Have been freakin' exhausted getting back to work. Nearly fell asleep at my desk yesterday,

Forgot to post last week that I made it to Accalia's ballet technique and pre-pointe classes. Geez, it is no wonder she comes back from those classes and is very tired. She gets worked hard in those classes. I didn't get to see any of the routine for the recital, but that is okay - means it will be fresh when I do see it in a couple of months.

I go back to work tomorrow. Am not looking forward to it as there are some big projects awaiting. I also really liked being home with Amy and the kids. Back to the grind though, I guess. I did find out that I've been replaced as primary on one of the big project because my schedule was not one that could be adjusted to me doing the project full time.



Have a ton of thoughts about the shootings in Tuscon. At first, I was on the Tea Party and the negativity they had brought out - nevermind that both extremes have contributed to the vitriol in this country. As more details have come out, I'm looking at it more as a failing of the mental health system in the country. I can speak from experience in saying that many people get better treatment for mental health issues in prison than they do in the community.

- I do believe in a person's right to bear arms, but do they really need clips that can kill every last MFer in the room? Armor piercing ammo? Really? How many people in that crowd were armed and how many actually reacted to put the shooter down when the shooting stopped? How does a man with mental health issues legally get a gun and an extended magazine? How many people are there in the NRA? I don't think they are a majority of the country. Perhaps it is time to make laws for the majority, not the vocal minority. I liked what Seth Meyers said in the Weekend Update on Saturday.

- that wacked out church (which I refuse to name) that protests at every funeral they can needs to be given as little attention as possible. They thrive on attention and the hurt and despair of others. I'd love to be at the gates of heaven when the members of the church arrive and hear "nope, no place for you here." Please, protesting the funeral of a 9 yr. old because she was Catholic? Enjoy hell, jackholes. As you people start to die off, part of me wishes that everyone you affected with your publicity stunts would be there to stage a protest of their own, to give you back a fraction of the hurt you've caused others. However, the people you affected are decent human beings and the vast majority will leave a family to their grief at a time of loss. It is called being a decent human being, something none of you will ever understand.

- prayers continue for those injured, for their loved ones and for those who lost someone in the shooting. I continue to be amazed by the recovery of the Congresswoman. That she is alive is something of a miracle - we'll see how much she recovers.

Did my last day on the paper route this morning, unless something happens and Amy is unable to go as planned next week. I have gotten about 4.5 hours of sleep today, am functioning okay I guess. No customer complaints yet, so I guess I must have hit everything that I needed to. Could have done without the light snow, however.

Went to Mitchell today for the family Christmas on my side. We had planned to be there before lunch and to eat there, but we had the van in for some maintenance on Friday and didn't get it back until the mechanic made it in today, which ended up being around 11. SO we ended up grabbing food on the go. Had fun seeing my dad and his wife along with my brother and his family. My nephew may have converted his cousins and uncle on Rock Band - an idea for a family gift at some point anyway. Kids got some cool gifts and I got a roll-up keyboard that I'm using to write this. Have had something like 5 keyboard destroyed by kids spilling on it. This new board should resolve that. Am just having a difficult time with it at the moment, it is a different experience typing with it, how I hold my hands, etc.

We all went to a girl's basketball game. My niece's team is currently #4 in the state of SD in class B and will likely be rising in the next poll as they remain unbeaten. They won a close game earlier this week and destroyed the team we saw them play this afternoon. Happy to report that all the kids did great there, Tylan only made for the court once. Cole and Accalia both won some candy by making a basket. Cole chose Nerds and proceeded to drop a healthy number when he dropped the open box on the court. I was amazed that the younger two hung in there through the entire game.

Damn it was cold this morning. It didn't help that in my sleep deprived state, I put my gloves somewhere out of the way while prepping the papers and was unable to find the gloves again until the route was done (the secret answer was under the driver's seat, kids).

Amy feeling better today - no nausea at least. We all went to watch Ella's dance class. So cute to watch her, especially the tap dancing. My girl has the stomping portion of that down. Accalia was getting a little frustrated watching Ella's class practicing their routine because Ella wasn't doing what she is supposed to do. Accalia is always very exact with the routine, knows her spots and hits them. I'll be going to the visiting day for one of her classes tomorrow.

Tired, but not loopy. Have discovered I cannot watch tv while prone on the couch - end up out pretty quickly. Hoping to get some extra sleep after the route tomorrow.

Have gained a new appreciation of Amy's job in doing the paper route. I can see how one could adjust to waking at 3 AM every day and could adapt to the climate, but doing that day in, day out w. just Sundays and a handful of major holidays (New Year's Day, Christmas, Memorial Day and Independence Day) off (if they don't fall on a Sunday, that is). I can see why she likes being out there at that time of day as it IS quiet and peaceful. Anyway, I am surviving doing the route, but have not been enjoying it much the last few days.

Woke up on Monday to about 8" of snow in the city. It basically snowed from early Sunday AM through the night (and finally stopped sometime last night). The main street that composes Amy's route was clear of snow, but the side streets were not and no one had their walks/drive ways cleared. So I had to hoof it through some large drifts both today and yesterday and had a couple of jolts when I'd reach stairs that I couldn't see under the snow (my excuse as I tend to be clumsy). Also had to contend with the snow left by the plows. Got stuck once on the route. Luckily had my shovel w. me and was able to dig out and get moving again. I think the route took me 3.0 hours total. I managed to get that down to about 2.5 today. Oh, and I still suck and banding or bagging the papers. Tomorrow is the Shopper (free paper for everyone on the route) day. Dreading that.

The Amy update is mostly good. We made a family trip to Wal-Mart yesterday for groceries. She had to put the leg up when we got back and woke up early this AM w. pain in the knee. I think she likely overdid things. She does test and retest what she is able to do. I think the recovery is slower than she'd hoped but I think she is progressing well. She took one of the pain meds. she was prescribed today and ended up puking. I think this is the second time she took the med. and the first time she has reacted like this. I do think the last time she took it, she went to sleep right away. Anyway, am frustrated as there is nothing I can do for her. She sees a PA tomorrow to get the stitches out. She had been saying she would take the route back on Thurs., is now saying Monday. I'm telling her to take her time and be sure she is going to be physically able to perform.

Okay, so I suck at the paper route. Took me 2.5 hours to complete. Amy usually has it done in two flat. I'm hoping to get an earlier start tomorrow in order to possibly get back to bed and get some extra sleep or Sat. is REALLY going to suck (closing at the hut, then the route). As it was, got a bit over 5 hours of sleep last night and a 45 minute nap this afternoon.

Amy's knee is a bit more painful today - she took some of the pain meds. prescribed by the doctor. She's probably been overdoing things a bit, but gets uncomfortable just sitting all the time.

Got the youngest two to story time at the library. While we were there, I hit the graphic novel section and found some newer selections - including Grant Morrison's Batman and Robin and Geoff Johns' Darkest Night. Am going to be working through those as I'm able over the next week or so. Also am going to contact the company that I get my comics from and ask that they send my books to me (free shipping over $50, so I only ship three or four times a year). Hoping that once I do that, the books will arrive sometime early next week.

Amy's surgery went off without a hitch. We got there about 6:45. Met with the nurse, the anesthetist (who disturbingly had a noticeable hand tremor), and the doctor. Amy changed and was off. I hit the waiting area around 7:30. At about 8:15, the doctor came out and told me that everything had gone well and showed me the pictures he had taken of Amy's knee. I went back to the waiting area. About 8:35, I got called back to recovery. Amy was awake. Not completely alert - she asked the same questions and told me some of the same stuff a couple of times (one of her nurses has a sister living near my hometown - I think I heard that three times), but did really well. She was in recovery for about an hour and then was allowed to get dressed and head home. She rested in the recliner for a little bit, is now sleeping upstairs in our bed. Very tired yet. Says at the moment, the knee feels like it has on the bad days - no worse than that. I'm going to go out later to get the script for pain meds. in case things worsen as the day goes along. Nothing worse than if she were to be in a lot of pain tonight and we not have the meds. to help her.

I start to cover her paper route tomorrow and will be getting the kids to and from dance, story time, etc. I'm looking forward to being Mr. Mom for the next 10 days or so.

Amy's folks arrived today. Tomorrow is the big day. I'm a bit more nervous about everything, but continue to give up the fear and anxiety to God. Not easy, especially since my catastrophic thinking has been in overdrive. Been catching myself before it gets too far gone, but it still has popped up a few times this evening. Mostly catching myself thinking about times I've waited for a loved one going through surgery. My dad has gone through countless surgeries with few problems, as has my brother. However, I'm flashing back to waiting to find out what was going on with my mom and seeing the doctor's face as he came in. I really don't want to imagine seeing that look on the doctor's face tomorrow.

Oh, think I'm coming down with another cold - huh, wonder if I'm stressing about something :)

BTW, had an anonymous comment on one of my prior posts. Don't know if I'll actually publish it, but if anyone reading this does want to comment, you need to sign your name or the comment won't get posted.

Busy day, but very productive. Left for home today pretty satisfied with how much I'd gotten done and what I have left to do before taking about 2 weeks off. Not that I'll be totally off as I'll be monitoring my email and sending out the psych. schedules while I'm out. Got things set to have my plant watered, got notes done and filed. Just a few things to do tomorrow and I'm done. Going to try to get in early tomorrow so I can be back early and spend some time visiting Amy's folks before I go to work.

Am anticipating some sleep deprivation after a couple of days of covering for Amy. Hopefully I don't wind up walking naked through Wal-Mart talking to imaginary elves that live in my goatee. There are only so many times the cops will let me go rather than taking me to HSC when they find me like that.

I'm not looking forward to work tomorrow. Always feel as though I'll have a ton of stuff to do, especially with being off for about 2 weeks starting on Wed. Have to get psych. scheduling done, notes filed, rounds done, kites answered, and a couple individual sessions. Just not really feeling "it" at work lately. Had a dream last night that my boss pulled me aside and asked me why I no longer seemed to be with the team. Kind of disturbed me because I've sort of felt like that for a few weeks. I'm not thinking of a job change or anything, I seem to get into these mild career funks from time to time dating back to my first year in the field. Probably a little bit of burn-out, bound to happen with this many years.

Had a great evening. Amy tried a new recipe (which was awesome) and I helped her with dinner. That doesn't happen a lot. We kind of let the other have the kitchen space when a meal is being prepared. Was nice to help her out and drink some of our favorite beer.

Night went okay. Was busy and profitable, always a good combination. Was dead for the first 60-90 minutes, then took off. I ended up taking a 5 bag run because there were 5 orders about to go late and no other drivers around. Wasn't a bad run, but the store prefers we take no more than 2 and I think we only get reimbursed for 2. Start my day at the Hut tomorrow.

Will be a short week, but not a relaxing one. I'll work Mon. and Tues. at the prison, Tues night at the Hut. Amy has her knee surgery on Wed. morning. After that, I'll be rising before the sun to deliver the newspaper for a couple of weeks. It will let Amy get some rest for the knee - though I know of some professional athletes who are out on the practice field a few days after a similar surgery :). I have been doing my best to shut down the catastrophic thinking before it kicks into overdrive, but it is not always easy. Have thought about her throwing a clot, having a reaction to the anesthesia, and getting a devastating infection. I know how many of these surgeries happen every day and how few problems there are. She is going to be fine, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to continue to pray for her and her surgery team.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Was a slow but steady night last night. Lots of 2 bag runs, but no situations where things were going out late or I was having to take 4 deliveries to the four corners of our coverage area. Had a dine-in show up 5 minutes before close. Pissed me off but I let it go. Also had something like 6 delivery orders come in the last 30 minutes we were open, so I was running through the end of the night. Still managed to get out of there at 11:55. Made it home a minute after midnight. Was hoping to walk in as the countdown was starting. Ah well, still welcomed the new year with my family. Amy and I shared some champagne and got caught up with some stuff on the DVR.

I'm scheduled to work today from 3:00 until 8:30. Will be interesting to see if business is booming or a bust. I am often torn on days like this. Like making the money in tips, but would just as soon be at home with my family.

Have the office more or less cleaned - at least the floor is clean all the LEGOs are off the floor. Can easily get a bed in there if needed. Have several bits of cleaning I want to tackle in the next couple of days. Lots to get done in preparation for Amy's surgery and the arrival of her parents - and yet I find time to blog and Facebook? Hmmm.... Cory must rethink priorities...