Prizes

I got the promised award for working on the highest-sales-above-projection book (since I'm not of the elect being given a trip in a year and a half): a certificate with my name in calligraphy actually written by a human, a silver star paperweight that would be much more interesting if it would stand up on two points as well as flat, a brochure about all the wonderful things people did this year, and a $100 gift check.

I had to email the person I'd seen distributing the packets: the certificate is made out to a shortened form of my first name I've never used. I don't know how they decided on that, since I've used two names in different books' Acknowledgements sections, one of which is my email address, neither of which is the one they wrote. Ah, well. At least the woman coordinating it is nice and will get me a replacement.

Now I get to figure out what to do with the cash. Knowing how I've been in the past, I'll get stuck in this part and not actually manage to use it for months... Part of me really wants to splurge on a painting by Wendy Artin (Her stuff is carried by a guy downtown. She lives in Italy and does marvelous watercolors I drool over. Plus I like her sister, a cow orker.). Her things are not getting any cheaper, so managing to afford something now might be the last time I find it in reach, especially if I use this as part of it. OTOH, there are other things I could get... hmmmm... Why is it so much easier for me to leave the options open and think about them all as possible, rather than just spending it? (The cat is both dead and not dead this way...)

Handiness

I just saw the orthopod for my hand, a delayed appointment. He was happy to see what I can do with my hand: not only did he take a few fluoroscope pictures (the fracture line is still visible, but much more muted than 6 weeks ago), he also took a couple of photographs as well, including one of the back of my hand, so he can tell whose it is, from the scars, plus a fist, and a flat hand from the side. The one scar is apparently no longer attached to deeper levels, which I hadn't even noticed. My physical therapist happened by, and was pleased to see the progress I've made.

Officially, I'm healed, no more doctor visits (just in time to avoid having to get more referrals), no more physical therapy visits. But I will continue some stretches and other exercises: I can still feel inside where things aren't quite there yet. And though there's complete functionality, there are stupid hand things I can't yet do with those fingers (double-jointedness stuff, etc), so I'm hoping for some more gradual improvement.

Farm bounty, week 3

This week's share includes:

1 head green lettuce
1 head bronze/ red lettuce (or so they say; it looks pretty green to me)
a bunch of Japanese turnips (Hakurei; the kind that was so lovely last week as mashed neeps: they're not large, all white) with greens
a bunch of red Russian kale
a bunch of collards
some garlic scapes
1 medium yellow summer squash
some fresh basil (salad quantities, not pesto quantities)
a bunch of salad onions

It's nice to see some more non-leaves.... If anyone has any favorite kale recipes, let me know!

Porch update: I have around 20 cherry tomatoes growing, with lots more flowers. The ginger has a second shoot coming up, though the other two roots seem to have been transplanted too late. The herbs are all going great guns