Okay, taxi arrives in twenty minutes, so I'm off for now. Everyone have a great weekend! Hopefully I'll be having a great time in sunny San Diego! Adios!

Pictures from our Volcano trip up at Flickr. We had a very nice time.

So we got to the airport okay, and had a nice lunch there and a good time just talking and waiting for our flight. We got on the plane, and the pilot announced that there was a lot of turbulence on the way to Vegas. I hate turbulence.

It was really bad turbulence. And it lasted the entire flight (1 hour). Scott sat with his eyes closed the whole way. I decided I was brave enough to have a window seat this time. Ai yi yi. I was glad it wasn't like this when I took the kids because I was really scared of the flight then.

When we finally landed Scott said that was the worst flight he had ever been on. Bear in mind Scott has flown his whole life, including back and forth to China. So yes, it was bad. The flight attendants were freaking out, Ya'll.

We get to Vegas and it was PACKED. The line for a taxi snaked all around the building and back and forth again. We finally get a taxi and check in, and our room on the 25th floor was very nice. Smaller than at the Venetian (where you only get suites) but at least as nice, and a lovely view out our window. Scott was already in an irritated mood from the flight and the lines we had to stand in, so we decided to go to an early dinner.

Thank goodness we went early. There were 20 people standing in line for "The Buffet at The Bellagio", and the bill for the two of us was $75. However, the food was excellent. Truly gourmet food, of any kind imaginable including sushi bar, and Scott and I ate up. We did eat our money's worth, and had a good time there. Also, our waitress was very nice and flirted up a storm with Scott. Which... from 4 year old girls to 50 year old women, Scott was the girl magnet this weekend.

When we left the restaurant, there was a line of over 100 people snaking all around the casino. We were glad we went early, because we never would have stood in that line.

We rested in the room for 20 minutes, then went down to the show. It was incredible and beautiful, of course. I'm telling you, if you can get to Las Vegas, go see "O". It will be worth every penny.

We went back to our room at 10pm and looked over the room service menu while watching the water show out our window. It was nice and relaxing and we didn't have to go anywhere or be anywhere or stand in any lines. We read our books for awhile in front of the window, then went to bed.

We woke up early and took showers and got dressed. At 8am room service came with our breakfasts - eggs, bacon, toast, coffee, etc. - and we had a very relaxing morning eating in our room. We had decided the night before that since it was going to cost just as much as room service to eat anywhere in the hotel, and it would probably involve standing in line too, it would be worth it to pay room service price. And it was. We just relaxed until it was time to check out - we had to leave at 10am.

We checked out and then - of course - stood in an incredibly long line to get a taxi to the airport. And then, of course, there was a major traffic jam at the airport and we just sat there on the road. Our flight was leaving at 11:41am so I tried to stay calm, even though time was ticking by.

The cab finally drops us off and what do you know - major line to check our bag. Oh, but when I got in the line, it turned out that wasn't the end, that was just the corner - the end of the line snaked all up and down the street!!!!!

We get into the airport, run up the escalator and down the halls and... OOH, it's a PACKED MADHOUSE trying to check through the first point. Oh. My. God. There were easily two thousand people trying to get through. This is the same place I let Buffy wander around alone shopping when we left Vegas in January. The airport was EMPTY at our last vacation! So we stood in that line. Which then files you through the metal detector line, which of course is just as long because everyone has to go through it.

Time. Ticking. By.

And Scott has metal hip replacements.

We already knew he wasn't going to pass, we knew ahead of time, and leaving San Jose they just pulled him aside and gave him a full thrice over with the wand and a pat down and then a rub down. I teased him later that I had to pay extra for his ticket since it included a massage. But this time, we weren't really in any mood for this. The detector beeped when he went through, but instead of taking him aside immediately - they put him in this clear plexiglass closet with a giant red X on the side.

Man o man did I want to take a picture of him jailed in this clear box, but he was not in any mood for that. So we had to wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, until some nerdy guy came over for the thrice over pat down massage. Scott was steaming when this was over.

We still had to wait for him to put his shoes back on and then run to our gate. We got there ten minutes before the plane was to leave and we were the last to board.

Then the pilot announced that while San Jose had clear skies and perfect weather, the wind in Las Vegas was going to make for "a choppy take-off". Yeah, that's like when the dentist tells you "there will be some discomfort."

Let's just say, it was choppy. To put it mildly. But the rest of the flight did go much smoother. As soon as we hit the green hills of San Jose I felt so happy. I have to say, Las Vegas is just not for me. I love my San Jose, and I love it even more after going to a place like, say, Las Vegas.

We happily got our no-wait taxi and went back to my work where we had left my car, and then went to lunch and home. We were pretty tired and I was just starting to get cranky I was so tired. But we were home.

Scott did enjoy the show, and we had a nice relaxing time this morning at the hotel, but overall the lines and crowds were not the happy-inducing vacation we usually like. But Scott did say this morning that he wouldn't mind coming back one day to see a different show if we did it just like we did - fly in, stay in the hotel the entire time, see the show, and go home. So I know his time there couldn't have been TOO bad.

Still, I couldn't get over the crowds. This was the middle of the week, and when I took the kids in January it was over a three day weekend. There were NO crowds then, and no lines. I figured maybe January is just considered off season.

I came home and told Spike about the crowds. He had it pegged immediately, in two words.

"Spring break."

Duh. That's why *I* was there.

*****

It occurred to me this week that I have been in four different hotels on five different occasions in the last three months. Venetian - Las Vegas, Lovers Point Inn - Monterey, Marriott - San Jose (twice), and now The Bellagio - Las Vegas. I think that's a bit much, although it doesn't SEEM like I've been on so many vacations. That said, we are going back to Volcano on April 13. We could use some quiet relaxing time, and we're going. Heck, it's the cheapest vacation around anyway and we love it there.

Las Vegas just makes me feel a little like my soul is dieing when I'm there, like blackness is seeping into my heart. I know no other way to describe why it makes me so unhappy. I would be willing to go back for short trips though in order to see some shows. However, Volcano is a place that makes me happy, and recharges the soul, and we'll be making more trips back there.

That's it, that's my update. I have to get started on some homework for school now. I don't have any big projects, but small stuff still has to be turned in.

So my ring was ready early, and there was a mix-up on what Scott would have to pay because since they don't make this ring any more the jeweler had to call the company to get a price but they were closed the day we were there (the day after Thanksgiving) so the jeweler told Scott it would not cost more than this other similar ring, but then when it was ready it turns out it actually cost 50% more than we were quoted. But the jeweler had written on Scott's receipt that it wouldn't cost more than X dollars, so they couldn't charge him more. So that was good for Scott, and also pretty exciting, because I guess the ring is pretty expensive.

So, it turns out my camera phone takes incredibly HORRIBLE pictures of small detail, so you can go to Flickr and see my ring HERE but you won't be able to see it too well. I'm going to have Buffy take a picture later and hopefully you'll be able to see it better.

I love it. I love it because it isn't a ring that every woman would look at and think is beautiful. I love it because there is no diamond. I love it because it is exactly what I wanted and it is a ring that *I* love and it's a ring that looks beautiful on ME. And I mostly love it because Scott gave it to me because he wanted to give it to me.

I went to the jewelry store to "visit" my ring again, and noticed that the design is indeed different than the one I showed you - although it is very similar. Mine has more of a tulip pattern. It turns out that my design has been discontinued but they are making one more especially for me.
:-D

Like I said, I will take a picture when I get it. 4-6 weeks. YAYYY.

An easier picture

I think a simpler way to say it is it is mostly like this one, but with the antiqued background, and the outside bands of gold may be a little thicker. But overall, most like that picture - with an antiqued background... hahaha... I promise a picture when it arrives.

My Pre-Pre-Wedding Band

We interrupt this break in blogging and the intense studying for finals to report that my ring has been ordered! It's going to be a few years yet before I am ready to get married again (kids gone, school over, etc.) and this ring - in case you haven't been reading me for years - is just to show that we are married in our hearts. I can stop answering questions about why we're not married, why we live apart, why I don't want to get married yet... it will just be assumed that we are married, and like I said, in our own hearts we are.

So, this is sort of what it looks like: CLICK HERE

Only it is in yellow gold and has a thin gold band on either side of it like the pair at the right of this picture.

So, a design (I think) like this, with the extra gold border like this and antiqued like this (the black background).

So now you have absolutely no idea what it will look like, right? hahahaha.
It may be ready by Christmas, but maybe not until January. Don't worry, I will post a real picture of it when it arrives.

A picture of it on my FINGER. :-D

Okay, due to some mass interest and demand to hear about Scott's health, haha...

He's fine, he's great. He has bright red 10 inch scars running up each hip, but otherwise he is Fantastic, and walks better than I have ever seen, and I've known him since around 1998. He runs his school again, and has tall, muscular grown men 20 years his junior looking up to him with puppy dog eyes wishing they could do what he does. He can out-hike me, that's for sure.

He's not 100% according to him. Why? Because he can't reach down and put his palms on the floor.

Yes. At 46 years old he can kick and do his martial arts, he can almost do the splits, he's built his thigh muscles back up, he can hold very low squats for forever, he can bend pretty much any way he wishes and he has really muscular surfer dudes looking at him in awe at what he can do, but he's pissed off because he can't press his palms to the floor.

But he has no pain whatsoever. So I say he's doing just fine. Next week will be the one year anniversary of the first surgery.

And thanks for asking, Everybody!

Okay I'm just going to step up and admit this right now.
It's a good thing I put Scott's birthday on my Outlook calendar.

Wow, I checked that sucker just in time.

To switch subjects entirely, FINALLY...

Wanna see the ring I'm going to get?
It's going to be like one of these...

That's the kind I have wanted for many many many years but never thought I would have someone who I would want to give me a ring. Finally I have the right person, and he wants to get me whatever ring I want. Maybe I'll get one with a diamond, maybe not, but it will be that kind of band.

:-D

Okay, so here is the deal we made - more details in the journal:

1. We're gonna keep going for another five years
2. We're not going to talk marriage until that five years is up
3. I get a ring in the next six months.

A ring! Yay! A ring! I've told him over and over but I don't think he realizes it, that ring will keep me happy for the next 20 years. That's all I want, some outward sign showing that I am taken.

Another reason to love Scott:

I was in the middle of telling him the story about me crying when the cafeteria lady told me she got to keep her job, and all I got to say was that we were switching companies that catered the cafeteria and he interrupts me to ask...

"But wait, what will happen to those three people who work there?"

That was his first thought too. Which I guess not only says something about Scott, but also about those people in the cafeteria - Scott has eaten with me there a few times and so he's met them too. Anyway, he didn't break down crying like I did, and he thought it was hilarious that I did, but I thought it was nice that he was concerned too.

Heterotopic Ossification is what Scott has. We can't treat what is growing in the first hip. Hopefully the radiation will stop any growth in the new hip.

Bad news bad news things aren't going well, go check the journal.

Well Scott's surgery was rescheduled to tomorrow morning, Wednesday. So I will be at the hospital tomorrow. See ya guys later...

Scott just now took his very first shower since the night before his surgery!

Yay for showers!

That is something you definitely miss when you can't have them.

Alreaddyyyyyyyyy

Guess what? Remember how Scott is doing so well so the surgeon was going to schedule his next surgery soon?

It's going to be on September 14. Yeah, like 12 days from now.

On the one hand, it's pretty scary to go through it all over again, on the other hand I'm glad it's going to ALL be over with so soon. Scott's pretty happy too.

So Scott went to see the surgeon today, first time since surgery. Yesterday he went to physical therapy - did I tell you about that already? Anyway, because it's Kaiser hospital and the only people who EVER seem to know what they are doing are the surgeons and the nurses who work for them, Scott left physical therapy very depressed - haven't seen him like that since right before the surgery. I swear to God, for all that I love their surgeons, I cannot stand anyone else who works for Kaiser. (Did I ever mention that the day of surgery they checked him in under a completely different patient's name? Yeah...) Anyway, he saw his actual surgeon today, and HE told Scott that on a scale of 1 - 10...

Scott is a 12. And that he's doing great and should keep on doing whatever he can, and that he'll schedule the next surgery for as soon as possible. Which is good, because the sooner this whole thing is over the better, for everyone. So Scott is a little happier today, and my mom is giving him my dad's old stationary bike so Scott can work out a little and that makes him happy too.

*whew*

Scott was in a lot of pain last night, but guess what?

The pain was in the leg that hasn't been operated on yet.

Guess what else?

He drove yesterday for the first time. I let him do a test drive to Starbucks, and since he has an automatic and his right leg wasn't operated on he was able to drive with no problem. So today he got to drive his car home from my house.

He's very happy. Still very dependant on the crutches though, but he can stand with his cane and walk for very short distances with it.

The bad news is we were both coming down with the flu yesterday and neither one of us feels well today.

Oh yeah and Scott is doing great - well, he may disagree with "great" but I think he is. He walked with his walker to the end of his bed and back yesterday, but getting back into bed is a tough one. Yesterday afternoon he seemed to be getting stronger by the hour. He's going to try stairs in his therapy on Saturday! Isn't that amazing? Well, he had some ups and some downs yesterday, and listening to his blood-curling scream when the nurses flipped him over without bringing his hurt leg with him almost made me vomit. Oh. My. God. That part was horrible. But he is feeling better and will be coming home Saturday or Sunday. He's on special restrictions for 6 weeks because of the extent of the surgery (removing much more bone growth than expected) but he will hopefully be up and around by this weekend. He should just need help in and out of bed. AND he's doing great with his physical therapy, he does his little exercises over and over, he's very intent about it.

I think he's in better spirits mostly - well also because it's over - but also because it was obvious from the surgery that he really needed it done. I think he was never really sure that the hip replacement was the answer, and who wants to go through that surgery only to find out it was something entirely different that was wrong? But all the bone growth was proof that there was no other answer. Now as soon as this side heals (sometime after 6 weeks) he can have the other side done, and that's the side that has really been bothering him.

Okay, that's my update for now. I gotta finish work and get to the hospital.

Okay, first surgery over and done, I summarized it in the diary. Now we are off to my dad's military funeral. Then it's back to the hospital for me. Hopefully Scott's physical therapy will be over before I get there, cuz I really don't want to be there when that's going on, heh. I'll update tonight, hopefully I won't be so exhausted.

This is it, the last day.
Tomorrow we'll be at the hospital at 6am.
By this time tomorrow it will hopefully be all over.

I'm a nervous wreck.

Scott's surgery is scheduled for Wednesday.

He had his "class" today, where he learned all about it, and he is now in a severe depression. He does not feel the future prognosis is good, and the recovery time they're telling him - even though this was a blanket recovery time for everyone in the class - is pretty traumatic for him. They're saying he'll be in a walker for 3 months.

I don't realy believe this is what will happen. But what do I know, I'm not a doctor. They also tell him he'll never be able to bend down and touch his toes. He thinks this is going to put an end to his life with martial arts.

I am sad for him. And there's nothing I can do to help him or make him feel better. And maybe that's what makes me saddest of all.

Work has been soooooooooooooooooooo busy, that's why I haven't posted here much. Today I am going to Aptos for a full weekend for the first time since last January, before Swim Season and before Buffy's confirmation classes. I so need a weekend of relaxation!!!

But Scott and I have that Creative Writing class, so really we'll be writing all weekend. But at least it will be cool there, there won't be any screaming kids, etc. Just a nice cool relaxing place.

And Sunday morning I'm going to run 3 miles while Scott is in school. I'm going to start back into my running schedule from my Running For Women book that I love, and according to schedule I must run 3 miles, so I will.

Also, Scott got his surgery moved up to August 17, so that was really good news too.

And now I must work. So I will talk to ya'll later.

So just in case anyone *cough*Scott*cough* was wondering, I like this ring. I'm not big on diamonds. And I don't even need a wedding to go with the ring. I just want the ring.

Also... Scott will be taking Disability after Friday. They couldn't get his surgery scheduled any sooner than OCTOBER, and he simply cannot even walk, much less crawl 10,000 square feet of houses every day, climb their attics and inspect every inch of their interior. I am glad he's going, he needs to sit and rest his poor body and try to survive until October.

I'm sad for my Scott.
:-(

But hopefully by New Years he will be on his way to recovery. I can't wait for him to feel better!

The wind is howling like CRAZY right now, and we all know how I feel about the wind, right? I hate when it's like this when I have to go to bed, I won't be able to sleep!!!

And I miss Scott already. I am really really happy that he is coming over Tuesday, and I'm also REALLY happy that he's already feeling better. Four straight days of no inspections and his body is finally getting a chance to heal. He's going to take a full week to be completely lazy (not easy for him) and then just take it easy the other 3 weeks. It makes me happy to see him feeling better.

I can't believe this rain!!! It's probably the worst storm I've seen here since last New Year's day - now that was one incredible storm. But I wish it would stop, only because I hate driving in it and I still have to go to work tomorrow and then pick up the kids and go to Scott's house for New Years.

New Years! Our third one together! Can you believe it? Two years together and not one argument that I can think of. Not one fight.

*sighhhh...* He's perfect!

NYAAH!
I don't FEEL like writing, so I'm NOT.

Plus, it's Tuesday, so dinner's in the oven and Scott's on his way.

Bring on the wine!

I just got back from Aptos where I took care of a very sick Scott all weekend. Now I'm home and my throat feels sore and my body feels yucky.

Okay, that stupid, stupid, so-simple-looking Birthday desk?

Took HOURS to make.

Okay, at least 2 hours anyway.

And then the drawer wouldn't work, the opening was too big and the drawer couldn't stay up there.

"Thank God for Scott," said Buffy, after he fixed what we couldn't do.

"What happened here? and why are these screws...? and what's with the drawer?" he wanted to know.

"Well, after I put these first three pieces together, I tried to turn them over, and then they fell apart, and then the screws tore out, and made a mess, and that's how I fixed it."

".....okay..." said Scott, "But how did it come apart again?"

"Um. It just fell apart."

He fixed it, that's all that matters.
:-)

Oh, for those of you keeping track, Scott brought me a dozen roses yesterday, and wrote me a much card AND a note, saying I'm his "best friend", he loves me "deeply", hopes we have "many happy years together" and that I'm his "Goddess of Light".

Altogether, Awwwwwwwww.....

And then I went to Spike's blog and found (other than that the boy needs remedial spelling ASAP) this:
"Well my mom just came back from having lunch with her boyfriend , Scott (Scott is a really nice guy and he teaches kung-foo or tia-chi or something like those...He has his own school that he teaches one of those karate things in and my mom loves him a lot ,and is always rambling about him with her co-worker Corina who keeps yelling at Scott for not proposing to her yet..LOL...But he is a really kool guy and he's just right for my mom ) ya .. "

Once again, Awwwwwww....

Okay, Ms.Croft, I'm off to see you now...

I've known for quite awhile that if I ever get married again I don't want to wear a traditional wedding dress (been there done that), but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I've even looked into kimonos like my mother wore for her wedding (she got married in Japan).
But after watching Bend it Like Beckham last night, Buffy and I decided I will wear a red and gold Sari.
So yeah, I just wanted to mention that, heh.

Scott surprised me with a date at Aqui's for dinner again, but this time I was able to *finish* my margarita, and now I'm sitting here at my desk feeling like taking a nap.
At 7:30pm.
ZZZzzzzzzzzzzz.......

Four more days and Scott will FINALLY have met my parents.
My mom is acting very calm about it, but secretly I think she cannot wait.

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