Hi all.

Just thought I would drop in qand give you an update on how I'm doing. I know I haven't been around much since August/early September. Guess you can chalk that up to being too busy and having too much on my mind. It took me a long time to process everything from GateCon, in fact, some of it still seems surreal and I find myself looking at pictures and thinking, "yeah I remember seeing that."

Then there's the job, always fun...not. I got back from GateCon, left a week later for a job training seminar and worked a grand total of 6 hours at my job when I got home in October. More on that in a minute.

Then there's just the crap that happens when you are busy living your life. I don't know if Beth and Lothi talked about Burnaby Mountain (beautiful) on our last day in Vancouver, but that day started a series of events in my life that still leaves me wiht moments of deep introspection. We were at the park and heard the sounds of a traffic accident. A young man had swerved his truck to avoid hitting an animal in the road and crashed into a tree instead. He was ok, no injuries except to the truck.

A week later I was on my way to work and came on the scene of another crash. I stopped again to help, and it was a little shocking to see that one of the people injured was someone who had been in a clss of mine a couple of months earlier. He is ok and the last I heard he is doing well. Then, about 10 days after that, I came on the scene of another accident. I was the second responder on the scene. One person was very badly injured and even though paramedics and medical personnel arrived less than five minutes later, the man did not survive.

It was pretty upsetting for me. He had some much help and there was nothing anyone could do. The irony of the whole thing is we were less than a quarter mile from the hospital. It was a beautiful sunny fall day. Clear blue skies, warm, leaves just turning colors in the higher mountains.

I've been thinking about that alot, about how we are just going about our business and how things can suddenly just turn so fast. I've been spending a lot of time appreciating the little things in my life lately and now its time to let all of my friends here at MOL know how much I appreciate you.

I've been thinking about you all lately and wanted to drop in and say hi and let you know how I am doing. I had knee reconstruction surgery on October 8 and am taking some time off work to recover. Physical therapy is going well. The doctors and the physical therapist are all impressed with how wel I am doing. It hurts a little, but not so much that I'm spending my days in a drugged up fog. I go back to work Novemeber 12, unless something else happens. It is pretty nice taking a break from the daily grind of office politics, but I have a project that I've had to turn over to other people, and if they don't take care of business on their end, then I have a very tight deadline when I get back to have it finished by the end of December. Other than that, I have been spending a lot of time doing therapy, designing some jewelry and writing. Who knows, maybe I'll have a Mac story by the end of the year. LOL

Anyway hi, everybody. Hugs to all and take a little time to really appreciate the precious gift of your life and the lives of your loved ones.

((((Grrl)))))

You are so awesome! I am glad to hear that you are coming along well after your surgery. I hope you have a hawt PT assistant like I did. The guy was so cute, even limping across a room was worth it for a closer look!

So many accidents How stressful for you to have come on the scene of so many in such a short time! Caring people like you save lives.

I do appriciate my life and my friends... my own accident a few years ago taught me many lessons that I will never forget. Life is short, not always fair, and if you're going to get into a mess, it is best to do it with a Friend!

Great to have you back. I know life can be demanding sometimes and it's going to be something I must learn now too since I began working at the store. Working from 9 am till 7 pm and it takes almost an hour to get there and back home. So I leave around 8 and come back around 8. I probably won't get always the chance anymore to check out the site. But it's great to have you back.

Thanks guys.

Nope Loth, my PT ranks rather low on the cute scale, but he knows what he's doing and he actually helped me witht he rehab on my left knee 10 years ago.

Had another session today, and I found some new muscles I didn't know I had...mainly because they hurt now from the workout. Wish I was allowed to soak in the hot tub.

Yeah it was kinda strange to come across so many accidents in such a short time. I take comfort in knowing that I made a difference in a couple of them. You are right Loth, life is too short and definitely too unpredictable, but I'm getting stronger every day.

MG, welcome to the working life. It can be tough, but it can also open doors and opportunities. I know about long hours. There have been times when I worked 14-16 hour days for weeks on end. It was hard, but it was worth it. Hang in there, you'll do fine.

Glad to see you around again, Grrl! No, we didn't post about the accident at Burnaby Mountain -- although I'm still profoundly glad that the guy wasn't hurt. I wish the same had been true for the other accidents.

Competence trumps cute, for sure and for certain!

It's a big store and winter sales are coming up, around January it'll be extremely busy again. But it gives the precise rush to not think about it. I already worked there before in the summer but now it's officially. And they send me to another department which I consider as a promotion, it's not just hanging clothes back and cleaning up but also more putting prices on the products.

(((grrl)))

So sorry for your recent troubles, but glad you are keeping things in perspective. You are so right that life can change so suddenly...and we need to appreciate what we have in the moment. Hang in there with the knee rehab and I wish you nothing but the best!

There was a time a few years ago where I was afraid of going into bed in the evening for fear I would not wake up the other morning. No idea where that came from, but since I live alone I obviously felt that nobody would be there if I needed help with a sudden illness/accident. That was frightening.

And I guess I am also one of those people that really enjoy every day and every little thing, because you are right, it could be over so soon.

That is also the reason why I never could break up with friends in an angry way, for fear, something might happen and there is no chance to set things right again, and that is just not worth it.

Thanks again guys.

Astra, you are so right about angry words and leaving things undone. That is one of the reasons why Jade and I made a commitment on our wedding day, that we would never go to bed angry with each other and that we end every conversation with "I love you". Its been 12 years and counting and we have kept this commitment strong. I think the greatest lesson in life that we can teach our son is to love other people and always treat them with kindness and respect.

MG, cool! A promotion. Just make sure you get paid in cash as well as prestige.

Yep Loth, competence is a good thing. And I am getting stronger and reclaiming my power every day.

Yeah Beth, I wish the other people hadn't been injured either, but unfortunately that wasn't meant to be. I'm just profoundly grateful that most of the people who were injured will recover.

Wabbit, thanks for the hugs. Hope you are still working a plan for GateCon 2009. hint, hint.

Not exactly promotion but I'd like to see it as one.

Way to go, MG! Attitude makes a huge difference. Hope it goes well for you!

You're welcome, and as for Gatecon...it's likely a go IF I don't go to DragonCon, but that is a big if right now...will require some thought...it's one or the other but not both, and both have their appeal.

If you come to Gatecon, I'll learn some Jimmy Buffett -- is that an added incentive?

If it's a deterrent, I can promise not to actually sing any of it!

If you come to Gatecon, I'll learn some Jimmy Buffett -- is that an added incentive?

If it's a deterrent, I can promise not to actually sing any of it!

Oh, I want to come to come to Gatecon, and I'd love to hear you belt out some Buffett. The issue is a matter of conflicting times/very close to DragonCon, and I have a bit of a committment to attend D*C. I'll shoot you an e-mail on the subject when things get more fleshed out.

Cool.

Beth let me know when you want that playlist. I got Jimmy and Bruce and Jackson and the Girls.

And we need to add some verses to our Space Opera....

Updates and Progress Reports:

I no longer have stitches. They got pulled out on Tuesday, Thank God, they were freaking itching and I was ready to take them out myself.

I no longer have "the anchor" that monster sized heavy hip to ankle leg brace. I now have a much smaller, fits-around-the-knee model that is almost comfortable nad allows actual movement.

I have my keys back. Since I got rid of the anchor I can now drive again. I'm not real good at having to rely on other people for simple things like transportation, so this is awesome news.

I have been released for activities like swimming and soaking in the hot tub. Woohoo!!!! Can't think of a better thing for some sore muscles from physical therapy then a nice soak in soothing warm water.

And lastly, I lost 10 pounds since October 8. Between the meds and the therapy, my appetite has been non-existent and I almost have to force myself to eat something. Add the physical activity and Grrl is reducing surface area (and this is not a bad thing)

All in all, I'm doing very well. If I realoly wanted to, I could probably go back to work next week, but....nah, I'll take the full month off. I'm having fun doing my own thing and working on non-work related projects.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Don't you dare go back to work even one minute before you should!!
*shakes finger at Grrl*
You are loafing and goofing around for all of us who'd rather be doing that ourselves!

Yay for being able to drive yourself again! Whoo Hoo!



Now... about my hot tub crate full of troubleshooter that got diverted to Utah... you can keep the tub, but I want the guy who was inside!

Conga rats on getting your license to soak! And drive, and swim, and all that. And on the decreasing mass.

Now you be nice and give Lothi back her troubleshooter! Or at least work out a timesharing schedule.

In fact, I'm keeping him until you do work out an equitable schedule.

Glad to hear you are doing better, MacGyverGrrl!

Wishing you all the best! (Virtual Hug!)

Ok, I'll play nice and share. I have 9 days of freedom left, you can have him back then, since I'll be jumping back into the viper pit and be too busy dodging fangs to play.

Still doing great on the healing and physical therapy front. I've got two sessions this week and I have some free time and 15 passes on my new Gold's Gym memebership. Think I will be checking it out later this week.

Right now its on to more mundane things, like laundry.

And no Loth, I had no intention of going back to work before I am scheduled to. Loafing and goofing definitely have their appeal. So, I will continue surfing the net, watching DVDs, lazing around, drinking mochas, and staying up way too late listening to ecletic music and writing. The rest of you can live vicariously through this.

Thanks again for all the well wishes. Hope the rest of you are doing fine.