New Knees

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days, but I've been trying to get ready to go into the hospital to get my left knee replaced.  They aren't going to have to use any anesthesia on me; I'm going to pass out from exhaustion.  I never realized how many little things and a few big thing need to be done to get ready for this kind of surgery.  Everything from moving furniture so I can get everywhere in the house with my walker to making sure I have clothing that will go over the bandages.  All the while trying to stay healthy and rested.  I did stay healthy but the rested part is in serious question.  Oh well I'll be getting plenty of rest soon as long as the pain level stays low enough.  Sigh !!
Tom, my sweetie will keep you posted on my recovery until I'm able to so keep on coming back even if there are no photos for awhile.

I would also appreciate your thoughts and prayers as I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. Thanks.
This experience has given me a whole new perspective on life and taught me alot about myself and what I am capable of .  I'll go into more detail later but for now I'll leave you with some pictures I took from a different perspective; from the sunroof of my car.

Hot Georgia Night

This afternoon as I was running errands trying to get all the little things that might make things go easier for me after the surgery.  I got more socks, one of the reasons for extra laundry.  As I have been going through my accumulated boxes I have found a treasure trove of old pictures, pictures of the kids but also drawings of mine so I picked up picture hangers.  I figure seeing the pictures will help keep up my spirits.  I got drinks that normally I wouldn't get as treats while I am down and out.  Anyway it was hot even in Wal-mart, but when I got out to the car the temperature gauge for outside the car said 104.  Even though the temperature for Griffin was officially around 95 which is hot enough I am sure that the temperature in the parking lot was indeed 104 with no shade and all that blacktop.  Really much too hot to be out.
Tom called on his way home and told me to grab my camera, because there was a sensational sunset from a sensational spot he wanted to show me.  We missed the dramatic sunset but I now know where to go for sunsets when the clouds are forming dramatic patterns.  Even with missing the sundown it was still hot and it will still be hot tomorrow morning.
I've been trying to take lots of pictures to edit while I recuperate from the knee replacement, but it is so hot I've taken to taking pictures first thing in the morning (good dew shots) or from inside the car with a quick roll down of the window, through the sunroof of the car or the most fun taking photos at night.  I am learning to use the manual settings on my camera and am not using the flash.  I am having great fun learning a new skill and getting some exciting new photos.  I am so glad this was the theme for Written inc this week; it has been most enjoyable.  Below are some photos I took of my garden at night using only available lighting and playing with the camera settings especially shutter speed. Even though I am just learning  I am thrilled with the results so far (giggle-giggle).  I hope you ENJOY, too.

 

"Lean On Me"

I love just trucking down the road (70's saying) with the windows open, the sunroof letting in more sunshine and wind and singing at the top of my lungs.  It could be just about any artist or group any song with words sometimes 'Phantom of the Opera', sometimes 'The Who' sometimes 'Iron Butterfly' sometimes 'Kenny Loggins' sometimes 'Placido Dimingo' sometimes 'Helen Reddy','I Am Woman', I'm sure you get the idea that I have very eclectic taste in music just like so many of my interests.  Sometimes I think it would be better if I was a lot more picky and than I wouldn't accumulate so many things but there are so many things that bring joy into my life that I really think I like having eclectic tastes better even if it does tend to create clutter simply out of shear numbers of things that I enjoy.  Anyway I'm rambling a little back to trucking down the road; One of the best delights of trucking down the road is turning on my station of the day- today was my oldies station- and hearing a long time favorite song- delightful- can get me revved up sometimes- today the song was "LEAN ON ME" by Bill Withers.  When it was first popular I was the one being leaned on.  My good friend Debbie and I would go visit Mama G an elderly member of our church and help her.  It was always delightful to be around her, she was like a grandmother to us.  Neither one of us had a grandmother nearby and she made the most wonderful apple pies.  I also made it a regular practice to sit with families with lots of small children especially those who had duties on the stand.  The mom was the chorister or dad was conducting the meeting.  These were things I delighted in doing.  Now the song has another meaning for me as I am on the receiving end and have been for awhile.  With my knee replacement coming up next week; as long as I am healthy enough; this is going to be doubly true. Although I have often found that both the giver and the receiver benefit.  This song has much wisdom in it for both sides the giving and the receiving and best of all it's still great to belt out in the car as I go truckin' down the road.

Artist: Bill Withers
Title: Lean On Me

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's
Always tomorrow


Lean on me
When you're not strong
I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on


Please, swallow your pride
If I have things
You need to borrow
For no one can fill
Those of your needs
That you won't let show


You just call on me brother
When you need a hand
We all need somebody
To lean on
I just might have a problem
That you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on


Lean on me
When you're not strong
I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For, it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on


You just call on me brother
When you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem
That you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on


If there is a load
You have to bare
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me
Call Me
If you need a friend
(Call Me)
Call Me
If you need a friend
(Call Me)
If you ever need a friend
(Call Me)
Call Me
If you need a friend

---

Keep on truckin' ya'll and sing your heart out!!

 

It's not the heat; it's the humidity

Actually it's both!  This is inside my air-conditioned house in HOT, MUGGY Georgia and no this is not my bathroom this is a vent in the main part of the house.

Whew!!!!

The clouds are the stars #5

Tonight is hot and muggy and I hurt so I decided to go ahead a finish up my series on clouds.  The reason I suggested the theme of clouds is because it brings so many happy, contented childhood memories for me.  My best friend and I would lie on the grass or on the neighbors porch and look up at the sky sometimes for hours.  Watching the clouds, finding shapes and then watching those shapes morph into different shapes, laying there feeling the coolness of the grass or the cement against our backs being completely relaxed with nothing better to do.  Oh how much more simple childhood was back when I was young.  No rushing to soccer practice or hours in front of the video games.  My time was spent outside under the clouds, riding my bike, swimming at the local community pool, later at night chasing fireflies under the moon and clouds.  Every year my family went tent camping where scenes like the one above where not unusual.  I'm sure that clouds can bring back many a childhood memory as the simple pleasure of laying in the grass watching for shapes in the clouds used to be a childhood tradition, one which was free and seemed to be practiced by all the kids I knew.

Very unusual

Yesterday was one of those days where I very tired and it was hard to stay awake.  However the day before was even worse.  Every time I sat down I would drift off, but even with that I still edited pictures, wrote my blog, and did all kinds of little things.  Yesterday was better but I gave in and unusual for me spent my awake time just watching TV.  I almost never watch TV without doing something else.  Yesterday I just laid on the couch alternating cold packs and heating pads and just watched.  I watched Burn Notice and Bones reruns even, just something I enjoy but kind of a brain drain.  Nice thing though, was I also had Kenneth Branagh in Hamlet (see above).  It had arrived a few days earlier from Netflix.  Shakespeare is a little hard to watch and keep track of if I am distracted at all and even at that I still have to watch in sections so I can digest what has happened and then go on.  This version is 4 hours long but it is my favorite.  When a movie combines Shakespeare and Kenneth Branagh I just know it is going to be great.  I had forgotten how many great quotes have come from Hamlet.   I thoroughly enjoyed yesterday and did it guilt-free.

The clouds are the stars # 4

I have posted this photo before so some of you long time followers may recognize it.  But under the circumstances I thought I needed reminding to live my life fearlessly and not to get mixed up in a downward spirwl of the dooldrums.  Onward and upwards.  Johnina  :^A