I'm Cooking !

I am not a Martha Stewart nor a Julia Child but I am learning - Ha! Stay tuned here for my progress :)

Let's get Physical - ugh!

Do you know the difference between a physical therapists and a terrorists? You can reason with a terrorists! Ha! That's what the sign says at physical Therapy. HEY "They" think its funny. "They" being those who deliver the pain - NOT those receiving. My life has been altered somewhat by my recent shoulder surgery. I now spend MUCH time with my physical therapists Mikki and Benny. Outwardly, they seem kind- and gentle. But arm them with a prescription for therapy and their altered egos come out. They are determined to do EXACTLY what the physician wants them to do - ouch! I dont scream. I could. There is another young woman (a rookie) who just began her torture treatment a couple of days ago. She's a screamer! She just lets it rip. Yep- everybody in the building knows when "they" are bending her knee beyond her desire. I looked at my "pain-deliverer" and I said, "I could be doing that" She said "Doing what?" I said, "Screaming". She said, "I wish you wouldnt, but either way I"ll just keep going. Screaming doesnt bother me". Ummmmm. I decided to give it a go. Nope...... screaming doesn't bother her. Darn. So I am back to suffering in silence. The pain, the agony and .... no one to hear me. Torture I tell you , pure torture. But I do believe one day , some day I will once again be able to move my left shoulder and when I can --- my left hook may just go flying.. Just kidding... of course. I would never repay the pain. Really. Seriously... ummmmmmmmm

No pain - no gain uh?

Well, surgery is over and its once again time to pay visits to my physical "terrorists" , I mean therapists! Nah, my physical therapists is VERY good and compassionate. I arrived on time the day after my surgery dreading any movement on the freshly operated shoulder. She tried to distract me as she gently began to move my shoulder that I did not want moved. No pain, no gain uh?

Well, I'm gaining motion and I've got the pain marks to prove it. It's been several months now since I have been able to use my left arm so...... I am ready...... sort of..... yes, yes.... I am ready. (Have to keep telling myself this). I am having to learn as I get older that I can't do EVERYTHING. This has been a rude awakening because I feel like I can do EVERYTHING. But once you blow out 50 candles on a cake things start to go snap, crackle and sometimes even POP. Case in point, my shoulder. My friend Debbie has encouraged me to enjoy the post-surgery confinement. I am trying to. She's says milk it for all its worth. I am trying to. But honestly I prefer being on the go. Showing up where I normally show up and doing what I love doing.

Tonight, I will miss Yada Sisterhood, which is a joy and a blessing in my life. I sure wanted to be there and sad that I cant. Everything is taken care of and that not the point. I just love the ministry and parts God has given me. But.....I am taking my friends advice and my doctors advice and my husbands advice and the postman's advice and.... and laying low, healing and gathering strength for another day. I am grateful for good friends that have cooked, and prayed and sent flowers and offered help in every imaginable way. I am blessed. :)

A Pain in the.....

I turned 50 last year. It didn't take long for things to begin to go snap, crackle, POP. My shoulder went POP. Third week of June to be exact. I was trying to start a pressure washer. I know - I know - not a very lady-like chore, but I wanted to wash the bricks at the back of our house so I asked my father in law if I could borrow his. I should have asked him to start the thing --- knowing what I know now ---ugh! I pulled the start cord and it pulled me. It was stronger. I didn't know pressure washers were SO strong. You either start them or they kill you! Seriously! I heard my shoulder pop as the cord resisted my measly attempt at starting the contraption. I grabbed it in pain and was immediately mad at myself because I knew damage had been done.

I have babied, cuddled, soothed, injected and tried all sorts of medical and non-medical approaches to healing this injury. No go. So now its off to surgery. Tuesday to be exact. I am not looking forward to surgery but I am looking forward to getting to use my left arm again.

Left arms are important you know. You reach out your window to grab mail out of your mailbox with your left arm. You hold the blow dryer via the left arm as you style your hair. You instinctively open doors with your right and reach in with your left --- well.... I used too. Now I resist because even the simplest of motions leave me on my knees in pain. Oh - yeah - yelling too.

Tim has made up a song about my "broken wing". He sings it at the most inopportune times like right after a major stabbing pain. Its NOT funny. It's not even a good song. I have told him so and yet..... he keeps singing. I don't know which pain is worse the one in my shoulder or the one that sings! Ha.

Highly techno!

I got a new gadget for my birthday. An IPod touch they call it. I was in the market for a new IPod since I had sort of "overwhelmed" my old one with downloads of songs and sermons. This thing is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy out of my league but I am intrigued by it. First of all, it is wi-fi. Didn't say high five I said wi-fi. Its wireless and anywhere you might go that has wireless technology floating in the aire waves --you can use it and connect to your emails , the Internet and all sorts of great stuff. Love it.

Last week I had the opportunity to be in Florida at my sisters condo and it was my first real chance to use the gizmo. Sitting on the balcony, looking at the ocean, I was accessing my emails and communicating with multiple people, all from my IPOD! I thought to myself "this is crazy". I checked the weather for Perdidio Key, got directions to the nearest Office Depot (sister needed some more technology), looked at my daughters wonderful wedding pictures from 2 years ago- ALL from my IPOD. Love it. I listened to Chris Tomlin, Celeine Dion, and Russ Taff and never left my chair. Love it.


I have downloaded several sermons from at least 5 different pastors, and have my favorite music at my finger tips... I tell you LIFE is good.

Ok.... I am a little carried away I know. But I see potential here. Potential to grow and learn as I get to listen to others teach and preach from pulpits I would never get to be in front of. I can get online and look up Scripture and read books and things that might not have been packed in my travel bag. Technology can be good. I realize there is all sorts of evil using it too but I for one am using it for good. I am appreciative of my gift. Love the IPOD touch. :)