But, Id wanted to blog this 'weekend'...

The last day of the week that I work outside of the home is Thursday. I suppose it is natural that everyone there at "Passive Agressive Playschool" thinks that I am off to wallow around in luxurious leisure for the next four days.

Ha!

But anyway, Ive reached the point of exhaustion and so, this is the most blogging I can manage - Sorry Charlie! Only the best tasting tuna gets to be Starkist.

No one here in Oz is going to get that morsel of punchiness...sigh...Im off to savour one of our own ginger beers now, and if I pass out without making dinner, so be it! LOL

But where will I find the time?

Common problem Im sure - for example - here is what my home office looks like on a good day...

Which as you can see, features two computers runnning different tasks.  LOL to the right of the photo is the outer shell of a bathrobe I started making for myself.....in August 2011!!!  In between working a part time job for someone else, I freelance at a couple different things AND try to study 10 hours a week (in a bid to build a new home business for which I need paper credentials, as opposed to just real-world ones...or what used to pass for the real world anyway.)

Im not complaining.  Im #justsayin'

Then, I found the corpses of some of my frog friends.  I dont know why these guys died, but when I found them rotting in the empty plant pot they used to shelter in during the day, well, I just couldnt leave them there.  I scooped them out and put them in a dry place in the sun for a few weeks.  The bones are so fine!  Here they are on a bed of salt before being completely covered in salt. They have been in the salt a few weeks now, I dont know how it will affect them.  When I get around to it, we will see.

And somewhere in the last few months, some stars lined up to push me back in a direction I left behind...I dont know if I even can still make beads...my hands and neck may not allow a good end result....but you know what?  I MISS MELTING GLASS and experimenting with the chemical reactions and the whole process of creation.  So what if what I end up with is an expensive mess - life has got to have some fun, right?

 

I am slowly building my kit up again, and savouring the anticipation.  I will stick with the hot head for awhile, see what comes of this - if I even have any time for it - it doesnt have to be beads - it could be something else - the transformations are still taking place - not all of them ones we would wish for - all the more reason to learn to have some fun where one can?



Progress

There is progress...I can use scissors again! Other things are still very hard to do, for example: picking up a glass or can to drink from. If the nerve is capable of healing, it can take 6-12 months to do so. The surgeon who repaired it is not confident, but it aint over yet!

I had wanted to do a post that wasnt about my botched carpal tunnel - as well as bring you up to date. But I squandered too much time at There, I fixed it.com, and now Ive got to scamper!

Long story short...

...wait and see.

Magellan last September

Trolling thru my archives, I found this shot I took last September of my good friend Magellan. Lucky for me, he is still going strong although we lost his sister Verdigris awhile back. There was some strange illness that swept my little flock, it did not respond to any treatment I tried (and I tried them all). I hope I never see that bug again.

Anyhow, still one handed and having a go at doing things despite. Today it was cutting back an out of control vine in the garden. Well, it isnt my best job, but it will do. I think the hardest things about being one handed is not being able to get a bra on by myself, or bathe alone. Also, it is hot, itchy and sweaty in this cast, GET ME OUTTA HERE!!!


LOL

PS Sorry I havent been answering folks, but Im sure you understand. Cheers!

Bored again

The Most DH had to return to work last night. He'd been doing a stellar job keeping me entertained, but all good things must come to an end. So while he was out, I got the camera and spent some time messing about with my remote trigger ... here you can even see some of the stitches, they are so neat and evenly placed - nice job Doc!

Course that was only good for an hour or so. In desperation, I managed to do some dishes! How sad is this, that doing dishes one handed on a saturday night counts as entertainment??? LOL

Happened!

Tough going with one hand but bored sitting around...so here goes:

As they suspected, the original surgery did 'accidentally' amputate a part of the motor nerve responsible for moving my thumb. What was left of the nerve was trapped in the scar tissue. The specialist freed the nerve, and re-attached it to the muscle as best he could (it being shorter than it should be due to the missing piece).

As the longer a nerve is trapped, the more damage (death) it sustains, prognosis would have been better if it had been treated right away - last August - but public health being what it is, it was December before the specialist could see me. I got the impression from him that, if the referring physician had advised him of the nature of the injury, he could have seen me sooner.

We just wait and see now how the nerve manages, and hope that it is capable of restoring some of the lost function. I am waiting to see how it ends before deciding what action to take. It will be awhile before we know, so I will keep you posted....although at the speed of snail, LOL.

Thank you for your messages, you are great Mates! I plan to get around the blogs very soon and catch up, Meow!

And back on again!

Called the doctors office and advised him the hospital had canceled us....I guess we got a small win here folks - its back on for tommorrow...what a roller coaster! Fingers crossed that it really does happen - Thanks for your thoughts and wishes, Mwah!

Surgery cancelled

Just got the call that my surgery has been cancelled as "too many emergencies came in over the weekend". Now we wait again.

Public Health care...if you need something done fast, you're screwed.

Too much fun

We get out exploring whenever we can, and Ive even had a go at driving off road - its a hoot.

Might be off line awhile again after tuesday the 9th, as I am scheduled for microsurgery of my right hand. Long time readers will remember that last August I had an open carpal tunnel release done, which didnt go as planned. After they get it open again they will be able to find out what went wrong, and if there is anything this specialist can do to improve or repair it. "Fingers crossed" LOL.

Unknown Australian Wildflower

I do not know what this little charmer is called - am still looking for a wildflower field guide to Australia.

Ive been having trouble with my vision for awhile now, and blurry photos have become common. I dont know they are blurry till I get them up on my screen in full size mode, very frustrating! Ive tried compensating by using the auto-focus feature, but so far, not much joy there either. Will keep trying to find a work-around that works for me.

Yes, I have been to the doctor for this. It is a complex problem that there is nothing they can do for. Fairly typical of me, if I do say myself. I seem to be prone to being difficult. I will have to bring you up to date on the situation with my hands soon too...perhaps next time?

Sunrise from the front garden

I have a backlog of sunrise/sunset/skyline shots, so I might make a week of them.
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Im in a funk and cant really face writing about it, so I wont. Lets just say that the sedation is easing, and I expect it to get much better as soon as the old med is finally discontinued in two days, leaving me just on the new-new one. Egads.

Interesting, boring, and kinda gross

That is the interesting bit above. See, I want to experiment with infra-red photography - without doing surgery on my camera.

I could spend $60 for a filter which will give near-infra-red effects...$60 bucks!...they're dreamin'! And they want about that much for the fabled 'neutral density filter' that I would use alot more, and covet hotly.

All of which explains why the other day there was the shot with the red cellophane over the lens (just held on with a rubber band), and now today: this is a combo of red and dark blue cellophane, its getting there, dont 'cha think? Curiosity may also be a mother of invention.

All that could also constitute the 'boring' content too, depending on which way you are inclined.

Whatever.

Check out the colours of the bricks and sky - no post-processing here.

And for the gore lovers out there, heres my incision. It is nearly two inches long, keyhole surgery is for wimps! Beats me why they just steri-stripped it back together instead of tying a few stiches, (probably a cost cutting measure).

Bed and Breakfast, Bonne Chance

Returning to me after a 2 day absence-without-leave. Where have you been Mate? Dont you know I get worried when you dont show up for several meals in a row? Take pity on your poor furless friend, and let me know if you wont be in for tea.
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So the surgeon I like wasnt able to do my carpal tunnel release last week, and her stand in did it. Which was OK with me on the day, because, as you all know, it needed doing. But today was the post op check, and no, the thumb is not supposed to still be numb, nor the hand in general weaker than before I went in. So we are going to give it another week, and hope it resolves itself by then.

Its always something, eh? On the bright side, I am weaning off the 'hed-meds' and so any day now I might stop looking for a fight everywhere I go.

Trash+Wind+Tree = Photo

Well at least this is pretty trash. Unlike that plastic grocery bag that has been stuck in the jacaranda for about a year now. It can stay till I am bored with it too.

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We decided yesterday that this new med is a bust. Although it has kept me on a more even keel regarding lows and highs; it has also made me very short fused and not able to be nice to my fellow human beings. Its got to go, you cant bite the hand that feeds you, literally.

Aurora in her fave window

A month or so ago, I got this shot of Aurora in her favourite window. I like how her dark fur allows the reflection of the iris to show.
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Hand less painful today, but Im having some numbness I dont care for. A lovely bruise is beginning to show above the wrapping. Stitches come out on the 27th, and I can hardly wait. It is so weird to be suddenly dependent on someone else for your own basic care (hair, shower etc). The Most DH deserves some sort of prize.

Owie! Owie! Owie! Owie! Owie!

The nerve block wore off yesterday afternoon, and its been killing me since. But it cant last long - theres only enough pain meds to last today. LOL

Look Ma, one hand!

The pain isnt too bad and Im feeling otherwise well. Most likely there will be more tommorrow - But I snagged this shot this morning! Awkward as, but how to resist trying? A Little wattle bird against my fave acacia (cultriformis). Ciao! Ciao for now!

Young Xanthorrhoeas in bloom

Lucky me! Usually when we see grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) we are speeding by, and cant stop for a shot, But on this day, I got to take my time with this nice specimen.




This last shot shows that the plant deploys its blossom in a sort of spiral, one row is open now, and indeed, there were a few bees working them despite it being a very cold and grey day. But you can also see a second spiral of flowers still in bud. Now thats one smart plant to spread its resources out over a period of time, as opposed to all at once. After all, what if you bloomed when there were no pollinators out and about? You'd be stuffed, Mate!

(I need my eyes examined again, I could swear this was a crisp shot when I took it. Harumph!)

These next shots I took in Perth, 2005. First, a mature specimen shows you why they are called 'grass tree'.



And here is a cross section of ones trunk, it had been blown off in a storm.



We had one of these once, in a pot. It lived very happily, untill we bought the house and sunk it into the garden. Was dead in a week! LOL

Kick it to me!!!

The last of the seagull shots, for this location anyhow.
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Im just going to ramble it off and push the publish button - if I try to 'compose' I will just be here all night:

In regards to my mental health, its been definately different. Had a dose adjustment last friday (up a bit) and if this week is anything to go by, it could go up just a smidge more. Seeing the GP for a follow up on this friday. Now, at last, they have approved me to see a psychiatrist, (as opposed to a psychologist). His first available appointment is in September, HA!! HA!!

But on the bright side, well, fingers crossed...through a series of events I managed to get myself on another surgeons list (same one that did my breast lump) for the carpal tunnel/wrist surgery, and Lo and Behold, if it isnt postponed again, I will have my right hand done on August 18th - Woo F-ing Hoo!

After that I can go on the list for my left, which is very nearly as bad as the right - but they insist on doing your dominant hand first. The Most DH has arranged to take that whole first week off, and I have been saving bread bags to waterproof my paw when I want to shower. I tell you all this because I know how much you want more excruciating details.

So Ive been practicing doing things southpaw style, to reduce frustration later. Also, many things have to be done around here before the surgery, so if Im missing in action here, Im probably pruning roses; or if around the 18th, I may be enjoying playing the invalid - for so long as I can get away with it.