I don't have problems moving around with an elbow stick. The catheter bends pretty easily--I just need to keep the arm straight if I have fluids going in. Fingers mean I can't really move around. And feet.

Has this McSeeeney's thing been posted?

ANGRY BIRDS – LETTERS FROM THE FRONT LINES.

My Dear Amanda,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. We have sustained significant casualties in levels 3-17 and 3-18. Those loathsome green pigs are starting to build their fortresses with stones now. Sergeant has ordered backup from those black birds that explode. I pray they arrive in time. I've seen too many of my brother red birds thrown against stone walls to no avail. I'm having trouble making sense of all this, Amanda. They tell me I can come home after we get three stars on 3-18. I would like to believe it's possible, but my heart is heavy with doubt.

Yours always,
Red Bird

Tom, I thought it was cool when I paid off my car, but a mortgage is a whole nother story! Congratulations!

Annnndddd, a call from the Asst. Principal. Mac had a thing in the middle of class. Yelled that the teacher was racist and hated him because he is black. Then went on a tear about Texas being all about slavery.

sigh.

Now he's crying in the office afraid that everyone will never like him again and that he hurt his teacher's feelings.

Oh, Mac.

Poor thing. It was Texas's Independence Day not too long ago. Does that have anything to do with it. I mean considering that's why they wanted Independence from Mexico?

Aww, mac. I wish the teacher could see that part of it too. We all feel the same way, bucko. We get upset and lash out and later think about what we did. The good news is, you're maturing! The bad news is, consequences for your actions.

Also, in unrelated news, I always decide I want to do my nails on laundry day. But handling big piles of fabric every half hour is not conducive to a good manicure.

Well they have been studying Texas during the Civil War, so the reason he yelled what he did was because that was fresh in his mind, but it's rarely really connected with the emotions that cause an outburst. He was scared about my stuff yesterday and never really expressed that, and then he got quite a bit of praise for getting all As and Bs this 6 weeks. He usually has a bad incident after getting praise. It's part of our backward world.

Aw, kid.

But handling big piles of fabric every half hour is not conducive to a good manicure.

Neither are those little holes in the washer, I have hacked up more nails that way.

I'm listening to Criminal Minds on youtube while working. Why do they each have to explain a part of the profile to the cops, couldn't they just give the whole thing to one person to say? Did they get together and rehearse who would take which part? It's really distracting.

I have local friends who are willing to help out, but when I think of anyone coming over and smelling me/seeing me when I am in pain and haven't had a shower and my house is a mess? That's more worrisome than the surgery!!!

I know it will be hard to stop worrying about that but remember that your friends love you and will want to do anything they can to help you out. Try to let them!

I don't know about the shoulder injury but I know a few people who've had their menisci repaired. I can put a call out for people to report their experiences.

And good for you for TCBing even when it's scary!