We found out Wednesday night that a parishioner was having surgery in Great Falls on Tuesday morning, so we went down to sit with their family. Surgery was at 7:30 so we left around 5:30. Once Jon had located the family, I got myself down to $tarbuck$ and got myself a blackberry green tea frappucino. (If I’m leaving the house at dark:thirty to do something like this, I WANT MY OVERPRICED CAFFEINE!!!!!) I then went to Target and Albertsons to take care of some errands as they were on the way back to the megalithic hospital complex. After the person was out of surgery, back in their room, and prayed over, we headed out to take care of other Great Falls errands and had lunch. On the way out of town, we went to Old Navy where I got some long-sleeved shirts to up my winter wardrobe a bit. (Can you believe that I’ve lived in the Midwest or at least cold climates for 5 years now and I STILL haven’t quite developed the seasonal wardrobe habit yet???)

Yesterday (Friday), I had an appointment with my lovely Italian doctor (and had to wait because it was one of his on-call days — I was tempted to start crocheting the cuff of a sock and tell him that I started it after getting into the exam room) and after playing “let’s twist Jen’s foot and contort it painfully”, he told me that he was ordering a CT scan to rule out fractures and such because the x-ray likely wouldn’t have picked them up. Oh freaking joy. CT scan will be Monday morning.Â? I now have an excuse to miss the business meeting for WELCA.

Today, I was judging speech and debate again.Â? (Apparently, word has gotten out that Jon and I *LIKE* to judge.)Â? It was fun but the events were spread out between the elementary school and high school which are *NOT* close to each other so Jon and I had to drive between events to avoid the ice and for me to actually have time to finish the comments from my 10:30 group and make it on time to judge my 12:30 people.Â? Oh yeah… they also didn’t feed the judges so Jon and I headed to the A&W/KFC in town.Â? Big mistake.Â? I keep forgetting that not having a gallbladder means that I can’t have greasy food.Â? (I had to excuse myself for a couple minutes during my finals round and get the clawing creatures out of my stomach.Â? The kids I was judging as well as those in the audience were crowding around me during awards to ask if I was OK.Â? It was actually pretty sweet of them.)Â? A couple of the kids from the local reservation also told their coaches about how much they like Jon and I so… we’re judging AGAIN for divisionals in January.Â? (The reservation kids are really fun to judge — they are there because they enjoy it and they kick the butts of the other schools in almost every category.)

So… I’m now home with an achey foot, irritated stomach, and I think I’ll curl up in a ball when 9:00 rolls around.Â? I’ve got church, nursing home, extended youth activities, and an extended choir practice in Shelby tomorrow.Â? I think Wednesday is my next sleep-in day?Â? Jon was going to offer to judge at Cut Bank but I told him NOOOOOOO — I need a somewhat quiet Saturday… and I also have choir practice in Shelby that day for the performance the next night.

I’m glad we’re not doing the open house this year — I’m not sure when I’d find time!