About a week ago, I was standing at my kitchen counter trying to cut an apple with a not-so-great-knife using my not-so-great-arthritic fingers.
I thought to myself, “I would sure love to have that knife I used at Vernie’s house last month. It made cutting things a joy.”
Well, you will never guess. Just a couple of days after I had that thought, the very knife I had been pining for and longing after showed up on my doorstep.
I guess I need to pine and long more often!
My dear, sweet mother-in-law, Vernie, must have seen both the pining and longing on my face during our recent visit as I industriously cut and chopped my way through her entire kitchen because she bought the knife for my 53rd birthday which is coming up Sunday.
Did I do a great job choosing a mother-in-law, or what?
I wish you could have seen me this morning as I prepared my oatmeal accoutrements–I was a veritable whirling, slicing, dicing, chopping ninja woman. Bananas, apples, and frozen peaches? No match for me!
And speaking of birthdays, I snapped this (blurry) selfie to prove to you that I don’t look a day over 52. Ha.
This one is not so blurry but I have the deer-caught-in-the-headlight look that just makes the overall photo so charming.
Anyhow . . . while we’re talking about birthdays, I had another gift show up on my front porch yesterday, delivered all the way from Colorado.
My dear childhood friend, Lorrie, has been sending me thoughtful, lovely, well-chosen gifts for almost forty years now and she’s got it down to an art form.
She always manages to slide something chocolate into her gifts—this time it was dark chocolate covered almonds and dark chocolate peanut butter cups from Trader Joes.
Although I am saving the actual gifts to open till my birthday, there is no rule that says one has to wait for a birthday to ingest dark chocolate, is there? It’s healthy, right? And you want me to make healthy choices, right?
I thought so.
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Sigh. I was having so much fun talking about birthdays and presents and chocolate that I almost forgot the dreary task of reporting on my doctor visit Tuesday. However, the news is fairly good, so that helps.
The short version of it is that I am holding steady at 49%. (That number represents my FEV1 which measures how much air I can blow out in the first second of exhalation.) Severe COPD starts at 40% so if I can hold steady at my moderate level for a while, I will be quite the happy camper.
Both doctors I saw brought up the high res CT scan again because in the words of one of them, “In cases like yours where there is no reason for you to have COPD, we always worry about what we might be overlooking and the high res CT scan is the best tool we have for taking a very close look at your lungs.”
However, we agreed that we would wait until my next appointment and PFT test in the fall to see if my numbers continue to stay steady or fall.
So that’s pretty much it on that front.
And just so we don’t end with a doctor visit report, let me share this video with you. The first time I watched it, I actually laughed out loud and I am not generally a laugher-out-louder.
But these two cockatoos are such a perfect representation of Steve and me, especially when we listen to music. As soon as he hears a beat, he’s all jivin’ and groovin’. On the other hand, as soon as I hear a beat I just nod my head along very slightly, even if I absolutely love the groove. I am just not a demonstrative person so it’s a good thing I married one–otherwise life would be very boring!
This is such a perfect picture of an introvert and extrovert; there is no way to watch it and not smile.
Happy 29th Becky & many many more! Love, Jodi
Jodi–thanks for thinking of me!
Happy birthday, Becky!
Looks like a terrific knife. My mother always likes good knives and left me quite a few. She also believed in using the “right knife for the job” 🙂 What a great gift from Vernie!
Glad to hear that rhe doctor appt went well and your numbers are Holding steady.
Loved the video!
Enjoy your birthday!
Linda in Pittsburgh
Linda,
You are blessed to have a great collection of knives. I’m just a little jealous.)
Hooray for all the funness and positivity! Hope you have a GREAT birthday weekend, Becky!
Kristina,
Funness. Now THAT’S a good word. 🙂
Happy early birthday! Those birds are a hoot! My hubby & I are the opposite. I’m the crazy one and he is the ever so mellow one. Haha!
Lizz,
It’s fun to know that you and your husbands are the opposites. So you can enjoy the video from a whole different perspective. 🙂
What bird?
Steve.
Ha.
Happy birthday, Becky Camera (how we refer to you in our house)!
I’m absolutely HOWLING at those birds – especially when the she-bird holds her foot out to keep the he-bird away!
Great news on the medical front, and I can’t wait to see what your birthday gifts are. Agree on the TJ’s dark chocolate stuff. That’s why I can’t even go into the store. 🙁
Stefanie,
Becky Camera. I must say, I LOVE that name. 🙂
We actually played the bird video at my birthday party and everyone howled there too. Too funny!
Oh my those birds are hysterical! Happy Early Birthday! No way you are 53! You look.like you should.still be asked.for ID!
Guerrina,
Your ID comment was almost as funny as the bird video. 🙂 But thanks, anyway!
Birds were great. Happy Birthday on Sun. My cousin’s birthday, too. Enjoy.
Ann,
Yes, I agree, those birds are wonderful! 🙂 Thanks for your gift and card.
Oh my word, Those birds were so funny, the one jiving to the music was hilarious. I loved the quiet one putting her foot up to keep the other one back, I was laughing at them. Happy Early Birthday, Chocolate is ALWAYS good to have, and I am like you, I would be thrilled to get a new knife to cut and chop with. Glad you are holding your own with your lungs too.
Wendy,
Yes, the foot going up was hysterical. It’s funny how birds can have such human like tendencies. 😉
Ya Holly!! 🙂 It was definitely better with the sound. The bird really does remind me of Steve in your videos. Not a shy bone when it comes to performing.
Mel,
Sounds DOES make a big difference although those birds are pretty much funny regardless.
Happy Birthday Becky!! May it be the best one yet!! Glad to hear good reports from the doctors!! Enjoy you chocolates !! Dark is the best! Chocolates that is! Have a great birthday weekend!!
Catherine,
The thing I like about dark chocolate is that Steve and Sarah don’t like it so I get it all to myself. 🙂
That’s the best kind!! Lol!’
I agree–a good knife is a life-changer! Yay, Vernie! I have done a good bit of pining and whining over the disreputable state of my kitchen knives, the wretched things.
Lorrie’s present sure had a high Yummy Quotient and those birds were spot on–so funny. (And I think “Becky Bird” could have used a little chocolate to help her deal with “Steve Bird’s” unseemly enthusiasm. :-))
Are you sure you’re coming up on 53? You’re lookin’ pretty daggone young there, girly girl!
Great news on the Dr. report. Will keep praying for improvement.
Love, deb
Deb,
You really should write a blog. Your comments always make me smile on so many different levels. Love you!
Happy Birthday Becky: Love the video. I do not even have sound on my computer at work and was still laughing out loud. Will definitely have to watch this again from home. Glad to hear semi-good news on your breathing. I guess it is one of those things where it could be worse so we are thankful that it isn’t. At least it will give you time to look into finding the cheapest place possible if you do have to have the test done. I am the “glass if half full type of person”. 🙂
Mel,
A glass half full person is MY kind of person. Thanks for your encouragement.
At least your numbers are holding steady on the COPD front. And Happy 53rd Birthday!! You don’t look a day over 40!
Oh my goodness, that video is hilarious!! I absolutely love around the 42 second mark when she (assuming they are playing the roles of Steve & Becky) holds up her claw. It is like she is saying either “Talk to the hand” or “You had better back up, Bud”!!
Donna,
“Talk to the hand.” I LOVE it. 🙂
Very pretty photo of you Becky. Happy birthday!
Very cool knife too, that is great that you have discovered one that works so well for your hands. I find it helps me to arrange my kitchen so my pots are heavier items are on the counters beside the stove already rather than high up in a cupboard- then I can slide them right onto the stove. Buying prechopped veggies is a little more expensive in the grocery store, but saves the chopping. Two handled pots also are great. You might find this article helpful, containing more RA hand friendly tips.
http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ra-cooking?page=2
Have a great day.
Jenna,
A great link–thank you for including it. And your advice about making kitchen work easier was excellent. It’s so nice when we can share helpful things we’ve learned with each other–that’s what life is all about!
I am extremely glad that your appointment went ok! Holding steady is just fine.
What a nice knife too. I love to cook and I was given a good knife a couple of years ago for Christmas, but not nearly as nice as this one. The brand is excellent!
You’re right. I couldn’t help but smile at the cockatoos. They remind me of hubby and I. He’s the feather shaker in our relationship. 🙂
Last but not at all least, happy upcoming birthday Becky! You look amazing! It must be all that healthy eating of chocolate. Continue on!!
LeeAnne,
Love the “feather shaker” line. That pretty much sums up Steve. 🙂 My feathers usually remain in an unshaken state.
They are a HOOT, even if they’re not owls.
Mrs. Pam,
You are TOO funny!
Happy upcoming birthday, Becky…you youngster! (I don’t even remember 53 any more.)
So glad your FEV1 is doing what you want it to do. (I believe FEV stands for “Feeling Excellent? Very!”)
The demonstrative bird’s fanning of his/her feathers reminded me of Steve donning his many get ups/costumes/sets of teeth to enrich his songs. 🙂
Jan,
I like the way you think. “Feeling Excellent? Very.” is perfect.
And I love your line about “enriching his songs.” That’s a funny way to put it. 🙂