Often when I write this blog I know exactly where I am going and, more or less, what it is going to say. At least the topic will be decided upon, either something funny, an anecdote taking place during the day, a rant (against Gavin the Governor being an example), some truism about the Islamic faith – but something. It can occasionally be motivated by a photograph or a cartoon or a snippet from Instagram. Words just flow and off I go. It is not that I have nothing to speak about these days – many things come to mind. Left knee replacement surgery looms, next week as a matter of fact. I earnestly look forward to the day. Looking back I have been suffering from limited mobility and pain (off and on) for the past five years. Was able to become precise as I recalled enrolling in the Equinox gym in June of 2017, asking for a trainer who could assist with my right knee pain. Brian, my personal trainer in London, provided a program which was combined with water aerobics which kept things under control. The Equinox gym had no pool – Richard Poole’s inexpert training resulted in a total breakdown of all cartilage in my right knee. Knee replacement surgery at the end of August of 2019 was most successful but then left knee pain emerged with scheduled surgery postponed due to Covid. To say the very least this seems like an uphill battle, rather like climbing Mt. Everest. But the summit is in sight!!!
There will, of course, be post surgical pain which shall be controlled with pain medication. Not sure that it will be possible to write during that first week – so a backlog of blogs is being written, they can just me sent off to Chris – possible en masse before hospitalization. Does this sound like organization??? Indeed it does!!!
I have no idea where or how words come to me but they do. An example is en masse which ended up to be the perfect word. It is an adjective, straight from France to you – its synonyms are all together, as a group, in a body, as one, as a whole, in a mass, wholesale; simultaneously, all at once, at the same time, at one and the same time, at the same instant, at the same moment, contemporaneously; in unison, in concert, in chorus; synchronously. Its antonym is singly. Impressive? Yes, 😱😱. I just found a button on my computer with hordes of emoji – my goodness a new tool. I shall be able to illustrate everything, except now I cannot make it work. Oh well!! 😬 Found it again. 😳 My life is SO interesting. Another task that I am avoiding is the revision of About Me section on this blog – to match the signature photograph of Alexis, the Muslim woman. The writing of it has begun but it seems too weighty for me at the moment.
My personal life is most unusual, bordering on the extraordinary but as wisely waiting for things to fall in place. There are some things that cannot be rushed, there are some things that will happen or not happen. It is best to do some thinking and planning , just in case but my focus is the surgery and the massive organization and planning that is going into it. But some post surgical plans are being made, and changed, and made and changed – more about that later.
The choice of extraordinary is extraordinary as it is remarkable, exceptional, amazing, astonishing, astounding, marvelous, wonderful, sensational, stunning, incredible, unbelievable, miraculous, phenomenal, prodigious, spectacular, outstanding, momentous, impressive, singular, signal, preeminent, memorable, unforgettable, never to be forgotten, unique, arresting, eye-catching, conspicuous, noteworthy, notable, great; out of the ordinary, unusual, uncommon, rare, surprising, curious, strange, odd, peculiar, uncanny; Scottish unco; fantastic, terrific, tremendous, stupendous, awesome, amazeballs, out of this world, unreal; literary wondrous. Antonyms: ordinary. Indeed, if something (or somebody) comes my way it would be amazeballs, out of the world, unreal, uncanny and rather remarkable. But it just might not and, quite frankly, I do not care. My Wise Cousin Faye was told of a possibility. She lives in Saskatchewan said:
She: You are up so much earlier than me. Better to stay with what you know makes you happy than to chance the unknown.
Me: You are SO smart! “Better to stay with what you know makes you happy rather than to chance the unknown. For many reasons I am happier now than I have ever been, why risk it – well there is the money and status, I suppose but I have enough money and enough status what with the success of the blog and all. This is the best place for me to be – within walking distance of my doctor, KKK and Holly. Holly needs a nickname, I must work on it.
Cousin Faye and I also discussed the joys of getting old.
Me: I am in pain but have a jacuzzi just outside the door.
She: We do not have enough frequent flier miles to come to Scotland, so that’s out for sure! I have a Jacuzzi tub in my bathroom but getting in and out is too painful for my knees.
Me: I had a bar thing installed in my bathroom. I shall send you a picture.
The picture will be sent to her and shall also be attached to this blog. WWW’s husband installed it for me. It was such a hassle because of some stupid regulations in this complex but the regulations were overcome. I did not have to pay for the taking down of the bar at completion of the tenancy – actually when it was shown that reasonable accommodation was needed – they should have installed the bar at their expense. But it was quicker and easier just to have Kind Man purchase the bar and install it. You see, I do have a good life, a perfect life as a matter of fact. Becoming a lawyer was the best thing I ever did. Seriously, it was! Rather enormous retirement income for one thing but also the ability to navigate in this cruel world. I am back in Marin so I know all the ins and outs of everything. It does come in handy – it does. I am not afraid. I am in charge of my life. Why would I want to change that, pray tell?? To be at the whim and caprice of some man?? I do not think so!!
Caprice again a perfect word with the meaning: a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior. Its synonyms are: whimsy, vagary, fancy, notion, fad, freak, humor, impulse, quirk, eccentricity, foible, crotchet, urge. Crotchet has to be my favorite.
The reference that Cousin Faye made to Scotland and the frequent flier miles will be explored at a later date.
By the way, most of the notable, unusual, eye-catching aspects of my life occur on Instagram, where I remain Alexis McTwit. Honest, to goodness, I occresqpond with Royalty as Alexis McTwit. It is so amusing!! Some guy came onto me by sending me likes of my previous posts which allowed me to view some from my past, it was amusing! But I blocked him – it did not seem fair to encourage him. He said he lived somewhere – but not here and not Dubai, although it appeared that he did. I am staying here and there would be no way that he would be able to immigrate to this fair land. I wonder what he thought when I bid him a fond farewell. He is blocked from ever attempting to contact me again.
