Da Goddess

I haven’t been posting all the updates I’ve been getting on lately because there have been just a few and most of them have said much the same thing. But I figured it was time to pass along word that Mikey, while still in the hospital, is really coming along.

From his wife’s email:

Ok, it’s been a while since I have sent out an update…sorry! It’s been a little crazy around here. First, I have to apologize to everyone…I did not get out our Christmas cards to everyone even though my wonderful dad went out and got them for me. Again, way too crazy around here!

As for Mikey, he’s been doing pretty well. He is still in the hospital and it looks like it will be a little while still. I spoke to the care manager this week and she said that he is still progressing very well but he needs a little more time before they can let him go. Even when they release him it will not be to come home; he will be transferred to a long term care facility for an unknown amount of time. While Mini-Mikey and I are truly bummed by this it’s what is best for his recovery. He is pretty clear headed but still has moments of confusion, no delusions though thank goodness. He does understand what has happened and seems to be dealing with it fairly well. He does not seem ready for visitors other than Mini-Mikey and I. He is still in some pain and is pretty well medicated most of the time. He also is very, very tired from all of this; he is sleeping most of the time. This is good for his recovery but he says he feels like a bum. The hospital has him working with an occupational and physical therapist daily to help him regain his strength and ability to do day to day things for himself. He was actually able to take a lap around the hospital floor this morning but then he was exhausted and slept most of the rest of the day. All in all he is doing very well, as the doctor told me yesterday he is an absolute miracle for surviving all this. I would have to agree with her on that one! Well that’s all for this time but before I go Mikey asked me to tell all of you that he says hi and thank you all once again for helping us all out. He is especially thankful for all of the prayers and love that has been sent his way!!

All three of us want to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and may all of you be blessed with your own holiday miracle as we have been! We love all of you very, very much!

When you think about it, all our problems seem so insignificant compared to what Mike and his family have gone through. Please say an extra Christmas prayer for them and then go hug your loved ones, grateful that they’re with you right now.

Update: Just a few minutes ago, I got another email.

I have some wonderful news today….I just got off the phone with the hospital and they are working on getting Mike into a Skilled Nursing Facility. He will be transferred possibly today, tomorrow, or Friday. His doctors took him off of the IV antibiotics today and they have cleared him for release. YAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! This is a huge step forward!!!

There truly are Christmas miracles in this crazy world!!!

I heard Koko Taylor singing

Merry Christmas

And I couldn’t have said it better myself. So, let’s dispense with the silliness. May all your dreams and wishes come true, my friends.

I don’t know about you, but all this Christmas preparation is for the birds.

Oh, it’s not that there’s no enjoyment in this. There is. Spending time with friends and family is always fun. But the hustle and bustle are a little too much for me. I’m built for comfort, not speed. And the more I have to rush, the worse I feel physically.

Today I woke up in pain. Honest to goodness PAIN. Pain that’s exceeded all since I got home from the skilled nursing facility. Couple Percocets later and I’m feeling better. Gotta shower and get ready to drop gifts off at my sister’s (less to take over on Christmas day), finish up cookies at my mom’s, get a haircut (present from Mom — yay!), and then collapse in an exhausted heap wherever I end up.

Yesterday I went to my friend’s holiday party. Two of the other guests cancelled, so it was a smaller gathering than planned. Still lots of fun, though.

I have lots of photo editing to get done for my home health worker. I’m giving her a disc of some of the photos I took for a Christmas/Thank You gift. I’ll have her pick three of her favorites and make those large enough to print, but the rest will just be proofs. We do plan to work together again in the future. She’s willing to be a model for a couple projects another friend and I are working on.

And that’s about it for me. I have lots of emails to check. Don’t feel bad if I don’t respond right away. Like, you, I’m busier’n a one legged man in an ass kickin’ contest.

If I don’t get back before Christmas, well, happy merry jolly fun to all! And don’t forget, there’s still another day of music!
 

I heard Sonny Boy wailin’

His rockin’ version of Claus

He rocks it and he rolls, now let’s give him some applause.

I heard someone a-singing

Canned Heat’s Blues

Now we can all seek out some gifty clues.

(Blues clues take on a whole new meaning now, don’t they?)

The blues elves cried:

red and green Tears

And now they’ve all gone and died. (Just kidding. They’re fine. They were faking, which puts them on the bad naughty list next year. Shame on them!)

Our dear friend Patty’s family dog passed away last night. He was such a sweet little guy. I just saw him two days ago and gave him a quick little scratch, giggled as waddled about, and marveled over what a cutie he was. And now he’s gone.

We’ll miss you, Hoss.

I never was able to go back to sleep.

Oh, I tried. But this stuffy head of mine, coupled with the back, and the reluctance to take meds just yet led me to lie here quietly.

Until, that is, my darling son got up. Did he come out and get something to eat? No. Did he get toys and play in bed? No.

Get this: he’s cleaning his bank. He’s removing all 5,000 pounds of change from the safe/bank and is washing not only the coins, but the inside of the thing.

He’s very weird.

And that’s not a good thing.

I went to bed around 1a.m. and was up at five. I can’t get back to sleep. Part of it’s pain, part of it’s congestion. I did, however, catch up on a couple of blogs (sorry, my friends — it wasn’t intentional neglect, honest!) and it was hard to keep from laughing too loud. Cleared out my email inbox — mostly. And decided to start uploading some of the photos I’ve taken over the last few days.

Later today, Little Dude and I head to my mom’s to help finish her tree and some cookies. I’m hoping to talk her into making fudge, too, but we’ll see how that one goes. Tonight, I want to go to my first blues show since my surgery. I’m not sure if that’s going to happen since I’ve slept so little, but hopes are high. If you must know, it’s Jones playing and I hate missing him when he’s in town. If you live in San Diego, he’s at Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge tonight and it’ll be a damn good show. Always is. And catch this guy while you can. He’s not going to be limited to SoCal for much longer — he’s that good.

My Flickr uploader seems particularly sluggish this morning. I may have to try to nap between uploads. That should be interesting. Ugh. All the internecks are slow, it seems. I protest!

Have a great day, folks! I’m sure as hell gonna try.

A little blues elf disclosed to me:

Claus Wants Some Lovin’

Better leave a little something sexy for him underneath the tree.

(That should get you on the GOOD naughty list for next year.)

Photos from today:

…keeps the doctor away. Or was that an apple a day?

Doesn’t matter. I have no apples. Not even a Mac. But I do have a camera and I put it to good use again today.

Went out with the home health gal again. Back to the park. We were trying to recreate a shot I had yesterday that didn’t work out as I’d wanted it to, but the light was too bright today. And that worked out in our favor; we got better shots than just that one I was hoping for.

I came home feeling less tired, less pained, more invigorated. I dare say, this photography thing might be doing me some good.

The added bonus is that I have a new friend, too. Home health gal and I get on like a house afire. She’s a blues fan as well. We both love being outdoors. She likes to model. I like to photograph. And we both like helping people. She says she almost feels guilty for having so much fun when she comes to work (at my house). I told her that’s how it should be. Work should be enjoyable. Unfortunately, we only have another few days together next week, but we’ve already made plans to get together after that — for concerts, photo shoots, shopping, whatever.

Once again, I realize how blessed I am. This back injury took a lot from me, but it’s also brought a lot of great people and opportunities into my life.

I’ll be posting photos later. Have to go wait for my dad to come get me so we can pick up Little Dude from school.

Signed,
Slow-movin’ but Happy

The blues gods gave to me:

Let Me Be Your Santa Claus

And then we sit upon his knee

It took the Wife to spot the problem with my song on the 5th Day of Christmas. Not only was it NOT a “Five Pound Box of Money”, but it was a song that had previously been posted. My face is only as red as Rudolph’s nose.

It’s fixed now. So please, feel free to go back and download the right tune.

This was yesterday

And then today the weather was so nice, we were able to go out and take these photos:

After a walk in the park, the home health gal dropped me off at my friend’s house and I did a couple little things for her, setting up her mail account for when we start doing more PR for her photography business. I’ve been wanting to do this since I had surgery and I finally got to do it. Yay!

It was a good day. Even had one of the world’s tiniest sundaes — one for me, one for the home health gal. The manager of the restaurant that borders the park comped them for us as a way of saying “welcome back!” to me.

I am now horribly exhausted and sore, so that nap is sounding perfect.