We Are Alive. Weird Old Man In Waiting Room.

Yo.

We're still here.

Here we are in the Bahamas or "Aye, Aye Bahamas!" as Emerson called it back in 2008. The beach is our shared happy and relaxing place. How hilarious or odd would it be if I had beach posters all around Brad's bed right now?


Brad's surgery went well. His left hip needed less work than his right did last year. It should be fine for the rest of his life, or as I say "Honey! This new improved hip is going to take you through to death! yayy!" because who wants more surgeries?

He was in rare form before and after surgery due to meds-- and the fact that he's a nurse, so prior to surgery and sedated, everytime a message was overhead, he'd kind of come to and think he was at work. Then I'd have to remind him "It's not for you, honey. Relax."  He did start yelling funny things VERY loudly in an almost Will Ferrell voice "WHAT is going ON HERE?" and threw his oxygen mask off three times. Good stuff, Maynard!

The most fun: The waiting. It's hard to wait. I was nervous. Edgy. And I've done this before.."This is not my first barbecue.." I went from being hyperawake to feeling like I was going to pass out from being tired. I was the lucky (read: sarcasm) girl who got to sit next to an older gentleman in the waiting area. I could tell he wanted to chat and I didn't want to, so I did my best to hold him off for a good hour. I texted friends. I read books. I read "Real Simple" magazine. In a moment of what could only be called..weakness..(?) I looked up to see him staring at me and it happened: "hey! You're going to be here for a LONG time!"  Me: "Yep, we were here last year for a good 11 hours. My husband is having the same surgery on the opposite hip." then he moves closer to my chair (Dammit NO!) and proceeds to tell me all about his wife, her various surgeries, his variety pack of past surgeries. How "Forty seven years of marriage becomes REAL DULL let me tell ya!" after asking if I'm married and for how long. What do you even say to that? "Thank you, sir." or "Well..kudos to you for sticking around and waiting this surgery of your wife's out!" It was just..bizarre.  Then he wouldn't stop talking. And I realized he's a lot like Brad's stepdad: Doesn't want to hear anything, just wants to talk at you. So I felt okay with possibly nodding off to sleep while he spoke. My new thing in life is "My safety first, your feelings second" and while I clearly wasn't in harm's way, it's safe to say that perhaps psychologically I was.

Cue mystical music....ahh..ahhh...ahhhhh! Just as I was about to fake sleep, my name was called to see Brad in recovery. I don't think I've ever jumped up from a seat so fast!  Aside from nodding off, I wasn't sure how I was going to escape the man I'll forever refer to as "Ronimal"!  Okay, that made me laugh. And you know what? Sometimes that's enough. What do you do? Just walk away? Or say "Hey..I'm headed over here...just away a bit?" or "Oh my heavens! Is that a rerun of Oprah over there? See ya!" or an honest "Sir, you're wearing me out and I have a long night ahead of me. Focker OUT."?? It's a gray area. I want to be polite, but I feel like that behavior in and of itself is rude. Take the temp of your audience, Ronimal!  I must also point out that he told me that I was real pretty like his most recent nurse which added to the discomfort a bit.

So..we're alive and home. I'm thankful Brad is okay. He's in a lot of pain, is on a lot of meds that have to be given every four hours. Needless to say, I'm sleep deprived. He screams out "Help!" in his sleep and I run...only to realize he's having night terrors due to morphine. Recovery will be long again. We do physical therapy at home twice day and it makes me feel tired, weak and lame. I'm kind, but I think I'd make a poor nurse. But we're doing it.

We did watch the first two episodes of "Newsroom" with Jeff Daniels last night. Amazeballs! As soon as Brad is awake more, we're headed off to begin Dexter! Thanks to my pal  Shannan at Flowerpatch Farmgirl for the recommendation! A serial killer with a heart!

Hope all is well. It's windy here and the trashcans and recycling were knocked over twice today. I eventually yelled "F**king trashcans! Where is that damned recycling truck???" and realized "Wow, I'm kinda cranky."

Good times, people.

Have a splendid evening! I have plans to peruse my new Oprah, Better Homes & Gardens AND eat a bag o f Reeses!

YEE and HAW!

xoxo

T