When is a good "belly laugh" not a good thing?

Within a week of abdominal surgery! LOL. It's funny, but it's not. Anything that really tickles my funny bone is guaranteed to cause pain. So, I'm avoiding some of my favorite spots like LOLCATS... after first discovering how much it hurts to laugh.... and on that note.. there is the cutest video of a cat under the packing peanuts that really really really hurt my stitches! Should you get the chance, and it doesn't hurt you to laugh... go enjoy.

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It's done

I went into the hospital on Monday and had my surgery. I came home Wednesday. It already seems like a million days have gone by! And not in a good way.. lol. Pain medication is keeping me comfortable. I am up and moving... after a fashion. I know it can only get better. I really do have a happy mindset about it all... I'm just really tired and sore and bruised.

What a surprise! It absolutely made my day.

For years I have carried a roll of developed 8 mm film. Based on the envelope I had it in, I assumed that it was footage of the girls (military) drill team that I was a part of in high school. During December it resurfaced again and Paul suggested that I have it converted to DVD format before it deteriorates too far. So we dropped it off at the local Walgreens.

It takes a while... about two weeks longer than the estimate they gave us. We finally picked up the finished product yesterday when we were out for lunch. After our many errands were taken care of, we came home and popped in the DVD. It wasn't the drill team.

It was Christmas 1977. The year that my brother brought home his fiancee. There was my mom and my dad looking so young, so happy. And my sister Susan, looking almost exactly like my daughter Kim. (Something that everyone has always said, but until this video I never saw the resemblance) It was an incredible blast from the past! To see my dad looking so good, so healthy... what an incredible gift.

Pictures from the trip

Our travel plans were to make the drive to Phoenix in two long days. Unfortunately, our plans were changed at the end of the first day. Kendra had new braces put on the Thursday before we left and she was having a difficult time eating our typical "on the road" fare.

For her comfort and nourishment we were forced to use sit down restaurants on the road. That slowed our progress significantly on the first day. We elected to do the last 13.75 hour drive in two days. We arrived in Phoenix on Monday Dec. 22. I took this pictures somewhere between the Arizona Eastern border and Benson, AZ.

We were beginning to seriously lose hope of ever arriving when we finally had some good news :)

Our last hour on the road was under rainy skies.

While at my mother's house, I helped make the annual tamales, taking notes so I can repeat this recipe at home this year (my mother does not measure ingredients, she throws stuff in and tastes). Kendra learned to make tortillas... taking lots of notes so she can make some for her boyfriend.

We spent Christmas Eve with Paul's parents and his older brother and sister in law. Pictures include my three in front of the fireplace, Paul's parents, and Paul (no beard) and his brother, Mark.

Christmas Day was spent at my mother's house with My brother and his family. Here's a picture of Paul and me that Kimberly snapped.

After the disastrously long trip to Phoenix, we decided that we might as well change our travel plans for going home to allow three days again. Traveling west, I noticed a couple of traffic signs that I found amusing. In New Mexico, they seem to take an existential view of dust storms, while in Arizona.. it's much more matter of fact. Heading home, I asked Paul to allow me the opportunity to snap these two signs.

Arizona- matter of fact

New Mexico (as Paul says.."Well, it is the land of enchantment")

Finally, we were treated to some spectacular sunsets during our stay and travel. These two pics were taken in El Paso.

The Road is Long...

I have pictures! But as usual... not tonight. It was a long trip, we've just arrived (give or take a few minutes). The holidays were fun and I felt like I accomplished a few things. More later, I promise. Hope everyone had a good Christmas/holiday of choice.

Kim and her "China project"

Here is Kim in the shirt I made for her and with the visual aid for her class presentation. We took down our pictures on our wall to have a clean background for this shot, but you can see our Apache wire art down the hallway.

Christmas Kitteh

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Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight! Unless something crazy comes up for me to talk about, I'll see you all in 2009