Dodged the Storm

Yes, we are lucky.  All the predictors said we were not suppose to get much if any snow.  For once, the weather predictors got it right.  Until the storm actually hit, the weather predictors were worried the snow line was moving closer to us.  We are approximately 20 miles west of Washington, DC.  My brother lives in the Shenandoah Mountains, Skyline Drive to be more specific for those familiar with the area.  Here is the view from my brother's house porch toward his driveway on Saturday morning.  The total snow fall there was about four inches, which melted today after temps rose into the upper 40s.

Below is the view out my front porch.  As you can see, we just got enough to cover the cars.  Our snow was preceded by 12 hours of rain.  It was too wet for the snow to stick to the ground.  I'm surprised some stuck to the vehicles.

Here's the view out my back sliding glass door.  You can see some snow stuck to the table, chairs and grille cover, a little on the deck.  It all melted today, temps reached 49 degrees and the sun was out all day.

I'm going back to the doctor this week, as soon as I can get another appointment.  My knee isn't any better.  I have moments when my knee feels great.  I can almost walk on it normally.  It is those times when I push myself to do things I probably shouldn't be doing.  The evenings are the worse, my knee swells to what feels like the size of a basketball.  Last night (actually this morning), I didn't get to sleep until 4:46am, the last time I remember looking at the clock.  It is difficult to sleep with the excruciating pain.


When the doctor looked at my knee last week, he poked around at it with his fingers, asked me where the pain was, asked me to stand on my leg and walk on it.  What he did not do was take any x-ray or MRI.  I know these are costly measures, unfortunately, I think it may be my next step.  We'll see what he has to say next.  Maybe I'm just not patient and it will take me longer to heal.  My plan is to stay away from surgery of any kind.

Making Lemonade

With my bad knee, I'm trying to make Lemonade out of Lemons.  I noticed last night my knee felt a bit stronger.  Again this morning, I was able to stand on it without the piercing pain in my leg, although still slight pain.  It's a sign, I'm healing!!  Maybe all this sitting around is REALLY paying off?

Me being me, now that I'm a little mobile, I need to be productive.  I stripped the bed and laundered ALL the bedding.  I am hopping, staying off the leg as much as possible.  The summer quilt is being put away for another season.  The winter comforter and cotton blanket are going on the bed.  I'm still keeping off the leg and keeping ice on it between laundry buzzers.

Today will be the last of our sunny weather for a few days.  We're expecting SNOW tomorrow, yikes!  Hey Mother Nature, it's still October!  As of right now, it will be just a ground covering - still too early for the white stuff here!!

Here's the view from my kitchen window and the angel that watches over us.  We still have green on the trees.

Here is the view from my sliding glass back door with the beautiful sun shining in.

Admittedly, I did pull out the Halloween Witch to get into the season a bit.

We have less than ten, maybe even five trick-or-treaters annually, it keeps getting less as the years pass (you too?).  We stopped buying and giving out candy last year since WE end up eating it. 

I did hear from Michael's Arts and Crafts.  Surprisingly, they called to check on my recuperation.  They inquired as to a status or update on a possible start date.  I explained I'd seen the doctor who has determined I have a tear in my meniscus and prescribed rest and ice for a week or so.  If it doesn't heal, surgery may be the next step.  They asked I keep them updated.  The woman did mention that if I there is an extended recuperation, they may have to rethink their offer, which is understandable.

There goes the dryer, the bedding may be dry, time to get hopping.  Have a great weekend!

Knee Update

I painfully made it to my doctor's appointment this morning after sitting in traffic this morning because of construction.  Of course, they had to weight me (I'm still fat), take my blood pressure (it's still high), and my temperature (one thing that was normal).

I had a library of forms to complete as I was a new patient.  They called me before I could finish the paperwork.  The assistant who weighed, checked blood pressure and temperature assured me I could complete the paperwork after I finished the appointment.

I met with the doctor, who was very chatty.  He talked to me about being from Canada, he was raised in Montreal, Ontario.  He informed me he was just a few years younger than I.  He did his best to pressure me about the importance of a colonoscopy (haven't had my yet, obviously).  I assured him it was on my list of things to do.  He said he was getting his soon as well.  We discussed my family medical history.  Finally, we got around to discussing my knee.

I have a tear in my meniscus.  I had to look it up on WebMD to know what it was.  Doctor believes it is a minor to moderate tear.  His orders are to stay off it and keep it iced.  I should try to put an bandage around it to keep from bending it too much.  I can take up to four Advil at a time for pain and swelling, but no more than 12 (3x/day) in a 24 hour period.  I should rest it through the 30th and return to have it looked at again if it is still painful.  IF it heals, then all is good.  IF it does not heal, it will require arthroscopic surgery costing "a couple of thousand dollars".   I ask for (and doctor provided) a note explaining my injury and recuperating instructions.

In case Michael's Arts & Crafts calls, I'll have proof that I have this injury and recovering.  I have not heard from them as of today.  I will be surprised if I do.  I asked the doctor about what to do if they called me to start working next week.  He said I should wait and see how my recovery goes.

This isn't going to be easy, I don't like sitting still.  I have laundry to do, grocery shopping to do, and yard work to do.  I know, it will wait.  I have to be patient in order to heal, now hurry up knee and get better!

Another group of deer pass through the yard this morning.  They were closer to the woods, I was unable capture of them with the camera.  I did get this picture of the buck before he headed out with his family.

I suppose this is the nice side to recovery!

Short Update

Once again, the weekend flew by.  So much to do, so little time is really true.  With this bum knee, I'm not getting anything done I need to - it is frustrating!  I am able to walk with a limp, cannot walk far or for any long period.


Fridays (Sept-May), John bowls in a mixed (male/female) bowling league.  He came home about an hour after he left Friday evening.  The bowling alley decided to shampoo their carpet on Friday.  Their carpeting was not dry by the time the league was suppose to start bowling at 6:30pm.  If you've every bowled, you know that wet bowling shoes is a remedy for disaster.  The league decided to cancel bowling that night.  Thankfully, John called me on his way home so I would not jump out of my skin when he walked through the door.  He was disappointed.  He has a substitute filling in for him at bowling for the next two weeks.  He will be working extended hours to complete a project at work.  A married couple have agreed to be permanent substitutes on his bowling team to fill in when the regular team members can't make it.


Saturday was the 50th birthday party of friends we RSVP'd to about a month ago.  They had rented out the "back room" of a local restaurant.  The room is decorated in the Margaritaville decor.  The birthday couple is a husband and wife who are ten days apart - her being older.  She heard her share of "cougar" jokes.  I explained that I had twisted my knee and unable to walk around the room, so I would be planting myself at a table for the evening.  Nice of them to share their 50th with everyone.  They splurged for open bar and finger food (veggie tray, meatballs etc).  I was the designated driver for us.  I propped my knee up and enjoyed the evening, everyone came by to say hello.  My flash wasn't working for some reason.  Oh well, this gives you and idea of the decor.

The birthday couple cut their cake.  Unfortunately, I wasn't close enough (even with zoom) to get a good picture.  Everyone toasted to the couple with birthday wishes.  I love the lights!

Unfortunately, my knee isn't any better.  I've been keeping it elevated and iced on and off.  I'm also staying on the Advil when needed, which is often.  I decided it was time to seek professional advice.  I don't have a regular doctor, I really don't seek medical advice that often, except in situations like this.  I selected a orthopedic specialist doctor from my provider directory.  I have an appointment tomorrow morning.  Hopefully, this is just an injury that takes time to heal.  I'm scared to death of surgery!


Wish me luck!

A Week in Review

Wow, I checked and can't believe it has been a week since I posted last.  Where is the time going?  I don't know about you, but it seems to be flying by for me for some reason.  Maybe the change of weather, the upcoming time change since it is getting darker faster and lighter later, who knows?!

The rain continued since my last posting on October 13th.  On the 14th, I checked our rain gage, a little over four inches of rain.  We received over 9.5 inches of rain in September (although that included Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee), it keeps coming.

When the rain would break, I'd run out and take a quick picture of the sky.  This caught the clouds breaking up last Friday, the 14th.

Cooler temps have settled in this past week.  Our lows were hanging in the 50s at night, which now has sunk to the 40s.  Our daytime temps use to hang in the low 70s, which have sunk to the upper 50s or low 60s.  I suppose I'll break down and finally switch my closets, bringing in my sweaters.  The cooler weather has confirmed my fears - Fall is here and Winter is coming (baaahhhh, I say kicking and screaming!!!).  My normally clean deck is covered with leaves.

The trees are starting to change color.  They too were fighting the cold along with me, we both lost.  Here's the dogwood by our driveway beginning to change color and starting to lose its leaves.

Took a trip to my MIL's last Saturday.  On the way over to her place, I saw this huge (maple?) tree changing its leaves - picture time!  We delivered a used cell phone to her.  She declined the First Alert system I researched for her, she didn't want an ambulance to show if the button was activated in error - complete misunderstanding we decided not to argue over.  We reactivated my old Razor flip phone (cell phone).  It is streamline thin.  She can keep it with her at all times in her pocket (or bra if she doesn't have a pocket), so if she needs to make a call, she'll at least have a cell phone with her.  She also declined (for now) the chairlift.  This is more of a case of getting chairlift folks to come to her house and answer her questions.  Since the holidays are around the corner, I doubt anything will be addressed until the New Year.  I pray she stays careful and safe until she gives in and opts for these.

Our ride home from MILs we drove passed this house all decorated for Halloween.  John was nice enough to turn around after we passed it so I could take some pictures.

Every year we get less and less trick-or-treaters.  More kids are going to the shopping malls where events are being held for the little ones or skipping it all together.  We got stuck with two bags of candy we didn't need last year.  I'm not buying or giving out candy this year, I don't want the left overs.

Last weekend, we had a large male deer cross our yard - huge rack!  I grabbed the camera, I couldn't zoom or get close enough before he headed for the woods behind our house.  These pictures are not too good, you get the idea - he was huge!

You can see his shadow in the woods just beyond the foreground bush.

I tried to zoom it, looks like it blurred instead.  You can barely see the outline of his antlers.

This week, I went to the grocery store on Monday.  I had skipped the previous week since there were only a few items on my list, nothing really "necessary".  As I suspected, Monday was stock day at the grocery store, Shoppers Food Warehouse was out of a few things.  I knew I had to go to Giant Food (more expensive) anyway for their fresh fruit sale.  Giant has the freshest fruit in this area for some reason.  I ended up picking up the items that were missed at Shoppers.  John dropped his truck (1997 Ford F150) at the dealership on his way home to get the brakes replaced.  I went and picked him up.  Parts had to be ordered and didn't arrive at the dealership until Wednesday.  He used my car Tuesday to get to work, he took Wednesday off.  Finally got the call his truck was ready at 5:30pm (height of rush hour traffic).  What normally is a ten minute drive to the dealership took us 30 minutes in rush hour in the rain.  Finally, he had his truck back, newly braked ($1200 including rotors and calipers, ugh).  Another 30 minutes to get home again.


I got a call last Sunday for an interview scheduled for Wednesday.  Yes, I broke down and decided to apply to retail.  At least I would be busy, it involved some exercise for the upcoming winter, and it would be part time, still giving me time for studying and getting other things done (laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc).  If I decide I can't handle it, I'll resign - it's retail, the turnover is tremendous.  So about two weeks ago, I completed an online application and quite an extensive personality questionnaire (50 questions).  I really didn't expect to hear from them and actually had forgotten about the application.  When I got a call last Sunday for a interview, I figured what the heck.  I agreed to the Wednesday interview.  Yes, they called on Sunday to schedule the interview, retail does that.  When I was an HR Manager at Home Depot, I knew I could usually reach applicants on Sundays at home.

I'm old school.  A retail job interview is still an interview and therefore, I dressed and prepped.  As it was pouring down rain, I skipped curling my hair and just put it up in a bun.  I walked into the store and asked a guy with a name tag if he could tell me where I might find the person (giving him the name) that I had an interview scheduled with.  He asked my name and then squeezed a "microphone" that attached to his shirt with an ear plug in his ear, announcing my arrival.  The store was extremely busy and filled with Halloween decorations.

I was asked to sit in a small room just off the entrance, someone would be with me shortly.  About five minutes (seemed like half an hour when waiting), a small woman introduced herself and sat down.  She informed me the position I was interviewing for is part time Front End Supervisor (FES).  The work schedule will be 15-25 hours a week to include weekends and evenings.  I was thinking to myself, the newly hired get the worst hours, so this means both evening and weekends, especially with Christmas approaching.

I know from my six years as an HR Manager at Home Depot, the FES is the person who has the responsibility over the cashiers.  The woman went on to explain the FES has "the keys" (money responsibility).  The position is also responsible for closing up at night (again, money responsibility).  The woman went onto inform me the store normally closes at 9pm.  However, a month before the Christmas holidays, the store changes closing time from 9pm to 10pm.  Two weeks prior to Christmas, the hours change again from a closing of 10pm to 11pm.  After Christmas, the closing time returns to 9pm.  There is a dress code of khaki colored pants and a black shirt with a collar or vice-versa.  I presume everyone is given a name tag like the guy had that hailed my interviewer (probably the internal communication of microphone with earpiece as well).  The woman stated she would process a background check on me and call me in a day or two.  I thanked her for her time and left.  Here is where I interviewed.

Wednesday morning when I stepped into the shower to get ready for my interview that afternoon at 2pm.  I slipped and twisted my knee or a muscle around my knee, I think.  We have a bathtub with a shower head combination.  I had placed the rubber mat on the bottom of the tub and forgot to secure the suction cups on the bottom of the mat to the tub to make sure the mat didn't slip before I stepped on it to get into the shower.  Sure enough, I slipped, grabbed the handrail and caught myself, whew.  Everything seemed fine.  I didn't fall, I didn't hit anything.  I went on to the interview.

Wednesday night, my leg was sore, but I figured it was just from the jarring I took stepping into the shower.  By Thursday morning, I could hardly stand on my right leg, it was also a bit swollen.  When John came home from work, he took a look at it.  My knee was swollen but not bruised.  I am able to walk on it, although it is painful.  This morning, the pain subsided a bit.  I am also taking Advil.  Tonight the pain is back (more Advil :)   I put ice on it last night and tonight in intervals to keep the swelling down - it's working.

Yesterday (Thursday), the woman called about 5:30pm to say she would like to make me an offer of $9.50/hour for the part time Front End Supervisor position.  I accepted the position and asked when she wanted me to start.  She asked if I could come in tomorrow (Friday/today) to fill out paperwork and bring my IDs and start on Monday (10/24).  I didn't go into any explanation other than to say I was unable to start this Monday.  I stated I can start the following Monday (10/31).  She said she would check with the Store Manager and call me back today (Friday).  She never called back.  I'm chalking it up to another case of if it was meant to be, it will be.

I did not want to start off the new job on "a bad foot" so to speak by going in there on Monday, perhaps limping or not being able to stand for extended periods.  I hesitate going to the doctor immediately, nothing is broken.  It could be that I just twisted something and it will heal if I stay off it for a couple of days and keep my knee iced.  I want to at least give it the weekend to see what happens and then make a doctor's appointment for next week, if necessary.  I figure if I can stand on it and walk on it (painfully right now),  nothing is broken.  I didn't fall, I caught myself.  I didn't hit my knee on anything.  My leg twisted in the shower when the shower mat slipped after stepping on it, and I caught myself on the handrail in the shower.

Do I have a job or not?  I suppose we'll see.

Stop The Rain

It started raining Tuesday evening, it's still raining!  This evening was the worst so far, we had a Tornado Watch.  The winds came, the rain came, the flooding came, thankfully - no tornado.  It may be a little hard to see in this picture, it was pouring.

Looking out my back sliding glass door toward the deck, the rain was pounding the outdoor table.

It rained this hard for a little over an hour.  I could see the water rising in the woods, the flooding was happening again.

Even the drainage ditch in the backyard, which is normally dry was flooding.

Finally, it eased up a bit, the rain slowed, the water receded.  We were getting just a drizzle.  It was about 2.5 inches of rain in just over an hour.  We are getting a short break in the storm according to the weather people who had a report of a tornado touchdown in a town about 20 miles away in Culpeper, Virginia.  As I write this, I still hear thunder outside.  The power flickered, surprisingly, we didn't lose power.

I never thought this storm would be the excitement of the day.  I'm so glad John made it home from work early today and didn't get stuck in the storm.  I shared with him I thought the only excitement I had to share was my visitors today.

I had to snap this picture fast, they took off just as soon as the saw me.  I surprised them I suppose.

Tomorrow the sun is suppose to return in the afternoon.  I'm ready for it after almost three days of rain.  The weekend temps are expected to be in the mid to upper 60s and very windy.  I had planned to do a little yard work.  I'm not so sure I want to tackle yard work in the wind, I'll have to wait and see.

John informed me he has tomorrow off.  He's already got his to-do list ready, lots of errands.  Hopefully, we'll be doing errands in the sun and not the rain.

Tree Trimming

No, it's not Christmas yet, but the trees are getting trimmed at our house.  With last winter's wet snows, our trees and bushes took a beating.  We had several trees where the branches snapped but didn't drop.  Yes, in other words, they were hanging in the tree.  Strangest thing, they even sprouted leaves this spring and grew this summer.  We'd used a tree service a couple of years ago.  John called them again yesterday for an estimate, they called back today and said they were in the area and could come by to take a look at the work we wanted done.  The tree service gave us a good price.  I called John at work, and he gave the go ahead to have the trees done today.  Gordon, the guy from the tree service, informed me they are behind in their work because of the rain we had most of last month (9.5 inches of rain).  In addition, rain is expected here starting tomorrow through Friday.  Today tree trimming happened at our house.  There were five guys including Gordon.  I was in awe of how this tree trimmer guy shimmied up the trees.

They were fast, the limbs started to fall.  The spotter had to get out of the way of the falling limbs.

They finished the first tree at the end of the driveway.  Onto the next tree in the front yard.  See the guy starting up the tree?

More limbs coming down.  They brought their own chipper shredder, it was noisy.

The tree in the front yard is a biggie, maybe 100 ft high - he's still climbing.  Can you see him out on the limb?  I zoomed in, see the chainsaw in his hand?  He is also safety strapped to the tree with spike attachments to his boots for climbing.  This guy looked to be about 5 feet tall, about 120 pounds, if that.

He continues to climb and saw.

The spotter got the all clear the tree was done.  They gathered up the limbs and dragged them to the the chipper shredder.

We have two pine trees in the backyard that needed trimming.  He trims the top of this pine tree.

The spotters below were taking care of the low hanging branches.

Pine trees done, onto the huge Maple.  This tree is a beast.

Clean up time, drag more limbs to the chipper shredder.

What a fast and great job they did.  All the limbs were shredded, they were paid and off they went.  Bring on the wet snow this winter - we're ready!

Lots of Stuff

Ever lose your groove, feel sorry for yourself, get down in the dumps, feel a little worthless?  That's where I've been.  I didn't have any motivation for anything.  I'm starting to bounce back, a little every day, looking for the positive in everything.  So, I've been talking some pictures during my absence.  I figured it was the easiest way to catch up, right?  The lost days kinda meld together, just know these were all taken since my last post on September 25th.  This post may be a little lengthy, so hang on here we go!


You know my battle chasing the trash can each trash day after they've slung our can somewhere near our driveway.  The trash gets put the curb in time for Mondays and Thursdays pickups, right next to the mailbox.  There use to be two guys - one to drive the truck, the other guy loads the trash can onto this fork thingy that lifts the can into the back of the truck and dumps out the trash, then the can comes back to street level and is removed from the fork thingy by the second guy and placed somewhere near our driveway.  For the past several weeks, there has only been the driver and the fork thingy, now operated by the driver.  Cutbacks, another sign of the times, I guess.  Last week, the driver dragged our trash can several feet before releasing it.  Do you think he needs more practice?

Up until last week, it rained most of the month of September.  Only a few trees here and there are starting to turn colors.  Here is one near our driveway I noticed is taking on "the change" for fall.

I'm pretty sure we have three pesky chipmunks who keep tearing up our gardens and lawn with their burrowing, there are holes everywhere.  I've fondly named them Chippy, Skippy & Dippy.  John believes there is only one.  I've seen them chase each other, too fast for a picture of course.  John has had it with the holes and destruction, so he set out his traps and has put peanuts in as his bait.  Those rascals have figured out how to get the peanuts without tripping his trap <giggle>.  John is frustrated, he put the traps away (since he claims they don't work).

We've been having great weather, cool mornings, low humidity and temps in the low-mid 70s, almost an Indian Summer.  I haven't got back to walking yet, but it is in my plan.  I twisted my knee in the shower last week when the bath mat slipped as I stepped on it get in the shower.  I caught myself, I didn't fall, my knee has been sore to stand on.  It's feeling better each day.  I can't stand on it for long periods of time yet.  It is so nice to have the sun back!  I hope it stays around for awhile.

I've been sticking with my weekly grocery shopping.  Although, last week, I went and filled my gas tank since the price has dropped ($3.40/gal regular gas).  I also got my last pedicure of the year.  My toenails were beginning to feel like claws, lol.

Across from the nail place is a Starbucks, where folks hang out at outside tables when the weather is good.  Since the bank left, Starbucks has a drive up window now open for coffee pickup too for those who are always on the run.

John has been keeping up with his lawn obsession, twice weekly it seems (sometimes).  It does look nice and green after all that rain, don't you think?

This brings us to today.  I got up and saw how beautiful and warm it was going to be.  The tomato garden has been waving at me to get cleaned up for winter.  I finally decided to tackle it, I'm glad I did.  Here is my before picture.

Here is the after picture.  It took me about 45 minutes.  The good news is that  I feel good that this is DONE!  I still have have the hostas to cut back and other garden plants, one day at a time.

The yard debris (dead tomato vines and John's grass clippings) is ready to be put to the curb for pickup on Wednesday.

I also got laundry done and a little vacuuming squeezed in.  The feeling of accomplishment is just what I needed today.