Jennifer Apodaca's Blog, page 103

Weekend Roundup

The weekend was good!  Wedding dress shopping of Friday with youngest son’s finance was a success! She’s going to be a beautiful bride! I’ve known this girl 12 years, so we are very excited for the wedding in November.

Saturday, I was able to access my x-ray results ahead of seeing my doctor this week. My fusion is stable! That’s the good news. There’s one thing in the x-ray report I don’t understand, so I’ll find out what that means when I see the doctor on Wednesday. But knowing my fusion is stable is a huge relief. I’m hoping that Wednesday, I’ll be freed of the collar, at least in the day. I can deal with the soft collar at night if I need to keep wearing it.

Sunday we went to visit Baby Slayer, and as a bonus Middle Son and his wife came by too. Then we went to a Gymboree style baby play group. Wizard was out there crawling around on the mats with Baby Slayer, along with his parents. I was out there too, but it was so much fun just watching the way Baby Slayer brings out Wizard’s inner child. It was an awesome day! When we got home, I took Maggie for a long walk.

I maybe have overdone it a little bit yesterday, but it was all worth it.

Today, I’m writing, I’ve declared Groundhog Day Hell over and I’m skipping a head a chapter or two in order to move ahead. Once I know more about how the plot unfolds, I can come back and work on the skipped chapter(s). The problem with that is the logical side of my brain pitches a hissy fit when I don’t write it order, but I’m going to ignore the tantrum and go, go, go!

How was your weekend?

Friday Five

TGIF!! Okay here’s five quick and random things from my week

Thursday morning I was downstairs having coffee about 6: 45 in the morning when someone knocked on my door. Because I was dressed in pajamas, robe, wild hair and my super stylish soft collar, I looked out the window before answering and saw a police officer. Sigh. Since it was the fourth day of rain, I knew why he was there. To his credit, he didn’t even flinch when I answered the door looking frightful (trust me on that!). He calmly informed me he was there with an evacuation order and a lot more rain was on the way. However, he told us we could “shelter in place” which meant it was super dire, and we chose to do. As I’m writing this in the evening, it looks like the worst has passed by, and we should be fine. A final comment, I really appreciate the police coming by and notifying us. The officer was nice and helpful. I was never annoyed at him, a cop at my door before 7am is just not my preferred way to start the day
Sad news. My sister, Biker Witch and her husband, Biker Hubby, had to say goodbye to their beloved dog on Wednesday. They had her more that 12 years. I’m not sure how old she was when they got her from a rescue, I think about 3 or 4. She had a great life, but it’s so heartbreaking when you have to make a really tough but loving decision and say goodbye. My heart aches for them. And I sincerely hope that if/when that day comes with Maggie, that I will be as brave and strong as were when they did what was best for their beloved dog.
My book has been a version of Groundhog Day Hell this week, but I will prevail! Fighting with characters and story is normal for me, and I’m glad to in the battle again.
I’m reading BENEATH A SCARLET SKY, a novel based on a true story about Italy in WWII. My reading has been really eclectic in the last couple months to say the least.
This afternoon, I’m going wedding dress shopping with Youngest’s finance, her mom and I’m not sure who else. I’m excited that she included me. She’s going to be beautiful no matter what she chooses. And I also really like her mom so it’s a win-win.

That’s my five, now I’d really love to hear five random things about your week! I hope you all have a great weekend!

 

Wednesday Worthy

I’ll be honest, I only picked this one because I have a guitar just like his I haven’t played the guitar in decades, but I still love it for the memories. The guy doesn’t do much for me, and the pose strikes me as contrived and silly, but that could just be me.

So what do you think is he worthy?

P.S. We’ve done fine through the rains so far. As I’m writing this late Tuesday afternoon, the second wave of storms has just moved in, and we’re “on watch” but not worried yet. If it stays steady, but not torrential, we will likely be okay.

Weekend Roundup

It was a nice quiet weekend. Writing, kind of, sort of, happened, but I’m more pleased have solved a plot problem that has bugged me forever. I’m still tweaking around the reunion scene, but it’s as it’s a huge turning point so it has to make sense.

I meant to tell you all that when I went to the courthouse for jury duty, I went through my first metal detector with my brand new titanium plate in my spine, and it didn’t set it off. That was pretty cool. I’d been told it wouldn’t, but it was nice to try it and see.

Anyway, Saturday rained, then Sunday was crisp and sunny with clouds, a perfect day for being outside. Maggie and I went on our longest walk yet since my surgery. I’m guessing we covered about almost two miles, going in the field and winding through the neighborhood. And I can work at the computer for a few hours a day with breaks. The book isn’t any easier, but I’m enjoying the challenge, while not letting myself reach a seriously stressed stage. Even Wizard commented that I’m doing well at walking away, and relaxing. He’s even started to ease up on the protectiveness just a tad.

So that was my weekend. This week we’re expecting rain Monday through Thursday, which is good news for our severe drought conditions that caused so many devastating fires last year. We’ll be watchful for flooding and mudslides, but so far, we’ve been okay. I’m keeping the other burn areas that are more prone to mudslides in my thoughts.

How was your weekend?

Friday Five

Howdy! It’s time to list five random things from our week. Here’s mine:

Yesterday we went to see Baby Slayer, who will be ten months old on the 17th. In two months, he’ll be a year! We played with him for a couple of hours, then Baby Slayer was starting to doze off on Wizard’s lap. I told Wizard we had to leave so his mom could get the baby down for a nap. You had to see Wizard’s pouty expression as he said, “But I don’t want to go.” Special K and I finally got the two boys separated I absolutely adore that boy, but I also love watching Wizard with him. He was the same kind of dad–totally hands on.
Tuesday Wizard and I went shopping and I made chocolate covered graham crackers. The graham crackers are gone, and we have once again proved we can’t be trusted with chocolate goodies.
It’s a miracle I can even get my jeans on.
I’m writing, but struggling with a rewrite scene when Justice and Liza reunite and embers of their love reigniting. It’s all a matter of what to put in and what to leave out. I’m going tackle it again today and get it to move forward. I have goals this year! (I’m still being careful and mostly following my recovery instructions).
 This weekend, it’s supposed to rain.  We aren’t too worried about floods, the city has once again been out clearing creek beds, and checking/reinforcing the huge berms the build to guide the runoff. Both Wizard and I see the tractors and earth movers working when we walk Maggie. So I’ll probably spend the weekend writing and hanging out at home.

That’s my five, now it’s your turn to share yours! I hope you all have a great weekend!

Wednesday Worthy

It’s time to evaluate another Wednesday Worthy Candidate. He bought a brand new shirt for the event.

So what do you think, is his shirt worthy?

Weekend Roundup

I did some writing! My mantra for the last few days is quit trying to reinvent the wheel as I’m rewriting some scenes. Yet I have to tear it apart to strip down Justice and Liza to their emotional honesty. Hopefully, the scene I just finished as I write this blog on Sunday will still look good on Monday

Friday we ended up in Urgent Care where I was diagnosed with a UTI. Wizard was a tad aggravated since I’d told him last weekend I might need to go to Urgent Care on Monday, then on Monday I told him I was fine. I wasn’t, but what can I say, my hatred of waiting around in doctor offices or urgent cares had me in serious denial. Once I mentioned to Wizard Friday that I was still having pain, he dragged my butt to urgent care. Wizard really doesn’t get the whole denial thing.

Annoying things piled up, including having to go to Jury Duty at 7:30 Monday morning. Wizard has to drive me and it’s a major inconvenience. I postponed it once for the surgery. I’ll take in my paperwork and see if I can get a second postponement. If not, I’ll stay there, but I can’t serve on a jury when I’m not supposed to drive (only to a nearby store), still in the neck brace and not medically released.

And I managed to re-inflame the tendonitis in my right arm when I was dusting. Dusting is an approved activity! All I was doing was lifting some lightweight files to dust under them and I felt the pop-burn. I was so mad, but really, it’s not that big a deal. I already have a doctor appointment on 14th, and he can do a cortisone shot. That usually takes care of it. I think the tendonitis stems from an injury when I was 15 and the horse I was riding fell. I leapt off, landed on my arm and tore a tendon or ligament. I don’t remember which, I just recall wearing the stupid sling that velcroed my arm to my waist. And FYI the horse was fine–or as fine as a horse can be that’s at a stable that let’s 15-year-old inexperienced idiots ride them.

But despite all that, I’m writing and trying to get this book on track.

How was your weekend?

Friday Five

It’s a new year, but Friday Five is still the same, a list five random things about our week!

Wizard and I made our first trip to wineries on Wednesday afternoon. We didn’t do any tasting, we just chose a few bottles to replace our depleted supply of good wines, and enjoy the pretty views.
Maggie is now getting two walks a day and she loves it! Wizard has been walking her in the morning, then I take her out in the afternoon. That won’t work in the heat, but for now, it’s great.
I made a new-to-us recipe of Lemon Basil Linguine and I added some shrimp. It was good!
I’m starting in the book (SAVAGED DEVOTION) from the spot I feel it all went wrong. In my head, it all makes sense, but when I open the document, I’m like a deer in headlights   I just need to push through and write! I’m only working an hour or two at stretch at the computer. I’ve also been cleaning out the old year, sketching out my goals for next year (like pulling my career out of the toilet, LOL!) and setting up my new calendar.
Oh! And Maggie has her new blanket! Wizard “won” it for her in another White Elephant gift game. He stole it from another player specifically for Maggie. All I can say is that his walking her daily is paying off for both Wizard and Maggie!

Now it’s your turn to share your Friday Five.  Hope everyone has a great week!

Wednesday Worthy

It’s the first Wednesday Worthy of 2019! Whoops, it looks like we dropped in on our candidate before he was fully dressed! My bad

What do you think, is he worthy?

Happy New Year!!

Hi all! It’s the final day of 2018, and right here in my arms is one of my biggest joys of the year, Baby Slayer! This is us on Christmas Day:

I got special permission from Hover Man aka Wizard to have my brace off for a while as long as I was sitting. Baby Slayer got toys for Christmas, but he wanted to play with his plastic cup   Another of my biggest joys was my middle son marrying his wife, and giving Wizard and I another beloved daughter-in-law. It’s been a great year in that respect!

More good news is that Max, CPA’s little 3-year-old Maltipoo dog, is coming home today! A week before Thanksgiving two discs in his lower spine burst and he was instantly paralyzed in his back legs. We don’t know how it happened, but were told it may be genetic. Emergency surgery and weeks of live-in rehabilitation have been miraculous and he’s walking again. It’s a new and different walk, but little Max doesn’t care. He’s all go,go,go! without worrying about how it looks. They came way too close to losing Max, so this is a real joy. And it’s a lesson in believing. They believed Max could do this and he did! He still has challenges in front of him, but we’re all going to keep believing he can do it! (This picture is CPA boy visiting Max in rehab.).

And you know what? If little Max can do it, so can I! Maybe not at full speed yet, and maybe the process won’t look pretty or graceful but I’m gonna be Max. He runs, half dragging his back legs, falls, pops right up and keeps on running.  He doesn’t let a disability get in the way of living his life and being happy:-)

And that’s what I wish for all of you too–a year of going for your goals with full on joy and not worrying how it looks to others. Be Max and go!

Happy New Year!