iStuff

Can we get some new font options here?

While I can navigate pretty well through the world wide web and can do most of the simple up to the not-quite-so-simple operations on a computer, I confess to having no knowledge whatsoever regarding anything made by Apple. If I use a mac, it's because someone set it all up for me to get my email off it. I haven't a clue how they work. I understand they are more user friendly and probably superior, but Microsoft is more popular and it's easier to get things that are compatible with Windows. I admit to taking the easy route.

I had this vague thought that it might be nice to borrow the Child's iPod for my trip. I don't process noise well, and having music might be useful to keep me from sticking a fork up someone's nose. While walking today with Late (Yes! I walked! Maybe only 5 miles, but it's a start.) we pulled into the Apple store. My thoughts had progressed from borrowing an iPod for music to getting one of my own that does movies.

It's impressive to me to hold a small little plastic box that can play full length movies very clearly on little tiny screens. When I was born, TVs were very new. We had a remote - that means my parents and my brother made me get up to change channels. There was a big dial, and I turned it to get to one of the 4 channels we had. Today's technology seems to be aiming for both the biggest and the smallest screens possble.

So, I asked the sales girl if there is a way I can view NetFlix movies on an iPod or iTouch. I don't want to buy movies from iTunes, I want to view them once and move on. I am not a repeat watcher. (OK, I saw Batman twice.) She said no, then she also added: (1) Maybe, (2) Probably, (3) Probably not, but maybe, (4) I am not sure, (4) Maybe some of them, if they aren't something or another, (5) Sure, (6) Let me check. (The last was in response to my question, "Could you ask someone here who might know the answer?"

She came back with pretty much the same answer. She didn't tell me that iTunes will soon be renting out movies themselves. It doesn't matter, since they won't be available to me soon enough, and it doesn't sound like they will have much of a list available anyway. Late and I continued to check out the toys, and a sales guy joined us. We asked him the same basic question. His answer?

"If you can find the right software online, yes, you can." Then he seemed to reconsider his answer and went through pretty much the same list as the sales girl. However, I had heard what I needed to hear, so we said thanks, and left. I planned to go home and look up what I needed to see. So far, none of the software I have found works with Vista, but I haven't tried really hard yet.

I sent an email to a friend to ask for advice, and he told me that he bought an iPod and just wiped the whole iTunes thing off and replaced it with something else that will do any MP3 song.

Honestly, I still don't get it.

I think I will just pack an extra book, and avoid touching any forks.

 

 

 

Finally Getting My Whine

Lots has happened since I have been writing regularly. I had a birthday, as I do every year. There was no whisper of a possible bar fight this year. Child and her bf took me out to a very nice seafood restaurant, then we went to another for dessert. I felt spoiled. It was nice :-)

I never finished my travelogue of Arizona, but suffice it to say that I had a very wonderful time, sans tree pruning and weed pulling. One day Late and I walked with Myra, who lives not all that far from Late's house there. We walked in Sabino Canyon. Late and I had not been there before, but we will go again. I also won't be able to stay away from the trails in the park that is so close to Late's house that I can find it all by myself now.

Late is going back to AZ on January 1, with her son. Her husband has already been there for a week. Late could get every day off to go with him except one, so she had to go later. I am not going with them. I am leaving not long after for Florida.

Finally, after several years of asking for my favorite whine (I want to go to Flooooridaaaa!) someone came through for me and I get my whine. We won't be there very long, but it will be long enough for me to meet up with Martha, which should be a hoot to watch. After lunch, we are going walking on the beach. Me, with my feet in their current condition and Martha after surgery for her poor exploding body.

If my feet don't improve, I will have to have my Achilles' tendons sliced. You bet I am wearing my Santa Boot cast every night on my left foot. However, every morning I find it on the floor. I have been going to physical therapy three times a week. It's going well, now that I tossed out the orthotics. I am almost positive I can avoid the surgery. In fact, I have set myself a goal of being able to walk long distances again by the time I leave.

Optimistic, you say? I was recently up close and personal twice with someone with the flu. The six-week real flu. Child's boyfriend had the nastiest cold on Christmas that I have ever seen. Me? My feet hurt. Didn't catch anything. Tried again today to get the flu, but I betcha I didn't. I sometimes would like to trade my exceptional immune system for fewer weird body injuries, but I think if I got sick now after all these years that I would be so miserably rotten that I would drag everyone else down with me. Maybe I am better off with weird injuries.

On Christmas, I was supposed to go to my nephew's house because Child never got back to me. Two days before Christmas, she decided to call me and say they are coming for dinner. I was in no mood at that point to set up a big dinner, so I said I had recently made some chili and froze most of it, so we would have chili and snacks. She is not a big eater (any more) either, so she said that would be fine. At the last minute, she called and said they were eating dinner at her bf's family's house, and would be late getting here. Like 8:30 pm. it wasn't my chili, which she loves and insisted on taking some home with her. I think they just went there to exchange presents and couldn't get out of dinner. This time I had de-farted the chili - some of you might remember the time I didn't when I was slightly annoyed at the child.

Feeling a little neglected, I started making up bags of homemade cookies and dog treats. The dogs and I delivered them to about ten neighbors, which was very cheering. 'Tis better to give, and all that. However, at one point, when I was carrying two bags of treats and cookies, I spied a German Shepherd who clearly outweighed me and the dogs together, almost. It was off leash, and a small woman was sitting on the porch next to him. I mumbled, "big dog," and dragged the beagles to the other side of the road, just in case. The dog does not live here, and we have leash laws. Strict laws.

Predictably, the dog put his hackles up and charged us. I froze, other than to put one arm up, and yelled firmly at the dog, "NO!" Sometimes that makes a well trained dog stop. Not this one. What does the owner do? I am waving my arms around, yelling at her, telling her we have leash laws, that I have pepper spray, I get it out of my pocket (I had no intentions of using it unless someone was bleeding badly), and generally carry on rather loudly about her dog (with its hackles still up) who is all over us.

Maybe it was the cookies. I don't know. She seemed surprised that her dog did that, but I wasn't. I seem to attract dogs off leash. I heard her very gently say, "bad," and then she ambled over and dragged her dog bodily by his upraised hackles back to the porch. We continued on to the next house we were delivering to. When my friend opened the door, she asked if I was OK. I explained what happened, and went through her back yard for the next delivery, because it was the only way to avoid running into that dog again. I wondered afterward if perhaps she had a hearing disability, but I think my body language was very clear, and she never offered any kind of apology, verbal or by gesture.

It's not that I don't get along with and like almost all animals. The Friday before Christmas I was at a small party at a home with three cats. They told me that one of the cats was feral. They have had him for years, and no one has ever been able to get close enough to pet him besides them. It wasn't long before they noticed their feral cat rubbing my hand. Purring. He seemed more than pleased to have me pet him. I just don't like unknown unleashed dogs charging me when I am walking two tasty beagles. What am I supposed to do, pick them both up? One lady here now carries a wooden staff, at least 6 feet long. A very large dog from outside our complex attacked her and her one little dog one day - I heard it was scary, but no one was hurt, luckily. I can't carry a 6' dowel and walk two dogs. I would impale myself trying to scoop poop. A real Kodak moment, I am sure.

Where am I going with all these unconnected thoughts?

Florida.

  

 

I was Malled

Y'all know I can spell, so hopefully no one thought I was mauled. No, being mauled would maybe be easier this time of year. I had to go to the mall.

It's true that every Sunday morning and often on Fridays I am at one mall or another to walk with Late. I enjoy the walks and the talks with Late. We solve all the world's problems, plan new trips, discuss the idiosyncracies of the male half of the species, observe odd specimens of either sex who are also at the mall, and generally chat so much that we don't even realize that we have walked up to ten miles. That is not the same as Going To The Mall. It is especially not the same as Going To The Mall During Holiday Shopping Season.

Child has a boyfriend. It seems pretty serious. It's definitely serious enough that this year I have to buy gifts for two people. Normally, I only shop for Child. I have ceased exchanging gifts with anyone else. It was a relief to get to this stage. Child and I have a specific dollar limit on shopping, even, so we know when to stop. It allows us to enjoy the rest of the season more comfortably. It really does.

I am also the type of odd duck who doesn't believe in being given a list and being told to go buy someone stuff that they can just as easily get during the year for themselves. There is no surprise in that. I don't accept lists. This leaves me with buying something special for someone I don't know very well. I feel I am up to the challenge, and made a decision. I walked with Late on Sunday all through our local upscale mall seeking this item. No dice. It must not be considered high end enough. OK, I find things pretty well.

I went online and found that the mall closest to me is only one of two places in the entire state that carries this item. I brought up the map, which showed the store to be on the outside of the mall. That was even better. This mall might be only about 5 miles from me, but it's not my favorite place to go. I don't know it very well. I put this trip off for days and finally went yesterday around 3 pm.

The store was not where the map showed it to be. I drove all the way around the mall twice to be sure. I am also an odd duck who will do anything to avoid paying to get a phone number. I just draw the line there. My choice wasto drive back home, get the number, and call the store to see where they were. Surely they knew where they were, even if I didn't. Instead, I remembered that my $4.99 a month Internet service on my phone was recently upgraded to include some new options. Several of my friends make fun of my phone Internet service - why not just get a smart phone and get the "real" Internet? Anyway, after a few minutes of whapping on buttons and making some far-fetched guesses on where to find the information, I found it! Yay! I called the store, and was advised that they were in the mall, upstairs.

I parked my car in a section of the mall that I don't usually use. Pauline will understand this. I have an area in every mall where I park. That way, my car can't be more than 2-3 rows away from where I think it is. I went in the mall, found the store, made my purchase and was ready to go within 10 minutes. Instead, I decided to walk a little and try to learn my way around it. Why not? I had the time.

I have also decided that my Achilles' tendons probably shortened up a bit due to the tarsal tunnel problem I had in my right foot. The extreme pain I had then caused me to take short steps. Recovery after surgery took 18 months, and then I realized that I no longer had the ability to walk Really Fast, but had no idea why. I just accepted it, and decided to go for distance, if I couldn't get good speed. I can walk normally, but I used to really move fast. I think during that time of pain and recovery from surgery that the tendons decided to tighten up, as they assumed they weren't needed as much any more. So, I think if I take slightly, just very slightly, longer strides, I might start to correct my problem a little. I proceeded to take slightly longer strides (which hurts, but not extremely so) and walked around the mall a few times. I probably walked 2-3 miles when I decided I was getting hot in my winter jacket and wanted to leave.

Nice plan. Where did I park? I knew from the outside, but not from the inside. I walked around the first floor several times, looking for my entrance. Nothing looked right. All I could remember was that I parked by valet parking. I couldn't even remember walking in by a store other than seeing a sign for a window company. When I looked on a mall map, there was nothing regarding a window company, so I figured it must have just been a large ad for a window company.

So, I walked some more. I like to walk, after all. I really do enjoy it. I grabbed a diet Coke and walked more. I looked in windows as I went by, stopped to touch a few things, watched people, and walked. Eventually I began to wonder about myself. Where did I park and how do I get there? I went outside one door that was familiar, but realized that I would need to walk way around a section that had no sidewalk to get to the lot I was parked in. I didn't stop to notice that it went up.

Finally I meandered into the security section and asked a very nice young man with a gorgeously shaped mouth where the valet parking was. He said there are two places, both on the second floor.

Oops. I had forgotten that in that mall, some of the doors go outside from the second floor. I thanked him and turned down his offer of having someone drive me around to find my car. Once I realized that I needed to be upstairs, I went right to my car, and spied the window store (that is not on the mall directory) on the way out.

By the time I got home, my left foot was very sore and swollen. I told it to cut that crap out because I intend to walk. I put my cast on for a few extra hours and laughed at myself. Is my future some day to be in a mall, walking for days, trying to find my way out? When I finally go to leave, will I try to pull when I should push, too?

 

 

Seasonal Joy

Sometimes I just have to do what my mind and body tell me. I was feeling a strong calling from the frozen section in my favorite fruit market. It is that time of year again - peppermint ice cream. This is the pink kind, with little pieces of pink peppermint in it. The ice cream is very rich and creamy. It just glides into my mouth and melts, leaving a smile on my face. It's seasonal, and I can't get it all year long. Oh, sure, there are other peppermint ice creams on the market, but this particular kind is only available around the holidays.

I approached the freezer with trepidation. I have just lost weight - is eating something like ice cream a good idea? I normally only give in to an occasional Dairy Queen, which is made from ice milk and not so rich. Spooning it out myself rather than getting a small cone - hm, harder to control the portion. I decided that it is a good time, since I did just lose some pounds and, in fact, my jeans were at that very moment needing a hike before they slid too far south. Surely a few dishes of ice cream couldn't ruin my hard work?

Another option immediately popped into my mind. I am not really one to eat sauces or use dips. I like foods as they are or I don't like them. I do not go with the concept of hiding something nasty under something horribly unhealthy in order to eat the nasty thing which is "good for me." For example, I don't see why people put a cheese sauce on broccoli if they don't like broccoli. Find something else that tastes good, and eat it. But, I digress. I was gazing at whipped cream.

Whipped cream isn't really hiding anything, is it? It adds to the flavor. It enhances the texture. It tastes good in it's very own light. Who hasn't taken an extra spoon of whipped cream at some point and just savored it with a guilty little smile? Exactly. Whipped cream adds to the visual of the dish, also. A pretty arrangement of confection that imitates the seasonal accumulation of snow that so many people love to see. Not a sauce or a dip - but an enhancement. Why not add something to the special treat to make it even more enjoyable? It's not like I can continue to indulge in this wicked desire forever. The ice cream will cease to be produced in a matter of weeks.

Best to grab it while it's available, is how I see it.

Then, there is also spumoni, a seasonal flavor......

 

 

A Casting Call

My travelogue wasn't moving along very well so I decided to write about something else.

Several years ago I had major issues with my right foot. It wasn't pretty. I had physical therapy, X-rays, MRIs, cortisone shots, a moon boot cast on for 3 months 23/7, I had orthotics, I had everything you can think of. When my employer sent me a letter saying I had to discontinue using my sick time for physical therapy (illegal request), I went to my doctor, grabbed him by the throat, and said, "JUST FIX IT!"

Luckily I did that, because after I had walked around for years with miserable and intense pain with a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis, I had actually had tarsal tunnel. I had three nerves in my right foot that were grown into the muscle, and were crushed. When I woke up, the doctor excitedly told me, "I have never seen anything like this!" I said, "Knock me back out....." Within 18 months I was walking normally again. Oh boy!

Now my left foot has gone south, but it's not the same problem. Both feet were hurting pretty badly until this last trip to AZ. Towards the end of the walk out of Sabino Canyon (3.8 miles in, 3.8 miles out, plus my little excursion for some "privacy" for a moment) I felt like the bottom insides of my foot were on fire, shortened, and had grown razor blades. I tried to ignore it. After that, I wore my orthotics in my shoes for going up hill and took them out and put in the normal insoles for downhill. It seemed to keep me mobile. Sort of.

Same doctor. He told me I have contracted Achilles' tendons, bilaterally. That means both feet have tightened tendons. The right one is slightly improved, or else the left hurts so much that I don't notice the right. I will wake up at night with shooting pains. It's charming.

His current fix? Wear a cast at night. OK, I can do that. However, he says, I have to have a "regular" cast put on, wear it for 24 hours, then return and they will saw it off and make it removable so I can wear it just at night. I said no can do. I would go home and saw it off. I have claustrophobia. I admit it. If there are support groups for this, I bet they are held in small, locked rooms. I also had visions of taking two dogs out to pee every two hours in the snow and ice while I am on crutches, unable to even touch the left foot to the ground, even on the stairs, while the cast is not totally set.

Next step. For claustrophobes, they make us get the cast on, sit in the office for 4 hours, and then they saw it off and make it removable. Still, no weight on it at all for 24 hours. That, I said I could do.

So, Monday I sat at the doctor's office for 4 hours in a chair with a walker in front of me. I propped my cast on the walker and read for 4 hours. ST couldn't even sit with me, but he did call from the airport on his way out of the country for a business trip. Luckily, I managed to wait until I got home to use the ladies' room. I don't do crutches well - it hurts my hands. I found that out after the surgery on the right foot.

I left the doctor's office with my little purse, a bag with my book, diet soda, and snacks in it. I also carried a cast with a black "shoe" on it. I chose a hot pink cast. They had to wrap large white velcro straps on it. It looks like Santa was amputated just below the knee. I had to carry that to my car.

My next shopping trip will be to get some fake white fur so I can decorate this attractive medical appliance. Maybe add some bells. Ho, ho ho. I have to sleep with it on my foot for 6 weeks. I asked what do I do if I travel? Take it with me. Ho, ho, ho. Does that count as a carry on?

So I have been sleeping since Monday with a cast on my left leg. Every night I have started to put it on my right foot, probably from the old routine. Once I realize it's not going to work, I laugh, and switch feet. No progress yet. I still get up feeling like the bottom of my foot is too short and can only walk totally flat footed, and even that hurts. I had concerns about restless leg syndrome and a cast, but that hasn't been a problem. My doctor says that tight Achilles' tendons can cause RLS, so I might get rid of it once my tendons are back to normal.  

The other option? Have a slice into my left calf, maybe 1-2 inches long. He would reach all the way to the other side of my tendon from there also, and make a few small nicks into the tendon. It would then loosen a bit, eliminating the foot pain.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? Did I leave off the part where I would have to wear a regular cast 24/7 for 3 weeks? No can do. Then a soft cast or walking boot or both for another 3 weeks.

So I sleep in the cast, go to physical therapy 3 times a week, do exercises at home, and hope for the best. I also lost 10 pounds, hoping to relieve a little pressure on my feet.

My doctor is a very staid guy. Just seeing his excitement after he saw the insides of my right foot seemed out of character. Very serious fellow. After the last visit with him, I asked him, as his had was on the doorknob to leave the room, if he has foot pain. Oh yes - he has the same thing I do. He smiled (first time I saw that since we talked about AZ and rattlesnakes), and said he literally, truly feels my pain.

I want to walk 10 miles at a time without (much) pain again. I want to hike in the mountains without whining. I love to walk. Whatever it takes, except a cast I am not able to remove. It's OK if it is removable and I am told not to - I can handle that. But if it cannot be removed, we have a problem, and I have a recpirocating saw. Some weird thing inside of me just knows that it would strangle the hell out of me. Sometimes I have to slide my watch a little lower down my wrist because it feels too tight. Luckily I have never had a broken bone that required a cast. (OK, once I did, but I refused the cast and wore a splint.)

Wish me luck. I can do this. I am naturally limber and generally stretch very easily. Hopefully this includes my Achilles' tendons.

Perhaps I over-worry about this, but the thought of having to choose between a lifetime of pain and a cast I can't remove is not where I want to drag myself.