Bilateral THR Aug.18 - a success!

[Hip Hip Hooray!]

Hi @Hipster Girl, What stands out to me is the over the top positive feedback. That means so much...they really like you. I know it's hard not to get down...I'm impressed that they have recommended you to another department. That means they want you.

My knee is so much better today. Phew! What a relief. I was getting nervous that I had arthritis in my knee. I am noticing that my knees don't like too much flexion these days. I have backed off the exercise. I used the jacuzzi and sauna yesterday. I also walked in the pool. It did wonders. The ice really helps, too. Hydrotherapy...it's amazing.

I sent off the soap order yesterday. I made another batch of the coconut soap. I have a nice stash. I like to keep all of the racks full.

 

[Hipster Girl]

@Hip Hip Hooray! what a great picture! The soaps look lovely and the expression on your dog's face is precious.

I'm so glad your knee is doing better. What method do you use to ice your knee? What I mean is, because of how the knee is shaped, isn't it hard to keep an ice pack on it? Sorry if that's a dumb question but just something I was wondering about.

I will be curious how your brother and father like their soaps.

I hope you are right about this company really wanting me. I wish I could bypass this round of interviews since I already went through that with the other group but I can understand this department wanting to evaluate me on their own too. I'm just getting tired of interviewing. It is sooooo not my thing.

 

[Hip Hip Hooray!]

Hi @Hipster Girl, Thanks. I love that picture. Lana cracks me up. She's always looking at me with all of this encouragement in her eyes. She's so sweet.

I just used a circular ice pack that I bought at CVS for my hips on my knee. I leave it on for a long time, so that the knee feels really cold. I lay on the couch and elevate it. It's kind of a balancing act. Sometimes I have to hold it in place. I'm very relieved that my knee has almost completely healed. I was worried.

I wish you could bypass this round of interviews, too. You certainly have gotten a lot of interviewing experience! I completely understand why you're tired of it. There's something weird about being older than the people behind the table. That's what really gets me. It's just bizarre.

I just listened to this Louise Hay tape on Youtube. It's something like, 50 mins. of affirmations to change your attitude. It was great. I sat and repeated them out loud as I worked on my knitting. I used to do them every morning when I was younger. I'm fascinated by the power of the subconscious mind.

 

[Hipster Girl]

@Hip Hip Hooray! , Lana is so cute. She just looks so content and sweet. Is she curious about your soaps right there by her?

Positive affirmations are so important. Do you notice a difference when you repeat them out loud? I have an electronic file where I save inspirational quotes that I find helpful. It's amazing what a positive word or two can do.

The circular ice pack, is that the one you fill with ice cubes? It sounds like what I need. My knee is bothering me a little and I can't really pinpoint why since I've been out of a normal routine, but maybe the ice will help.

You are so right about how weird it is to have younger people interviewing us. I always see the interviewer as the one in charge and it's hard to equate that with a younger person. I just got a call to schedule next week's interview and they cut out one 30 min "job fit" segment since I already did that with the other group. I was glad to hear that. Less is more at this point. Unfortunately I still have to do the testing part but oh well...

 

[CricketHip]

hello! I liked the photo of your soaps and Lana. Interesting about the positive affirmations, I buy several of the daily tear off calendars by Louise Hay and love reading my affirmation for the day.
Glad to read that your knee is better, it also caused me to think about my knee and realize that it's better! It was sore for the longest time after the surgery and now it's like nothing ever happened.. another reason for a happy dance. Are the new coconut soaps on the bottom rack?

 

[Hip Hip Hooray!]

Hi @Hipster Girl, Lana sits there and watches me cook, clean, do the dishes, and make soap. She's so interested in everything. I love her company.

Yes, I do notice a difference when I say the affirmations. I want to get back into doing them daily again. I've always been fascinated by the power of the subconscious mind.

Yes, the circular pack is the one you fill with ice cubes. I hope your knee is better. Ice is so good for sore knees. My pain has disappeared. I'm so relieved. I was all freaked out that "the arthritis had spread". My poor grandmother was such an extreme case. She looked so much taller and thinner after her knee replacements.

I'm glad to hear that they cut out some of your upcoming interview. I'll be thinking of you!

 

[Hip Hip Hooray!]

Hi @CricketHip, That's wonderful that your knee has completely healed. I got to meet Louise Hay when I was working in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was so nice...she gave me three of her books. I love her work.

Yes, the new coconut soaps are on the third and bottom rack. (I made another batch so the racks are full.) They are super white, like candles. My neighbor has several goats, and she's going to get me some goat's milk soap to use for soap. I'm excited. I gave her a bar of the soap that has olive oil, castor oil, coconut oil, and palm oil. She said that she's really into that kind of stuff. Maybe I can barter with her for the goat's milk. I used to order goat's milk soap from a farm in Indiana. It was my favorite. It's so good for the skin. My mom used to order $100.00 worth at a time, because then she'd get free shipping!

Happy Father's Day to everyone here. My brother ordered half a dozen soaps as a gift for my dad. I crocheted him a soap saver and slipped a shampoo bar inside of it. He was very pleased with the package. He's 85, and he told me twice that the soaps were beautiful. He had just run out of shampoo, so the timing was perfect.

 

[Hipster Girl]

Hi @Hip Hip Hooray! I'm so glad your father enjoyed the soaps and shampoo bar. I knew he would but I'm sure a homemade gift like that is extra special for Father's Day.

I worry the same thing about the arthritis spreading. Gosh, I sure hope that doesn't happen. I haven't tried the ice yet but I do have one of those ice packs around here somewhere. I used to use it before hip surgery, now just need to find it. Good to hear that your knee is better.
Hope you are having a good week!

 

[Hip Hip Hooray!]

Hi @Hipster Girl, I like those ice packs. My hips feel a bit stiff today, so I'm going to ice them again, later. I did a different yoga set the other day that I think might have caused it. It seems like if I change my exercise routine, I feel repercussions.

One of the neighbors who I gave a free soap to came by and placed an order yesterday. She was raving about the soap, and talking about giving it for Christmas presents. I can't tell you what a relief it is to finally be finding a source of income. It's building slowly. She wants half a dozen of the variety pack. I told her she can mix and match: goat's milk, olive oil, coconut, etc...From what I read, most soap makers get their customers by giving soap to people they know, and through referrals. I'm just pleased that people are so enthusiastic about it and are reordering. It's the perfect job for me, and I was having trouble getting work elsewhere. I've always loved business, and being self employed. It's much easier working out of my home. Way less overhead.

It's been really hot here. I'm eating mostly cold foods like fruit and salads. I made some artichokes, and I stewed some apricots. I love chilled, stewed fruit. The sugar really brings out the flavor of the fruit.

I found a couple of really neat used soap making books on Amazon.com. I ordered them. It looks like they have some great recipes. I think I'm going to order some shea butter, I hear it makes lovely moisturizing soap.

Oh, I went to the gym the other day, (well, I tried to go,) and my membership had expired. The girl at the desk was really snippy with me. I have been a happy and smiling customer for two years, and she acted like I was some sort of enemy or criminal. I didn't renew, because she and the manager were so snide to me. It was really weird. I felt like part of it was generational, and part of it was a power trip. I am going to wait, and see if I really need it. I think the jacuzzi and sauna were really helping, though. I may rejoin next month. For now I'm walking, biking, and doing yoga and pilates at home.

Time for a bath in epsom salts. Any excuse to use the new soap!

 

[Hipster Girl]

@Hip Hip Hooray! it is exciting how your soap business is taking off, and people already talking about ordering it for Christmas gifts, wow! It sounds like the perfect job for you, working out of your home and on your own time schedule.

I keep forgetting to ask you, did you ever hear anything back from your ex-boyfriend after you confronted him about what he did?

What a strange encounter at the gym. What was their issue? It's a shame they acted so snide towards you. Is there another gym close by? If not, I still wouldn't let their attitude stop you if you really want to use the gym. In the meantime, it's good that you have other forms of exercise.

I agree the ice is so helpful when you experience soreness. I'm glad it is helping you. Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

 

[Readysetgo]

@Hip Hip Hooray! - I was so happy to see that your beautiful soap business is going so well! I just had a feeling that one of your many creative endeavors was going to turn out to be a nice source of income for you. I would love to work out of my home some day. In the heart of winter here, I do envy those people who don't have to get the snow and ice off their cars before making their way to work in the cold mornings!

Isn't that awful when people get snippy out of the blue for no reason with you? It sometimes happens to me, always when I least expect it. I think sometimes it has to do with something else going on with them that has nothing to do with you, but you just happen to be there in front of them when they're feeling angry or whatever. If I'm angry I usually turn it inward onto myself, so it's hard to fathom lashing out with attitude onto another person. (Not that turning anger inward is particularly helpful either, but eventually I can hopefully just let it go.)

I agree with @Hipster Girl that if you feel like rejoining the gym, then you should. I know you really enjoyed different aspects about going there. But maybe you not rejoining right then made the snipsters rethink their attitude!

I haven't used ice in a long while, but my left IT band and incision area has been so tight lately that I got that ice pack out today. It felt so soothing. It's great that we can use that as a natural pain reliever.

I do hope you're thoroughly enjoying your weekend! And a big congrats to you on your new business endeavor.

 

[Hip Hip Hooray!]

Hi @Hipster Girl, Yes, the soap making is the perfect job for me. I love working out of my home. (especially in this heat.) You can even arrange for the post office to pick up packages at your home, which is really convenient. I have a really nice mail lady.

No, I never heard back from my ex boyfriend after confronting him. We didn't fight when we were together, so I think it kind of freaked him out when I caught on to his situation and got angry. He's not used to that side of me. I let go of the whole situation.

So far I don't miss the gym, but I may rejoin in a month or two. I've been using the extra time to work on my writing, which feels good. I've also been reading books about different styles of soap making. Milk soaps really appeal to me. I hope all's well with you. I hope the latest interview went well, as nerve wracking as they are!

 

[Hip Hip Hooray!]

@Readysetgo, Thank you for the encouragement. I really enjoy being a soap maker. It fits me like a glove. It's artistic, fun, creative, and rewarding. I'm sorry to hear that your IT band and incision area have felt tight lately. I'm glad that the ice is helping. I still ice pretty regularly, especially if I have introduced a new exercise from Pilates or Yoga.

Here is a photograph of some of my latest soaps. The rectangular ones are shampoo bars. The round ones are rebatched shampoo bars that are more rustic looking. ( I reheated the mixture on the stove.) The Victorian ones are my new goat's milk recipe. I like the earth tones. The milk does that, so I don't have to use any artificial colorings. Fun fun fun!

 

[Readysetgo]

@Hip Hip Hooray! - My IT band is feeling much better, thanks to icing and some stretching. I've also been bike riding! The weather has been perfect for it here - dry and warm with gentle sea breezes. The other day my daughter and I went to the beach and sitting on a towel on the soft sand, I gave sitting cross-legged a try. It felt fine, (a bit tight) but I was thrilled! Love the little milestones in recovery!

I'm so glad the soap making is so fun for you. Thanks for posting that photo. The soaps are all so beautiful and they look good enough to eat!

 

[Hipster Girl]

@Hip Hip Hooray! that is great that the post office will pick up the packages from your home - it doesn't get any better than that.

Good riddance to the ex boyfriend. I'm sure he realized there was nothing he could say to justify his behavior. I know he was helping you with some handywork things around your house though

Glad to hear your writing is come along well. That's another project that is nice to be able to do at home and not have to venture out into the heat.

It's good that you have some other forms of exercise and don't NEED to get back to the gym right away. Does your gym have a month-to-month membership, or when you join, do you have to do it for a year?
@Readysetgo, how fun on the bike riding! Very happy for you on sitting cross-legged too. It is so exciting when we cross one of those milestones! It is a journey for sure but I still find something in recovery almost everyday that makes me go yippee inside!

 

[Hip Hip Hooray!]

Hi @Readysetgo, That's wonderful that you can sit cross legged again. I can, too, but I don't do it very much. It feels kind of awkward, so I prefer to sit in a chair. How nice that you went to the beach! I've been wanting to go up in the mountains for a hike. Thank you for your compliment on the soaps. I sold a whole bunch at the Panera knitting group yesterday. I was really pleased. I came home and made another batch. Once people try it, they always order more, which is nice. One lady there had given me four balls of kitchen cotton yarn several months ago. I knit her a dishcloth and gave her a bar of soap as a thank you. She was very appreciative and enthusiastic, and she bought two more bars of soap! Congratulations on the bike riding, too. Doesn't it feel great? I ride every morning. That was another thing I couldn't do a year ago.

@Hipster Girl, My gym does offer a month to month membership, but I'm just focusing on needs right now. (financially.) It's twice what I was paying, plus a registration fee. I had a great deal for new customers through Costco. I only paid $15.00 a month. Oh well. I had to call the plumbing company where my ex works, because my hot water heater isn't working. I tried to relight the pilot light, but it didn't work. I'm still waiting to hear back from the owner. I think I can fix it myself. I'm pretty sure it's just dust in the coupler. I found a video on Youtube. I will try that tonight, once temperature drops It's over 100 degrees today...too hot to be outside.

Today I've been cleaning my walls with my liquid homemade soap and a rag. It's nice to be able to climb up on the furniture and appliances, and to be able to remove heavy mirrors and pictures. I even climbed up on my roof the other day and swept off the leaves and branches. This surgery has helped me so much...I am very grateful. I hope everyone is doing well. Hopefully next time I post I will have hot water.

 

[Hipster Girl]

@Hip Hip Hooray! it sounds like your soap business is really taking off. Is this the same knitting group or a new one?

I totally hear you on focusing on what you need financially. I have drastically cut back my spending to only the essentials. I even feel slightly guilty for my new cell phone plan but I justify it because I really did need a reliable phone for my job search. That sounds like a great deal that you had through Costco. Is there any chance they would renew that same plan for you?

I am very impressed with you cleaning your walls. I have never done that in my life, ha

I sure hope you got you water heater up & running. Were you able to get your pilot light relit?

 

[Hip Hip Hooray!]

Hi @Hipster Girl, This is a different knitting group. It's got a much better energy. I've started going once a week again. The nice thing about a soap business is that people buy it regularly.

I got a call from my gym the other day. It was a guy in sales, and he left a message saying that it was membership appreciation week and a sales pitch. Maybe I'll call him back and seek if he would give me the same price as I had. I asked the girls that, and they refused.

I giggled at what you wrote about cleaning the walls. It's not something I regularly do, but they looked gross. They really need it. I have dogs, and when they lay on the floor against the wall, the oil from their coats leaves a stain. I have the kind of pain that works well when you clean it. I forget what it's called...

I couldn't get the pilot light relit. I talked with the owner. He said that he would fix it today. They have been stalling, and I think it's because my ex doesn't want to come over here. It's a small company. Hopefully the owner will do the job. He installed the water heater. We get along well. He had both of his knees replaced. He hasn't seen me since I had my hips done. Fortunately I've only had it for a year and a half, so American Standard will cover the cost of the parts.

 

[PS46]

Hi @Hip Hip Hooray! Hope all is well with you
Have you checked the pressure?
Peter

 

[Hip Hip Hooray!]

Hi @PS46, I'm great, thanks. How are you doing? Good news. The owner of the plumbing company came by and he was able to light the pilot light. He took a small part out to his truck for a few minutes, came back, hit the ignition switch about 30 times, and it fired right up, no problem. I had tried several times to no avail. It was kind of hard for me to coordinate my cell phone, my hips, squatting, and pushing the ignition button thirty times. It was sticking. Anyway, he didn't even charge me. I'm kind of glad I stayed there and watched him. (I think the last time he "fixed" it for $120.00 I was sold a part that I didn't need.) He said to get a cabinet for the water heater. I'll order one today or tomorrow. This model is sensitive to dust. I'm so relieved that it was so easy to fix, and FREE!

@Hipster Girl, Thanks for the suggestion. I called back the salesman from 24 Hour Fitness. He said that he will still give me the 24 Hour Fitness $399.00 for 2 years. It's slightly more than I paid two years ago, but still an excellent deal. I had read on line that the Costco special is only for new customers, but he agreed to give it to me. I'm so happy! I have some money coming in next month, so I'll wait till I have replenished my emergency fund. I'm so glad I listened to you. I didn't think they'd renew it, since the girl at the desk quoted me $300.00 a year as her cheapest rate. The monthly is really high, so I declined.

I also went to the VW dealer and got batteries for my car key remote. I was afraid they'd be really expensive, and they were only $6.00 each. He put them in for me. I love having things fixed. It's such a relief. I also got a beautiful antique replacement lamp on EBay for my bedroom. I had broken the shade on mine. I got an excellent price. It feels good to be getting things back in order. I feel much better now.

I hope everyone is doing well and that your hips are healing. All the Best...