Twenty Four At Heart

Saturday Morning

I snapped this while drinking my morning coffee on our deck.  This photo looks north across the canyon towards Saddleback Mountain.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Getting My Life Back?

** On Monday evening at 10pm EST/7pm Pacific time I'm being interviewed by Karl Erikson on Secondhand Radio (on Talkshoe).  There will be a Live Chatroom and/or you can call in with questions or comments.  If you are unable to listen to the show live, it will be available on iTunes shortly after being recorded.  You can find out more about the show by going here. **

All but my newest readers know I've faced some difficult challenges over the last three and a half years.  Since my car accident I've gone through six surgeries, breathtaking pain, and forfeited my "normal" life.  Instead, the last several years have been spent with orthopedic surgeons and at physical therapy.

Not to make excuses, but it hasn't been the best recipe for staying in shape.  I've endured thousands upon thousands of hours at PT where The Torturer moves my arm for me.  Yes, I've gone for walks, or hopped on my elliptical, or swam one-armed during the summer ... but I haven't been consistent with exercise.  Yet another surgery, or sky-rocketing pain, has continually sidelined me.  

I feel like a blob.

I have, in fact, turned into a blob.

(Not to be confused with feeling like a blog ... because, a lot of time I do, indeed, feel like Twenty Four At Heart and I are one and the same.)

I've been thinking a lot about this lately for a few reasons.  First of all, I've been making some exciting progress with my arm (and pain levels) recently.  I know I will never have full use of my arm or be pain free ... but quite honestly, I have a small measure of hope about my situation.  That small measure of hope may not seem like much to you, but since the accident it is more than I've ever had.  

It's liberating in a very exhilarating way.

The other day I prattled on to The Torturer about all the things I want to do.  

"I need to be able to get my bike on and off a bike rack by myself," I told him.

... Silence ...

"I want to buy a good camera.  I miss photography.  I need to be able to hold a real camera again."

... Silence ...

I know he wants these things for me too.  I know he's cautiously optimistic.  I also know he's pleased I'm striving toward new goals.  

I've never dared to make plans (!) before.  

At the same time, I don't think he wants me to get my hopes up too high.  He knows, only too well, what it's like to see me frustrated and in despair. 

I'm pricing cameras anyway.

I keep thinking if a new shiny camera is here, I will find a way to photograph with it. 

I can wear a neck strap.  I can have the camera lean against my body.  I can do most of the lifting with my left arm.

My mind is spinning with ideas ... spinning with the desire to get my life back to some semblance of "normal."  I have a strong need to feel triumphant, to tell my arm/my pain/my limitations to fuck off.

I want my life back and I want it now.

In addition, I was thinking about my recent birthday.  I was wondering where I'll be and what my life will be like next year when I turn twenty four again.  I want to be a lot healthier and in a lot better shape by then.

I've been staying a little longer at PT and using The Torturer's weight machines for leg workouts.  I've been drinking healthy shakes chock-full of protein and vitamins.  In between gags, I convince myself that the shakes have super powers to heal me and make me stronger.

The accident has taken three and a half years from me ... I've decided I won't let it take one minute more.

© Twenty Four At Heart

The Red Cup

Do you remember last week when I wrote a post titled The Unspoken Coffee Cup War?

It was a topic which obviously resonated with a lot of you.  Many of you took the time to leave a comment or send me an email regarding your very own War on the Homefront.  (By the way, your comments and emails were both enlightening and very amusing!)

Briefcase was out of town when I went public with our marital war regarding The Red Cup.  When he called home while on his trip he never mentioned my post at all.  I assumed he was busy working and never saw it.  

A few nights later Briefcase was back home again.  I was busy typing away on a project when I glanced up and saw this in front of me:

 

A three year war has ended?  

© Twenty Four At Heart

I'm Talking Rabbit Sex and Not The Good Kind

I recently got an estimate for installing artificial grass in our backyard.

Artificial grass is pretty damn pricey and Briefcase and I are in the process of arguing over discussing the matter.

Before you moan and groan and ask, "How can you even consider such a thing?" let me tell you I have several good reasons.

First of all, California is in a drought and we are constantly being asked to conserve water.  Grass requires water ... lots and lots of water.  We have a pretty large grass area surrounding our pool.  Therefore, reason #1 is The Green Factor.

Reason #2 is The Dog Factor.  I have two large retrievers.  

 

Dogs like to pee on grass and dog pee kills grass.  It's an ongoing battle to keep the grass alive.

Reason #3 is The Rabbit Factor.  And this, really, is the biggest factor of all.  I live in a canyon.  I'm surrounded by wilderness.  Wilderness means wildlife ... and four hundred bazillion horny, breeding, rabbits are a big part of that wildlife.

You thought this post was going to be about sex-toy rabbits, didn't you?  Well, you were wrong ... I have issues with real-life, horny, rabbits with big ears and cottontails.

Are you starting to feel like you're looking at a National Geographic magazine with all my animal photos today?

Did you know the average bunny completes the sex act in 20 seconds?  (giggle)  I dated a guy just like that once upon a time ... but it didn't last long.

Ha ha!  Get it?

Female bunnies begin having sex at 6 months of age and male bunnies begin at 4 months.  Bunnies make more bunnies ... lots and lots of bunnies during their lifetime.  Every damn one of them comes to eat my grass down to the roots.  They are hungry, horny, little cottontails.

(Someday, I'm going to be locked up in a padded cell based on the weird subjects I've googled in my lifetime!)

My retrievers chase the rabbits out of the yard during the day, but during the evening and early morning hours the rabbits come out in droves to eat the delicious grass.  (My Golden caught one and brought it into the house one day.  You should have heard me scream when I saw long rabbit legs protruding from his mouth as he stood next to me in the kitchen!)  We've put chicken wire along the bottom edge of our wrought iron fencing to no avail.  The rabbits chew holes right through the fencing.

Why don't we leave the dogs outside 24/7?  If we did they'd be killed by coyotes or mountain lions.  

Yes, we have big critters in this here canyon too!  (Also, retrievers are "people dogs" and do best when allowed to be with the rest of their "family.")

A friend suggested getting a cat.  Do cats eat rabbits?  No one in our neighborhood has managed to keep a cat for more than a week.  The coyotes (and big horned owls!) eat the cats for snacks.  Yes, the coyotes also eat rabbits.  Did you know rabbits actually scream when they are being eaten by coyotes?  Well, they do and it's very disturbing.  Of course, I'd scream too if I was being eaten alive by coyotes.

The problem is, the rabbits are multiplying way faster than the coyotes can eat them.

The bigger problem is, the rabbits are determined to eat our grass down to nothing.

I'm thinking artificial grass is the only protection against an army of horny, hungry, (sometimes screaming) rabbits.

Here are my questions for you today.  Do you have any (humane) suggestions for getting rid of the rabbits?  Do you know any particular pros and/or cons of artificial grass?

© Twenty Four At Heart

Birthday Wrap Up

I will be back to regular posting (whatever that is!) tomorrow.  Today is a hodgepodge post in the wake of my 24th birthday celebration yesterday.

First things first ...

Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday's birthday celebration.  There were two hundred entries in my contest.  I really enjoy giving things away.

#1  The contest winners are as follows:

$100 Amazon Gift Card = Jan

$ 60 Amazon Gift Card = Dogmother

$ 40 Amazon Gift Card = Lorna

$ 40 Amazon Gift Card = Ballerinatoes

Congratulations to all four winners!  Please email me with the email address you would like your gift card sent to and I will get them sent out to you in the next 24 hours.

#2 I had a very nice birthday.  My family surprised me in the morning with this:

That funny looking thing on the seat is a bow.

I was so excited about my new bike!  First of all, it is RED!  Second, it is an Electra Beach Cruiser ... which I've wanted for a few years now.  Third, it has an old lady basket!  I plan to still be cruising the beaches on it when I turn 80 ... and since I'm only 24 now that means I have a lot of bike riding years ahead of me.  The only thing missing is a bell and I plan to buy one this week.  Yes, I will be that old lady on the bike at the beach!  The very thought makes me smile.

Isn't it pretty?  (And it's RED!)

#3  PR had his post-op appointment yesterday with the orthopedic surgeon.  They took X-rays which were very ... sobering ... to look at.  However, the doc said all the bones are now lined up "perfectly" in PR's ankle.  He also said PR should be 100% for baseball season this year (which is his passion).  I can't even tell you the sense of relief the appointment gave me.  It was the best birthday present I ever could have gotten.  

My kid is going to be okay.

#4  I lifted TWO POUNDS at physical therapy yesterday!  Well, if I'm being honest The Torturer moved my arm for me while I laid on a table with two pounds in my hand, but I sorta did it!  I know it sounds incredibly pathetic to all of you, but it has taken me three and a half years to accomplish this!  I felt happy and proud and excited ... even as I swore at The Torturer for the very idea of it.  

I believe I might have said something like, "What's the point of doing this when you are moving my arm for me?"  All the while, inside, I was thinking, "Oh my God, I'm doing it ... albeit with help, but I'm doing it!"

Small steps ... small steps!!

Go me!

#5  I came home to these after physical therapy:

Pretty, aren't they?

#6  I had a nice afternoon.  I got a lot of birthday phone calls, cards, and emails from friends and family.  It made me feel loved.  Sometimes it's nice to know people are thinking of you.

#7  Briefcase, PR and I went out to dinner.  It was PR's first real outing since his surgery.  Right before we left I noticed the full moon rising over my mountains.  It was beautiful.  It seemed like a perfect ending to a wonderful day.

© Twenty Four At Heart

24th Birthday Contest & Celebration!

Yippee!

I'm 24 today!  (Again!)

I love birthdays!

I can't tell you how much I enjoy writing Twenty Four At Heart.  All of you who take the time to stop by for a few minutes each day make me so happy.  There doesn't seem to be a better time to say thank you than on my 24th birthday.

To show my appreciation I am giving out $240 worth of Amazon gift cards today.  (24 with a zero behind it!)  It seems like Amazon has something for everyone, right?  And just in time for the holidays too.

I've made this as simple as I can.  

This is how it works:

You must leave a comment (any comment) to be entered to win.

You may enter as many times as you like.

Each comment equals one entry.

I will pick the winners using the Random Integer Generator.

The first winner picked will receive a $100 Amazon gift card.

The second winner picked will receive a $60 Amazon gift card.

The third and fourth winners picked will each receive a $40 Amazon gift card.

That's right - there's $240 up for grabs!

Comments will be closed at 9 p.m. Pacific Time tonight.

Winners will be announced tomorrow.

Good luck to each of you and Happy Birthday to me!

© Twenty Four At Heart

In Honor of Halloween

In honor of Halloween, and all things spooky, I thought I'd share this picture.  It's an X-Ray of a repaired Triplane Ankle Fracture.  That's right, this is what the inside of my son's ankle now looks like.  (Although this isn't his ankle ... we won't see his post-surgery X-rays for a couple weeks.)  The screws connect the three broken bones.  They will most likely stay in his ankle for life unless the metal causes problems and needs to be removed at a later date.

The poor kid was not out socializing on Halloween.  Instead he was home recovering on Vicodin.  It's no wonder, don't ya think?

© Twenty Four At Heart

Monday Will Be a Big Day!

Next Monday is my 24th birthday and I'm planning a celebration for you!

I'm so excited!

I love birthdays and I think I could use need some fun this year.  Things have been too stressful lately. 

** Don't miss out - make sure you stop by on Monday! **

In the meantime, I'm going to be busy taking care of my son over the Halloween weekend.  I imagine we'll be watching a lot of movies together.  The poor kid has had a very rough month.

Of course, I might need to dress up a little to scare the Trick Or Treaters.

 

I'm so attractive! 

Happy Halloween!  I hope you have a fun, safe holiday!

© Twenty Four At Heart