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People have been asking how my birthday was -- so I'll tell you! The highlights of the day were as follows:
So I've been busy, which is why no one has seen me much. Seems like it's been a good three weeks or so since I had any time off. It's all been really good busy -- the kind where you're doing lovely good things, things you are good at, things with friends and coworkers you like -- but it's been constant on the go, never a whole day to myself to catch up.
I've also been struggling with a sore knee, a really sore one! I twisted it or something doing yard work 3 or 4 weeks ago, and it's gotten steadily more painful. I kept re-injuring it -- the tendon/ligament/muscle group on the inside of the knee that pretty much controls turning your leg or going up and down stairs. I'm giving it a good rest this weekend, finally, and that seems to be helping. But it's been a real drain, actually. DH is still struggling with his sore foot. He thinks the nail he stepped on might have hit a joint or something. He still may see a doctor about it.
I've also had a cold that's going into its third week now, and it's gotten to the stupid coughing stage. The "congestion in the lungs kind of cough," not the "dry tickle in the throat" cough. The problem with congestion is that I have asthma and it's a royal pain to try to sleep at night when laying down makes you cough AND not be able to breath. So that's another fun thing.
This last weekend was a whirlwind of activity of the best kind. We went to Wisconsin on Friday (late, because we simply could not get away from things in Chicago), saw the DS for an hour before he had to go to bed, then left again on Saturday to go to my dad's town -- we were scheduled to speak at two churches on Sunday morning, one of them the church I attended growing up. Saturday was nice, my dad is doing so wonderfully! He's truly perky, and his new doctor has taken him off all kinds of medication and he's sharp again and as energetic as one can be when you're 84 and a bit feeble. He's not frail anymore, which is so good to see! I cooked for him and my brother, and we got ready for our talks at church. My dad's 84th bday was June 5, so I missed that, and I won't be able to go there for Father's Day either, but we were there in between! Nathan's birthday was June 10, and we didn't get up there for that, either, but he got his presents late, and we spent some anime time together belatedly.
Sunday was a really good day, even though it was busy, one thing after another. We had the two church services, which involved both of us talking and then visiting afterwards. Then I left with my aunt and went off to the Welsh Hymn sing we go to every June. Lovely! Then we came back, gave my dad supper, and went off to a church picnic that was already in progress. That was lovely, too. The weather was perfect that day.
On Monday I had two hours plus of coffee and breakfast with my best friend since 6th grade, and we got all caught up on things. Then we headed back home to the DS, who Nathan was waiting for me to watch anime with him. ;-) He had a list of shows he'd been saving up to watch with me, and I had a list to watch with him. We managed to get most of it watched!
Tuesday was catching up with the housework that DS hadn't been able to manage, and then we went out to eat at a steak place with inlaws, who wanted to celebrate the birthdays with us. So that was good.
Wednesday was my birthday. It was spent watching a last few shows with DS, then packing up to head back to Chicago, then driving in heavy traffic and getting back at 4 pm. I didn't feel like going out to eat by then, as my knee hurt and I just wanted to stay home. So we did. We did laundry for a couple of hours, as Doug had to leave on Thursday to go with a group to a conference or something. I bowed out of that!
Thursday was spent sitting around at the Center, providing "cover." There were a couple of guys there who are ostensibly in charge, but they are new volunteers, and so was there in the background to help with anything that might come up that they don't know how to do. I was kind of hoping to get some work done, but even when I wasn't out front, I was in demand as a listening ear! I eventually got away and came home and spent the rest of the evening totally loafing. Watching anime, of course! That's my activity of choice when I am feeling brain dead. Of course, I stayed up too late because no one was home to tell me to turn off the computer and go to sleep. ;-) Kind of nice, but I'm feeling groggy today.
Today and tomorrow I am having quiet days all to myself -- not going out, not cooking unless I have to, resting my knee and generally loafing. Only the most necessary of housework will be done! DH gets back tomorrow night, so should have two good days to myself. Besides, today is no day to be going out -- it's raining horribly here, with thunder and lightning and hail -- no tornados yet, though. I went out on the balcony to save my patio tomato plant just a bit ago and got immediately soaked!!
Which was kind of fun, lol! Maybe I'll do it again...
- So many people sent me lovely greetings at LJ and Facebook!!! Thank you!!!
- I had some drabbles written for me!!
- I got some cool gifts -- among them, one of my favorite pictures of Richard Sharpe on a key chain (thanks to my "twin" and fellow Sharpe fan Tom). Also very impressive was a gift from my brother -- he finds the most interesting things and knows what I like!!
- I got a few cards in the mail, too, and a nice big check from my dad which will be duly spent after I decide what I want most in the world -- that money can buy, that is!
- I am hopeful that more cards will be arriving in coming days, and I don't think I've seen the last of the birthday gifts as yet. So that's something to look forward to. :-)
- My sister called me on the phone, yay!! She was the one family person I didn't get to see this past weekend, so we had a nice birthday talk.
- The final epic episode of an anime show I've been following like a geeky fangirl aired on my birthday, so I watched that and enjoyed every minute. Not having mastered Japanese yet, I could only enjoy the action, but there was plenty of that, so it was fun. Sengoku Basara is the name of the anime, and its based on a video game. It's basically just a bunch of manly action with almost all my favorite Japanese voice actors doing the characters, so I'm a happy anime fan whenever I'm watching that show! It's continuing next year, too!
- It was actually a very busy day with just traveling back to Chicago from a weekend in Wisconsin, so I didn't get a "special day just for me" on my birthday. That is happening today and tomorrow!
So I've been busy, which is why no one has seen me much. Seems like it's been a good three weeks or so since I had any time off. It's all been really good busy -- the kind where you're doing lovely good things, things you are good at, things with friends and coworkers you like -- but it's been constant on the go, never a whole day to myself to catch up.
I've also been struggling with a sore knee, a really sore one! I twisted it or something doing yard work 3 or 4 weeks ago, and it's gotten steadily more painful. I kept re-injuring it -- the tendon/ligament/muscle group on the inside of the knee that pretty much controls turning your leg or going up and down stairs. I'm giving it a good rest this weekend, finally, and that seems to be helping. But it's been a real drain, actually. DH is still struggling with his sore foot. He thinks the nail he stepped on might have hit a joint or something. He still may see a doctor about it.
I've also had a cold that's going into its third week now, and it's gotten to the stupid coughing stage. The "congestion in the lungs kind of cough," not the "dry tickle in the throat" cough. The problem with congestion is that I have asthma and it's a royal pain to try to sleep at night when laying down makes you cough AND not be able to breath. So that's another fun thing.
This last weekend was a whirlwind of activity of the best kind. We went to Wisconsin on Friday (late, because we simply could not get away from things in Chicago), saw the DS for an hour before he had to go to bed, then left again on Saturday to go to my dad's town -- we were scheduled to speak at two churches on Sunday morning, one of them the church I attended growing up. Saturday was nice, my dad is doing so wonderfully! He's truly perky, and his new doctor has taken him off all kinds of medication and he's sharp again and as energetic as one can be when you're 84 and a bit feeble. He's not frail anymore, which is so good to see! I cooked for him and my brother, and we got ready for our talks at church. My dad's 84th bday was June 5, so I missed that, and I won't be able to go there for Father's Day either, but we were there in between! Nathan's birthday was June 10, and we didn't get up there for that, either, but he got his presents late, and we spent some anime time together belatedly.
Sunday was a really good day, even though it was busy, one thing after another. We had the two church services, which involved both of us talking and then visiting afterwards. Then I left with my aunt and went off to the Welsh Hymn sing we go to every June. Lovely! Then we came back, gave my dad supper, and went off to a church picnic that was already in progress. That was lovely, too. The weather was perfect that day.
On Monday I had two hours plus of coffee and breakfast with my best friend since 6th grade, and we got all caught up on things. Then we headed back home to the DS, who Nathan was waiting for me to watch anime with him. ;-) He had a list of shows he'd been saving up to watch with me, and I had a list to watch with him. We managed to get most of it watched!
Tuesday was catching up with the housework that DS hadn't been able to manage, and then we went out to eat at a steak place with inlaws, who wanted to celebrate the birthdays with us. So that was good.
Wednesday was my birthday. It was spent watching a last few shows with DS, then packing up to head back to Chicago, then driving in heavy traffic and getting back at 4 pm. I didn't feel like going out to eat by then, as my knee hurt and I just wanted to stay home. So we did. We did laundry for a couple of hours, as Doug had to leave on Thursday to go with a group to a conference or something. I bowed out of that!
Thursday was spent sitting around at the Center, providing "cover." There were a couple of guys there who are ostensibly in charge, but they are new volunteers, and so was there in the background to help with anything that might come up that they don't know how to do. I was kind of hoping to get some work done, but even when I wasn't out front, I was in demand as a listening ear! I eventually got away and came home and spent the rest of the evening totally loafing. Watching anime, of course! That's my activity of choice when I am feeling brain dead. Of course, I stayed up too late because no one was home to tell me to turn off the computer and go to sleep. ;-) Kind of nice, but I'm feeling groggy today.
Today and tomorrow I am having quiet days all to myself -- not going out, not cooking unless I have to, resting my knee and generally loafing. Only the most necessary of housework will be done! DH gets back tomorrow night, so should have two good days to myself. Besides, today is no day to be going out -- it's raining horribly here, with thunder and lightning and hail -- no tornados yet, though. I went out on the balcony to save my patio tomato plant just a bit ago and got immediately soaked!!
Which was kind of fun, lol! Maybe I'll do it again...
