The Long, Long, Winter

I have not been blogging much. Partially because some things seem too personal to blather on about and partially because we have been in a slow, steady, un-blog-worthy (new word for the day) mode.

The economy has really hit us hard, and we have been trying to figure out how to survive. We are paying to keep the company going each month - but I do have two big jobs coming up. I just wish I had some more jobs lined up after these ones. Gene and I have become quite thrifty and I have not used my credit card in such a long time that the credit card company sent Gene a sympathy card - figuring I have died!

My hairdresser called and asked if I was upset with him, since I had not rescheduled a cancelled appointment. I assured him I was not - only that I could not afford to get my hair done. He understood and said that many of his customers were in the same boat. Then he offered me a free haircut! A couple weeks later I took him up on his offer. As I was leaving the office I told my friend Barb how excited I was to be getting my hair cut, and told her about Sam offering me a free haircut (I intended to tip him $20). Sam washed and cut my hair and then took a phone call. He hung up and then said to me "Barb is paying for you to get a weave". I was absolutely floored! I was torn at first, because a weave is expensive and it really was too much of a gift, and yet I knew that she wanted to do it, and did not want to spoil her wonderful gift - so I got a weave!

When I thanked Barb the next day, she told me she had received her tax refund and had us to thank for it, since we gave her a job. While I am always willing to accept thanks - she earns what she gets from us - so I guess we have a mutually beneficial arrangement - she is thankful for the job we give her and we are thankful for the job she does for us.

After waiting nearly 8 weeks, I was finally scheduled to see Dr. Townsend, the orthopeadic doctor in February. He said I have a torn meniscus and arthritis. He said I could opt for knee surgery to clean up the meniscus - but there was no rush and it was up to me. After doing some research, I opted for the surgery - and had it on February 20. The surgery went well. I was taken into the OR at 10:30, woke up in recovery at 11:30 and was in the truck and on my way home at 12:30. I followed orders and sat/laid around all weekend, iced it, etc. Gene and I each saw our orthopeadic doctors about 10 days later. Dr. Townsend showed me before and after photos and showed me the arthritis (areas of the bone where the cartilage had worn off completely). Dr. O'Sullivan showed Gene where his bone had all grown back. The following Saturday Gene and I hiked up the Upper Table Rock. We took it easy (22 minute mile) and had a nice hike. I was a bit surprised at how sore I was on Sunday and Monday - especially in the calves. Last weekend we hiked up again, at a faster, 19 minute mile pace. While I was breathing hard, I did not have to stop. The calves did not hurt after this hike - but I feel it in the backside.

Gene and I have decided to buy a couple of bikes and use them on the bike path to do some cross training (I guess you can teach old dogs new tricks). We counted up all of the change we have been saving for the past several years and actually have enough money to pay for the bikes with our change.

Poor Gene has had a long, hard winter. We have not been down south for almost a year. We cannot afford to do any remodeling projects. He took our end table and coffee table out and refinished them. Then he finished out the kitchen soffit. We potted some bonsai in cheap dishes we are using for bonsai planters. Several of ours have not held up this winter and new pots cost so much money.

We are looking forward to Kylie and Jason's visit the last week of March. Then my brother John and his family will be up for a visit the first week of April.

We have been trying to limit the amount of news we watch - as it is so depressing. A news hiatus, if you will. It has helped. The warm, drier days have been nice too, but now it is raining and has been for two days.

I have to finish up our taxes today and we have a job walk in Klamath Falls tomorrow.