Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 72
March 11, 2019
#MondayMotivation, #Inspiration, And #Wisdom - #Quotes For March 11th 2019
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
~Ancient Chinese proverb
I have learned that the point of life's walk is not where or how far I move my feet but how I am moved in my heart.
~Anasazi Foundation
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
~Oscar Wilde
Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.
~Neil Gaiman
Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
~George Bernard Shaw
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one.
~John Lennon
Beauty is not in the face, beauty is a light in the heart.
~Khalil Gibran
March 8, 2019
#FurkidFriday: Mollie The #Chinchilla With An Update On Everyone
Hi everyone. This is Mollie the chinchilla.
I just wanted to let you all know that I'm doing really well. I'm healthy, and as happy as I can be under the circumstances. Actually, at the moment we're all doing well, and all happy. Of course, we're all really missing Maizie. Me especially. But we're all fine other than that.
I mean, I was really sad when the Mummy human went to the hospital place. Even with my degu brother, Joshua, keeping me company from his cage next to mine, I was miserable for those days. I'm much happier now the Mummy human is home though. Especially these last few days, when she's been able to do stuff with us more, so the Daddy human hasn't had to do it all.
She still doesn't do all the things she used to, and sometimes starts talking about how she can't do things because of her tummy being sore, and how it will make her have to go back to the hospital place if she does. So sometimes the Daddy human still does some of the stuff the Mummy human usually does. But she's doing loads better.
I'm glad because I like the Mummy human doing things with me best. The little white Lilie dog is glad because the Mummy human plays ball with her best, and she's now playing with her better (though not like she did before going to the hospital place). As for Joshua... Well, actually, Joshua doesn't really care. He loves the Mummy human, and is more likely to let her pet him than the Daddy human, but mostly he doesn't care as long as he gets his nibbles.
Squeak soon,
Mollie
I just wanted to let you all know that I'm doing really well. I'm healthy, and as happy as I can be under the circumstances. Actually, at the moment we're all doing well, and all happy. Of course, we're all really missing Maizie. Me especially. But we're all fine other than that.
I mean, I was really sad when the Mummy human went to the hospital place. Even with my degu brother, Joshua, keeping me company from his cage next to mine, I was miserable for those days. I'm much happier now the Mummy human is home though. Especially these last few days, when she's been able to do stuff with us more, so the Daddy human hasn't had to do it all.
She still doesn't do all the things she used to, and sometimes starts talking about how she can't do things because of her tummy being sore, and how it will make her have to go back to the hospital place if she does. So sometimes the Daddy human still does some of the stuff the Mummy human usually does. But she's doing loads better.
I'm glad because I like the Mummy human doing things with me best. The little white Lilie dog is glad because the Mummy human plays ball with her best, and she's now playing with her better (though not like she did before going to the hospital place). As for Joshua... Well, actually, Joshua doesn't really care. He loves the Mummy human, and is more likely to let her pet him than the Daddy human, but mostly he doesn't care as long as he gets his nibbles.
Squeak soon,
Mollie
March 7, 2019
#AmReading + #AmWatching - March 7th 2019 #Reviews
It's time to take a look at what I've been reading and watching during this past week.
If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.
Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.
Don't forget: I read and watch things across multiple genres, as well as for different age ranges, so you should always check before reading or viewing, to make certain something is suitable for the intended audience, especially when children are involved.
OK...
Here's what I read this week:
Meridon by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was the best in the series. Meridon is a great character, even if I sometimes found her behaviour frustrating. Also, the plot was a lot better than in the previous two books. The only fault I have with it is that there were several chapters in the middle where it dragged, and became a bit dull. Had it not been for the dullness of those chapters, I might have given this book the full five stars.
As for what I've been watching:
Other than a few episodes of "The Simpsons" and "Futurama" I caught when they happened to be on TV while I was in the living room, I haven't watched anything again this week. No movies at all, and no new to me TV shows.
If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.
Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.
Don't forget: I read and watch things across multiple genres, as well as for different age ranges, so you should always check before reading or viewing, to make certain something is suitable for the intended audience, especially when children are involved.
OK...
Here's what I read this week:
Meridon by Philippa GregoryMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was the best in the series. Meridon is a great character, even if I sometimes found her behaviour frustrating. Also, the plot was a lot better than in the previous two books. The only fault I have with it is that there were several chapters in the middle where it dragged, and became a bit dull. Had it not been for the dullness of those chapters, I might have given this book the full five stars.
As for what I've been watching:
Other than a few episodes of "The Simpsons" and "Futurama" I caught when they happened to be on TV while I was in the living room, I haven't watched anything again this week. No movies at all, and no new to me TV shows.
March 6, 2019
#WriterWednesday - March 6th 2019
Is your site accessible? If not, can you try and make it that it is? I, and other visually impaired users, will be extremely grateful if you do. We'll also be more likely to come back, and to share your posts. Just saying.
Anyway, the day I had my surgery - which was February 7th 2019 - I also had an interview go live. If you haven't seen it, you can read it here. I was quite late checking in, and am even later posting about it on here, but apparently that didn't stop people leaving some lovely comments, or sharing it around for me, which is nice.
Also, if you missed last week's post, you may not realize that "Catching Snowflakes And Other Poems" is now available in audio, narrated by Carol Weakland. You can read the book's blurb, and find purchase links for the audio book - as well as the paperback and eBook versions of the same title - in the post I just linked to. But here's the link to buy it on Audible.
OK... Since February's post schedule was interrupted by me going in to hospital, and then recovering afterwards, and the first thing I needed to post about was the availability of "Catching Snowflakes And Other Poems" in audio, I've got about a month's worth of links to share with you. Well, I never share all the posts and articles I read. Only the ones I find most interesting or useful. Plus, I haven't gotten to them all yet, since I had a rather large stack of eMails to go through by the time I could sit at the computer long enough to start working on them, with more coming in each day, and me still limited as to how long I can sit without too much pain (though at least I can do so for more than a few moments now). This means I'm still behind on those, and will be catching up over the next several weeks. Bear with me. But I do have a few links for you from the past month. So, we better get started with them, otherwise we'll never get caught up, will we?
First, if you don't know, the 10th annual Read an eBook Week Sale started on March 3rd. All this week, you can buy discounted eBooks from authors all over the world on Smashwords, with prices ranging from 25% off to 100% off. Check out the post I just linked to, or go to Smashwords's website for details, and to find the books on sale. I've enrolled most of mine at 50% off, so go to my Smashwords profile to find my list of books, and pick your titles. The coupons should automatically apply at checkout, but the 50% off coupon is EBW50 - just in case it doesn't apply itself. The sale ends this weekend though, so hurry! After 11:59pm Pacific time on March 9, the catalog disappears. This is exclusive to Smashwords, so you have to grab the eBooks there to get the discounts. There are multiple formats available though, so your prefered method of reading eBooks isn't an issue.
Speaking of Smashwords: they recently introduced global coupons, which are a potentially great tool for any authors who publish several books on their site who want to offer deals on a batch of them. The post I just linked to explains everything you need to know about global coupons.
Anyway, here's a post that talks about telling vs. showing when emotions are at work, which might be useful to help your readers connect with your characters during those emotional scenes. On a similar note, here's another post about showing your characters' emotions, this time with advice on how to show a character's repressed emotions. Oh, and here's one that discusses some ways to show emotions for non-POV characters.
Speaking of your characters: when it comes to characterization, this is what to avoid, and where to focus, and part 2 of that short posting series, which will give you ideas on how to repair those pitfalls if you need to.
Next, though still on the subject of your characters, here's another reminder to be careful of passive characters, especially when it comes to your main character(s), and another containing tips for using settings to develop characters.
Finally, regardless of who's in your story, don't forget to think about your story's essence.
Anyway, the day I had my surgery - which was February 7th 2019 - I also had an interview go live. If you haven't seen it, you can read it here. I was quite late checking in, and am even later posting about it on here, but apparently that didn't stop people leaving some lovely comments, or sharing it around for me, which is nice.
Also, if you missed last week's post, you may not realize that "Catching Snowflakes And Other Poems" is now available in audio, narrated by Carol Weakland. You can read the book's blurb, and find purchase links for the audio book - as well as the paperback and eBook versions of the same title - in the post I just linked to. But here's the link to buy it on Audible.
OK... Since February's post schedule was interrupted by me going in to hospital, and then recovering afterwards, and the first thing I needed to post about was the availability of "Catching Snowflakes And Other Poems" in audio, I've got about a month's worth of links to share with you. Well, I never share all the posts and articles I read. Only the ones I find most interesting or useful. Plus, I haven't gotten to them all yet, since I had a rather large stack of eMails to go through by the time I could sit at the computer long enough to start working on them, with more coming in each day, and me still limited as to how long I can sit without too much pain (though at least I can do so for more than a few moments now). This means I'm still behind on those, and will be catching up over the next several weeks. Bear with me. But I do have a few links for you from the past month. So, we better get started with them, otherwise we'll never get caught up, will we?
First, if you don't know, the 10th annual Read an eBook Week Sale started on March 3rd. All this week, you can buy discounted eBooks from authors all over the world on Smashwords, with prices ranging from 25% off to 100% off. Check out the post I just linked to, or go to Smashwords's website for details, and to find the books on sale. I've enrolled most of mine at 50% off, so go to my Smashwords profile to find my list of books, and pick your titles. The coupons should automatically apply at checkout, but the 50% off coupon is EBW50 - just in case it doesn't apply itself. The sale ends this weekend though, so hurry! After 11:59pm Pacific time on March 9, the catalog disappears. This is exclusive to Smashwords, so you have to grab the eBooks there to get the discounts. There are multiple formats available though, so your prefered method of reading eBooks isn't an issue.
Speaking of Smashwords: they recently introduced global coupons, which are a potentially great tool for any authors who publish several books on their site who want to offer deals on a batch of them. The post I just linked to explains everything you need to know about global coupons.
Anyway, here's a post that talks about telling vs. showing when emotions are at work, which might be useful to help your readers connect with your characters during those emotional scenes. On a similar note, here's another post about showing your characters' emotions, this time with advice on how to show a character's repressed emotions. Oh, and here's one that discusses some ways to show emotions for non-POV characters.
Speaking of your characters: when it comes to characterization, this is what to avoid, and where to focus, and part 2 of that short posting series, which will give you ideas on how to repair those pitfalls if you need to.
Next, though still on the subject of your characters, here's another reminder to be careful of passive characters, especially when it comes to your main character(s), and another containing tips for using settings to develop characters.
Finally, regardless of who's in your story, don't forget to think about your story's essence.
March 5, 2019
We Now Return To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming
As the title says: we now return to our regularly scheduled programming.
Well, we sort of do, since I'm still quite sore, get worse when I sit up for too long, and am still WAY behind on pretty much everything. But posting will now be closer to normal than it has been anyhow, and I am making progress on getting caught up. Slow progress, but any progress is good progress, right? Plus, at least I've now reached the point where I'm only quite sore, and not in so much pain I feel like I'm being tortured, which is a wonderful improvement. I'll be glad when I heal enough to not be hurting at all though, as I'm sure you can imagine.
Yes. Technically I could speed up the catching up process by skipping some of the stuff I've missed. But I don't want to do that. I might miss something I'll later wish I took the time to read, after all. So I'm randomly picking certain things to catch up on each time, whether a spacific type of eMail, or posts from a spacific blog, or whatever. Yes, randomly, depending on what I feel like tackling each time. My method is obviously working, since I'm seeing progress. Slow progress, like I said. But progress never-the-less.
Luckily, thanks to Kelly, I don't have to worry about catching up with offline things, since he's been doing all the household chores, including the ones I usually do, and keeping up with them reasonably well too. So that gives me less to worry about, and makes it easier for me to focus on trying to catch up with the stuff he can't do in my place.
By the way, both of the photos at the top of this post are photos of our ocean view on the rather foggy morning of February 6th 2019 (the day before I went in to hospital). I just thought you might like to see those... Kelly took them for me when we realized it was a foggy morning, but we didn't have time to get them posted before I went in to hospital. We apparently had some pinkish fog one morning a couple of weeks later, but I didn't get any photos of that for you. Sorry.
Speaking of weather: my snow still hasn't shown up properly. There have been tiny snow flurries, and a lot of the UK has had a good amount of snow. But here it's been rain and hail, along with a lot of wind. Plus fog, as I mentioned above. It's been pretty cold most of the time, as I expected it would be after last year's hot Summer. Although, we have had a couple of unseasonably warm days... Days when we even had the windows open to let some air in. So, we've had rather a mixed bag when it comes to weather. But there's been almost nothing in the way of snow, despite places not far from us getting some, and regular promises we will too. As much as I wish we'd had some decent snow, in some ways I think it's probably a good thing, since I'm not sure how well I'd be able to get downstairs to play with it. Or, more to the point, get back up them again afterwards. I'm not really supposed to be doing the stairs yet unless it's important anyhow, but I know I'd want to if we got snow. So, for that reason only, I'm sort of glad our snow hasn't shown up. On the other hand, hearing about everyone else getting so much snow they're sick of it, when I've had no more than a light dusting that was slush and ice before I could enjoy it, is frustrating. Never mind. Hopefully it will make up for it next year, when I'm fit enough to easily race down and play with the snow when it arrives. In the meantime, I've had some storms to listen to, which is something. Plus, there's always the sound of the ocean, which I love listening to in any weather.
Anyway, I took two simple craft kits in to hospital with me. Spacifically two of my sewing kits. I figured I could do them if I felt like it, and not if I didn't feel up to it, but at least I'd have the option. I took one of my owl sewing kits, and the elephant one I got for Christmas. I didn't end up doing either while in hospital. I just felt too sore and unwell. I've been working on them since I've been home though, when propped up in bed is the closest to sitting up I can do without crying. I've finished the elephant, and have the owl about half done. I meant to have photos of the elephant to share with you here, but haven't had a chance to sort those. I'll try and get Kelly to help me sort photos of it in time for next week's post. Maybe I'll have finished the owl in time for it to be included too.
Speaking of craft kits: Kelly brought me a paint your own unicorn kit as a get well pressie. He knows he'll have to help me with paint colours, but figured I'd like it because it's a unicorn. He was right. Plus, I love doing craft kits in general, so there's that too. It's with the others, waiting for its turn to be completed. I've got an interesting selection of different kits waiting their turn to be done.
Also, I added another to the pile, since my February Makerly box arrived a couple of weeks ago. I always love when they come... It's so much fun getting the happy post, and then finding out what craft we'll be making this time. Anyway, February's box contained a kit to make some lavender bath bombs. I'm going to enjoy making those, and enjoy the bath with them afterwards too. I love the scent of lavender!
We didn't do anything for Valentine's Day. We mostly don't do much anyway, since we do plenty for and with each other through the year. Although, we do usually get each other a little something. But I was still really sick from the allergic reaction to the painkillers, not to mention in a lot of pain, which made me care even less about doing anything than normal. The week after Kelly when to Oscars though, and they wrapped up meals for him to bring home. They know I'm not allowed to go walking all that way just yet - not that I think I could do it right now, even if I was allowed that much exercise - and were happy to give me a way to get a jackfruit poorboy (sandwich) while still resting at home. They even wrapped it well enough that Kelly managed to get it home still warm. I thought that was really nice of them.
It's Pancake Day (AKA Shrove Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday) today. Do you like pancakes? What's your favourite topping? I love them with maple syrup, or lemon and sugar, or jam - in that order. I don't need the holiday as an excuse to have pancakes for dinner... I love pancakes, whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and don't need a special day to have them. But I'll take the excuse anyhow, because I can. So, guess what I'm having for dinner tonight. *wink*
OK... Before I end today's post, I would like to say that I apologize if the shutting down of Google+ causes you any problems with commenting on my blog. It shouldn't cause problems with the actual running of my blog... It hasn't yet anyhow. But it might cause problems for you if you've been commenting using Google+. Should that be the case, as I said, I apologize. But it's not my fault or idea. Anyway, if you have no other way to comment, either because you can't or don't want to use one of the other methods for commenting, feel free to comment below the posts when I share them on social media, or by sending me an eMail. If you use the eMail option, it would be helpful if you could include something in the subject that makes it clear you're responding to the comments of a particular post though, that way I won't mistake it for junk and delete it by accident, which I might do if I don't recognize the sender name.
March 4, 2019
#MondayMotivation, #Inspiration, And #Wisdom - #Quotes For March 4th 2019
Forgiveness is letting go of the hope that the past can be changed.
~Brene Brown
We don't know what life will bring, so it is what we bring to life that matters.
~Patricia Campbell Carlson
In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.
~Coco Chanel
Remember, all the answers you need are inside of you; you only have to become quiet enough to hear them.
~Debbie Ford
There is almost one time that is important – Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.
~Leo Tolstoy
Don't be afraid of your fears. They're not there to scare you. They're there to let you know that something is worth it.
~C. JoyBell C.
Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything's possible again.
~Marie Lu
March 1, 2019
#FurkidFriday: Lilie The #Westie Nurse
Hi everyone. This is Lilie the Westie.
Mummy is broken. She went to that hospital place, as you know, and came back broken, even though the humans say she went there so they could make her better. It doesn't make sense. Oh, well, broken or not, I'm glad to have her back. I told her when I talked to her on the plastic ringing thing to hurry up and come home, but she still took ages. Then, as I said, she came back broken.
So, I've been a very busy little dog since she got back. Mummy needs constant care right now. She keeps whining and howling - though, I admit, she's not been doing that as much the past few days as she was at first - and can't seem to do even half the things she can usually do. Daddy has to be the one to lift me up so I can watch the people out of the window, because Mummy just keeps saying she can't for a few more weeks, for some reason I don't understand. She doesn't come walkies with me and Daddy either. She can't even throw my ball for me unless I actually put it either in her hand, or right beside it on the bed. And she won't play tuggy-toy at all. She just says, "When I'm better," and tells me she's sorry. I don't want to hear about her being sorry... I just want to play!
Anyway, like I said, she's been keeping me busy. I've had to keep a close eye on her, and fetch Daddy whenever she howls a lot. When she first came home I was doing that a lot, since even trying to sit up to have a drink would make her howl. I've also had to supervise what Daddy was doing to her, to make sure he was doing it right. Plus, you know, because I was curious. Some of the things were weird, like when he was sticking sharp things in her tummy. I'd have thought she would have tried to stop him, after all, when her tummy was touched was when she howled the loudest. I know that for sure, because I put my paw on her tummy one time, and she howled so much I got scared. But she actually seemed to want him to do it. Well, I always knew she was strange.
At one point she wasn't eating her food properly either. That's not like Mummy at all. Not that I'm complaining though. I mean, I often get leftovers, and there were more of them when Mummy wasn't eating properly. Admittedly I don't like a lot of what Mummy eats... Too many vegetables. But, hey, a pup's got to eat, right? Especially one who's busy being nurse to a howling human, which is an exhausting job for a little dog, you know.
Mummy and Daddy say I'm being a great nurse, because I'm doing so good at looking out for Mummy. They even gave me special treats sometimes for fetching Daddy when Mummy was howling. One time I even got a new rawhide shoe. I loved when they did that! I got a new toy too, which I also loved.
I wish Mummy would stop being broken though. I want her to play with me properly again. At least she's howling a bit less now, which is nice, and means I don't have to go fetch Daddy as often. Although, I kind of miss her not eating her food properly.
Lots of licks,
Lilie
Mummy is broken. She went to that hospital place, as you know, and came back broken, even though the humans say she went there so they could make her better. It doesn't make sense. Oh, well, broken or not, I'm glad to have her back. I told her when I talked to her on the plastic ringing thing to hurry up and come home, but she still took ages. Then, as I said, she came back broken.
So, I've been a very busy little dog since she got back. Mummy needs constant care right now. She keeps whining and howling - though, I admit, she's not been doing that as much the past few days as she was at first - and can't seem to do even half the things she can usually do. Daddy has to be the one to lift me up so I can watch the people out of the window, because Mummy just keeps saying she can't for a few more weeks, for some reason I don't understand. She doesn't come walkies with me and Daddy either. She can't even throw my ball for me unless I actually put it either in her hand, or right beside it on the bed. And she won't play tuggy-toy at all. She just says, "When I'm better," and tells me she's sorry. I don't want to hear about her being sorry... I just want to play!
Anyway, like I said, she's been keeping me busy. I've had to keep a close eye on her, and fetch Daddy whenever she howls a lot. When she first came home I was doing that a lot, since even trying to sit up to have a drink would make her howl. I've also had to supervise what Daddy was doing to her, to make sure he was doing it right. Plus, you know, because I was curious. Some of the things were weird, like when he was sticking sharp things in her tummy. I'd have thought she would have tried to stop him, after all, when her tummy was touched was when she howled the loudest. I know that for sure, because I put my paw on her tummy one time, and she howled so much I got scared. But she actually seemed to want him to do it. Well, I always knew she was strange.
At one point she wasn't eating her food properly either. That's not like Mummy at all. Not that I'm complaining though. I mean, I often get leftovers, and there were more of them when Mummy wasn't eating properly. Admittedly I don't like a lot of what Mummy eats... Too many vegetables. But, hey, a pup's got to eat, right? Especially one who's busy being nurse to a howling human, which is an exhausting job for a little dog, you know.
Mummy and Daddy say I'm being a great nurse, because I'm doing so good at looking out for Mummy. They even gave me special treats sometimes for fetching Daddy when Mummy was howling. One time I even got a new rawhide shoe. I loved when they did that! I got a new toy too, which I also loved.
I wish Mummy would stop being broken though. I want her to play with me properly again. At least she's howling a bit less now, which is nice, and means I don't have to go fetch Daddy as often. Although, I kind of miss her not eating her food properly.
Lots of licks,
Lilie
February 28, 2019
#AmReading + #AmWatching - February 28th 2019 #Reviews
Unless you're new here, and haven't read about it, you'll already know I missed doing reviews over the past two weeks, because I'd scheduled something else to go up instead, since I didn't know if I'd be recovered enough from surgery to be out of hospital in time to sort reviews, though I was pretty sure I'd be doing plenty of reading, even if no movie or TV show watching happened, since I'd planned to take my Kindle in to hospital with me. This means I now have three weeks worth of reviews to catch you up on. Although, with how I was feeling, that's not as many reviews as it might have been. Yeah. I was feeling so bad I wasn't even reading much. It's only the past couple of days I've started feeling a little better. Anyway, it's time to take a look at what I've been reading and watching during the past three weeks.
If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.
Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.
Don't forget: I read and watch things across multiple genres, as well as for different age ranges, so you should always check before reading or viewing, to make certain something is suitable for the intended audience, especially when children are involved.
OK...
Here's what I read over the past couple of weeks:
The Gemini Connection by Teri Polen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a gripping read, filled with plenty of action and suspense. It is well written in general, the plot moves at a nice pace, The world building is fantastic, and the characters are well rounded and believable.
Wideacre by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have loved everything I have previously read by this author, and happened to think that she has truly fantastic writing skills. However, The main character of the story was a horrid and despicable person, and the things she did for disgusting and terrible, so that I hated her, and often found the book difficult to continue reading. It was only the author's skill, combined with my determination to finish any book I begin, which made it possible for me to read the entire book with anything close to enjoyment.
The Favored Child by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
You often find the middle book in a trilogy isn't as good as the first. In this case it's the other way around, and I enjoyed this one better. Some of the things that happen in the story are disgusting and disturbing - especially where Richard is involved - but at least Julia is a decent character, who might have managed to actually do the right thing had she not been so naive. Still, for the times, and her social standing, her naivety is at least understandable, and you can't help but feel sorry for her, since there's no doubt she's one of Richard's victims (whether she realizes it or not). It's a hard one to read because of the subject matter, but a beautifully woven tale despite that.
As for what I've been watching:
I've not been watching anything - New to me or otherwise. It was still too painful to sit up for very long until very recently (as in, the past day or so) and lying on our sofa is not an option right now... How I would need to get up from it would pull on my stomach muscles too much. This made watching TV shows and movies rather difficult, because I prefer to watch them on the TV in the living room, and that would mean either sitting in my chair, or lying on the sofa. Hopefully I can make up for not watching any of my DVDs now I'm not quite so sore, so can actually sit up long enough that I might get through at least a TV show episode before I have to take a break. Although, I am still quite sore, so don't be too surprised if I don't end up watching anything for a while yet. I'll have to make up for it with some serious DVD watching when I'm better.
If you want to know more about the book, or the author, click on whichever it is you want to learn more about, and it will take you to the appropriate page on Goodreads. Clicking on my rating should take you to my actual Goodreads review for the book in question. Please bear in mind that the format I've reviewed on Goodreads may not be the format I actually read.
Alternatively, if it's a movie or TV show you want to know more about, just click on the title to go to a page where you can find out more details about the movie or TV show in question; the title links will usually take you to a page on IMDB.
Don't forget: I read and watch things across multiple genres, as well as for different age ranges, so you should always check before reading or viewing, to make certain something is suitable for the intended audience, especially when children are involved.
OK...
Here's what I read over the past couple of weeks:
The Gemini Connection by Teri PolenMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a gripping read, filled with plenty of action and suspense. It is well written in general, the plot moves at a nice pace, The world building is fantastic, and the characters are well rounded and believable.
Wideacre by Philippa GregoryMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have loved everything I have previously read by this author, and happened to think that she has truly fantastic writing skills. However, The main character of the story was a horrid and despicable person, and the things she did for disgusting and terrible, so that I hated her, and often found the book difficult to continue reading. It was only the author's skill, combined with my determination to finish any book I begin, which made it possible for me to read the entire book with anything close to enjoyment.
The Favored Child by Philippa GregoryMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
You often find the middle book in a trilogy isn't as good as the first. In this case it's the other way around, and I enjoyed this one better. Some of the things that happen in the story are disgusting and disturbing - especially where Richard is involved - but at least Julia is a decent character, who might have managed to actually do the right thing had she not been so naive. Still, for the times, and her social standing, her naivety is at least understandable, and you can't help but feel sorry for her, since there's no doubt she's one of Richard's victims (whether she realizes it or not). It's a hard one to read because of the subject matter, but a beautifully woven tale despite that.
As for what I've been watching:
I've not been watching anything - New to me or otherwise. It was still too painful to sit up for very long until very recently (as in, the past day or so) and lying on our sofa is not an option right now... How I would need to get up from it would pull on my stomach muscles too much. This made watching TV shows and movies rather difficult, because I prefer to watch them on the TV in the living room, and that would mean either sitting in my chair, or lying on the sofa. Hopefully I can make up for not watching any of my DVDs now I'm not quite so sore, so can actually sit up long enough that I might get through at least a TV show episode before I have to take a break. Although, I am still quite sore, so don't be too surprised if I don't end up watching anything for a while yet. I'll have to make up for it with some serious DVD watching when I'm better.
February 27, 2019
#Poetry #Book - Catching Snowflakes And Other Poems Now In #Audio!
A collection of poems of different lengths and styles – some with a hint of humour, others of a more serious nature – exploring a variety of themes, such as animals, nature, emotions, and the world around us.
Previously only made available in eBook and paperback, "Catching Snowflakes And Other Poems" is now available as an audiobook, read for you by Carol Weakland.
Regardless of the format you'd prefer, here's where you can buy the book:
Audible, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Chapters-Indigo, iBooks, iTunes, Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, and The Book Depository.
The book also has a page on Goodreads.
February 26, 2019
Medical Mutterings - February 2019 Edition
*~*PTMI ALERT!*~*
This post contains mention of blood, vomit, and medical procedures concerning the female reproductive system. If reading about any of those things makes you uncomfortable in any way, you should probably avoid reading it. You have been warned!
As most - if not all - of you know, I went in to hospital for a hysterectomy on February 7th 2019, leaving a selection of scheduled posts to entertain you while I was in hospital having, and then recovering from, the surgery. Plus, I hoped, while I spent my first few days at home just focussing on my recovery, and spending time with Kelly and the furkids. I hope you enjoyed those.
Regardless, now I'm back, and glad to say, the surgery is over. At least, most of me is glad to be able to say it. There's a small part of me - a very small part - that still clung to hope, even while I begged them to give me the hysterectomy, and now weeps for the loss of any chance I'll have the son whose name has been ready for him since I was a teenager. But most of me is glad. Most of me is relieved to have a chance at a better future for myself, even if it meant extinguishing that last flickering flame of hope. Most of me is cheering, because the bleeding is gone for good. At least, I will be glad when I'm not in so much pain.
By the way, if you're curious: the drink stuff I had to drink before surgery wasn't quite as bad as I expected it to be, though it wasn't particularly great either. I've had worse. It kind of tasted like the lemon version of that powder stuff you add to water for treating colds and flu, except you're meant to drink that hot, and this stuff was cold.
anyway, our friends, Lorna and Andy, were helping us out with the fact the hospital wanted someone sighted to sign my paperwork. Officially I should have been allowed to do it myself, because I'm old enough to do so, and my impairment is physical rather than mental. But the gynecologists had insisted. None of the nurses are quite sure why, since they don't see any actual valid reason why I couldn't have just signed it myself with a second nurse there witnessing that the first hadn't forced me, forged my signature, or whatever. That's what I did when I was having my eye out, and for the surgeries after that when the implant was refusing to take. I should have been able to do that this time too, and we all would have been happy for me to do so. Except the gynecologists. So, Lorna and Andy helped us with the problem of needing to have someone sighted sign the paperwork, while someone else was able to stay at home with Lilie. It saved us the hastle and expense of arranging to put Lilie in doggy daycare for the day. Although, I do admit she would have probably really enjoyed that, since she loves having friends to play with. Still, the moved surgery date, combined with the cost, made having helpful friends a much better option from our point of view.
Lorna and Andy had planned to also be the ones bringing me home, but the surgery date being moved meant they couldn't, because they'd been planning for months to go away somewhere, and they were due to leave while I was in hospital. As it is I think they pushed back their departure date a few days for my sake. I don't know that for sure, but suspect it. If they did, I'm extremely grateful for them for doing so. It didn't really matter that they couldn't be there to take me home. It was having someone to watch Lilie while someone else provided sighted assistance for signing the paperwork that we most needed their help with. Getting myself home was easy enough, since I'm entitled to the free hospital transport available to elderly and disabled people, and there was the option of a taxi home if I didn't want to wait for that to be organized for me. I did wait though. I usually don't, because it's quicker to get a taxi. But I did this time around, since I didn't want to be rushed by a taxi driver when I was recovering from surgery. Plus, I wanted someone with medical training on hand in case the stairs proved too much for me (even though I did get some stair practice with the physio team before leaving the hospital, just to see how I handled it). I'm glad to have that hospital transport available when I want to make use of it, and really grateful to Lorna and Andy for helping as much as they could before they went away.
I'm also grateful to all those who sent prayers, positive thoughts, etc. So... Thank you!
I'm going to do my best to tell you everything, but it might be in a random order, because I'm having to write this in short sessions, since sitting down for too long is painful enough even now that I've jokingly said to a few people, "I wish I knew what I was being tortured for, because then I could give them the information." Apparently I wouldn't hold up well under torture. I've generally got a reasonably good tolerance for pain, but all anyone would apparently need to get information from me would be to take the pain past that point. Hmmm... Probably shouldn't have admitted to that.
For those who might be wondering - since I dare say some who have been following things closely will be - yes. We made it before the shot ran out. So, the bleeding didn't have time to start back up before the surgery.
A lot of the nurses on the gynecology ward remembered me from all my hospital trips last year. A couple of the doctors did too. I found it amusing when I showed up and was greeted by name, even before I gave it. Usually you'd have to identify yourself, possibly even show your appointment letter. Apparently I'm well known enough that I didn't even need to give my name. I can't decide if that's a good thing or not.
Anyway, I had what they call a "sub-total hysterectomy" (at least, I think that's what they called it). It essentially means they left part of the cirvex (neck of the womb) to avoid getting close enough to potentially cause problems with my bladder (especially since I had my ureta replaced during surgery when I was a young child, because of complications caused by something to do with the kidney problem I was born with). I also still have my ovaries. But the bulk of the womb... The part where the bleeding happens... Is gone. They asked my permission to do this before I went under anasthetic, and I told them as long as I wasn't going to have periods any more, that was fine. They assured me the only difference between the original plan (taking everything but the ovaries, which they left because of hormones, since I'm still only in my 30s) and what they did, was that I technically still have a cirvex, so could potentially get cirvical cancer (though I'm as likely to get that now as I would have been if they hadn't touched anything, so I'm not really worried about that).
The only other change to the plan for surgery itself was that they couldn't do the keyhole surgery like they'd hoped to, so instead I have a large scar that stretches right across my lower stomach. This is something I already knew would be a possibility, from the day they agreed to the surgery last June. The only difference that makes is more pain, and longer for healing. Something that wouldn't be such a problem if I wasn't apparently allergic to almost every single painkiller.
We already knew Paracetamol was a potential problem for me, since it can mess with my breathing. We also knew pure morphine couldn't be given for too long after surgery, since having too much of it has me throwing up. But apparently even things like Codine will have me throwing up after a few doses. Something we didn't realize at first, because I was putting my feelings of nausia down to being so hot in the stuffy ward, and having to ignore my body's intollerence for lactos, since I was having to have dairy at every meal due to the only dairy-free vegetarian dishes on the menu at the hospital being too spicy for me (something I knew from previous hospital visits). It was only when I got home, and things went from bad to worse, until I couldn't eat, but was throwing up anyhow, that we realized it was more than that.
I'm sort of glad we didn't realize before I went home though, because Ibuprofen (the only painkiller I seem to be able to take without any bad reactions) isn't enough to do much for the pain even now, and I know I never would have made it home without that Codine in my system. As it was I'm not sure how I managed to sit up for that long without crying, since sitting up for the ride home was so painful I was almost glad for the stair climbing, since at least I could straighten out. Yeah, it hurt that bad. It's now two weeks later, and I still can't sit for long without a lot of pain. The hospital is about ten minutes drive from my home, and the transport took someone else home first, making it more like a twenty minute journey. I never would have managed that without tears without the stronger painkiller in my system, and the ambulance guys who took me home would have had me back at the hospital if they'd known how much pain I was in even with that. As it was they were annoyed at me being asked to do the stairs so soon after surgery, and about the fact nobody bothered to tell them that the lady they were helping climb three flights of stairs was blind. Not that they minded my being blind, but they should have been told, and were annoyed they hadn't been.
Anyway, as is often the case for me after surgery, because of my being asthmatic, I spent the first night on oxygen. It started with the mask, but they ended up doing the tubes in the nose, since apparently I tolerate those better. I didn't keep trying to remove those anyhow. I've always hated the mask. It's not so bad if I can hold it, but I hate when they strap it to my face. So they'd strap it to me, I'd wake enough to realize and freak out, they'd let me hold it, I'd fall asleep and drop it, so they'd strap it to me, and around and around it went, until everyone got fed up and I agreed to the nose tubes. Not once did I attempt to remove those. Like I said, it's just that I really hate the mask. If I hadn't been so out of it until the early hours of the following morning, I might not have had it all night. But I was out of it enough that first night I only have a few flashes of memory, and hardly nibbled at the bit of toast they brought me (though I was drinking well from the start). Me being out of it made them reluctant to rush to take away the oxygen supply. I think it was because they had me on good pain meds that first night, hoping my system would tolerate them long enough to get me through the worst of the pain. It didn't. But it was worth a try.
Despite the issues with the pain meds, from a medical and surgical point of view, I was ready to go home within two days of my op. From a physio point of view, I was ready to go home two days later, and did. But I spent the first couple of days I was home in a bad way from what turned out to be the allergy to the Codine, so it's only been in this last week I've been able to really start recovering at all. I'm tired, sore, wish the OT (occupational therapist) would get their butt in gear so they could come tell us how I'm supposed to wash my hair when I can neither lean over the bath nor climb in to it, and unable to tackle the ever-growing pile of eMails waiting for my attention at the moment. So please bear with me. Oh, and if I spelled anything wrong... You know what? I'm not in a position to care right now. I just hurt too damn much! I usually take the time to proof-read my posts, and try to catch all those pesky typos (not to mention check my spelling). But right now I hurt enough that I'm prepared to risk spelling mistakes and typos if it means sitting here a little less time.
Yes, I'm improving every day, so maybe by the time this actually goes live I won't be hurting quite as much as I am at this exact moment. Also, maybe by the time my follow-up appointment rolls around on April 9th, I'll be able to sit up without feeling like I'm being tortured long enough to endure the trip to and from the hospital, and the waiting time at the hospital, without tears. Maybe. In fact, probably. Not yet though. Definitely not yet. But I'm getting there.
No. I don't regret anything. I'm glad it's done, and relieved there's a brighter future ahead than there otherwise would have been for me. I'll just be able to appreciate it more when I stop hurting so much, and wish I could just go to sleep, and wake up when that time comes. That or find a painkiller that does something for the pain without causing some kind of allergic reaction in me. Either would work.
Oh, and... I almost forgot... They checked my bloods before I left the hospital. My HB and iron levels are fine. It did take them about 45 minutes to get a vein willing to co-operate so they could check this. But at least the results were good when they finally got something to test. Hopefully they stay that way. They should.
My time on the gynecology ward was about as pleasant as a hospital trip where you get cut open, and then keep throwing up because you're allergic to the good painkillers, can be. One of the other patients, Ellen, even took me for a bit of a walk around the ward. She'd have done it more, I think, only I didn't want to bother her with asking. It's just a shame they moved me to SAU (surgical assessment unit) for the last bit of my hospital stay. They moved me there since they had some gynecology emergencies come in, and since I was just waiting to recover enough to come home, I didn't need to be close at hand for the gynecology team. Why they also moved Ellen, I don't know. Mind you, I actually think the hospital plays musical beds way too much in general. If someone else comes in, put them in the other beds. Don't move everyone all the time. Sometimes the move does make sense, like in my case when I didn't need the gynecology team on hand any more. But mostly it doesn't, like with Ellen, who still didn't even have proper answers from what I could tell, and had been moved to a new ward pretty much every day she'd been in hospital. Also, they like to do it in the middle of the night. It's really annoying, especially for people like Ellen who get moved constantly. I wish they hadn't done it in my case too though, since I knew where things were where I was, and things got all confusing when I got moved. Not helped by the fact the nurses in SAU had no idea how to deal with a blind person, and no interest in figuring it out. Then there was me being missed out with medication, and Ellen having to actually go make a nurse give me something for pain. Yes. My time on the gynecology ward was about as good as it could have been. But my time on SAU was far from it. About the only good things were that Ellen was there trying to look out for me, and I got to meet the Mother of one of the people from Oscars (our favourite food place) who was in the bed across from me during my time in SAU.
Kelly's been great, by the way. He's been helping me when I need him to, and even did my shots when I couldn't. Well, I probably would have managed to stick those needles in me eventually, but I won't pretend I'm not grateful to him for coming to the rescue. See, I needed to have shots for the first week I was home to avoid blood clots, because of not being able to be mobile. Fine. Except, though I knew how to do them, I had a slight problem with the part where I needed to stick the needle in me. OK. Fine. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Like I said, I'd have done it eventually, but was grateful I didn't have to find out how long "eventually" would have been, and could have Kelly do it instead. I had pills to take too. A couple of different antibiotics.
Lilie's been a sweetie, and shown how smart she is by fetching Kelly whenever she thinks I need him. She hardly left my side during the time I was at my worst, despite usually liking to go hang out with her Daddy for a while sometimes. Unless she was eating, drinking, going for potty runs, or fetching Kelly for me, she was never more than a couple of feet from me during the first week I was home.
This post contains mention of blood, vomit, and medical procedures concerning the female reproductive system. If reading about any of those things makes you uncomfortable in any way, you should probably avoid reading it. You have been warned!
As most - if not all - of you know, I went in to hospital for a hysterectomy on February 7th 2019, leaving a selection of scheduled posts to entertain you while I was in hospital having, and then recovering from, the surgery. Plus, I hoped, while I spent my first few days at home just focussing on my recovery, and spending time with Kelly and the furkids. I hope you enjoyed those.
Regardless, now I'm back, and glad to say, the surgery is over. At least, most of me is glad to be able to say it. There's a small part of me - a very small part - that still clung to hope, even while I begged them to give me the hysterectomy, and now weeps for the loss of any chance I'll have the son whose name has been ready for him since I was a teenager. But most of me is glad. Most of me is relieved to have a chance at a better future for myself, even if it meant extinguishing that last flickering flame of hope. Most of me is cheering, because the bleeding is gone for good. At least, I will be glad when I'm not in so much pain.
By the way, if you're curious: the drink stuff I had to drink before surgery wasn't quite as bad as I expected it to be, though it wasn't particularly great either. I've had worse. It kind of tasted like the lemon version of that powder stuff you add to water for treating colds and flu, except you're meant to drink that hot, and this stuff was cold.
anyway, our friends, Lorna and Andy, were helping us out with the fact the hospital wanted someone sighted to sign my paperwork. Officially I should have been allowed to do it myself, because I'm old enough to do so, and my impairment is physical rather than mental. But the gynecologists had insisted. None of the nurses are quite sure why, since they don't see any actual valid reason why I couldn't have just signed it myself with a second nurse there witnessing that the first hadn't forced me, forged my signature, or whatever. That's what I did when I was having my eye out, and for the surgeries after that when the implant was refusing to take. I should have been able to do that this time too, and we all would have been happy for me to do so. Except the gynecologists. So, Lorna and Andy helped us with the problem of needing to have someone sighted sign the paperwork, while someone else was able to stay at home with Lilie. It saved us the hastle and expense of arranging to put Lilie in doggy daycare for the day. Although, I do admit she would have probably really enjoyed that, since she loves having friends to play with. Still, the moved surgery date, combined with the cost, made having helpful friends a much better option from our point of view.
Lorna and Andy had planned to also be the ones bringing me home, but the surgery date being moved meant they couldn't, because they'd been planning for months to go away somewhere, and they were due to leave while I was in hospital. As it is I think they pushed back their departure date a few days for my sake. I don't know that for sure, but suspect it. If they did, I'm extremely grateful for them for doing so. It didn't really matter that they couldn't be there to take me home. It was having someone to watch Lilie while someone else provided sighted assistance for signing the paperwork that we most needed their help with. Getting myself home was easy enough, since I'm entitled to the free hospital transport available to elderly and disabled people, and there was the option of a taxi home if I didn't want to wait for that to be organized for me. I did wait though. I usually don't, because it's quicker to get a taxi. But I did this time around, since I didn't want to be rushed by a taxi driver when I was recovering from surgery. Plus, I wanted someone with medical training on hand in case the stairs proved too much for me (even though I did get some stair practice with the physio team before leaving the hospital, just to see how I handled it). I'm glad to have that hospital transport available when I want to make use of it, and really grateful to Lorna and Andy for helping as much as they could before they went away.
I'm also grateful to all those who sent prayers, positive thoughts, etc. So... Thank you!
I'm going to do my best to tell you everything, but it might be in a random order, because I'm having to write this in short sessions, since sitting down for too long is painful enough even now that I've jokingly said to a few people, "I wish I knew what I was being tortured for, because then I could give them the information." Apparently I wouldn't hold up well under torture. I've generally got a reasonably good tolerance for pain, but all anyone would apparently need to get information from me would be to take the pain past that point. Hmmm... Probably shouldn't have admitted to that.
For those who might be wondering - since I dare say some who have been following things closely will be - yes. We made it before the shot ran out. So, the bleeding didn't have time to start back up before the surgery.
A lot of the nurses on the gynecology ward remembered me from all my hospital trips last year. A couple of the doctors did too. I found it amusing when I showed up and was greeted by name, even before I gave it. Usually you'd have to identify yourself, possibly even show your appointment letter. Apparently I'm well known enough that I didn't even need to give my name. I can't decide if that's a good thing or not.
Anyway, I had what they call a "sub-total hysterectomy" (at least, I think that's what they called it). It essentially means they left part of the cirvex (neck of the womb) to avoid getting close enough to potentially cause problems with my bladder (especially since I had my ureta replaced during surgery when I was a young child, because of complications caused by something to do with the kidney problem I was born with). I also still have my ovaries. But the bulk of the womb... The part where the bleeding happens... Is gone. They asked my permission to do this before I went under anasthetic, and I told them as long as I wasn't going to have periods any more, that was fine. They assured me the only difference between the original plan (taking everything but the ovaries, which they left because of hormones, since I'm still only in my 30s) and what they did, was that I technically still have a cirvex, so could potentially get cirvical cancer (though I'm as likely to get that now as I would have been if they hadn't touched anything, so I'm not really worried about that).
The only other change to the plan for surgery itself was that they couldn't do the keyhole surgery like they'd hoped to, so instead I have a large scar that stretches right across my lower stomach. This is something I already knew would be a possibility, from the day they agreed to the surgery last June. The only difference that makes is more pain, and longer for healing. Something that wouldn't be such a problem if I wasn't apparently allergic to almost every single painkiller.
We already knew Paracetamol was a potential problem for me, since it can mess with my breathing. We also knew pure morphine couldn't be given for too long after surgery, since having too much of it has me throwing up. But apparently even things like Codine will have me throwing up after a few doses. Something we didn't realize at first, because I was putting my feelings of nausia down to being so hot in the stuffy ward, and having to ignore my body's intollerence for lactos, since I was having to have dairy at every meal due to the only dairy-free vegetarian dishes on the menu at the hospital being too spicy for me (something I knew from previous hospital visits). It was only when I got home, and things went from bad to worse, until I couldn't eat, but was throwing up anyhow, that we realized it was more than that.
I'm sort of glad we didn't realize before I went home though, because Ibuprofen (the only painkiller I seem to be able to take without any bad reactions) isn't enough to do much for the pain even now, and I know I never would have made it home without that Codine in my system. As it was I'm not sure how I managed to sit up for that long without crying, since sitting up for the ride home was so painful I was almost glad for the stair climbing, since at least I could straighten out. Yeah, it hurt that bad. It's now two weeks later, and I still can't sit for long without a lot of pain. The hospital is about ten minutes drive from my home, and the transport took someone else home first, making it more like a twenty minute journey. I never would have managed that without tears without the stronger painkiller in my system, and the ambulance guys who took me home would have had me back at the hospital if they'd known how much pain I was in even with that. As it was they were annoyed at me being asked to do the stairs so soon after surgery, and about the fact nobody bothered to tell them that the lady they were helping climb three flights of stairs was blind. Not that they minded my being blind, but they should have been told, and were annoyed they hadn't been.
Anyway, as is often the case for me after surgery, because of my being asthmatic, I spent the first night on oxygen. It started with the mask, but they ended up doing the tubes in the nose, since apparently I tolerate those better. I didn't keep trying to remove those anyhow. I've always hated the mask. It's not so bad if I can hold it, but I hate when they strap it to my face. So they'd strap it to me, I'd wake enough to realize and freak out, they'd let me hold it, I'd fall asleep and drop it, so they'd strap it to me, and around and around it went, until everyone got fed up and I agreed to the nose tubes. Not once did I attempt to remove those. Like I said, it's just that I really hate the mask. If I hadn't been so out of it until the early hours of the following morning, I might not have had it all night. But I was out of it enough that first night I only have a few flashes of memory, and hardly nibbled at the bit of toast they brought me (though I was drinking well from the start). Me being out of it made them reluctant to rush to take away the oxygen supply. I think it was because they had me on good pain meds that first night, hoping my system would tolerate them long enough to get me through the worst of the pain. It didn't. But it was worth a try.
Despite the issues with the pain meds, from a medical and surgical point of view, I was ready to go home within two days of my op. From a physio point of view, I was ready to go home two days later, and did. But I spent the first couple of days I was home in a bad way from what turned out to be the allergy to the Codine, so it's only been in this last week I've been able to really start recovering at all. I'm tired, sore, wish the OT (occupational therapist) would get their butt in gear so they could come tell us how I'm supposed to wash my hair when I can neither lean over the bath nor climb in to it, and unable to tackle the ever-growing pile of eMails waiting for my attention at the moment. So please bear with me. Oh, and if I spelled anything wrong... You know what? I'm not in a position to care right now. I just hurt too damn much! I usually take the time to proof-read my posts, and try to catch all those pesky typos (not to mention check my spelling). But right now I hurt enough that I'm prepared to risk spelling mistakes and typos if it means sitting here a little less time.
Yes, I'm improving every day, so maybe by the time this actually goes live I won't be hurting quite as much as I am at this exact moment. Also, maybe by the time my follow-up appointment rolls around on April 9th, I'll be able to sit up without feeling like I'm being tortured long enough to endure the trip to and from the hospital, and the waiting time at the hospital, without tears. Maybe. In fact, probably. Not yet though. Definitely not yet. But I'm getting there.
No. I don't regret anything. I'm glad it's done, and relieved there's a brighter future ahead than there otherwise would have been for me. I'll just be able to appreciate it more when I stop hurting so much, and wish I could just go to sleep, and wake up when that time comes. That or find a painkiller that does something for the pain without causing some kind of allergic reaction in me. Either would work.
Oh, and... I almost forgot... They checked my bloods before I left the hospital. My HB and iron levels are fine. It did take them about 45 minutes to get a vein willing to co-operate so they could check this. But at least the results were good when they finally got something to test. Hopefully they stay that way. They should.
My time on the gynecology ward was about as pleasant as a hospital trip where you get cut open, and then keep throwing up because you're allergic to the good painkillers, can be. One of the other patients, Ellen, even took me for a bit of a walk around the ward. She'd have done it more, I think, only I didn't want to bother her with asking. It's just a shame they moved me to SAU (surgical assessment unit) for the last bit of my hospital stay. They moved me there since they had some gynecology emergencies come in, and since I was just waiting to recover enough to come home, I didn't need to be close at hand for the gynecology team. Why they also moved Ellen, I don't know. Mind you, I actually think the hospital plays musical beds way too much in general. If someone else comes in, put them in the other beds. Don't move everyone all the time. Sometimes the move does make sense, like in my case when I didn't need the gynecology team on hand any more. But mostly it doesn't, like with Ellen, who still didn't even have proper answers from what I could tell, and had been moved to a new ward pretty much every day she'd been in hospital. Also, they like to do it in the middle of the night. It's really annoying, especially for people like Ellen who get moved constantly. I wish they hadn't done it in my case too though, since I knew where things were where I was, and things got all confusing when I got moved. Not helped by the fact the nurses in SAU had no idea how to deal with a blind person, and no interest in figuring it out. Then there was me being missed out with medication, and Ellen having to actually go make a nurse give me something for pain. Yes. My time on the gynecology ward was about as good as it could have been. But my time on SAU was far from it. About the only good things were that Ellen was there trying to look out for me, and I got to meet the Mother of one of the people from Oscars (our favourite food place) who was in the bed across from me during my time in SAU.
Kelly's been great, by the way. He's been helping me when I need him to, and even did my shots when I couldn't. Well, I probably would have managed to stick those needles in me eventually, but I won't pretend I'm not grateful to him for coming to the rescue. See, I needed to have shots for the first week I was home to avoid blood clots, because of not being able to be mobile. Fine. Except, though I knew how to do them, I had a slight problem with the part where I needed to stick the needle in me. OK. Fine. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Like I said, I'd have done it eventually, but was grateful I didn't have to find out how long "eventually" would have been, and could have Kelly do it instead. I had pills to take too. A couple of different antibiotics.
Lilie's been a sweetie, and shown how smart she is by fetching Kelly whenever she thinks I need him. She hardly left my side during the time I was at my worst, despite usually liking to go hang out with her Daddy for a while sometimes. Unless she was eating, drinking, going for potty runs, or fetching Kelly for me, she was never more than a couple of feet from me during the first week I was home.
Zigler News
Author and book news for children's author and poet, Victoria Zigler, as well as general news from the life of the Zigler family; furry and otherwise!
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