Book Review, Scar Girl

I read The Scar Boys because a friend of mine, the drama teacher for Mt. Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, NC was working with his Advance Theatre class on adapting the book for the stage. Len saw the show and provided the cast and crew with advanced copies of Scar Girl. I liked both the book and the show and asked if I could borrow an advanced copy.

First off, the title is misleading. It's not Cheyenne's story, it's all their stories. It's more a sequel of the first book. Cheyenne's arc, which I predicted at the end of The Scar Boys, angered me. I'd have loved for Len to pen a more realistic "resolution" than taking the lazy way out.

The interview concept and format just didn't work. There are interview questions at the beginning of each "part" (i.e. Who do you admire?) then a picture of headphones. The text after the headphones is the contiuing saga of Harry, Richie, Cheyenne and Johnny as told in each point of view, save one. To make sure you know which character is talking, their names preceed their paragraphs. Helpful, yes, but it definitely interrupts the flow of the book.

None of the characters are likeable. Wait. I take that back. Richie is the only likeable character, but he's more of a fringe/comic relief character. We are never really introduced to his story, only how he reacts to Harry's, Cheyenne's and Johnny's arcs.

It doesn't take long to figure out where the story is heading and honestly, I wanted to give up on the book multiple times. I wanted to like this book. Len is such a great guy and The Scar Boys was a good book. But, for me, this book was one big cop-out.

Since I've a geat deal of time on my hands while I recuperate from back surgery, Mom taught me how to loom hats.

Here's my first customer.

Isn't he a cutie?

Surgery Scar

As far as I know, the surgery went well. At least that's what Dr. Hnilica told Allan and my family. He updated them that the herniation in the L5 lumbar was worse than originally thought. This is what was causing the, at times, severe pain down my left leg/foot. The cartilage between the L4 and L5 discs had "exploded" and was "squeezed" against the nerve. He removed the cartilage and "spot-welded" the rest of the disc together. Again, that's what he told Allan. I saw him for 5 minutes in the holding room, as he drew dots on my back. I was in the OR for less than 2 minutes before I was out.

I did stay overnight. Ruth, Tamara, Marcia and Johnetta took very good care of me. It was difficult to sleep with the leg compression thingamajiggs squeezing and the IV machine beeping. I think I slept all of 3 total hours! I mostly flipped TV channels as I didn't think to bring a book. 

Allan and Cade brought me home around noon on Wednesday and I went straight to bed and slept the rest of the day, aided by my good friend Oxycodone.

On Thursday, my mom came over and made beef stew. I did a couple of very slow laps around the inside of my house, took my Oxycodone and again mostly slept. Mom taught Cade and I how to knit hats on a knitting loom. 

Mom came over again today and brought a blood pressure cuff. She was worried because I still looked really pale. She also changed my bandage. I wasn't feeling the greatest as she was peeling off the super duper suran wrapping they put on me in the hospital. Since I can't really see the incision, I asked her to take a photo of it. 

I looked at the picture and tried not to be too grossed out. Mom and I continued to talk while she bandaged me anew. Still thinking of the picture of my scar, I got really light headed and asked her to walk with me to my room so I could lay down. Apparently, as I got to the side of my bed, I passed out. Luckily I face-planted right in the middle of my bed. Now, I am puny when it comes to blood, scars, and all that icky stuff, so that's probably why I passed out. It's also possible I passed out due to low blood pressure, which is why Mom brought over the BP cuff. 

Pre Op

Today was my pre op appointment. This is what the nurse did to my arm when attempting to draw blood. I am hoping and praying the surgery goes better than this did.

A Movie Watching Afternoon

Happy Chinese New Year

Laminotomy, Discectomy

Once again I couldn't go back to sleep after making Cade's lunch and sending him off to school. In this case it was a good thing. Forsyth Brain and Spine called to reschedule my appointment. After asking when the first available appointment was, I held my breath. Due to a cancellation, 9:20a today was available. I was in the office within 15 minutes from the time she called me!

Dr. Hnilica and I talked briefly about the pain I was experiencing. He then took me back to his office to go over the results of the MRI. 

There has been some further deterioration of my L5 vertebrae and due to the herniation, it is poking into my S1 nerve. Since the pain shots are no longer working, plan B, and his recommendation, was surgery. He went over the benefits and we spent a great deal of time going over the risks.

Now, I've been petrified of surgery. I was terribly afraid something would go wrong and I'd be paralyzed for the rest of my life. I saw Dr. Hnilica's PA back in December and he addressed some of my fears. The surgery I would need is very routine. It requires a small incision in my back (as opposed to having my entire spine exposed, like in my worst nightmares). He also told me that Dr. Hnilica had done the same surgery on him. The fact that he was walking and talking went a long way to allay my fears.

I've been in chronic pain since mid-November and I absolutely suck at dealing with it. Pain shots are no longer working (or as in the most recent case, are exacerbating the problem). I've been out of work for 2 weeks during a very busy time and I feel I'm letting my manager and coworkers down. And Cade. I feel like I let him down every single day. Chronic pain + poor emotional state = facing surgery fears. 

So, on Tuesday, March 3, I'll have a laminotomy, discectomy on my left lumbar L4/5.

I'll be in the hospital for one night and then spend up to two weeks recovering. My mom will be coming in from Key West to help.

I'm relieved that it's been scheduled. Don't misunderstand, I'm still nervous. But, for now, the idea of being pain-free is greater.

So, I got a call from Forsyth Brain and Spine. (Actually, the call went to voicemail. The meds really knock me out and my phone buzzed way too early this morning.) 

My appointment for Friday, the first available appointment when I called back in mid-November, the one I've been desperately awaiting since then, has been cancelled. 

That's right, folks. C.A.N.C.E.L.L.E.D.

I haven't returned a call to them as of yet. I'm afraid they'll tell me the first available appointment won't be until May. And I'm not sure I can last until then.

I'm having a very difficult time keeping things together. 

Tonight's Feature

Usually the books are better than the movie. Usually. Life of Pi was an exception.

Don't get me wrong, it's still the same long, labourous and boring story. The difference is the movie is beautifully filmed. The colors of India simply popped, some of the ocenic special effects (the whale, the jellyfish) were gorgeous and I loved the floating green island.

Having seen the movie, I wished I had skipped reading the book!

A Book Review, "Life of Pi"

For the past few years, I've had a goal to read X number of books from the BBC Book list. I've never achieved this goal, which is why I didn't add it to this year's goals.

As I opened the DVD envelope from my Netflix queue, I had to laugh. You guessed it, it was Life of Pi. I took that as a sign that I should finally read the book.

This was actually the second time with the book. The first time I just could not get into it. This time around wasn't much better but I forced myself to persevere. There were some nice moments and even some exciting things happened (green floating island, the "real" story). Ultimately it was long, labourous and just this side of completely boring. I was really hoping Richard Parker would just eat him so the book could conclude.

A Book Report, "Ask The Dark"

I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a 46 year young woman who loves to read YA novels. I think it's partly so I can keep up with what my teenagers are reading, though a lot of the books are extremely engaging. This was the case with Ask The Dark.

I was sucked in by the description: "A compelling tale of redemption and tour-de-force YA debut, Ask the Dark is an absorbing first-person thriller about Billy Zeets, a 14-year-old semi-delinquent in a deadly tango with a killer."

I was both saddened and amazed by Billy's fortitude. He's had a rough life which has led to some poor choices and he is very street smart. It's those keen observations that gets him involved in a string of murders in his hometown.

It's a very engaging book and an easy read. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

I received this book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I Love This!

Goodreads Voice: Little Free Library

By Goodreads Staff | Published Feb 03, 2015 01:35PM

Painted red and shaped like a miniature one-room schoolhouse, the first Little Free Library—built by Todd Bol in Hudson, Wisconsin, in 2009—launched what would become a worldwide movement in just a few years. Now more than 23,000 mini libraries exist in the United States, Canada, and other countries, including Haiti, Ghana, Vietnam, the Netherlands, and Italy. Often custom painted by local artists, these tiny book collections are outfitted with the cheerful motto "Take a book, return a book!"

Believing that no one should have to live in a book desert, the nonprofit Little Free Library needs donations to keep the movement going. Find out how you can help place a Little Free Library in your hometown and in cities across the globe. You can also get involved by becoming the "steward" of your own library by ordering one ready-made or designing your own!

I saw this in a magazine several years ago and thought it was very good advice.

Lessons Learned from Dogs

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure extasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stip to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

Enjoy every moment of every day!

An Afternoon At The Movies, "Gone Girl"

I definitely wanted to see this at the theater. Luckily Chad and I were able to catch it today, and at the $2.50 theater!

I'd already read the book, so the movie wasn't as suspenseful for me. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike both turned in great performances.

Poor, poor Neil Patrick Harris!

2015

This Just Makes Me Smile

Christmas Cards

Cade's Christmas Card to the Family