<p>This new iPad seems to occupy more and more of my time. I love Words with Friends.</p>
<p>When I had surgery years ago I finally got around to making Christmas ornaments. I had bought kits with the styrofoam shapes and sequins and beads. It cheered me up.</p>
<p>Reading can be very tiring the first week or so. I got several audiobooks, and it was nice to just sit back and listen. After that, puttering in the yard was a great way to get “up and walking” as is now recommended after surgery. My peach tree was pruned with the precision of a Bonsai that year. I think if iPad had been invented I would have spent quite a bit of time on Scrabble.</p>
<p>I had knee surgery last month and was off work for a week. I read a lot, worked numerous sudoku puzzles and crossword puzzles, watched movies, went through all the files in the file cabinet, took an occasional nap, deleted old e-mails from work, home and junk accounts, etc. If I knew how to knit or crochet, I probably would have done that. I used to smock and sew but my little girl is now 23 and the only young children in my family are nephews so it’s been a long time since I’ve done that. </p>
<p>Good luck with your upcoming surgery, fauxmaven. I hope it is successful and that you have a full and speedy recovery!</p>
<p>You can find some pretty interesting music on You Tube. There are live concerts recorded with Judy Collins, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Carole KIng, Cat Stevens, Elvis, Johnny Cash, etc. This is really a walk down memory lane and helps you to remember those earlier days.
Some sites even have the lyrics so you can sing along!
Have a wonderful recovery and enjoy your “free” time!</p>
<p>Write your life story. I’ve started a time line just listing what I did each year of my life. It’s amazing to remember what I thought I forgot.</p>
<p>Speaking from experience…I had surgery after the first of the year and my dd game me her kindle to use for entertainment. I quickly decided I would like to have one also and knew she missed hers, so returned it to her and my dh gave me one for Valentines day. BTW, I suggest if you can help it to have surgery during the winter months, since you won’t want to get out in the nasty cold weather anyway. I also caught up on some scrapbooking that I love, but never have the time to do.</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>Start multiple silly CC threads.</p>
<p>What a great idea ! Silly threads…did you see my thread on introducing yourself ? Lots of fun there . Perhaps a survey on your favorite frying pan ? First kiss ?</p>
<p>Or favorite fictional use of a frying pan? Mine is the magical “frying pan of doom” in a story by Patricia Wrede.</p>
<p>My mom did cross stitch when she was laid up. I suppose I’d just waste even more time playing with my I-touch.</p>
<p>Happymom: another Patricia Wrede reader?! Lovely.</p>
<p>Fauxmaven: I’ve recovered from surgery twice. Friends will call and ask how they can help. Give them specific jobs: please come on Tuesday and take me to the store, please bring me a mocha on Thursday afternoon. Spread them out so you have some social exposure on a regular basis.</p>
<p>My mom read almost 100 books in the year she started chemotherapy.</p>
<p>It may be a good idea to time your entertainment based on the progress you’re making in your recovery.</p>
<p>In the first few days, you may be rather drained, tired from the surgery, taking multiple drugs that affect how you feel and function, and perhaps physically uncomfortable. The most appealing entertainment at this time is the very undemanding kind. Really dumb TV shows work well here, as do re-reads of books you have read before and have wanted to read again. </p>
<p>Later in your recovery, when you feel more like a normal person but your activities are still restricted by doctor’s orders, you may want something more challenging, such as a TV series with complex plotlines (from Netflix), a new computer game, or serious, unfamiliar literature.</p>