Friday Tidbits

They are putting in our new countertops as I type. YIPPEE!!! Living without a kitchen sink is tougher than I thought it would be. I still have to do some re-grouting once everything is installed and maybe a little touch up paint. And we have to replace an outlet that was destroyed in the process.

Before they put in the countertops, I had to empty out the cabinets below, so nothing was damaged during the installation process. This was a great opportunity to clean the cabinets and reorganize. And I discovered that we had three almost-full bottles of Fabreeze and several bottles of kitchen cleaner under the sink.

Marc had his pre-op visit today, with surgery scheduled for 7:30am on March 5. That means we have to be at the hospital at 6am that day. Yuck. He will stay overnight and check out the next day, barring any complications.

And after surgery, Marc will be out of work for 2 weeks. Two weeks of not exercising. Two weeks of not driving or even riding in a car. Two weeks of rental movies and video games. Two weeks of driving me nuts, for which he has apologized in advance. :-)

Random Wednesday

From 2006 - my favorite photos of my dad and nephew

taken by Mama McDonald

A Few Thoughts From Lullabelle

I know I'm not allowed on the couch. . .

but the ottoman is not the couch, right?

And look at me - I'm so cute!

I can be on watch from here - keep out the bad guys.

And if you want me to move, too bad!! Pbbttttt!

It's Begun

Yesterday, the folks who will install my new kitchen counters came to take measurements. In order to do this, they had to remove the main set of counters, which includes the sink. They left the bar top and the counters on either side of the stove. So for the next week or two, we will be washing dishes in the bathtub. Maybe we will just eat out a lot. . .

Gone Country

Marc had a conference in Nashville Saturday through Wednesday. I joined him for a few of those days so I could visit with my lovely friend Jenny and her lovely hubby Sean. Jenny used to work with me at UGA, and has moved on to bigger and better things as a development officer for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Hall of Fame - heretofore CMHOFAM - was amazing. I don't know what I was expecting, but I was blown away. It was a fabulous way to send several hours and I would go back again and again. If you are going to Nashville, it is a must!


The building itself was interesting and has a lot of meaning. I don't remember it all (Sorry Jenny! You were a great tour guide!) but I was impressed with the amount of thought that went into the design. From the air, CMHOFAM looks like a bass clef.



The rotunda - where the hall of fame plaques are housed - has a frieze that features the notes to Let the Circle be Unbroken, the quintessential country song. The front lobby is meant to evoke a front-porch feel, and the treatment over the windows is meant to evoke a railroad track - that ever present image in country music.

Random Wednesday - Big Chair Edition

Marc saying something funny with a funny voice. He drew a crowd! Unfortunately, my flash was having an off-day.

Surgery?

So Marc is going to have a little back surgery on March 5.

He has some compressed discs that have been giving him trouble for more than three years, and he was tired of taking pain pills every day. There is something - a bone spur, maybe? - that is pressing on a nerve.

Marc has done the physical therapy and every night, he uses a traction machine to stretch his neck. I've shown you pictures like the one below and commented on how cute Lullabelle is, laying on Marc's legs. Well, she is doing this while he is in traction.


During surgery, Marc will actually lay on his back. The surgeon will make a small incision at the base of the neck, move the trachea and esophagus (ewwww!) remove the compressed disc and insert a prosthesis. Here it is: The other option was a spinal fusion, which would work but would limit Marc's range of motion in his neck. and the recovery time would be longer.
Up until now, the prosthesis has been deemed experimental in the US. It has been used in the UK and the Army was using it over in Iraq, but was not covered by our insurance. (As the doctor said, they don't care about insurance in the Army.) But it's covered now!
Keep Marc (and me!) in your prayers on March 5!

Be My Valentine?

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day. Check out my Valentine ~ handmade by my fabulous hubby!

Doing My Part to Stimulate the Economy

We are getting new countertops! I am so excited - I have wanted granite countertops in my kitchen four almost four years. There are some exciting before and after pictures headed your way!




We purchased the counters this week, along with a new sink and faucet. And I am hoping to have them installed in a couple of weeks. Maybe when Marc is home after his back surgery.

What back surgery you ask? More on that tomorrow. . .

Random Wednesday

Not really too random, though. I post lots of doggie photos!

Super Pooped

After most everyone had eaten at our Super Bowl gathering, we let the dogs out of the bedroom. (So the answer to that question, "Who let the dogs out?" That was us.)

Sandy and Lullabelle LOVED meeting everyone and everyone appeared to love the girls. They got lots of petting and belly rubs and more attention than they could handle. We even had a few offers, should we want to have a dog-free house. (Like that will ever happen!)

Once everyone left, the girls were out. Like a light. And Lullabelle, who always sticks close to one of us, went to bed all by herself.

Random Wednesday - I Need a Beach Vacation Edition

It is SO cold today, and I need to remind myself that it will warm up! It will be spring soon!

So They Say It's Your Birthday

We had a few friends - mostly Marc's co-workers - over this weekend to watch the Super Bowl. We also celebrated my great friend Katherine's birthday. I didn't make the (very yummy!) red velvet cake, but was roped into writing on it. This is NOT a skill I have. And Katherine is kind of a long name!


So I ran over a bit. But with the candles, it works - Happy Birthday Katherine!

Doggie Lovin'

A doggie hug

and a doggie kiss