Money, Photography, and Me

Forgot spellcheck, OOPS!

2007-12-29T08:51:00.000-08:00

I forgot to check spelling. Please forgive and forget.

Off Track!

2007-12-29T08:37:00.000-08:00

Well, I am now officially off track. Don't know how I came to be in the predicament, but that's where I sit. I had knee replacement surgery in August. AND that's when I got off track from my goals, plans, etc.

My left knee (and I could write a mundane novel about it) is getting better SLOWLY! I suppose it is the only thing in my life that is on track, and should be better after 1 year.

My finances, goals, and everything else have, seemingly, taken second place compared to THE KNEE. I think its about time I concentrate on them instead of THE KNEE.

I realize, that I still must rehab THE KNEE. And so I will go to the gym today to do so, but will also have a no-spend day. Thereby placing a bit of emphasis on finances rather than THE KNEE. That means I will spend no money at all for whatever reason. Sounds easy, and I think It will be. My only other goal will be to figure out how to end my credit card debt by the end of January. That can easily be accomplished by having many no spend money days, and paying off the debt with the money I don't spend, and the fact that my freezer needs cleaning out. That is where all our meals will come from.
I am planning a trip to Florida, and maybe on to St. Johns. To get there I will revive the Ebay business which I will do after I work out. Remember I still cannot forget THE KNEE. ARRGGHH!!

2007-09-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

MY PARTIAL KNEE REPLACEMENT

On July 21 I had my left knee partially replaced. The medial side was bone on bone, painful 24 hours a day, and I hobbled around at work and every where else like a 90 year old. AND I'm only 57. I tried medicine, and steroid injections without much success. The surgery decision was almost a no brainer.

I went in on August 21, Tuesday, for surgery and stay until Friday. Post-op was a nightmare. Much, much pain. My ice machine for my knee did not work the first 36 hours. 2 of my recovery room friends came up to see me, and figured out what was wrong. I was in the Special care unit of the hospital because the other wing was full. The special care nurses in this hospital did not have alot of experience with knee replacement surgery. The ice was an instant relief. Then I had diarrhea from the antibiotics, nausea from the same meds, Oh, and did I mention I was gorked out on pain meds, morphine and percocet. My back was very painful from being in bed so long. In fact the pain in my back went right through to my chest. Hence, I bought a chest xray and an EKG for that problem. Most of it I do not remember. That's probably a good thing. The bed was the most awful thing I have ever slept on, including the floor. UGH!!

On Friday, I went to an in-patient rehab place. Another very uncomfortable bed. Seems every rehab place was full in this city, so this place was the only one available. Its an old place, very old. They worked my knee 2 to 3 hours a day. The best thing they did for me, was to clue me in on my gait when walking. I'm still concentrating on having a nice non wobbling gait.

I left the rehab place in about 4 days. Four VERY LONG DAYS. Then, came home to our cabin in the woods to recover. PT comes to my house 3 days a week, but that will end next week. He's a torture-man, but very good. His biggest challenge is to answer all my questions as to when will I be better. My knee extension measures in at 5%, and my flextion is at 106%. I don't think that's too bad. It could always be better though.

My impatience with the slowness of my recovery knows no bounds. I just assumed that if I worked hard at rebuilding muscle and stretching the muscles surrounding my left knee, that I would be better in no time. That's not quite true. Apparently knees have a mind of their own. While doing all my rehab exercises is very important, the knee still needs time to actually heal. Apparently, the swelling, which makes my knee very stiff and sore, will last a while no matter what I do.

There are improvements over the last 2 1/2 weeks. And some setbacks after I have done to much the day before like yesterday. But, I am getting better ever so slowly.

I'm going to drive today, which will improve my general outlook on life. I just need to go out and see the world.

I have not been very productive the last weeks, but I think that will change soon. I have read alot of books though. The Defining Moment by Johnathan Alter was the best. Its a recount of FDR's first 100 days in office. I also read a romantic vampire book some one at work said I would love. That's a very dumb book. Don't read it.

Anyway, my advice to all those who need a partial knee replacement is that it IS painful, alot of rehab work, and time consuming. Its probably going to be a very good thing once I finish recovering. The whole process takes about a year to actually say good by to all the stiffness and swelling. As a nurse, I should not be surprised by this fact, and I now have a sullen acceptance of the fact. I'm still not happy with the fact, but what can you do?

For now, I'm going to do my knee exercises, then go take a shower.

Life does go on!

Out There On Saturday

2007-04-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

Saturday Morning

Ya gotta love Saturday mornings! Sweet, Silent, and hopeful. I have
a list of things to do, but for now not a sole is awake, and being productive is far from my mind. Coffee is the only thing for me now. As simple as that.

I've just started this blog. Seems fun. Time will tell. A little bit of putting ideas and goals on paper making them come to life. I'm sure I read that a million times before. Maybe it will work.

Today will be remodeling the house. A 5 bedroom 60 plus year old house. Sounds nice, but in reality it a cookie cutter house from the early 1950s. Definitely not in vogue, and I'm too cheap to make it so. Not a high end neighborhood, but it is quiet, peaceful, and a large yard that a gardener (I'm not) could make something out of. Small yards, like microcosms are more my style. The day will require at least 2 trips to Home Depot, I'm sure. We refer to it as Home De Pot, and I bet we're not the only ones who do.

The peas need trellising too. This, too, will require a trip to Home De Pot. Did I mention I do not have stock in this entity? Maybe I should.

In my mind, throughout the day, will be my ever forming financial plan. Basically, I know that I do not have enough money for the current plan. I work part time, 2 days a week, as a Registered nurse in a recovery room setting. Love my co-workers who are all as different as night and day. Diversity has been my preference since spending 15 years living in Hawaii. Love that place. Its just too far away from family and travel opportunities. I have the option of picking up extra shifts at the hospital for more money per hour. We call these premium shifts that maximize my hourly rate. Nursing is a very flexible profession. Very nice when raising children.

But, I wander. Nothing new there. My finances are on track, so to speak, with the exception of my day-to-day activities. Yep, that 401K is being added to, my saving for a car, RV, or whatever is in the future are being added to monthly, my 2 mortgages, one for the house we live in and one for our land in Oregon on the coast, are being paid every other week in turn, but I have very little allotted to things like groceries and the ever rising gas prices. And as I write this, I see that if I decrease the amount of savings (that's just not in me) I could have more to live on. Yes, I can see that, but I refuse to do it. My Dad would approve. He's the same way. No, I don't think I'm doing the "please Daddy" thing. I doubt he even knows I do this. We don't talk finances much even though he is a very successful business person. I think the last piece of advice he gave me was, "Don't look back". That's a very good philosophy especially after you have had three wives, but do think its good advice.

So, my only solution is to enjoy being very broke on a day-to-day basis. I have not done this. I think my dissatisfaction comes from looking at other people, seeing the new cars and new toys they have, and only then feeling let down. Not very smart, I know. Comparison will only get me into trouble. I'll think on that today, as I do the errand and chore thing. Maybe something good will come of that thought for the day.

Lynda