Desert Magnolia

There's no two ways around it, last week was a humdinger. But this one is alright and getting better. First, Grandma Gin has turned a corner in her recovery and is doing much much better today. Much. Got to take a shower, which was a biggie since we all know how ineffective sponge baths really are. She's been walking a good distance at a time now, which is a huge improvement. And most importantly, her spirits have lifted a bit. I think with each hurdle she overcomes we'll see more of the familiar sass back, and that, my friends, is awe.some. Second, the fish are fine. G.G. installed a new pond pump last night and did some general cleaning while he was at it and the pond is spic and span and everyone is happy happy. And there's a new little head on the water pipe that creates a gentle fountainlike spray, which is lovely. And last, G.G. and his fantasy football friends are picking teams tonight, so I'm flying solo after work. Which means I'll most likely pic...

This year has been one for the record books in terms of sequential over 90 degree days for us. It's been brutal. And it persists. Today we're supposed to hit 96....again. There's a possibility but not a probability of afternoon thunderstorms.  Let's cross our fingers for those-they're much needed respite and rare indeed. Grandma Gin is now in a rehab facility in which she'll remain for a week or so. They're going to work with her so she's stable on her feet and confident in her ability to move about and generally as self-sufficient as possible given that she's not been completely stable on her feet for years and that she's 91. They seem very competent, positive, warm, and I'm guessing they're demanding, too, which is a very good thing when it comes to empowering surgical patients. More family arrives beginning tomorrow, which will be good for her and also let the hometown gang of myself, my aunt and my cousin get a little bit of a bre...

Grandma Gin is a pip. She's mending, getting restless, almost headed for rehab today, has been micromanaging the medical team like nobody's business, and is, in general, heading in the right direction. Once I had taken care of a couple of her requests at lunch, including locating and recruiting the very patient and capable nurse tech who has been at Grandma's beck and call for several days now to help her back into her bed from her lunch chair, things got quiet. I turned off one of the lights in her room to make it a little more peaceful, we chatted about the clouds building in the distance, covered the stuff pertaining to her immediate comfort and forseeable future, and mostly just chilled a little. I tucked her blanket around her, and stroked her arm a bit, and could feel her relax into what would become her early afternoon nap. Before she faded, though, she said,'Honey, you're clearly working too hard. You have big dark circles under your eyes. You need...