Sunday with Sheebie

Friends and Kitties!

Sheebie here.

It's been nearly a year since I was able to resume exercising after fracturing my kneecap.  You never realize how much effort it takes to simply move across the room until you break something important.  Overall, I'd say the rehab has been more painful than the actual injury--limping and favoring one side of my body for several months atrophied the muscles and tendons on my left side visibly.  Seriously, my pants were looser on my left leg than my right, and I had (still have, occasionally) chronic lower back pain from the unevenness in my frame.  

Last year I started practicing yoga, and I'd been at it about twelve weeks when I had my accident in May.  I enjoyed it so much though that I knew I'd resume it just as soon as I could, and when I went down to Arizona to visit my parents the following October I went to a couple of classes with my Mom (thanks Mom!) and that got the ball rolling for me again.  As long as I respected my knee's edge I was safe.  And oh, how I love it.  The past year has been a revelation in what my body can do--me, almost 52, learning to do a headstand in the middle of the room!  I am amazed and proud of myself.  I've gone at least twice a week for an entire year now and I'm happy to report that my knee is at 100%, and the back/hip pain no longer distracts me enough to deter a good night's sleep or a long walk.  I go to a great studio with small classes and wonderful teachers where there's lots of hands-on adjustments and feedback--it's an incredibly warm and nurturing place for the body and soul.

On the days I don't go to a formal class I like to practice at home, even if it's only for twenty minutes because 1) it's so energizing, and 2) I know that if I don't keep my hip limber I'll suffer that evening--pain is such a powerful motivator!

So I thought I'd toot my own horn for 90 seconds and do a Sun Salutation for you.

Notice my Helper?

or click HERE

It gives me such joy to practice.

Thanks for letting me share!

XX  Sheebie  SS

Sunday with Sheebie

Friends and Kitties!

Sheebie here.

So, I and my coworkers are surviving the new computer interface installation at work.  Truthfully, there's no real big differences--a couple bad but mostly good--and one of the nicer features are the more descriptive alarms that pop up in the alarm queue.

My absolute favorite one so far is this:

Dose this not read "Whalem System Disabled" to you, or am I just crazypants?

I almost want to do naughty stuff at work just to see this alarm!

***

So, a few months ago I weaned myself off of Effexor, an antidepressant that had nasty side effects if I missed just one stupid dose, started Prozac, and attempted subsequently to wean myself off of that.  Well, it didn't go so good...but fortunately I recognized the signs of the imminent dark clouds before it got too bad and started back up on my medicine.  It was kinda hairy for a few weeks before it kicked in but I'm pleased to report I'm feeling much more like myself these days, and since Prozac has a very long half-life if I miss a pill I'm not sweating and shaking and wishing to die.  (Working shifts it's easy to forget to take my meds at the correct time.)

Scott was scheduled to have cortisone shots in his lumbar spine for his sciatica next week, but his regimen of yoga and bike riding has been so effective he called and canceled the procedure!  Plus, his A1C number went down 3 points, and for the first time in years his cholesterol numbers are good.  Since we moved here to Las Vegas he's lost over one hundred pounds--I saw a photo of him from 1999 and was floored--he's half the man he used to be.  He does more yoga than I do!  Speaking of which, last Wednesday I did my first back-bend in probably 40 years...felt pretty dang good.  So does my knee--it's been eleven months since I busted my knee cap--and aside from some tightness in the ligaments it's back to what it used to be.

Our Nekkid Kats seem to be enjoying their noodity immensely.  Sweet Pea was initially a wee tad freaked out but once she realized her haircut made for a more efficient scratch-to-skin ratio she's been quite happy and soliciting rubbins at every opportunity.  KonaKitty, being so old and skinny has been on the chilly side (it's only in the 80's outside) but she has her heated cat cup and of course, cuddling to keep her warm.  It's got to be a relief to be rid of all the matted fur on her flanks, and soon it'll be past the century mark on the thermometer and she'll snooze her days away out on the Catio, baking.  Maui and John are dense as bricks oblivious to their furless state!  Typical mencats...

I will email out a schedule for Catio tours this week for those of you who requested one, and it looks like the meet-n-greet with GJ's Mum and Dad will be Friday evening by the upper pool at the Westin hotel...exact time TBA.  Carol and I had a wonderful hour-long chat last Sunday (thank you T-mobile for the free call) and she is the most fun and animated person...I can't wait to meet up in person, as well as all the other bloggers!  I promise to take lots of photos and maybe some videos, too.

We have another week from hell coming up at home with the majority of the inside of the house being in an uproar from the painters.  I chose a slightly different wall color from the warm browns to a grayer putty shade, and we're going all one color in the great room/kitchen, for now.  I want to do something with the kitchen cabinets this summer (paint, reface?) and then I might do the half wall and pot shelf in an accent color.  We'll see.  The best part is when this week is over I have three weeks vacation coming up!  I'm looking forward to it very much.

I've slowly been getting around to visiting most of you this weekend, but if you don't see the Katnip Lounge in the comments please don't be sad...we're still reading!

Happy Sunday!

XX  Sheebie  XX

What Sheebie Did on Her Summer Vacation

Friends and Kitties!

A verreh relaxed Sheebie here.

First off, if you ever have the opportunity to take an e-cation I highly recommend it!  I only looked at my phone for email and to skim blogs (gotta keep up wit alla youse) for about a half hour each day, and watched a bit of TV (Da Bears, Survivor, and Big Bang Theory).  The laptop stayed firmly shut.  I do admit to reading several books on my Kindle...but I read some bound books, too, so cut me some slack.  The majority of my electronic interaction was rousting the lazy slow twitch fibers in my muscles, to wit:

Yes indeedy, I'm back on my bike!  The knee feels great (except up really steep grades--nice excuse to walk and have a drink), and my left quads are at about 80% strength.  Descending stairs still is painful, but not physically difficult.  When I visited my folks (more on that later) Mom took me to two yoga classes which were fabulous, inspiring me to sign up through the City rec center for the next session starting in two weeks...during the MORNINGS!  Yep, you read that right, soonly I'm gonna be working afternoons--four days a week--WOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!  OK, it won't start until the end of December, but still.  I'm pretending that the next few weeks are merely an unpleasant, if pesky, prelude to a new, grand world of Sleeping Until Eight O'Clock Every Morning.  My new hours'll be 13:00 - 23:00 on the days where my attendance is required at the totally raw deal money-for-labor-exchange work (F, Sa, Su & M).

Back to cycling, I have a personal question--what's the best way to prevent rash in *ahem* certain areas?  I find that after an hour a certain amount of chafing occurs betwixt my greater glutes!  Quite distracting...any solutions?  Also, do any of you use an app for tracking your workouts?  I'm using the free version of Runtastic's Road Bike and so far I like it, but I'm open to suggestions.

The folks' first Selfies!

So I had a great visit with my Mom, Dad, and Shadow.  I haven't shared this until now but my Dad's prostate cancer recurred last spring and it was an emotional roller coaster for a while.  However, it looks as if he's got it licked--again--one more scan on his lung and he's in the clear.  His urologist said he expects my Dad to die from being run over by a bus before he expires from cancer...which struck me as morbidly, yet hilariously, reassuring.  They are both in fine fettle, Miss Shadow keeps 'em on their toes, chasing her throughout the house.  Kitties, expect to hear from her this week!

The Despot

I don't think Dad noticed it--but I played the Dessert Game with him, and even allowed him to win once...Mom's apple pie was just too damn good to dawdle over.  I did some cooking for the P's while I was there, I made a dairy-less potato soup for lunch(es) and sauteed shrimp with baked kabota squash and a warm bacon, mushroom, & spinach salad for dinner.  Mom said it was weird, getting kicked out of her own kitchen.  Also, that I'm a "vigorous" cook.  She's so nice...what she meant was messy, although I do clean up after myself I have a tendency to fling peelings, etc everywhere while I cook.  In my defense, the Potato Paring Incident was a result of a faulty peeler, which was resolved during a shopping expedition.  (Always blame the tool, not the fool.)

We went out for a scrumptious lunch at a favorite restaurant:

I ate it ALL.

where I had a pork fritter with sauteed spinach and mushrooms that was so good that when I got home I recreated it for Scott and he loved it too.  Since I broke my knee I've been eating a little more meat and I have to admit I feel less tired.  We have settled into a nice compromise of  moderate flesh consumption; more as a flavoring and condiment than as a main for every meal.  Scott fantasizes about a big juicy steak but he knows if he got one, he'd eat a couple bites and be done...and tear into the salad instead!  Funny how one's taste can change.

Mom and Dad took me to see a performance at their local live theater, and it was so much fun--it was the kind of performance where the audience gets to cheer the hero and boo the villain, and I've been promised another play the next time I visit!  The troupe was superb, and the venue was great, too; small tables (with complimentary bowls of popcorn!!), great lines of vision, and waitstaff in costume in the theme of the play.  Even a piano player, who before the show played old standards for everybody to sing along with.

After six great days visiting I went home where, with the exception of riding and hiking, I was a complete and utter sloth for nine more days.  It was glorious!  This was the first time in twelve years that I've taken two consecutive weeks off work, and it was the Cat's Pajamas.  I'll be doing it again next year, that's for sure.  The Horde spent many happy hours with me, happily buzzing away on my lap while I read (and napped) on the Catio--the weather was perfect and I think some days I only went inside to get a fresh cuppa coffee.  Rupert in particular has become a complete Lap Fungus, dribbling copiously and clawtooing my hide every time I sat on the sofa; in fact I'm typing around him right now.

So naturally, I'm bursting with cat stories to tell...the Heinous Flypaper Assault springs to mind, but that's for another day...

It's nice to go away, but it's nice to be "home", too.  I missed y'all.

Happy Monday, and have a Happy Week!

XX  Sheebie  XX

The HVAC Saga

Friends and Kitties!

Sheebie here.

Please excuse my perspiration--it's 115 F in the back yard--actually it's too dry to sweat.  What is with the weather this year?  The HOTS shouldn't be here for another month!  We got our new A/C installed just in time...or did we?  Because next Tuesday we're getting a brand-new replacement replacement unit.

Let me bring you up to speed.

1.  This spring Scott and I noticed a few water spots on the ceiling.  We thought it might have been the driving rain combined with 60 mph winds letting water in by the furnace flashing.

2.  A few weeks later I looked up and the ceiling in the hall was flooded and coming down.  Turns out the pan under the condensing unit had rusted out.

3.  Later that week we got a whole new HVAC system.  Complete with a plastic pan that wouldn't corrode.

Are you following so far?  Now for the latest...

The new system is high-efficiency, and the blower is slower to move air across the A/C coils to extract more cool air (or warm, with the furnace) per a given volume.  Translated this means it wasn't cooling our house effectively.  We called, and a service guy came out and adjusted the coolant in the system.  The next day, Monday, it still wasn't right.  The service guy, Nick, (we're on a first-name basis at this point) came out again  and conducted a thorough inspection, and concluded that the way the duct work was routed most of the cold air was going to the back of the house, leaving the great room and kitchen hot.  They installed--at their expense--valving in the duct work to direct the air evenly, and it worked great.  The front of the house was cool and the bedrooms were too no longer available to hang meat.  Seriously, it got down to 62 in Scott's bedroom!

An ignorantly blissful week goes by...and last Wednesday morning the ceiling was pouring down water, again.  I may have been a little terse on the phone at 5:30 in the morning...Nick was there by 8:00 with the owner of the business...turns out the new unit had a cracked condenser pan!  They were mortified.  Nick says once or twice a year there's the job from hell and we are the lucky ones this time.  *sigh*  Thankfully  Scott works from home and we are familiar with all kinds of reno problems so we know how things go sometimes.

So...next Tuesday we'll try this again.  We're getting a whole new unit, plus the furnace will be higher efficiency, at no extra charge, about a $500 upgrade.  The company is going to stand the expense of fixing the ceiling--all of it--and replace the insulation that's been tramped down in the attic.  They appear very committed to making us happy customers, which is very reassuring that this will turn out well, if not as expeditiously as we'd originally imagined.

Wish us luck.

In other news, physio on my knee is going well!  My whole left leg aches, but that's more muscle soreness from working it than joint pain in my knee.  Progress is definitely being made.  And you know what?  It's the small things in life that really count.  I never thought something as trivial as being able to bend both my knees while I read in bed was actually so important.  But it is.  Which kinda puts the whole A/C debacle in perspective.

Happy Sunday, and have a COMFORTABLE Week!

XX  Sheebie  XX

Sunday with Sheebie, Dad, and Spouse

Friends and Kitties!

Sheebie here.

First off, Happy Father's Day to all the Dads and Pet Daddies out there!

Keep up the good work.

Here's a couple of handsome men for y'all:

My Dad, wearing his snazzy new "Universe" tie die shirt from this guy:

my Hubby!

Who is a pretty damn good human/cat Dad himself.

I love you guys!

KNEE NEWS:  The knee is healing.  I went online and researched how bone heals and it's fascinating!  It follows a specific pattern, and can take up to five years to fully remodel a fracture.  Mother Nature is truly amazing.  Anyway, right now it's achy and tingly--right on schedule--I'm at nearly three weeks and the cellular latticework for the bone cells that lay down mineral bone is almost complete.  I have X-rays Monday to assess how it's coming along, and my Doc said if he's satisfied with my progress I can start physio in another week.

I went back to work (light duty) on Friday.  For liability reasons there was another employee working with me so all I had to do was sit and click a mouse.  I am going crazypants not being able to simply move!  Not to mention the mountain of workman's comp paperwork I've had to fill out--I'm never having an accident again--says Trinka the Klutz.

HOME NEWS:  I think the other (final?) shoe has dropped in the home repair department, Thursday afternoon the electric garage door open caught on fire!  Scott was inside the garage when it happened (thank heaven) and he unplugged it right away.  *whew*

We discussed that there's nothing left to go wonky so we should be good to go...

PARK NEWS:  Well, if I wasn't a total cripple I'd have tons of photos to show you, maybe even a video!  Instead, you'll have to make do with me saying that it's the nicest park I've ever seen out here, bar none.  I'd estimate work is about 85% done, but then again I thought that six months ago.  And last week they carved out a bunch of new pathways for walking so who knows what might be next.

Now, I have to go whale on the sofa, doctor's orders.

Happy Sunday!

XX  Sheebie  XX

Crisis at Wounded Knee, DAY FIVE

Kitties!

Nurse Grayce here, with Breaking News!

Mommy fractured her kneecap!  

In two pieces.  

She's part of the lucky one percent of broken bone sufferers that have a busted patella.  Furthermore, and even rarer, it's a vertical break.  Which means it's not quite as serious and she still can move her lower leg up and down--although she's keeping her knee straight, for now.  She's off work on workman's comp until (at the very least) she sees an orthopedic surgeon on Thursday.  So much for working eighteen days in a row...

We have all been making total pests of ourselves nursing Mommy non-stop.  She says it hardly hurts at all; however when she went to the human fix-it shop on Monday the repair lady there made her squeal like a little girl when she bent her knee past where it wanted to go.  Three times.  Which I feel makes up for the lack of Ye Olde Rectal Thermometer treatment. 

The worst part of the whole situation is that our breakfasts are late again!

Mommy is LAME.

No really, she is.

Happy Wednesday!

XX  Grayce  XX

Suffering Sheebie

Friends and Kitties!

One of these things is not like the others.

Left foot, Right foot, Left Knee, Cane.

Can you guess?

It's the Left Knee!  'Cos the other three things are working just fine.

*sigh*

Thursday I tripped at work on some piping and landed knee-first on the concrete.  It was really weird because I walk over those pipes all the time and I think to myself;  "Self, these are a potential tripping hazard, in fact there's reflective tape on them which you requested.  Watch your step!"  Nonetheless, I managed to snag my toe and since I walk so fast I stumbled and couldn't recover.  As I was going down I passed through some strange accident-related space-time distortion because it took forever to hit the ground and I remember telling myself I'd better put my hands out so I didn't land flat on my face.  (Which I managed to avoid.)

The second thing I thought was that this was really gonna screw up my yoga...and the third thing was holycrapthishurtslikeamotha!!#@$%$!!!!

It took me two tries to stand up, and when I did I was incredulous with myself that I managed to do something so clumsy.  This, from a gal who's molested by stray shopping carts.  Someone who runs into walls that leap out of nowhere, in her own home.  I managed to limp back to the Control Room, grab a bag of ice, and call my boss.  I can't recommend injuring yourself at work--the paperwork is terrible. 

So, as of Saturday night it's starting to get better, and I hope that there's no permanent damage.  If I need to go to the Doctor of course it will be workman's comp, but I really hope this will heal without any medical interference intervention.  The cane helps a lot, and the knee didn't ever swell very much or bruise.  All the pain is in the lower left quadrant of the joint--right where I landed.  Unbelievably enough my jeans didn't rip and my hands are totally unscuffed.  

 The takeaway from this is that I have a whole new "appreciation" for heavy doors and stairs.  And out of defiance I'm going to yoga on Tuesday night.  Also because I need to stretch out all the muscles that are tight from walking weird, but mostly out of defiance.

On a happier note, our 'Maters are coming in! 

I had some for dinner, just picked, with salt and pepper, along with a potato and "sausage" fritatta, and the whole-grain bread I baked Friday night.

Delicioso!

All that good food will heal me up quick, right?

Happy Sunday, and have a Trauma Free Week!

XX  Sheebie  XX

Tabby Tuesday: Ornj Edition

Kitties!

It is I, Felix!

The guy who started it all. The insane crazy run around like my tail's on fire and luxate my patella cat. After yesterday's post I though I'd better make an appearance, to let all of you admire Me and My Ornjness.

Here I am out on the Catio. Notice how cleverly I've wedged myself up against the house foundation to keep cool. Mommy had to lay down on the carpet tp get my picture. Good job, Mommy!

One night, I hurt my knee. I'm Not Telling how it happened. That's a secret.

This is my leg right after I came home from surgery. I had a pain patch on my tummy. It helped a lot, but it really curbed my appetite. (Kitties, remember to tell your Mommies & Daddies that pain medication might really blunt your desire for food.)

I'll tell you something embarassing. The first couple of times I used the litter box after my surgery I couldn't squat, and I kinda sorta peed on my own foot! What an ordeal it was to get THAT cleaned up all whipped out on drugs...

It took a while, but I healed up and as you can see my leg bends just fine. although I do prefer to stretch it out when I can...

...like here. My leg and tummy furs are almost completely grown back.

Here's a rear end view...

With my tail in the "Down" position to preserve my modesty.

You can see that my left leg is nice and straight and I use it normally. In fact, if it wasn't so dang HOT outside I'd be out on the Catio, doing laps around the SkyWay ramps. That's one of my favorite things to do! Mommy and Daddy can hear the wood flexing and thumping as I run around and they look at each other and say: "Felix"! heh heh.

And here is a final picture of Me. Do you see the stairs behind me? Mommy & Daddy bought those for my sisfur KonaKitty, because she is getting old and her hips bother her. Well, they sure were a big help for me, too! I never was a Big Bed fan before I hurt myself, but Kitties, I have seen the light. The Big Bed is heaven!

So there!

I'm all healed up and if Mommy could figure out a way to get me to eat my Glucosamine supplement she'd be thrilled. But I'm too smart for that. They don't call me "Mister Suspicious" for nothing!

Kitties, have a fantastic Tuesday!

XX Felix, aka "Mr. Ornj"

Miffed ManCat Monday

Well Kitties...I have something TERRIBLE to tell you all today. My Mommy is a FIBBER! That's right, as in NOT telling the truth.

Here's what happened. I was supposed to go see the Kind & Gentle Dr. St. John on the 10th, but I got a reprieve...she was stuck in England by volcanic ash. (whatever that is!) Then I was going to have to go on the 14th, but she wasn't back yet! So I hoped that Mommy would forget all about it. Hey, I'm barely limping and I run around like my tail's on fire...a guy can hope.

Well, I'm looking around the Cat Blogosphere yesterday and I see Mommy posted thet I'd be going to the v-e-t on Tuesday, the 27th. OK, that gives me plenty of time to hide, right?

WRONG.

Mommy got home from work Sunday, and I'm bebopping around, tail in the air, all happy to see her when suddenly I see the PTU! Oh no! You know the drill...open PTU, stuff victim in, listen to prisoner sing the entire five hours to the vet. (Felix, it was only 15 minutes!) It was pretty busy at the v-e-t so Daddy took me out of the PTU and I sat on his lap like a good ManCat...as if I was going to move!

We finally went into the private torture room where I snooped around and whiffed all the strange smells. Nothing too interesting, so I hopped up behind Daddy on the chair and curled up to wait. And then Dr. St. John was there! I remembered her so I didn't growl or hiss. She felt my knee and watched me walk and gave me some GREAT pettings. According to her my knee is doing great! I'm healing a little slower than she expected, but my patella feels firmly in place. My weight was perfect and my heart sounds were good. So unless something happens, like the limp getting worse (which it won't--you should see me run around like a wild thing) I'm a free ManCat! Mommy is going to start me on Cosequin for Cats this week, we'll see how that goes.

So thanks to all of your purrs and the fabulous Dr. St. John, I'm well on the road to my regular Ornery Ornj self!

Love and Headbutts, Felix