The cyborg knee, the greenhouse, and two chocolate bombs

It was exciting to go out socially for the first time since my operation, to Lisa’s party last Saturday night.  I’ve had visitors, gone to doctors and Beth Israel for a status of my knee checkup, gone to Petsmart and Trader Jo’s, but going out to a party was something new and delightful – seeing friends was the best part.I have been working hard on my nonfiction book for PM’s Outspoken Author series and I am seeing the end in sight – want to finish it up within two weeks so I can get to the convocation for the Revolutionary Moment conference on the beginnings of the women’s liberation movement March 27-29 at Boston University and also the panel I’ll be conducting with Kate Rushin, Louise Bernikow and maybe, maybe Alta on poetry.  I’m really looking forward to the conference since there will be old friends there I haven’t seen in thirty years and many women I have corresponded with via email for years and years but never met face to face.The broccoli, red cabbage, salad bowl lettuce, bok choi, cilantro and parsley I started in the storeroom have all sprouted. They need to go out to our small greenhouse but it has been too cold. They’re in the bay window but Xena, whose picture I I just posted on my Facebook page, is after them.  She is my youngest and by far my largest cat.  When she gets on your lap, you know it.  She’s the size of a medium dog.  I started regular and hot peppers Tuesday and today it’s time for two kinds of eggplants [the Oriental and the Italian], marjoram, summer savory, kale and Brussels sprouts.  Woody sets up the peat pots and fills them and then I take over, water and do the rest.I went to Spaulding outpatient rehab center in Orleans Thursday and saw a physical therapist there.  My problem is that while I need to exercise my cyborg knee, those exercises are exacerbating the pain in my right untreated knee.  The new PT eliminated about five of my old exercises, left five of them intact, and added seven new ones.  I did them for the first time yesterday and it hurt.  Some are very difficult and one I haven’t really been able to do at all.   I’m supposed to do it for 30 seconds each time and so far I can only manage five.I  had a visit Friday afternoon with my old friend Helen, a painter who lives across the marsh.  We hadn’t been able to get together because she had an operation on her foot two weeks before my knee operation and she is only now able to drive and get around. On the way back from Spaulding, I stopped at PB’s French bakery [genuine stuff owned & run by Philippe with whom I sometimes speak French] & picked up 2 chocolate bombes to share with Helen.  Helen has 3 cats and bees and chickens.  She brought me 6 free range eggs.  Her eggs are the best, deep yellow yolks, many different color shells and great taste.Must work on the greenhouse and the storage room today.  We don’t have an attic or a cellar, but the storeroom and our 3 sheds fill in for that lack.  We’ve been working on the storeroom sporadically for two weeks and got rid of a lot of stuff, but we must throw out more – or take what’s usable to the swap shop.  Woody has been transferring all our CDs onto our Ipod so we can get rid of them.  I hate CDs and the jewel cases. The cats enjoy throwing them on the floor with a great crash and bits of broken plastic. I won’t miss them & I’ll be able to carry music around.We’re trying to get rid of some of our quite extensive clutter and pare down a bit.