Cloudy Monday

Gray skies today, with the threat of rain the entire day. I drove to League City and to Webster this morning, delivering pajamas and books to two children's agencies. At both places, I just missed a pouring rainstorm by minutes. My poor little car got soaked, but the pajamas (and me) stayed nice and dry.

Speaking of pajamas... the local library is still collecting pajamas for the Houston Chapter, and will continue to do so until mid-August when their summer story-times end. And they've included information on the Houston Chapter in their latest issue of their newsletter, so now all of their patrons will know about the Pajama Box that's been in the Children's Dept. since the beginning of this month.

I just had an eMail today from one of the Shell Oil offices in downtown Houston... they will be hosting a Pajama Drive for the entire month of July, so I'm hoping that they'll collect a lot of pajamas. I'm also hoping that the other local oil companies will follow suit and host their own events to collect pajamas.

I mailed out three letters today to local retailers, asking if they'd like to send me a gift-card so I can go to their stores and use the cards to buy pajamas. Marshalls had sent me a gift-card at the beginning of May, and I sent them a letter too, asking if they'd like to send another card. Doesn't hurt to ask. The worst they can say is no.

The NY office is sending me three boxes of pajamas, in all sizes for both boys and girls. They know that the summer months can be slow for collecting, and they had received over 10,000 pajamas up there from a manufacturer, so they're spreading the pajama-wealth among their Chapters. That's what I need here.... a kindly, generous pajama manufacturer who would be willing to supply the Houston Chapter with an on-going stream of pajamas. (The number of pajamas collected and distributed through our Chapter, as of today, is now up to 954.)


I've called the foot specialist, and made an appointment. This is so unlike me.... to be researching and "gathering information" (to use my husband's term) about doctors and this foot condition. Bunions. What a word. What an old-sounding word. No wonder Miss C was giggling every time we said that word last night at her house.

My appointment is for next week. An initial consultation and examination, and he will probably take x-rays next week as well. I've asked my husband to come to the appointment with me... he will remember more than I will, because I'm already nervous about all of this and if I continue to be nervous, whatever the doctor tells me will go in one ear and out the other because all I'll be thinking about is the surgery part. Surgery. I've never had any sort of surgery before. Which is why I'm nervous.

We'll see what happens. I will make the decision after I see the doctor. I have to say that I'm leaning towards getting the operation done. Not just on the right foot that's been bothering me, but on the other as well, as soon as I can after the first foot is done. Having this operation means taking it easy for eight weeks, while I go back and forth to the medical office for the therapy. Eight weeks. There goes the rest of the summer, so I figure I may as well take care of both feet now so I don't have to look forward to doing this again next summer (which is what C's mom is doing).

Eight weeks. I will have to ask Miss C to drive me to the shelters when I deliver the pajamas, which I know she will be more than happy to do. I will hate that most of all-- not being able to drive.

One day at a time. One foot at a time. One bunion at a time. Give me a blessed break.