This year, Dad celebrated his 80-th birthday with a trip to the Kidney Doctor, where he was told to go on a very low potassium diet. He being diabetic, he can actually eat very little as it is - and now it is even less. But...
Showing posts with label Milestones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Milestones. Show all posts
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Happy Birthday Dad!
Over the Thanksgiving Day holiday, my older brother and I were out for a walk on the Delaware Canal towpath - it was a very nice late autumn day. The sun shone brightly against the white bark of the Sycamores.
My brother and I got to talking about a Thanksgiving a couple years ago, when my father was very ill and spent the holiday in the hospital, coming home only to have dinner with us on Thanksgiving day. We added up all the "life-threatening" moments he has had in the past few years - since his quintuple bypass surgery - and the tally stood at once every other year - for well over a decade.
This year, Dad celebrated his 80-th birthday with a trip to the Kidney Doctor, where he was told to go on a very low potassium diet. He being diabetic, he can actually eat very little as it is - and now it is even less. But...
On a dreary day, he and my mom were surprised by their Church and they had a nice celebration with folks that care about him (and good folks that they care about in return). He got some funny cards, some small gifts and a huge cake! Mom and I looked the other way while he enjoyed a small bit topped with creamy, sugary icing.
Happy Birthday Dad! Keep plugging away!
This year, Dad celebrated his 80-th birthday with a trip to the Kidney Doctor, where he was told to go on a very low potassium diet. He being diabetic, he can actually eat very little as it is - and now it is even less. But...
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Mother's Day and Graduations
Last weekend, I went to upstate (Rochester) NY to attend my nephew's graduation. It is a 7 hour drive one-way, so the ride is rather tiring. I took my parents up. My oldest nephew graduated on Sunday morning - the ceremony was held in the minor league ice hockey team's building downtown.
I never actually saw the college campus (Nazareth University). The younger nephew graduates this upcoming Saturday (Niagara College near Buffalo) but his is "limited attendance" (only four tickets), so we just celebrated his "while we were there" and of course we celebrated Mother's Day too! It was a party-harty weekend!
The weather was sunny - actually it was hot and sticky and in the 90s. Surprising for Rochester at this time of year (their daffodils just bloomed last week!) I would visit them more often - but 14 hours of driving for a weekend doesn't work out so well!
The stage was within easy view.
My nephew was not quite lost in the crowd. I see him in there!
The big moment - two hours into the ceremony.
Outside in the nice sunshine with a gentle cooling breeze, the nephews are besieged with photo op requests.
Let's cram twenty people into the dinning room!
The cake was a work of art - I told my mom, the best thing about all this - is seeing my nephews smiling and happy. She replied, "That might be the best (grand)mother's day gift a mom could ever get.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
A walk in the canyon
This past weekend, I walked the Pine Creek trail located in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon just outside of Wellsboro, PA. It was quite cold in the morning but as the sun slowly warmed things up, it became more comfortable.
I totaled 62,550 steps and 26.8 miles. This is the second (and likely last) marathon length walk this year. I felt rewarded in that I had challenged myself and had "made it."
I was probably a week or two too late for the peak foliage - but it was still spectacular - I was enjoying the view so much, I forgot to take many photos (after my fingers thawed out that is!)
Next year, I am planning to walk the Lehigh Valley Gorge Rail Trail - the only questions are logistics and where to start and end!
Trail map showing 34 and 25 mile options.
:)
I totaled 62,550 steps and 26.8 miles. This is the second (and likely last) marathon length walk this year. I felt rewarded in that I had challenged myself and had "made it."
I was probably a week or two too late for the peak foliage - but it was still spectacular - I was enjoying the view so much, I forgot to take many photos (after my fingers thawed out that is!)
Next year, I am planning to walk the Lehigh Valley Gorge Rail Trail - the only questions are logistics and where to start and end!
Trail map showing 34 and 25 mile options.
:)
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Will the last person out...
...turn off the lights?
It was with certain feelings of sadness that I closed up the houseboat for the season this past weekend. I always hate to see the end of a season - with its uncertainty as to what the winter and the next year will bring. This past boating season was a mixed one - interrupted for a long stretch in July when my dad suffered a heart attack - it was also interrupted by a number of rainy weekends too.
I did however, enjoy getting to meet the dogs, Huckleberry, Newfie, and the new wharf dog, a black Labrador named Gracie. Gracie provided a bit of comic relief a couple weeks ago as she got her head stuck in a red bucket that held feed corn for the ducks, geese, and chickens. Unable to shake it off, she ran around the parking lot like a maniac until she rammed into a parked black pickup truck - the impact freed her head from the bucket and the appearance of the "huge truck that came out of nowhere" scared her witless. She jumped up and backwards at least three feet! The owner of the truck, and the owner of the wharf and I witness this cavorting and broke out in laughter.
Huckleberry and Newfie are the "tree farm guard dogs" - but neither of them seem to see many people and both are as shy as can be. I started carrying "Beggin' Strips" when I walked up the long wharf road past the tree farm to see if I could tempt them. The first meeting was uncertain, just as Huckleberry was just (finally!) going to allow me to pet him, my cellphone beeped for an incoming text message - that startled him so badly he took off and soon had a hundred yards between us! The two dog slowly warmed to me, however as the weekends went by - and this past weekend, I was met at the farm boundary by two drooling dogs in search of a head pat (I suppose they actually just wanted a Beggin' Strip).
The boats are being taken out of the Chester River, one by one and the Water's Edge will be out within the week.
Until next year... I leave my water-borne friends and neighbors.
..and get ready for the "Pumpkin Season," those 6-7 weeks between now and Thanksgiving. I do enjoy the cool air and the changing leaves. Recently, I went to the Morris Arboretum and looked at the scarecrow contestants. They are in my Flickr account (here). I think you will enjoy them. They are so creative!
It was with certain feelings of sadness that I closed up the houseboat for the season this past weekend. I always hate to see the end of a season - with its uncertainty as to what the winter and the next year will bring. This past boating season was a mixed one - interrupted for a long stretch in July when my dad suffered a heart attack - it was also interrupted by a number of rainy weekends too.
I did however, enjoy getting to meet the dogs, Huckleberry, Newfie, and the new wharf dog, a black Labrador named Gracie. Gracie provided a bit of comic relief a couple weeks ago as she got her head stuck in a red bucket that held feed corn for the ducks, geese, and chickens. Unable to shake it off, she ran around the parking lot like a maniac until she rammed into a parked black pickup truck - the impact freed her head from the bucket and the appearance of the "huge truck that came out of nowhere" scared her witless. She jumped up and backwards at least three feet! The owner of the truck, and the owner of the wharf and I witness this cavorting and broke out in laughter.
Huckleberry and Newfie are the "tree farm guard dogs" - but neither of them seem to see many people and both are as shy as can be. I started carrying "Beggin' Strips" when I walked up the long wharf road past the tree farm to see if I could tempt them. The first meeting was uncertain, just as Huckleberry was just (finally!) going to allow me to pet him, my cellphone beeped for an incoming text message - that startled him so badly he took off and soon had a hundred yards between us! The two dog slowly warmed to me, however as the weekends went by - and this past weekend, I was met at the farm boundary by two drooling dogs in search of a head pat (I suppose they actually just wanted a Beggin' Strip).
The boats are being taken out of the Chester River, one by one and the Water's Edge will be out within the week.
Until next year... I leave my water-borne friends and neighbors.
..and get ready for the "Pumpkin Season," those 6-7 weeks between now and Thanksgiving. I do enjoy the cool air and the changing leaves. Recently, I went to the Morris Arboretum and looked at the scarecrow contestants. They are in my Flickr account (here). I think you will enjoy them. They are so creative!
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Division of Family
Yesterday, after a brutal (for me) workout at the YMCA (1 hour on a treadmill at four miles per hour on a 15% slope), I stopped by the field my niece was warming up in for a soccer match to say "Good bye and Good luck" to her since she heads off on Friday to her first year of college.
It seems like only yesterday I gave her a stuffed Tigger that was nearly as big as she was for Christmas. I recall her laughing and running around with him with wild abandon and watching her dress him up, insisting Tigger was a "she."
I have another photo of her somewhere where she is about the same age, after she opened a gift of a razor scooter - one she badly wanted. I caught her eyes popping wide as the wrapping paper fell away from the box. I treasure the photo but I treasure that simple moment of joy even more.
In the years since, I've watched her grow and mature into a fine young woman - she played cello in a chamber music ensemble, the orchestra at school, and performed at a number of dance recitals with her proud uncle watching.
On the way home, in a selfish moment, I thought to myself, I didn't have any uncles or aunts see me off to college and thought it out. Family divisions - caused by the usual "list of characters" was responsible for this.
My dad being an only child, I had only two aunt and uncle sets - my mom's much older brother and sister and from them I was separated by geography and generational age. Their children, my cousins, were all 10-15 years older than I, and as I was growing up - that made them "unapproachable adults" and not people to play childhood games with. The Aunt lived 380 miles away in Boston, and the Uncle lived 2800 miles away in Los Angeles.
So the aunts and uncles in my life where all actually my dad's aunt's and uncles and my "greats." Age again - caused a divide but there was another divide - petty family squabbles - that ran deep and turned to poison.
Without boring you with the details - my great-grandfather "parted ways" with his two brothers - over a squabble at the family business - he left and started his own - and thus was forever "mad" at Thomas Charles and Russell. You may remember Thomas Charles was Franklin, Elmer and Marshall's father. Russell was the WWI machine gunner that was wounded in the Argonne Forest. This separation meant - that even though the three sons lived into the 1990's - and lived nearby - I never met them.
Another family business squabble - this time between my Grandfather and his mother - after my great-grandfather died - caused ill-feelings between my Grandfather and his mother's family (all of whom, I met only once at a family reunion, are very nice people.) So those distant family members were "lost to me" while growing up.
My Grandfather had three sisters - between them, they had 4 children. Aunt Ann was childless, my (great) Aunt Marian had two sons and a daughter and my Aunt Mary had a son named Pat (who had Down's Syndrome). Pat was a sweet, but big and gruff (6' 2" 280 pounds) guy that seemed to behave in an unpredictable manner that was off-putting to me as a young boy. I have since learned better. Marian's children might have been in the social circle except...
...she worked with (and unfortunately, for) my Grandfather, Harry, as the bookkeeper in the family business - and one day, the day to day tensions of working together - spilled over and unkind words were spoken - and my Aunt Marion walked out to never return.
I recently found a letter, written by my Grandmother on April 26, 1967 to my "honorary Aunt Bea" that made me cringe -
I may not particularly like my sister-in-law and niece's mother - but I have tried to make sure that this (mutual) feeling has not prevented me from being involved in my niece's life. I have gained much to treasure from doing so - and can hope, somewhere down the line, my niece might feel the same. This bitter family lesson on how to watch what one says in the "heat of the moment" and to be a little more forgiving was hard earned and too late to cure the divides.
It seems like only yesterday I gave her a stuffed Tigger that was nearly as big as she was for Christmas. I recall her laughing and running around with him with wild abandon and watching her dress him up, insisting Tigger was a "she."
I have another photo of her somewhere where she is about the same age, after she opened a gift of a razor scooter - one she badly wanted. I caught her eyes popping wide as the wrapping paper fell away from the box. I treasure the photo but I treasure that simple moment of joy even more.
In the years since, I've watched her grow and mature into a fine young woman - she played cello in a chamber music ensemble, the orchestra at school, and performed at a number of dance recitals with her proud uncle watching.
On the way home, in a selfish moment, I thought to myself, I didn't have any uncles or aunts see me off to college and thought it out. Family divisions - caused by the usual "list of characters" was responsible for this.
My dad being an only child, I had only two aunt and uncle sets - my mom's much older brother and sister and from them I was separated by geography and generational age. Their children, my cousins, were all 10-15 years older than I, and as I was growing up - that made them "unapproachable adults" and not people to play childhood games with. The Aunt lived 380 miles away in Boston, and the Uncle lived 2800 miles away in Los Angeles.
So the aunts and uncles in my life where all actually my dad's aunt's and uncles and my "greats." Age again - caused a divide but there was another divide - petty family squabbles - that ran deep and turned to poison.
Without boring you with the details - my great-grandfather "parted ways" with his two brothers - over a squabble at the family business - he left and started his own - and thus was forever "mad" at Thomas Charles and Russell. You may remember Thomas Charles was Franklin, Elmer and Marshall's father. Russell was the WWI machine gunner that was wounded in the Argonne Forest. This separation meant - that even though the three sons lived into the 1990's - and lived nearby - I never met them.
Another family business squabble - this time between my Grandfather and his mother - after my great-grandfather died - caused ill-feelings between my Grandfather and his mother's family (all of whom, I met only once at a family reunion, are very nice people.) So those distant family members were "lost to me" while growing up.
My Grandfather had three sisters - between them, they had 4 children. Aunt Ann was childless, my (great) Aunt Marian had two sons and a daughter and my Aunt Mary had a son named Pat (who had Down's Syndrome). Pat was a sweet, but big and gruff (6' 2" 280 pounds) guy that seemed to behave in an unpredictable manner that was off-putting to me as a young boy. I have since learned better. Marian's children might have been in the social circle except...
...she worked with (and unfortunately, for) my Grandfather, Harry, as the bookkeeper in the family business - and one day, the day to day tensions of working together - spilled over and unkind words were spoken - and my Aunt Marion walked out to never return.
I recently found a letter, written by my Grandmother on April 26, 1967 to my "honorary Aunt Bea" that made me cringe -
Monday, April 8, 2013
The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of the Feet
As you know, a year and a half ago, while I was doing some photographs of gravestones requested by Find-A-Grave members, I found myself short of breath and nearly passed out amongst the mossy stones. Early the next morning, I did pass out on the way from my bed to the bathroom, a few short feet away. Alarmed, I got myself to the emergency room, and there, after much poking, prodding and testing, it was determined that I had been waylaid by a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in my lungs.
The images showed that the probable source of the clots (there were three larger ones in my lungs) was the calf of my left leg. Forced off my feet for a bit, I was unable to walk much, and unfortunately my weight ballooned.
After several weeks of intense Physical Therapy for my shoulder, I was able to walk more normally, swinging my arms as I did so - for the first time in many months. I was able to use the treadmill at the local YMCA as well as the swimming pool, and with some effort (mostly stubborn muleheadedness) I worked myself to the point were I could walk 90 minutes at 3 1/2 miles an hour on a 8 percent incline.
The Doctor asked me if I felt "recovered," and my answer was "I don't know. I'd have to test myself."
So yesterday morning found me at the Hamburg Reservoir, (north of Reading, Pennsylvania) and looking at a sign that said "Commemorating the Appalachian Trail - 75 Years - 1937 to 2012 - Georgia to Maine. This sign is at the foot of Blue Mountain and near the location of the now long gone Winsor Furnace and the famous Hawk Mountain.
I used to walk up the mountain here when I was in Boy Scouts (many years ago) and have not attempted the rather strenuous hike in years. Could I do it? The path from the parking lot looked daunting.
About 1/2 a mile of steady walking up the path brought me to the crystal clear waters of the reservoir. The morning was cool, but I had started to sweat pretty freely from the exertion.
After stopping only once for a minute to catch my breath at a particularly steep part of the trail, I at long last reach the ridge line trail. I exulted! "I did it!" The trail from here to the overlook, while long and rocky, is basically level. One step after another, I plodded onwards. After some time, I spotted a neon yellow vest ahead, "I'm catching up to someone! Me!! Slow pokey me!" and then the vest disappeared at a bend in the trail.
"Oh well," I thought, "I guess they got their second wind." And onwards I went. The path getting more rocky and difficult. Suddenly, I was spooked by a voice behind me!
It was a lady wearing a neon yellow vest and two friends of hers, walking determinedly behind me. "Where did they come from? I thought to myself?" as they eventually overtook me and went by me. Somewhat befuddled by the exertion of the hike, and confused by the need to eat, I let the mystery of their appearance go. By that time, we were nearly at the overlook.
"Ugh! Look at the rocks underfoot, now I remember why I didn't come up here all that often!" I slowly scrambled over them and at long last, the object of my walk came into view. The Pinnacle. 1635 feet above sea-level, and 920 feet above the level of the parking lot, the overlook is spectacular. The three ladies that passed me asked me to take their photograph, which I did, asking them, "I thought I saw you ahead of me, and then you spooked me coming up behind me."
With a loud voice, overheard by the dozen or so people sitting in the rocks around us, one of the ladies says, "Jenny had to stop and pee!"
My brain flickered, and I thought, "oh...Oh... OH!!!!"
After a brief snack on a cool rock, during which I congratulated myself for having made it to the top. I started back down the hill, still working on getting arm around so I could pat myself on the back, when I saw three young guys in shorts and t-shirts RUN up the path I had so laboriously trod.
Now that burst my bubble! :)
The images showed that the probable source of the clots (there were three larger ones in my lungs) was the calf of my left leg. Forced off my feet for a bit, I was unable to walk much, and unfortunately my weight ballooned.
After several weeks of intense Physical Therapy for my shoulder, I was able to walk more normally, swinging my arms as I did so - for the first time in many months. I was able to use the treadmill at the local YMCA as well as the swimming pool, and with some effort (mostly stubborn muleheadedness) I worked myself to the point were I could walk 90 minutes at 3 1/2 miles an hour on a 8 percent incline.
The Doctor asked me if I felt "recovered," and my answer was "I don't know. I'd have to test myself."
So yesterday morning found me at the Hamburg Reservoir, (north of Reading, Pennsylvania) and looking at a sign that said "Commemorating the Appalachian Trail - 75 Years - 1937 to 2012 - Georgia to Maine. This sign is at the foot of Blue Mountain and near the location of the now long gone Winsor Furnace and the famous Hawk Mountain.
I used to walk up the mountain here when I was in Boy Scouts (many years ago) and have not attempted the rather strenuous hike in years. Could I do it? The path from the parking lot looked daunting.
About 1/2 a mile of steady walking up the path brought me to the crystal clear waters of the reservoir. The morning was cool, but I had started to sweat pretty freely from the exertion.
At the far end of the reservoir a small stream trickles down from the heights and the path wends its way through the green rhododendron bushes. I said to myself, "Okay, slow and steady. Its about a mile and half climb from here to the ridge line."
Time seemed to slow, the only sounds were the gurgling of the stream beside me, and the call of the birds lost from view high in the still bare trees.
At length, I passed a couple walking hand and hand that stopped and said, "Gorgeous morning!" And I replied, "Indeed it is!"
After stopping only once for a minute to catch my breath at a particularly steep part of the trail, I at long last reach the ridge line trail. I exulted! "I did it!" The trail from here to the overlook, while long and rocky, is basically level. One step after another, I plodded onwards. After some time, I spotted a neon yellow vest ahead, "I'm catching up to someone! Me!! Slow pokey me!" and then the vest disappeared at a bend in the trail.
It was a lady wearing a neon yellow vest and two friends of hers, walking determinedly behind me. "Where did they come from? I thought to myself?" as they eventually overtook me and went by me. Somewhat befuddled by the exertion of the hike, and confused by the need to eat, I let the mystery of their appearance go. By that time, we were nearly at the overlook.
With a loud voice, overheard by the dozen or so people sitting in the rocks around us, one of the ladies says, "Jenny had to stop and pee!"
My brain flickered, and I thought, "oh...Oh... OH!!!!"
Now that burst my bubble! :)
Friday, March 29, 2013
In the 80's!!
No, it's not 80 degrees F here...
Nor is there an 1980's theme party going on...
It has been 80+ days since I last published an entry here.
As of yesterday, I have lost 80+ pounds on that strict diet I was put on prior to the shoulder operation.
As of yesterday, I have regained 80+ degrees in my range of motion (and I'm promised there will be much more to come!)
Physical Therapy has been brutal and exciting at the same time. The workouts at the YMCA (in the pool and in the gym) have been tough but I'm feeling like a young man again. Yesterday, I was told to take a stroll on the treadmill. It was set for 7% slope (yikes!) and 3.2 miles per hour. I managed to "hang in there" for 90 minutes, covering 5.25 miles and "climbing" over 1600 feet! I feel the old, walk 7 miles a day form coming back to me.
As a side effect, really, that's what the Doctor calls it, I've been taken off four (yes 4!) of the eight medications I was on - and in April (hey, that's next Monday!) I will learn if I will be taken off the remainder. I've already been taken off the most brutal one for me to manage, no more insulin for me!
So, 80 days... they've been very busy with healing, therapy, work outs, learning how to eat right, and of course, catching up at work. With the (hopeful?) onset of Spring, I should be able to resume my walks with camera in hand, ready to take photos of anything that strikes my fancy, and things I would want to share with any of you that are still reading this... including rascally squirrels, whimsical OCHAs, and other imponderables.
I have much reading to catch up - and beg your forbearance - some of you have 80+ unread entries in my reader - and likely and sadly, I'll never be able to read them all. I'm pleased to be back... and at feeling 80%+
Nor is there an 1980's theme party going on...
It has been 80+ days since I last published an entry here.
As of yesterday, I have lost 80+ pounds on that strict diet I was put on prior to the shoulder operation.
As of yesterday, I have regained 80+ degrees in my range of motion (and I'm promised there will be much more to come!)
Physical Therapy has been brutal and exciting at the same time. The workouts at the YMCA (in the pool and in the gym) have been tough but I'm feeling like a young man again. Yesterday, I was told to take a stroll on the treadmill. It was set for 7% slope (yikes!) and 3.2 miles per hour. I managed to "hang in there" for 90 minutes, covering 5.25 miles and "climbing" over 1600 feet! I feel the old, walk 7 miles a day form coming back to me.
As a side effect, really, that's what the Doctor calls it, I've been taken off four (yes 4!) of the eight medications I was on - and in April (hey, that's next Monday!) I will learn if I will be taken off the remainder. I've already been taken off the most brutal one for me to manage, no more insulin for me!
So, 80 days... they've been very busy with healing, therapy, work outs, learning how to eat right, and of course, catching up at work. With the (hopeful?) onset of Spring, I should be able to resume my walks with camera in hand, ready to take photos of anything that strikes my fancy, and things I would want to share with any of you that are still reading this... including rascally squirrels, whimsical OCHAs, and other imponderables.
I have much reading to catch up - and beg your forbearance - some of you have 80+ unread entries in my reader - and likely and sadly, I'll never be able to read them all. I'm pleased to be back... and at feeling 80%+
Monday, November 7, 2011
4 Miles in the Sunshine
Hi there!
I know I've not posted in a while - I've been "out of commission" for a couple weeks but am feeling much better each day. Today, I managed to walk four miles in the pleasant Indian Summer sunshine and am very pleasantly tired now.
While most of you know, I had several pulmonary embolisms (emboli?) and was (literally) knocked off my feet for the better part of a week - and forced to go to the "Three A-Em Acupuncture Spa" (otherwise known as Mercy Suburban Hospital) and turned into a human pin cushion. I'm still bruised from the various needles used to inject or pull out fluids. The food was okay - but the wee hour awakenings for blood pressure, blood samples, and injections of blood thinners kind of sucked.
Umm.. some of the nurses were kind of cute - but I didn't really care all that much - I just wanted to go home and take a shower pretty much from day one (hour one?)
I was greeted by a substantial pile of extra-special "good mail" when I returned home from the Spa. A long hot shower and couple nights of uninterrupted sleep were total bliss! I've been "faithful" taking my medicine - and have been given the green-light to return to work full time - and told to build up to where I was with my walking.
Today and yesterday the weather was perfect - and found me outdoors walking (oh-so-slowly) but steadily... passed not only by women passing baby strollers loaded with hundreds of pounds of baby, baby supplies and baby toys... but also by turtles, burrowing moles and even little ants.
But I felt marvelous - I took some pictures - but first I have to thank everyone for their get well wishes and for the extra-special good mail which I opened Friday and today - enjoying my birthday more that I have in years.
So what do you think is in those boxes, envelopes and behind the gift wrappings?
I'll tell you next time! :)
I know I've not posted in a while - I've been "out of commission" for a couple weeks but am feeling much better each day. Today, I managed to walk four miles in the pleasant Indian Summer sunshine and am very pleasantly tired now.
While most of you know, I had several pulmonary embolisms (emboli?) and was (literally) knocked off my feet for the better part of a week - and forced to go to the "Three A-Em Acupuncture Spa" (otherwise known as Mercy Suburban Hospital) and turned into a human pin cushion. I'm still bruised from the various needles used to inject or pull out fluids. The food was okay - but the wee hour awakenings for blood pressure, blood samples, and injections of blood thinners kind of sucked.
Umm.. some of the nurses were kind of cute - but I didn't really care all that much - I just wanted to go home and take a shower pretty much from day one (hour one?)
I was greeted by a substantial pile of extra-special "good mail" when I returned home from the Spa. A long hot shower and couple nights of uninterrupted sleep were total bliss! I've been "faithful" taking my medicine - and have been given the green-light to return to work full time - and told to build up to where I was with my walking.
Today and yesterday the weather was perfect - and found me outdoors walking (oh-so-slowly) but steadily... passed not only by women passing baby strollers loaded with hundreds of pounds of baby, baby supplies and baby toys... but also by turtles, burrowing moles and even little ants.
But I felt marvelous - I took some pictures - but first I have to thank everyone for their get well wishes and for the extra-special good mail which I opened Friday and today - enjoying my birthday more that I have in years.
So what do you think is in those boxes, envelopes and behind the gift wrappings?
I'll tell you next time! :)
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Post 1,000 - at long last
This is my 1,000th blog entry -
It has been nearly four years since I started blogging, and many things have happened in the interim.
Some of the people that came here on day one have come and gone, and today there are some people that read this blog that have started doing so much more recently.
While I greatly miss those from the "early days", I know that they haven't really "gone" as I still see and hear from (or about) them from time to time, it is you, today's reader, that I welcome here and enjoy seeing and hearing about.
A thousand posts! I thought I would review what I've written and pick some entries that I think are perhaps a little better than the rest.
Some of these are recent - but some of them go back to my 'early' blogging days. In each case, I was in a mental state where I could do nothing else until I finished writing them.
I've rated them (S) - Serious; (SH) - Serious, but not so much; (H) - Hopefully humorous.
In which I own up to some shortcomings - (S)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - My Hands
In which a collection of old wooden boat pictures and a late night chat with some one that wasn't feeling their sunniest evokes some pondering - (S)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 - When Friends Struggle
My first head over heels crush and how it didn't work out. Don't worry, I'm over it (finally, sort of...) - (SH)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - Life's Embarrassing Moments (LBE)
In which I try to take a blind person with me on a virtual walk - (S)
Monday, August 25, 2008 - Birds of a Feather (LBE)
In which I took a walk, hugged a tree, and ran home to write about it - (SH)
Sunday, November 16, 2008 - Confessions of a Tree Hugger
And possibly my absolute favorite - the entry that started the orange traffic cone madness - I remember running home after a walk to download the pictures and hammering away at the keyboard until my fingers went numb - (H)
Tuesday, January 8, 2008 - The Scary Real World
There are some other entries to which I would admit a certain fondness. I have a category for those called 'Personal Favorite'. However I hope none of you ever get bored enough to actually go there though - I might have to send the men in the white coats over to collect you!
I thank you for taking the time to read the stuff I toss into the blogosphere - I hope that in the end, I've added something worthwhile. I know the effort to do so has given me, something very worthwhile - the warmth of friendship and a connection to those I admire that live beyond a short journey to meet.
It has been nearly four years since I started blogging, and many things have happened in the interim.
Some of the people that came here on day one have come and gone, and today there are some people that read this blog that have started doing so much more recently.
While I greatly miss those from the "early days", I know that they haven't really "gone" as I still see and hear from (or about) them from time to time, it is you, today's reader, that I welcome here and enjoy seeing and hearing about.
A thousand posts! I thought I would review what I've written and pick some entries that I think are perhaps a little better than the rest.
Some of these are recent - but some of them go back to my 'early' blogging days. In each case, I was in a mental state where I could do nothing else until I finished writing them.
I've rated them (S) - Serious; (SH) - Serious, but not so much; (H) - Hopefully humorous.
In which I own up to some shortcomings - (S)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - My Hands
In which a collection of old wooden boat pictures and a late night chat with some one that wasn't feeling their sunniest evokes some pondering - (S)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 - When Friends Struggle
My first head over heels crush and how it didn't work out. Don't worry, I'm over it (finally, sort of...) - (SH)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - Life's Embarrassing Moments (LBE)
In which I try to take a blind person with me on a virtual walk - (S)
Monday, August 25, 2008 - Birds of a Feather (LBE)
In which I took a walk, hugged a tree, and ran home to write about it - (SH)
Sunday, November 16, 2008 - Confessions of a Tree Hugger
And possibly my absolute favorite - the entry that started the orange traffic cone madness - I remember running home after a walk to download the pictures and hammering away at the keyboard until my fingers went numb - (H)
Tuesday, January 8, 2008 - The Scary Real World
There are some other entries to which I would admit a certain fondness. I have a category for those called 'Personal Favorite'. However I hope none of you ever get bored enough to actually go there though - I might have to send the men in the white coats over to collect you!
I thank you for taking the time to read the stuff I toss into the blogosphere - I hope that in the end, I've added something worthwhile. I know the effort to do so has given me, something very worthwhile - the warmth of friendship and a connection to those I admire that live beyond a short journey to meet.
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