Gee whiz, it's been a while since I've written my gee whizzes and you all have Dave to thank for it because of his post yesterday regarding Christmas and him knowing, G-Wiz, what I want for Christmas this year.   I don't know what's so different about this year from others.... oh, gee whiz, yes I do.  *snicker*  OK,  'nuf said.

Last week, for Thanksgiving, my responsibilities for dinner were a veggie tray and a pickle/relish tray.  Okee dokee.  Who knew it would be a self-entertainment job?  You know, with the cucumbers, carrots, and pickles...and tomatoes.  My family loves a certain type of pickle that my mom makes, it's called the sour pickle.  It's a really easy recipe, cucumbers (it's got me drooling already), canning salt, and cider vinegar.  As I was cutting the sour pickles, there was one that looked interesting enough for me to pause. 

I saw a big eye and... well... it all went downhill from that.  After I was done with the veggies and pickles, I decided to make the cream pies since Mom was running ragged.  See what a good daughter I am?  LOL  I have to admit, they were some of the best cream pies I've made.  The family flipped over the key lime, coconut cream, banana cream, and chocolate cream that I made.  Gee whiz, however, this pickle does not go well with the cream pies, taste-wise... *snicker*

The work week has gone OK; it's good to be back in a lot of ways but boy, I'm tired.  I'm SO happy today is my "Friday."  I've had a lot to do but at least it makes the day go fast.  There was one snag yesterday afternoon - an issue had to be cleared up between a coworker and myself.  The problem started at the end of October and it got worse because of time constraints and me not being at work, the feelings festered (at least on my end).  We had a mediator and it's a good thing because it would have gotten ugly.  Despite feeling as if I was put on trial, we kept working at it and it turned out well.  We used the tools that we've learned (and teach).  Gee whiz, I was really drained emotionally last night but it needed to be done and I'm glad that things are cleared now.  We have made a promise that if there's ever a question or a miscommunication, we will not be afraid to confront the other and discuss the problem right away.  I believe that it's better to be honest and timely in resolving issues instead of putting someone else through waiting and through undue stress and pain. 

Gee whiz, I'm looking forward to Friday because I get to return to the pool to work out!  YAY!!  The physical therapists have several exercises for my calves as well as the other exercises I've done before.  I never would have believed that exercises in water could make my joints hurt less if I hadn't witnessed it myself.  Gee whiz, I love it and I'm also looking forward to visiting with the ladies there - they are all so wonderful and fun. 

That's all the gee whizzes I can think of for this week... hopefully next week will be more exciting!  

Have a wonderful weekend!! 

© KJR 

My family's Thanksgiving was a lot of fun - mainly thanks to my two nephews, Travis and Adam.  I don't remember much about what they were talking about, just that I was laughing.  My brother has a very nice big-screen TV and it's the gathering place for the men on Thanksgiving; it's the football den.  This is the first year in so long that they have not stayed downstairs to watch football and they admitted it was one of the most fun Thanksgivings they could remember.  Nephew Jason got squished by Travis and Adam when he came up from the football den to get some food.  Perhaps this is some of what goes on in the den... at least when I am not down there.  ;-)  (Click photos to EMBIGGEN)

They posed for me trying to be super models or something...  my sister Susie got wet-willied when she left but she didn't seem to mind, which has me a bit worried, but I digress.  

We had a lot of family there and Elyssa made a new friend who let her play with her hair.  She is my SIL Patti's niece and I tried to warn her about what she was getting into because of my past hair trauma, but she managed to escape unscathed and with all her hair. 

Then there was sweet baby Eli who has grown in the three weeks since I've seen her.  I held her for about half an hour while she slept, despite all the chaos that surrounded her.  Then mommy, Sara, came to get her and since she's the mommy, she's the boss.  When my brother J Dee came to see if my arms needed a rest, I told him no.  ;-)   

J Dee got his turn though, he got Eli and his other granddaughter, Katelyn at the same time.   He is such a good grandpa and it does my heart good to see him glow with love when he's holding any of his grandchildren. 

My niece, Nichole, was there too.  Really there - she's gone through some rough times the last couple of years or so but she's back.  She's got two adorable kids and a great husband and it's so great to have her back.  The caring, fun, and sweet person has returned and we had a good talk.

I do, indeed, have much to be thankful for and family is just the tip of it.  

Today, I head back to work!  I have to say the past three weeks has gone by quickly and I'm a little excited about going back to work.  No, I don't have a fever... but am excited to get back into my life again.

© KJR

As cheesy as some of my daily text fortunes are, there are times when one hits home.  This morning, "Friendship is a mirror" arrived to my cell phone and I stopped what I was doing and thought about how true it is.  Friends and friendships are mirrors in many ways, both superficially and deeply. 

Take honesty for example; how can one be honest with his/herself without being honest with his/her friends?  Friends help us see the real us through their actions - if our friends are true friends.  Friends won't hold back any aspects of who they are, if we share of ourselves and make it safe for them to share themselves.  I've had friends who have held back important aspects of themselves and I have to wonder if they were true friends or perhaps I did not make them feel safe enough to share with me.  I wonder if they thought I would judge them, which - if they were truly a friend, I would not.  For friends love and accept true friends for who they are.  I was guilty of withholding information from friends because of my own self-shame and being scared of being rejected, however, thinking back, I think it was more my own low self-esteem that held me back than not feeling safe in divulging that I was far from perfect.

Friends mirror how we treat our families; if we treat our families badly, surely we'll treat friends badly.  Although some family members are out of control and we justify feeling and acting badly towards them, at some point we will undoubtedly treat a friend in the same manner.  I treated my sister in this manner and although I felt justified in "tough love," I should not have called her names and ridicule her as I did.  The truth is, I can have my own devastating circumstances in the blink of an eye.  I had a friend who was involved in drugs and I tried and tried to help her - why didn't I help my sister?  The friend shut me out - but not my sister, she almost begged for my help, through her actions.  I cannot change the past but I can change the future and how I deal with my sister and it will make a difference.  In fact, it is making a difference now.  It's making a difference in how I view people with similar problems and how I try to help because who knows what a difference it can make - no matter how insignificant. 

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am aware of all I have to be thankful for and the thankfulness runs deep.  I know, without a doubt, I would not be where I am today without my friends and family.  They've helped me through the tough times and celebrated the good times.  I am blessed, indeed.   I am thankful to all my friends, far and near. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all and your loved ones (even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving)! 

I should have been suspicious when my friend Linda entered the restaurant with a big box under her arm.  She's a sneaky one (but I must admit, she's my partner-in-crime).  Then a card was passed to everyone at the table except for me - my friends Jackie, Renate, and Sandi kept me entertained so I wouldn't ask to sign the card too or inquire what it was for.  I quickly surmised that the card and the gift were for me, for getting my degree. 

After the waitress took our order and returned with our drinks, Linda handed me the plain-paper wrapped box with a lovely orange ribbon and a white card.  I removed the card and Linda pointed out there was something missing wrapping paper and I looked and there was a large "8 inch" staring me in the face.  The waitress saw it and began to giggle as I turned beet-red.  Having memories of past gifts from my friends flash in my mind, I thought I was in for it again.  We were not at the NCO club as in years past where all sorts of naughty goodies were given for birthday and big occasions, so I hoped that being in a restaurant where families came, my friends would surely not pull another vibrating gift on me.  

After the blood left my face, I grabbed my camera for a photo while I was laughing, then took my chances of opening the gift.  I was pleasantly surprised that it did not vibrate, however, it needed electricity.  They gave me a 8 inch Video Photo Frame!  I could hardly believe my eyes; I'm spoiled. 

Speaking of being spoiled, my friends at work gave me a beautiful jewelry box, which is perfect for two other gifts I received.  Dawn gave me some gorgeous gold and amethyst earrings and Pam (Southernblog) gave me a beautiful silver and black bracelet with a silver heart with initial on it. 

The gifts mean the world to me and I will always treasure them.  I also treasure all the congratulations from all of you too.  I'm not "walking" until June, but I have my official transcripts and my company verified my degree.  My family is waiting until June for the festivities - or so I've been told.  Yesterday, at a family gathering, my aunt told me that someone should throw me a party and I laughed and said, "I'm off the party planning committee, someone else will have to take over." 

Yes, indeed.  The Party Planner Karen is off duty after the two big parties I planned this past year.  Now is MY turn to party! 

Nikki-Ann tagged me... since I usually frown on being tagged, you know she must be a good friend for me to follow through ;-)  The meme rules: pick up the book you are reading, turn to page 161, and divulge the contents of the sixth sentence on that page.

I'm reading three books at the moment, 302 Advanced Techniques for Driving a Man Wild in Bed by Olivia St. Claire, The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner (for work), and The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby.  Now, the question is, which book do I choose; shall I be naughty or nice?  I think I'll be nice and naughty since it's hard for me to behave.

Let's face it - I've been reading the 302 book for along time because I can only take so much *snicker* torture at one time.  I'll flip a coin - naughty is tails *snicker* and nice is heads... or wait, should it be the other way around?  So tough to choose. 

I read the 302 book and the sentence is something about the right rear corner of a desk which sounds more interesting as is than what the actual sentence is.  The Leadership Challenge sentence is about a manager taking a group out to lunch... perhaps a nooner but I doubt it.  So, that leaves the Photography book.  "Also, if you can get either age group to pose for you, make sure you spend some time talking with them before you start shooting - it can go along way toward loosening them up, which will give you more natural looking poses and expressions (plus, they'll probably let you shot longer after you've built a little rapport).  Sounds a little kinky...

Gee whiz, it's Raggedy's birthday today!!  Go over and wish her a wonderful birthday! 

Lots of love to you, Raggedy!!   

It's incredible how much laughter and joy that comes from one moment in time.  Yesterday, my coworkers had a little celebration for my graduation and they gave me a bouquet of balloons.  I brought them home and shared two with my niece, Elyssa.  You would have thought I gave her all the balloons in the world. 

She jumped and squealed with joy as she pulled the balloons down then watched them go up again.  My heart soared with each giggle and smile and I'm not likely to forget how much fun I had with her.  

As I wrote earlier this week about miracles, Elyssa is a big miracle.  Despite developmental delays from an unknown cause (still no diagnosis), she remains happy and loving.  The doctors first said that she may never walk, then it was that she would not learn her alphabet, numbers, or normal things for her age but they were wrong.  She is a little behind in her gross motor skills still, but she keeps progressing.

She's going to school in a special program and LOVES it.  She loves to ride the bus to and from school and she loves her teachers and classmates.  She cannot express her feelings in many words but she's got the most expressive eyes and smile.   

Once she begins to speak more, whether it's vocal or through signing, I envision her soaring like those balloons.  Up, up, and away. 

Every year, I look forward to February because it is when my birthday is, but this coming February, I am looking forward to it a bit more than previous years.  Why?  Because it is when one of my favorite TV shows returns.  This show is more than just entertaining, it's addicting.  It leaves many questions and even frustrations at times but it never disappoints where excitement is concerned.

I read the TV Guide's special fall preview and that this TV show was not listed.  I was irritated at best, however, in a smaller article, I saw where LOST, Season 4 would premiere in February 2008, therefore, cutting out the reruns of the episodes during the winter and later in the spring.  I have the semi-perfect solution to the reruns - film more episodes!  However, if they did that, it would take some of the quality writing and filming of the show, which are two of the things I like best.  The other things are the very hot Jack and Sawyer, but I digress. 

As I watched Pushing Daisies last night, I caught the end of a teaser for Lost.  My heartbeat sped up and my blood pressure raised a notch or three.  Oh, how I love DVR because I can rewind if I miss something AND not have to watch irritating commercials, but once again, I digress.  I rewound a bit and watched the teaser with anticipation. 

The teaser was about Lost: the Missing Pieces, which are 13 clips of Lost we haven't seen before that are newly created, not clipped from previous seasons.  Every Monday, there will be another clip released.  Click on the link above and it will take you to the first clip.  Oh... how the writers and producers love to tease and taunt us.  I hate to tell them that it's working. 

From what I gathered, Lost will premiere in 13 weeks, which is on February 6, 2008.  Yeehaw.

This photo was taken last summer at Antelope Island (Great Salt Lake), © KJR.  It is part of the Army-Ranger Memorial in honor of those who died in a helicopter crash on Oct 29, 1992.  Thank you to all veterans - we owe you our lives for keeping us safe.

Yesterday, between the pain pills and benadryl I took, I was quite loopy... more than usual.  Until I can get my leg/incision wet, I have to use my parent's shower because Dad has a shower bench and a hand-held-shower-head.   Wednesday, the shower went very smooth but yesterday was another story. 

Call me Karen... Karen, the Dork.  I turned on the water with the water coming through the bathtub spout to warm it up.  I had everything off except my boot, which comes off last. I got the shower-head down and placed it in the tub.  OK, I thought I was ready to go but alas... not.  As soon as I pulled the knob for the water to come through the shower-head, I got a face full of water, water ran down my leg, getting my boot wet, and then the water sprayed all over the bathroom. 

I found myself taking my fist and wrapping on my forehead, *knock, knock* and asking myself if anyone was home.  I giggled and called myself a dork.  Yep, I'm a dork. I got through the rest of the shower without further issues but I could not reach the water on the ceiling and walls due to my lovely boot. 

As I stepped gingerly out of the bathroom in search for Mom to tell her the bad news, despite me still giggling.  As I broke the news, I was braced to hear her call me by my full name and ask me what I was thinking.  Clearly, she knows what a dork I am and replied, "It's OK, it's just water."  True enough but I asked her to repeat it because I thought I was hallucinating her answer.  She said it was really OK since it was her cleaning day and it gave her an excuse to clean the ceiling and walls.  All righty then! 

We'll see how today goes but I will be careful and follow the proper order of turning the shower on.  I will be able to use my shower tomorrow, which does not have a hand-held shower-head and that's probably a good thing.  But you know, I'm liking the hand-held; it's right up there with Hula's toilet for the cheap thrills. I'm thinking one is going on my wishlist *snicker*

I'm no longer itching and scratching as much and stopped taking the Benadryl, so perhaps I won't be much of a dork today.  It's not all bad, being a dork, it's a constant source of entertainment for me.  ;-)

Have a great weekend!! 

Update: the Dork lives.  I had another fun experience in the shower this morning despite turning on the hand-held in the correct order.  The shower head is slippery in soapy hands and tends to spray what it wants to... namely the shower curtain and my leg, which is supposed to be kept dry.  The shower-head had a mind of its own.  Once I got done rinsing myself off, I dried my leg and stood up.  There was a big puddle of water all around the tub on the tile.  Oops. 

Mom drove me to the doc to have my dressings changed and my incision looked at.  As soon as the doc said I could now shower normally and get the incsion wet, I commented on how happy that would make Mom since I've made some water messes in her shower.  Then she said, "Your dad will be happy too since you got his toilet seat wet this morning."  We all busted out laughing.  Mom didn't tell me about the toilet but we both thought it was sweet revenge because of all the times Dad got our toilet seats wet... but at least it was water that I left on the seat!  ;-)   

Welcome to the Gee Whiz Itchy and Scratchy edition.  What is this, you may ask?  I've got the itchies and scratchies due to a reaction to either the anesthetic or the pain medication.  I'm banking on the anesthesia but the surgical center nurse thinks otherwise because I didn't have the reaction directly after surgery.  She seems to think she knows my body better than I do.  If there's anything that is different from the norm, it's me.  With a lot of my allergies, the initial reactions are delayed 12 to 24 hours.  I asked what anesthetic they have me and it was the same as October and I'm sure I've had it before that for other minor procedures.  I tried to find the meds online but nothing came up on Biprovan and Seva.

I'm taking Benadryl and as of this morning, am finally getting some relief.  Between the Benadryl and the pain meds, I'm really out of it.  I am able to write somewhat coherently (or so I think I am!) now because I haven't taken my meds yet.  ;-)

Gee whiz, yesterday was quite a trip.  Have you ever gone potty when you are sleepy and fallen asleep on the toilet for a few minutes?  I have!  And five times between yesterday morning and last night at midnight.  I felt like such a dork but I had some giggles over it - and so did Mom.  She caught me three of the five times when she came down to check on me and she kept asking if I had a tummy ache.  Ummm...  no... I just took a short nap because my toilet is so comfy.  I'm not getting any cheap thrills as I've gotten at Hula's house on her toilet and its cooling system.  If this keeps up, I may have to hook up my own toilet cheap thrill system again! 

Which leads me to another problem.  My kidneys are very overactive and so I have to go potty... a lot.  It gives a whole new meaning to gee WHIZ!   There's not much chance of blood clots forming in my legs with as much as I have to get up.  Fun, fun, and more fun... there's never a dull moment around me. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

I just got home from the surgical center and my surgery went fine (extending my right leg calf muscle).  I'm quite loopy with two shots of morphine and two percocets to get the pain under control... wooo.  Fun stuff. 

I have to behave and keep my leg iced and elevated so I won't be at the computer much and it's probably best that I don't write much in my current state *snortle*

Have a great week!