Not quite as painfree or instant as the first, but I think they used a larger dose—they waited 20 minutes instead of 5 on the lidocaine taking effect, and I think there was a reason. The raised swelling on the knee was pronounced and remained so for the next half week. BUT—it is doing well now, and I do hope it continues. I’m moving well enough now that I notice OTHER muscle pains from finally using them as I should.
Weather is continuing on the cooler side of mild. Jane and I are starting to clean up for fall shut-down of the garden, and we have been making considerable progress in redoing the living room for fall—ie, we have moved out the therapy table which was becoming a catchall, gotten rid of things we don’t need, and just in short are recovering after nearly half a decade of house remodeling.
It began with a leak in the bathroom that let shower water rot a bit of floor and that also used a gap in the grout to reach the wallboard behind the tile…they used ordinary wallboard, not concrete board as is modern code. So all the tile in the bath had to be ripped out, and we went at it over the counter top as well. We (ourselves) used new plywood and leveling compound to repair the hole in the floor, ripped out all the pipe, including the tub drain, and installed a new sink, while also calling in actual tile guys to tile the countertop and shower/tub surround. And started refinishing the bathroom cabinet. But then a rip happened in bedroom carpet, and I hated that carpet—so we ended up taking up ALL the carpet and installing laminate flooring in the whole house — ourselves — until we ran up against the picture window, and realized it was sagging into a wall crack, and mold was involved. So we called in window guys, started to replace the picture window, and then decided to replace ALL the windows (all of which had problems dating from the 1950’s) and they did that AND repaired the wall. Then we met Scott, our friend and carpenter, and well, the kitchen cabinets…which instead of a repair ended up in a total redo, to the walls and stripping the floor, which took a year (we did the vinyl laminate flooring ourselves); and then we refloored the finished side of the basement and redid walls and ceiling and installed closets, and then…we went for the unfinished side of the basement, installing a second (and badly needed) bathroom and a storeroom for kitchen stuff and tools, besides the free space….Jane’s sister passed away, and, keeping a promise, we made a winter trip by car to Illinois to take in her two elderly kitties and take care of the estate, then, returning home, found they hated our two cats, so they had to live in the basement; and then we lost one of the elderly kitties and the other went into mourning; so we acquired Finity, the Terror Kitten, who flits between basement cat and our two (I suppose we could call them ceiling cats) and keeps the peace. So we had the cleanup, which we were doing when Scott had to move to the east coast for family reasons. Then Jane’s hip joints gave out entirely, she was in terrible pain, and I had cancer and chemo and then Jane’s gallbladder nearly ‘sploded [and occasioned a run to the ER in a snowstorm at 3am), and it was 2020. So we couldn’t get food for the marine tank, we couldn’t hire anybody to help us, and generally boxes accumulated from Amazon orders and we coped as best we could with me weak as a kitten and Jane unable to lift anything weighing as much as a kitten during part of it. BUT, we are now doing cleanup from all of that, we are both recovering nicely, and we are starting to clean up (first) the areas we live in.
For those of you who came in late, that is what has gone on. Now I’m hauling my marine tank back from the brink, and we are cleaning up the garden—we planted another lotus, and the waterlilies all bloomed, and the outdoor fishes are doing splendidly. As are we. Jane is now recovering from hip surgery, neither of us had Covid, I am getting back up to speed with typing (chemo did a number on my hands) and we are cleaning up the living room and bedrooms and the end of the kitchen where things have piled up is next.
We are nearly done with Alliance Unbound, and we will be writing the next Foreigner book together and catching up.
And that’s what’s been going on.
Whoo, that’s a lot of fixing! (I’m so glad your hands are better. I think that after three years, my chemo-induced neuropathy is probably about as good as it’s going to get. I can ignore the stuff in my fingers, as it’s just a slight tingliness. Left foot’s more of a problem.)
Well! if that isn’t just one thamned ding after another! Glad things seem to be settling and Ambassador Finity is keeping her end up. May it settle into mild boredom for a while.
Mobility and freedom from pain are such blessings. Glad it’s gone well with all your treatments and that you and Jane are mostly (if I’m interpreting right) recovered from all those misfortunes. Onwards and upwards.
Phew! my head is spinning from all that! I hope your lives calm down just a bit! Interesting times in Spokane, I guess.
I’m tired out just reading that! Wonderful you are both doing well, and great news on the book front! I’m looking forward to Jane’s participation on Foreigner. Will she get a new POV character? That would be fun, just don”t let Wishnu help too much 😉
C J, jazzed to hear you are working on the next Foreigner book. Any idea when 20 and 21 will be available on Audible?
I can better understand how there are a lot of stories about houses — be it haunted by things, upset as an entity about the people in them, or even parlor mysteries after the last ahem year now being in different stages of isolation in mine and the things it gets up to.
The roof got a hole in it early this year, Texas freeze that went on for a week for me that may have damaged the water heater, shortages in shingles for repairs, water dumping in through the kitchen ceiling, termites, cracks in the vaulted ceiling… I’m not exactly feeling *menace* from my house, but at times it’s felt like a submarine with various life threatening events happening I get to address. My sanity also flashing red. I wish I were a more handy person myself, but youtube and some helpful person from 2011 explaining how toilet bits work in comforting tones over and over as I rewind did get me through one disaster.
I’m really looking forward to Alliance Unbound making its way into the world. I’m currently reading “Zapped: the Curious History of Invisible Light”. It was donated to the library by the American Society of Radiologic Technologist according to a thing stuck in it. The books I donate go right into the sale bin so I’m not sure what sway they have, but I’m taking a look.
Woo—that’s a whirlwind summary of your past few years… glad that life, body & writing feels as if it’s coming back under your control!
I’ve heard, “It’s not the building or remodeling that blows the bidget. It’s the ‘might as well’s.”
House woes: My in-laws are moving from Florida here to Arizona so that ReadyGuy and I can be on the spot if needs arise. This involves “finding the right house.” We’ve made offers, been unable to make offers quickly enough and backed out of one house based on inspection results.
I usually view about 8 houses a week (along with about 100 other prospective homebuyers in any week) looking for that hidden gem that doesn’t cost too much, doesn’t need too much work, doesn’t have structural flaws, will pass a home inspection, will pass a VA inspection, has wide enough hallways for a mobility cart, and has room in the yard for a shed to be converted into a Lapidary shop, or leaded glass studio, and is bright, airy, and sunny without being too modern… and a swimming pool would be nice too. I’ve found exactly one house that met the criteria, but we didn’t win the bidding war for it. I’m ready to buy a lot and build a shack to move into and let the in-laws have my house…
Sell up and buy a duplex?
Glad to hear you two are pressing on as best you can. Looking forward to both books. I keep looking at Amazon, but I learned from L.E. Modesitt, they don’t want to put up books until edit is done?
Finished rereading The Fading Sun, I have a few more books and I will have reread everything you wrote since Covid brought normal life to an end. As the roofers redo waterproofing on a partial wall in my new ( 2 yr old ) house, I just wonder if houses are ever done.
Hi Ready, your last remark about building a temporary shack made me think: why not rent a module or two?
When our office needed a temporary expansion they rented some occupation-ready standalone modules that came in many configurations, already wallpapered and carpeted, and could be connected to each other or the existing office – there even were modules with a kitchenette or bathroom(s) installed, that only needed to be connected to the local pipes.
A crane lifted them into place, and took them away after building the new wing was completed.
A quick look on the internet didn’t find one of those rental services in Arizona, but I did find a lot of links about building a granny flat, inlaw appartment or ADU (additional dwelling unit), Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) (–a temporary modular in-law addition) or garage conversion on your own property.
For instance here, though I didn’t see Arizona mentioned on their site: https://www.the-homestore.com/blog/2013/01/echo-temporary-modular-addition/
And here on the AARP site which does apparently have an Arizona branch (it took its time loading but gives a good overview of what you need to do if you want to research this option): https://www.aarp.org/home-garden/housing/info-10-2010/abcs_of_adus.html
Those can be separate from the main house or attached to it – a separate unit with no connecting door, and good groundrules about visiting or interfering, gives more freedom. If in time the parents may need a lot of care, having them as close as next door may be very handy (and it saves the cost of buying the extra plot, and probably makes the utilities connections a lot cheaper and easier), but if you expect a lot of tension from living that close getting them a separate lot (and needing to drive to get to them) might be better.
I also found a lot of information about the advantages (quicker, cheaper and stronger) of building a modular home instead of the usual timber-framed onsite build, if you do end up needing to build a house yourself. It would still need a foundation or cellar (isn’t Arizona in a hurricane zone?), and need to be connected to water, sewage and electricity lines & pipes, so it’s not that cheap, from the prices I saw, but it does get you a lot of house for that money. Again I found it hard to determine if these were active in Arizona.
I’m not putting those links in here, to avoid the post getting sent to moderation 🙂
I don’t think Arizona has hurricanes – dust storms and flash floods, yes.
Modular housing is something worth looking into: it can be a house built offsite in the usual way, then trucked in and set on the foundation that’s been put in, with plumbing and electricity ready to connect. (My parents did that in Texas. Came with the light tubes in place, and even paper in the convenience. My father did insist that the supprt beams get bolted in place, rather than relying on gravity to keep them in the hangers – 35 years in California!)
Trivia: Southern Arizona could give Florida a run for the title of Lightning Capital of the USA. At certain times of year. One wouldn’t espect so.
Hanneke, US house construction law (zoning) is usually by city. Some cites want their own look. Modular construction is largely reduced to mobile homes, trailers in theory, and very large projects made of modules custom to that project.
This makes some sense since a house at the beach needs salt resistance and little insulation, while a house in a snowy area needs snow resistance and much insulation. And disasters vary across the country: earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, derechos, and the odd volcano or tsunami.
Still, I think a lot of standards date from the early part of the industrial revolution, before constructing large modules in a factory was possible. California only recently mandated ADUs be allowed state-wide.
I wonder what the Atevi would consider felicitous?
Hanneke, thanks for the research, but the in-laws want to maintain the illusion of independence. They don’t want to be too close to us and frankly, I want some independence as well. I love both of them, but have little in common. Different religion, different tastes, different enthusiasms, and I don’t want to be judged on my housekeeping skills (different standards). Spouse and I are comfortable in this house with room for our children to come and visit. We are both adults and retired from long careers, and we don’t need to apologize for playing video games or sleeping in when we want or reading all day when we have a new book. Separate is best. When the time comes that one or both need round the clock care, I will be happy to give that attention knowing it is for a finite time and that I have a retreat available if stuff gets too tough.
Just ran into this site: http://www.legonium.com/
Latin with fun! New verb: banthitare, to ride (or travel by) bantha
Oh yes, Legonium is indeed fun! I’ve worked through some of its lessons in the past.
Glad to see you’re on the air again. Keep working hard too – keep them books a comin’.
I had both knees totally replaced 10-12 years ago. Highly recommended.
Your experiences in the past two years helped me realise I have no claim to uniqueness here either. I think I’ve got off more lightly than you In my case, it was late stage aggressive prostate cancer, eventually diagnosed mid-2020 and treatment started. So far so good.
All-in-all a surreal phase of my life which tested my relationship with my life partner and wife of 55 years, Eileen, in ways we’d never imagined. It held up. I count myself very lucky.
A quirk of the medication which is part of my treatment is that hormone levels go a bit haywire. Teenage angst (at my age!) and the (sometimes involuntary) ability to re-live in Cinema-scope every emotional experience I’ve had, have at times ambushed this hitherto level-headed old man. And all non-rational inputs seem to arrive unfiltered at over 100dB.
So, a new day, a clear slate and some altered personal perspectives. Life’s much simpler now, though the road ahead looks shorter. So it’s down to what really matters most; there are very few items on that list, though they matter a lot. I’m re-reading Regenesis, and getting far more out of it than I did10 years ago, partly as I’ve been looking into my own head wondering what’s going on. Could use a few of Ari’s techniques I reckon.
Keep smilin’ Ed
Well, all of a sudden, I have no problem getting into the WWASverse. Must not have been holding my mouth right . . . .
So glad to hear you guys are back on an even keel again and things are getting back to business as usual. It’s whatever is the opposite of a “vicious” cycle. You start feeling better, which gives you the energy to start ordering your surroundings, which makes you feel better and gain more energy, which helps you bring more and more order back into your life. A happy state to be in, for sure.
Oh, how my heart leapt up at those magic words “another Foreigner novel!”