personal update 2016

This is my first time here this year, so I want to wish everyone a great year, with good health and much happiness.

Things have been much the same with being in pain a good deal of the time.  I saw my plastic surgeon yesterday, and he said he could reverse the tram flap surgery in hopes this would relieve my pain.  He would also cut out a lot of the fat necrosis.

I don't know if this will actually help, and relieve me of pain, but I have to hope it will.

It's a not an overly long surgery, he said.  About two hours, and I would be in and out on the same day.  I'd have a couple of drains to deal with; not like I don't know what that's all about. Haven't set a date  yet.

Of course, this will leave me flat-chested and duly scarred.  After all I've been through.  Oh fucking well.

The insurance plan I had last year was cancelled at the end of the year, and I had to get a different one.   Lots more co-pays now for some reason, and the drug coverage sucks with a huge deductible.  I just went to get my pain medication filled, and they told me the cost was $380.  Needless to say, I can't get my medication.   It's not like the meds help a great deal, but they do something sometimes.  Now I am screwed.

So, that's all the mundane crap of my life.

I am just needing to start anew, pain free.  I can't go through another year like the last one.

first Christmas without mom

Honestly, during the last few years of my mom's life, there were times I didn't even see her on Christmas.  Mostly we were together, thankfully.  Usually on Christmas Eve.  That's when we celebrated.  Christmas Day was always more laid back.  Eat leftovers, and play with your toys, or veg out in front of the tv.
This is my first Christmas Eve without my mom.  How strange not to see her in her apartment, her little tree decorated and placed on the tv.  Her Christmas cards tucked between the wood and glass on the china cabinet.  A wreath on the outside of the door.  Other little items tucked here and there.
She would do most of the decorating herself, moving around in the wheelchair.
She would think this weather is strange.  "It's a little spooky." I can almost hear her saying.  Today it was 70 degrees.
Me and her, we always had a thing about the snow.  More than often the first snow would come when we were together.  My mom would say, in a singing voice, "It's snooowing!"  If we weren't together, we'd call each other, and say the same.
She is sure in my heart this Christmas Eve.  As is my dad.
I had such cherished moments with them.

Book Review: Whatever is Lovely

Whatever is Lovely is an adult coloring book for reflection and worship.

I am not a particularly religious person, but I do appreciate the sentiments contained within this book.

Several artists contributed to this book, so the drawings are nicely varied.  They are very pretty, and inviting.  I know I will enjoy playing with this coloring book.

The drawings are on the right side of book.  On the left side are passages from the bible, and spirited poetry.  You can choose to pick up the book and start coloring, or just sit and read the inspiring passages.

I look forward to getting new coloring pencils and pens so I can fully enjoy this book.  I'm sure it will be rewarding for many days to come.

update: here are a couple of colorings so far  (click on any pic to enlarge)

For further information, visit these links:

• More Info
• Author Bio

 I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Book review: Life-Changing Magic, a journal

Well, the author of this book chose an intriguing title, but failed to follow up with intriguing content.

This is a small book, designed not like a journal, but like a diary, as it goes from January 1st to December 31st.  There is "space" in which to write, for 3 years.  It allows you a measly five lines of writing space... all three years squeezed into one page.   Diaries utilize daily, dated entries.  Journals should be more free-wheeling.

There are mostly uninspiring quotes every two weeks or so.  Cliched at best.  Some examples:
Only you can know what kind of environment makes you feel happy.

Things that are cherished shine.

Being surrounded by things that spark joy makes you happy.

Apparently, the author, Marie Kondo, has also written a best-selling book, called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.  If this journal is supposed to be a companion book of some sort, I fail to see the relation. 

 If you enjoy journaling, do yourself a favor and go buy a nice blank book in which to write.  Not only will you save some money, but you'll also have some room to write.

Nothing life-changing here!

If you want more information, see:

• More Info
• Author Bio

 I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

book review: every little thing

Every Little Thing, by Payton Cosell Turner, is a "flat vernacular coloring book", whatever that means!
The cover comes off to reveal a page that you can also color.  This is good, because the cover doesn't even fit the book properly, but sort of buckles it.
It's filled with all sorts of drawing, birds, animals, butterflies, bears, leaves, squirrels, etc.  Each page is just a repetitive drawing... over and over again.  If you're going to color one butterfly, you're going to have to color 20 of them on the same page.
It's pretty boring, and not at all inviting.  These are definitely not any of my favorite little things!

For further info, see:

• More Info
• Author Bio

 I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Happy Birthday, Logan!

Logan will be 6 on December 9th.  He is growing up to be quite a guy!  He's so sweet and caring in all he does.  He's excelling in all his subjects at school, and he does well athletically.
Last night we had his party at Bounce U.

 

Book Review: Super Genes

Book Review: Super Genes, by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D.

Many years ago, when Deepak Chopra came onto the New Age scene, I was most impressed by his theory that each individual cell in our bodies is directly influenced by our thoughts, emotions, what we eat, etc.  In that way, they can be transformed, for good or bad. This book seems to take off on that point, going further to say that our very genes can in fact change when influenced by these things.

So, if you were born with less than positive gene structure, it is within your power to change them radically, through diet, adaptation to stressors, exercise, meditation, sleep, and emotions.  Part 2 of the book goes into each of these in detail, teaching you how to live a richer and more meaningful life.

This book suggests that self-transformation (and ultimately, universal transformation) is within your power.

For more information, follow these links:

• More Info
• Author Bio

 I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Book Review: apartment therapy complete + happy home

As a New Yorker, when I think of "apartments," I think cramped spaces, not enough rooms, the need to "appear" more spacious.  So, when I saw the book, Apartment Therapy complete and Happy Home, I thought, this would be good for me, as I live in a New York apartment.

As soon as I opened the book, I saw it had nothing to do with apartments, rather it centered around homes.  The colonial home, the Tudor home, the modern high-rise, the split-level, etc., and so forth.  This was immediately something I couldn't relate to.

Despite my disappointment, I must say that the book is quite lovely.  It includes everything from setting up your home (walls, painting, floors, windows, etc.), to living in your home (the various living spaces), to maintaining your home (repairs, cleaning, organization).
Some of this can be geared towards the apartment dweller, but generally we do not do upgrades of any great extent due to the fact that the dwelling does not belong to us (renters).

The monthly cleaning suggestions are good, if you can keep up with such stuff.

There are tons of colorful photographs (by Melanie Acevedo) showing many different designing ideas.

For further information, visit these links:

More Info

Author Bio

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

NYC Marathon 2015

Hardly got a wink of sleep last night.  I often get my best energy in the wee hours of morning.  Ended up going to bed at 4:30 am (which was actually 5:30 am, the clocks having just been set back a few hours earlier).
Woke around 8:30, feeling quite bleary eyed.  I was an hour late for my pain medication, so I took that.  Was wishing for breakfast and a big cup of coffee, so I got myself together, strapped my camera on my arm, and headed out to McDonald's.  
Got a sausage and egg biscuit, and a large coffee to go.
Sat on some steps by my apartment building, and chowed down.
Missed getting a few shots of the wheelchair runners, but I was just taking my time, and felt ok about it.
I thought the first set of on-foot runners was going to be the women, but I ended up getting mostly shots of men.  Could be they diverted the runners to another avenue to accommodate the masses, I'm not sure.
(click on any picture to see larger images)

 

Halloween Night

Logan had a big day today.  First some trick or treating on the avenue with his mom, and then a Halloween party with his friends.  Afterward they were all going trick or treating again, so Logan went along with his mom.  He was to spend the overnight at Grandma's, so I went along for the ride, getting there about 7pm.  Logan brought some candy along, and shared it.  He played Scrabble with grandma.  We all had a dinner of chicken cutlets, corn on the cob, and green beans.  We watched some of The World Series (unfortunately, The Mets lost again), Logan cuddling up on the couch to do so.  Soon his eyes got heavy,  and it didn't take long for him to reach dreamland once his head hit the pillow.