The One With The Pretty Pics
January 29, 2013 | Filed under: Stuff
Just spent the past two days in glorious, sunny, WARM San Francisco.
Okay, so not warm per se, but compared to Tahoe, it was practically bikini weather. Except I wasn’t there for bikini weather. I was there to see my spine surgeon, who works out of UCSF. Right next to where a little team called San Francisco Giants occasionally play. 
The good news. I love San Francisco and I love my spine surgeon. The bad news. I might have to have surgery at some point this year. More good news. If I do have surgery, I could be skiing by the 2014 season…
Food for thought. Anyway, while in the city we spent some time with Oldest! Oh how happy I am that she’s graduated from UCLA and working at her big girl job in San Francisco. It means she’s close! We had a lovely visit. And ate so much that I’m still full.
Oh and to the bum who started to ask me for money and then realized I was limping worse than he was and offered me his “Need Money, Can’t Work” sign, thank you. Never let it be said that San Franciscans aren’t caring and compassionate.
Posted by Jill @ 4:30 am | Make a Comment
Diane Engelhardt says:
Spine surgery is scary stuff! Lots to think about for you. Glad you got to see Oldest! It’s so neat to see them moving into their own lives. The Daughter just bought a first house a few months ago which is so fun. And my son is going to propose to his sweetie when he gets back from Afghanistan in a few months. This is her first deployment with no military experience and she is hanging in there! I love her!!!
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 4:38 amLiza says:
Surgery sucks, but just think about all the cookies you could eat while recovering. Glad you got to spend time with Oldest.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 4:45 amPatoct says:
Oh, those Giants (beat out my Dodgers this year – by a lot – I hate them – long time rivarly)
Glad you liked SF and your surgeon. Sounds like a good news, bad news situation with a good outcome.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 6:06 amNorthwoman says:
OK, I admit I’m not awake yet. But when I read the title of this on Twitter before I clicked to come to the page I read it as – “The One with the Pretty Pecs.” LOL. I enjoyed this.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 6:11 amGwen says:
Glad you got to spend time with the Oldest.
Spine surgery is scary but they make you do a lot of stuff before they do the surgery like shots in the back and physical therapy, but if the surgery gets you back the life you want, then that’s good. That’s what my spine surgeon always said he wanted to do for me was to help me get back to what I was doing before, which was horseback riding. And he did!
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 6:54 amMarcieR says:
Generosity should never be frowned upon.
I like your spirit too – very positive outlook.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 6:55 amMaryAnne says:
I’m sure the spine surgeon is THE BEST. He better be if he’s going to operate on our BEST WRITER.
I’m looking at a few operations, myself, this coming year and it’s daunting to say the least…but it’s a ‘must do’ if I’m going to walk w/o pain, so I know where you’re coming from. Glad to see you took in the warmer scenery and saw Oldest in her new ‘world’
Take care, Jill.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 7:00 amLaurie says:
I’m sorry about your back. Hope your doctor can fix you up.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 7:04 amAwesome that you got to spend time with your daughter. My son graduated from SJSU and has been out of the house for a while, plus his degree definitely helped job wise. Nice to see him thriving. Sounds like your daughter is too.
Go Giants!
Kimh says:
Hugs hope it won’t be tipo painful
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 8:15 amlove sf great pic, get some cookies
go niners
Roberta Giordano says:
Hope all goes well with your surgery. Had a few surgeries myself for back. Hope all goes well for you. Keep us posted.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 8:17 amVicki P says:
Sorry your trip to San Fran was to visit a surgeon but glad you were able to see your daughter! San Fran is on my list of places to visit!
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 8:20 amDenise says:
Glad to hear good news on your back. Such positive sking by 2014!!! Sounds like you have a good doctor.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 8:21 amLSUReader says:
You’re in my thoughts and prayers, Jill. Feel better!
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 8:42 amCatherine says:
I love that the man offered you his sign. Too cute.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 8:45 amTracy Gilpin says:
Glad your visit with your surgeon went well…of course, the question is – do you ski?? And happy to hear you got visit with oldest while there. Too funny about the man with the sign! Guess you’re going to need more cookies!
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 8:52 amshannon says:
Sorry about the back issues, how miserable. The guy who offered you the sign though, Too funny. Thanks for the laugh.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 8:52 amKelly W. says:
Best of luck to you, Jill. I’m sending hugs and positive thoughts your way. And the man with the sign musn’t know that Taco Bell is just waiting for you to fill out an application!
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 9:20 amAllie says:
I am glad to hear the spine surgeon had at least one solution to offer. Surgery is no picnic, but constant pain is certainly not a welcome thing.
Loved your photos. All that sunshine. Beautiful.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 9:28 amSue Peace says:
Good luck, Jill! You sound pretty positive about it all, glad to hear they might be able to help you!
I LOVED San Francisco! I want to go back! Too bad it’s such a long drive from here…though really I’m sure we could make it in a couple of days!
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 9:37 amSue Peace says:
Actually what’s really funny is before I even turned on the computer this morning I poured my coffee into my San Francisco mug.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 9:38 amGwen D. says:
Lots of hugs & good wishes.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 10:17 amKaron says:
Jill – so glad you are so in love with SF and that you can see the humor in a situation even when you’re in pain. Don’t put off the surgery. You need to be able to do the traveling, pain free, you do every year for your books. You also need to be able to enjoy your snow-shoeing with the dogs as well as skiing. Otherwise, you may as well give up your home and move back to SF.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 10:22 ammichelle says:
Loved the pictures… I want to get there one day. Glad you had some good news. Sorry surgery may be involved.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 10:29 amMaxcine says:
Loved the pictures and the story about the guy offering you his sign. Sorry about the surgery, hope it all goes well. I am still in the stage of trying other things for mine as surgery scares me to death, I will be watching how you do and might change my mind about it as it is really a pain to be this way. Glad are so positive about it.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 12:06 pmCarol O. says:
Sorry to hear about possible surgery but if it works to fix it, then it might be a good thing. Loved the pictures and the bum story.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 12:27 pmDonna M says:
Sounds like your spine doctor has a good solution to your back problems. Good luck whatever treatment is in the future. Wouldn’t it be great to ski again or snowshoe? Keep us posted. Glad you got to spend time in “sunny” San Francisco.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 12:32 pmGlittergirl says:
I like your good news/bad news attitude. You ended on good news! You’ll go great with the surgery with that attitude. Attitude is a lot of the way we heal. Keep us posted
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 12:38 pmKelly S says:
I feel your pain. My back spasmed on me on Sunday and I’m lying in bed until it calms down.
Also, last year I had shoulder surgey because of a torn tendon in my rotator’s cuff. My thought was, no one ever says, ‘wait until you’re older because you’ll heal faster then’. I figured do it right away and get it fixed. Now, on the potential root canal, I’m stalling.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 1:40 pmTammy says:
MY favorite city to vist! Hope all goes well and you get your back fixed soon. I’m getting in the middle of three lung procedures for my asthma so I can go play in Gulf of Mexico again. So I understand about wanting to play up in the mountains from when I was stationed at Travis, AFB. Hope you feel better soon and good luck with everything. I love your little Frat boy pictures.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 2:11 pmJudy F says:
Hope it all goes well for you.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 2:23 pmMarcy says:
Love the pics of sunny SF. I haven’t been there since I was a kid. Way too many years ago.
I’m glad the surgeon had good news for you. Keep us posted so we know when to concentrate our good thoughts your way.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 3:13 pmQuilt Lady says:
Surgery really sucks but look on the bright side you will be able to do more things after the surgery. I did fine just after my back surgery was up walking the same day, its just that I have a bad hip also which has to be replaced. My sister had back surgery and they had to put a cage in her back and she is doing great right now. So hang in there girl and get done what needs to be done.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 4:34 pmJeanne says:
I hope all goes well for you. Back problems are excruciating and limps are debilitating also not only for obvious reasons, but because the hip can become affected. Take care and if surgery is recommended, have it sooner rather than later. Quality of life is at stake here.
Anyway, after you’re back on your feet and feeling better and visiting Oldest in SF, have you ever seen the Japanese Gardens in Golden Gate Park? I haven’t been there since the kids were small, but we absolutely loved it!
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 6:29 pmEileen A-W says:
Only you would encounter someone asking for handouts who would offer you his sign. Hope you got a good laugh out that. It’s special being able to spend time with adult children who have adult jobs. Mine all live nearby, so I get to see them often. Yes I know how lucky I am. However, do realize 3 out of the 4 still live in our tiny house.
I love SF!! Hubby & I are planning a trip to visit the first week in April. We will visit my sister who lives near San Jose & his brother who lives near Yosemite Park in Mariposa. Do visit the Japanese Gardens. We didn’t the first time we were there, but did the second. It was beautiful.
It sounds like good news/bad news with your back. If surgery is recommended do it sooner rather than live with the pain. Just think of all the fun things & trouble you can get into you can do once you are back on your feet. Best wishes deciding on this.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 7:52 pmDiana says:
My hometown! Glad you had a good time here. Sending good thought your way!
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 8:39 pmaj dean says:
i was there two years ago and cant wait to go back but have to wait another year as i have plan for this years hols. glad you and alpha man got to see oldest. when i left home many many many many years ago i had to write a letter every week. well it was before email. and my mum would write back every week and we would phone each other week about. i still have those letters but lose my mum to cancer 13 and a half years ago. so when i miss her most i get the letters out.glad you like your specailist too.
Posted on January 29th, 2013 at 9:20 pmKathy says:
I’m in bed recovering from spine surgery – my surgeon has a very strict post-op protocol. It is no fun and the restrictions are a pain, but I can already tell there is improvement! Wasn’t my first choice, but multiple doctors said surgery was my only option so we pursued it. Only took four months and two appeals with my insurance to get approval – they were the real pain! Good luck with your back issues!
Posted on February 1st, 2013 at 3:21 pm