Aaaaaaah....

My first attempt at attaching a photo to my blog...This is my Andrew Warhol that I took of the Kman and myself when I first got this state issued computer. I think it's cool...printed it even and put it up on my fridge...Now that I know how to do this, I will have to post some more.

So, the ankle is done....another cadaver graft was stitched into the split down the middle of the achilles tendon to help stabilize it more. The surgery was a success, and I had no pain at all the day and night I had it done....all the way until the next day....then....OUCH!!!! It feels like the second surgery now...where he nicked the nerve....burns like crazy and I got very little sleep last night because I couldn't keep up with the pain. I finally got enough drugs in my system to dull it though.
Called Mom, and said it was scheduled out of the blue, and I just wanted to get it done....had a case of the "guilts" after DeeDee told me Mom said her feelings would be hurt if I didn't call her to come up and take care of me. I sugar coated it nicely, and she came up today with two bags of food (a chicken and some crabmeat, and she even brought mayo.....like I don't have any in my house-Come ON!!!). She fixed me some lunch, sliced up the chicken, and even made some chicken salad. I think she must think I can't do anything myself, but really she should know better by now! Oh well, I do appreciate the ease of a couple of meals anyhow. She said she didn't want to go when it was time for her to head back home....I kept saying I was fine, and I am. She even offered to open a bottle of wine I had in my fridge before she left...Uh, no...I am on some heavy duty drugs here and the last thing I need is to be "over served" with alcohol AND Oxy's!!!

So, it was relatively painless visit...except for the continuous natter about Aunt Evelyn...which continues to go on and on and on!!! Whatever!

Catch you all later....still not sure about the weekend party in Beverly yet. A change of scenery might be good though...hmmmmm. We will have to wait and see.

Kim

16 years....OLD

The boy turned 16 yesterday...How can I have become so old??? hahaha Seriously, where does that time all go anyhow....I ask you.
He had his two bestest buddies here for his special day, Sheb and Cousin/Brother Tyler. The three of them are a hoot to watch, and I enjoy having them here every time they come...either alone or together! They all jammed on guitars in my livingroom made sound studio most of the afternoon and evening. It was wonderful. Kyle loves his new bass...it is a thing of beauty...all wood finish, with a beautiful grain. And, it's a 5 string bass! He is getting very good at it, I must admit! When he and Ty get together, I love to hear them play together-like my own private concert.
He was VERY excited about the concert ticket to the Dropkick Murphy concert in July. Tyler made him open that gift last...it will be a good time for the three of them (Ty's girlfriend is going too...God bless her!) Tyler kept this secret for well over a month too!

So, another year comes and goes..just glad I didn't have to do the elaborate "sweet 16" deal. I just got some food from Pat's Pizza, made lemon cupcakes, kept them in juice, soda, nachos, etc and called it a good day!
He still has one more day of school though before his summer vacation starts...I am still waiting to hear what his job status will look like with Sheb's Dad. I hope he gets more than a few days a week...we will see. He may have to hit the sidewalk in search of something otherwise. Lord knows I don't plan on "entertaining" him all summer...HA, that will be the day!

Summer is here...now, where IS that summer weather???!!!

Play it Alice!

"School's out for summer...." Finally free of a lousy school year. It was one I would truly like to forget as soon as possible, what with two surgeries, a really bad student teacher, and a few freshman girls I would like to have strangled!!! haha
But....it's all in the bag now. I DO wish I could say I am looking forward to this summer vacation, but I am really on the fence about it. Hate the thought of the surgery again...still have not told Mom the date...am thinking I may just have my neighbor drive me over and back. I should be ok, I have done this twice already. Besides, Mom almost over dosed me on meds last time...at least I can handle that part on my own. (What do you think Nurse Gretchen...as long as I have Jeannie next door if I need her, do you think it will be a wise decision?) Kyle will be here too, not that he can handle any out of the ordinary emergency...I just don't want the hassle of worrying about Mom getting either on my nerves, or p.o'ed about me being a lousy patient...I already know I am, but I truly don't want to tick her off or upset her...So, this is my dilemma. In some ways, my decision is selfish, in others it is to spare HER my impatience and crappy attitude at having to do this again! Hmmmmmmm.................

Well, are the Celts finally gonna claim that trophy again or what? Jeez, it's like the Sox series with the late games and all. At least I don't have to worry about getting up at 5:30 tomorrow for work!

Kyle turns 16 on Friday...YIKES! Where did THAT time go??? He wants just a low key deal....Sheb and hopefully Tyler if we can somehow get him up here...Gotta call the Super Sib #1.
Ok..."Come on Greeeeeeeeeeen" as in Celtic Green, NOT M.D.I. "Greeeeeeeeen" hahaha

Kimmie

"Are we there yet???"

I am writing this at 9:39 p.m. exhausted to the bone, though not sure exactly why. Graduation was last Friday for my high school, then out with the faculty, but only managed about 4 hours of sleep before getting up at 6:30 a.m. to head to Deed's. I know, it's my own fault...nevertheless, I woke up with a splitting migraine (I WISHed it was a hangover at that point) and headed to Mass.
Stuck Mumsie in the back so Kyle could stretch out his long legs...we chatted, but thankfully not as much as I had originally thought. And, yes, I DID in fact have to hear about Evelyn's visit...though that was Friday night before I went to graduation!
Crashed on Deed's lovely new couch (newly upholstered that is), watched Big Brown go down, then Howard treated us all to dinner that night, which was very nice!

Did not sleep much Sat. night...first night in a different bed never agrees with me, and my hip was killing me (another story for another time......or not), but got up early after a strange dream about Ken woke me...went for a long walk before breakfast and felt refreshed for the hot graduation of my lovely niece, Meghan. It was a warm one too!!! She looked so happy...and I am very proud of her.
We drove home at about 5:45 p.m. after a nice luncheon...got here around 9 p.m....again with Mom in the back where she fell asleep for a bit, so a quiet ride home...until Kyle asked me to put in the newest Bob Marley CD...she woke up and was hysterical laughing at it! Anyhow, the trip was really ok...tolerable, surprisingly, and I know DeeDee appreciated her being there, as did Meghan, so I was glad to do it overall.

However....I am still on the fence about the next surgery and if I want her here for it/me. As helpful as she can be, I am NOT a good patient, and do not have much patience for her little idiosyncrasies. What to do.....???

Started the end of the year today...first Finals were today...second round tomorrow...third on Friday...and finally done with them on Monday. Have to go to school a whole day on Tuesday for teachers' meetings, cleaning, getting all grades on the computer, etc....Cannot wait to be done....thus the "are we there yet" title. ALMOST!

Tonight, Kyle's guidance dept. hosted its first ever evening for Freshmen through Juniors about college...financial, tests, etc. Frankly, as overwhelming as it is, I was glad to get some info. Overall though, I left depressed and worried....how am I going to pull this one off??? I want the best for him, but there is only so much I can offer financially as a single parent....so hopefully some scholarships, grants, and loans will help. It is not a pretty picture in my mind's eye at this point, however...I am very concerned, and he only has two years left. (sigh)

Going to bed...hopefully to sleep all night long, which has not been easy lately. Probably why I am so tired...YA THINK KIM?!

I MUST be crazy

Yeah, so Super Sib #2 will owe ME big time now....I really want to be there for Meghan's graduation as I will absolutely NOT be able to make the party at the end of the month due to my surgery. So, I DO plan on attending her actual graduation, and offered (yeah, stupid....I know) to bring MOM down with me. It always sounds like a great and nice idea....up until I REALLY get thinking about it, that is. I just hope she doesn't feel the need to keep me "entertained" the WHOLE trip down there....silence really IS golden afterall! This will be a huge test for me...if she totally drives me nuts, I will NOT tell her when the surgery is....I already have other offers here who will take me to the surgery and home again...been the MOM route twice already...would really rather miss it this time around, if at all possible, but of course, don't want to hurt her feelings either. She will admit though, that I am a horrible patient...patience is NOT my strong suit and I HATE being down/hurt/sick...always have...always will. So, I don't need her playing the Saint role and trying to "fix" me that way either. Will be interesting.

I am looking forward to being at Meghan's graduation...Caroline's was the same night as Old Town's, as I recall, so I could not be at her's, but with Meg's on Sunday, and Old Town's on Friday night, I can swing this one. A down and back trip....hope the Matriarch is ready for THAT!!! :)

8 full days of school left and 3 half days....have a lot of tests to grade in that time frame too. As much as I anticipate the end of the year, once it gets here, it always goes too fast! So much to do...

The Relay For Life was great...soggy as usual. Chris' team raised over $6,000 this year, so we received the Silver Award for that. Don't know if Super #1 followed the Old Town woman's story of the house built for her family or not...she is dying of breast cancer, four kids and a husband, home was a moldy trailer. Anyhow, her dying wish was a home for her kids...a safe one. Old Town High's Stan (the man) Peterson spearheaded the crusade with another fellow Rotarian (the funeral director in town) and BUILT this family a brand new home...a la a Home Makeover times TEN! Stan recently lost his wonderful wife, Arneta, to cancer just over a year ago, so this was a huge deal for him. He is the most incredible, down to earth, funny, smart alecky guy you have ever met....and I love him right to death. His wife taught in the Union 90 system with me, and she and Stan were swim coaches for years with the Y programs....her death hit us all very hard, needless to say. Anyhow, I saw Stan on the track (he is only working part time at OTHS these days, the first semester only) and we just hugged, cried, and hugged some more. He said he "had" to do this for this woman...I KNOW he did! What a great man...if you saw the photo in the paper Gretch, that was him clutching his chest as the woman was hugging another girl on the front page...a shot he never wanted to be in...but, fate has its own mind it seems....choked me up...BIG!

Ok...all for now. Have a good week you all. See YOU this weekend Super #2!!!! Have that drink ready when I get there....gonna need it.

Hey, the youngest just entered the 40's era with us all....HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Love,
Kimmie