Number 4

Number 3

Pen and Ink only

Today's Workout

setting 14 / L9/8/10); 12 min (with 3 minute L6 WU). 3 min cool down on setting 12/ L6 to get that knee bending just a bit more. want to have it fully back by next doc's appt.

Today's Workout

Today's workout was simply walking and using the cryo-cuff with Warm water. nice.

52

the Angry Pakistani

the Tub

What a mess! (did I leave it that way?? no wonder KB might get annoyed!)

No work out today. The Tub instead.

Today's Workout

Setting 14 / L9 / 12 minutes / 2.63 miles / 63 calories.
Plus a walk down the creek trail. The trail is spectacular with fall colors; multitude of grasses, reeds, fall leaves. Tried a plein air watercolor (not so good) but good to get out and enjoy a great fall afternoon. Haven't seen the creek in a month and nice to take a walk. Sunday is daylight savings time too, so we won't have that afternoon sun much longer.

Today's Workout

After the last post, Ben in his wigglin' ways was so excited to see KB when she got home that he crashed into me. Good thing I had my brace on.

ok, today's workout: Setting 14 / L9 -L8-L7 / 10 minutes / 2.48 miles, 48 calories.

Warm up was the simple joy of walking around the neighborhood, checking out the Halloween stuff. I haven't walked the neighborhood for about 6 weeks and it was nice.

now, I'm sore and tired and ready for a shower.

...and those flunkies at work think that I'm goofing off and really I'm focused on the rehab! (and a little fun).

Le Workout del Giorno

Setting 15 / L9 / 11 min / 2.55 miles / 55 calories

Dang that felt good. I walked to the clubhouse only to realize that I forgot the clubhouse key. Had to walk back, but even that felt great and a good warmup to the bike.

Today's Workout

Busy at the club house but a guy let me do some time on the stationary bike.
Setting 16, L9, 8 minutes, 1.53 miles, 33 calories.

felt good to work on a bit of strength.

Sunday-day of rest

no workout today. Hardest part is getting some solid sack time. Monday will continue with rehab workout (and back to work, blahhhhh)

Today's Workout

Setting 16 (should be OK here going forward) L7 / 10 min / 1.53 miles / 28 calories plus kicking teenagers out of the pool area.

Today's Workout

Setting 17, L7 / 8 min / 1.11 miles / 23 cal. Plus core, chest, pulldowns and a good cool down walk and IPA.

feels good. good progress today

The completed Sweater

and some of it's motivation.

I think it's cool!

Dogs drinking

KB and I analyzed the drinking patterns of both the dogs tonite. It's not that we were bored (as a matter of fact, she finished the sweater (see next entry) a full day ahead of schedule.) It just seemed like an unusually fun thing to do.

Geli, is loud, but as KB says, “if you had to drink like that you’d be loud too”, She's right. Sometimes I hate it how she's always so right.

Ben, however, has her beat by a good 2 dB and a splatter pattern of about 1-2 feet in diameter. That makes for fine cleanup when he has his morning milk (a side entry in itself, as he fully expects "morning milk" as we make our cups of mornin' Jo. Now, I wonder who indulges him there...???)

The byproduct of making croûtons is a lot of roasted garlic slices. Not just garlic, but Holy Garlic! garlic. Overroasted chucks and slices that you'd NEVER put in a tomato sauce. Turns out the dogs love em. Not really surprised that Ben took to em, but Geli is quite particular and will generally snub at anything not to her liking. She's also pretty decisive. One knows pretty quickly if she's in or out. The roasted garlic caught her nose, though. It happened to be sitting in a small bowl where I was snacking on the above mentioned croûtons. With her usual tact, she let me know she wanted to have a look-see-smell.

So, we did. All of us.

Actually, the garlic has a pleasant roasted odor and at first taste a nice roasted flavor, too. (This is our assessment. The dogs were less than articulate about the matter) However, keep chewing for another 10 seconds and you get a LONG lasting bitter aftertaste. (we had only one small slice between us and that should put a damper on any suck-facin’ for at least 3 days)

Both dogs ate three sizable pieces. And you know what?? It's an improvement over their usual breath. At least it isn't the stank breath they both have had of late.

But the bitterness, I think, caught up with them and they headed in search of some agua fria.

There insued a little power struggle at the water bowl. Very subtle interaction, but clearly they were talking to each other. Chalk 2 small ones up to Ben. Geli ceded power (at least for the moment) and she also had to step into Ben's splatter art to take a drink. I'd want to go first too, if I could.

They both had a good long drink.

They both still have bad breath.

Paint to the frame

Found these cheap (almost discarded) frames with cheesy prints in them at TJMAXX a few months back. Got them with the stipulation that I paint to the frame and mat.

Now, there is a cheesy watercolor in there, by me! It mostly matches the frame, , n'est pas?

Ponte del Diavolo.

One of the canal bridges in old Venice that doesn't have rails.

Workout

Setting 17 - L6, 7 minutes, .53 miles, 14 calories. + bonus of L8, 1 minute strength.

Took about 3-4 minutes to warm up and was using hip to compensate. by minute 7 the stride was pretty close if painful.

Sweater Progress

think KB will beat me by a long shot. all she has to do is attach everything, sign and date and voila!

Tuesday and Saint Saens

Sore from yesterday's "work out" (stationary bike, 5 minutes, .20 miles and I burned 7 calories - woohoo)

No TV this morning but 5 minutes of news. Instead, rice bag, stretching, tea and Saint Saens.

In 1908, this guy was the first established composer to write a musical score for film: L'assassinat du duc de Guise.

Not bad for someone born in 1835.

I have some of his tunes on now, already with a few faves and inspirations (Bacchanal rocks!)

to that....a water color portrait. (no, HE's not the subject, this pic is from the interweb. Miine is female-brunette, of course)

October 2007, first water color portrait - not bad for a schmuck born in 1965.

(actually it sucks. too much pen, not rich enough colors. but I'm done with it and want to do another to tribute Saint Saens)

Day 10

The protective wrap came off in the shower and the stitch is exposed.

Thanks Curt!

Been meaning to publish this for some time.

It still cracks me up.

Judgement of Paris

This book I like (as well as others by King; The Pope's Ceiling, Brunelleschi's Dome - might be worth a re-read)

About 80% done and I learned all kinds of thing about Monet, Manet, Messonier and the whole art scene of Paris is the late 1800's

Good stuff. Although I think that KB is regretting getting me those headlamps and she finds me reading this at 3:30AM when my leg gets to buggin' me.


Joe, when we get time we need to discuss some more Art History.

The Interrogators

Read this during recovery. Actually pretty decent

Who's Khan?

Who Khan?

One of the benefits of having the opportunity to watch a lot of TV is that you occasionally catch something brilliant. For two hours each morning on G4, there are back to back episodes of the original Star Trek Series. Not all are good, but KB and I watched the episode with Khan – Space Seed. It’s Brilliant. But who’s Khan? Even though I saw this 20 or so years ago, I did not understand it’s preface on the eugenics movement. Khan is a superman gone bad. Great episode.
wiki for some good background info.

A complicated plan with a simple analogy as Frye might state? But I have none of those.

Over the weekend, Futurama had an episode with the head contained in a jar of preservative cast of Star Trek; Where No fan has gone before. Again….Brilliant. So many devious references.

So we’re watching and a trivia question comes up “who did Kirk maroon on Ceti Alpha 5?” It’s of course where Kirk sends Khan and I say this aloud. "KHAANNNNNN!"

“Who’s Khan?” KB asks.

On our way to the grocery store….Trek comes up again. NPR has a piece on eugenics or something like that and I point out that Khan was a product of this and Kirk sent him to Ceti Alpha 5.

“Who’s Khan?” KB asks….”and why did Curt send him there?”

Nuclear Wessels.

My sloppy annunciation but still. We are rolling. She gets it! Love the KB.

Soon, her and I need to watch The Wrath of Khan. (whoever he is)

End note:

My ever faulty memory is the only thing that really kept me from being a trekkie (well that and I didn’t want to be embarrassed by dressing up as the Italian/Polish cook that never got any screen time. Dang!)

Joe and I use to watch ALL of the original episodes after church for the longest time. Thanks for the memories, bro!

Geli hangin' out with me

Knee updates 1 week later

Two of Three Stitches out. Protective seal (so I can take a shower with out the saran wrap)

Sweater updates

Knee Updates

ok...first the good news. Doc said that I had a strong hamstring ligament for the donor and it grafted well. Bad news...swelling is still above normal. Flex is OK for my surgery. He's got me working on flex goals (110% bend by next thursday- I'm about 80-85% now) and possibly some light stationary cycling to assist in that if only to get the leg in motion. Might have to hobble down to clubhouse to use their recumbent.

I was managing the drugs (less less less) and he said I should be managing the pain instead. so now I take when I need em. Have a new compression sock (it hurts) that should help with swelling and he wants me to elevate as much as possible through the weekend.

Sorry work.....one more week and then we'll see about returning. The PT and work return will depend on the flex and extension rehab next week (so that I can possibly drive the clutch) Stitches to come out next Thrusday and then another re-evaluation.

fun never ends. I have work ahead of me now and at least a goal or two.

One Week Later

Back to see the doc today for checkup. feel like I'm a bit behind in the recovery, but we'll see. still on meds and nowhere near the flex that I think that I should have.

oh well!

Shave those hairy thingS!

This is the knee after two weeks of healing. Surgery Tomorrow. Next set of pics sat or sun.

Have about 20-30 % capacity back this afternoon. but it's slow going. Working on the extension that the PA wanted me to reach before surgery. (90% there on that)

For Comparative purposes.

this progress at to today. We're going to track how much kristine get's done while my leg is healing (a LOT I suspect!)

Saccara

The grounds at Saccara

Pyramid of Djoser at Saccara

Japanese Tourist

From City Edge

Like the contrast of green and sand

Giza

Old and New Cairo meet

After 45 minute ride

Looks hot

Camel Light

KB said that the only things this guy knew how to say in English was "lean back" and "hit him", presumably to make him go. Poor old camel. Probably has been doing this for decades.

Ya Hoo!

My Amelia Aerhart

Fun with Knees

The saga continues...I guess that the Doc is taking my ACL out (what's left of it. didn't break clean off; shredded it.)

He told me the same. 3-4 days and then a check up in 6 days.

Happened at indoor soccer. it's a rubberized turf field. about 1/2 players use indoor shoes (no cleat, sometimes an agressive tread) and the other half uses outdoor cleats. I liked playing with cleats, made my game faster. but the turf isn't forgiving.

Planted and shifted and my foot stuck and my knee bent in and twisted left (out) same time. probably tearing the MCL first and then the ACL and miniscus. with that much pressure it jammed the femur thru the miniscus and directly onto the tibia causing the fractures. This is my rendition. I dropped like a sack of po-tates.

It didn't seem to hurt when i did it but the sound was horrible. Imagine someone that can crack their knuckles well. (doc said that I do a good imitation)- that's what it sounded like. I cringe when I think back on it.

KB was at game (we were up 1-2 - after I went out we lost 2-3....and that was the playoff game for final champs-not that that means anything, but it definitely changed momentum) Couple of guys helped me get off field. KB got car and helped me home. next day to Orthopaedic center, friday was MRI, talked to doc monday and here we are; 2 days out from surgery.