Fall leaves and a follow up.

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Had my first post surgical check up with the orthopedist PA the other day. I haven’t really been getting out much so it was nice to take a drive and peep some of the fading foliage.

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It really is a glorious time of year in Maine.

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The doctor’s office was crowded when we arrived and we had to take a seat in the north forty of the waiting room. So when the PA called my name, I had to walk a good distance. He grinned when I reached him and said, “I guess I don’t have to ask how well you’re doing.”

After a quick exam he gave me the orthopedic stamp of approval and told me to continue doing whatever was I was doing because I was well ahead of schedule.

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I really like this practice. They have a great team. Efficient, professional and personable.

They also have a sense of humor which helps.

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Next appointment is with the surgeon in three weeks.

My scar is below, in case you were wondering how awful it still looks.

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Far from pretty. Still swollen.

But not quite as frightening as it was.

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On our way back home?

A few more pretty trees.

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They’re so fleeting.

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Here one day gone the next.

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Miscellaneous nonsense.

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When I had my knee replacement surgery I didn’t give any thought to saving money on a Halloween costume, but apparently I will.

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Though why anyone would want one of these I don’t know. I have the real thing and trust me, it’s not fun.

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Yes please!

I carefully separate products in our shower. Shampoo is on the left, conditioner on the right. But when my thoughtful husband scrubbed our shower after I came home from the hospital he mixed them all up and I shampooed with conditioner and conditioned with shampoo. A big S and C would have been very helpful.

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I saw this on Facebook and instantly cringed. My late MIL was the queen of ambrosia salad. She brought it to every pot luck and get together … even though no one liked it but her.

🤢

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Winter is coming and I’m about as inactive as I’ve ever been.

I feel you bear.

I really do.

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News you can’t use.

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Always abundant.

Always useless.

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I’ve never been so glad to be happily married and off the dating market as I am right now.

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They’re breeding?

Great…

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It’s always good to have a backup plan.

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I’m sorry, I thought they already did.

He’s in the White House.

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No portapotties on Mars.

It’s a thing.

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I’m crying uncle.

You can pumpkin spice coffee, and pumpkin spice Twinkies… I’ve even seen pumpkin spice popcorn…. but geesh.

Leave the turtles alone.

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Eerie sky.

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This damn knee replacement recovery is making me miss my favorite time of year. No leaf peeping journeys or hikes for me in 2026.

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And due to a dry summer with some early cold snap nights, the foliage was turning at the end of September.

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A N’Or Easter and a few residual windy days later?

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Took their toll on what was left.

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Things are usually much brighter in our backyard in autumn.

😰

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Two physical therapists later…

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I know some people get good results with physical therapy, but I can’t say I’ve ever been one of them.

My first experience with PT was after blowing out my shoulder ten years ago. I could hardly raise my arm and instead of giving me a cortisone shot my doctor sent me to 8 weeks of therapy. When it was finished? I still couldn’t raise my arm and it hurt twice as much. On my next office visit the doctor shot me full of cortisone, which brought instant relief and no issues to this day.

My second experience with physical therapy was three years ago when my knee hurt so badly I could hardly walk. Doctor gave me a cortisone shot, which didn’t help at all, and sent me to therapy for 6 weeks. Lots of pain with no improvement sent me running (okay, hobbling) to the acupuncturist which was the only thing I ever found that helped.

So now I’m almost three weeks post partial knee replacement and have had two out patient physical therapy sessions. The first visit was an assessment where I had to perform tricks like a trained seal. There were no sardine treats at the end, but that’s what it felt like.

At the second visit we did some exercises, mostly the same ones I’ve been doing at home, and though I’ve already been scheduled for two visits a week for the next four weeks she said I was doing so well we could probably drop it to once a week.

Which makes me feel like this…

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If all we’re doing there are the same things I’m doing at home… why am I even going?

Other than to bill insurance for something I don’t seem to need.

🥴

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Let’s play.

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Let’s talk toe ancestry.

Because it’s Friday and no one ever does.

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I’m not seeing much difference between Germanic and Celtic and that seems to be my general shape.

Makes sense since my maternal line originates in Austria and my paternal line in Scotland.

So take off your shoes and tell me…

Whose toes do you have?

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Meaningless Maps

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Silly statistics you could easily live without.

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When I first saw Italy I thought, damn. You lazy bastards. But then I realized the food is probably too good to leave.

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Clear demarcation lines here.

Yikes.

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Craft beer is huge business in Maine. I swear every little town seems to have a brewery but Vermont beats us every time.

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A century? That’s harsh.

Geesh.

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I can’t argue with this one.

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Clearly there’s a direct correlation between being over caffeinated and making friends.

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Getting to know me, a little too well.

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Like everything else these days, Amazon is keeping tabs on us.

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And while I know they keep records of purchases, I was unaware of the detailed profile they amass on customers.

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Naturally, I checked mine.

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Now some of those are easy to extrapolate from my buying history. But walks barefoot all the time? How the heck does Jeff Bezos know that!

And while it’s true I prefer it, I’ve never bought artisan jewelry from Amazon… so that’s troubling.

But the next section did make me feel a little better about their omnipotent all seeing eye.

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Because while I do have a cat, I most certainly don’t have a sister.

🤣

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How ‘bout dem pumpkins?

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Every October the town of Damariscotta Maine has a pumpkin festival.

Every year we say we’re going to attend. and every year we don’t. But my Facebook feed is always flooded with other people’s photos, so I’m going to share some.

The whole town gets in on the fun and local businesses along Main Street display some pretty fantastic gourds.

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Some are sweet.

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Some are funny.

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Some are downright weird.

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This is Wilbur, with Charlotte on her web right above him. Did you know that famous book was written in Maine? On a farm right up the coast.

Some pig indeed.

❤️

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This artichoke was fabulous.

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And the overall creativity factor?

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Off the charts.

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There was a really good assortment this year.

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But my favorite?

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The giant pumpkin crab in front of King Eider’s Pub, which happens to be our go to spot in town.

They held a naming contest.. and I heartily approve of the winner.

Lenny Crabitz.

🤣

King Eider’s is famous for their sense of humor and exterior signs.

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Wish I’d been there to get this year’s tee shirt.

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😊

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News you can’t use.

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More news.

All of it useless.

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Take that dog lovers!

Cats equal happiness.

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As hobbies go, I’m a bit puzzled.

But I can see the natural progression.

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I’m more interested in why someone tried to electrocute a pickle in the first place. Was their Netflix down…?

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Finally, an answer to the riddle of climate change.

Penguin poo.

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I don’t know about you, but I’ve had more than enough of Jeff Bezos and his ilk already.

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I’ll save you the trouble, it’s Amber Heard. Not that I care, just wanted to share what passes for news these days.

🥴