"This is your [my] life"

Last night I went to an impromptu gathering of folks I went to highschool with - most of whom I have not seen (social networking sites notwithstanding) in 10 years. It was a TRIP! Playing catch-up with a handful of folks, mostly musically-minded people-was fun and funny. We all met up at a bar and drank and reminisced and filled each other in, met spouses, told our tales. It was fun.

Today, I spent several hours helping my mom label all of the family pictures we have in our hallways. We have wonderful pictures of our family, grandparents, great-grandparents and various and sundry other members of the family tree hanging out on the walls. It was a lot of fun to re-hear stories and learn new tidbits about family long gone.

This week also brought the knowledge that my friend (and Ty's cousin) P has been moved from where we thought he might be staying over in the Sandbox. It's pretty scary to think about - and I know his parents are freaked out. P did not get a chance to call home on Christmas, but (Praise the Lord) he did get a chance to call his parents yesterday. He's not allowed to say what he's doing or where exactly he is, but said that he was doing fine. I guess that's good news!!

I also got to see my friends J & G (who live in Dallas) and A (who lives in CO). These folks are some of my oldest and closest friends, and it's always good to see one another. We tend to pick up just where we left off, which is one of those weird but wonderful quirks of old, established friendships. It's akin to finding a favorite sweater in the back of the closet, putting in on, and remembering why you loved it so much in the first place.

Now...it's time to play dominoes!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a Merry Christmas! We woke up to a magical snowy morning, here. A white Christmas, indeed (and it hasn't stopped coming down, yet).

We opened our stockings and our gifts by the fireplace. Had a hot breakfast and tea, and now we're getting ready to go to lunch at a friend's house.

Hope you are all having a wonderful celebrations of your own.

Love you!!!

-Me

brilliant

Whomever came up with this baby product is a genius.

My friend K, who just had her first baby, has been chronicling the entire adventure (pregnancy on) on her website. The most recent installment includes the difficulty of changing diapers without getting peed or pooped on. (She and her husband had never changed a diaper before). An adventure, indeed.

Well, Sibling and I had sent some of the afore-linked items to our cousin when they had a baby boy, and I couldn't resist sending some to K. I picked the ones with airplanes, since her husband J is an airforce pilot.

Good times.

I don't know's on third

been runnin' in circles, conversationally speaking . . .

FRIDAY NIGHT
A: Hey, [MezzoSF], when do you get home?
Me: Tonight, late
A: So, hey, J and T and I are going up skiing Sunday...but we were thinking why don't you and your brother and G join us and we'll go up Saturday afternoon, get up there, have dinner, chill out catch up etc etc. Then the three of you non-skiiers can go home early Sunday to beat the traffic.
Me: uh...okay. That would be fun, but I have to clear it with my parents. My dad's working all week (yeah - that's another story), so his only time off is the weekend.
A: OK call me ASAP when you know.
Me: I'm getting on a plane in like 20 minutes. I'll call you in the morning.
A: OK, but ASAP. G's going is contingent on you going.

SATURDAY MORNING
ME: Okay, I'm in but Will is not.
A: Okay - let me call you back after yoga and after I talk to J.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON
A: uh, well, J & G weren't as committed as I thought. So they're not going. T and I might still go.
Me: Oh. okay. Well. Are we still on for karaoke tomorrow with everyone?
A: I already made plans for tomorrow - no one told me about karaoke. So, if I get out of dinner early, then sure. Call T and ask him.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON, part deux
Me: Hey, are we still karaokeing tomorrow with the gang? Since the mountains are not happening and all?
T: What? I didn't know that fell through.
Me: Oh. Well you better call A and talk to him about it and then call me back.

5 MINUTES LATER
T: Yeah okay yeah we're not going to the mountains. So yeah, karaoke's still on. Let's meet at my house at 5pm and then go to dinner and karaoke
Me: Okay fine.

3 HOURS LATER
T (via voice mail): So, yeah, A and are I still going skiing on Sunday. So...we should be back and ready to go by 6. So...come on over for 6pm.


ACK. I can't wait to see what chaos Sunday brings!

C'est bien ca

So, I got to pass an enjoyable time tonight with my new French friends from Sunday. Turns out the place they are staying in SF is 2 blocks from my house!! So, I went over "pour un gouter" which literally translates "for a taste": small appetizers, aperatifs and the like.

I raced home after work and ran to the Lucky, determined not to show up empty-handed (a faux pas en France). I found a decent looking bouquet and a bottle of wine and made my way to their house. It was really nice to be accepted into their home - even if it wasn't their *actual* home. Also invited were some of their friends from France who moved to SF 3 months ago. Between the two families, there were seven (7!) kids! I was like....WHOA what universe did I land in?

In any case, we had fun chatting, eating, drinking and laughing. I had an especially fun time with their kids (who'd a thunk?) and learning of their impressions of their many travels throughout the States. It was a fun night!

Je suis ravie!

I was so happy yesterday to make the acquaintance of a French family who happened to be visiting our church yesterday. They had 4 lovely kids, and also Galadriel was in town, too! It was French Fest 2007! We had a fun time chatting and talking about differences between our cultures. I was having a ton of fun speaking French and just getting to hear about their trip around the world (yes - with 4 kids!)

So, it was very fun. They have a blog chronicling their adventures. I would post a link - but it's all in French. If you'd like it, send me an email.

groan

I'm watching TBS (good Sunday afternoon activity) and trying to compose my Christmas letters. Anyways. "My Best Friend's Wedding" came on and I like this movie. But I had forgotten that it's 10 years old. And the things that clued me into the vintage-ness of it all:

-Julia Roberts' cell phone had a pull-up antaenna
-"If we aren't married by the time we're 28 years old, let's get married." I don't remember that line as such. . . I was thinking they were talking about reaching at least 35. And now that I am at the *ahem* ripe old age of 28, myself, I couldn't help but crack up outloud and practically spew my water across the keyboard.

And OMG one of Cameron Diaz' crazy Southern-cousins is played by Rachel Griffiths. Who knew??

thoughts

It's been an interesting week. Fun, surreal, hard, restless, and tiring.

The highlight - by far - has been news of the birth of Clark Garrison, the newest addition to my friend Katie's family. K and I have been (and have remained) close friends since we were 5 years old. Such joy!!

Monday night's performance was . . . *interesting* . . . to say the least. I have a top-10 list about it, which I'll post here shortly.

I have a sort of penpal at the moment (my friend in Kuwait with the Army), and I find myself saving up stories throughout the week to write in a letter. It's funny...and I worry about repeating myself in a new letter, because obviously - unlike email - you can't just go back and look up what you wrote before. I don't want to sound any crazier than I already am like a crazy person...hahaha...it's funny. And fun!

Proust's madeleine ain't got nothing on me . . .

I found out this evening that the mother of my closest friend from childhood (until about 6th grade) passed away very suddenly from a stroke.

Even though it has been many years since we've seen each other or even spoken . . . I have several years of memories inextricably linked to her and her family. For various and sundry reasons, ALL of these things have the ability to bring me immediately back to that time - that lifetime - so many years ago:
David Bowie, Labyrinth, Ouija boards, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Lip-syncing, pet pigs, parakeets and cockatils, Afghans, wicker rattan floor mats, red clay kitchen tiles, false eyelashes, castanets, flamenco dancing, guitar music, tying fly fish flies, hammocks, sprinklers, weeping willows, Barbie dolls, seances, the B-52's, "One Night in Bankok", Girl Scouts and Scout camp, 5th grade talent show, backyard chicken coops, sleepovers, jumping on the bed, cats sleeping on my head, hanukkah gifts, lighting a menorah and turning on the Christmas tree together, long braids, picking apples, supernatural stories, fortune-telling, a small scar on my ankle, Bethesda, overdoses, gothic art, Caddyshack, Mel Brooks, R-ratings, The Temp, Sea Monkeys, Shaving my legs for the first time, jumping into leaf piles, record players, Beetlejuice, roller skating in the basement, playing dress-up . . . and on and on.

My heart goes out to C, her siblings and her father. I wish I could be there to mourn with you this Friday - but I will send my prayers and love from here.

opera & psa

I just came from Madame Butterfly at SFO with AZ for an early-birthday outing. It was a most enjoyable performance - which is high praise from me, indeed :) I actually had goosebumps! But then again, Puccini! What's not to love? The woman singing Butterfly was wonderful...great voice, great actress. Pinkerton...meh. The role was a little bit of a stretch for him, vocally. Their little boy was a scene stealer - soo cute! And Suzuki was perfect in her part, and sounded great.

I am not going to go into full opera-review mode at the moment (I am too sleepy) but can I just say that the people next to me would NOT stop coughing, chortling, sniffing, etc etc. It was driving me crazy! ack!

People! Don't go out to see a show with lots of quiet, intimate moments if you're the kind of sick that involves noisy bodily funcions and/or cough drop wrappers! Can't we enforce this courtesy, legally? Pretty please with pink sugar on top??

That is all for now.

whoa

I seem to have lost four days! After strictly sticking to my NaBloPoMo one-post-per-day standards, I reached December 1 and threw all that "discipline" out the window, it would seem.

Never fear, I am still here. (In Colorado to be exact).

Since I've been home I've:
-had a sinus infection
-lost my voice
-had the stomach flu

I'm chalking it all up to the following:
-stress
-no sleep
-talking for hours on end
-being around other people with the stomach flu
-spending hours in the hospital (around sick people...ew!)
-travelling
-allll of the above

It has been a long - but ultimately good, I think - couple of weeks at home. No vacation, that's for sure, but a necessary time at home. I'm glad I've been here, but I'm ready for a massage :)

It was almost 70 degrees here today - and it's supposed to snow on Thursday. CRAZYness, I tell you. CRAZY.

THINGS I BROUGHT TO DENVER AND HAVE NOT USED these two weeks:
-my camera (maybe I'll take a picture of Dad's incision yet
-my laptop (am using mom's - can't get her wireless to work on mine)
-my singing voice (not so good - I have a show in less than a week)
-my calendar (this has been nice)

yay

Sibling comes to town tonight - his flight doesn't get in until almost midnight, but I will be there to get him! I am so glad. He just has no idea what this week has been.

During my many trips shuttling back and forth between home & the hospital in my dad's SUV, I've had the company of XM radio. I found a *ridiculous* station called "SpecialXMAS" and it's been great.

It's Christmas music. Nontraditional and comedic songs only.

For example:
Leroy the Redneck Reindeer
Santa Got A DWI
Indian 12 days of Christmas ("5 bollywood fiiiiiilms . . . ")

My favorite so far has probably been the rip off of the Bing Crosby/David Bowie Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth duet. Instead of "pa-rum-pum-pum-pum", it was "and pour me some run"...etc etc.

I've enjoyed listening and cracking up on my travels.

it is so bedtime

We are all exhausted...mentally, physically, everything. God is good though, and He has sustained us thus far!! And shall continue to do so.

I think I have to put myself on vocal rest. The combo of no sleep, dry air (altitude!) and almost non-stop phone talking is starting to take its toll on my voice.

I am soooo looking foward to a real sleep and not getting up in the middle of the night. Mom, Uncle Horn and I are all staying in our own beds at the house - dad is doing that well - but we'll head out to be at the hospital for 8:30am.

I have chocolate for dad (Maison du Chocolate from Aunt F!!) and we have fudge for all the ICU nurses. Good times. AND Sibling comes in tomorrow. We are all VERY much looking foward to that.

whew. and Amen!

thanks

thanks for all the kind words, prayers, texts, calls, etc etc etc. you are all diamonds and i appreciate you :)

gotta get a little sleep in before another long day.

Pray for Dad today!!!

Here is a picture of dad getting "liquored up" on our cruise to Alaska.


[Full disclosure: that was a funk-nasty pina colada - he was just posing with it for giggles . . . ]

fitting

Just a short while ago, while trying to be helpful, I managed to explode an entire canister of whipped cream all over the place. All over me. All over the counters. The floor. The cooktop. The rug. Seriously.

But it was soooo funny, too. I cleaned it up laughing hysterically, on the verge of tears. A fitting dissolution into a safe hysteria.

Thankful!!

I am so thankful for God's blessings in the form of friends, family, and prayers. From my family to all of yours - thank you all for you support.

Today is dad's last day at work, and then tomorrow we'll leave this house at 4:30 am. He has to be there at 5am, two hours prior to the scheduled surgery time. I'm going to *try* to go to bed early tonight...we'll see if that happens or not :)

Lucky number 7

So, yes, my dad has definite OCD tendencies...he taps the coffee pot, turns all the mug handles *just so*, taps the dials and knobs in the car as well as on his alarm clock. Mostly, we rib him about it a little bit here and there, and he is good humored, but still the rituals remain.

Well. Let's kick it up a notch. I think maybe because he's nervous, he's a little more "in" to his rituals - or at least letting us know about them. Since I arrived on Thursday, I have been let in on not ONE but TWO other 'rules' as they were.

In showing me where all the various and sundry important papers are kept (savings, retirement, wills, living wills, life insurance, etc), he showed me his check book. There are ALWAYS seven (7) rubber bands around the check book. And he made sure to point this out, several times. I asked him what happened if there were not exactly 7, and his response was "well, you just don't want to find out." So. That's that.

In taking out the garbage tonight (dad's usual chore - but he's not allowed to lift more than 10 pounds), I was tying the garbage bag shut, and asked if I did it correctly. "Well, no. Not exactly," was the reply. I asked what was wrong. "Well. I usually tie it seven (7) times." I was like REALLY? Seven again?

And his reponse to me was, "Why do you think we live at 77 [xyz] Drive??" And honestly - I *think* he was kidding around with me - but I'm not sure!

I'll make sure to have seven squares of chocolate ready for him to eat when he's finally able to eat something after his surgery :)

procedure

From the Texas Heart Institute Website:

Biological [replacement heart] valves, which are made from animal tissue (called a xenograft) or taken from the human tissue of a donated heart (called an allograft or homograft). Sometimes, a patient's own tissue can be used for valve replacement (called an autograft). Patients with biological valves usually do not need to take blood-thinning medicines. These valves are not as strong as mechanical valves, though, and they may need to be replaced every 10 years or so. Biological valves break down even faster in children and young adults, so these valves are used most often in elderly patients.
You and your doctor will decide which type of valve is best for you.

During valve repair or replacement surgery, the breastbone is divided, the heart is stopped, and blood is sent through a heart-lung machine. Because the heart or the aorta must be opened, heart valve surgery is open heart surgery.

What to Expect

The operation will usually be scheduled at a time that is best for you and your surgeon, except in urgent cases. As the date of your surgery gets closer, be sure to tell your surgeon and cardiologist about any changes in your health. If you have a cold or the flu, this can lead to infections that may affect your recovery. Be aware of fever, chills, coughing, or a runny nose. Tell the doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

Also, remind your cardiologist and surgeon about all of the medicines you are taking, especially any over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin or those that might contain aspirin. You should make a list of the medicines and bring it with you to the hospital.

It is always best to get complete instructions from your cardiologist and surgeon about the procedure, but here are some basics you can expect when you have valve repair or replacement surgery.

Before the Hospital Stay

Most patients are admitted to the hospital the day before surgery or, in some cases, on the morning of surgery.

The night before surgery, you will be asked to bathe to reduce the amount of germs on your skin. After you are admitted to the hospital, the area to be operated on will be washed, scrubbed with antiseptic, and, if needed, shaved.

A medicine (anesthetic) will make you sleep during the operation. This is called "anesthesia." Because anesthesia is safest on an empty stomach, you will be asked not to eat or drink after midnight the night before surgery. If you do eat or drink anything after midnight, it is important that you tell your anesthesiologist and surgeon.

If you smoke, you should stop at least 2 weeks before your surgery. Smoking before surgery can lead to problems with blood clotting and breathing.

Day of Surgery

Before surgery, you may have an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), blood tests, urine tests, and a chest x-ray to give your surgeon the latest information about your health. You will be given something to help you relax (a mild tranquilizer) before you are taken into the operating room.

Small metal disks called electrodes will be attached to your chest. These electrodes are connected to an electrocardiogram machine, which will monitor your heart's rhythm and electrical activity. You will receive a local anesthetic to numb the area where a plastic tube (called a line) will be inserted in an artery in your wrist. An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted in a vein. The IV line will be used to give you the anesthesia before and during the operation.

After you are completely asleep, a tube will be inserted down your windpipe and connected to a machine called a respirator, which will take over your breathing. Another tube will be inserted through your nose and down your throat, into your stomach. This tube will stop liquid and air from collecting in your stomach, so you will not feel sick and bloated when you wake up. A thin tube called a catheter will be inserted into your bladder to collect any urine produced during the operation.

A heart-lung machine is used for all valve repair or replacement surgeries. This will keep oxygen-rich blood flowing through your body while your heart is stopped. A perfusion technologist or blood-flow specialist operates the heart-lung machine. Before you are hooked up to this machine, a blood-thinning medicine called an anticoagulant will be given to prevent your blood from clotting. The surgical team is led by the cardiovascular surgeon and includes other assisting surgeons, an anesthesiologist, and surgical nurses.

After you are hooked up to the heart-lung machine, your heart is stopped and cooled. Next, a cut is made into the heart or aorta, depending on which valve is being repaired or replaced. Once the surgeon has finished the repair or replacement, the heart is then started again, and you are disconnected from the heart-lung machine.

The surgery can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours or more, depending on the number of valves that need to be repaired or replaced.

Recovery Time

You can expect to stay in the hospital for about a week, including at least 1 to 3 days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Recovery after valve surgery may take a long time, depending on how healthy you were before the operation. You will have to rest and limit your activities. Your doctor may want you to begin an exercise program or to join a cardiac rehabilitation program.

If you have an office job, you can usually go back to work in 4 to 6 weeks. Those who have more physically demanding jobs may need to wait longer.

Life After Valve Replacement

Most valve repair and replacement operations are successful. In some rare cases, a valve repair may fail and another operation may be needed.

Patients with a biological valve may need to have the valve replaced in 10 to 15 years. Mechanical valves may also fail, so patients should alert their doctor if they are having any symptoms of valve failure.

Patients with a mechanical valve will need to take a blood-thinning medicine for the rest of their lives. Because these medicines increase the risk of bleeding within the body, you should always wear a medical alert bracelet and tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking a blood-thinning medicine.

Even if you are not taking a blood-thinning medicine, you must always tell your doctor and dentist that you have had valve surgery. If you are having a surgical or dental procedure, you should take an antibiotic before the procedure. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream during these procedures. If bacteria get into a repaired or artificial valve, it can lead to a serious condition called bacterial endocarditis. Antibiotics can prevent bacterial endocarditis.

Patients with mechanical valves say they sometimes hear a quiet clicking sound in their chest. This is just the sound of the new valve opening and closing, and it is nothing to be worried about. In fact, it is a sign that the new valve is working the way it should.

A world away

My good friend (and Ty's cousin) P called today. He ships out for the Middle East on Monday with the Army. I'm really glad he called - it was good to talk to him for a little bit. It's weird to think that for 15 months (at least!) he's going to be in the desert somewhere, with his life on the line.

Living in SF, where there is a monthy protest against The War, I find I can be desensitized to the whole thing...I just don't even think about it anymore, because I feel like I'm constantly surrounded by anti-war, anti-American, anti-almost-everything ALL THE TIME. I guess personally, I am not *for* the war - but I *DO* support the troops.

Knowing people involved gives some perspective. Another close friends' husband is in the USAF...He is safely home - praise the Lord - and about to welcome their first child into the world!

So. I will do my best to support P as he's out there a world away . . . all we can do from home is pray, write letters and send Fudge (well - my mom's going to send fudge!). I encourage those of you who know folks in the forces to do the same...