Where Are the Blog Posts?

 Many of you are wondering where are those blog posts from Antarctica, showing the amazing scenery and animals? 

I have been a little busy spending time at the local medical facility. Here's the long story because it is so much better than a short one!

On Friday morning, February 27th we were entering the Buenos Aires (EZE) airport for the Atlas Cruise Line charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in Argentina to board the yacht for our 9 day Antarctic cruise. A wheel on my suitcase got caught in the metal floor grid and stopped moving. I did not stop moving and began to face plant on that metal grid. Since my right hand was pulling the suitcase, my left arm was free to break my fall and prevent facial grid lines. Three airport personnel rushed to assist me and offer medical services. Since I could walk, move my left arm and fingers, I declined the offer and continued through check-in for our flight. Besides, I did not want to delay the departure of the other 150 guests waiting for a trip of a lifetime. 

I was able to ice my sore elbow on the 3 hour flight and once on board the yacht, I saw the doctor who determined nothing was broken, just sore, swollen and in need of rest. I was given a sling to use for several days and some strong ibuprofen. He suggested I ice and rest the arm, for the next few days, which I did. The pain only appeared when I tried to twist my wrist or move my hand/arm beyond its comfort level. I took two Zodiac trips later in the cruise and was careful not to overextend my left arm. 

We arrived home about 4:00 PM Monday, March 9th.

I had decided I would check into some Physical Therapy once we got home because my left hand does not reach my face. I went to Orthopedic Urgent Care on Tuesday morning. I had X-rays and a CT scan. By mid-afternoon I had an appointment with a Hand, Wrist and Elbow surgeon for Wednesday morning. Surgery is scheduled for Friday morning, March 13th. The pre-op visit took place Wednesday afternoon.

I am having surgery for: Fracture of radial head, left, closed

Encounter type: initial encounter Fracture alignment: displaced 

Displaced fracture of head of left radius, initial encounter for closed fracture

The head of the radius bone (at the elbow) in my left arm is broken and, in fact has a couple of missing bone pieces, hanging around in the area preventing some of the movement I used to have before the mishap. The surgeon will give me a metal radial head, remove the bone fragments, and repair any tissue or ligament damage. I will be home by noon on Friday for a two-week recovery wearing a sling & cast. It could be worse!

Blog posts from Antarctica coming!

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Our realty company gifts us each Valentine's Day with free Oh My Cupcakes! This is the first of the six years we have been able to appreciate the gift as we are usually in AZ. The realty company also gifts their customers with a pumpkin pie (Costco size) for Thanksgiving. We took advantage of that in November, also for the first time. Usually these two freebies go to our son and family who also get their own desserts because we used the same realty company. Pretty sweet!

Back left: chocolate cupcake with vanilla bean frosting, double chocolate with butter cream frosting, lemon with frosting and vanilla cupcake with tinted vanilla bean frosting.

Christmas Lights at The Falls

 OFD wanted to see the Christmas Lights at The Falls after the play and pizza. These are her photos.

Winter Wonderland from November 21-January 5

over 29 miles of twinkling light strands

260 decorated trees

the Visitor's Center & Observation Tower

The Falls are water (Sioux River) cataracts and waterfalls at the Sioux Quartzite quarry in downtown Sioux Falls. The Parks and Rec Department light and decorate The Falls Park the weekend before Thanksgiving for the Christmas season. Thousands of people visit the park during this season.

colored lights reflecting on the water

You can see the fog start to move in by looking at the sky in this photo.

and there's the fog

visitors can walk throughout the park or drive through to see the lights

this was the 22nd year of the lights at The Falls

This house is NOT part of the lights at The Falls. It was on 26th Street across from McKennon Park. We noticed their huge Halloween display and wanted to see if they decorated for Christmas. Yes, they did. Arch over the sidewalk. Lighted figures on the lawn. House and garage trimmed in lights. Christmas spirit.

The Grinch

 OFD wanted to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which was playing at the Washington Pavilion over Christmas. The two of us had tickets.

statue at the Pavilion, part of the outdoor art display

At first I thought the glass was reflecting the sunset, but it is colored glass. Still impressive. Also part of the art at the Pavilion.

no photos once the musical began

we both enjoyed a Don't Be Grinchy adult beverage

photo collage from OFD

Hubby joined us for pizza after the play

December Family Time

 We have a family tradition of going bowling when we all get together. This photo of KJs family was from our Thanksgiving bowling activity. The photo of the 7 of us was our Christmas card this year.

I volunteered to help the family make lefse this year. It is a tradition of the Hanson family and in the past, was a weekend event in Watertown. This year K & C planned to make it at their house.

Since I used to help make lefsa at LCOOR in Watertown, I offered to help this year. The kids had done a trial run earlier in the week. They had the family recipe and planned to make 50 lefse on that Saturday. One griddle. One roller. A fun afternoon with K & C and her parents. The Hansons enjoyed lefsa at their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day gathering, and so did we.

photos from Christmas bowling

OFD & FDIL

Hubby

McBe

posting the score 'cause I broke 100!

Miss W

soup after bowling and presents at our house

a game of Clue after dinner

it was new to KJ & C, but is a favorite of the grands

and daughter

The grands stayed overnight. OFD and Miss W frosted and sprinkled pretzel sticks the next afternoon.

McBe and I made pretzel turtle treats

he also frosted and sprinkled pretzels

All the treats were shared amongst the 3 families, including the four kinds of cookies I had baked earlier in the month. 

McBe's December Concerts

 As I said, December was a busy month. The 8th-grade Band Concert was first.

he played the xylophone for the first song

(I think there were 4 xylophonists because there are lots of percussionists)

snare drum for the second number

no photo, but he played the tympani for the third song

the 8th grade band

The Edison Middle School Chorus concert was next. McBe was one of three eighth graders to play percussion accompanying one sixth-grade song.

The seventh and eighth graders sang six songs for the gym-filled audience.

he knew I was taking a picture of him

having a little fun with one of the songs

the seventh and eighth grade chorus

90 seventh graders and 70 eighth graders

Miss W's December Concerts

 Miss W had two chorus concerts in December, the first, a Tea over the noon hour on December 10th. 

I do not remember if she was a member of the third or fourth ensemble to perform for the small audience of parents and grandparents. Each group was dressed in their black performance clothes. Each chorus group of women has a different black dress. The guys...Not; just black suits.

Each choir group sang four songs. The Lincoln Chorus Ensemble Tea was held in the high school chorus room. The students provided cookies and other sweet treats, along with coffee or apple cider for the audience members.

Her second December chorus concert was on December 15th in the newly renovated Lincoln High School theater.

Miss W and the Cadet Choir members (both male and female singers)

sopranos on the left, bass and tenor in the center, altos on the right

They sang four songs, different than any of the songs performed at the Tea

full choir chorus (2 more songs) 

The last song performed is "Hallelujah" from Messiah. It is a tradition of the Christmas concert. Former students are invited on stage to join the choir. That is why you see some song sheets in the photo and some people not in the concert red robes.

I have been keeping track. Miss Willa sang in 4 chorus/choir performances from October 24-December 15 for a total of 19 songs performed in less than two months. I know they have started on their music for spring contests and concerts. Impressive!