Room.  Poor Eric - he was still half drunk when I woke him up screaming with the most TERRIBLE pain I have ever felt (and I have a high tolerance for pain) and had him take me to the hospital.  Nearly four hours later I was discharged, but not without a round of x-rays, a healthy does of IV fluids/anti-vomit medication/painkillers, an ultrasound AND the news that I need to have my gallbladder removed to avoid further damage to my pancreas and any damage at all to my liver.

Not that I have an unhealthy, high-fat diet, but now I have some strict restrictions, including no alcohol, until after my surgery.  I see the surgeon tomorrow to find out more (especially when I can and cannot eat post-organ removal), and chances are that by Friday I'll be short a gallbladder filled with gallstones.  Until then, oxycodone and sleep it is.

I know I should be grateful that I have good insurance and that my job will still be there when this is all over, even though I have only been there for 2+ weeks, but something about being away from work for that long, surgery and losing an organ (that I consider a necessary one) is upsetting.  I knew things were going too well...

Go to the Wikipedia home page and click random article.  That is your band's name.
Click random article again; that's the name of your album.
Click random article 15 more times; those are the tracks of your album.

Band: Sørøysund
Album: The Fallible Fiend

1. Chariots of Fire
2. Nqwebasaurus
3. Mantisatta
4. Discipline
5. Elsilimomab
6. Randism
7. Rittenhouse
8. Kev Ball
9. Flashman
10. Bolitoglossa savagei
11. Electro Beatbox
12. PHI
13. Royal Beer
14. Victoria
15. Okhotsk