New Year

It was great having all the kids home for Christmas but they are all gone now, the decorations are back in the basement and the new year looms ahead.  I had some kind of 24 hour bug to start the year and now I'm working on a dozy of a cold, things should start looking up soon.

Not much to report on the health front, physical therapy kick me loose right before Christmas and told be to go forth and exercise.  I had good intentions but the holidays and sickness put be behind schedule.  I still can't walk worth a damn so I've got work to do.

I've been formulating motorcycles plans in my head, got to get the Dub in for a tire and chain change.  The new tire and chain have been in the garage since summer I just have to get the bike to my mechanic to get the work done.  The REB need the exhaust worked on so need to get with the bro-in-law for that.  The plan is to have them ready to go before I'm ready.  That way I can ease back into things when the weather warms up.

It has been widely reported that us old guys need to ease back into riding after a long lay-off, be it over the winter or longer in my case.  Making sure the body can handle the requirements is tops on my list. 

The Saturday after Christmas a life long friend and recent riding buddy had a heart attack.  He is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery.  This picture of us was on my last ride before the surgery.  That's Pete on the right.

 

Dub in Hibernation

The W650 put away while I recover from back surgery. It's starting to become a convenient place to pile stuff.

Garage Furniture

                                   Believe it or not, there is a W650 under the cover

We got 5 inches of snow a couple of days ago and as I looked out over the blanket of white it occurred to me that I wouldn't be riding a motorcycle even if I were in the best of health.  For a few minutes there I stopped feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't ride my motorcycles.

It has been four and a half months since I parked the bikes and not quite that long since I got them covered up.  After they were covered up they just seemed to become part of the usual garage clutter, and now I've taken to piling stuff on them.  The Dub has the empty house Christmas lights sitting on the covered up luggage rack and the other day I carefully laid the carpet floor mats from the Buick on the luggage rack of the REB.  I've got to resist the temptation to treat my babies like garage furniture.

Update:  see photo, it's too late, I've lost the battle.

An Update

  My doctor's appointment with the surgeon last Wednesday, the 3rd of december went well.  He asked how I was doing, I told him and he said, "that's good, it should continue to improve, see you in two months."  Maybe it was a little more involved than that but not much.

  At four months post-surgery I'm walking without my cane at times.  I've actually ventured out without it several times in the last week.  This morning I walked all the way around the block sans cane.  Not without pain mind you but I made it none the less. 

  The problem now is the muscles in the back getting tight, especially in the cold.  The foot is much better but still hurts, etc.

  I could probably ride a motorcycle if I really wanted to.  It's too cold though and I'll hold off until Spring as I planned. 

  Got to get a grip on myself and lose some weight.  Water therapy and PT isn't getting it done.  I will probably have to kiss the nightly bowl of ice cream good bye.

  Got to get to work on the Christmas letter, running late as usual and it's slipping up on me.  Looking forward to seeing all the kids and Alexander home for Christmas.

Good Things About Surgery

My foot has really improved during the last week.  Maybe I'm having a healing spurt, but shhhh, let's keep that a secret for a little longer.  Obvisouly not being able to do stuff has its advantages.  My brother-in-law and his wife have just arrived to clean out my gutters.

Thank God for good in-laws, don't know what I'd do without mine.  OK, I'm ready for winter, now where did I put that snow shovel?

The Foot

Showing slight improvement over the last couple of weeks.  Still hurts, stings, burns, etc.  I've been told (not by a doctor) that such pain is a sign that the nerves are healing.  I take that back a doctor did tell me that........my dentist.

I often park the cane in the corner if I'm in close quarters and need to get up and down, a restaurant or church pot luck for example.

Busy day today,  pool therapy this morning at the YMCA, lunch with friends and dinner with friends. 

 I forgot to mention that my wife is in Virginia.  She went for our grandson's 3rd birthday.  He is pretty spoiled.  Our Georgia daughter and her husband were there for the weekend.  Daughter #1 and I feel left out, of course I could have went but chose to stay home.

Historic Day

On this historic day in which an African/American was elected President of the USA I felt compelled to make a blog entry. 

There you are, I hope you weren't looking for any astute political commentary.  This blog is about me.  Me and my damned foot, lately, as it turns out.  Dare I say it?  I think the foot is getting a little better.  We shall see.