Knee Surgery 101: Taxiing for Take-Off

THE VIEW FROM OUR CONFERENCE ROOM AT MEET THE PRESS, AND THANK YOU, TEAM!

My darling colleagues at Meet the Press Daily surprised me with a farewell to the knees party on Friday afternoon. Walked into our afternoon meeting with my nose so buried in my phone I didn't at first notice this wonderful sign they had posted on the window (with our hot view of DHS and a few trees). But when I looked up and saw it I almost cried. For sure I smiled from ear to ear. It was such a thoughtful and caring gesture. Then came boxes and boxes of chocolate dipped fruit, and a very funny card with sentences that cleverly made use of "kneed." I will miss my colleagues and my work. My last bit of work until I return was to book John Brennan and Rudolph Giuliani for the Sunday show, which I like to call Big Meet - driving our MTPD Sr Producer a bit up the wall. Lol.  

So, I am almost officially on medical leave. It turns out that it won't become officially effective until I am out of surgery. Thank you very much. Someone has to call them to verify that I did, in fact, have surgery. Then, and only then, will the process kick in that makes it possible for me to get a paycheck. A company called Sedgewick handles and they said I'll miss one pay period but I'll get that back at the end.  It feels like renting an apartment and putting down a security deposit! Geez, I'll miss that missed paycheck. And, meantime, still hassling with insurance to get approvals. Never again will I think paying extra for a PPO is worth the $$$.

I am in the stage now of prepping my body. Any TKR patient knows what I'm talking about. Constantly having to put on clean clothes. Change the sheets. Change the towels. Wash myself with a brew called Hibiclens. I went to put on a dress today and stopped just short, just in time, realizing it was now fresh out of the wash.

Otherwise, finishing up the details: paying bills, buying provisions, letting friends know. Coping with the unexpected dramas that define daily life: the car battery suddenly died. Had to deal with that. The home security system battery suddenly died, had to deal with that. Please, no more battery failures. I even went around changing lightbulbs, so they would be fresh. ARRRGGHHH. But then I went to acupuncture and OMMMMM.

In the midst of so much provisioning that is mostly medical I did treat myself to something exotic -- pajamas. PJ's. Found them at A Mano in Georgetown and they are adorable, affordable and comfortable. One set is an elephant toile and the other is pretty fleurs and fawns. Of course. 

Well, its time to do my nightly exercises -- rowing, recumbent bike, floor work, free weights -- and then disinfect again and and towel off with a freshly cleaned towel and crawl in between freshly cleaned sheets. Wash, rinse and repeat!

I've mostly stayed off alcohol for the last month, but did allow myself a very cold martini yesterday. That's it until the next one, and I look forward to that. Because I will have climbed Mount Everest, or sailed the seven seas, and got back! Cheers.