The Great Outdoors

I'm spending a lot of time doing nothing, which has proven good for my ankle. It hardly hurts at all. I'm also going to hand therapy twice a week where Cindy and Cheri (my new therapists) are concerned about my scar, which is preventing my thumb from bending properly. Monday the splint comes off and they're going to bring out the "big guns" to try and reduce my scar. It has something to do with electromagnetic shocks. Hmm.

Mom and I enjoyed a particularly good game of Scrabble yesterday. I won.



My parents' backyard is like a park. I've watched chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, ducks, cardinals, mourning doves and dozens of finches in all kinds of beautiful colors hang out here.

Real Estate

Mike and Kristine recently moved into a new flat. Met up with them and Brian last night for a BBQ. The place is HUGE with two BRs, living room, dining room, kitchen, W/D, backyard and plenty of parking ... all for $650 a month!! Maybe it's time for a move.

Change of Scenery

I arrived in Milwaukee on Saturday for rest, TLC from my family and some real summer.



On Sunday, Mike, Shaelin and I went to see the Brewers abruptly end a five-game winning streak.



Shaelin got his own seat ...



... and stayed ready for a stray fly ball ...



... before giving in to exhaustion on the way home.

CD group

My latest compilation for CD group aka OK Listen is called Splendid Isolation. I've been spending an awful lot of time alone lately, so this title seemed appropriate. For the uninitiated, CD group meets the last Wednesday of every month at Tod and Linda's house where 8-12 members swap CDs they've created. They talk a lot about "sticking it to the man," but I own all the music I share, so I don't really know what they mean:)

Here's the Splendid Isolation lineup:

1) Full Moon Cigarette - Gran Bel Fisher (got this CD free in the mail at work)
2) Saltbreakers - Laura Viers (intro'd to this Seattle girl by my Seattle friend)
3) Unbound - Suzanne Vega (her new album is awesome)
4) Juniper Rose - Etienne de Rocher (great local singer-songwriter)
5) Splendid Isolation - Pete Yorn (love him!)
6) The Revolution Starts Now - Steve Earle (my working-class hero!)
7) Falling Up - Ricki Lee Jones (her new album is incredible)
8) The Gringo's Tale - Steve Earle (need I say more?)
9) Ride - Liz Phair (this popped up on shuffle and it fit)
10) Send His Love to Me - PJ Harvey (ditto)
11) Over You - T-Bone Burnett (he blew me away at the Bluegrass festival)
12) How to Fight Loneliness - Wilco (keep smiling!)

The River

Spent a long, luxurious weekend at the Russian River and enjoyed some much-needed socializing, sunning and silliness. High points: meals prepared with love (and MUCH talent!) by friends, 5:30 a.m. board games with Monisha, freshly washed hair courtesy of Monica, floating in the bathtub-temperature water with Tom and www.decorativecrap.com. Laughing hard is good for your health!



The River



Three Ms: Monica, Mati and Monisha.



Hugh at work



Sonya



Georgia

Progress

My hand looks great! The stitches came out last week and this week Olga trimmed off lots of dead skin. I've got some aching and some pins and needles, which means it's coming back to life. Next week I get to move it on my own!

Sunshine ... Finally!

When I'm back at work, I KNOW I'll desperately miss these long, lazy days of reading, watching movies and listening to music. But right now, I'm pretty bored. Thank goodness the sun has returned.

I LOVE the sun!



Gin prefers the shade.

Arthur

By special request, here are some shots of Arthur. He's a real love bug and seems to be adjusting to life outside the shelter just fine.

The Hand

The exercises are making my thumb sore, which I'm sure is a good thing. Still waiting for "pins and needles," which Olga says is a sign the nerves are growing back.

Physical Therapy = My New Best Friend

I started therapy with Olga at Cal Pacific's hand clinic yesterday. My thumb reminds me of a piece of meat someone attached to my hand. I still can't feel it, which is wierd. Olga says this is normal.

I'm still enjoying a gigantic bunch of the longest-lasting flowers ever from my friends at the A&P.

Also, thanks to Rachel, Gin is spending the weekend away pretending to be a "family dog."