Surgery Recovery (Fun with Drugs!)

So I am mostly recovered from my surgery, thank goodness. I don't do well when I am trapped inside on a couch for extended periods of time. I am even back at work today!

The first day was rough. I felt like crap, I was in pain and the anesthesia stole my brain and my energy. I slept all day and all night. The Husband kept coming in and checking on me, I am sure he wanted to make sure I was still alive. All I can say is thank goodness for drugs. Norco and IBUPROFEN, you were my best friends that day. Plus the Norco not only helped with pain, it made me go to my happy, sleepy place every time I took it. The next day I felt much better, but my brain was really fuzzy. I had a hard time processing thoughts and a REALLY hard time speaking. My sentences never came out like they sounded in my head. Anesthesia is a weird weird thing. By Thursday I was going stir crazy, so I decided to drive myself to the store and buy cake mix and make a cake. (?????????? I'm telling you, it was the drugs) That turned out to not be the best plan as I was pretty sore afterwards, but I was so happy to have left the house I really didn't care. I made my cake and didn't eat it since I had no appetite. I'm a freak I tell you. Finally on Friday my Momma came and took me to the movies. Escape!

We went and saw Race to Witch Mountain (yes we are nerds, don't judge us). I had loved the original growing up (called Escape to Witch Mountain) so I was actually really excited to see the remake. I also think The Rock is awesome. The movie was nothing spectacular, but it was entertaining and that is really all I wanted and was looking for at that point. I would probably not recommend that you see this in the theaters unless you were a big fan of the original. The original was better, but it was fun to see a modern interpretation of the story. After the movie we went to lunch at Islands which was wonderful. Thanks Mom!
Saturday I spent the day relaxing again. We watched some movies, one of which was Death at a Funeral. AWESOME movie. It was hilarious. It is British humor which I adore, but be forewarned that it is not a typical American comedy. It hurts to laugh still, so this movie was very very painful, but worth it. It made me look at Valium and little people in a whole new way. We also watched Samantha Brown in Ireland and dreamed about going there. Sigh. Is there any place on earth full of such happy, drunk people surrounded by such beautiful landscape? I think not.
We also went out and saw Coraline in 3D, and I HIGHLY recommend this movie. It is hard to find in 3D, but I can't imagine it being nearly as amazing without that aspect. The 3D was done so well. The story was also very very very good, and actually really suspenseful for an animated film. It is definitely not for young children...probably kids over 10. So if you can find it playing in a theater it is worth spending the money on.

Sunday we were fortunate to have tickets to the Laker game. I was feeling pretty good, so The Husband and I headed up to LA. Unfortunately, we got a ticket on the way. We were a little lost and arguing about directions and I told The Husband to turn. To make the turn he had to quickly get over into the left hand lane and in doing that cut someone off on accident. Cop saw it and gave us a ticket. Sigh. I take the blame, unfortunately I cannot take the traffic school. At least the game was a blast and the Lakers won! WOO HOO! I even had a beer since I was completely off my medication (just taking IBUPROFEN on occasion). We also walked around the new Nokia Theater complex. Looks like it is going to be really neat when it is completed.
Another amazing thing happened while I was stuck inside, it seems like the economy finally made a turn for the better. Apparently all that needed to happen was for me to have my cysts removed! (Yes, I am totally taking credit for single handedly turning the economy around). I am knocking on every single thing I have that is wood, but we finally had some good news. Madoff is going to jail, the stock market rebounded a bit, retail sales did much better than economists had predicted and CitiGroup actually recorded profits. Hallelujah! I know that it will be a long long road to economic recovery, but my only hope is that we have reached the bottom. If we have reached the bottom I may actually stay employed and I am hoping I won't have to watch any more of my friends lose their jobs. My fingers are permanently crossed.

So, back to work and reality for me. I have my post op appointment next week, so hopefully I can get back to my normal activities then. (And get the heck off pelvic rest! he he)

Shame on You Michael Steele.

Yesterday Michael Steele was asked about Civil Unions for gay and lesbian couples. Here is his response:

Do you favor civil unions?" Gallagher asked:
STEELE: No, no no. What would we do that for? What are you crazy? No. Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country. I mean this isn't something that you just kind of like, "Oh well, today I feel, you know, loosey-goosey on marriage." I mean, this is a foundational principle of this country. It is a foundational principle of organized society. It isn't something that, you know, in America we decided, "Let's make it between a man and a woman; oh well now, let's change our mind and make it between anyone and anyone." No.

GALLAGHER: So no room even for a conversation about civil unions, in your
mind?

STEELE: What's the difference?
GALLAGHER: Well, you're not calling it marriage.
STEELE: Is it?
GALLAGHER: I don't know. I mean, I... I...

STEELE: I mean, like Sarah Palin said, you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig.

GALLAGHER: Yeah yeah yeah, but the argument that Sean Penn is making, and I agree that this is, the squeaky wheel doesn't have to get the grease and there's not a state that says, we favor redefining marriage as anything other than one man and one woman. But there are a lot of people who say, "but yet, this country isn't a country that wants to discriminate against two people if they're in a committed relationship. We don't want to deny them benefits, we don't want to deny them opportunities."

STEELE: Ok, but wait a minute. Is it going to -- what is it? Is it going to you want the benefits or you want something else? If you want the benefits, there's a little thing called contract law, you've got power of attorney. There's a whole number of ways in which two individuals can care for each other and look out for each other without having to put the imprimatur of marriage on their forehead.

GALLAGHER: right right.

STEELE: So, I don't understand why you need to weaken an institution that is a foundational institution of not just America, of mankind. I mean this is something that as human beings, we have organized ourselves around. This thing called a family unit. This is how we've defined it. And, sure, things have changed over the years. And, sure, you know, gays adopt and all this other...but when you go to that foundational principle of marriage and you're now saying, "well, you know, we're going to backslide away from that." What are you saying as a society of people? What are you saying as human beings? I don't...I guess that's the question that we're going to debate, but all due respect to Sean Penn, I just, you know, I disagree with that view. I don't think there's hate in it. I don't think there's discrimination. It's just a core, foundational principle of our society that this what we believe and this is what we adhere to.

First off Mr. Steele, Palin put her lipstick on a pit bull, not a pig. Obama was the one putting his lipstick on a pig.

Second, who is the crazy one here? It is a fact that a majority of the people in this country AT LEAST support the right for gay couples to have a civil union. By saying that you do not even support the "separate but equal" doctrine of civil unions you have just alienated a large majority of the country. THAT is crazy Mr. Steele.

And last but certainly not least, I am unsure how ANYONE thinks that not allowing gays and lesbians the right to marry is anything BUT discrimination. Just because it was tradition or "value" that this country was founded on doesn't make it right or non-discriminatory. When this country was founded Mr. Steele wouldn't have even had the right to vote. I would not have had the right to vote. So Mr. Steele, should we go back to those founding values as well? I mean they are traditional! That means they couldn't possibly be discriminatory, right?

And FYI Mr. Steele, contract law does not allow the same benefits of marriage. Before you spout off your ignorance and hate you may want to do a little research.

RNC Chair Michael Steele, my pick for Douche Bag of the month of February.

The Roe V Wade Decision

Yesterday was the 36th Anniversary of the Roe V. Wade decision. I am not going to get too much into the abortion debate on this blog because it is one of those things that never seems to end pretty. I just wanted to make a post to mark this anniversary. The anniversary of the day that women finally became fully free.

Sometimes we take things for granted living in a country like the United States, we don't always think about or thank the people that had to fight so hard for what we have. That includes the military, but also the men and women on the front lines of the Women's Rights movements and other Civil Rights movements in this country. Take a moment today to be thankful for living in a country that treats women as equals and not as second class citizens.

We always have to keep fighting for what we believe in and we always have to continue to make progress.

"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals."

What a day. What a marvelous, historic, emotional day. 

The husband got up about 6:30 this morning to start watching the coverage, I followed about an hour later. (Hey, I was still going to sleep in on my day off!). Looking over the crowd that had gathered at The Mall, most of the waiving American flags was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

As the former presidents walked out, I think it finally hit me. The man I had supported since long before he even announced he was running for President of the United States was going to be sworn into that very office on this very day. WOW.

Watching him take the oath of office caused me to tear up. His d

aughters and Michelle were looking so proud. What their husband and father had accomplished was extraordinary. He was POTUS.

The people in the crowd were crying, laughing, yelling, screaming and waving their flags. Everyone was excited and hopeful and inspired. 

"What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply."

I think that sometimes people underestimate hope and inspiration. Many right wing pundits have made fun of his "celebrity" status. Said that people thought Obama was the Messiah. That he could do no wrong. No on I know believes that, says that, or expects miracles from Obama. What we are is inspired. Inspired to serve, to dream, to believe. We are inspired to get involved in politics and take charge of our democracy once again. They can make fun of that all they want, but it is a powerful thing. 

"And so to all other peoples and governments who are watch

ing today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father way born; know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more."

The above quote was my favorite line from the speech. I am ready for America to be a moral guiding light once more. Not because of our religion, but because of our desire to always do right, to abide by our founding documents and others agreed upon thereafter, and because of our desire to help humanity as a whole. Not just Americans, but all people. In the end, we are all just people, no matter where we are born, and we all deserve the same basic rights. 

Hitting the Ground Running

During the transition two very important announcements have come out of our President-Elects office. The first being the proposed closing of Guantanamo Bay and the return of Habeus Corpus and then yesterday, the announcement that Don't Ask Don't Tell will be repealed and that gays and lesbians will be able to openly serve in our armed forces.

"Thadeus of Lansing, Mich., asks, 'Is the new administration going to get rid of
the "don't ask, don't tell policy?'" said Gibbs, looking into the camera.
"Thadeus, you don't hear a politician give a one-word answer much. But it's,
'Yes.'"

I can't explain properly in words how excited, happy and proud this makes me. We are finally going to listen to the supreme court ruling and uphold the constitution again while at the same time making strides toward more progressive civil rights and equality. I believed in Obama during the campaign and was a proud supporter of his, but even I didn't expect him to hit the ground running, especially on two such controversial but important issues.

Now our military will join the ranks of countries like Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada and Italy (plus many more) in allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly. We can really be proud. It took us awhile, and we may fall behind other countries in regards to equality for all, but we will get there.

Guantanamo will be a much longer process, and I certainly do not expect miracles. I will be happy if it completely closed within 2 or 3 years. As long as we work on getting trials for the detainees and do not sanction torture during the process, I think the world along with our own citizens will begin to see America in a better light. Our country always has been and always will be better than that.

5 days until Obama officially takes office. It still seems surreal.