We just finished disc 4 of Heroes, season one, and tell me this: Is Niki’s horseshit “power” going to manifest itself as something more interesting EVER, or will she just continue to be a freakishly strong multiple personality? Because I like Ali Larter, but Niki’s “power” is BO. RING. (The other night when she broke a billy club in half, Fred said “I’d say that qualifies her as strong.” Indeed.) If Niki and Jessica manifested themselves in separate bodies so that other people could see both of them, that might be kind of impressive.
Holy mother of god, this is the SLOWEST DAY EVER. If this next 24 hours would just up and pass, I’d be eversograteful.
After poking around Flickr, I found that you can actually send a cameraphone picture to Flickr, which will in turn post it to your blog. Therefore, before I leave for the hospital tomorrow, I’ll set this page up so that several entries can be shown on the same page, and I will surely post a couple of times from the hospital while I’m waiting to go in for surgery. I’d show Fred how to do it so he could post from the waiting room, but he’s not into that sort of thing.
We have to be at the hospital at 6:30 tomorrow, which means we’ll need to leave, I’m guessing, around 5:45ish. Which means I’ll probably get up at 4:30 so I can scoop the litterboxes and take my shower and snuggle with the kittens before we go.
Odd thing, I’ve had this itchy patch of eczema on my arm that’s been driving me crazy for a week or so and it just wouldn’t go away. I used Dial Antibacterial for the past couple of days (instructions from the doctor, use antibacterial soap on the areas that will be operated on for three days before the day of surgery. Ordinarily, I use Dove in the shower.) and the patch hasn’t bothered me since. Hmmm.
Shirley asked in my comments yesterday if I’d still be able to play with the kittens after surgery. I don’t see that there’s any way I could stay away from those babies much past Friday. If I can’t get down on the floor, I’ll make Fred drag one of the recliners in there, and they can climb up into the recliner and snuggle with me. I can’t imagine being in the same house and not spending time with them, it would drive me crazy. As far as I’m concerned, my incisions will be covered with a binder/ corset sort of thing, so they can bite and scratch at me all they want, and if it gets to be too much, I’ll put them in timeout, the little brats.
Oh, and LeighC asked how long I’ll be in the hospital. It’ll be overnight, so I’ll be released Friday morning, probably first thing. It’s technically an “outpatient” procedure, which means I’ll be in the hospital 23 hours. Less hospital costs if it’s not “inpatient”, I guess.
Yummy things I have recently cooked:
Quick Shrimp Po’ Boys. I found this recipe in Real Simple magazine last summer and thought it looked good enough to try, so I ripped it out, stuck it in my pile of recipes-to-try, and forgot about it until recently. We had them for dinner Friday night, and they were really good. I haven’t had a lot of Po’ Boys in my time (which is kind of surprising to me, since I LOVE shrimp), so I don’t know what “real” Po’ Boys entail, but these were certainly good and worth having again. My only gripe is the amount of bread. I loathe a sandwich that doesn’t easily fit in your mouth (insert (HA HA) disgusting sexual innuendo here), and I think next time I’ll buy a baguette, remove a lot of the bread from the middle and see how that goes.
Monday night I decided to make pulled pork (also known as “Barbecue”, here in the south) because I’d recently seen this recipe. So I put the pork butt in the crock pot as soon as I got up Monday morning, ignored it until a little after 3:00, then pulled it out of the crock pot to shred it. I was dreading this part because I figured it was going to be a pain in the ass, but not SO, my friends. That stuff shredded very, very easily. It took me just a few minutes to shred it, I drained the fat from the crock pot*, mixed the shredded pork with Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ sauce, put it back into the crock pot, and Fred was so hungry an hour later that instead of having it with corn on the cob and yellow squash as I’d intended, we just made sandwiches with the stuff, and it was DIVINE.
We had it again last night, and I said to Fred, “Next year, we can have shredded pork made with OUR OWN PIGS, and we can serve it with coleslaw made from OUR OWN CABBAGE and maybe with a side of bread made in OUR OWN BREADMAKER!” We’re having it again tonight, and I don’t doubt that Fred will have it again for dinner tomorrow night. It makes a LOT, is what I’m saying.
I think this stuff is best saved for Fridays for us, though. I hadn’t realized just how fatty pork butt is (the obvious escapes me sometimes) and I did scrape off all the fat I could see when I was shredding the pork, and I did drain the fat out of the crock pot, but it was so damn good that there must have been 63,000 grams of fat per bite of the stuff. SO GOOD.
And while I’m talking about food, a few weeks ago I made a batch of Not Yo’ Momma’s Banana Pudding, and instead of slicing the bananas, I cut them up in small pieces (like small cubes), and it was really good that way. Next time, I’m going to break the graham crackers up into smaller pieces, too.
*The liquefied fat from the crock pot went into a bowl, and when Fred got home, he dumped it over some leftover moldy bread and fed it to the pigs and they LOVED it. These pigs, I’ve gotta say, are coming in handy as garbage disposals on legs.
That goddamn mother chicken, I swear to god. She is the dumbest, least caring mother on the face of this goddamn earth, or at least on Crooked Acres, and since I have the BEST MOTHER EVER upstairs in the kitten room who will fuck you UP if you mess with her babies, I know whereof I speak.
The chicks are itty bitty and as such, can easily hop through the fence to the other side. This is generally not an issue, because Momma Chicken clucks as she moves along, and the babies hear her and stay with her and if any protecting needs to be done, she does it.
So yesterday morning I was outside filling up the bird feeders, and as always, when the flock o’ chickens saw me, they ran over to the fence and looked hopefully at me, because after I fill up the bird feeders, I give the chickens a scoop of bird seed and they pick out what they like and leave the rest for whatever birds come along.
(pic)
As I filled up the bird feeders, I glanced over and saw that the baby chickens had gone through the fence between the chicken yard and the back yard. Momma Chicken, rather than GIVING A SHIT about her babies was acting like what she is – ie, a stomach on legs – and was standing looking at me and hoping that bird seed would be forthcoming and she was nowhere near her babies.
I looked over in the clump of dead daffodils, which is where Joe Bob likes to hang out, and noted that he wasn’t looking at the baby chickens, was instead looking at the entire other side of the back yard.
I finished filling up one bird feeder and walked toward another, and glanced into the back yard again and realized to my horror that Joe Bob had seen the baby chickens and was low, crawling toward them, and moving fast.
“Joseph!” I said in a stern voice. “No!”
He acted like he couldn’t hear me, a favorite trick all the cats have perfected, and he kept on going. Momma Chicken didn’t even glance toward her babies.
“Joe, NO!” I yelled, and started running toward him. He kept going. “JOE! NO!” I bellowed, and I threw the bird seed scoop at him. It landed near him, he ran off, and the baby chickens stood there and looked confused. FINALLY, Momma Chicken remembered she had babies, and she clucked at them and they ran back into the chicken yard.
I recovered the bird seed scoop and tossed a scoop of bird seed into the chicken yard, all the time swearing up a storm and telling Momma Chicken what a useless dumbass she was.
She didn’t seem to much care about my opinion of her, though. Grrrr.
Fucking chickens.
(pic)
Yesterday morning I went into the kitten room to hang out with them before I cleaned out their litter boxes (since the plain clay litter just falls apart when it’s peed upon, I find it easiest to just dump out the litter every morning and replace it with fresh), and as I sat there in my nightgown, River took it upon himself to climb up the sleeve of my nightgown.
I imagine that in the operating room, the surgeon’s going to say “Why is she covered in small cuts [I originally typo’d “small cats“. HA!] from head to toe?”
(pic) Is it just me, or is there an element of “IN YO FACE!” in this picture?
Today’s uploaded kitten pics can be seen hither.
On the table, the dining room table, the Suggie sleeps toniiiiiiiiiight!
Previously
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
2004: We’re off to Memphis.
2003: Possum #2.
2002: Mean mommy.
2001: No entry.
2000: No entry.
Good luck tomorrow!
Good luck tomorrow Robyn! I wish you a very speedy recovery. I can’t believe you will be cut open around your whole body and they consider that to be outpatient surgery, OY!
Good luck tomorrow!
So funny – I loved the chicken pics.
You will be fine tomorrow. It will be over soon and you’ll be so happy that you did it!
Me too! Don’t be surprised if they wind up keeping you for a few days.
At any rate thoughts are definitely with you!
good luck with tomorrows surgery! you’ll be in my thoughts =)
I hope the rest of today passes in overdrive mode for you! They better sew you back together tight because I can’t get that South Park image you mentioned out of my head! I will be thinking of you. 🙂
Best wishes, Robyn! You’re doing something I have considered, but I am too much a surgery-phobe, so I will live vicariously through you. Can’t wait to hear all about it – yet another adventure!
Stay tuned because Niki and Jessica’s character (Heroes) does get a bit more interesting. There are a lot of twists you (or at least I) didn’t expect. I really ended up liking the show.
I hope your surgery goes very well and your recovery is WAAAAAAAAAAAY short!!!
That damn irresponsible Mama Chicken! I think it’s time for her to be served over rice. With gravy. And rolls. And a nice white wine.
Great. Now I’m hungry.
Best of luck tomorrow.
Best of luck tomorrow Robyn. I am sure all will be well. If they offer vicodin, take it. Ask no questions just take the happy pills and thank God for science!
We will be thinking of you.
I *totally* agree with Tracy in VA that the Niki / Jessica character pulls off some stuff I wasn’t expecting either. I LOVE the Heroes show and can tell ya that Season 2 on DVD is released on 8/26/08 and Season 3 premieres on 9/15/08.
Best of luck with the surgery, Robyn. I’ll be thinking of you. Those chicken photos are hilarious — thanks for making me laugh almost every day!
Hey Robyn…..de-lurking to say I wish you the best tomorrow! I’m sure you’ll do great and have a speedy recovery!
Good luck with the surgery. I’m always thinking about you. Too bad you can’t take a baby kitty with you as your feel better dolly.
Remember to take the pain meds on schedule. Don’t wait until you are hurting too much.
Hugs!
Just wanted to wish you luck and a drama-free surgery and recovery!
Thanks so much for a great blog, I was feeling low about some crap going on with work and it very much lifted up my spirits. Good luck tomorrow, we’ll be thinking of you!
Also de-lurking to say Best of Luck tomorrow!!!
Good luck tomorrow Robyn!! I will be praying for you, and the chicken pics were funny!! Oh and the kitty one shoudl say “yumm…. imaginary ice cream cone”.. lol
Sending my best wishes for a perfect surgery complete with fast recovery! Get lots of sleep the first few days post-op to let your body get into maximum heal mode. I’m sure all the love from Fred, Spud, and the cats and kittens that surrounds you will speed your recovery right along.
Robyn, I will pray for you tonight. Maybe while you are laid up, Fred should put the baby chicks up during the day while he is at work. Good luck. Prayers are for Fred also. I will be thinking about you all day. Hope Fred lets know how you are doing as soon as he can.
Happy Trails…till me meet again!!
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
I’ve been a bad, bad commenter lately but I wanted to make sure and tell you I’ll be thinking about you tomorrow. I know you’ll come through with flying colors and be back cussing Mama Chicken and playing with the kittehs very, very soon (prolly sooner than you should, ya dumbass).
(please pardon that dumbass bit; in our family, when we care, we cuss)
I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK for tomorrow Robyn!
We can’t wait to hear all the gory details. I am jealous, but extremely happy for you.
We will be anxiously and excitedly awaiting your updates!
Gina
don’t worry about the surgery too much. just think of it as a “spa day” with drugs! if they offer you a second pain shot in recovery, TAKE IT! you’ll thank me later!
Oh, one more thing. I appreciate you not posting your pics in your underclothes (my eyes, my eyes!), but what about in clothes that are appropriately sized? In my loving opinion, your comfortable clothes are quite oversized (mine too – it is something us fatties learned t hide ourselves in) and I don’t think we would notice much of a difference if you lost another 100 pounds or gained 50. So, maybe take pics in clothes that are smaller, maybe even a little too small for your before and afters.
Maybe that still makes you uncomfortable, but it would help a visualist like myself to really see the improvement. I need the surgery you are having and it would help to see the lumps and bumps, before and after.
But if it is outside of your comfort zone, I completely understand and respect that.
Cheers,
Gina
DUDE! I made barbeque on Monday with the same barbeque sauce you did! And it was GOOOOOOOOD eatin’, I’m telling ya. Just thought I’d mention that.
Also, I agree with lisa up there -points- about surgery being like a spa day with drugs. :] I again wish you good luck and a speedy recovery. -hugs-
I wish I could go squeeze the babies for you while you’re gone. I’ll be thinking about you all day tomorrow!!!
I’ve been waiting for the post in which one of the cats has discovered that there is a backyard full of potential playthings. I’m surprized you haven’t found a chicken head waiting for you on the back stoop yet!
oops…forgot to tell you good luk tomorrow. YOu have a bunch of strangers sending up prayers/good thoughts/good vibes…Looking forward to hearing how it goes.
I hope the surgery goes well and you have a speedy recovery!
Good luck with everything tomorrow!
Po’ Boys! I always thought of this a New Orleans thing and the bread is very much like a French Baguette. Just a different texture than the bread of sub sandwiches you get elsewhere. Not necessarily shrimp to be a Po’ Boy.
Robyn,
Best wishes for you with your surgery tomorrow. Another step in your weight loss journey. You have really taken the reins and shaped your life in so many positive ways since I have been reading your journal. I have enjoyed watching your and Fred’s lives change in so many wonderful ways. It seems to just get better and better! Thanks for sharing your life with us through the journal here and for feeling like a friend even when I don’t know you in “real life”!!
These days doctors send all kind of p.op patients home after 23 hour observation. Home is a much safer (far less germs/bugs to infect wounds, etc.) and more positive enviroment to recover in. So as soon as they can safely get you home they will. You are like me….home is the best place on earth!!
Again, we are all pulling for you!! Take care. Kathy 🙂
Good luck tomorrow! When you said you would post pictures, I hope you didn’t mean OF THE SURGERY.
Heroes pisses me off too because some of the powers are SO AWESOME (regeneration, stopping time) and some SUCK (multiple personalities, super sensitive hearing). I want to be the person who gets to approve new Heroes. Um, you want to introduce a Hero who never has to eat or drink? NO. That sucks. Step into my office, because you’re FUCKING FIRED.
Good luck tomorrow Robyn!
Hope all goes great with your surgery! I’ll be sending good thoughts your way.
Just wanted to wish you well for your surgery tomorrow – hope everything goes great and that recovery is easily managed. Tell Fred to spoil you ROTTEN!!
Good luck with the surgery and the healing and all!
Good luck!! Make Fred bring you some good take-out food.
Good luck with the surgery! Hope it all goes well.
I came across this event and immediately thought of you and Fred- thought you might find it interesting
http://www.kalmialandscapedesign.com/tourdcoop.htm
Good luck tomorrow! Tom and I will be thinking of you.
Two things. Firstly – thanks for bringing tears to my eyes with the pic of suggie. He completely looks like my Tody in that photo more than any another you’ve put up. I miss that that little guy so much. But at the same time I do get my orange kitty fix by coming here so it’s still a good thing.
Secondly and MOST importantly. Best wishes for tomorrow and for a speedy recovery.
Good luck at the hospital! I hope the surgery goes smooth (get it? HA!)and you’re home in no time.
Good luck, will be sending healing thoughts from down under.
Damn it, that’s IT! I have to go get a cat now. That picture just killed me dead. The end.
Good luck tomorrow, Robyn!
I will be sending only the healing-est energy your way tomorrow, and positive thought for your surgeon and his team for a job perfectly accomplished. How long was Fred in the hospital? It was outpatient surgery for him too, wasn’t it? I hope you’ll be back soon with a bitchy diatribe about how (a dozen) little things didn’t get done around Crooked Acres during your short absence – because we all know you’re indispensible!
Thoughts and prayers with you tomorrow and many wishes for a speedy recovery!
Good luck, Robyn!
Good luck Robyn!
Good luck tomorrow, Robyn!! Sending you uneventful-surgery and quick-recovery vibes from north of the border!!
My prayers are with you, ya heathen! (hee!). I want ALL the deets because I’m need to have this surgery done and I have not researched one damned thing. So please, help a sistah out.
Email me pictures in your underwear, before and after, PRETTY PLEASE! I swear I won’t share them with another soul but I really want to see how effective this surgery is. I think Fred is a selfish pig for not blogging from the waiting room. Tell him I said so.
Love ya and thinkging good thoughts to you!
Tawnya.
Fingers crossed!
Good luck, Robyn! Keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.
Best of luck Robyn and have a speedy recovery 🙂
Hi Robyn- I haven’t been to your blog before but picked you up because of the link. First of all I hope that everything went perfectly and that you have a very speedy recovery and Second, I’m glad you had a good time with the pulled pork.