Jun3

I guess it’s time I blogged something.

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I guess it’s time I blogged something.

I had a bit of a learning curve adjusting to my new normal.

A couple of days later…

HRH encourages from afar.

I wore appropriate clothing for the podiatrist who noticed the ankle brace on my other foot and asked what was up with that. What was up was that old brace was no longer cutting it.

Upgrade! Now my left ankle is better. Right foot, still broken and mummified.

But recovery is on the horizon. I was given a bone growth stimulator.

A keen eye may note I am out of pajama pants and wearing those cool hospital pants (over pajama shorts). Can you believe these pants have pockets?! Cozy AND handy.
First time I’ve had ultrasound gel on my foot. Hubby wonders if I’m growing a new baby pinky toe.
Opening made at the break, so I know where to strap the device.
It runs for 20 minutes and automatically shuts off when it’s done. I use it once a day around the same time because the treatment is supposed to last 24 hours. I continue until the doc says otherwise.

In the meantime, I miss Jiu-Jitsu and my friends with an ache that rivals the pain in my foot.

The shirt HRH gave me from her closet.

When I shared this with Hubby, he said, “You’re going to have to do a whole series of pictures now.”

He knows me well. I was already plotting.

Arm bar. Use your imagination.
Paper cutter
Guillotine
Knee bar, obviously
Heel hook. Apparently she has super short legs.
I’m sure you all know it, but I’ll tell you anyway: Peruvian necktie
Kneeling hip throw–not a thing. I’m improvising.

“What else?” I thought aloud to my photographer. He told me.

Americana, duh! How could I have forgotten? (Still not a coffee.)

And of course…

Rear naked choke, but it looks like I’m sleeping. “Does that mean she’s winning?” Hubby asked.
That’s better. Take that, Pillow HRH!

So, I’m still alive, but not kickin’.

Slowly chipping away at the novel. I got suggestions back from my three beta readers (think beta tester but for books). It’s good to have more than one, as not everyone catches the same things. For instance:

“We’ll leave as soon as you’re eaten.”

Only one reader picked up on the alarming turn of events in which my main character fell in with a band of cannibals.

It’s also helpful when 2/3 suggest corrections on the same scene. I’ve done so and sent revisions back for their review. I’m unendingly grateful for them helping me make the book better.

Being a writer also means getting away with bizarre texts without Hubby batting an eye. He creatively let me know he was bringing the kids home from school. Since I didn’t respond, he texted again.

Not something you read every day.

I almost forgot. I never answered my own car trivia question. Look at this beautiful beast.

I can almost hear her purring. Maybe I would name her Kitten. A horse named Kitten? Sure. Why not.

Many of you knew this was my dream car. I’m touched and proud of you.

The rest of you are dead to me.

When I was preggers with our fourth, we needed to buy a van. This disgusting creation was for sale down the street, and I was instantly in love.

Isn’t it hideous? Oozing with character and nothing resembling charm. I wanted it so badly, but, upon closer inspection, there was no back row of seats (duh). That defeated the purpose of a larger vehicle to accommodate our growing family.

It’s just so absolutely terrible I could hardly stand it. People would recognize it and say, “There go the Reys in their [unflattering word]-mobile.”

What a shame.

In the French dub of Back to the Future, Marty is called Pierre Cardin instead of this.

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70 responses »

  3. Hard to see how you let a gem like that VW go. I’m not sure why you needed that extra row of seats in the van. Just shove all the kids in the back and let them roam around. Lots of room for their friends too. If you are concerned with their safety, you could have just added some padding to the sides.

    Follow me for more pro parenting tips.

    Liked by 2 people

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  4. You have so much light-hearted humor and I liked the action shots. I also was excited to see they have a machine that can help bone grow – hmmm – do you feel anything when it is on or after?

    Also, that mustang is sweet and sure migth purrrrr for you – and had to smile at the old VW van – it was kind of a nice maroon – but as noted, not quite practical for many reasons…

    Good luck with the book and a silver lining here could be the extra time you have to work on it. Glad you have beta readers because it is way too easy to MISS little things (as you noted). Also, just wanted to mention the use of too many contractions. I know many authors avoid them for the most part – but it depends on the voice and vibe you want in your novel. It is all about your signatire style!

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    • I do feel something when the machine is running. Given it’s ultrasound, I guess it’s shooting me with sound waves. (And this is supposed to help? I don’t get it, but I’ll trust the process.) Anyway, yeah, it hurts just a smidge.

      As much as I hated/loved that VW van, I would take that gorgeous Mustang any day. There is no possession I would appreciate more. Well, I guess my house, or whatever. I’ll just live in the ugly van.

      Funny about the contractions. One of the major things in the book, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, is to use contractions because that’s more how people speak. Otherwise, it’s too stiff and formal. I’ve found myself adding some in! This is an 18-y-o boy speaking in that example, so I imagine he’d say it as such. I do appreciate the heads up, though. I’ll try not to overdo it! 🙂

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      • well we learn new things every day – and that makes sense about the contractions – and my background doe shave more formal writing and so that might be where I was coming from – but how fun to learn that it is helpful for establishing characters, their dialect, etc.
        I started writing flash fiction again (with friday fictioneers and I just love coming back to it after many years away – it is like tapping the well for a bit of creativity) anyhow, the challenge is to tell the story in 100 words or less – so I have gone back in and used contractions to get the word count down… but it is really interesting to learn about using them intentionally – and I guess you must think of any accents – like is he from wisconsin, the south, etc
        —
        sending good vibes your way as you heal up and let the body do its thing – and with the help of a bit of modern tech!

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      • Yep, the genre of the writing definitely makes a difference. I’m glad you can use contractions to help you come in under your word count. Sort of sneaky, that. 🙂

        Thanks for the good vibes. And, yes, may this modern tech be helpful in my body doing its thing! 🙂 Thank you, PH!

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      • Me neither 🤣 But it was sticking out at a 90 degree angle, made a nice x-ray picture too. Took them an awful long time to push it back into its socket where it belongs 🤦🏼‍♀️ Anyway – we are off on a 10 days holiday tonight. Sightseeing with a limp 😉 Hope your ankle gets well soon!

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      • So WEIRD, Andrea! We are mirroring each other across the globe (somewhat). We set off on a ten-day sightseeing trip on Friday! I won’t be limping; I’ll be crutching or scootering, but I’ll be with you in gimpy spirit!

        Also, 90 degrees. Ew. I imagine it got nice and puffy and purple after that. 😦

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  6. I know it’s too late, but I still find it hard to contemplate that you passed up on a vintage vanagon. It might have changed the whole trajectory of your life! Going to jail for child endangerment (but officer, I padded the baby seat just fine!) would have set you up for blog material for life 😉

    As for the trivia, I have zero idea. I’ve only watched that movie once, way back in 7th grade…

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    • This trivia is tripping people up. Find out next time! And, I know. If only it would’ve been workable to have that van. So much fun. So many stories… Maybe some day it will crop back up in my life.

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      • I believe in you Betsy! I believe in the power of car karma too, so some day you WILL get that vanagon and will cruise around making the neighborhood cool again 😀
        Better you than me! I’d die if I got that kind of attention, hahahahahaa…

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      • Think of it this way–you’d never have to worry about someone stealing your ride. Then again, someone might do so in order to burn that abomination to the ground. In which case, I might be like, “Yeah, that seems fair.”

        So long as I got insurance money. 😉

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  8. I have never heard of this bone growth machine! So, is there a full body one for those of us with osteoporosis???

    Those pictures of you and the shirt . . . That’s So Betsy!🤣

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    • Heehee. Thanks, Bijoux. I do silly things to entertain people. 😛

      I hadn’t heard of this machine, either, though apparently it’s been around since the 90s. Oh, girl, so sorry. And I would not be surprised if osteoporosis was in my future, too. My dad has warned me about it for years, saying it affects skinny women worse. And I’ve met you, so I know you qualify. I also don’t drink milk much, so… Oops. But I’ve got some Calcium mixed with other stuff, though this particular blend doesn’t include Boron. Apparently, that’s important for enabling the Calcium to fully do its job. I’ll have to look for that. Do you have good supplements?

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      • Well, since I also have a kidney stone, I can’t do calcium supplements. I have to get it through food. I drink Lactaid Plus Calcium milk (it’s enriched with extra calcium) and eat either yogurt, cottage cheese or other assorted cheeses. Plus the small amounts in fruits/vegs.

        Warning: menopause hits and all these things seem to come together in the perfect storm – osteoporosis, kidney stones, thyroid issues, and insulin resistance. It all has to do with a lack of estrogen.

        One thing that’s helping you is resistance training and hopefully, weights. I never did either (till I got diagnosed).

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  10. Glad to see you on the mend (albeit slowly) and the sense of humour still fully intact!

    Good luck with the continued edits on your novel and hope that the only things being eaten are words! 😂

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  12. I’m glad to know you’re putting your downtime to such good use by wrestling a pillow. I’m not one to judge, of course. 🙄 How long will you be required to stay off your footsies? And more to the point will you do as instructed?

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    • I will definitely do as instructed. I don’t want to make things worse and give myself a longer recovery time. I was originally told it takes about six weeks for bones to regrow. Maybe with this new device, it will take much shorter? Who knows. I’ll certainly willing to try.

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  13. That VW would have been spectacular. Give it a Partridge Family flower paint job; there’s no telling what you could do PR-wise. Like others, I had never heard of bone stimulation. Hope it works well. I have to guess Calvin Klein on the trivia question.

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    • I’m sure I would’ve been tempted to paint something on that van. No doubt my kids would get involved. It might get painted something different every other week. Could’ve been a ton of fun. Ah well.

      I had also never heard of the bone stimulator. Apparently it’s been around for 30 years. I hope it works well too. And correct on the trivia! 🙂

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  14. Oh man what an ordeal for such a little tiny never should have broke thing! You’re handling it well and making the best of it. Your new sleepmate sounds perfect. Ha.
    Gotta love the van you had! It did its job! 🩷👍🩷👍

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  15. It’s the underwear, right? In BACK TO THE FUTURE? I laugh-snorted over “alive but not kicking.” Humor is so necessary in dark times. My husband had a bone stimulator when his tailbone got broken after he was rear-ended. It would beep at night if it disconnected. Between that and his CPAP machine, it was like sleeping next to Darth Vader. Speedy healing thoughts to you!

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    • Sleeping next to Darth Vader. That’s an image! Did the bone stimulator help him?Correct on the trivia. I had forgotten that’s how he’d gotten the name. Funny French peeps changing it. Understandable, though. Funny that you found the thing I didn’t really mean to be funny as funny. I’m glad. 🙂

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  17. Um, who needs a good foot? Looks like you’re ready for Jiu-Jitsu practice. And by the way, your poor pillow. Take it easy on the guy. Will ya? Ha, ha. And where does one get a Bone Growth Stimulator? Will it make me taller? I always wanted to be taller. I’m not greedy, I’d settle for 6 feet. A few more inches. Think the stimulator will help? Ha, ha. Hang in there. Here’s to better health soon.

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    • Yeah, who knows what this bone growth stimulator could do. You wanting to be taller… another person with osteoporosis. Maybe the sky’s the limit, which means you should definitely turn the device off sooner! I got it at the doctor’s office via a sales rep she works with.

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      • Oh yea, I’m being all selfish, whining that I need to be taller. Meanwhile some grandmother somewhere needs the machine to fight osteoporosis and keep from breaking her bones simply walking to the kitchen. Yes, I’m real caring. Ha ha. Definitely crazy though that we have tech now that helps with that. Safe healing!!!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Okay, to be fair, the osteoporosis commenter was joking much like you were, so don’t feel bad. Well, okay, maybe a little bad, but you were being funny, so it’s fair. 😛

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  18. Sending best wishes that the Exogen ultrasound bone healing treatment speeds up the healing process. Good to see that you’re finding creative ways to make up for missing your Jiu-Jitsu classes and friends 🙂 Just be careful not to injure an arm or shoulder with all those hooks and choke holds 😀

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  19. The Exogen system looks pretty intense, Ilsa. I wonder if you’ll go all Lindsay Wagner on us and be able to kick through brick walls after you heal? (sadly dated joke there). Speaking of dated, the van is awesome. I miss vehicles with round headlights because they make for great faces. The van may be hideous but he’s also happy! The trivia question throws me because I don’t remember the line from the movie. Ralph Lauren?

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    • I had to look up Lindsay Wagner and am now laughing at the irony because the T-shirt I’m wearing in these pics says Bionic Woman. It’s a shirt someone gave me because they didn’t want it, and it has become my pajama shirt. I like it for some reason. 🙂

      Yes on the headlight faces! Brilliant observation, Dave, but I do still, on occasion, see faces on cars, regardless of the light shape. There’s still hope!

      Not Ralph Lauren, but you’re on the right track.

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  20. Could you hear me LOL when I read this: “We’ll leave as soon as you’re eaten.”
    Whoa my goodness…what a good one! Yum, yum!
    Glad to know you’re on the mend…and I loved the series of pics. Go you!
    And…the sweet pic of a pretty blue Mustang made me swoon. Aaaaaaaaah!
    😜🥰😜

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    • It’s funny, and annoying, how easy it is to bypass these typos because we know what we mean and our brain fills in the correct word, isn’t it? The importance of editors!!!

      Right on that car?! I mean, sure, the van is gloriously hideous and all, but that ‘stang!

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  21. “Bone growth stimulator” sounds like something out of Harry Potter. You should just get some Skel-o-Grow. “Growing bones is a nasty business!” (Trivia for YOU: Who said that?)
    Looks like you’ve found a healthy way to cope without jiu-jitsu.
    Ugh! The trivia answer is on the tip of my tongue. I feel like it was a Jeopardy question just a few days ago! [True confession: just asked the Husband and he immediately said, “Calvin Klein.”] Oh, right! I was thinking of the DAD Marty, not the SON Marty.

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  22. I would have commented sooner, but I’ve been carrying pavers around my backyard. It doesn’t pay well, but it’s something to do.

    Maybe you should just fill you house and garden with pillows. That way you’d always have somewhere soft to fall.

    When I was a teen I helped a friend replace an engine in one of those VW vans. It never worked right again.

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  23. Dammit, John Howell. I kept scrolling further and further down, amazed that nobody had answered your trivia question correctly yet. I thought I finally had a chance!!

    As for “you’re eaten,” that was not an oversight. I assumed this was a metaphorical reference to Ana’s inner turmoil eating her alive, but alas, I stand corrected.

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