Linda's pre-surgery To Do List

I have to write up my To Do List this morning, and I thought I'd just post it here in case it helps anyone else think of stuff they need to get done.

• Get yard/garden ready for Spring (spread compost, rototill garden areas, buy truckloads of ammendments...)
• Take care of any other "heavy" chores (moving about 100 concrete blocks to another part of the yard).
• Prune anything that needs pruning.
• Move computer to family room, near couch?
• Do Christmas shopping.
• Take care of any presents/cards (birthdays?) that will be needed in the next two months.
• Buy stamps, stationery.
• Gather addresses and phone numbers of friends.
• Take care of any year-end financial/tax chores.
• Worm horses.
• Stock up on as much horse feed as possible.
• Arrange for horsey friends to help hubby with horses.
• Take cats to vet for annual exam and shots.
• Pay bills ahead. Invoice clients.
• Clean office (and rest of house).
• Set up "nest", including coloring books and guitar (w/new music books I just got).
• Work out and exercise as much as possible.
• Shop for castle supplies - chocolate for nurses, thank you notes...
• Shop for post-op food, medicine, books, clothes...
• Get hair cut.
• Send Christmas cards.
• Fill gas tanks in vehicles (esp. truck for towing horse trailer in an emergency). Leave truck/trailer hitched up.
• Clean barn/tack/feed rooms and horse pen.
• Write up instructions on caring for animals.
• Let people know where I've gone, and ask them to call/visit.
• Get heater fixed! (I was really cold after my last surgery, and our house heater is off-line.)
• Get septic tank pumped (it's due, and I don't want it complaining while I'm down).
• Get teeth cleaned (due, and won't get around to it for months if I don't do it now).
• Get eyes checked (end of year insurance thing).
• Get out and ride horse as much as possible.

I know there must be a zillion other things. As long as my horses are OK, everything else will work itself out. If you have kids, just substitute "kids" wherever I've mentioned horses and you'll be all set.

I'd love to hear other's lists. Maybe we can come up with the cannonical To Do List and get it on a drop down.

Hi HorseWoman, you left off solving World Hunger and Homelessness!

I would only add making lists or writing instructions for people who will be taking care of things (animals, homes, plants, etc.)

I'm worried about my dogs too. Not getting a lot acomplished this morning yet. I'm too busy worrying about the mess my dad will make of my house while he's doing his best to control the pack! He's not very alert while in front of the TV, and the new puppy has the ability to destroy furniture within seconds!! My dogsitter will be checking in on him like it or not!

Holy smokes, HorseWoman, that's some list! My only addition would be for you to spend some time with your feet up each day resting! Don't go to the castle exhausted.

Best,
Renny

Geeeee... and I thought "Princess Carol's List" was long. Good Lord woman! You're not due at the castle till the year 2005, right?

I feel very lazy after reading that list.

At this point my main concern is also for my doggies. They tend to get very destructive when mommy's away. I'm sure my DH will have all 5 of them strung up from the trees when I return home.

OMG. Just read your list. I would have to schedule my surgery in the year 2002 if I had to do all that!!!!
You must have incredible energy!

Hey there! You forgot one VERY important to do! Make sure you have LOTS of bedding for the horses because you know that no one will clean those stalls the way you do (if you are like me and it sure sounds that way! LOL). They will take out way too much bedding instead of spending 5 min more to really "pick through"!

Well, my overachieving ambitions got put in their rightful place. I started on those concrete blocks I need to move (I'm using them to make a border and mower strip around my veggie garden) - well I got about 10 of them moved into place when my legs cramped up so bad I couldn't walk. Darnit. I still want to take my horse out today, so I'm taking a break first - with my feet up. Maybe if I set just 10 blocks per day? Very frustrating. I want to get the garden ready for planting before my hyst so it can settle, the manure (fresh) can rot, the worms can move in, etc. - and I know I won't be in any shape to do it later.

As for the stall bedding... That part's easy. I don't have any stalls. Just a big pen with a run-in shed. Rubber mats in the shed, but no bedding. My critters (a horse and two donkeys) sleep outside no matter what I offer them, and if I put bedding in the shed (where they eat), they just pee in it. Lucky for me, they tend to go in two places in the pen, so the mess accumulates in neat heaps, while the still have plenty of room to wander around or lie down and roll. If it rains for several days then I put out big beds of straw so they have a dry place to lie down. Whoever said horses sleep standing up never talked to my guys. All in all, they are pretty low maintenance. They have enough room that they don't need to be "turned out" - they already are out - they can choose shade or sun, rain or cover, on their own - and they can go for at least 4 weeks without any mucking out (in the winter, at least, when the flies aren't so bad). In fact, it's that 4 week accumulation I'm cleaning up now and taking to the garden. 20 wheelbarrows-full and counting.

Maybe I'll just turn them out on the lawn this afternoon, instead of hauling my horse out for a ride (no trails here). I'm kinda worried about driving my truck/trailer with cramping legs. Fooey.

Making progress, slowly...

I am not a horse woman but am a very independant woman used to doing things for myself. Now I am practicing thinking like a PRINCESS. There should be a manual for PRINCESSES IN TRAINING!




Now for women like us, this is not easy but it is necessary. Practice pointing until your arm feels like it is going to fall off.

I have wallpaper that needs to be hung. I do these jobs myself. Guess what! Told my DH that I was calling a paper hanger because I am not in the mood to do it now and will not be physically able to do it for a VERY LONG TIME after surgery.

Part of the PRINCESS IN TRAINING thing is not to do to much too soon after surgery. Because as soon as you get out of bed and make your own breakfast it will be assumed by all around that you are ready to take on the world again.

I am determined to do something I have never done before.....MAKE MYSELF #1 ON MY LIST OF PRIORITIES and let my DH and 2 DD what my needs are!!!!!!!!!!

There!!!!!!! How did I do?

Tina

I had a list of things to do as well..I think it's still in my drawer somewhere two weeks post-op..Your list might have sent my daughter running..."Mommy I don wanna be wormed!" I am sure every woman goes through this getting ready for everything...when really the most important thing is to get lots of rest and prepare yourself for your recovery. The worst thing for me is to telling my self that even though I feel well enough to do the things I feel are my responibilities after about ten minutes I have probably set my recovery back at least 2 days...So Please take care of yourself now so you can heal faster afterwards..lots of luv Merie.

I love the idea of practicing pointing, and worming your kids.

I've got the dual situations of catching up on everything from surgery a month ago (plus not feeling up to par for a month before that), and getting things done ahead of time for my upcoming (I hope) hyst. Way behind the power curve.

At least the "weeds" growing under all the trees are pretty and green, with lovely yellow flowers. I guess they get to stay. No sense wasting energy on tearing out perfectly nice wildflowers.

Back to doing whatever I can before it gets dark...