Monday

I surprised myself again Monday morning, this time waking up at my normal workday 5:30 AM. I warmed up a cup of coffee and posted the Blog. It's only 48 degrees outside (not the record, but damn close and damn weird for August) but, since I never turned the furnace off, it was snug and warm in the house.

Today, I need to rescue poor Newt! Cleaning his tank was one of those things that didn't get done before my surgery. Now, what happens is that since I only have, like, 1/3 of the tank filled with water, the splashing from the in-tank filter builds up water deposits on the inside of the tank walls. You can clean these (and I always do) by scrubbing vigorously with a paste of baking soda and coarse salt (the only cleaning agent I've found to be safe for Newt or fish). But, the key word here is "vigorously" and, with only my left arm, "vigorously" is not an option.

So, when I was at Meijer's on Saturday, I checked out new 10-gallon tanks and found they were just $9.99. I bought one and, today, I planned on putting it together. I'll save the old one in the attic until I can scrub it out and reuse it. It never hurts to have a spare one, I guess, since Newt is apparently going to live longer than even my Mom!

So I pulled off and then scrubbed off the stickers, slid the old tank down on the dresser top and put the new one in place. I filled it with new rocks I'd bought a while back (you don't really want to reintroduce algae-covered stones in your clean tank. It sort of defeats the purpose, you see). When I'm feeling a bit stronger, I'll drain the old tank and throw the rocks under the area of the new (but not yet) arbor out back.

Meanwhile, I stopped and pulled off all the bedding. I know, I know, I haven't slept in it for three weeks now, but still, not washing the bedding for so long just seemed wrong somehow...

That went into the washer and I took a break. My right arm hurts a lot today. You know, it's funny. I don't do anything (and I mean that) that my doctor told me not to do. But the slightest little thing really kicks my ass. For example, I have a light blanket on top the bed. If I grab it in my right hand and spread it on top of me (I am laying on top the bedspread to watch TV, you see), that simple movement sends a horrifying shock up my arm and shoulder and I can't breathe for a couple of minutes.

I'm not sure why (is there some sort of nerve bundle in my shoulder?) but it hurts about five times as much as when they cut my leg apart and put in a metal knee.

It's time for a little nap. I guess getting up so early took its toll because I slept for four hours!!! Newt will have to wait another day.

It was time to go to Jake and Carla's for dinner. She's making a German dish that includes sauerkraut, smoked bratwurst, regular bratwurst, knackwurst, kielbasa, wine, ham hock and ham stock. I don't know the name of it, but it sounds intense!

As a German-American, I question the kielbasa, but I'm willing to go along...

Well, kielbasa or no, it was excellent! I ate too much (of course). We visited for a while longer after dinner and then I left for home (Thanks guys!)

When I got home, I got the mail, treated the cats and turned the dryer back on to fluff up the sheets. There was a really nice sympathy card from my whole department at work. I returned a call from my brother Jim and then made the bed. I went online and found yet another lovely sympathy card from a dear friend.

I watched an old movie and then a new "No Reservations." After the news, I turned off the TV and went to sleep.