Hey guys, sorry for leaving yas hanging, been a hectic few days. I started to do a reply in the comments and when that started to be way too long (even by my comment standards) I thought it would be best to put it in here.
Nope, no pictures of Liss' knee. Until Liss gets some color back to her and stops looking like the color of snow, I won't feel so bad taking a picture. Let's put it this way, it was four times the size as the other one on sunday, now down to twice the size, with some slight bruising, can't see the knee cap (which is not where it should be anyways) and the leg angles out about 10 degrees from the knee down. How's that for a visual? It ain't pretty! Good news is that she's getting in for some surgery today at 4pm. I think this is the first time I've ever been happy about a surgery. Something has got to be done as she can't go on like this.
They're going to be doing it laproscopically (3 very small incisions) and she'll be knocked out for it which is a good thing. She can't move it even to straighten it so the doctor examining it (and surgeon, Dr. Vandalay or whatever the heck his name is, he'll forever be Vandalay to me) will have to put her under to spare her the pain. It's just now sinking in how bad this really is. We're praying for the best but preparing for the worst. Hopefully it'll be a quick fix that he'll be able to get at today and it won't require a more invasive surgery down the road. Man, "Everything's so scientifical these days," -MitchThank goodness Mitchell took his day off of school (cancelled) to clear out the path and driveway as we got a fair amount of snow last night even though he's hating every minute of it. Stairs have been a curse for Liss, let alone throwing a foot of snow on it. Made even worse by the fact that she's already exhausted from trying to find some semblance of routine, hobbling around on her good leg.
Ya know, being the dark humoured sadists that we are, one thing that's brought us some entertainment is watching Liss perform this interesting little hop-step she's performing on the crutches. We talked about it this morning and it's the fear of free fall and momentum on to an already weakened good leg that prevents her from doing the full swing one would normally do. It turns out it's hereditary. Darcy and I got immense hilarity after watching Mitchell take a go at the crutches and it's the exact same step. Then when they went to the hospital yesterday for Liss' pre-examination, Marybeth commented on how she could never use crutches, then picked up Liss' and proceeded to do the exact same little hop-step. Hahahaha, it's almost too much! Sorry Liss, I couldn't help myself. Honestly, nothing's sacred around us.
Through it all, Liss is staying amazingly positive and I'm so proud of her. It's gotta suck. I'm just glad we're finally getting some answers and most importantly, some action being taken and not just falling through the nightmare cracks of what is our healthcare system. Go Marybeth!
Oh, it's also going to be awhile 'til we get to see the camp blog update as Liss had another little knee-popping (glad I didn't have to hear it this time, ack!) incident yesterday and is under specific orders once again, to keep her ass put. I wonder how long it's going to take before she gets sick of us breathing (I'm sure the snickering's not helping) down her neck. She's not up to it yet anyways, even being upright for too long's a chore for her.
Scott has also arrived home safe and sound. He arrived tuesday evening and stopped in to check on Liss for a few minutes before heading on his merry way home. Glad you got to try it out Scott, otherwise you'd always have a case of, "What if...?" Glad ya made it back though, we missed you.
Also, I'd like to thank Dean for the little creature identification (mousey thing in campfire) from my last entry. See Dean, wandering through the woods does pay off! :D Without seeing the full body of it, Dean says it's a, "meadow vole." For size comparison, that red thing's one of those plastic cups laying on it's side. Heehee, I thought I was doing good to see a mouse. He also had this to say and I'll quote it here as I found it to be very interesting...
"I think it's a meadow vole. Voles are very common in New Brunswick.
You see them in the woods more often than mice. More mice in the camps though. voles have stubby or mid-sized tails and fat little bodies. mice tend to have longer tails and slimmer bodies. Shrews are pretty small and have sharp teeth, they are not rodents. New Brunswick has voles,moles,mice,rats and bog lemmings. It also has shrews. There are a few species in each order in New Brunswick."
Speaking of Dean and without going in to details as they want to keep it private, I know not all of you are prayer sayers but Dean and his family are in need of some right now so please be with them in this time and keep them in your thoughts as well.
And just to keep this entry from being totally photoless, just a pretty picture I took a few years ago in TN and some colour that I've been desperately missing in my pictures as of late...
'Til next time...
... we were making our final trip out from the camp. What an event packed time it has been. So event packed that I can't believe it's only been that long.
As most of you already know, Liss had quite an accident this weekend. For those of you that don't know, no it wasn't a snowmobile accident. It's mind boggling how something that can happen so quick can totally alter someone's life. How a slip on ice can so drastically change how one functions day to day. How the isolation we all love, crave and cherish so much can be an absolute pain in the butt at the most inopportune time. How having a functioning knee can make trips up and down stairs easier. All things we take for granted.
Please don't get me wrong, Liss is being the tough trooper that she is, even getting a couple of laughs over the incident already and even fielding the gentle jabs we just can't resist getting in there. Needless to say though, the Skidd household is having a tough time adjusting. Heck, we all are and I can't even begin to fathom what must be going through Liss' head! I think we're all still in shock, at least I know I am. Hopefully she'll get in to see a specialist soon (it's on rush) and we can start getting some answers. This not knowing, "What the hell?" is the worst.
The weekend started out like any other camp weekend with Liss, Darcy and Mitch going up friday. I arrived on saturday after work and just got out of the car to get a sunset picture when the welcome wagon arrived...
We had a good fire going so of course, that meant rotisserizing which was made difficult due to the fact that the crazy cedar threw some wicked heat so we had to step away from the fire for fear of melting into a nylon mass...
left to right: Trenton, Andy, Tracy, Chris, Mitch, Darcy, Liss, Mary
And just in case there was a shortage of chairs, Darcy was forced (yeah right) to move the snowmobile over for a chair. Liss and Mary look so cute...
Snowball fights seemed to be the order of the night and it didn't matter if you were inside or out. I thought for sure I was going to wake up to a skating rink on the floor of the camp after all the water that was on the floor at lights out. Here's Liss trying to remove snowball chunks from her drink after she got pelted with one. Don't worry, she finally gave up after she found black chunky things as well as snow. Paralyzer smoothie anyone?
Still, it didn't take snowballs to make things slushy as it was pretty friggin' cold too. Here's Trenton drinking his slushy Dr. Pepper...
Not long after Liss had her slip, we ventured indoors. Unfortunately I'll have to leave out lots of details 'cause after 2.5 drinks, I got the worst headache I've ever had in my life and had to go to bed as soon as we got in there. I did manage to stay awake through the majority of it though. Things like the indoor snowball fights (ducking for cover under my sleeping bag), toenails getting painted and people not being allowed to sleep. One good thing about being in the top bunk is it makes it harder for people to just drag you out of it. That wasn't the case for everyone though.
We did however, manage to get breakfast on sunday morning, believe it or not. Tracy was on a mission and made a point of making sure we got breakfast this time. She wipped up some great omelettes (an old camp trick of Andy's) where she pre-mixed them in ziploc baggies and to cook them, all you had to do was drop them in boiling water for 13min. What a novel idea! They were delicious too guys, thanks.
We were a little slow getting out sunday morning. Poor Liss was so incapacitated that she could barely sit up. She was under direct orders to not move until the last trip out and the joys of winter, there was a ton of them to be made.
While trips were being made I got to snap off a few shots. Here's a pic of a puffy gray jay...
Trenton entertaining himself...
Jake's always a subject...
Almost everybody's final departure...
How the two sleds made it back, pretty inventive...
It's about time, "M.Skidd," made it on something, heehee. This should look familiar from the curling funspiel photos...
As I was about to make a trip out to the fire, this little guy caught my eye in the firepit. He's got such a weird little face at first I thought he was a mole, then when he took off, he had a really long tail. He was a pretty brazen little fart, whatever he was. Glad he stuck around for the picture. Looks like he liked Mary's melba toasty things as much as we did...
On a lighter note, we got word that Scott's working his way back home and should be home by tomorrow evening or wednesday morning. Sorry that it didn't work out for him as planned (crazy cost of living unless in camps) but at least he got to do some travelling and hopefully he got lots of pictures for us to look at. Hey, maybe we'll finally get a blog update, hint-hint!
Sorry that I'm leaving out lots of camp details, (was horizontal remember) I'll let Liss take care of the rest of it when she's feeling up to it. They got some really good pictures too. I know she's going to be getting very shack wacky (pain or no pain) and crutches in the winter are a pain in the ass so she'll be looking for entertainment when she feels up to it. In the meantime, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
'Til next time...
It seems I may have finally figured out the way to organising an adventure for all of us... give them 24hrs. notice. We've talked about going sliding in passing a few times this winter. Friday night I mentioned that it would be a good idea to go sliding saturday night. Almost exactly 24hrs. later, we were at England's Hollow with tubes, sleds and Jungle Juice (new name for my blue raspberry martini stuff, thanks Tracy) in hand.
On my way in to work saturday morning, I stopped at Chatham tire and got them to dig up some tubes for me. The weather forecast through the day was a mixed bag. Some were saying warm, others were saying 70km/h wind. Throw that on with wind chill and that would not a sliding party make! Fortunately for us, it was the former and what a beautiful night. It couldn't have been any better if it had of been special order.
Everyone arrived at Liss and Darcy's by 7pm. rarin' to go. I don't think I've ever seen so many jackets, ski pants, hats, scarves, tubes, etc., piled in to one room in my life, not to mention all the bodies. We had a few totties there before putting the full plan in action. Janna brought along her half sister Tasha and her boyfriend Corey. They were great fun! Tasha's my newfound friend.
Mitchell and Trenton decided to go for a walk (likely to get away from the crazy adults) to the store and next thing ya know, Trenton's wandering around with this. Tracy must have somehow passed that trait on to him 'cause I seem to recall a time back the camp that she had an *ahem* extra large beverage in a can.
This started out originally as Tracy and Trenton, then Mitchell walked by, then I threw Liss in there (moms and sons kinda thing) when Jake decided he wanted to be in the picture. He is a son too...
Yup, it was definately close quarters in the kitchen, especially once Mitchell and Trenton got the tubes blown up...
Now that everyone had finally peed and gotten dressed, we loaded everyone we could (Liss, Darcy, Mitchell, Tracy, Andy, Trenton, Janna, Tasha, Corey, myself) in to the Skidd's truck and Janna's car, sliding gear included. Considering one piece of gear was a grader tube blown wwaaayyy beyond it's limit, it's a miracle we pulled it off in one trip.
Thankfully I thought to bring my camera, yeah, like I ever leave home without it. Children of all ages (13 and up) had the time of their lives. You don't realise how old you are until you have to get back up the hill you just flew down screaming at the top of your lungs. Made even harder when you and your friends get in to a giggle fit half way up, eh Liss? I'm amazed that grader tube held up, considering it was flung, flipped, rolled, dog piled and launched. Mitchell's mean green machine made for some pretty fast run fun too. No better seat was had though than the trip I took down with both tubes piled on top of each other. Nobody else attempted it once they realised that bringing the two tubes back up was no picnic. It was worth it though, they don't know what they missed. :D
Mitch taking one of the first runs down...
I think Darcy was the official pusher as well as testosterone limit pusher. Here he is about to launch Tasha and Janna down the hill on the grader tube...
After failed attempts at standing on sleds going down, they decided to go get a snowboard. Well that did it. It was bodies flying everywhere with Darcy (our supposedly responsible designated driver, at least he was sober) pulling the most spectacular face plant I've seen in some time. Made even funnier when it came at the very end of a perfect run. Darcy seems to be the main subject for the videos as he was the one that was willing to try anything. Man I wish I got that face plant.
Here's one of Darcy starting to go down backwards. Aborting was the right choice there. This one's of Corey and Mitchell. Mitchell's on the trail we coined, "The Bumpity Bump," and Corey decides to launch himself off the ramp. Too funny. Guess we should have told Darcy that you're supposed to sit on the tube and not in it. In this video, it's Corey pushing Janna and Tasha (I think) towards a ramp. They managed to stay on somehow.
And when us old, "geezers," -anonymous snot nosed kid, needed a breather, we could catch it on the guardrail that was sticking out...
Speaking of geezers! There were a couple of kids that invaded the party (dang that public place thing) and after Darcy's face plant snowboard attempt, Mitch overheard these kids (that he knew from school) calling him a, "Geezer." Poor Mitch got worked right up and that made it even funnier. Being the vultures that we are, we laughed and cackled at that for some time. I think the boys thought we were going to get them because when Darcy went to get something out of the truck, they beat 'er down the hill pretty quick. The kids left not too long after that, now that I think of it. Moral of this story boys and girls, "Respect your elders!" Hahahahaha! Darcy managed to show them up with this move though.One good thing about drinking Jungle Juice (such a perfect name considering it was concocted for the first time back the camp) is that I mix it in bulk. It was the perfect drag along drink. Here's Liss sampling it...
A cute one of Liss and Mitch. I thought they were both oblivious to my picture taking but I now see that Liss was on to me...
A cute Skidd family portrait...
At the last minute, I thought to bring my tripod which I'm now glad I remembered as it enabled me to get this group shot of all of us. I'm not even going to attempt to do the left-right thing as it's just body parts everywhere, none particularly identifiable. The only one that may appear absent is Andy but if you look really closely behind my right shoulder you'll notice this whitish blob. Andy got to make it in the picture after all. I think that's his thumb. He said he thought the only chance he had of getting in the picture was to reach his hand way up and that does resemble his glove. The rest of us are all there and visible though so if you need a refresher, just scroll up and read the names again...
After at least 1.5hrs. of running up and down hills, sliding, going off cliffs, screaming, laughing, cackling, needing to pee and running out of jungle juice, it was time to go home. Everyone crammed back in vehicles again (made easier with tubes deflated) and headed for Liss and Darcy's. Janna, Tasha and Corey unfortunately had to be on their way but we still managed to push onward. What brave little soldiers we are.
I snapped a few shots around the table when we got back and this is what I managed to capture. Not bad considering I wasn't too far off of having to close one eye to focus.
This picture of Andy cracks me up 'cause it makes me think of that commercial, "Do you have a job for someone like me?" Hey, if I have to explain, you wouldn't understand...
In getting to know Andy better, it seems we haven't scared him off too badly, he came back. Atta boy Andy, you're a good sport with a thick skin. Two important traits when you're gonna hang out with us. It also seems that Andy's going to allow some snoring video to be captured. We do have a camp trip coming up this weekend and they're supposed to be joining us so I'll put my camera to good use then. Don't worry Andy, nothing'll be posted without your permission. So far though, even being allowed to take video's a step in the right direction.
Heehee, it also seems that Andy's the latest victim to fall in to the, "I'll make breakfast," trap. We called them at noon and there was no answer.
'Til next time...
Vatis, "Vatis," you ask? Well, with, "24," back on the air there has been this really strange commercial that has caught our eye.I noticed it on week one and decided it had to be recorded. Week two came and went with me missing it. Finally on the third week, second attempt, I got it. I know this seems extreme for one 15sec. commercial but I'll let you see and judge for yourself.Porn furniture anyone? I wonder if they have any, "Easyboys," - Liss Vatis'Til next time...
Actually, it's more like a gripe and I'm not quite sure where/who I'm going to take it to but starting with the Miramichi Enquirer (aka. Miramichi Leader) and our City Council would definately be a start.
First off, let me fill you in on a little bit of T'ainville's history. We're between Chatham and Loggieville, "T'aint Chatham, T'aint Loggieville," T'aintville. We were a happily unincorporated piece of land, about one mile long for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, they tried to incorporate us in with the Town of Chatham. I was too young for my signature to have counted but there were forever petitions going around to fight it. We knew, even then, that no good would come of it.
Unfortunately, on january 1st of 1995, the two former townships and outerlying communities became one sleepy city. No vote taken. By the time we realised what was happening, it was too late with budgets and councils divvied up.
Being unincorporated had it's benefits, one of them being that the property taxes were markedly lower, much, much lower. We were ok with that 'cause we didn't get anything for it anyways other than guaranteeing we'd be the last subdivision to be plowed in the winter.
Now that our property taxes have tripled, the only thing I've seen change in the 12yrs. we've been a city has been street lights on every second pole on Wellington St. (I mean, really, is that necessary?) and garbage pick-up, not to mention we're still the last subdivision plowed. Boy oh boy, aren't our tax dollars being put to good use? Oh yeah, almost forgot. We finally got our sewage hooked up last year which was at our own expense and we would have had to start paying for it the following year whether we were using it or not! No sign of water hook up for at least another couple of years either. It makes sense to me but apparently our council doesn't see that it makes sense to run through both water and sewage at the same time. Made even more interesting when the people that are doing it don't know where your underground wires are (even after telling him for the 10th time) and catch them, literally pulling them out of your fuse box, some even right out through the foundation... I kid you not!
Thought I was kidding, eh?
The latest thing to really gripe my ass though has been the state of Wellington St. Any of you travelling it can attest to this. I was going to try to stretch my shock replacement out 'til the summer but the mess of that road unfortunately made me spend $300 dollars not too long after vacation. The thing that pisses (pardon my swearing, usually don't) me off even more about it is the fact that they took all friggin' summer paving the McKnight road! For any of you not familiar with that route, it's the one that connects Loggieville to Napan. I know, pointless, eh? Rumour had it that it was supposed to extend and include Wellington but either time or budget didn't allot for it as it's still a mess. Yes, the McKnight road was a mess but nowhere near as bad as Wellington St. and certainly not used the amount that our main drag is.
I know, I know, I'm prone to exaggeration but I kid you not about the state of this road. Speed bumps have nothing on that mess. The bumps are so big that they have shadows... SHADOWS! So now I'm reduced to driving the shore road which would be nice if it weren't a bumpy, icy mess and I don't even get to enjoy all the lights on the poles. It also means I have to chalk on a few more minutes for my morning commute. That may not seem like much but when you have to be there 15min. before your shift and you got stupid people ahead of you that insist on ordering a sandwich for everyone they work with at the drive through, it means the difference between on time and late. Oh yeah, that's another thing that gripes my ass to no end so if you're one of those people, please stop doing it it drives those of us getting just coffee, crazy.
I guess a big thing for me to do is to write a letter to the editor of the local paper and work on getting some signatures and head to a council meeting. Frig, I can't even stand to watch them on TV let alone having to sit through one. Could be interesting but it'll be worth it as it's certainly necessary. I'll have to break out my tripod and get pictures of it or video would certainly get the point across. Unfortunately, that means having to drive it. Here's hoping I get it right on the first try as I won't be travelling it until well after the spring thaw.
Phew, that was like therapy, I almost feel better now!
'Til next time...
