Nikki's Tags

It feels somewhat odd to attempt to begin journaling after the forced hiatus (and typing while on one elbow is rather awkward) but I'll see if I can't ride the ol' warhorse once again.

I wanted to devote this short entry to a very kind and talented lady who has done more for me than I can ever repay. Not only has she taken it upon herself to remedy my deplorable lack of tunes (and she has excellent taste in music) but she has also taken time out from other, more important, artistic endeavors to create the delightful whimsies that you are about to view.

It's hard to imagine that anyone has not yet found their way to her journal, but if you haven't, you're in for a rare treat. So please go to Nikki's journal and revel.

You'll notice that Nikki has used her very own theme puzzle to create this. (How she guessed that occurrences such as this have actually happened is beyond me.)

This one came about, I presume, because I mentioned in passing that silly Barbara Walters question "If you could be a tree ..."

And i have to guess that she created this last because, somehow, she knows that I like birds.

Now that I think about it, she must have read my entry about Baby.

And, as if all the tunes and tags weren't enough, she also sent me this character that she dug up from an obscure website.

Life is never dull with your adventurous and restless spirit. You are always on the move and seeking a new challenge to pit your wits against. Being in touch with nature you love the outdoors. You have keen intuition and a desire for knowledge and you can be something of a crusader. When you apply discipline and tenacity to your energetic mind then leadership positions are easily available to you. Walter - Powerful Warrior: Teutonic

The description came from a site the URL of which I have forgotten at the moment, but as it is absolute piffle, it doesn't much matter anyway.

If I can muster the energy, tomorrow I'll load the special puzzle that Bonnie had created for me shortly before she became ill. Until then ...

Peace.

Risen from Purgatory

I'm back. Well ..., sort of. This is mainly, for now at least, an update for those who don't already know. Bonnie was admitted to the hospital on April 19th, and while the manner of her going was chaotic and unpleasant in the extreme, the upshot is rather more desirable. Her treatment regimen has begun, and in approximately 2 months she will be approaching the end of her recovery period and almost ready to rejoin society. I am, you may imagine, eagerly awaiting the day.

I will not go into gruesome detail on the manner of her going, except to mention that it took 2 emts and 2 deputies to secure her to a gurney.

The precipitating circumstance was a completely unexpected event - my left leg ceased to work and, to add to the chaos, became painfully inflamed. After three days of agony and the realization that we were both now housebound and incapable of caring for ourselves, the only option was to have us both admitted to the hospital. I made a point of explaining to the emt that i was moderately depressed (a bit of forethought that fortuitously came in handy, even though it occasioned a comedy of errors and ran the risk of having me confined to the psych ward also.) I'll probably further detail my trip through the bowels of the medical system, but this is not the place for it.

My leg is still exceedingly weak and i cannot sit or walk for more than 10 minutes before a flareup of pain occurs, but it has for the most part been reduced to nagging discomfort. While there are many tests that remain to be done, the preliminary diagnosis is a condition known as osteopenia (wow! the things we learn!) It is a lesser form of osteoporosis and is characterized by a loss of bone density. It is at the moment unclear whether i will regain full use of the leg.

I once again wish to thank all you marvelous people who have been unstinting in your prayers and support, and a special mention must be made of those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and provided willing ears when things became too much for this old gent (you, I trust, know very well who you are.)

I'm happy to be back and on the mend.

Peace.