GetOffYourCouch

K stands for Knee. It seems ironic to be adding a new post to my GetOffYourCouch blog when I am ON my couch with my legs up. On Thursday, I had a camera and other devices inserted under my left knee cap so that the orthopedic surgeon could repair a tear in the cartilage. The knee has been bothering me every time Dennis and I hike and it was even getting hard to climb up and down the steps of the Turkey tour bus.

H stands for Hike. I intend to take a big hike in February so I went ahead with the surgery now. The choice in February is hike or ride a donkey. I would rather hike. More about that later...

A stands for anesthesia. I tried to convince an Arabic anesthesiologist that I only wanted a local but she convinced me to take an analgesic to "take the edge off"of getting the local anesthetic. Evidently the Qataris like to be put to sleep. I absolutely hate being unconscious - especially if it involves a needle in my spine. So it was agreed - a low dosage of analgesic and the local anesthetic. I tried to tell both docs that I have a high tolerance of pain - insert your own cheap shot here - but I didn't tell them that I have a low tolerance for narcotics or drugs of any type. The results were I took a cup of 3 little broken pills from the nurse and I was conscious enough in the surgery "theater" for a surgical team member to show me a TV screen where I could watch the surgery and that is all I remember. I even slept through the consult afterwards.

S stands for stitches. As promised, I have two little bandages - one on both sides of the kneecap. I have these stitches that remind me of what our female dogs looked like after they were spayed. I should ask my orthopedic doc if it is OK for me to remove the stitches myself because they look pretty easy to remove. Just joking mom...

G stands for gimp. I missed one day of work on Thursday (we work in Qatar from Sunday thru Thursday) and I am gimping around for the weekend. On Sunday, the student teachers will go to 6 different schools and I will be at one of these - Al Bayan 2 - to greet them at 7 in the morning. I can even go to my Aqua Fitness class at 5 pm if I want. I have been told that I should have no limitations after 72 hours. Amazing.

S stands for schmooze. The only travelling that I will be doing for the next two weeks will be driving to different schools to schmooze with administrators, principals, and directors.

M stands for music. I made a CD of children's music for the student teachers to use in their classes. That was a trip down memory lane for me. I used Itunes and my Ipod to make the CD and listened to Peter, Paul, and Mary (The Incredible Toy), Raffi (Baby Beluga and One Light, One Sun), Shel Silverstein (I'm being eaten by a Boa Constrictor) and lots of Sharon, Lois and Bram. The new folks in children's music are We Might Be Giants. Disney hired them to make an alphabet album and their "Alphabet of Nations" is my new favorite.

I stands for Ipod. Ipod technology is amazing. I could easily write a blogger ode. The only Qatari radio station that plays English music is being invaded by the French so I bought an Ipod and I can play my songs on the radio. I can even download NPR podcasts for free. I am driving a lot during student teaching practicums and I am much more patient with crazy drivers when I am listening to my favorite music or NPR stories.

P stands for Playlists. Dennis is putting together a Crooner playlist which includes Golden Oldies like Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Harry Connick Jr., Sammy Davis Jr, Andy Williams, and Johnny Mathis. We debated this morning whether Nat King Cole, Wayne Newton, or Dean Martin were crooner qualified. So far I have the following playlists: Energy, Inspirational, Classical, Children, Listen to This (new stuff), NPR podcasts, Sing-A-Long, Soundtracks, and World. I even have a Thanksgiving one that I may recycle for Christmas.

T stands for travel. In 3 weeks, we will be travelling back to the USA for a commuter Christmas with family. As we cross the Texas-Oklahoma border, I think I'll download the instrumental for Oklahoma! so that we can sing-a-long with the orchestra.

Lots of love from my couch,
Christy