The ABCs of a New 'Ohana Adventure-G is for: Greetings From Teppan, Good-Byes, and Good News!!! - COMPLETED 1/7

[Steppesister]

First . . . Love the photos of the grand babies. Bald heads are so kissable.

YES, they are!!! They are just precious.

Second. . .Glad there is some improvement in your post-op condition.

Thanks!! Slowly, SLOWLY!!

I like the way you partake of so many snacks during your visit. I tend to go for meals and therefore don't do snacks, but I'm beginning to see the error of my ways.

I am definintely a "snacker". My tum-tum is small (as is my bladder, but that's another thing altogether- one of these days I'll do an entire post/chapter about my favey WDW bathrooms!) so I tend to eat small plates/snacks often.

I hate the game of car shopping, but looks like you may have played and won. Hope so.

I do too, but I had a VERY specific make and model in mind and ONLY shopped for that. So that took quite a bit of the pain out of it. It was a posted sale price too, so no haggling was part of the game. I came, I shopped, I bought, I'm poor. LOL!

 

[Steppesister]

Well, whatever it is you're not alone. Last night (I am still working night shift until I get a break Wednesday), I was running a bit behind so didn't have time to pack my ham sandwich. I decided it would be faster to throw all the ingredients into a bag and make it at work, so I quickly tossed bread, cheese, mayo into a bag. Do you notice what may be missing in order to make a ham sandwich? Luckily I had a box of granola bars in my desk, or else I would have been eating bread with mayonnaise.

OMG! I've SO done that!! I've brought stuff, including my little mini blender to make a smoothie only to find I've forgotten the banana or some other major ingredient. Luckily, my work keeps top ramen there for emergencies and there's ALWAYS free PB&J makings. Sometimes work goes way later than anyone anticipates so it's there to keep us from getting hangry. But, yes, geez, get yer head in the game, Gurl!

I guess that makes two of us since I am giggling about it right now.

LOL! Potty humor just never gets old.

I've had the Pasta Gratin. I liked it, but there was something a bit off about the cheese curds, I think I found the texture a little odd.

I'd agree, it has a bit of a grainy texture to it and is definitely NOT a creamy "mac and cheese" style dish. Good, but not excellent.

As for the dead grapes, I'm with @Captain_Oblivious on that one. The only time I eat raisins is when they are covered in chocolate.

And while I LIKE raisins, choco-covered ones are NOT on my list of liked foods.

Train Wars: Attack of the Gnomes
Takes place during Flower & Garden. The gnomes from the England pavilion decide they like the Germany train set better than their garden. They all come to life at night. Chaos ensues. It's going to be riveting.
Yes, I would be very sad if the train was gone. I always like to have a quick look at it. But then I felt the same about the fountain....

Buaahahahahahahaha!! OK you win. That was totally hilarious!!

As for the fountain... I sure hope @pkondz is right... I hope they replace it with another fountain. I really miss the FON already.

I had a similar situation this summer. I chose a new vehicle too. It's not easy financially, but a new car sure is nice.

I guess you get what you pay for. My hope is that the financing of it is very short-lived and I can pay it off super quick.

That's rough. I hope you are able to get back to work as soon as possible.

I do too, but am thinking realistically it's looking like first week of February. That'll give me max time to have this silly arm get better and my not pooping out during a shift at 3:00. I often work until 9:00 PM so need to have that stamina back that I just don't have. Meantime FMLA (disability pay which sucks.

 

[tundra1]

Glad to hear that things are improving! Your grandbabies are adorable, and a great diversion from dealing with all that pain! Do you know a good acupuncturist? I have seen amazing results after a couple of treatments. Of course, some insurances don't cover holistic cares. Stay strong, and keep drinking that water!

 

[Terra Nova guy]

Buaahahahahahahaha!! OK you win. That was totally hilarious!!

Now are you wondering if there are actually gnomes in the England pavilion?
Sadly, I was curious so I googled, and it seems there are none. To which I say, why not since that seems a very English thing to do.
I was also reminded when googling that it is actually the United Kingdom pavilion and not England, but I suspect I’m not the first to mix that up.

 

[pkondz]

It's sweeping the World as the #2 attraction!

Well.... I've been pretty hush hush about it, mostly because we're still planning... but...

Kari and I are headed to the Greek Isles and Italy in September. We're sailing on The Explorer of the Seas with Royal Caribbean. We have a 3 day pre-cruise stay touring Rome and Florence, and I'm adding a solo week to visit Venice and POSSIBLY take the train from either Milan or Venice to Frankfurt and visit Magdalene in Nuremberg. LOTS still up in the air and being planned, but for sure stops are Syacuse, Sicily; Chania, Crete; Mykonos; Athens; Santonini; Naples. I won't get back at Naples (the last day before the cruise ends back in Rome) and tour on my own from there. Anywho... getting excited, but still have some travel before that that I want to focus on.

Wow! That sounds amazing!! I'm sure you'll both have an amazing time and memories for a lifetime.
My folks did a Mediterranean cruise about 40 years ago and still talk about it.

I can make it about 4 hours at night at a time, and lately after that, I simply cannot get back to sleep even WITH the muscle relaxant. Maybe my biothrhythms are the last thing (aside from the arm) to even out and get back into whack. But, yes YOU ARE right. Each day I am feeling a bit better and the pain in the arm is a tiny bit less with ups and downs along the way.

That... doesn't sound great (lack of sleep), but glad there's incremental change for the better.

Not thrilled in the least with the timing. At ALL! But it is what it is. I AM happy with my new car (photo below) and all the bells and whistles it has. I love the onboard navigation, but the heated seats and remote start even more.

No photo below, but that's okay. I saw it on facebook.
(Or there is one and I just can't see it since I'm at work.)

They are super cute, and I got to hold Declan today for almost and hour.

Awww...

 

[suse66]

Well.... I've been pretty hush hush about it, mostly because we're still planning... but...

Kari and I are headed to the Greek Isles and Italy in September. We're sailing on The Explorer of the Seas with Royal Caribbean. We have a 3 day pre-cruise stay touring Rome and Florence, and I'm adding a solo week to visit Venice and POSSIBLY take the train from either Milan or Venice to Frankfurt and visit Magdalene in Nuremberg. LOTS still up in the air and being planned, but for sure stops are Syacuse, Sicily; Chania, Crete; Mykonos; Athens; Santonini; Naples. I won't get back at Naples (the last day before the cruise ends back in Rome) and tour on my own from there. Anywho... getting excited, but still have some travel before that that I want to focus on.

That sounds like an absolutely incredible trip! I am hoping for Ireland in August but there have been some major hiccups and may have to be pushed back to 2021.

Train Wars: Attack of the Gnomes
Takes place during Flower & Garden. The gnomes from the England pavilion decide they like the Germany train set better than their garden. They all come to life at night. Chaos ensues. It's going to be riveting.

Brilliant!!!

 

[Steppesister]

...

 

[Steppesister]

Was supposed to be photos of my car. I’ll grab some better ones and post here.

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Happy New Year Liesa! So happy to hear your health is improving. That really sucks about your car. Don't worry, there's light at the end of the tunnel!!!!

 

[vamassey1]

I'm finally caught up on your report! I'm sorry I had gotten so far behind. I've enjoyed it all but I'm going to start quoting from the last update. I've also been keeping up with your recovery issues with the help of Facebook. I'm so glad you're finally getting better even if it's not as quick as you would have liked.

This is after I realized that I’d forgotten my camera battery back at the room.


Awesome.


I did tell you there’d be more stuff forgotten. I don’t know if I can chalk it up to age, just being generally distracted, dull, or otherwise.

I'm getting so back at forgetting things too.

I’m just standing there texting her and minding my own business when this guy in line in front of me rips a gigantic fart. He casually looked around to see who’d have heard, and I can neither confirm nor deny I was dying from trying not to laugh myself into apoplexy. Seriously, I just about gave myself a seizure from stifling the fact that I totally heard it and wished I’d had the guts to tell him I wished he’d just asked me to pull his finger. I mean Food and Wine can absolutely “do things” to one’s constitution, but this dude didn’t even TRY to hold back. I’m sure he must have known I 100% heard it, I mean, his rear end was mere feet from my face, but he cooly turned back around and pretended all was right in the Coastal Eats Queue.

This sound so much like my DH, if we had been there I would have to say it was him.

“We were standing there watching the show, when all of a sudden we heard this huge “thud”. We looked over and this lady was on the floor with people standing around her. She hit her head HARD on the railing when she went down. The show stopped, and it seemed like she had enough help, so we evacuated with everyone else.”

Oh noooooo! I'm sure this happens often when it's hot. It's really great that you helped as much as possible. I really hope she was better after some fluids and rest.

As they finished their set, Anara wanted her photo with them and asked if I’d snap her picture. They told her that they’d sensed her enthusiasm and were actually going to ask HER if she wanted one. I guess her smile and toe-tapping gave her away.

How fun for Anara!

I talked Zach into getting one as well and it turned out to be one of my favorites of him from the trip.

He looks very cool and laid back.

1) My movie needs a title.

Not good at this but I keep seeing scenes from "Night at the Museum" flashing through my mind.

2) Would you be sad if they took out the train set?

Yes I would.

Here are a couple of recent photos of my lil Alice and Mr. Rowan (grandbabies- I'm old!):

They are beautiful!

I'm now 2 1/2 weeks post-op and able to be up and around a lot more than even last week. I can, and have been, going all day now without a pain pill, but still needing them to get through the night. Being in one position too long (like when I sleep) is rough so I've been struggling with insomnia quite a bit. It doesn't help that I'm bored beyond belief, so my sleep cycle is all messed up with the need for medication at night, naps, etc...

Good news on your recovery except for the lack of good sleep at night.

In other news, because when it rains it pours... my car started acting up a month or so ago and a couple of days ago it ran rough enough that the orange light of death came on. After a visit to the mechanic (and $99 later in diagnostics), I learned that it will take more to get it running reliably enough for my own peace of mind than the car is worth. So... it appears I will be buying a car in the next few days, possibly even tomorrow.

I'm feeling you here. DD ran her car through too much accumulated rain water and killed her car. I had to pass my car to her and now have a new car with a note. I was not happy about the note but she does now have a better car for while she's in Florida.

 

[missjackiemcg]

First, I got behind (again!) Second, HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Third, I am sorry to hear the recovery has been slow and that the car issues creeped up, as well, but I love your enthusiasm that 2020 will indeed be a great year! After all, it's only just begun!

1) My movie needs a title.

2) Would you be sad if they took out the train set?

We, too, love watching the trains go by and appreciating the detail in the scenes! When we were there in December, it looked like there had been some squirrel wrestling meet or something as there were multiple big derailments and general disorder in certain parts of the display! Now THAT would be something to see!! I sense a sequel in the works.

We'd sure be sad if the train set was removed, but I would echo whoever said it earlier that the Great Train Story at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry is a favorite of ours, too!! So still having that would soften the blow.

 

[DnA2010]

Hopping on board from here on, as I think I have capacity for some more TR's and yours are so fun!

 

[Steppesister]

Hopping on board from here on, as I think I have capacity for some more TR's and yours are so fun!

Awww thank you so much and

It’s great to have you here! I’m on vacation this week and will be back to posting soon!

 

[Flossbolna]

Sorry to hear about your slow recovery. I am just happy that there is progress!! Hopefully it’s just a couple of weeks longer than you expected!

the grandchildren both looks incredibly cute! So happy that you get to spend quality time with them!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Glowing Seascape- Taken at Depoe Bay, Oregon on December 26th, 2019

Your photo looks like a painting. It is gorgeous.

In the end, I now believe that I was somehow over-stretched (for this surgery, they put you in a prone position in traction) and I received a brachio-plexus nerve injury in the process. While excrucitating enough that it landed me in the ER, I am confident it will resolve over time. I'm grateful I can use my arm at all. All this to say, my recovery is taking a LOT longer and taking a LOT more out of me than I ever anticipated, but as recovery room nurse, I also now have a very VERY real insight as to the scope of the recovery that some may face with this procedure. And nothing is a better teacher than personal experience.

My daughter is an operating room nurse and she gave us a tour of three of the operating rooms that they use. One of them included the table they use for spine surgeries and it was scary looking. I can't remember how it handled the arms, though. All I remember is the part about her crawling under the table to "adjust" the men.

I am sorry to hear about your nerve pain. It must have been horrible. Did your arm get any permanent damage? I experienced nerve pain in my left leg from a cyst in my spinal column. It was the worst pain I ever felt and medication hardly touched it. It was at its worst when lying down and best when standing. And there was no escaping the pain. And I have some loss of function now in that leg. Luckily, PT actually worked for me.

I would have underestimated the recovery time, too. I hate being sick and it gets very boring, very fast.

Here are a couple of recent photos of my lil Alice and Mr. Rowan

Your grandchildren are adorable and you are not old.

The moral of the story is that neck surgery isn't a piece of cake, at least it hasn't been for me. I don't however, think that most folks have the unfortunate circumstances of a surgical injury to deal with. Time will heal that, but it's going to take PT, patience, possibly pain injections or nerve blocks, and long-term medications.

They need to develop better pain medications. I can't believe that they don't have more effective ones available yet.

Kari and I are headed to the Greek Isles and Italy in September.

My sister did a trip like that this summer and she had a great time.

 

[aboveH20]

All right! I’m in the club!!

 

[aboveH20]

Kari and I are headed to the Greek Isles and Italy in September. We're sailing on The Explorer of the Seas with Royal Caribbean. We have a 3 day pre-cruise stay touring Rome and Florence, and I'm adding a solo week to visit Venice and POSSIBLY take the train from either Milan or Venice to Frankfurt and visit Magdalene in Nuremberg. LOTS still up in the air and being planned, but for sure stops are Syacuse, Sicily; Chania, Crete; Mykonos; Athens; Santonini; Naples. I won't get back at Naples (the last day before the cruise ends back in Rome) and tour on my own from there. Anywho... getting excited, but still have some travel before that that I want to focus on.

That sounds like a wonderful trip. I'm trying to light a fire under my husband for Australia, Scandinavia or Greece. Yesterday we got mail from the Ohio State Alumni Assn advertising a trip to Greece, including Venice. (I've been to Venice but not Greece). He's a diehard Buckeye so I'm hoping that might be my in for a trip. (His college mascot is a nut, mine is an orange -- two very non-violent, politically correct figureheads!)

 

[Steppesister]

Super enjoying my Tucson vacation! Sadly it ends today. I could stay here forever...

Here’s a sneak peek:

 

[pkondz]

Super enjoying my Tucson vacation! Sadly it ends today. I could stay here forever...

Here’s a sneak peek:

View attachment 464102

Wow! Gorgeous!

 

[Steppesister]

Wow! Gorgeous!

Thanks! I adore walking in the desert SW!