Bionic Man :: The Sequel

Hard to believe that it's been 6 weeks already since the Bionic Man Steve Austin, er Jim Austin, had his left knee replaced. That meant today was time for round 2 – the right knee!

We were early to bed last night and up early today to get him checked in by 6:30 a.m. 

We've got this routine down now. After he was prepped for surgery, I went out to the waiting area and worked on my laptop a couple hours, then saw him in person. Then went home and worked some more and returned after he ate lunch. 

The doc said everything went well and that this knee – like the other – was overdue for a replacement. 

Same 2 discharge requirements as last time – after being served his antibiotics, he needed to walk around without his BP dropping or anything, and he needed some liquid success in the restroom. He accomplished both much quicker than last time so we were home around 3 p.m.

We learned some things last time and our primary focus is getting AHEAD of the pain and ice as often as we can. His left leg needs to step up now and be the strong one! I definitely won't be leaving him unsupervised much until we're sure Lefty's doing his job.

Thanks for the well wishes and support. We're just grateful for a skilled doctor, a flexible work schedule for recovery.

And the fact that we shouldn't have to pay 6 million dollars for the upgrade.

Count your blessings and be careful out there!

Trifle Tuesday Gets a Bit Nutty

If you didn't know, I do take requests for trifles. Today's was for a birthday boy at work and he just wanted something peanut buttery. Not chocolate and peanut butter, just peanut butter and well, peanut butter. So this is what I came up with. 

From the bottom up...

Bottom layer cubed up cake is a yellow cake mix that I added a half cup of PB2 (peanut powder to). I'd go a full cup next time. Just didn't quite add as much peanut buttery taste as I wanted. Though no one complained.

Next layer is just cheesecake-flavored pudding.

Next layer is crushed up Nutter Butter cookies then a layer of crushed up peanut butter wafer cookies.

They happened to have these in stock for peanut butter but they have a huge variety throughout the year and I grab them when I can. Their coconut ones are good and mint chocolate, too. They just happen to carry them at my Wal-Mart. Not sure about yours.

I repeated the layers and then added some Cool Whip on top and garnished with some Nutter Butters.

Based on the fact I had just enough left over to lick the bowl, I'm guessing it was OK! 

I still need to do a good holiday one before Christmas break. I still call it that since so many people are off! I'm thinking chocolate and peppermint with some tasty peppermint bark somewhere in the mix. Open to suggestions, per usual!

And it doesn't even have to be a Tuesday. We can go nuts any day of the week!

Feeling Kramped?

When you host a German student and your son lives over there for a while, you start to pay more attention to another country's culture and traditions. Even their strange Christmas ones.

It's Krampus Night! For those of you with German heritage, maybe you already celebrate it.

According to Wiki-Robyn: The day is based on Krampus, a mythical beast that is half-demon and half-goat. Characteristically similar to some creatures in Greek mythology, it has fangs, horns, cowbells on its waist, and a switch made of birch sticks meant for whipping or swatting naughty children. The harshness of its appearance is fitting, as Krampus comes from the German word "krampen," which means claw.

Freaked out yet?

According to folklore, on the evening of December 5 – that's TONIGHT – Krampus punishes children who have been bad by whipping them with his switch. He then takes them to his lair. He is the counterpart to St. Nicholas, a European gift giver who arrives the following day. He is also contrasted with Santa, who rewards those who have been good and are on his "nice" list.

I think I'll just stick with the German pickle tradition, which our "son" Lukas and family introduced us to. 

More Wiki-Robyn info: A very old Christmas Eve tradition in Germany was to hide a pickle (ornament, that is) deep in the branches of the family Christmas tree. Whichever child found it first on Christmas  morning would receive an extra gift from St. Nicholas. The first adult who finds the pickle traditionally gets good luck for the whole year. I like that part because I'm the one who hides it and no one else looks for it. Merry Christmas to me! 

Sweet dreams on this Krampus Night. Hope you have a jar of pickles or something to ward off the krampen! Yikes.

Be careful out there whichever holiday season you're celebrating!

Ugly for the Win

I'm starting to understand how an ugly Christmas sweater could be the winner of anything. We were actually able to watch the Vikings on our TV today. And it was ugly. And they won. But it was ugly.

Somehow we find ourselves at 10-2 for the first time in a long minute, and we're too cautious (read: burned dozens of times in the past) to get excited just yet. But I did wear purple to church this morning to garner all the good spiritual vibes I could!

Speaking of spirit...

After the early football games were done, my friend Cindy and I went to see the movie Spirited. I think it's loosely billed as a Christmas musical. I say that because neither Will Ferrell or Ryan Reynolds are particularly good singers.

But I don't have a problem staring at Ryan for 127 minutes, do you?

Anyway, it's hilarious. Not for super little kids since there are some mature themes and language you wouldn't want a 5-year-old repeating. But for adults – entertaining as heck. And so funny. And a few pretty catchy holiday songs. And honestly, not a bad a plot line. Though I think it's meant to be mostly predictable that way.

Anyway, see it if you need a new Christmas movie in your life! Plus we need to get this movement of telling people "good afternoon" going. 

That might be a little bit too ugly. If you know, you know. See the movie and you'll know!

 

Jingle All The Way

It's come to my attention that no one likes a half-arse jingler, so I jingled all the way today. Got my Christmas cards ordered and picked up. I mean they're still in boxes but I got that far. 

And...

I put up our tree and decorated it! It always looks so pretty in the corner when it's dark and it's providing the only livingroom light.

Still, it's nice to see it in the daytime so you can observe some of our colorful (yes, purple is a Christmas color) ornaments!

It's not just any old Vikings ornament. Before my Aunt Gwen died, she passed along a few to me. So even though there are several that fit that particular holiday color scheme, there's always room for more!

I took a break to go watch the Rapids girls' hoops team play. Took pictures of daughters of two friends. Will have to get to a JV game at some point. Jim's goddaughter is coaching this year. That's pretty cool.

Got home and edited my pictures quickly so I could keep on jingling. And by jingling, I just mean watch a Hallmark movie or two that I've recorded. Might not be too late to start another one. 

And look at the tree lights. It IS the most wonderful time of the year!

TGIF (Totally Garbed In Flannel)

This made me laugh because I saw it while I was sitting in my Friday night comfy clothes with no plans of going anywhere. And that was at 6:05 p.m.

Since I'm home alone – Jim with a high school friend and Carter and company already back to southern Wisconsin – I figured I'd just sit around and watch Assumption Hoops.

It's a new action-packed series that airs on the YouTube. Well on certain weeknights when Zaleski streams it, that is.

Since the Royals are up in Phillips, it's nice to still see them. The boys played first in the doubleheader and squeaked out a 4-point win. Yay! The undefeated girls teams are going head to head right now, with the Royals trailing by 2 at the half.

I purposely took this angle of a shot so you get a sneak preview of my Saturday. That empty corner needs some Christmas spirit! Seven feet tall with lights, to be exact.

For now, though, it's back to the show. Let's finish this, Lady Royals!

Hello, December

Waking to a single-digit outdoor air temperature and I was already hating December 6 hours in. But then December got all sneaky on my and gave me this view going to work...

And this view coming home...

Well-played, December. You are pretty sneaky there, making me think I like you.

I do appreciate that there are more colors to the Christmas season than red and green (and that unnecessary white stuff). But I don't think I warmed up all day!

Here's hoping December brings you warm wishes and blessings of every color for you to celebrate! New month. New chances for joy, right? 'Tis the season of miracles, after all. 

Keep believing.