The dojo finished up the Tonfa sessions and moved on to Nunchaku, or nunchucks! These look like the hardest weapons to learn!
I was amazed no one smacked themselves in the head with these things!
I think the kids like the coolness factor of sticking them in their belts. :-)
That's Lex on the right.
???? Someone is turning nine soon! ????
While I was lying with Lex tonight I told him about a meeting at school tomorrow that he’ll be attending. Turns out it’s happening when he has band and he was very upset about that. He was also upset about the fact that he didn’t know the meeting what happening, and had only the vaguest idea about the plan. He said it was frustrating being a kid because people don’t tell you what’s happening or the whole story about things going on. He made a great comparison, saying life is like one of those haunted house rides where you get in the car on the track and things pop up at you along the way. Sometimes the things are bad or scary, and sometimes they are good, but you never know when something is going to pop up. I love that comparison. I reminded him that the same is true for adults and that even when the things were scary or bad, your car keeps going. You may be scared and your heart may beat fast for a few minutes, but life keeps moving along. We agreed to sit next to each other in the car and hold hands when the bad things pop up. I love my boy.
Two carpal tunnel surgeries and I’m ready to go! Kinda. Just now I’m feeling a little beat up. I took the bandage off the left wrist and was surprised to see minimal bruising and swelling. There was more pain this time, so I was expecting to have more bruising and swelling as well. Guess not.
Left wrist (with green circle) was just done, right wrist (with bruising from the IV) was done a few weeks ago. The white tape came off after I showered, so now I have band-aids on both wrists.
It has been quite a mental task to shift completely from using my left hand to my right. I’ve been babying my right for the past three weeks and suddenly it’s now on full duty, despite the fact that it’s only about 90% ready.
Lucky for me I’m surrounded by supportive family and I have flexible obligations, so I have time to heal. I’m also getting good rest. It’s a new feeling not waking up with numb or tingly (or firey!) hands.
Life is good.
I had carpal tunnel surgery on the left side today. They had a little trouble placing the IV on the right though. Four sticks and three nurses later they finally got it! The whole experience from start to finish was less awesome this time, but still ok and now both wrists are done and hopefully the carpal tunnel pain is gone!
Eve made herself this amazing sign for her bedroom door and I love it. She took dinosaur stickers and guessed at their feelings and emotions. I asked if it was a book about feelings and she said no, just a regular sticker book. I especially love the face with steam coming out of it’s ears under the “Don’t come in” words, and the “hangry” one, and well… I love them all! I mostly love that “Happy” is the default checked box. :)
How are you feeling today?
I was clearing off the table yesterday, trying to make room for us to eat, and I saw this on the table.
Probably could have cropped this picture a bit. :)
“Did someone lose a tooth?” I asked. “Oh, yeah, I did,” said Lex. I had to laugh. Losing teeth is such a non-issue these days. He lost it at lunch and went to the nurse, as is the protocol when you lose a tooth in school. He showed me the space where it was, and the space was filled with a tooth half way grown in already! Bottom, right… first molar maybe? I forgot already.
They did!
Alan won last night! Three years on the Selectboard, running the show. Welcome to town politics!
Big day for Alan!
Campaigning outside the polling place. Brrr! At least it's sunny!
I should have taken this picture AFTER I voted! Silly me.
Make sure you get out and vote today if you’re in a Super Tuesday state!
Grandpa at his 90th birthday last September. He was surrounded by family and so happy.
Grandpa died this week, peacefully, with family by his side. He was at the hospital for an eye exam and he fell last week and hit his head. They zipped him over the ER where they were able to run some tests and monitor him. The bleeding continued and his very brave children made the very hard decisions to honor his wishes and allow him to die peacefully. They admitted him to the hospital where comfort measures were provided, and for one long weekend we took shifts at the hospital, holding his hand and remembering him fondly. Monday morning, February 22nd, he took his final breath.
It has been a whirlwind since then. Family arriving, many tears shed, logistics to sort out, a house full of memories to sort though, divide up, and decide how to handle. But through it all was the peaceful knowing that Grandpa was comfortable now, and back home with Grandma, whom he loved so dearly.
Grandma and Grandpa with me and Rosy. Christmas, 1981
Grandpa at work, many, many years ago.
I love this picture. Grandpa with Nana, Grandma, and me. Easter, 1981.
A card from Grandpa’s funeral service.
He was a strong man, a loyal husband, caring father, fun grandpa, and a silly Popcube. He was smart and kind. He lived a strong life. He was loved and will be missed.
Grandpa with a puzzle Eve had made for him for his 90th birthday. She drew him wearing his Scrabble sweatshirt, holding a model airplane. Grandpa loved it!