Can You Hear Me Now?

I meant to update again before Christmas, but, alas, I did not. Surprised?

A lot has happened since then. For starters, my dear, sweet Grandma passed away on the 21st. I cried for a short time when I found out, just at the overall thought that she is no longer here. But in all honesty, this is much better for her. I really can’t believe she hung around as long as she did, lying in that nursing home wasting away to nothing. She would have been 96 next month. Where she is now is a much better place, and I’m sure she’s busy catching up with Grandpa and her siblings and my cousin David (who died much too young in a tragic car accident). Once she’s caught up with everyone, I fully expect her to start checking in on us down here. I could use a guardian angel! And since her last words to me were “you need a husband”, perhaps she’ll get to work on that for me.

My stir-craziness continued as we kept getting more snow and freezing temperatures. I wasn’t able to leave the house until I went to my mom’s on Christmas eve! Mom and Bob picked me up around noonish. I insisted we stop for coffee on the way, and this particular gas station (Fas Gas has really good coffee, did you know that?) was giving away free coffee! How nice. At mom’s, we ate yummy meatballs and rice for dinner and nibbled on Christmas baking and goodies while watching “It’s a Wonderful Life”. I’m usually the one who wants to keep with our tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve, but this year I didn’t care. We weren’t going to open anything until my brother and Dad arrived the following afternoon, so you’d think I would have wanted to open something, but I guess I’ve outgrown the excitement of Christmas presents. The fact is, my family does so much for me all year, and is always “picking up” this or that for me, I don’t expect anything else… I actually feel guilty getting more presents.

Christmas morning mom and Bob made bacon, eggs, toast and coffee, which is pretty much the perfect breakfast. I’m still avoiding wheat and dairy generally, but I didn’t worry about it on Christmas. Especially when my dad showed up with a variety of cheeses from Springbank Cheese Co. - smoked applewood cheddar, blue cheese and brie. YUM! Add to that my mom’s cheese ball and all the goodies, and that took care of lunch. I did eat wheat free rice crackers, however. So it’s not like I went too off.

Now that my dad and brother were there, (yes, my mom, stepdad, dad, brother and me were all under the same roof for Christmas), and we were full up from lunch and snacking, we headed into the living room to open presents.

I was spoiled, as usual. My dad bought me an iPod Touch, which is pretty freakin’ awesome! Or it will be, once I figure it all out. My mom and Bob got me a whole bunch of things I needed, such as a one-cup coffee brewer (it brews right into your mug), a set of silverware, containers to keep cereal in (which was the ONE thing I begged for), books, a pink fuzzy terrycloth lounge dress thingy… I’m not sure what I’m missing. Plus, my cats even scored, with some Chia cat grass and a Catit Activity Centre, which they attacked with vigor when it was first set up, but lost interest quickly… I guess they want the catnip replenished daily.

We ate around 5:30 or 6:00, featuring all my faves: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, honey glazed carrots, and some other stuff that doesn’t really interest me like stuffing and cranberry sauce. I could live off white turkey meat, mashed potatoes, gravy and honey glazed carrots, I’m quite sure.

On Boxing Day I received another present from my dad, when he showed up with an iHome. It’s perfect, now I can keep my iPod beside me in the living room and charge it up while I play music! After a few days with that thing, it’s safe to say I’m rather addicted to it. I can check my Facebook and emails from it and I’ve downloaded several free applications of games and stuff. There are too many applications available to choose from! I’m only going for “free” at the moment. Tonight I’m going to try a sleep hypnosis application I downloaded earlier, see how that works. I must have a million self-hypnosis sleep CDs and stuff to help me sleep, but nothing works. These days I’m trying to lay off taking any medication to help me sleep, but I tend to wake up every hour regardless because I either have to pee or I’m in pain. Between both my hips and my right arm, I can’t get and stay comfortable. All would be solved if I could actually sleep on my back, but I CAN’T. I want a bed like the $25,000 hospital bed I slept in last month. That thing was amazing, the mattress automatically adjusted to my body’s position and I was never uncomfortable or in pain. I’ve never seen a hospital bed like that one before, it must be a new way they have found to spend our tax dollars.

Anyway, since I got home from my mom’s on Christmas night I’ve been stuck inside again. There is just too much snow and ice to venture out on my scooter. So the stir-craziness is setting in again! Yesterday was my brother’s birthday so him and my dad came over and we ordered in Chinese food. My mom and Bob are in Winnipeg as my Grandma’s funeral was also yesterday. (Wow, right as I typed that, a funny buzz sound came from my computer I’ve never heard before. …Grandma?) I bawled like a baby the other night, thinking about her. I thought I could move past it and feel blessed that she is in a better place and no longer suffering, but it’s not working that way. I’m bawling again now! Aw, Grandma… if you looked up “Grandmother” in the dictionary, you would see her picture. She was everything you’ve ever heard a grandma should and could be. I can’t believe I will never kiss those soft cheeks again.

I’ll edit this later to add photos! Right now I need to go finish this cry.