A Little Update from The Porch....

The last couple of weeks have been stressful, to say the least!  Where to start......

Remember when we had all that ice and snow and I was stuck at home with a bad case of "cabin fever" for a few days?  Well, on a couple of those really nasty days, Eddie had to make the treacherous drive in to work.  On his way to the truck one of those days, he fell on the ice in the parking lot and landed pretty hard, injuring his shoulder.

A week later, he still couldn't life his arm or rotate his shoulder.  So, he trekked off to the doctor, got an x-ray and was immediately sent to the imaging center for a MRI.  Within a week, we were sitting in an orthopedic surgeon's office hearing that he needed arthroscopic surgery to repair the rotator cuff and reattach tendons.

Surgery was last Thursday.  What was supposed to be a two-hour scope turned into 3-1/4 hours.  As his surgeon put it, his shoulder was "pretty boogered up!"

You see, Ed did a lot of bullriding over an 8-year period when he was younger, as evidenced by this photo.....

Don't we all just LOVE a Cowboy in Wranglers?!?!?!

During that time, he dislocated his shoulder on several occasions.  Consequently, he had quite a bit of "old" damage to his right shoulder.  He was relatively asymptomatic - until the fall on the ice.  When he fell this time, he injured the tendons and the rotator cuff - fixing everything turned out to be somewhat of a challenge.

After returning home late Thursday afternoon, my sweetheart spent most of the next three days in a drug-induced haze.  Thank heavens for modern medicine!  (And thank heavens we had the brilliant idea that he start practicing some "personal hygiene" procedures using his left hand before the surgery!  Sorry, but this is a practical reality....)

Here we are, one week out  and I only have good news to report.  He is starting to heal and he is adjusting to life as he will know it for the next six weeks - with his right arm immobilized.  He writes with his right hand (bummer!), but he does a lot of important things (like eat) with his left hand.  Hopefully, he will adapt easily and quickly.   He has already started physical therapy - just passive range of motion exercises done by his therapist - but, it's a start!

Between trying to play nurse, work, take care of things at the house, and get over an upper respiratory infection myself, I have been spread pretty thin the last few days.  Guess what was put on the back burner???  Janie's Porch, of course! 

But, with the weather warming up and Spring right around the corner, I'm longing to get out there on The Porch and start sprucing up for the season of rebirth.  Bear with me during this hectic time....soon we will sit on the steps and feel the sun on our faces as we squeeze in a little visit!  Until then, take a moment to leave me a note and tell me what you've been up to, Dear Friend.

Taking it a day at a time.....

Jane

Happy Hearts Day!!!

Well, Valentine's Day has already come....and is nearly gone. 

Was it all you desired?  Or do you join in the school of thought that this was a "holiday" entirely blown out of proportion by candy and greeting card companies? 

Whatever the reason behind the popularity of Valentine's Day, when you have a sweetheart of a husband like I do, you look forward to any day that is set aside to give and receive romantic cards, beautiful flowers and yummy chocolate!  As usual, Eddie Dale did not let me down.  And I catch myself thinking.....

"Every day is a special day with the one you love!"

 Wishing you sweet dreams and a happy journey with that special someone....

Jane

Resuming "Normal Life" (Whatever That Is...)

I used to think it would be rather cool to live somewhere way up in the mountains, isolated from the world during the months of Winter.  Sitting in front of a big roaring fire, entertaining myself by reading books and writing novels, having lengthy conversations about matters of the heart with my hubby (yes, I did include him in this fantasy).....

Well, now I know ~ I am not cut out for that.  No indeed, not at all!  That was just a silly, somewhat romantic, notion.  In reality, there would be firewood to chop, food scarcity and no local grocery down the street for emergency rations, no television and probably no internet.  (Well, with satellites and all, there might be television and internet, but I wouldn't count on it.)  The long stretches of being alone, even if you were with your significant other, could make for some pretty dark days, indeed.

Nope, I'm not cut out for the life of Mrs. Jeremiah Johnson.  And these last few days have proven that to me.

I'm chompin' at the bit to get out of the house today.  The sun is shining brightly and the drippy sounds of ice melting have stirred a song in my heart. 

Oh, heavenly sunshine!  And bare patches of grass!

 The ice and snow are receding and the pups have found the mud ~ lots of it! 

Plenty of mud....for tracking in!

My supply of coffee and non-fat vanilla creamer are dangerously low.  When my nail tech called and asked if I could come in this afternoon to make up my missed appointment from earlier in the week, I snapped the opportunity up like a drowning soul grabbing a lifeline in the middle of the ocean!  Imagine ~ conversation with another creature who doesn't speak in the language of "woof woof"!

Although the last few days have had a stark beauty all their own, I am ready to resume "Normal Life" and rejoin the world.  I guess I'm a more social creature than I thought!

Returning to "Normal", whatever that may be.....

Jane

Signs of Cabin Fever....

Day 4 of being snowed in!  And the fourth day of no school here in the Big Country.  Trust me, this is unprecedented! 

Meanwhile, I am seeing some signs of "cabin fever" setting in:

• I am far too observant about my dogs' "potty patterns" when I take them out.  Jake, the Aussie, has taken to eating snow - I just hope he's being discriminant about the "yellow snow".  Pepper, the 2-year old Doxie, has gone to a "semi-squat" now, somehow managing to bow her legs out enough to tinkle without getting her "business" in the snow.  And, Scout, my 10-year old Doxie, has come to the conclusion that as long as her front paws are off the patio, then she's off the patio.  So, we have frozen puddles of puppy pee and poop along the edge of the patio.  
•  The fact that the female anchor on my local newscast of choice is broadcasting from outside the station at noon, five, six and ten has become way too big a deal to me.  Even though I know what the forecast will be, I find myself tuning in for every newscast just to see if poor Lane is outside again!  I have watched more local news in the last four days than I have in the past year....and that's the honest truth!
• I'm finding myself channel surfing indiscriminantly.  In fact, yesterday I even stopped on Bravo's "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" and lost an hour of my life staring at shallow women who have misshapen, plastic faces.  I think every one of them should sue their plastic surgeons.....
• I didn't put on makeup for the first three days. Nor did I wear the appropriate foundation garment for three days.  (Yeah, ladies, you know what I'm talking about!)  It felt good for the first couple of days.  But, by the end of Day 3, I was starting to feel sorta like a major slub.  So, after showering and blow-drying today, I added makeup back into my daily routine.  Kudos to me!  
• I actually went beyond the back covered patio today and ventured all the way to mailbox at the end of the driveway!  This seemed like a real outing to me after being cooped up for so long.  In fact, I think I probably had just this adventure in mind when I put on makeup and shaved my legs in the shower!

So, what do you think?!?!?!?  Does this sound like a bona fide case of "cabin fever" to you?  Have you experienced something like this in the cold, dark days of Winter?

I hope that the thaw has begun now.  At least the sun is shining brightly today.  And, even though the temps are not officially above freezing, the sun is at least giving the illusion of warmth.  I know it has certainly lifted my spirits and I am thankful for this day!!!

Keep it warm and fuzzy, Friends!

Jane

Waiting for the Thaw....

Here is the view from my front porch today....

Our world is still frozen solid.  They are calling this "The February Freeze" on local newscasts.  All I can say is that is an understatement!

After enjoying a very mild weekend and pleasant day on Monday, an arctic air mass moved through that evening, starting with rain, thunder and lightening.  As the evening progressed, the rain turned to hail, then sleet, and finally snow.  The thunder and lightening continued well into the night and the temperatures plummeted.

I awoke around 6:00 am on Tuesday morning to the sound of tires spinning furtively on the icy street in front of our house.  A large pickup had fishtailed and ended up sideways in the street at the end of our drive.  After several minutes of working with a shovel, the driver was able to dig the truck out enough to get it straightened and go on his way.  A couple of hours later, the scene was replayed again with another large pickup. 

As I stayed inside with a hot cup of coffee and watched the local news for school and business closings, I was thankful that I can work from home!

Now, two days later, we are still in the same situation with the weather.  The temps have remained in single digits and roads have not improved at all.  It seems we are all trapped inside our homes, waiting for this unholy weather pattern to end.  School is canceled for the third day and even the local mall was closed yesterday.  You know it's bad when the weather trumps the almighty dollar! 

Those of you who live up North may think we're overreacting to the situation.  Ice and snow are more common occurrences where you live and everyone just deals with them.  But, this is paralyzing to us! 

As we face yet another day of staying in and trying to stay warm, cabin fever is starting to set in.  I will think of yet another way to thank God for the person who invented fleece.  I will actually put on makeup today and pretend that I am going to leave the house.  I will sweep the kitchen for the millionth time after the pups track in snow from their potty adventure out back.  I will finish my third book, and last, book from the library and try to avoid vegging out in front of the television.  (Will have to let you know how that turns out....)

Even though the winter landscape is beautiful in its crisp and stark way, I am longing for a warm Spring day.  This patch of Winter makes me dream of sunshine and tulips, blossoming pear trees and greening grass. 

Hurry up, Spring!  My heart beats in eager anticipation for you!

Anybody else caught in this deep freeze and ready for a change?!?!?

Staying inside....

Jane

Struggling for Balance....

Well, here it is.....February 2.  And we are snowed in for the second day in a row!

With this winter storm keeping us cooped up in the house, I have had plenty of time for THINKING.  Now, that's a dangerous thing!

Obviously, my blogging fell by the wayside in month of January.  What with trying to get things rolling on my new career in real estate, I found no time to even log into my Blogger account.

I admit it:  I am having a difficult time finding balance between work and the rest of my Life these days.  I have not been to the gym since the week before Christmas.  My husband finally took down the Christmas garland and wreath on the front porch about a week ago because I simply had not "gotten to it".  I think I have forgotten how to turn on the burner on the stove....

Life is always a balancing act.  More so at some times than others.  But, as I have shifted these other activities to the back burner to focus on one area of my Life, I have felt a sense that I am only letting myself down by not handling things better - in a more balanced fashion.

I can feel my muscles softening from the lack of exercise.  I find myself reaching for junk food or skipping meals more frequently.  My mind spins circles around possible scenarios only involving real estate.  The idea of creating a new header for Janie's Porch overwhelms my narrowly focused brain.

The last couple of days have reminded me that it is time to get things under control!

I love my new job and the possibilities excite me!  But, I must quit passing up opportunities to maintain other activities that balance work with play.  Physical and creative release will certainly enhance my performance at work.  They are the key to BALANCE in all areas of my Life. 

How do you achieve balance in your Life?  What are the secrets for living each day to the fullest, finding time for work, Family and self?  If you've discovered one of more of those secrets, I wish you would share with me.  Any insight on how to "do it all" would be greatly appreciated!

Hope you're staying warm where you're at....

Jane

Goal Setting 101.2011

Wow!  Hard to believe that we have already embarked on 2011, isn't it?!?!?

After such an eventful 2010, I am looking forward to this new year with much anticipation.  Keeping in mind that in the past resolutions have been made only to be broken (at least for me!), I am approaching this year with the philosophy of "Setting Goals".  Yeah, I like the sound of that much better!!!

One of my foremost goals for this year is obvious, but worth putting into words:

Establish myself as a Real Estate Professional. 

I realize that it's going to require a lot of time and effort, but there is a huge opportunity for me to build a career that will be truly rewarding on many different levels.  I am UP to the Challenge!  This goal has many facets and lots of "little" goals within it, so it will be important for me to keep taking those steps forward on a consistent basis. 

Another goal I'm putting into words and actions this year:

Maintain my commitment to growing stronger and healthier.

December was a terribly "off" month for me and the regimen I developed with working out and eating healthy.  But, no use whining about it.  Time to just jump back on the wagon and pick up where I left off!  I promise to try not to whimper about how much it hurts when I hit BodyPump again this next week....

There are so many things I hope to accomplish this year, but these two are at the forefront.  In working towards accomplishing these very general goals, I know that there will be many of those rewarding moments that come from taking baby steps towards the finish line.  Hopefully, there will be some giant strides along with those baby steps, but forward progress IS forward progress!

Now, for an immediate goal:

Get the header on Janie's Porch changed.

Yep, that's one of those "to do" list things, but it's a goal nonetheless!  And one I (and my trusty camera) need to get busy on....

How about you?  Set any goals for the coming year?  Big or small, I look forward to sharing the journey towards reaching our goals with you in 2011!

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy and Healthy New Year!!!

Jane