Hec, when did you start running?

Exactly a year ago. I started my diet on August 1, and had started running the steps again the week before.

Okay, I did know you were running the steps. I thought you mean running on flat ground (which somehow seems more crazy to me than running the steps in the stadium, for no real reason other than I hate running). Is your piriformis behaving? (That's the fanciest way I've ever asked someone about their ass!)

Roofers started at 6am. That was actually helpful, kept me from oversleeping. Got Mom to the hospital with a few minutes to spare. Her knee replacement went GREAT and now she's staying overnight (as planned) for some PT and rehab before coming home tomorrow.

VA Hospital in Covid times: We both walked in with our own masks. Once we got into the hospital itself, we were temperature screened (both in the normal 97 degree range) and given replacement hospital-approved surgical type masks to change into. Each approved mask was in its own brown paper bag. Handy for storing my fabric mask with P25 filter insert! Hand sanitizer/tissue stations at every corner. Once she was checked in she was taken "back" for the standard pre-op stuff like biometrics, as well as a rapid result covid nasal swab. Where "rapid"= less than an hour.

I got to spend a few minutes with her pre-op after her Covid test came back negative (phew! It'll be another 5-9 days for my non-rapid resonse) where I touched NOTHING in the prep room except my backpack and myself. They got through most of the usual pre-op stuff while I was waiting in the lounge, but I was there to meet her Dr (who awkwardly stuck out his right hand as though for a shake...while I kept my hands in my pockets. It was a little weird.) I got a piece of paper with her patient ID number and there was an electronic board in the waiting area with patient numbers and various stages of progress. I also gave them my cell number and got text updates! Texts when she went in for surgery, when it was done, when she went into recovery, and once she had started to wake up. The Dr also called me after the surgery to let me know how it went (great.)

Once she was awake and successfully consumed her first ice chip a nurse called me and we were able to talk over the phone. I wasn't able to see her during transfer to her "clean room" and basically left at that point to go back to her place and be present for roofer needs. They had to come in a few times to check skylight installation from the inside. it's very loud. i want a nap.

Is your piriformis behaving? (That's the fanciest way I've ever asked someone about their ass!)

Yep. I still get some numbness in my lower leg, but I've learned some standing stretches that alleviate that. I always had some stretches I could do lying down but that didn't help when I was out and about and hammered with crippling pain. My sciatica is officially manageable now.

Considering that a year ago I couldn't walk one block to the corner store, I'm feeling a lot better about life from a physical standpoint.

Now if we could just get past the plague and this administration and get Matilda into a high school things would look rosier altogether.

I just saw Ken and got to hug him! We all wore masks, but after six months I hugged him!

Her knee replacement went GREAT

Great news! Also, I love you dearly for the most excellent names list.

I hugged him!

Ah, I bet that felt wonderful.

Oh, yay, Parker! How wonderful.

And also yay!Hec. Better is amazing. I'm all for better, whenever, however. Go you with the bettering.

Toddson, how is the new place? Are you feeling more settled as you unpack?

Loving the dog names. I can't pick a favorite.

We had a big ol' lug of a yellow tabby whose default name was Punkin. He was so laid back and unflappable though that he was universally referred to as the Dude. There was TC (tripod cat), solid cloudy grey, Merlin, a bruiser kitten of a yellow tabby we assumed was male, named ironically Buttercup (dear little Buttercup). Shoulda named her Miss Piggy--that would have been on the nose. Intense black and orange tortie named Ember. Dogs, Thisby, Sheba, and (I didn't name him) Spiffy. At some point I'd still like a pair of grey sister cats to name Hepzibah and Mehitabel. Or Grimalkin and Griselda. Most friends' dogs are called people names, though.

The ones listed here are the best ones I've heard.

Also, woohoo for the good experience with the knee replacement!

It did! And in more happy news, four members of the Horde are moving to Washington, and my sister has left Texas for Denver.

yay for good surgery and also for hugs.

OMG Notorious D.O.G. is awesome! Would be an excellent sibling for Doggy McDoggerson

I probably should not be allowed to have pets

yay for good surgery and also for hugs

Yes, this.

Y'all, I just did a work thing that was a bigger challenge than I expected but explaining what it was and why it was hard to anyone outside my department might be a bigger challenge. I am trying to content myself with basking in the glow of a job well done but I would like an appreciative audience for my accomplishment maybe more...

Today has not been a great mental health day. Did not wake up with alarm. Did not get out of bed when snooze went off - draggged which set the tone.

Emails from boss about doing something I thought someone else should take the lead on since I have to ask a million questions to do it.

Email from big boss asking for update on doc. Last one I did was 7/14 and I had gotten no feedback on it, so I say that. She needs update of doc in her email by Monday. There are emails that may or not affect it that I have no addressed in another email box. An email box that 4 of us were told to address and it has become only me and again, involves answering questions I very often do not have answers to and do not know where to get them - so another million questions.

Feeling very much I know nothing, am being asked to do things I cannot do. Also annoyed that I had asked someone people in other departments for assistance and GOT NO RESPONSE which I tried to explain to big boss.

ugh wah wah.

Work over I watched Frontline on Alex Jones. JESUS H CHRIST y'all, I mean I already knew, but to see it just so succinct. We are a giant shitshow right now and I think we are going to get it for 4 more years.