How do you pick something up off the floor if you can't bend over? How does one put one's socks on with the same limitation? How do you stand from a seated position if you can't shift your center of balance over your feet first? How do you get groceries if you can't drive and have exhausted all of your friends?
Thank GOD someone answered all of these questions before I needed to. The following is an homage to all of the little tools and technology that have helped me deal.
1. The Straight Reacher. This little dude is seriously my best friend. Whether I need to put on my pants or if I dropped the soap in the shower (oops!), this trigger-action reacher is priceless. It works so well I was even able to pick up my iTouch off a hardwood floor. And it's great for rounding up the wiener dogs when they're out of hand.
2. The Sock Aid. This is another miracle worker. Although it doesn't really help me to put on long socks very well, I am able to easily put socks on the foot of the leg I'm not supposed to bend very far, so my little piggies stay warm. I tried to get the dogs to sleep on my feet but they don't take direction very well.
3. The Toilet Riser. Right. So, this one is a little embarrassing. My grandma used to have one in her bathroom and I would either go in her other bathroom or hold it. It looks weird and makes loud, hollow noises, if you get my drift. However, there's no way I would have gotten off the pooper without it! In order to stand up from a sitting position without leaning forward (a no-no), you HAVE to push off with your arms until your center of balance makes it over your feet. The handles (though cold in the morning) make standing up a piece of cake.
4. Online Grocery Shopping. I actually just used this for the first time ever this week. To be honest, I've been well fed since my surgery, as I think I've mentioned. And E did a grocery run for me (among other things) before her term of service was up. But what's a girl to do if she gets a hankerin' for a ding dong? Or wants to make a certain meal but is one ingredient shy? I went online yesterday and picked out about 15 items that I wanted from the store. They were delivered today during the block of time promised. Not only that, but the drivers are not allowed to accept tips. Yay!
A big stadium wave sized shout-out to the people who invented all of these. Thank you!
Today's been a snow day for the rest of the area -- it's been truly beautiful from where I sit. The people across the street took their little one (I think he's about 4) outside and made a 2-foot tall snowman. They topped it off with the little boy's stocking hat. Since then, the snow melted and now there's just a saggy hat in the middle of their yard. Now that's just depressing.
Working from home has been great. As long as I can put off the pain meds which make me sleepy (I can hold off until about 3 or 4 then I start to get stiff and achy), I get a lot done. It's pretty cool. I wouldn't have been able to do this as easily 10 years ago or more. First, long distance calls were expensive back then, so calling clients would not have been as fun. I certainly would not have had high speed cable internet, or access to my company's database and servers. Plus, how awesome is it that I can go to work without having to get out of my PJs all day?
Lastly, I would like to recommend a movie that I watched (again) last night -- Due Date. Zack Galafanaikis (or whatever) is too frickin' funny and Robert Downy Jr ain't half bad either. It has as many quotables as Anchorman. Rent it!
Loves to ya'll...
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