Actual conversation:

Daisy(musing): I don’t remember ever seeing so many crashes in ski events during any other Winter Olympics.

Daisy (to self): Then again, I haven’t really watched as much of any previous Winter Olympics.

It’s true. This year, I was home on medical leave, recovering from major surgery. I was resting on the couch, coffee cup by my side, laptop nearby and television on for most of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Amigo and I had a lot of fun watching and listening and discussing various events by day, and Chuck and I enjoyed evening shows.

Some Daisy style observations:

Snowboarders are fearless and amazing people. Add freestyle skiers to that definition, too. Shaun White, despite not medaling, was a classy guy who celebrated his opponents’ successes.

Figure skating judging will forever be questioned because of the combination of skill and style. Let’s not begrudge anyone the gold, even if she has home crowd advantage.

I enjoyed the Today Show each morning, too. They managed to interview all the recent medal winners and media darlings and have fun doing it, too. With the time difference, I would watch the day closing in the mountains above Sochi while I watched the sun come up here in Wisconsin. It was a pleasant way to start my day while recovering and healing from a major surgery.

I did have a few favorites. I liked seeing the back stories from the athletes, even those back stories presented through commercials. There was a short feature on figure skating costumes, especially the women’s costumes. Those little bitty pieces of fabric are expensive!

A friend on Facebook mulled over a question that seems to have no answer. How is it that USA bobsleds are designed by BMW, but figure skates look the same as the pair you would buy at Goodwill or Play it Again Sports? Input, anyone? Speed skating has gone through a few skate changes, but what about figure skating?

My favorite interview and my favorite moment remains Ice Dancing. Meryl Davis and Charlie White, Midwestern young people from Michigan, skating together since they were young, brought home the gold medal. Suddenly, ice dancing is a Big Thing in the U.S. And then, during the interview, it came out that Charlie also plays violin. He’d casually promised the Today Show that if they won gold, he would play for them. I’m sure he never dreamed he’d be pushed to follow through, but when they presented him with a borrowed violin, he did.

Gold medal performance, it wasn’t, but his moment in the spotlight still spoke volumes for the arts, for music, and for well-rounded young athletes.

photo from Classical Lite dot com

So there you have it, folks, Daisy’s summary of the Winter Olympics. I won’t talk about hockey, or that Polar Vortex that’s coming from Canada to add insult to injury. If only they’d keep Justin Bieber, too.

I’m balancing restlessness with rest. I’m a bit wired, and it’s not from too much coffee. In fact, I fell asleep halfway through my first cup on Tuesday morning. I’m feeling energized, but if I overdo physically, I do hurt. Therefore, I state the obvious: I still take a lot of time to stay still on the couch and rest.

Buttercup, however, must have decided I’m no longer in need of her Service Rabbit attention. She shadowed me for my first week home. Now she’s keeping a more rabbit-like routine, finding sunspots midday, stretching out and napping, and sitting at my feet when she’s hungry.

Since Butters isn’t entertaining me, I look to the Interwebs. I think I need these two for school. My students would enjoy these if I stick the images into a virtual lesson at a surprising and attention-getting stage.

This one is a virtual school bunny, no doubt.

The final bunny isn’t studying; she’s avoiding her homework by masquerading as a slipper.

Sadie, La Petite’s bunny, “hiding”

Thanks to La Petite for Sadie’s pose. Thanks to the Daily Bunny for the others. Thanks to all my doctors, who keep me on the right track for healing.

I’m getting restless. It’s a sign of progress, a sign of continuing recovery from my latest battle with health issues, and it’s spring fever.

I actually did laundry today. Chuck is grateful.

I watered herbs in pots and started planning how to transplant a few of them. The rosemary is spread in three pots – I think it could use a bigger home, all in one. The same with the sage; it’s in two pots, neither of which is doing well. Time to move the sage, as well. This is definitely a sign of spring.

Chuck asked when I plan to put in seeds. He knows! He knows I have a timetable in mind. I have the seeds for tomato and pepper plants. I’ll put them in soon – next week or the following. In the warm spell we’re expecting (30 degree temps and above!) I’ll dig under the planting table and bring in the containers and tools I need. Then I’ll take a chance and go to Ace Hardware or the big box place that used to employ La Petite and buy potting soil and starting soil.

I read two books for my Book List project. Actually, I read one and read enough of the other to recognize that I’d already read it. Expect a post soon with short comments on potential curriculum.

I attended a work related webinar a few nights ago. Today I organized and typed up my notes to share with my colleagues. It’s a professional courtesy and will be a requirement if the Powers That Be ever start to realize that online sessions like this one are worthwhile and should count toward our required training time. Oops, bias showing, blood pressure rising.

Back to spring fever: my grow lights are working wonders on my indoor herbs. The basil in particular is growing like crazy. Two of the basil plants want to go to flower and seed. Maybe I’d better cut those two back and make a pesto. I’m sure I’ll have enough basil to cook up with the dandelions when spring really arrives.

In the meantime, I’ll read and I’ll water my plants and I’ll dip into Girl Scout cookies as soon as they arrive.