Hobbling through life...

I find it amazing that I can cause serious injury to myself and not know when I did it. At some point in time (probably around Sunday of last week) I did something to my ankle that got worse over time. I made an appointment to get it checked out, and turns out I sprained it... huh...

It reminds me of the time that I went to bed healthy and woke up with a sprained ankle... I suspect that I got my foot caught between my mattress and the wall and I rolled the wrong way while asleep. Here's the weird part... the pain didn't wake me up... Once asleep, I sleep so deep that nothing short of a major earthquake will wake me up (you can ask Aaron if you want to on that one... it takes him a while to wake me up when I am asleep). I woke up and got out of bed and tried to walk and I couldn't... It took several days before I was able to put weight on my foot...

This sprain isn't nearly as bad. I can still put weight on it, but the doctor has me taping my ankle for added support for a few days. She'll check it out again next week to see if it is getting better, then determine if I need to continue wrapping or if I need an x-ray. Until then, I'll be hobbling though life. : )

Happy Marmot Day!

Here in Alaska, we celebrate Marmot Day (as opposed to Groundhog Day)...

Actually, I just found out about this change today when I checked our local paper. Someone decided that since groundhogs are not indigenous to Alaska, and marmots are, we should officially change. The article did say that there is no weather predicting power that comes with the title and day, but it's not like that would actually work here... Maybe the marmot should be put in charge of something equally ridiculous...Any suggestions?

Tired...

This batch of classes is definitely more challenging than the last. I've stayed up late every night this week working on assignments and cleaning my house little by little. I have another assignment due tomorrow and I have to finish the housework before my guests arrive on Saturday. Shopping, cleaning, studying... leaves very little time for sleep. I am glad (at the moment) that Aaron is at work. If he were home, he would not be happy about how much time I am spending on my other commitments. I wish I was able to fit a housekeeper (at least once a week) into my budget to help me keep ahead of everything. It would be nice to wake up in the morning and not be out of clean socks because I forgot to put a load of laundry in the wash...

Chicken soup...

There is nothing better when you don't feel well than chicken soup... I felt better today than I have all weekend, but I woke up with the same headache that I have had since Friday night. I know it probably has to do with the fact that I haven't really eaten much since I got the news about my grandma. So, today I ventured out and got some ingredients and made some chicken soup.

While it was cooking, I received phone calls from various family members. I was so great to talk to them after the initial shock. My aunt was the first one that I talked to. My grandmother lived with her and my uncle, so this has been really hard on her. We were able to get through the majority of our conversation without breaking down, so that must be progress. She gave me some pointers about the soup, and we spoke about my grandma.

I was able to eat my soup, and think about my grandma, and know that she loved me. She will always be with me. Her traditions will live on, and I will cherish the memories that I have.

I look forward to receiving her final gift to me. She intended to give it to me for Christmas, but hadn't been able to send it yet. It will be my most cherished item from her. My aunt will send it to me. But, she is keeping my grandma's secret. I have no idea what it is. I only know that it is a special gift, reserved just for her granddaughters.

Grieving alone...

As a pilot wife, I have become accustomed to spending holidays and birthdays alone... I never thought I would have to grieve alone...

Being so isolated from my family has strengthened my relationship with my husband. He is my best friend, my rock, my support... It is so difficult to have to go through this alone, with him so far away and unable to come home.

I wish he were here... To be a shoulder to cry on... To be the one to bring me something to eat... To sneak a sleeping pill into my drink so I can get some sleep... To just be here...

Thank you for all your nice comments. While it doesn't address my immediate need, it is a great support to me in this time.

Wracked with grief...

I never fully comprehended this phrase until today...

My grandmother passed away this afternoon... The woman who I am most like, in stature and personality, is gone. She was a wonderful example of strength and resilience. She always had enough love to give to all her grandchildren, even when they irritated her (as I did on several occasions).

My boss sent me home after finding me sobbing at my desk (I got the call while I was at work). I called Aaron, who is in Bethel. I'm not sure yet if he will be able to come home at this time or not. He'll let me know later tonight. I kept it together enough to drive home, but as soon as I got in the door, I cried like I haven't in a very long time. I had one of those crying jags that makes you sick. I am crying as I write this now, but it's a much more subdued version, with the occasional hiccup or sniffle.

I will think of her often and miss her dearly...

EWWWW!!!!!!

I have found where the mice are coming in to my house... At least, I think I did... But I need Aaron to help me confirm...

I walked in to my kitchen last night to get a snack, when I spotted something on my counter... Of course I screamed like someone was killing me! You would have too! Don't deny it! I watched it run super-fast across the counter, across the stove, and behind the stove... I think they are crawling up the cord? Who knows...

Of course, my over-reaction/freakout over a mouse just got Noni all excited! She had to go sniff EVERYWHERE! to find what I was screaming about... At least now, I can say "Noni, where's that mouse" and she'll start looking for it, thus keeping it (and any others) in it's little hidey hole for a while longer...

I may send cotton balls with peppermint on them behind the stove, but that may drive them further into my house to avoid the smell (especially if they are already IN my house when I bomb it with peppermint)... On second thought, that might not be a good idea right now...

I have plans (when Aaron comes home, of course) to move the stove, see what's what, clean the area, and stop up any holes that we can with steel wool... Then I'll peppermint the heck out of the area... Maybe this will prompt us moving the fridge and/or dishwasher to see what's what there too...