It's miserable here today. We got in a tiny walk during the only period of sun, but otherwise it's nasty and overcast.

Chip is here for the afternoon and he's listening to tunes downstairs - I can hear "The Walk of Life" by Dire Straits which reminds me of Peter for some reason. Chris is at the gym and I am going to attempt to finish knitting a sweater that will be swimming on me with my recent weight loss. Oh well, will try to somehow shrink it - a surefire recipe for disaster.

Made an authentic pho this week and I have got to say that I think (and so do Chris, Melissa and Bill) that it is better than the ones we've been getting in our favorite Vietnamese places in Philly! I'll post the recipe - am refining it.

Not much else happening. I am not sure what's going on tonight. I'd be happy at home frankly.

Oh, one more thing. We were at Gina's this afternoon and had some of her leftover homemade pizza - unbelievably good - best I've had outside of Naples!

Despite the lousy weather, we have had a nice weekend. Friday was absurd with all sorts of precipitation falling out of the sky - snow, ice, sleet - a nightmare. We went to Lisa and Mike's to play Texas Hold 'Em poker and I cleaned up. Just call me Four Aces! We drove over because I'd made a bunch of food - including a spanish shrimp tapas that was scarfed down in record time. When we went to leave, we had a hard time getting the car out of its spot so Tom came to our rescue and "rocked" it out of the snow and ice.

Yesterday was mellow and then we went to a Coburn family St. Patrick's Day shindig which was fun. I haven't been to one in years and I had a great time catching up with everyone.

We slept in a bit today and then read the New York Times in bed. Life just does not get much better. No we are headed to the gym and to a furniture store. Tonight a bunch of us are going out to eat to celebrate Jo's birthday. Long exhale tomorrow.

Chris is back early from New York, which is nice. He's next to me on the laptop. I like our desk arrangement which has us sitting side by side, each looking out the window at our beautiful, sprawling Japanese maple and just past that, the historic Indian King Tavern. On the floor between us is Rooney curled up on the floor, his black coat set off beautifully by the red persian carpet.

It's a beautiful day here in South Jersey, though the weather is calling for accumulating snow on Friday. WTF? Over it, completely.

I'm in a great mood and have a good sense of well being again, for which I am truly grateful. Was having some serious and scary mood swings after the surgery and they scared me because I almost felt as if I were falling into the depression hole again. But I'm back to work, back to the gym and the house is clean thanks to the team of Brazilian cleaning women who swept through here a week ago. I've hired them to come every two weeks on a permanent basis and though I feel a bit guilty, I'm getting over. My mother would be having a field day with this, no doubt, but too bad!

Tom and I finished the odds and ends in my mom's estate so we'll be making distributions soon. It's been difficult emotionally and I'll be glad to get it done. We just filed the inheritance tax return and in six weeks the waivers will be issued and we can close the file. Many thanks to Tom for putting up with my crying jags in his office every time we worked on it. For a Republican member of the NRA, Tom is a mensch and extremely sensitive! And a good drinking partner. (He's hitting sixty in two weeks, but apparently it's a big secret, don't tell anyone!)

Everything else is good. Plans for Barcelona and Scotland are in high gear which is fun. Chris' sister Bernadette and her partner Mel are coming in from England for two weeks as are Bernie's university age daughter Katie and her boyfriend Chris. I'm thrilled to have them back. I've grown to really love them all and they've been wonderful to me. It'll be non-stop tea here - have stocked up!

I love the view of Kings Highway from my desk in the office. Right now, it's absolutely beautiful with a silent snowfall.

I am working with Lynn today, a friend of Bob's, who, like him, is also a non-practicing attorney. She's great. I really enjoy being in her company. I really enjoy working cooperatively with people and she's extremely easy to be around. We share easily and that makes everything so nice. Work is ramping up and we're buried.

I am exhausted today. I couldn't sleep so well and was up watching garbage television. AMzing how dead awful stuff is in the middle of the night.

I am back to work and Bob tells me he needs me as much as I can work which is good news given that I cannot go to the gym and frankly am going nuts at home. Things are moving along swiftly at work, which is terrific for Bob who has worked really hard to bring his big project to fruition. It's good for me too - nice to be occupied. After a bit over a year here, I finally have half a clue what is happening!

I walked to work today and it is freezing outside. I know I have been bitching nonstop about EVERYTHING. It will stop soon. Not yet, but soon.

The staples are out! I definitely feel more human. I was having major anxiety yesterday over the whole thing, but all in all it was fairly routine. My doctor is cool and we just chatted as he went about his business. I had popped a Xanax which also helped.

He told me that my gallbladder was one of teh worst he has ever seen and then went on to describe it - gross! Anyway, he was amazed that I wasn't in horrible pain. He also said if it had gone a month longer the likelihood of it rupturing was high! Really glad it's out.

He said I can go back to the gym for light cardio starting next Monday and go back to the whole body workout April 1 so that's good news. Told me to listen to my body - good advice.

I walked to Joanna's this afternoon and though there's a real nip in the air, it felt good.

I start back at work tomorrow - yippee!

Best news of all - I have hired a cleaning person at home.

Yesterday, I posted about it feeling like Spring and this morning I looked out the window to see a massive snow squall. Go figure.

We actually went to Nunzio's last night for dinner with Lisa and Mike and really enjoyed it. I needed to get out. The food was wonderful, we had lots of laughs and a few glasses of of wine didn't hurt either.

Right now, I have a pot of my chicken barley soup on and the whole house smells good. We're having a quiet day in - I might just stay in my pajamas. Tomorrow, back to the doctor for a post-op checkup, finegrs crossed all is well and that these godawful staples get removed. I am so OVER them!

xx

The sun is shining and it feels like Spring. I needed to get out of the house badly so Chris and I wandered down to Starbucks for some coffee and fresh air and it did a world of good. I've been in a funk for days - alternating between tears and being a total bitch to Chris, who has been as sweet and kind to me as anyone could ever be, but whose patience I am definitely trying. He's going to New York on Monday and I am sure he's ready to get away from me!

I cannot remember my emotions ever running so high, yet the truth is that in the past, before Chris, before real happiness, they were always close to the surface. I don't know how I lived like that and I do not know how anyone could tolerate me.

I'll get past this, but it's going to be awhile. I am not used to feeling lousy and tired and in pain. But right now I'm focused on getting better, on being in Barcelona at the end of April and in Scotland in mid-May.