Slow Going

I'm finally able to type a bit with my right hand, but it gets very sore and tired very quickly. I'm still trying to use it as much as I can stand, because the Doctor does want me to exercise it and use it as normally as possible. I still can't use the mouse though - - still hurts too much; so I'm still using it with my left hand.

The right side of my thumb is still numb, and if I happen to move my wrist a certain way I get a "jolt" - - seriously, it's almost like an electric shock! The RN said it was because of the proximity of the surgery site to the nerve that is causing that, and it will clear up eventually. Not any too soon for me!

My main restrictions are gripping too tightly and lifting items that are too heavy. For example, I can't grip hard enough with my right hand to wring out a washcloth (ever tried to wring one of those out one-handed? NOT easy!). Also, an example of an item that is too heavy would be a gallon of milk. So, I have to be pretty careful for awhile yet.

I get the stitches out Sept. 6th, and won't have to see the Doctor before that unless a problem crops up. So please hope for the best. I am.

My hand is getting pretty tired right now, and getting a little bit sore, so it's time to stop typing. More later . . .

All Trussed Up . . .

Like a Thanksgiving turkey!

Bandage is off:




LOTS bigger than they expected to find. Still LOTS of pain, so there won't be any more posts for a few more days.

Time to go hit the pain meds again. I'll be back soon - - promise!

Recovering

I'm back home from my hand surgery. Everything went well. My hand is really starting to hurt, but the Vicodin is taking care of business! (oh yeah!)

Typing one-handed is a real bitch, though - - so I'm not doing any more posts until after Monday.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts - - they are very much appreciated!

I hear the recliner calling me - -





Or maybe it's Carmichael-kitty calling me? Who knows - - all I know is, this is where I plan on spending most of my time this weekend. And yes, Carmie-kitten will be there as well, keeping my lap nice and warm.

More later.

A Brief Hiatus

I will be out of commission for a few days. My hand surgery is scheduled for tomorrow at 12 Noon, and I will have the surgical dressing on until sometime Monday morning.

I'm not sure how this is going to work - - being without my right flipper for a few days - - I am SO right-handed, and using my left hand for things is going to be challenging, for sure. I'm hoping that after the surgical dressing is removed on Monday, I will have a little bit more mobility and can use my hand for a few things without a lot of pain and stiffness. We'll see how it goes.

Dear Hubby has told me that he is actually looking forward to having to take care of me! Can you believe that? I hate the thought of him having to do so much for me, but he says he wants to be able to do this for me. Is it any wonder why I love that man so damn much? He's a jewel.

I will be back to work on Wednesday, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

And I hope to be able to create my last Decatur Celebration post as soon as my hand is back in commission!

Please keep me in your thoughts tomorrow. Appreciate it.

Almost Forgot!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR 'DIZZY' . . .
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

(And many, many more . . . . . )

Decatur Celebration, Part 3 - More Saturday

Our Saturday evening band was The Smithereens.



Now, I only remembered one song by them, "A Girl Like You", which I really liked, but I didn't know anything else that they did. We figured it would be a pretty decent show - - and we were NOT disappointed.

The band bus showed up, and the guys got out and come backstage. They were very friendly and personable, but tired. They had gotten into town very late the night before from a show. Hospitality showed them where their green room was, and we figured that was the last we would see of them until sound check.

Sound check:




We were SO wrong!

The guys wanted to spend time out where the people were! They love their fans, and were great with all of us working stage. Not a big ego in the bunch, which is a very refreshing change from some of the performers we have dealt with in the past!

Showtime came, and they put on a helluva show both times:




During their second set, they did their song, "A Girl Like You", but with a twist - - in the middle of the song, they seuged into "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who, and then back into "A Girl Like You" . . . and it was awesome!

After both shows, they spent a lot of time signing autographs and visiting with their fans:


I happened to be standing backstage with Jimmy Babjack, the lead guitar player, and I thanked him for being so nice to all their fans and all of us also. He seemed amazed that I would even say that! He told me that the fans and the people working stage is what it is all about - - that without them, the band was nothing! I told him that we had dealt with a lot of performers who didn't seem to feel that way, and he said, "Well, those guys are a$$holes then! They just don't get it!" I had to laugh - - and told him that he and his bandmates very obviously DID "get" it! Great, great guys.

These guys are so nice - - they can come back and visit us any time!

I leave you with a video of The Smithereens, circa 1989, doing the song "A Girl Like You" - - enjoy!


Be sure to check out YouTube for more Smithereens videos - - they really are a talented bunch of guys! And, did I mention how nice they were? I did? Oh - - okay . . .

Sorry . . . SO Tired

I will finish the posts about Decatur Celebration soon. But, this week is THEWEEKFROMHELL - - seriously. 10-12 hour days, Doctor appointments with Dad, early mornings, late nights, meetings and orientation sessions . . .

I'm exhausted.

I may not get to post until later in the week, but I definitely WILL finish the Celebration posts.

But for now, it's off to bed for me . . . g'night . . . *yawn*

We Interrupt This Blog For An Important Announcement:

Last Saturday, August 2nd, Paul McCartney (yes, THE Paul McCartney) was spotted at a gas station in Springfield, Illinois!

No joke.

Here is a link to the Springfield State Journal-Register article:

http://www.sj-r.com/entertainment/x1768860191/Paul-McCartney-makes-pit-stop-in-Springfield

What's funny to me is that this sighting happened the same night that "Band On the Run", a Paul McCartney and Wings tribute band, was playing at Decatur Celebration. Can you imagine how funny it would have been if Sir Paul and his lady were driving through Decatur and heard THAT?

We now continue with our regularly scheduled posting . . .

Decatur Celebration, Part 2 - Saturday

Saturday morning dawned sunny and cool; Mother Nature was giving us a break for Celebration! Usually it's so damn hot at our stage area, being surrounded by concrete and asphalt, with nary a shade tree in sight. But the weather gods smiled on us this day!

Unfortunately, Dear Hubby and I couldn't get downtown in time for the parade, because of all the yard work that needed done at the OTHER DAMN HOUSE THAT STILL HASN'T SOLD (not that it bothers me or anything, not a bit)(yeah, right).

AAAANNNYYYYWAY - - I was a little p.o.'d that I had to miss the parade, but we got there around Noon to help set up for Saturday's band, The Smithereens.

Now, I had heard of The Smithereens, but I was only familiar with one of their songs, "A Girl Like You", that I think came out around 1989. It's a good song. Find a video of it on YouTube and enjoy it.

The band wasn't supposed to be there for a couple more hours, so Steve and I decided to walk down to see his HERO - - none other than drag racer "Big Daddy" Don Garlits! Big Daddy was there with one of his dragsters, Swamp Rat VIII. I was able to get some pictures to mark the occasion:


The Dragster


Sign telling about the Swamp Rat


"Big Daddy" truck



Steve is thinking, "I get to meet MY HERO,and all I have to wear is this lousy BOWLING SHIRT!"

We then decided to walk around a bit more and see some people. One of the roving characters was the Traffic Cop from Providence, Rhode Island, who is famous for directing traffic IN STYLE - - his name is Tony, and he is a great guy.

Here is a YouTube video of Tony in action:


AND here's Tony at our little downtown party:


It was time to head on back to our Stage and see if the band was there so we could get set up. Saturday night was going to be a busy one. But on our way back, we went by the North Street Stage, and saw an amazing Blues musician, Melvin Taylor. That guy could really make the guitar wail!







We listened to a couple of songs, but then kept on towards our Stage. The good thing was, our stage was just around the corner from the stage Melvin Taylor was on, so we could still hear him as we got ready for our Saturday night show!

Saturday night will be the next post, and it will be a good one!

Decatur Celebration, Part 1 - Friday

Decatur Celebration time - - time to party, time to play, time to work our asses off!

22 blocks of downtown are blocked off starting at 5 AM on Friday, and work begins. Stages are built, vendors are moved in, electric is connected (drops were placed prior to Friday), and supplies are carted in.

Here is our "home away from home" for the next 3 days:

This is the Show Stage, the big main stage of the Celebration. It's our baby to take care of, along with the road crews, sound crews, and entertainers for the stage.

A couple of views from the Stage, down the street, showing some of the preparations for the event:



Everybody is working hard, getting ready for 5 PM Vendor openings, and 6 PM Opening Ceremonies.

At 6 PM, the party officially kicks off, and our first show, Vince Vance and the Valiants, begins:


Can you believe that hair?


He really knows how to work a crowd:


This is a 6-foot replica of Vince's head and hair, that he always has on stage:


Vince and the band have played at the Celebration 5 or 6 times over the years. They put on an incredible show, as always! Check out his website if you want to know about him - - he's a fantastic performer, and just an all-around nice guy!

After their 2 sets were finished (6:30, and 9:45), band equipment was torn down and the stage secured, Vince came backstage and sat with all of us and just visited for almost an hour. He has played in Decatur many, many times over the years at different events, and loves it here. We laughed and chatted, and it felt good to just relax and enjoy the cool night air.

But, it's time to head on home; tomorrow is another busy, busy day!

The Party's Over (UPDATE)

UPDATE: The pictures are now all cropped and cleaned up, and ready for posting! But, tomorrow marks the return to work, so the posts will start this week. Please excuse the delay, but duty calls . . . and YES, my feet STILL hurt!

Decatur Celebration is done and all wrapped up for this year.

I met some truly awesome people, ate lots of junk food, and took tons of cool pictures.

I will dedicate the next few posts to the "Party" and post some pics - - as soon as I get them all downloaded and cleaned up, that is!

I just wish my feet didn't hurt so bad . . .