life in the very slow lane

I don’t know when I’m going to finish The England Chronicles. I seem to be having problems doing anything productive. Lazy by nature, I’ve become a total sloth living with enforced rest. Mostly I’ve been reading — actual books. Oddly enough I’ve not even been on the computer all that much, even now that I feel it’s okay to hoist my laptop again (I am currently in the "lift no more than ten pounds" stage). I haven’t been watching movies or TV by myself, either; also a little unexpected. Reading and sleeping– that’s about it. I’ve read Son of A Witch and A Lion Among Men, the second and third book in the Wicked Years series by Gregory Macguire. I read Wicked ages ago and LOVED it. Didn’t like Son of a Witch at all, though. It just plodded along, and the main character Liir (maybe or maybe not the Wicked Witch’s son) was so bland and uninteresting that I couldn’t have cared less what happened to him. Kind of surprisingly, though, I started A Lion Among Men immediately upon finishing Son of A Witch, and really liked it. Not quite as good as Wicked, but it sure kept me reading. I am doing the Twelve in 12 again this year so I’ll save it for my review and not go on and on about them now. (Hopefully I will become less lazy and do the reviews soon. Hahahahaha!!!!) Now I’m well into Little Bee, which is WONDERFUL. And I just got The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, since I seem to be the only person on the planet who hasn’t read any of those books.

This is how I used to read. Back before the days of the Evil TimeSucker Internet. Incessantly.

And apparently that’s about all I’ve been doing. I’m feeling fine, but have absolutely 0 energy. Which is exactly what the doctor told me to expect. I’m sore still, but that will take awhile too. So I read and nap. I ventured out in the car for the first time Wednesday, which was fun. I went to the mall and bought a couple more not-too-unsightly pairs of pants. One yoga, one not-too-ugly sweatpants. That I’m not completely mortified to be seen in public wearing. My stomach is still about three times its usual size and if it’s not back to normal by the time I return to work I guess I’m going to have to buy some Old Lady Polyester Stretchy Waist Pants. Which KILLS ME. Dresses are a good suggestion, but I really don’t like wearing dresses. Unless it’s summer and it’s a cute summery dress that doesn’t involve slips and hose. And even then I probably won’t wear one because I just do not like dresses. I don’t like Old Lady Polyester Stretchy Waist Pants either. Apparently I’m vainer than I realized. I walked all over Belk, turning my nose up at, oh, everything I saw which would not be painful to wear. Thinking, I WOULD NOT BE CAUGHT DEAD IN THAT!!!!

We have been watching Red Dwarf again (the entire series, start to finish) and I am afraid that I may be The Cat. There’s a particular scene in Demons and Angels, where the Red Dwarf crew meets their higher angelic counterparts that fits just perfectly. 

(I have no idea why I can’t seem to embed video anymore. There’s a clip from the very scene here, though.)

Favorite exchange ever:

Cat:  Buddy, ain’t no way you’re a part of me! No part of me would ever be seen alive in sandals!
Higher Cat:  I find clothes a distraction from the pursuit of spiritual and intellectual fulfillment. 
Cat:  That’s weird- I find spiritual and intellectual fulfillment a distraction from the pursuit of clothes! 

Well, fine, guess I can wear my PJs with the festive martini glasses all over them to work when I return. And if I don’t quit eating, I’m not going to be able to fit into any of my clothes even if my stomach DOES stop being swollen. For the first four days or so, I hardly ate a thing- I just was not a bit hungry, and in fact felt too full all the time. Naturally my appetite did return, not being one to ever disappear for long, and I have been indulging WAY too much for someone who is getting very little exercise. Example: we bought two boxes of Girl Scout Cookies from our neighbor last night – a Thin Mints and a lemon one — and both are gone. Yes, Baker B and I ate two boxes of cookies in less than 24 hours. This is why I do not buy cookies. So, yeah, need to stop that. 

I have been walking some, at least. I have walked on the Greenway Trail several days this week, and Baker B and I have gone to Blowing Rock and walked around town too. That does make me feel much better. I’m hoping that this will get me back into the habit of walking daily, even though these are short little walks. I’m walking a bit more every time. 

And we’ve had visitors — my dad came up yesterday, and brought his new BFF. This is a woman he has known all his life — in fact, she was his sister’s best friend. They were neighbors as kids, and are still neighbors. They’ve been hanging around together for awhile, mostly going out to eat and going for rides. He’d never brought her up here, though – he’s actually not been up here himself since before my mom died, which was kind of a shock to realize. I’m glad he’s go someone to do stuff with – he’s so social, and hates not having someone to talk to. And she’s very nice — I’ve known her all my life too, of course. That was a pleasant little break, having company and going out to lunch (more food!) They didn’t stay very long either, even nicer. Because it really made me tired. Kim’s coming up tomorrow too, yay! It’s also nice that nobody expects the house to be all that clean, and Baker B is doing enough cleaning by himself that we don’t look like the total pigs we are. 

Well, this certainly is meandering. Like my brain itself lately. Must be time to go take another nap!