December 2009 was not all that good to me. It was mostly a month of sadness and sickness, with the weather turning colder and the days getting shorter. In fact, I considered not putting up a Christmas tree at all this year, instead just settling for celebrating the month by watching Third Rock From the Sun on DVD, but thankfully Ashleigh was in the Christmas spirit and said she wanted one. But before we began this venture, I was faced with illness number one for the month.
On Friday, November 27, I had played cards over at Kristy and Sly’s with Jamie, and soon enough we had both come down with a tremendous cough. I attribute it to the smokers, but nevertheless, I was forced to the doctor’s office by Wednesday, December 2. He diagnosed it as bronchitis and gave me medicine. I was well enough by the next evening to meet up at with Sly and head to Cadillac Jack’s for a beer.
I had recovered well enough by Friday, December 4, to arrange the raising of the Christmas tree. Christi and Creed lent a hand to Stephen, Ashleigh, and me as we erected and perfected it. We found that most of our lights were burnt out so Christi and I made a trip to Kroger to buy some new ones. Having all new lights really made the tree sparkle this year. I can’t remember it ever looking so nice. We played the traditional Christmas music and I picked up some egg nog, peppermint ice cream, and naturally, barbecue pork rinds. I was glad that we ended up putting it up…and wonder which month it will actually get taken down!
Creed’s H1N1 shot made him feel a bit feverish, so he did his branch unfolding with beans on his head
A text message break amidst the branch prepping
Christi finds a nice decoration. Too bad it’s for Easter.
Ashleigh and Christi attack the untangling of the beads
Trying to get the star right for once
Ashleigh passes the annual ‘hiding of the owl’ tradition to Stephen this year
Yaht decorates, while Stephen considers where to dump the owl
Yaht and me, proud of the finished product
The next week was a busy one for me. While Mom and Denise and her kids were off galavanting around Myrtle Beach, I was at home preparing the opening of the new Newport Kroger Marketplace. We had a moment to breathe on Tuesday, December 8, when we had our Christmas luncheon in cafeteria. Our president dressed as Santa Claus and handed out candy canes. Then on Wednesday, I spent the night in Newport, Kentucky at the Comfort Suites, so that I could report bright and early for the grand opening the next morning.
On Friday the 11th, I was back for more cards at Kristy and Sly’s with Jamie for some more card playing. There was a bit of drama that nearly ended my association with Jamie that night and the next, but as an unkind fate would have it, I was stricken with another kidney stone on Sunday, the unlucky 13th.
I awoke in pain that day which gradually got worse over the next nine or ten hours. It was so intense that I couldn’t even watch the Bengals play, instead trying to maneuver myself into various upside down positions hanging off my bed. Jamie suggested that I get to the hospital, so Ashleigh took me to Kettering and Jamie joined me there and took me home. Basically, all they did was give me pain killers and some hydration. I had been in so much pain before I arrived there that I couldn’t even keep water down in order to assist with passing the stone.
The pain killer worked well and I felt no more significant pain up to and including when I finally passed two stones on Monday night. By Tuesday, I was thoroughly exhausted and only worked half a day. Although I had passed stones, I was back to having some pains on Wednesday and what felt like a bladder infection, so back to the doctor I went again for more medicine.
Thursday was also a bit of a sad day, as my this was my boss Sue Weller’s last day of work before her retirement. We had a nice spread of food and snacks at the office. She was one of the greatest supervisors I have ever worked for and her absence will leave a huge void at the office.
Sue’s last day at the office
On Saturday the 19th, after working from 8am – noon, I agreed to go to Amelia, Ohio with Christi for her brother Keith’s 40th birthday party. Keith and I had been good friends back in the mid-90′s and I had rarely had the opportunity to see him in recent years. So it was fun to catch up and celebrate with him. We went out to Campbell’s Barn Restaurant and Saloon. The black and bleu burger was divine. Afterward we all went back to Keith and his wife Ashley’s house for cake and ice cream and to watch him open up his gifts. It was a nice party. That evening I was back for more cards, wine, and fun at Sly and Kristy’s house.
Keith and his lovely wife Ashley out to dinner
Christi and me before the burgers arrive
Back at their house, Keith shows off his cake
They went easy on him, not forcing him to blow out a full 40 candles
Joy and Christi
In the tastefully decorated basement, Keith is on display as he opens up his gifts
With the birthday boy and his wife
And finally, I visited Dr. Kalvakota to see if I could get those blasted stones analyzed on Monday, December 21. He was the doctor who had performed my surgery two years earlier. Not a pleasant memory there.
So, these are many of the reasons that December has been most difficult. Add to that, the typical holiday stress in getting everything prepared for Christmas. It wasn’t until Sunday the 20th that I first ventured out for my first shopping gig of the season. During the odd hours the week prior, when I wasn’t writhing in pain, I was frantically trying to piece together our Christmas Newsletter. It was finally completed on the 22nd, and mailed on the 23rd – the day that I got my wrapping completed with Briana’s assistance. Ugh…talk about ‘down to the wire’ !
Continue to the Christmas Newsletter…
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