Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Getting It Done

"If you have a sense of caring for others, you will manifest a kind of inner strength in spite of your own difficult situations and problems." Dalai Lama

According to my doctor I am doing very well. The pain I am experiencing is from the stitches that are down deep and pulling. They should be dissolving in the next couple of weeks and I won't be feeling that pain. We are also going to try some hormone replacement to see if we can get my energy level up. I will be off for the next two weeks to continue to recover.

I embarked on a big project the other day. I am putting together a vegetarian meal plan cookbook for my niece. It will be her Christmas present.

We will be looking at snow by the end of the week. I love looking at snow but hate driving in it. I do hope to get more pictures for my winter section of my photography though. I missed on getting more autumn pictures since the leaves were at their best during surgery.

The real counter is 6437

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Satisfied Saturday

"They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing." Hindu Proverb

I just finished making birthday cards for Mom's sister. She is going on 91. My Aunt Bird, as we call her, is one of the sweetest, most generous person on the face of this planet. She is always upbeat and is so much fun to be around.

My 81 year old mother got a bit miffed a couple days ago when our handyman mentioned that he had another elderly women he also helps out. Mom does not think she is elderly.

While age does take its toll on the body I think the state of mind is the biggest factor in how old you feel. I try to keep myself young mentally and genuinely enjoy young people. I am looking forward to the reactions of my nephew and niece to my book. If they like what I've done then I'll know I am reaching a prime audience and will try to get the book published.

I am going to be working hard on Christmas gifts this next week. A lot of people will be getting art work. I also need to get my cards printed out and in the mail. Everyone knows I don't have much money this year and everyone tells that my recovering from surgery will be their best present.

My art also keeps me young. I had a great response to my Thanksgiving picture. I found a couple great models the other evening and Victorian Times is the result. Mom just loved the picture and felt that it would be one of Dad's favorites too.

The real counter is 6422

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving

"Round the table peace and joy prevail. May all who share this season's delight enjoy countless more." Chinese blessing

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and yes I realize there is no turkey in this picture but it does have some of my favorite foods including pizza. ;-)

And for all of you who are wondering what to do with that left over turkey here is a nice soup recipe.

Turkey Vegetable Soup

Recipe By     :Michele Wilson
Serving Size  : 6     Preparation Time :0:10
Categories    : Soups

Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------     ------------       --------------------------------
14 1/2     ounces         no salt added stewed tomatoes
4 1/2       ounces         canned mushrooms -- sliced and drained
14 1/2     ounces         fat-free chicken broth
1             pound          cooked turkey -- diced
1/4          cup              red wine
1             cup              frozen mixed vegetables
1             small           onion -- chopped
2             cloves         garlic -- minced
8             ounces        no salt added tomato sauce
1/2          teaspoon     seasoned salt
1/4          teaspoon     pepper
1             teaspoon     Italian seasoning
1/3          cup              instant rice

Mix all ingredients except rice together and bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat to low and add rice.  Simmer for 15 minutes.

Description: A good way to use up left over turkey.
Source: Healthy Food That Tastes So Good!
Copyright: Michele Wilson © 2002
Start to Finish Time: "0:30"

Per Serving: 229 Calories; 4g Fat (16.0% calories from fat); 29g Protein; 20g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 58mg Cholesterol; 450mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 3 1/2 Lean Meat; 3 Vegetable; 0 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

The real counter is 6414.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Update

"The appearance of things changes according to the emotions and thus we see magic and beauty in them, while the magic and beauty are really in ourselves." Kahlil Gibran

I have spent much of the week in bed. There is one little stitch that has been driving me nuts. It is at the end of the scar and I am having so much pain in that spot. It hurts to sit up so I have spent much of the time laying down. I see the Doctor on Monday. My original plan was to be back at work on Monday but my Mom kept begging me to take two more weeks. She realized I wouldn't be ready only four weeks after surgery. I'll get an extension on Monday from my Doctor and turn in the FMLA papers that Administration was supposed to have gotten to me a month ago to make sure that my job is protected. This stitch is such a tiny thing but it shouldn't be there. I'm afraid my body is treating it as a foreign object and trying to fight it as an infection.

Even though it means I won't be able to buy Christmas presents since I will have a whole month without pay and lots of bills I am glad I made the decision not to rush back to work. Sometimes you have to be reasonable and realize that you have to listen to your body. I'm not ready and won't be until that pain goes away where the stitch is.

I think a lot of people are going to be getting art work this year. I can do up to six calendars since I have kits left over from last year. I am also going to be printing off and matting some of my pictures. This last year has seen some of my best art work and I'm going to take ones that people have commented on and make gifts of them. I also finished editing the book so after I make the corrections it will be ready to print off and give.

I heard from the computer people today and the problem is the power supply. They have ordered a new one and I'll get my machine probably next week. I miss the art computer because I can't do the DAZ figures as well on this one as I can on the other one. Besides it has such a high rendering power that the pictures are done in a fracture of the time. I also need this computer to get the Christmas cards out as well as the gifts since this computer is attached to the printer.

I have been watching my Doctor Who and really enjoying them as well as the special features. There is a music special that is just gorgeous. I love good music and Murray Gold does such a wonderful job with the music on the show.

The picture was inspired by the Doctor Who show The Runaway Bride where the Doctor showed Donna the creation of the solar system. It is called In the Beginning.

The real counter is 6410.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Too Too Thursday

"If you don't believe in the gods, leave them alone." Chinese Proverb

I'm not sure if my mood is chillin' or chilly as it is getting really cold. Mom keeps the temperature at 68 so this old house is freezing most of the time. I'm about ready to bundle up with a blanket and watch some more Doctor Who.

The art computer is at the repair place and I sure hope that they can get it up and running. I love my regular computer but it doesn't have the speed and memory of the new one and certain things just don't work properly. Hopefully it is only a simple repair on the new one and I can have my toy back soon.

I love today's quote. I would also add to leave alone the people who do believe in God. I am all for science and eagerly read about each new discovery. It really bugs me though when people act like you have to have either a belief in science or a belief in God and the two don't mix. Nonsense! You can have both and I have integrated them both into my life quite successfully.

I was playing around on my regular computer this afternoon and this picture came to mind. I have a couple of pictures now that I've done to song titles. This new one is from Les Miserables and the song I Dreamed A Dream.

There was a time when men were kind,
And their voices were soft,
And their words inviting.
There was a time when love was blind,
And the world was a song,
And the song was exciting.
There was a time when it all went wrong...

I dreamed a dream in time gone by,
When hope was high and life, worth living.
I dreamed that love would never die,
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.

Then I was young and unafraid,
And dreams were made and used and wasted.
There was no ransom to be paid,
No song unsung, no wine, untasted.

But the tigers come at night,
With their voices soft as thunder,
As they tear your hope apart,
And they turn your dream to shame.

He slept a summer by my side,
He filled my days with endless wonder...
He took my childhood in his stride,
But he was gone when autumn came!

And still I dream he'll come to me,
That we will live the years together,
But there are dreams that cannot be,
And there are storms we cannot weather!

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living,
So different now from what it seemed...
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed...

The real counter is 6386.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Stormy

I woke up to a major thunder storm going on and two cats huddled by my legs and twisted all up trying to find a place to lie down that didn't have kitty on it. And someone wonders why I don't want a third cat. I'd have to sleep on the floor!

My Season Three Doctor Who got here yesterday so I plan on watching some of that today. I also got the calendar done and will print off my copy today. Next up finish editing the novel so I can get it printed.

The storm this morning surprised everybody. It had lots of thunder and lightening and is now back for round two. Sort of like life I guess.

The real counter is 6363

Friday, November 9, 2007

Climbing

"There is no ladder to climb; there is only the first step, and the first step is the everlasting step." Krishnamurti

I saw my Doctor the other day. The pathologist's report showed no cancer. I've got a clean bill of health. To say I'm relieved is an understatement. There is still extensive bruising. My Doctor was shocked at how badly I bruised up. I am brick red from hip to hip. The pain from the incision is starting to heal. The main problem is still the swelling and gas build up. I'm able to get up and around more and more and the stairs aren't bothering me as much as they use to. Of course I still can't lift anything which is frustrating. It will be November 26th before I can go back to work.

I have spent the time off working on Christmas gifts. I am almost done with the calendar. Most of my gifts this year will have to be done on the computer in the form of art since I don’t have much money to buy gifts this year. My next big project after the calendar is to get the novel edited and printed. I have two "grandchildren" who are so anxious for that book. In addition my boy will get a copy of one of my dragon pictures. He is using it as a screensaver now so I figured a copy for his wall would be a nice gift.

I really like today's quote because it resonates with my life right now. It was really hard to get up and walk after surgery even though I knew I needed to. Sometimes that first step is the hardest. The picture is called Climb Any Mountain and I did it when I was living at my old place. It was a reminder to myself that you can climb any mountain if you take it one step at a time. Baby steps. I am reminding myself now that after the surgery I need to take baby steps and not over do things. I can get back to where I want to be if I take it one small step at atime.

The real counter is 6360.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

When Autumn Leaves Start to Fall

One of my favorite songs is Autumn Leaves. It has been running through my mind for the past few days. This picture is a direct result. Sometimes you can sit back and look at a piece of art and it just touches you. This picture touched me and I am proud to have created it. It is called Falling Leaves.

(French lyrics by Jacques Prvert,
English lyrics by Johnny Mercer,
Music by Joseph Kosma)

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon Ill hear old winters song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

Cest une chanson, qui nous ressemble
Toi tu maimais et je taimais
Nous vivions tous, les deux ensemble
Toi que maimais moi qui taimais
Mais la vie spare ceux qui saiment
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants dsunis

The real counter is 6348

Monday, November 5, 2007

On the Road

"The soul is the home of all living beings; and from the soul all living beings derive their strengths." The Upanishads

It has been one week since my surgery and I am on the road to recovery. I'm still very sore and the stitches are pulling. There is still the problem of gas build up that really hurts while my insides try to figure out how to rearrange themselves to fill the area left void by the female plumbing's exit.

I am finding that I am doing a ton of art work. Unfortunately the new machine is kaput and needs to go into the computer doctor. It will be next week before my brother will do that for me since I can not lift. I am restricted to under 10 pounds which means I can pick up Pixie unless she gains another pound but not Merlin who is a husky fellow.

My old work horse machine has been happily churning away at art for me. It is taking longer to render of course but the results are the same since I put all the new programs on here as well as the new machine.

I was thrilled when I stepped on the scales this morning to find that I am at my lowest weight in almost 10 years. Finally those extra few pounds are starting to come off. I am hoping that I heal up enough to be able to go back to walking before the weather turns really cold. As is I will probably miss most of the leaf turning as far as pictures are concerned but I really need to get some winter pictures any way.

I have lately been starting to pay real attention to my health. I want to get back into shape as soon as I can and see what can be done to feel better. I need to exercise and I will probably use Tai-Chi to start with for the arthritis. I am also watching my diet and my weight. I discovered a great herbal cure for arthritis the other day. It is called Tiger Balm and I have been massaging it on my neck and shoulders at night and it is doing wonders for the stiffness. It is also great for headaches if you massage it onto the temples.

The picture is called Guardian of Health and was a logical addition to that series.

The real counter is 6339

Friday, November 2, 2007

I'm Home

"The state of enlightenment is not some kind of a physical entity like a heavenly abode. It is the intrinsic quality of the mind revealed in its full positive potential." Dalai Lama

"The noblest moral law is that we should unremittingly work for the good of mankind." Mahatma Gandhi

I got home from the hospital late yesterday afternoon. It is so good to be able to sleep in my own bed. The surgery went well. They found three tumors inside the uterus and a fist size one growing on the outside of the uterus which was causing me all that pain. So once I heal up from the surgery I should be able to go back to doing a lot more things.

 

I was in the hospital longer then they first thought because I developed fluid on the lungs as a result of the COPD and they needed to treat it before it went into pneumonia. It looks like they caught it in time. There is also some pretty bad bruising around the incision area which is causing a lot of pain at the moment. The anesthesiologist botched up the taping down of the tube and as a result I have a bruised and swollen lip with sores on the inside of my mouth.

 

I found out I was allergic to morphine when I started breaking out and itching all over. They had to go to an alternate source of pain control. We also found out I can't tolerate ibuprofen in large doses. As Mom says it is a shorter list to tell them what I can take then to tell them what I am allergic too.

 

I will be out of work for two to three weeks but since my job doesn't not entail lifting of any kind I should be able to make it back fairly soon. That is good I have cats to support.

 

All in all things went well. Both cats are glad to see me home. Merlin whined the entire four days I was away and cuddles up next to me when I am trying to get some rest. I try and stay up as much as I can but because of the type of surgery (bikini cut) it hurts to sit up because of the pressure on the bruises.

 

I want to thank all of you for good wishes and prayers. It sure helped.

 

I redid one of my old pictures and the fact that it is called Going Home should say a lot for my state of mind this week. There is no place like home.

The real counter is 6326