You just know it's going to be a good week when the mere look of the insidious smile of Ronald McDonald on your orange juice cup annoys you.

These are the days that I recite the serenity prayer. I have not slept more than 2 hours since Friday. Mostly because my knee has decided sleeping is for wusses. 6 to 8 codeine pills a day, just to keep me from babbling incoherently and rocking in a corner. The surgery will now be February 9, rather than the initial date of February 7. So I will be travelling only 8 days post-op. The surgeon has ok'd the travel, considering I will still have another week of rest before returning to work. I will be attempting to start physical therapy today, if can to try and calm some of this discomfort!

My internet connection is down at home. Apparently after 3 full years of well-used service, my wireless router has passed away. And so far, the 4 stores I hobbled to are out of stock after some very frenzied boxing week specials. I've put an order in on-line but it will take a while. I feel like my arm has been chewed off, not having access at home right now. I have a desktop computer but it was never set up for being online and I'm still debating whether I should set it up that way, or wait until my wireless arrives.

Now, family stuff. My cousin(in-law) is home now on a ventilator. The government has approved 4 hours a day with a homecare nurse. While this is good, considering how hard it is get any help, it is still very difficult for them. His wife - my true cousin - has cancer and is dealing with the effects of chemotherapy. Her mom - my mom's sister - is 82 and fell last week and fractured her hip but she is still going over there up to 6 times a day to take care of them. It'll be tough for a while.

Meanwhile, my Mom's best friend fell last Thursday and shattered her hip. When they got her into emergency, she was found to have a tumour in her lung the size of a grapefruit. There was nothing that could be done, so she has been moved to palliative care and is being sedated.

I just remind myself that these are the days that build character. Just need to try not to be a cartoon character!