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Working Wednesday, the Ouch Ouch Ouch Edition

This week, I’m working on walking again after cracking my pelvis. Yes, I am not only a slow writer, I’m a sloppy walker.

What are you working on this week?

96 Responses

  1. A cracked pelvis sounds like it would be hard to be comfortable. I hope you are finding soft places to land.

    This is day 6 of an alligator in the lake of my mobile home park. They are having difficulty getting it removed. It has become bold & now comes out of the water & walks down the streets. Yikes!

    I am on day 17 of sugarfree September. So far so okay.

    I am working on getting some irritating small problems with my house done.

    Keep on doing that next right thing.

  2. Ouch! Hugs!!! I am working on getting all the things done. Sigh. Cheering on your full recovery.

  3. I’m so sorry. You are having a tough run at the moment. Staying on one’s feet is SO important, and I can attest to that. Love your work.

  4. Ouch indeed! I remember that Lucy Lawless, the woman who played Xena Warrior Princess broke her pelvis while filming the show. So you’re in good company. Jenny, Writer Queen. I hope it mends quickly.

    I’m working on not getting too anxious about my Covid shot this morning. It tends to make me feel pretty crappy for at least a couple of days afterwards, and I’m already in a fibro flare, and I just generally have medical anxiety (well, life anxiety, really), but I still think it is worth doing. Plus, I remind myself that by getting the shot, I am giving RFK Jr a big middle finger. That helps.

    My mom came through her double mastectomy with flying colors and no lymph involvement, which is huge, so I’m happy that part of things is behind her. I’m flying out to California in two weeks with the sister that lives on this coast, which is another reason to get the shot, even if I’m the only one taking precautions.

    In actual work, I’m plugging away at the Cranky Crone book–my goal is to get enough done to send to my agent for submission before I leave for San Diego on October 2nd. We’ll see how that goes… And an author friend is going to give me some tutoring on how to apply for a BookBub deal for Wickedly Dangerous, which has been the plan all along, but I’m completely in over my head. How unusual…

    2. That is such good news about your mom. I hope your Covid shot side effects aren’t too bad.

    3. Happy to hear no lymph nodes involved, I know first hand what a difference that makes. Yay for recovery!
      I too am hesitant about getting yet more shots, but it is definitely worth it for my family and for me. They all are vaccinated.

    6. Hurray for no lymph involvement! The Covid vaccine is the only one that has ever made me feel bad in my entire life, and that only after I finished the Johnson and Johnson study, which didn’t, but every other Covid shot I’ve had since has sent me to bed for a day at least, so I have to plan very carefully.

  5. Oh how painful. I’m so sorry.
    I’m working on catching up on everything I didn’t do while I was in Massachusetts. At least I get to do it eating figs from our own fig tree.

  6. Yikes! Sorry about the pelvis! I hope you heal quickly!

    I’ve entered the as yet unfinished crochet blanket in the state fair, so now I’m on the clock to get it done. I did finish the center, and have now started on the border. The first row is tough sledding, but hopefully after that it will go quickly. I’ve got about 3 weeks to get it done.

    I also felt like I needed to keep my momentum with the Nearly Insane quilt, so I did another block over the weekend.

    And apparently no post from me is complete without a picture of Charlie. You’ve got two in this – one where he’s sitting on top of a round, donut type thing that has a tunnel in it, perfect for little kittens to race around in. The other is Charlie on his leash, looking for bugs.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DOs65c6Dml4/?img_index=1

  7. That sounds painful and unpleasant. I really hope you feel better soon.

    I’m dogsitting a friend’s dog. He’s a sweetheart. He weighs about 45 lbs and mine is 30 – 75 lbs of dog is a good upper body workout.

  8. Jenny, I hope for a good recovery and the pelvis bone heals quickly. Praying for your bone to knit together and strong and for you to gain strength in your body and to walk. And flowers to brighten your day. 💐

  10. I guess this means you aren’t planning to bar-hop and dance on tables tonight for your birthday? Hope you have a happy, comfortable one anyway. Sending you hugs and healing wishes!

    1. Nope. Going to rehabilitation for my birthday. That should be interesting. Nothing but good times ahead.

      1. I hope rehab doesn’t kick you out too soon. (Mine today were all discussing how much there was left they could do for me, now that I’m–relevance!–back to working my full three day week, and I said “Making it through a work day without pain would be Really Nice.”)

      3. As someone in rehab, I wish you a swift recovery and fun therapists. A good PT is worth their weight in gold. May you be rich in PTs.

  12. Rehab for your birthday!? That sounds like the worst birthday ever. I’m so sorry.

    My husband has graduated from a walker to a cane, but is still walking very painfully with his broken hip. He has a mental block about putting weight on his hurt side.

    I am still completely behind, catching up from vacation. I’m trying to figure out how I even schedule lunch into my day. I will have to rely on the food goddess to create a sliver of time.

  13. I broke my pelvis when I was 20 weeks pregnant. That was a thing! After a few weeks in hospital confined to bed, I had to use a walker through the rest of the pregnancy and for many months afterwards. I had a one-year old as well and was living in Australia, half a world away from family.

      1. Oh yes, I’ve had miles of good times between then and now. The human body is remarkably resilient. Plus, I’ve got two fantastic kids.

  15. Here’s hoping for a better tomorrow. I once fell and landed on my tailbone going down the cellar from the outside concrete stairs, I can surely imagine your pain. Plus, I had just started a new job. That was fun. I hope Johnny understands the caution you take when walking him.

    1. Early in our relationship, my husband taught me how to rollerblade with the now infamous words, “you’ll never fall backwards.” Ha! Very, very broken tailbone.

      1. As my sister always says, “Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently motivated fool!” I think she sees it as a challenge.

  16. Oh my. So sorry this happened to you. Sending you healing vibes.

    Honestly, I’ve been in awe of how you’ve managed to keep creating while dealing with physical stuff like this. When I don’t feel well or have to give time to recovering from something my creative energy tends to take a vacation. I so hope your birthday time is the turning point and this is the last thing you have to deal with for a long while and you can sail through the next year in comfort. Writing plenty more books with your fur baby curled beside you.

  18. Oh, no! That doesn’t sound good at all. I really hope your luck changes for the better soon, that you heal quickly and well, and that you have a great birthday regardless!

    I’m working on re-writing my to-d0 lists and crossing at least one thing off. Hopefully that one thing will be cleaning all the stuff off my desk and floor. Fingers crossed.

      1. Aw, smiling now.
        I wish you comfort, and energy in your recovery, since you already have good friends

  19. Yikes — cracked pelvis sounds terrible. I’m guessing it’s a lot like anything involving the spine, where you’re constantly reminded, with every little movement, of how all the bones are connected.

    As to working, I’ve been doing so much quilt-related stuff (and housework, but that’s boring and unphotographable). I’ve finished more small quilts than I’ve had inclination to photograph, but my recent favorite is here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOrbS1xEkqf/?img_index=1 Be sure to swipe to see the back, which is as pretty as the front.

  20. Happy Birthday, Jenny!

    I hope the rehab makes you feel better!

    Better days ahead!

    (I can see you rolling your eyes at my sweetness. Try throwing a dish across the room. It can help.)

  21. Retrying since it looks like this got lost in moderation.

    I hope you heal quickly and well, that your run of luck changes for the better soon, and that you have a great birthday regardless!

    I’m working on trying to clean up my to-do list, as well as my desk and floor.

  22. Sending a healing prayer. May Johnny be a comfort to you, maybe teach him how to get you a water bottle?

    Working on being a patient grandmother. It has been three decades since I was a new Mom and I know there is new science. I am just not loving the ten thousand gadgets for the baby. However, I am very thankful I get to take care of my baby and her baby!

  24. Wow, that’s what happened?! Holy shit, Jenny! Here’s to quick healing of that.

    I’m once again still trying to memorize lines–supposed to be off book Thursday, but man, I am not. Working on Halloween costumes in yarn–2 of them now. Watching videos on “soft skills” for work.

      1. Outside of tech you are just supposed to have them. Inside tech early on it was noticed that brilliant in coding could mean clueless with people but now projects get so big lots of tech needs soft skills too. Video seems sketchy as a learning tool, though I hope it helps?
        Not that acting your way through your working life is the best but maybe have a fall back character for those more challenging moments? I’d a boss who aimed for Audrey Hepburn character types when dealing with overly difficult persons.

    2. I preferred to call them essential skills. They’re typically associated with women. We deserve more credit.

  26. Oh dang, Jenny, how awful! Sending lots of pocket hugs full of turbo-healing powers and the cats join in with some purrs and pain-soothing snuggles. Luck really isn’t on your side right now, is it? Hope someone will bring you cake and love for your birthday at least. So happy you’ve been with us for another year!
    I have banana-peeled into a thing happening tomorrow. It’s an Art x Accessibility-event, held because of National Accessibility Week in the UK happening this week, and I’ve ben roped in as an artist(?!) to have questions thrown at me during a Q&A about accessibility and art. I’m wrestling with an incredible imposter syndrome (which I dare to write here because safe but which apparently is not proper to show publically), and have been since end July when they first asked me. I haven’t mentioned it much until now because of said imposter syndrome. Just waiting for them to realize that I’m just me. Since planning in advance apparently is NOT a thing on their side, they asked me last Wednesday(!!!) if I could “just record a quick 5 minute video about myself and accessibility and art”… so after I had a huge panic-attack about that, we (Sven, I and the guy who goes with him to events) started working on that. Whole weekend has been spent filming, crafting on camera (which is NOT my favourite thing) and recording a voiceover to the video. Beta-watchers have been very enthusiastic about it, so I think it turned out well, but wow has it been hell of a job over the past 5 or so days. Whew. My recent reading of “My Friends” by Fredrik Backman AND my reading of “Faking It” this weekend has helped me tremendously not to freak out. The video contains me as a kid, a spontanious gingerbread crocodile, little clay snowmen, me slapping Sven with a knitted hat and a cameo from Triple. I hope they’ll appreciate it. Please, please keep fingers crossed tomorrow!
    Today, I’ve been working on finishing up the little figurine I started in the video. Unfortunately, the clay is murder on my hands, which were already a problem and now even more. I’m wondering if I might need actual hand-therapy after all. Will ask physio on Tuesday what he thinks.
    I bought a sauté pan last week and made pasta bolognese in it on Sunday. Sven has been happily eating that for 3 days, exclaiming: “I don’t know what you do with it but I LOVE IT!” every meal. It must’ve been a magical pan. 🙂
    Yesterday the vet confirmed that Triple has astma; a milder form, thankfully, but she’s been coughing a lot over the past 1-1.5 week. Now working on helping her handle the coughing. She’s taking her meds, a kind of syrup, as a champ. Incredibly proud. Shoutout to my mum for helping me get the dosage right through facetime.

      1. I can! Because I figure the event-people should see it first, I will wait until after the event. But after that, I can do whatever I want with it and thus also share it with you.
        I am considering uploading it to my Youtube-channel, but haven’t quite got there yet mentally. Especially since my channel is actually “focused” on music. Perhaps I should rename it and just do whatever I fancy on it, which is somethign I’ve been considering since last year. Needs some thinking through.

        1. Looking forward to it! Meanwhile, best wishes for the event. You sound like you’ve done all you can to prepare–so you got this!

    2. Oh I hope that video showing went really well for you!

      And in a mild curiosity tone… Would you give the pan the blame if the sauce had turned out badly?
      Though I can get that if something comes out really well, next time might not live up to the new standard.
      I made a steamed meat pudding just see what they are really like. (mentioned in fiction) It came out unexpectedly well. I’m a bit concerned I wandered off the recipe and won’t be able to repeat it.

    3. I hope the event went well! You are a lovely person, which people will see, not an imposter.

      I also hope Triple is doing well! Poor baby!

  28. That sounds AWFUL! You must be so uncomfortable! I hope it heals quickly.

    I’m still working on finishing a first draft of the WIP, but it won’t happen before our trip. That’s fine. Made apple oatmeal muffins this morning after my walk/jog. I’ve been working on jogging again after years of not and I’m up to about .40 miles. Then I walk a little over a mile. I’m taking it very easy since I’ve had to rehab both knees in the past 18 months. Errands todays to get kid 1 ready to drive back to school tomorrow—sob!

  30. Oh, Hell. Best wishes for a full recovery in a timely fashion, although please allow yourself to rest as much as possible. As a chronic non-rester, I know it’s hard.

    I am working on finding a graceful balance between “leave me alone, I know how to do this,” and “save me, I have no idea what I am doing.” Sometimes involving the same task. My trainer is very patient and lovely. God bless the kids I trained. Sigh.

    At least when I get home (much earlier than I used to) I still have energy to do some things so the house is a very little bit cleaner. Almost all of my Halloween and Thanksgiving stuff is listed on Etsy and my cat is cooperating. Progress. I am chipping away at last minute nutcracker projects, so I don’t feel as overwhelmed. I am not usually a procrastinator. I hate the feeling, but this summer I sank into the pit of despair and nothing really got finished.

  31. Aaaaaaayyyyy!

    All the best for a smooth recovery.

    Have a gorgeous treat post-rehabilitation session and to celebrate your new year

  33. So sorry to hear that! I broke my pelvis a few years back, and yeah, it wasn’t great. That said, the pain (in mine, and hopefully in yours!) was not nearly as bad as some other breaks I’ve had, and because the bones aren’t prone to moving around (again, in my case, and hopefully in yours), healing progress was steady.

    I hope you have dog-walking help! Give a shout if you need volunteers or a go-fund-me for dogwalking.

  36. Sending heartfelt birthday wishes and a flood of healing vibes!!
    Cracked pelvis does sound painful ❤️

  37. For interested Brits etc.: Someone on File770 reported that A Drop of Corruption is 99p today on UK Kindle. It’s full price on US, I just checked.

  39. Happy birthday wishes and I hope the rehab goes smoothly and quickly. Maybe you can have a birthday celebration once you are done and happily back home.

  40. Happy birthday, Jenny. I hope you feel better and that rehab helps. A cracked pelvis sounds painful.

    I am not working at the store today or tomorrow which is a nice change of pace given how much I’ve worked lately but also because the toxic coworker was finally let go yesterday. They had to do it by email because she has no phone currently. She missed four consecutive shifts as a no call/no show (she did know she needed to work and could have used her boyfriend’s phone to call in) and that was what finally tipped it over the edge. I’m sorry it came to this but I’m glad it’s over.

    Today I’m doing some house and yard work and cleaning up in the garage a bit more before Paul takes that over to do the fiddly finishing up bits to his liking. Tomorrow it’s more of the same, I still need to be careful with my shoulder so I’m taking it slowly.

    It now evening and I’ve been cleaning the pavers around the greenhouse and between the greenhouse and the fence. It’s looking good now and will look even better when I get all the dirt and weeds swept up.

  41. Jenny, it’s time to train Johnny to be your dog Friday- he can deliver you water, answer the door, write the novels… etc etc. Put him in a little suit and bowtie and make him your personal butler 🙂 If nothing else the laugh will be good for you.

    Jokes aside, hope you recover quickly and you still find some time for fun on your birthday!

    It was a busy week for me as always. Work’s going well and I actually had a relatively light day where I was able to explore a project I’ve been wanting to play with for a while- programming neural networks from scratch with documentation as a teaching tool. It was quite fun! I had my third meeting with my professor today and he was very enthusiastic about my project, too, which is always pleasant. He seems to like me and my work, which always feels nice!

  42. Happy Birthday!!!

    I am so happy that you moved somewhere where your neighbors are close and one of them is already a close friend. I hope that your physical therapist can help you find some positions in which to rest.

    I am busy trying to clean up all the things I let get away from me. The anti -virus protection on my computer expired and my machine is now riddled with viruses. I think I told you about a hacker who got into my PayPal which compromised my checking account. The new account is now up and running, although the old account generated 10 cents in interest which the bank teller couldn’t find and I had to go through all my old emails and return to the bank three times before I found the email in question and was able to forward it to the teller who couldn’t find my 10 cents of interest.

    But wait, there’s more! This is the week that the management company sold our laundry machines to a new company and we all have to turn in our laundry cards, have the money loaded on them recorded and then get replacement cards. Of course they didn’t transfer the value from the old cards to the new cards, they made a record of the amount and told us we could subtract that much from our October rent. Since I don’t trust that process, I washed 4 loads of laundry last weekend so that I wouldn’t have to worry about the whole change for a few weeks. However, I was not the only person in the complex who had that idea, so the office was very crowded, which means that I couldn’t get up to the window to talk to the woman who handles the repair requests. Which means that I couldn’t tell anyone that the same mouse that has been coming out of the walls for months and months is getting bolder and bolder. It is roaming all over my apartment and getting closer to my toes every time I sit at my table in the evening. As in a foot and a half away. All the management ever does is put down glue traps which the mouse neatly detours around.

    1. I understand they’re keen on chocolate. Maybe you could bait a humane trap and release it more than half a mile away, so it won’t return?

      1. You have to take them even further than that, and most places it is illegal to relocate pest animals. (Mind you, they have to catch you first. And I use humane traps all the time and eventually the little bastards seem to stop coming back.)

    2. A relatively cheap and easy way to catch a mouse (which sadly, does result in the demise of said rodent) is to take a bucket, put a couple of inches of water in the bottom, along with some kind of bait. Place a ramp of some type up to the bucket. The mouse falls in, can’t get back out, and drowns.

      1. I was going to say I didn’t know what to use as bait, but then I pulled my rolling cart away from the back door and found a mouse carcass as I was starting to take out the garbage. I am definitely relieved because I will be much more inclined to wash the floors once I know the resident mouse will not be immediately peeing on them. And I’m sure I would have run into the bucket several times a day, if not tripped myself. Now if we (the exterminator and I) could just convince the landlord to permanently close up the holes they are using to get in the building, we wouldn’t have to repeat this comedy of errors several times a year.

  43. Happy Birthday and a speedy recovery.

    Got my COVID shot yesterday. And the flu shot last week. I wanted to hold off on that for a couple more weeks but who knows if it would still be available.

    Another Election Board meeting with drop boxes discussed. No drama this time just the standard misinformation/misdirection from the opposition. And a bit of push back from me.

  44. I seem to be alternating good and bad work weeks at the moment. Someone raised something really critical in a consultation and we might need to re-think about a third of the project we were about to press go on. Sigh.

    But that’s the reason (or one of them) to hold a consultation …

  45. I’ve been working on The Big Move.
    Happy birthday & best wishes for rehab for Jenny. Now to see if I can post from this ip address …

  48. Oh Jenny, that sounds very painful and debilitating. I hope you have a good medical team overseeing your recovery.

    And I had no idea that it was your birthday, but apparently it is – or was – so, Happy Birthday!

  49. Even though I’m quite late to post, I wanted to include my wishes for a speedy recovery and hope you managed to have some joy on your birthday. May you be feeling better and have a great team of people caring for you and the fur babies!

About the Author

Jennifer Crusie is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author and co-author of twenty-three novels, one book of literary criticism, miscellaneous articles, essays, novellas, and short stories, and the editor of three essay anthologies. She lives in a cottage in Pennsylvania, where she often stares at the ceiling and counts her blessings.

Find out more about Jenny’s published works by visiting JennyCrusie.com

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