Saturday, October 9, 2010

Red Letter Day

Today Melba and I went to the temple for our first quarterly high priest temple day.  Although only a handful of people from our ward attended, it was very special for us because this was the first time Melba has been to the temple in over two years. During that time I always went alone due to her various health challenges which prevented her from enjoying temple worship.  It was truly wonderful to be together as we performed the vicarious service for those unable to do so themselves.  As we sat in the celestial room we quietly pondered the things of eternity and the Lord's great plan of happiness that promises that our marriage union will continue beyond the grave if we endure in our discipleship.  That is a source of great peace to us.

Monday, October 4, 2010

A Typical Month in the Life of a [OCD] Retiree

In the five years since I retired I have found that for me happiness and contentment comes from being fully engaged in life and its many opportunities.  No fishin' hole for me, no sir.  Take a look at my "to do" list for October.

October 2010 Master Task List

Church
--Home teach my 8 families
--Compile and submit high priest home teaching report for Sept '10
--Update the ward MLS data base on home teaching
--Visit the sick and needy
--Coordinate high priest quarterly temple day, 9 Oct
--Hold weekly high priest leadership coordination meeting with my assistants and secretary
--Conduct quarterly stewardship interviews with the 10 home teachers I supervise
--Generate family names to take to the temple
--Participate as assistant temple shift coordinator in weekly coordination meeting via telephone
--Work on personal writings "Why I Believe"
--Hold daily personal devotions and scripture study

Family/Friends
--Work on pictorial tribute to my mother
--Work on "In the event of my death..." to do list for Melba should I suddenly expire
--Work on "Notes to My Grandchildren" writing
--Renew Melba's passport
--Start thinking about Christmas gifts
--Update grand-kids' photos on piano and mantle

Home/yard maintenance
--Mow and edge lawn each week until it shuts down for the winter
--Finish planting our spring bulbs (Shawn the gardener's assignment)
--Cut up pile of branches in trash area
--Finish demossing the roof (Shawn)
--Clean patio brick to remove moss and mold (Shawn)
--Prune front yard bushes (Shawn)

Emergency preparation
--Restock 72 hour kits
--Increase water storage by 10 gallons
--Move long term storage cans back upstairs

Other
--Practice guitar (acoustic, classical or electric) and banjo
--Play video games for relaxation
--Exercise daily--walking, strength training with free weights

Above all else, consider my eternal sweetheart first and foremost, making time for her and attending to her needs


From this list I compile a weekly list and from that a daily list.

"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail"

"Plan your life, then live your plan."

"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."

Friday, October 1, 2010

"I'm feeling fine...thanks for asking...OUCH, OUCH, OUCH!!"

Well, the deed is done.  On Wednesday past Dr. Steve Snow (a personal friend from my high council days) did an arthroscopy on my right knee to repair a tear in the meniscus.  Total time from entering the surgical clinic to leaving was three hours.  I was feeling fine the rest of the day and for half of yesterday--really thought that I was one of the few who would have relatively minor post-surgical pain.  Then, yesterday afternoon the surgical anesthesia finally wore off...and WHAM, the pain came with a vengeance.  Not the worst pain I've ever had (my back spasm years ago in Virginia is the all time winner) but pain nonetheless.

So out came the Oxycodone and things settled down although last night I had a hard time getting to sleep even with my Tylenol PM and seemed to wake up every hour or so throughout the night.  Interesting.  Wonder if the pain meds caused that.  Arla or Laura, either one of you have a thought on that?