The snow that hit us this morning looked beautiful by this afternoon, sparkling like millions of diamonds.
But this morning it wasn't quite as amazing...
Even my annual fastnacht didn't raise my spirits a lot...
Yes, the snow was a beautiful site this afternoon...
But since Lent starts tomorrow, I think that I am ready to make the sacrifice and give up snow and frigid weather now. Anyone care to join me?
I got this kind of scary-looking guy a million years ago on my birthday. Yep, I'm a Valentine's Day birthday girl. There was some kind of candy in it, I suppose, but I really don't remember. I've received a lot of heart-themed gifts over my many years of life, but this is probably one of the most unique.
Then there is this dress my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Mike gave me when I was a child. I have always loved it, and even though it is fragile and has yellowed, I still have it and display it each year at Valentine's Day. It has a very special place in my heart.
And here is how I looked the year I received it, wearing it as I wait to blow out the candles on my heart-shaped cake. Yes, my mom always baked a heart-shaped cake. I loved that so!
My parents named me for my grandmothers (first and middle name, lucky me), but I almost was Valerie Harper. When I was born on Valentine's Day, my mom almost changed her mind and thought about naming me Valerie. Since my maiden name was Harper, I could have had a "famous" name.
As difficult as some people seem to find the name Nona, I'm glad my parents stuck to their original plan. Not everyone would want it, but it's mine, thank you very much. Oh, and it's short for my grandmother's name Winona -- not for the Italian word for grandmother, as so many people have told me it means.
I hope everyone enjoys today -- you don't have to have a sweetheart today… Just have a sweet heart inside you.
The smiley face on my finger in the photo below was not put there by me … and certainly did not reflect how I felt a few weeks ago!
Nope, that was taken on surgery day, after I had gotten home from having an operation on my hand for a condition known as trigger finger. For several months, I had a lot of pain in that hand -- centered in the middle finger. OK, stop laughing.
My finger was stiff and painful, I could not bend it very far and when I did bend it, it would become "stuck" and then sort of pop when I straightened it. After some tests and X-rays, I was sent to a hand specialist. The first course of action was steroid injections, but when that offered no relief, surgery came next.
Luckily it is done on an outpatient basis, so after a pleasant "nap" during surgery and taking some painkillers, I was back at home for several days to recuperate.
The smiley face on my finger was the doctor's way of marking the finger in question for the surgery.
So of course I couldn't resist documenting the event.
All the wrapping was allowed to be removed after a day, but yuck -- who wants to see stitches? Avert your eyes if that might be you...
There, that's better. Cover it up!
The stitches are out now. The swelling has gone down a lot and I'm still working on the hand exercises. Can't wait until the stiffness and pain are totally gone. Fingers crossed that will be soon!
