Friday, November 30, 2012

November 30, 2012

As soon as I opened up my computer to write this blog, I realized that I want a bottle of water or a diet coke. Can you wait about five minutes for me to get back from the kitchen? OK. I'm back. Did you miss me? I bet you didn't even realize I was gone.

Two good things happened yesterday. First, Mitzie found a wreath for the front of my scooter (see photo). I can't wait for Mr. B to get home from work today and attach the wreath to the scooter. I'm envisioning the front of cars with wreaths attached and think I may have to add a big red bow to the one on my scooter. How gaudy can I get?

Today I'm creating jewelry using tools I received in the mail yesterday. Before Mr. B attaches the wreath to the scooter, I'm going to get him to set up my jewelry-making snack table so I can play with my new toys.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

November 29, 2012

I drove myself today to met a girlfriend for lunch. I loved getting out of the house and catching up. After lunch I drove around for about 15 minutes. As I was pulling back into the driveway, I noticed the giant bald cypress tree at the side of the front yard. Every year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the tree sheds its foliage all over the yard and the roof of the house. It's nice for its "de-flowering" to happen sooner rather than later so the outdoor Christmas decorations don't get covered up. As you can see in the picture, the foliage is totally changed colors and is ready to leave the tree.

Yesterday I was also out of the house for a doctor's appointment. For the first time since the surgery, the boot and bandages war removed from my foot. The nurse took three x-rays of my foot, which all showed the screw that is holding the bone together. I was surprised at the size of the screw! The doctor was pleased with my progress. He re-dressed the incision, wrapped up my foot, and I'm back in the boot. Hopefully on New Year's Eve I'll be wearing a matching pair of shoes, even if they're only glittery flats.

Today I'm creating the draft of a newsletter article. It's finished and I'm now ready for a nap.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

November 28, 2012

In an attempt to be considerate to Mr. B, I got up early this morning and came to work with him. I have a doctor's appointment at 11:25 a.m. and, since he's taking me there, I didn't want him to have to drive home to get me. I actually agreed to getting up early and getting dressed. If you've been reading my blogs for any time, you know that I don't like getting up in the morning. I'm blaming my accommodating behavior on the pain medication, which has obviously blocked my normal reasoning ability to put my needs first. A kinder, gentler Princess Julie. What a concept!

I'm sitting in the downstairs conference room at Mr. B's office. Originally this old building was a house, so there's a fireplace in the conference room. The owner of the company is a big game hunter and has animal heads everywhere. But wait. These aren't the Bambi heads that some proud Texans display in their homes. No. Staring at me from above the fireplace is the head and neck of a water buffalo. The abundance of fluorescent lighting in this room prohibits a clear picture with my iPhone, but my pic-of-the-day gives you a sense of what I'm experiencing. At least the water buffalo doesn't have it's pink tongue sticking out, but I wish s/he would stop staring at me!

Today I'm creating ...  pause, pause, pause ... time for an afternoon nap. I'm beginning to feel like I'm cheating on my blog and readers because I haven't been creating much recently. I'm also blaming that on the pain meds.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

November 27, 2012

On the scooter, my left knee and leg go on the
padded area, my hands go on the handlebars
and I push with my right leg/foot.
I guess it's time to end my pity party and get back to daily blogging. This afternoon I went to my Tuesday client's office. It was such a production getting there! Although my left foot is injured, Mr. B doesn't think I should drive myself. He came home around noon and took me to my client's office. The photo today shows my scooter at the office and the bag I put on the handlebars. I can put anything I need in the bag and take it with me. To the right are my crutches in case I need to get into a tight spot where the scooter wouldn't fit. It hasn't been a bad afternoon, but my foot is aching and I'm ready to go home. Mr. B will be back to get me in about 30 minutes. I hope he is on time.

It looks much colder in Houston than it really is. The little niche where I sit on Tuesdays is in a corner and there are two windows at a 45 degree angle from each other. Just a few minutes ago the sun was shining, but now it's cloudy out both of my windows.

Today I'm creating a magazine article and an invitation. I read on a neighborhood site that people have been stealing packages from porches. I just hate that, especially since I've been ordering gifts from the Internet. I'm not home this afternoon to keep a look out for the postman. I hope nothing gets stolen!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

November 25, 2012

Add caption
While I continue to spend most of my days in bed with my foot elevated, I have plenty of time to think of things for which I am thankful. I'm actually glad that I'm in Houston, because if we had gone to Santa Fe as planned, this would be our last day there before getting up early in the morning and driving for 13 hours. I'm also happy that instead of rough and tough football or hockey, I'm watching ice skating on television this afternoon. I'm excited that Mr. B is going to Target and on his way back he'll get me a Starbucks' pumpkin spice latte. And I'm grateful that the girls' dad and I now longer have to struggle through holiday photo shoots with the McCarley sisters. The photos posted today are from 1991, and are very typical of Sweetness' cooperation and Dr. Mc's frustration levels.

Have you seen the new(ish) Paul Mitchell commercial featuring a young man in a suit? He has beautiful thick, shoulder-length, wavy blonde hair. I have hair envy!

Today I'm creating a list of holiday gifts that I still need to get. Every year I always say that I'll get the presents wrapped and the tree up early. Maybe this year.

Friday, November 23, 2012

November 23, 2012

Thanksgiving table at the McZam's house.
Yesterday was tough, but I do believe that I turned the corner this morning. As much as I love the old houses in my historic neighborhood, maneuvering the outside stairs and broken sidewalks takes a toll on a women with crutches. Once inside Dr. Mc and #1 son-in-law Nick's house, the Thanksgiving feast was wonderful! It was their first time to host Thanksgiving and they did a great job. In fact, I wish I had some dessert right now. I wonder if Dr. Mc delivers.

The Texans game yesterday was exciting. I really didn't think the team was going to win, but once again magic happened during overtime. Unfortunately, the Longhorns were not so lucky. That game was so bad we didn't watch it all.

Today I'm creating nothing. I was actually going to attempt sewing some aprons today, but have decided against it.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

November 20, 2012

Sweet Rose can't jump on the bed to give
me kisses, so she put her yellow bear
next to my crutches. My goal in life
is to be the person she thinks I am. 
I don't remember there being as much pain with the first foot/ankle surgery. Of course, the doctor had to re-break my foot yesterday and insert a screw. I'm trying to stick with the medication schedule, but it's not working. Last night I would take the pain medication and fall asleep for about 45 minutes to an hour. Then I would be awake for three hours with increasing pain until it was time to take more medication.

Daytime TV is crappy. Or maybe it's the same as always except I'm in a crappy mood. And I'm hot.

Today I'm creating a grocery list for Mr. B.

Monday, November 19, 2012

November 19, 2012


This is Mr. B blogging for Princess Julie. It was a long day with her second foot surgery, but the trooper is home and asleep in the guest bedroom. Her journey continues.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

November 17, 2012

With #1 son-in-law Nick a couple of weeks ago. I was
standing on a ledge to be taller and he was wearing my
glasses to look older.
I'm so depressed today because I'm not in Santa Fe, as was the plan. Since we are in Houston, Mr. B and I decided to take advantage of the time and do some deep cleaning, but that didn't happen. That leaves tomorrow to clean the house before my surgery.

There were lots of art events in Houston today, but we didn't attend any of those. As I said, I'm depressed. I slept most of the day. Now that I think about it, sleeping and staying off my foot was probably a better idea than stomping through warehouses and looking at art.

Today I'm creating a pity party for one. Such a sad mood I'm in, but times will get better soon!

Friday, November 16, 2012

November 16, 2012

Fuzzy pic with friends.
I can't believe that I haven't posted a blog since Monday, but then again, I can. It has been a busy week that was also emotionally stressful and draining in so many ways. Today is also disappointing because by this time, Mr. B and I should have been well on our way to Santa Fe for our Thanksgiving vacation. Instead, he is at work and I'm sitting in the house.

I'm not going to dwell on the stressful part of the week, but rather will say that I had a great time on Tuesday celebrating a dear friend's birthday with good Italian food and wine, and on Wednesday we were enjoyed dinner with the owner and president of the company Mr. B works for. More good Italian food and wine. And yesterday I was honored to judge the artwork that was submitted for the next great Bayou City Art Festival.

Today I'm creating a trip to the doctor's office to review and sign paperwork for my foot surgery on Monday. It's going to be OK.

Monday, November 12, 2012

November 12, 2012

I just came in the house from letting Rose go out for a few minutes. I'm wondering why it's so much cooler outside than it is in the house. I know we don't have the heater on, so it should be as cool (or cooler) than it is outside. 
This morning when I was looking online, I found the photo I'm posting today. There's snow in "them there"mountains outside of Santa Fe.The scenery is so beautiful.  I downloaded this photo from the Santa Fe Visitors' Bureau. They probably enhanced it to make it look even better than it does naturally.

Today I'm creating pillows. I finished three that I was working on so I can deliver them tomorrow. I have another one to fill, but that can wait until tomorrow.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

November 11, 2012

I've spent most of the day watching television, waiting patiently for the cool front to get to Houston. It rained just a few minutes this morning and I was hoping that would be the beginning, but alas, no. Unlike Houston, it has been raining in Chicago throughout the Texans' game. With only two minutes to go in the game, the Texans have been playing well. I shouldn't say anything now because I don't want to jinx the game. Next subject, please.

I've been looking for some burlap bags that I bought before I went to Santa Fe last summer. I have a feeling that Mr. B moved them somewhere and he doesn't remember it. Or with my fading memory, maybe I put them somewhere. Regardless, I need to locate them!

Today I'm creating a day of relaxation before a busy week. Whoa ... the Texans have won in the rain and wind.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

November 10, 2012

Fabulous second night at Art on the Avenue. Mr B and I didn't buy anything else tonight, but we saw so many friends! I love seeing people support art when the proceeds benefit worthy causes, such as affordable housing. Affordable homes is so important in today's economy when the dream of home ownership has basically been destroyed during the past four years.
Fun time tonight with Sherry Kline, Dr. Mc and
Richard McCarley at Art on the Avenue (Sweetness,
far right, was off having her own fun).

I stayed in the house with my foot elevated most of today. I hear this is what I need to be doing. Sweet baby Rose is always happy when her mama is in the house. We napped throughout the day.

Today I'm creating rest time for my foot. It's amazing that I walked around for about six weeks on a broken foot, although I was so careful about my left foot that I was destroying my right hip. In the next few weeks, all will be fixed and well again.

Friday, November 9, 2012

November 9, 2012

It's a beautiful day in
the neighborhood.
In Houston we have sunny skies and a high of 82 degrees. It is supposed to rain all day Sunday and the high on Monday will be 66 degrees. I just read on FB from a friend in Santa Fe that the weather forecast for Sunday is high 36, lo 16, and snow! Mr. B and I are in negotiations about going to Santa Fe a week from today. We have been there the past five years for Thanksgiving, but this year it all depends on the weather and whether I'll be able to get from the car to the casita. Once inside, I'll be fine. 

Speaking of Mr. B, we went to Art on the Avenue last night. It's an annual event that showcases the work of local artisans and supports affordable housing in the Washington corridor and near-North area of Houston. It's always a great event that supports a great cause. I chaired the event two times and am always excited to see that initiatives I started are continuing to grow!

Today I'm creating stuffing for two pillows. I'm so happy that the boot on my left foot doesn't hinder me operating the sewing machine pedal with my right foot.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

November 8, 2012

Dr. Mc, moi and Sweetness at Ashley's wedding last Saturday.
My older brother was diagnosed with Melanoma skin cancer in 2003, and died in 2004. Since then, I have been careful with skin lesions, which are defined as growths or patches of the skin that don't resemble the area around them. I'll show them to my Internist and he normally calls my lesions Actinic Keratosis (AK). I've learned that untreated AKs can advance to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the second most common form of skin cancer. It's slow-growing, nonmelanoma skin cancer that is very common among older people (check) with light-colored skin (check), green or blue eyes (check), and blond or red hair (check).

At my last visit to the Internist, he suggested I have a lesion on my chest examined by a dermatologist. And since I've met my out-of-pocket insurance costs for the year, I made an appointment and saw a dermatologist today. She froze about 15 AK lesions on my arms, back and chest, and is concerned with a spot on my left arm. I have to go back to see her in a month so she can check the spot to make sure it hasn't advanced to SCC. If freezing it doesn't make it go away, she biopsy it. At that time she is also going to check other parts of my body for AKs. In the meantime, every place she froze with nitrogen is now red and blistering. Thank goodness I didn't have anything on my face because what I can see on my arms looks nasty and every place stings. Let's see, what long-sleeve blouse can I wear tonight?

Today I'm creating nothing for the second day in a row. I just took some Advil to see if it will help with the stinging. I'm going to have a short (?) nap and hope the stinging is gone when I awake.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

November 7, 2012

Back in the boot.
And the foot/ankle saga continues. Stay with me as I explain. I was released by my orthopedic surgeon on September 10, even though my foot and ankle were still swollen and bruised. He told me it would just take time. A week later, I stepped off a curb at the Houstonian and thought I twisted my ankle. It was sore and tender, but OK after a few days. By OK I mean it was back to being swollen and bruised. Two months later, foot still swollen and bruised, I go to a different doctor today, who X-rays my foot and tells me it is broken. I'm back in a boot, going for an MRI this afternoon, and then back to the podiatrist to schedule surgery. I don't know if this is leftover from my first surgery or a result of missing the curb at the Houstonian. The doctor told me today that he would make an incision, clean out the break in the bone, and then put a screw to hold it together until it heals. Oh, say it isn't so!

I'm so upset, not only because I'm out of commission again, but Mr. B and I will have to scrap our trip to Santa Fe at Thanksgiving. Mr. B was going to fly back to Houston and I was going to stay an extra two weeks before driving home with the pups. But I'll never be able to get around on the ice and possible snow after surgery.

Today I'm creating nothing except questions. Will my foot and ankle ever heal? Will I ever be able to wear cute heals again? Stay tuned.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

November 6, 2012

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Stallings at their
wedding on Saturday, Nov. 3.
Election day is finally here. I'm not the only one who is tired of all the mudslinging and politics. I'm waiting about two more hours, until mid-afternoon, and then I'm heading over to Reagan High School to vote. I hope the other 5,000+ people in the Houston Heights aren't planning to do the same.

Just as important as the election today is Mitzi's birthday. Happy birthday, my friend, and many more!

Today I'm creating dinner for Mr. B. Last night we were talking about comfort food. My favorite comfort food is shepherd's pie, so it will be on the dinner table tonight.

Monday, November 5, 2012

November 5, 2012

The always handsome, but seldom serious, Zamora brothers.
I'm sitting around the house waiting for the cool weather to arrive. We're supposed to be getting a cool front today or tonight, but when I took Rose for a walk a few minutes ago it wasn't the least bit cooler. In fact, we're still running the air conditioner in the house because it's so warm outside.

Not leaving the house results in little to talk about. The only news during the past week seems to be Hurricane Sandy and/or the election. I don't have anything new or profound to say about either subject, plus I think the everyone is tired of both topics.

Today I'm creating a clean TV room (and possibly the most boring blog I've ever written).

Sunday, November 4, 2012

November 4, 2012

Sweetness channelling inner fun self.
I missed posting on my blog yesterday so I'll catch you up on the day. I got up and took Sweetness shopping for a dress to wear to Ashley's wedding. It's so like Evan to wait until the last minute and then find several dresses that she could wear. We went to Macy's downtown and there were hardly any people there, unlike the Galleria which was packed like sardines. She selected probably six-to-eight dresses and settled on one to wear to the wedding. All were on sale so we also bought another one that she liked. On sale and then an additional 15% off. I like that. Next we hurried downstairs to look at shoes. Macy's was having a huge shoe sale. Both of us were grabbing them off the rack and trying on shoes. We found a pair to go with each of her dresses, so why not get both? No drama while shopping and she looked very stylish at the wedding!

Next we met Dr. Mc for mani/pedis before Mr. B and I went to the Magnolia hotel. We stayed downtown and directly across the street from Christ Church Cathedral where the wedding took place. Mitzi looked beautiful in her mother-of-the-bride gown and Madame was radiant. The reception was at the Petroleum Club. Great view of the Houston skyline all lit up. Wonderful wedding. Fun reception. What a great way to spend a Saturday night.

Today I'm creating time to watch the Texan's game. Although I'm not a big sports fan, it is always fun to watch football when the Longhorns and Texans are having winning seasons.

Friday, November 2, 2012

November 2, 2012

I loved this photo today of a reunion between Bush 41 and
Gorbachev. The former leader of the world hugging.
I attended a lovely bridal luncheon today for my goddaughter, Ashley. I got very emotional and left after about an hour. I don't have "that time of the month" any more, so I don't know the cause of my emotions.

Maybe I'm emotional because I took a good look at myself in the mirror today. Since I hurt my foot and ankle in February I've not gotten on the scale. When I tried on a dress today that was one size larger than I normally wear, it made me sick. The second dress I tried on looked better, but I didn't buy either one. If I'm heavier than normal, I don't want to support the extra weight with new clothes.

Today I'm creating an appointment for the girls to be boarded on Saturday night. Ashley's wedding is downtown, so Mr. B and I are going to stay at the Magnolia Hotel on tomorrow night.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

November 1, 2012

The newlyweds departed their reception
to  the Eyes of Texas played on kazoos.
Happy anniversary to Dr. Mc and #1 son-in-law Nick!

For anyone who doesn't know about their story, they met in the second grade at River Oaks Elementary. They went to middle school at Lanier Middle School, where they "dated" briefly in the 7th grade. Next the went to and graduated from Houston's Vanguard High School and both enrolled at The University of Texas. As luck would have it, they both stayed in the same off-campus dorm. In the second semester of their freshman year they started dating. And the rest, as they say, is history. After their college graduation, Kendall was accepted to graduate school in Denver and Nick went with her. Both families knew that they would marry someday, but Kendall wanted to finish school first. Early in 2007, Nick's job transferred him from Denver to Houston. Kendall was writing her doctorate dissertation and was allowed to come back to Houston to finish it. In December 2007, Nick popped the question just after Christmas while we were all at the Santa Fe house. At the age of 28, after knowing each other for 20 years and dating for almost 10, they married in a beautiful ceremony on Nov. 1, 2008, at the Crystal Ballroom in the Rice Hotel in Houston.

Today I'm creating an ad for my Tuesday client. Oh, wait ... it's Thursday!