February 4 - February 6, 2011

Friday, February 4, 2011, Saturday, February 05, 2011 & Sunday, February 06, 2011:

No news is good news huh?  Actually, in this case, no news means nothing was done and there is nothing to say! Not even Gerald did anything worth writing about! 

I know I can tell you I’m just about going stir crazy in here. I’m working on my ankle – and going through movement and pain cycles hoping eventually it will work properly. So now I’m able to put some pressure on it…and hopefully I’ll be going out soon.  We’ve checked on renting a wheelchair. That should help when I get to the breaking point if we are out!  I still have no idea what to do about a shoe yet!

The dance troop in the back had a good time Friday.  They were playing more of a local music and dance (Creole)…it was definitely livelier than the regular parlor tunes they’ve been playing!  I’m hoping today (Sunday) is the last day.  This going till 11 at night is getting on my nerves.  Gerald said on his walk Saturday, he saw another tent on the other side of the tennis courts.  Thankfully we don’t hear any noise from that end!

I guess like everyone else, we’ll be watching the Superbowl tonight.  Gerald went and got the traditional taco supplies, so we’ll be eating tacos like we have for years.  Naturally there are lots of places here that will be having parties. I wonder if we will hear any whoops and hollers.

I hear more nasty weather is hitting home. Yuck!

Update:

Gerald and I ate our tacos and got ready to watch the game. There is an obvious Green Bay fan downstairs, and he hollers loud with each touchdown and interception.  We’re rooting for the under-dog Pittsburgh…and you know I’m not quiet! =)  But congrats to all the cheese-heads! Pretty good game to watch really.

But I have to say…What in the world was up with the half-time show?  Peeee…UUUUUU!  It stunk worse than raw chicken gone bad! They should just cut that out and do something different.  Or get someone else to take charge of it…my gawd…have they run out of good ideas? And I think I could have gotten better sound from an old boom box! Did they get their sound system from the big flea market down there?  I think I’d rather watch the old marching bands play and do designs on the field like they used to!

Saw some funny commercials. (It’s really the only reason everyone watches anyway)  I think some of my favorites were the pappa & son bears getting the McDonald’s, Joan Rivers & GoDaddy, the VW “bug” and Darth Vader adds! Those were LOL moments!  And I must say, it looks like some good movies coming up this year…of course, I do love a good science fiction movie!

Thursday, February 03, 2011 - Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad’s birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Found out this morning from the cleaning lady that the Big Top is a dance troop that comes to the island every year and I guess does English/Danish Renaissance dance lessons.  Akin to ballroom dancing and salsa groups at home I suppose.  So far they have done a 9am 1 hour lesson…and then they start up at night…8pm and go till about 11! Very interesting! And sounds kind of fun. 

I was reading a local paper called the Crutian Trader (sort of like the Trading Times) and saw some wheelchairs for sale.  Gave me an idea.  Might be worth our while to maybe buy a used wheelchair and use it for walking around Fredericksted or Christiansted…or down the street for that matter.  That way we can get out of here. I still can’t walk on my foot, and if I stand too much, I end up shifting my weight and putting extra pressure on my left leg and hip, which makes that hurt!  There are a couple of med supply places…Gerald said we might look into renting as well.  I think it would be cheaper to buy a used one!

This morning, Gerald and I were talking about the money we’ve spent since we have been here. More like the money we haven’t spent.  We haven’t gone out to eat or drink but about 3 times. No shopping – except for primarily grocery shopping and the one time Gerald went to K-Mart…and you know he isn’t going to get anything other than what he came for…if that! So we haven’t spent much money.  Makes me wonder if he didn’t push me down! =)  He said once I got this foot healed, he was going to think about the other side! But would wait until we got to St. Maarten – since I usually end up spending lots of money there! =)  I’m going to have to pad myself up pretty good if we (eventually) go walking around!

So, I’ve done my foot exercises this morning. (I keep working on it!)  Both the PT and the Orthopedic Surgeon said I needed to get a full shoe to wear for support…like a tennis shoe or something. Plus, I have to wear this ankle brace.  This thing is pretty big…and I wonder what kind of shoe I can really use or wear with it!

(Not your basic size 5 1/2! - I think I need a shoebox!)

I didn’t bring any closed-shoes, only my house slippers are closed in the back.  I tried to put on my slipper with the brace, but there was no way it was going on with this big thing.  I’m not sure how a tennis shoe is going to work either? I’ve been thinking about getting some of those roman ankle sandals I’ve seen (and should have gotten at DSW when I had the chance) but I’m not sure if I can use those either because the ankle part needs to be adjustable, and you know I need to be somewhat fashionable! (Good grief - I have to have SOME dignity and standards!)   Gerald refuses to even try to pick-up anything for me to try (which, if you know Gerald’s taste, is really ok with me), so I’m going to have to go to a Payless or K-Mart or something.   In the mean time he said I should try to use one of his tennis shoes to see if it works, since it doesn’t look like any of the shoes I brought will work.  Ok…I guess I’ll try it – to make him happy.   So, with his help we put the shoe on.  Well, the heal part fits … but unfortunately I have about 4 square foot of  knock-around space in the front of the shoe. AND…it looks like something on poor Joseph (aka John) Merrick the Elephant Man!  AACCCKKK! 

(...seriously? Rachel Zoe would not even be caught dead in this...)

Now…Gerald thinks it doesn’t look bad…but there is NO WAY I am going out like this?  AAAAAAAAAHHH!  I know I may be a little vain here…but really…how many of you would go out like this?  A show of hands please…?  Ok…NONE! ...and you can stop laughing now...

 

We have neighbors now…up on the 3^rd floor.  A couple with 2 little boys. No rest for the wicked huh?

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Wednesday, February 02, 2011:

Ok…so last night the Big Top came to life, but  not until about 8pm.  There was a bunch of people and the “band” which consisted of a violinist, flutist, and keyboard (that I could tell so far) and they were playing and dancing. We had to listen and watch for a while but finally figured it out.  At first we thought it could be a big square dance going on…but I have never heard or seen a flute in a country band.  The sound of the violin is certainly prominent…and Gerald was hoping that they would break out with Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” but I just don’t think that is going to happen.  I think he wants to go request it – fortunately there is a fence between us!

So after listening to the music for a bit, I sort of felt like I was at Court, in a castle in England with King Richard or Queen Elizabeth or something. (I’ve been watching the series Tudors on Showtime and the Elizabeth movies have been playing on HBO! =)  So it appears we are going to maybe have a renaissance festival and they are practicing the formal dances!? I don’t know…can’t find any info on it!  But I do remember doing that in gym class! How fun…but dancing is not in my future anytime soon.

Gerald and I watched them from the back stairwell for a few minutes then came inside and ate dinner and talked to the grandkids on Skype.  About 9pm I went to the bedroom … and they were still playing.  Ok…curfew?  10pm…still playing.  Finally at 11pm they stopped.  Then bright and early this morning…they started again.  It’s noon now…and they’ve gone!?  Must be practice!?

So, one must be careful what one wishes.  Now I have an idea what they are doing…they can go away! =)  I think I heard them say Thursday through Sunday…oh…my…gawd….!   

Wondering how you are all doing at home.  Looks like the worst of the last storm is over…now comes the next one! Hang on everyone!  Spring is coming!

So tonight…we have a downstairs neighbor blaring out songs (and the guy above her sending beers down to her by tying a string on the neck and lowering it to her!) and the Renaissance Revival group at it again at the Big Top.  They played till noon today…left and came back at about 7:30 and played till about 10:30p. Odd hours!?  Well, at least it has inspired Gerald to get his guitar out for the first time!

Monday, January 31, 2011 & Tuesday, February 01, 201

Monday, January 31, 2011 & Tuesday, February 01, 2011:

Haven’t done anything worth writing about really.  Made some potato salad. Woohoo!

Watched the people in the Big Top.  There was a violist, harp and keyboard that set up earlier on Tuesday but they didn’t stay just played some warm up stuff and a couple practice songs.  I don’t know if they ware auditioning or what?  

Looks like home is getting hit pretty hard with snow and ice.  Hope you all get home safe! Stay home and hunker down for a day or two…have some hot chocolate (with a little Baileys!) chili.   =)