My sister arrives in two days!!!!!

Two days!!

GLEEEEEEEE

Ahem.

Right, so yesterday we spent the day sorting out the library so it could function as a guest room. Things have been cleared out and tidied up. Calls were made to procure extra bedding and a TV. I realised the other day that we would have two guests several times over the next few weeks and it might be worth getting pillows and blankets for them. I didn’t want to buy things I wouldn’t need all the time so I asked Weasel’s parents if they could lend us anything. Then I remembered that BlanketGirl sleeps better with the noise and light from a TV. We only have one, but Weasel thought the old blank and white TV might be knocking around her parent’s house and since they were coming over anyway we called them. They didn’t have the B&W but they do have an old colour set and a VCR to go with it. So now BlanketGirl should be very comfortable. We also got the bathroom sorted and did some laundry.

After we finished up I was exhausted and songs of Dominos were playing in my mind. Weasel was supportive and we even found many reasons to justify it a) we’d worked very hard b) BlanketGirl can’t have Dominos so we should eat it while we can and c) it is yummy. I called Horatio and he made the call. It was delicious.

I was exhausted so I went to bed earlier, I think about 10:30, Weasel and I talked for a while and I went to sleep no later than midnight, but I suspect closer to 11:30. I woke up at 11:45 this morning. I reckon I slept a good 12 hours. So I’m feeling pretty good today. I’ve done a few minor things today but mostly been resting. I’m going to go for a walk later on.

Weasel is off to a BBQ tonight so I’m going to indulge in quality me time. Not sure what I’ll do, but I’m sure it’ll be fun. Might make this sandwich.

Two days.

My what a weekend I had! Travel was painless, wheelchair proved useful for transporting luggage and everyone is very nice to you if you have one.

Saturday morning was excellent, we walked up to the park and played Frisbee. I haven’t played in years, it was very good fun. I also realised how much I enjoyed that sort of thing compared to lifting weights. So I’ve decided to actually get that jump rope and Weasel is going to teach me some of her poi tricks.

Saturday night Horatio pushed me up the hill and we got lovely burritos from Salsa Mexicana. Unfortunately, I think my lovely onion and pepper burrito made me sick, but not until 3am. Waking up Horatio to ask him to help me work the washing machine wasn’t fun. At least I managed to clean it all up myself. I’ve become a bit of a veteran vomit-er since I got sick. I have reactions to medications, labyrinthitis, coughing so hard as to vomit etc.

Sunday was a gentle day with Dr Seuss and helping Horiatio to rearrange/clean his lounge. I’d been annoyed by his computer tower because I always hit my knee on it. I asked if there was a way to move it and pretty soon the entire room had changed. He seems pleased with it. The afternoon/evening was spent with Carl & Gabby. The latter of whom is from Mexico and brought beautiful authentic Mexican food for dinner. It was delicious! She is very kindly sending me a recipe for a courgette/onion filling I particularly liked. We played a few games, laughed a lot and generally enjoyed ourselves.

Over the course of the weekend Horatio and I managed to rack up six hours of Magic Ball on the PS3. It is very good fun. Crazy ball is crazy!

We watched Mary Poppins and Horatio realised that it wasn’t the film he hated, but the association he had with it i.e. watching it at school. I feel vindicated.

Monday we went to York and had a lovely time. I was so grateful for my wheelchair. I couldn’t have gone to York at all under my own power. We started in the Minster, it is gorgeous. We got there just in time for the tour and I very much enjoyed that. Sadly, I couldn’t go into the Tower because of my lungs [the climb would be too hard]. After that we went to the always spectacular Betty’s Cafe. I had the Mushroom & Garlic Rösti, so very yummy. I have never been disappointed with them and if you’re ever in Yorkshire, you must go. We made our way to the city wall after that and because I hadn’t exhausted myself getting around I was able to climb the wall and walk along it. I had great fun going to the crenels and calling down to passers-by, ‘Ho there! State your business!’ They couldn’t hear me but it gave us a giggle. We made our way to the station and home after that.

Tuesday I managed to convince Horatio to stay home with me until I left [around 10:30]. We’re very naughty. He was a huge help though, I don’t like riding the bus by myself, so I would have walked into town and I really shouldn’t have. I was definitely feeling the pinch from such an active weekend.

Yesterday I called my sister and we tied up a few loose ends for her visit next week [!!!!!!!!]. It is going to be incredible.

Today I knew when I woke up that I was tired and I needed to rest. So of course I felt guilty and ended up mowing the lawn and raking the grass. I win. I also made Aubergine Parmigiana [aka Eggplant Parmesan]. We haven’t eaten it yet though.

Tomorrow though, I am determined. I’m going to have my shower, visit a friend in hospital* and rest.

* Fellow WG patient Zoe is in the local hospital at the moment so I’m going to pop over.

Yesterday was excellent. I got a call from Doodle asking if I wanted to go fish shopping. Over some very hot weather in June several of Stoat’s pond fish died. So for his birthday last week we decided to restock his pond. I love going to the fish store, there’s loads of tanks and they’re so lovely. He got 12 in the end, shubunkins, comets and something else I cannot recall. We went back to the house and after they adjusted to the temperature from their bags we released them. Doodle, Stoat and I had yummy sandwiches and then they took me home.

I spent some quality time in the hammock trying to read We need to talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver. I had a very hard time initally, but I’ve got the rhythm of it now. I’m still very annoyed by it, but I expect I’ll finish it. This is our book club book this month and BlanketGirl is reading it too so she can go to the meeting with me.

The highlight by far though: I made my sister’s cookies using my new [to me] KitchenAid mixer.

Cast of characters [as The Pioneer Woman says]

Mixer in action, so beautiful

All mixed and just about to fold in chocolate bits

Dishing up

All done!

The wonderful thing? I could add things while it mixed. Before, I’d add something, get my hand-held mixer, mix it up then put that aside and add something else. Saved so much time and effort. Now that I’m much weaker than I once was, not having to cream the butter by hand was heaven.

A curious thing happened today. I decided I wanted to take a nice long walk so I arranged to go with Weasel at the end of her working day. It was a wonderful walk; we talked, held hands, laughed and we went together perfectly as usual. We made it to the local estate grounds and walked around then came home. I realised something in the home stretch. I have been very happy for the last few days, hell the last week. It has felt very good. So when a wave of sadness hit me, I had to pause and look for the cause, it felt so alien.

I do very well provided I am in the moment; provided I am looking towards the future. Whenever I compare where I am now to where I was three years ago, I get very sad. I miss my old body. I miss waking up and feeling rested and prepared to face the day. I miss the energy. I miss running, jumping, cycling fast and going up the stairs two at a time. I will never stop missing those things. I will never think of my life before December 2006 without a great sense of longing and loss. What I can do though, is do my best to think fondly of those times, but let them go. Let them rest and find acceptance. Now I just need to find a way.

Tomorrow I go to Horatio. I am excited, we have plans involving Betty’s Cafe and York. We have plans involving friends and dinner. I have plans to trick him into watching Mary Poppins again because I just cannot believe he hates it and doesn’t know why. I’m very excited to have five days and four nights with him. I’m sad to be leaving my Weasel though, I’ve asked if she wants to come too, but she keeps declining.

I’ll pack tomorrow morning, load up my wheelchair and take off. I’ll be home next Tuesday. Then I’ll get to call my sister and we’ll get to be excited because there’s only a week until she’s in my arms and my house.

You should have my sister’s cookie recipe. It is delicious.

BlanketGirl’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/4 cup unsifted self raising flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup butter (softened to room temp)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
2 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs
2 cups chocolate chips*

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Stir the flour, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl and set aside.

Beat the butter in a large bowl until creamy. Add the white sugar, mix. Add the brown sugar and mix well until the texture is smooth and peaked. Add the vanilla, mix well. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Gradually blend the dry mixture into the creamy one. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until lightly brown.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

* I do not like the chocolate chip options I have here, so before I was using chopped milk chocolate bars. They’re very rich. So this time, I got a pack of 100g plain chocolate chips and a 250g bar of milk chocolate. I cut each square in half, so the cookies had a lovely texture with big and little chocolate bits. I am fairly certain I should have had another 100g of chocolate, I don’t think I had 2 cups. Still yummy!

Good things! Happening to me!! Clearly there was a drought just so I could really appreciate this rainy season.

My new monitor finally arrived this morning! The company sent out a new one because the first delivery company just lost the first one. It is beautiful. Please note how messy my desk is, then realise that this is a vast improvement over its previous condition.

Also note my snazzy monitor stand. For years, I’ve been using the box our very first sandwich toaster came in, the footprint was perfect for a CRT. Now that I’ve got a much small, much lighter monitor, I didn’t need anything that big. I took the Styrofoam moulds from the toaster box and taped them together. Then I cut down the box to fit the new size. I wrapped the whole thing in new clean paper and ta-da! Nice monitor stand for nice monitor.

See also my beautiful glinding rocking chair that the boy so graciously financed for me. Fergus is sitting in it and the Yips are on the foot rest with my knitting and my book. And my wheelchair! I love this layout and I feel so lucky to have all of this.

My KitchenAid Mixer arrived too! It is so beautiful. It is absolutely perfect. It was purchased in October 2007 and so the five year warranty is still valid. I’ve cleaned it up and I’ve got it airing in the garden. Unfortunately, its previous parents are smokers so it has a smell. I’ve washed it twice and hopefully it’ll smell better this evening. I plan on making cookies tomorrow for my début. I’ll totally try and take photos. So pretty.

I have sold all my extra Tori Amos tickets! I am so relieved, that’s £161 we don’t have to eat. Also means some more fans will get the chance to see her. Also also means I’ll have a little more spending money for when my lovely sister is here.

Love this Indexed. True.

I got to fulfil some odd small town fantasy that I didn’t know I had yesterday. I went to the doctors and collected a prescription, I went to the pharmacy, to the post office, to the small shop for milk and back to the pharmacy then home. It was so incredibly quaint. I did it again today, I went in the other direction and got a new printer cartridge and a light bulb. Weasel and I are going to the library soon. Then I call my sister at 5 and today is damn near perfect.

Happy me is much better than depressed me.

My what an adventure I’ve had. On Wednesday, I turned my computer on and my monitor went ‘POP!’. Generally, it is not good when monitors pop. Weasel and I went online and managed to find a lovely one not dissimilar to hers for £128 and next day delivery. Jubilant, I waited all the next day with no monitor arrival. Sad. Weasel called them and it turns out the courier people had done something. They promised it would arrive yesterday before noon. Again no delivery. So here’s hoping for tomorrow.

My old monitor was a very good monitor. I’ve had it through three computers since 2003. Before that it belonged to a friend of ours, he had it since 2000. I assumed that it was manufactured in around 98 or 99 because the company name on the face changed in 99. When we pulled it out we found this:

March 1997 people. My computer monitor, a 19″ CRT worked beautifully for over 12 years. I am shocked and amazed. I will miss it.

When I get my new monitor installed I’ll finally take a photo of the new lounge arrangement.

Friday was Stoat’s 62nd birthday. We had a little gathering for him yesterday. He is a chef and usually he cooks for all of us, but I got to cook this time while he and Mal went for a walk. I made hamburger buns on Thursday, curried lentil burgers* on Friday and on Saturday morning I prepared some beautiful sweet potato chips [fries]. It all turned out beautifully.

* My lovely friend Caity recently changed to a vegan diet and has been sharing some really yummy recipes. This is one she recommended and I cannot fault it. Delicious! I didn’t fry them, I baked them and I put some cheese on the top to help hold them together. I think next time I’m going to purée 1/4-1/2 of the lentils to help the mixture stick together better.

While I was cooking, my Mom called. She’s been trying to think of Christmas presents for my sisters and I. She was originally going to get us all GPSs but I don’t drive or have a car. Then it turned out that Chance wanted dining room furniture instead so she asked what I wanted. I’ve been drooling after a KitchenAid Stand Mixer for years, but those bastards are expensive! I do not have £300-£350 spare. I said that was what I wanted, but I knew it was too expensive so I compiled a list of little kitchen things I wanted thinking they could get me some of those. My Mom e-mailed me later to say that they thought they might be able to arrange for a gently used one. I was ecstatic at the possibility and we left it at that.

When she called she told me she’d found an Artisan model [top of the line], 18 months old, still under warranty and she managed to get it for £210.

Thus yesterday was a very excellent day that couldn’t have gone better if I tried.

As for how I’m writing now, Weasel moved my computer near her desk and I’m using her monitor. It allows for two inputs so both our computers are connected to it now. She is very sweet like that.

Mama Cass Elliot and Julie Andrews singing the songs of Simon & Garfunkel.

Mama Cass had the most incredible voice, so sad that one so young died so tragically. And just for the record, she had a heart attack, mostly likely brought on by yo-yo dieting – the ham sandwich in question hadn’t been touched. And even if it had, everyone has to eat even us fat people.