It Snowed

It snowed!  Started around 11am and snowed continually until just a few minutes before 5pm.  A lovely soft peaceful snowfall. 

I told Token he was an Oregon dog now.... he went out and at first stayed close to the car.

After muttering wuss under my breath (and snapping these pics from the protection of the covered porch ) he was soon out and in the snow covered grass.  His short legs had him scampering back into the house as soon as he was done. 

I'd Rather Go Blind

Beth Hart -- I'd Rather Go Blind

Saw Beth Hart do this song tonight on Kennedy Center Honors.  Wow. 

Per the utube about tab, in this video she is accompanied by:

Keyboards and vocals~Arlan Oscar
Guitar and vocals~Joe Bonamassa
Guitar~Ron Dejesus
Bass~Mike Merritt
Drums~Tal Bergman

Merry Christmas From The Family

Robert Earl Keene -- Merry Christmas From The Family.

Mare Chris Moose and Hippo Gnu Deer.

with love
Suz and Token

Fantasia - The Nutcracker Suite

Fantasia -- The Nutcracker Suite. 
h/t ellie

NASA Johnson Style

NASA Johnson Style. 

From the youtube page (linked above):
Learn more about NASA: http://www.nasa.gov
Learn more about the International Space Station: http://www.nasa.gov/station
Sign up to get space station sighting information sent to you: http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/

For students interested in NASA Johnson Space Center:
http://www.facebook.com/nasa.jsc.students
http://www.twitter.com/nasajscstudents

NASA Johnson Style is a volunteer outreach video project created by the students of NASA's Johnson Space Center. It was created as an educational parody of Psy's Gangnam Style. The lyrics and scenes in the video have been re-imagined in order to inform the public about the amazing work going on at NASA and the Johnson Space Center.

To Learn About The Students Who Created "NASA Johnson Style" visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home/jsc_gangnam_style.html

Special thanks to astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Mike Massimino and Clay Anderson
Special thanks to Mr. Mike Coats, Dr. Ellen Ochoa, and all supporting senior staff members

"NASA Johnson Style" Lyrics:

NASA Johnson Style
Johnson Style

Welcome to NASA's Johnson Space Center
We are coming in hot so don't burn up as we enter
We do science everyday that affects your daily life
Throw them up for manned space flight

Science everywhere
As we engineer the marvels
That fly though the air
And take us way beyond earth's levels

Science everywhere
Because we engineer the marvels
That fly though the air
Flys us through the air

Control the mission out of Johnson
This is ground, hey!
And this is space, hey!
Tell me Houston what's the problem
It's okay!
It's okay!
Because there's flight controllers on the job today

NASA Johnson STYLE!
Johnson STYLE!
NA, NA, NA, NA NASA Johnson STYLE!
Johnson STYLE!
NA, NA, NA, NA NASA Johnson STYLE!
EYYYYYY science daily!
NA, NA, NA, NA, NASA STYLE!
EYYYYYY it's amazing!
NA, NA, NA, NA ey ey ey ey ey ey!!
Orbiting earth, international space station
Where we work and live in space with a crew from several nations
Got Japanese, and Russians, that European charm
Throw them up, like the Canada Arm

Kicking out research
29k cubic feet, revolves around the earth
Science microgravity, revolves around the earth
Columbus, JEM, and Destiny
Kicking out research
Kicking out research

Train the astronauts at Johnson
To go to space, hey!
To go to space, hey!
Cause the missions of tomorrow
Start today, hey!
Start today, hey!
As we engineer the future day by day

NASA Johnson STYLE!
Johnson STYLE!
NA, NA, NA, NA NASA Johnson STYLE!
Johnson STYLE!
NA, NA, NA, NA NASA Johnson STYLE!
EYYYYYY science daily!
NA, NA, NA, NA, NASA STYLE!
EYYYYYY it's amazing!
NA, NA, NA, NA ey ey ey ey ey ey!!

Orion or SLS, MPCV
We cannot feel the floor, cause the lack gravity
The destinations are an asteroid, mars, or moon
We are blasting off start the countdown soon
[Sound clip: launch countdown]

EYYYYYY science daily!
NA, NA, NA, NA, NASA STYLE!
EYYYYYY it's amazing!
NA, NA, NA, NA ey ey ey ey ey ey!!
NASA Johnson Style

Sandy Screw Ya

Adam Sandler -- Sandy Screw Ya from the 121212 Sandy Benefit Concert tonight.
 h/t twolf over at Watertiger's place

Jules Climbing

Jules Climbing

Hard to believe that she is 20 months today! Grandbabies sure make time fly by fast!!!

Cold Water

Cold Water. Put down your liquids when ya press play -- Token almost was wearing my coffee.

Last night was the first night I've gotten down below freezing -- was 30.6 last night. Weather dood is predicting tonight will be just as cold, if not a wee bit colder. It was a clear cold day today. On our travels down to Scappoose today, Token and I saw Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens, all gloriously clad in their new white cloaks. Made me wish I had brought my camera - something I don't ordinarily take with me when going for a latte.

Weather dood is predicting high clouds tomorrow with rain starting Wednesday. Rain is forecast for every day through the beginning of next week.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Jules Loves Spaghetti

 Jules Loves Spaghetti. Hard to believe she's gonna be 19 months in only 4 days.

Jules - The Dancing Queen

My 18 month old grandaughter dancing to Taylor Swift on Good Morning America. Jules also sings a little bit too.  

Jules reminds me so much of Jen at that age.   Heck, she's reminded me of Jen at every stage so far :)    Wonder if she is going to want to dance in those old dance costumes of Jen's when she gets old enough... I think I've got them in the POD safely tucked away in my grandma's cedar chest. 

Hippo Birdies Two Meece

Hippo Birdies Two Meece....  hopin' for mini s'mores....

H/tip Dede for the video

A Grand Bug

What a little cutie!  Jen sent me this photo today. 

Portland

What a great video about Portland. 

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Jules likes her mom's stuffed bell peppers. Watching this video, I am reminded how much I miss Jen's cooking.

It sure doesn't seem like 17 months has already passed since her birth. I remember when I would get the weekly notice from Jen about the size of Julsie before she was born and am wondering if bell pepper was one of the size descriptors used...

Speechifying

This is how to give a political speech -- former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, D-Michigan at the DNC 2012 tonight. If only all politician were this good at speechifying.

Happy Little Clouds

Bob Ross Remixed -- Happy Little Clouds from PBS Digital Studios.

My Day Today

This is my day today. Tomorrow I get 'scoped.

A Long Overdue Update (Of Sorts)

I've not posted much since there isn't much to say. I'm still living in a hospital bed in Jen's living room -- 6 weeks down and a minimum (as the doc's keep reminding me) of at least 6 more weeks to go. Still, a halfway there point I suppose. Once I get the ok to start weight bearing on the leg, I'm still gonna be faced with that whole learning to walk again thing so who knows when my 'normal' will return.

My landlord sent me a 60 day notice to move, via registered mail, in early March because they want to move back in. I have to be outta the house by the bay no later than May 10th. I won't be walking yet by then -- I figure the earliest I'll be able to start weight bearing will be somewhere around May 15th or so -- so am going to have to rely on help from others to pack up my stuff. I can't even get up the stairs to show those helping what's mine and what isn't -- the place was rented furnished but I've accumulated a lotta stuff in the almost 4 years I was there. Have no idea where I'll live but know I should move outta Jen's living room before Mike's daughters' get here for their annual summer break visit with their dad -- they should be here by the end of May at the latest. I hear this clock ticking down the days in my head and have a hard time turning off that sound.

Too much to think about and too much up in the air -- it unsettles me because I don't know the answer to anything and thinking about it just gets me upset and reminds me of how little control I have over everything. I keep trying to remind myself that when faced with no control, I still have control over my reaction but I gotta admit its forking hard to keep being positive and not wallowing. My days all run together -- the sameness of each day as viewed from this bed is so monotonous.

On the plus side, Stephanie took me out today -- and it was NOT for a doctor appt. We went to Target to get a few things -- she wheeled me around the store in my wheelchair and I put the little store basket on my lap. By the time we got to the cash register it was heavy and full but totally worth it! Its been a long time since I had a outing and it really did lift my spirits.

Julianna's first birthday party is one week from today. Hard to believe its been almost a year since she was born -- grandbabies sure make the time fly faster than it did when my babies were babies. April 9th she is going to be an entire year old. Seems like just yesterday that I was there as she took her first breath and watching her looking at her new world and now she's taking steps. Time goes by so fast when it comes to her and yet so slow when it comes to this hospital bed.

Einstein was right -- time is relative.

Two Steps Forward

Two steps forward, one step back is a line in this video by Paula Abdul and is appropriate for where I'm at.



Kaiser sent a very nice young man to Jen's house to check on me today -- it was called a PT appt but really was a check to see how I am doing and what issues could cause problems with mobility around the house. He was very helpful and laughingly told me that he was NOT going to be telling me to do more. He said I could only use the walker as far as the hall bath and that I should be using the wheelchair more. He said as my pain levels and swelling reduce, I should spend more and more time sitting in the the wheelchair and not laying in the hospital bed.

He also told me that standing is exercise (!) and that I should stand when I felt up to it -- with the caveat of holding onto the walker and no weight bearing on my right leg, etc. Said I'll have a call next week setting up another visit - guess I get them weekly. He checked my blood pressure (great) and my toes and asked about my pain levels, etc.

Got a care package of yummy homemade cookies and banana bread from my friend Mary Mac today -- made me all teary knowing that I have friends like Mary Mac who care enough to send me goodies. Her timing was great - I was feeling a little low after today's appointment knowing that I have a very long and slow recovery ahead of me. I promise to share the goodies with Jen, Stephanie, and Mike. Poor Julianna doesn't know what she's missing :)

Still haven't heard from Joanie -- hope she calls soon.

Joanie

I found a voicemail from an old friend that I had lost touch with the day after I got out of the hospital -- my cellphone was dead so it didn't record her number as an incoming call.

I had thought she was dead - her email bounced and her cell # was disconnected and I could not find her street address anywhere -- and I burst into tears when I heard her voice.

I've been checking my ATT account daily but so far, the number she called from has not been registered in my activity *and* she didn't leave the number in her voicemail.

So, Joanie Balonie -- I'm hoping you read this, realize that the ONLY reason I've not called you back is that I don't have your new number and call me! I want to talk to you so badly......

Getting Better

Yesterday was a good day -- last night was a bad night but overall, I'm feeling stronger each day. I am finally able to lift the cast off the ground using my hip muscles (whew) and my appetite is returning.

Of course, all that would not be possible without Stephanie's nursing and Jen letting me stay here and fronting the cost of the medical equipment (*spitting* Kaiser *spitting*). I am so blessed to be with both my girls at the same time and getting to see Julianna every day and the more I am around Mike, I can see why Jen fell in love with him -- he is such a good man.



The Beatles -- Getting Better

Home At Jen's

Was discharged from the hospital and am now at Jen's. We had to rent a hospital bed and a wheelchair and had to purchase a bedside commode and walker. Kaiser would not provide me with them because I am an out of state member -- what they call a visiting guest. Great treatment the whole time I was in but I was put in a Catch 22 situation by their not one of us crap.

Could not be discharged until the items had been delivered and set up but Kaiser Admin refused to provide anything. $200 bucks was the cost of one month's rental and the purchase of the walker and potty. When I'm not so medicated, I'm going to do some research because they way they handled this part totally sucked. Jen had to put everything on her credit card -- thank goodness for her because I did not have mine with me at the hospital.

Am glad to be home. Hospital bed is comfy. Am not allowed to get up for any reason without assistance. There is a very heavy plaster cast on my right leg that runs from the base of my toes all the way up to my upper thigh... sucker feels like it weighs 50 lbs. Tis the temporary one - I see the doc on the 1st and hopefully get a lighter one - old fashioned heavy plaster makes sure that I am not putting any weight on it and encourages me to stay in bed.

Was great having diner with the entire family tonight :) :) :)

Surgery

This is Stephanie, Suzanne's youngest. Sorry it has taken me so long to update you all on my mom's condition, I have been out of the house all day!

Mom's surgeon called me this afternoon saying that her surgery went well and that they used some bone cement to "adhere" to the tibial plateau to make it flat again, as opposed to taking a bone graph from her hip. I talked to her not to long ago and she is REALLY groggy from all the drugs, and the pain :(

She is at:
Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, OR in room 218A for anyone who wants to know.

Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes!

~Stephanie

Tomorrow's Nightmare

No, this is not a post about the song from Annie meeting those kids from Elm Street - I wish it was :)

I have to be at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center at 0630 tomorrow morning. My surgery is scheduled for 0830. The estimate is two to three hours so I doubt there will be any word until sometime after noon. I will be in recovery for a while before I am moved to my room.

Kaiser does not permit cell phones and all electronics have to be battery operated so I will be tube-less during my stay. I won't know until tomorrow when I chat with the doc pre-op how long I will be hospitalized. I am hoping for it to be just overnight for monitoring and that I am discharged Thursday morning. Fingers and toes crossed!

Stephanie knows how to sign in so that she can write a post here updating folks how I'm doing tomorrow. Again, I don't expect her to have any information to share until late afternoon at the earliest.

I want to thank everyone for sending me warm positive thoughts and prayers during this difficult time -- I owe you all such a debt of gratitude - words fail to express how much it has meant to me to have your support.

The positive to all this is that as of tomorrow, I will finally be on the road to recovery -- no longer on hold waiting - and will be able to start thinking about getting my life back to what it was 'before'. That and spending all this time with both my girls and watching my granddaughter grow by leaps and bounds daily. I am so thankful that I did not drop her when I fell.

Living The Nightmare

I've not been posting and this is to explain the why.

Jan 23rd, Jen fell and broke her left fibula and ankle. She had surgery on the 27th to put in a plate and several pins. Her dad happened to be arriving the day after her fall so he was here for a week taking care of her and Jujube.

I arrived here on the 1st. The plan was that I was to take care of Jen and Jules until Steph flew in on the 4th -- and I did so.

However, while Mike was at the airport picking up Steph, I lost my balance and fell while carrying the baby. I did not drop her and she's fine but I ended up busting my right fibula an inch above the ankle and forking up my knee.

Yesterday, I had the followup appt to get a cast on my ankle but the treatment plan changed on Monday when I got a call from Kaiser telling me I had fractured my knee and might need surgery.

This is what I wrote a friend last night -- I'm on a very strong narcotic and it is easier to just cut and paste this (sorry about the lack of capitalization and bad punctuation):

spent most of the afternoon at kaiser -- ct scan, physical exam of leg and a whole lotta back and forth calls between the orthopedist and the orthopedic surgeon going over the results of same. am scheduled for surgery to fix my badly mangled knee on wed morning. they may keep me overnight.

the femur came 'crashing' through the knee joint and ‘pounded’ (the words the fracture clinic doc used) the tibia head at the tibial/patella plateau. it pushed one side of the plateau way way down. there is also a nasty crack on the tibia head just where it starts to curve out to form the head and it doesn’t go all the way through but …. the plan is to lift up the depressed bone, using bone grafts to help keep it up while healing and then put a plate on the outside (fx side) with screws holding it all together.

i was told that this injury is the type of injury that tends to end up with a total knee replacement later on. however on the plus side, altho the injury site is hard for the surgeon to get to, it is the best site for healing since its towards the back instead of the front of the tibia.

doc warned me that i might be overnight ed at the hospital post op. current guestimate is 12 weeks of no weight bearing but that could change post op depending on all the yada yada's the docs say. everything today was just an estimate - won’t really know how long i’ll be laid up until after the surgeon puts me back together again.

the surgery clinic will call me tuesday late afternoon. they will let me know the time of the surgery but its likely to be 0600.

the good news in all this bad news is that i was lucky enough to get one of the highest recommended surgeons. his specialty is trauma orthopedics and i've heard rave reviews about him from several people - guess he's pretty well known up here.

So I'm living on Jen's downstairs sofa and poor Steph has two patients and a baby and house to take care of instead of one patient, etc. I feel guilty about taking resources away from Jen (even though I know logically that I'm not but the mom in me won't stop) and just keep telling myself that the good news is that I did not drop the baby.

Two broken fibula's in the same house 10 days apart. Amazing stroke of bad luck.

I have an appt with the pre-op evaluation center Monday and should know more after that.

Thanks for stopping by. I promise to update on Monday and will have Steph post a post here letting folks know what happens Wed.

Piggy Got Back

Piggy's Got Back

I Don't Know What You Come To Do

Robert Randolph and The Family Band -- I Don't Know What You Come To Do, live on Austin City Limits, September 30, 2002.

I've seen this band live and can only say if they are gonna be playing anywhere near you -- GET TICKETS! you will not regret it. Check out their cover of Billie Jean -- forking amazing what that man gets that pedal steel to do...

When I Was Young

Roy Clark - Yesterday When I Was Young live at The Grand Ole Opry on September 29, 2007.

Barack Was Born This Way

Love this video!

Bling!

Liberace -- now that's what I call bling! From 1984 appearance on The Tonight Show.

Getting Big

Jules and her dad are having a great time with her new toys.

Hippo Gnu Deer

Abba -- Happy New Year

I have only one resolution this year -- to be better at all that I do.

May your best day of 2011 be your worst day of 2012.