tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995827113400436282024-03-13T23:18:15.946-04:00FIXMEA collection of pebbles marking the road to recoverysimeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14935180572969845629noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-91765327402904782912007-04-13T15:09:00.000-04:002007-06-01T17:02:49.323-04:00Airport metal detector misses 15" titanium rodIt was clearly obvious that I would set off the metal detector at the airport, so obvious that I brought along copies of my X-rays and I showed them to the TSA agent before going through. Then, it didn't go off! The agent said it was only just below the threshold but not enough to stop me, no need for a pat-down. Maybe there is some screening effect from the flesh around it but this still surprises me. Back when I had plates in my ankle, they certainly set off the metal detectors.<br /><br />On the up side, there is now free wireless at Syracuse airport. Yay!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-64960194078329879572007-04-11T19:07:00.000-04:002008-12-10T17:27:39.504-05:00Too busy to blog?Perhaps it is because I've been busy coding that I haven't blogged. Or, perhaps it is that I'm not stuck inside. I don't think this is the end of the blog but perhaps less frequent postings are now to be expected, there are just too many other fun things to do... when you can.<br /><br />I'm happily driving about and going in to work regularly. I need a cane to help me walk properly (without it I list rather alarmingly to the starboard), but with it am pretty mobile. On Friday I fly to England to test this mobility further -- I think the immobility of sitting in a cramped seat is actually much more likely to be troublesome than getting about. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rh1qqBRhbxI/AAAAAAAAACw/r87lpDRfDMo/s1600-h/marmite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rh1qqBRhbxI/AAAAAAAAACw/r87lpDRfDMo/s320/marmite.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052311627108544274" /></a><br /><br />And now for something completely different... A while ago Jen sent me an email about Guinness Marmite. After some investigation I concluded it was a hoax and told her so. Well, a couple of days ago Jofish conclusively proved me wrong by showing up with a jar (pictured above). The jar is pretty cool but the contents are really very similar to ordinary Marmite (which I import in 2 kilo loads every time I return from England). After side-by-side tasting I think the Guinness version may be a little "gentler" tasting. From the label it seems they replaced only 30% of the yeast extract with a Guinness version. I was hoping for something more radical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-21215799645879158222007-03-26T14:38:00.000-04:002008-12-10T17:27:39.656-05:00The boy can walk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RggTU-BBEVI/AAAAAAAAACk/_vB0HWvPySc/s1600-h/femur_small_2007-03-26.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RggTU-BBEVI/AAAAAAAAACk/_vB0HWvPySc/s320/femur_small_2007-03-26.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046304633434214738" /></a> I've been sneaking around the house without my walker for a couple of days but now it is official -- the walker is toast, I'm to do it on my own. Of all the "hurrahs!" on this blog this might be the best. I also took the step of driving myself to my orthopaedic appointment today. It feels like wonderful progress. <br /><br />The news from my appointment was pretty much all good: the bones are healing (if you look at the top of the femur in the x-ray, it doesn't look like abstract art anymore); I'm to progress with walking and strengthening within the limits of pain; and I'm officially allowed to work again. I'll still be doing some physical therapy to continue working on mobility of my left wrist and strength/mobility of the right leg.<br /><br />Back to yoga on Wednesday, I wonder how much flexibility I have lost and what postures I can manage?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-88081494324428512562007-03-20T10:54:00.000-04:002007-03-24T19:08:59.193-04:00Coding maniac rantsWithout really getting fully fixed in between, and still mainly stuck inside, I shifted from working a bit to being a long-hours coding maniac. The reason is that I'm finally going for the "big push" (ready Blackadder?) to get the <a href="http://arxiv.org/new#ids_2006">arXiv identifier changes</a> done. It is a little too close to call as to whether we'll make it in time for 1 April (an amusing day for some big changes) or not, but I think we have at least a fighting chance.<br /><br />So, to the rant. Not entirely unrelated but not about arXiv: why is the "state of the art" of web design based around fixed 800 pixel wide layouts? This is really pitiful and sadly includes this blog -- which I apologize for but claim I have no control over other than to chose another blogging service. I have a 1600 pixel wide screen which isn't even super high resolution these days, the blog size is fixed at half my screen width so if I choose a sensibly sized font for casual reading I get about two and a half words on a line. I can't imagine that I'm the only person who thinks that high resolution screens are to give beautiful and easy to read text rather than to cram more small text in. Hurrumph!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-79901763440826842662007-03-20T10:49:00.000-04:002007-03-20T10:54:00.175-04:00I can do it standing upAs I sat on the "tub transfer bench" in the shower I wondered what was stopping me from taking a show standing up now. I couldn't think of a good reason so I stood up and took the rest of the shower that way. Much better! I think I'll take the bench out as soon as it has dried off. No more tub transfer bench, hurrah!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-8768505557505174562007-03-13T14:58:00.000-04:002007-03-13T15:07:19.940-04:00Taking a hikeLimits are for pushing... right? Today I gimped my way all the way to the credit union and thence to Leslie's for lunch with Leslie and Chris. I think it took 15-20 minutes to get to the credit union. My leg felt fine but my left wrist was little sore from swinging and hanging on the the walker all that way. I opted to the easy way home in Chris's luxury vehicle.<br /><br />In doing my exercises I feel it is the wrist that needs most work. Yesterday I managed to get my left (good) leg a little tired after 30 minutes on the exercise bike, so I think I'm doing fine there. My wrist still has rather limited range of motion and aches quite a bit. The range of motion is improving steadily though, so I don't think I should worry but instead keep with the programme.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-8355589475544703582007-03-10T16:49:00.000-05:002007-03-10T16:57:54.321-05:00The great north face of the Eiger... or my drivewayThe Eiger it isn't, but my driveway has been looking pretty steep and intimidating for the past couple of months. However, the warm weather melted the remaining snow and ice and it started to look tempting. Today I plucked up the courage to tackle it -- solo, unroped -- and I succeeded in collecting my mail. The round trip must have taken me about 15 minutes but what an adventure! What a feeling of achievement!<br /><br />I must be feeling bold today as I also ventured upstairs to do some laundry. I didn't want to try to get the walker up so I butt-scooched up the stairs and then slid and hopped to the washing machine. Not elegant but it seemed to work. I suppose I'd better go up again and move it to the dryer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-47556370470217916582007-03-06T18:09:00.000-05:002007-03-06T18:26:35.714-05:00Sweet Sweat RainThis weekend was marked by several outings: shopping at Weggies and Targét, a failed attempt to go to Stellar Stereo, a delicious dinner at Pangea, and a trip to the pictures. The flip side of these outings is that the muntins of my windows feel more than ever like bars. I want out.<br /><br />It is always good to have a place to channel aggression somewhere harmless, or even better, somewhere productive. Recall that exercise bike? Well, today I managed 30mins and a good sweat in a 59F room. I broke a sweat on track 7 of the Sex Pistol's "Seventeen". As I enjoyed the feeling I noticed them belting out the lyrics... "I'm a lazy sod". Ha! The youth of 1977 I thought. I, on the other hand am working out and enjoying the sweat as if it were warm summer rain. This is probably more than you wanted to know so I'll put the ice-pack for my knee back in the freezer and take a shower.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-59306588191101111012007-03-04T17:49:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:27:40.122-05:00Putting on the milesI've been missing exercise, missing the kind of work that makes one sweat. Now, thanks, to John I can bike to my heart's content (leg willing) in the comfort of my living room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RetNPnXmX2I/AAAAAAAAACc/CNVrSssVhpM/s1600-h/biking.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RetNPnXmX2I/AAAAAAAAACc/CNVrSssVhpM/s320/biking.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5038205538805374818" /></a><br />Jim and Kata helped me set the bike up yesterday. I found that I can't hold my usual road bike posture so we had to turn up the handlebars in just the same way that all the cool kids did at high school (that didn't include me). Looking at the photo I think I should be mindful of my back... looks rather too rounded there. Anyway, did about 15mins both yesterday and today and it feels good. I haven't yet managed to break out into a sweat but I'm not far off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-83831229354188799292007-03-01T08:49:00.000-05:002007-03-01T09:15:55.039-05:00Sticking my neck outHot on the heels of my Monday orthopedic checkup, Tuesday was neuro day. X-rays of my neck in a neutral position, bent forward and bent backward all showed that the chip on C3 moves with the rest of the bone. From this, and the time since injury, it is inferred that the chip is now connected with the main part of the bone which is good. Various other tolerances were checked and are also fine, so I got the go-ahead to ditch the neck brace. Hurrah!<br /><br />That was two days ago and I am delighted to report that life without a cast or neck brace is better than with. My wrist still feels very weak but is improving. I spent most of yesterday with it out of the soft brace. I'm doing my best to use my right leg at the appropriate weight bearing level as I walk around -- just about to go to the scale to calibrate myself to the feeling of 56lbs for today.<br /><br />...and the sun is shining.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-48936548510090091402007-02-27T11:13:00.000-05:002007-03-01T08:48:19.936-05:00On to more weighty issuesNews from my orthopedic checkup yesterday was good. I have lost the cast on my left forearm (where did I put it...?) and now have just a removable wrist brace. No more plastic bag in the shower, no more stinky dead skin in the cast. I had a long soaking and scrubbing session to clean up the forearm and wrist, and it looks quite respectable now. Instructions are to work on mobility and then strengthen.<br /><br />For the leg I'm told that all is staying in place nicely and the lack of any pain is a good sign. Instructions are to start at 40lbs and then gradually increase weight bearing to full over the next 4 weeks. By my calculation, this means the following weight bearing schedule:<br /><div style="font-size: 80%; font-weight: bold; color: #ffcccc"><pre><br />26Feb 40lbs<br />27Feb 45lbs<br />28Feb 50lbs<br /> 1Mar 56lbs<br /> 2Mar 61lbs<br /> 3Mar 66lbs<br /> 4Mar 71lbs<br /> 5Mar 76lbs<br /> 6Mar 81lbs<br /> 7Mar 87lbs<br /> 8Mar 92lbs<br /> 9Mar 97lbs -- Can stand with weight evenly distributed<br />10Mar 102lbs<br />11Mar 107lbs<br />12Mar 113lbs<br />13Mar 118lbs<br />14Mar 123lbs<br />15Mar 128lbs<br />16Mar 133lbs<br />17Mar 138lbs<br />18Mar 144lbs<br />19Mar 149lbs<br />20Mar 154lbs<br />21Mar 159lbs<br />22Mar 164lbs<br />23Mar 169lbs<br />24Mar 175lbs<br />25Mar 180lbs<br />26Mar 185lbs<br /></pre></div><br />Now all I have to do is adjust my diet so that 185lbs actually is full weight bearing on 26 March. All this sitting about and eating is not good for my waistline.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-30917800568611483102007-02-22T13:35:00.000-05:002007-02-22T13:41:45.923-05:00Quantifiable progressMaximum right knee bend angle measured at 102 degrees on Monday, 112 degrees today. This is good. Also no pain medications for the past 5 days. <br /><br />The real question is what news I'll get from my orthopedic appointment on Monday and my neurosurgeon appointment on Tuesday. I'm hoping for removal of hard cast on the wrist, and bone growth in the leg on Monday. On Tuesday it would be good to ditch the neck brace. We shall see.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-24035291429867419912007-02-22T11:09:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:27:41.847-05:00Sauna expeditionThe sight of my sauna, 30 meters away across the snowy garden, has been a little frustrating over the last week. It needs to be used when there is snow about, and the use is better if I am among those sweating. Last night this problem was addressed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rd3AogzPgiI/AAAAAAAAAB4/SvVPNx_EoUE/s1600-h/IMGP2974.mxy320.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rd3AogzPgiI/AAAAAAAAAB4/SvVPNx_EoUE/s320/IMGP2974.mxy320.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034391760702243362" /></a>There was, of course, just one small problem: I can't walk over that 30m to get to the sauna as I have a broken leg. I can't even get there with my walker because the ground is uneven and covered in 5 inches of crusty snow. Friends to the rescue! I hobbled outside with the walker (again using the half steps that Polar made), enough to get off the deck to the edge to the snow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rd3AogzPgjI/AAAAAAAAACA/RBiikH-Ihrs/s1600-h/IMGP2975.mxy320.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rd3AogzPgjI/AAAAAAAAACA/RBiikH-Ihrs/s320/IMGP2975.mxy320.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034391760702243378" /></a>I then lowered myself onto a plastic sled while Leslie held the walker steady to avoid any mishaps. It seemed important to keep the leg in the mending, rather than re-broken, state.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rd3AowzPgkI/AAAAAAAAACI/Gt3XKw1xwlE/s1600-h/IMGP2976.mxy320.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rd3AowzPgkI/AAAAAAAAACI/Gt3XKw1xwlE/s320/IMGP2976.mxy320.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034391764997210690" /></a>Leslie, Jonas, Laura and Polar then hauled the sled across the garden to the threshold of the sauna. I thank them for not letting go and sending me out-of-control down the driveway, that would have been bad. I then maneuvered myself in and onto the bench, sat and sweated.<br /><br />Cook until lightly roasted, and reverse. Ahhh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-40395741573984514742007-02-21T12:32:00.000-05:002007-02-21T12:38:00.880-05:00The phone company loves meIt just so happens that the start of my phone billing cycle was the day before my accident. I just got the bill for the month following and instead of the usual couple of hundred minutes, it seems I was on the phone for 1,905 minutes last month! That is over 31 hours or a little under 5% of the month. Yikes.<br /><br />One other news... it is warm and sunny here, the ice is melting and the snow sinking away. Noises of snow sloughing off my roof are sometimes quite eerie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-32089968581881410912007-02-17T18:18:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:27:42.417-05:00Narc free for 36 hoursNo pain medications for 36 hours now and I'm not in pain. Having saved up all those doses I'll be able to party hard tonight (joke).<br /><br />When I say "not in pain" I should add the proviso "except when I do my PT exercises". Most are OK but the knee-bend is a killer. The pain is paying off though, on Thursday a knee-angle of 90 degrees was officially recorded. That is about 70 degrees better than it was a couple of weeks ago, just another 70 or 80 degrees to go.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rde6lgzPghI/AAAAAAAAABo/iSZ_LjleK5w/s1600-h/snowfairy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rde6lgzPghI/AAAAAAAAABo/iSZ_LjleK5w/s320/snowfairy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032696262232605202" /></a><br /><br />Just in case you happen to live a few thousand miles away and haven't been inundated with snow of your own. Above is Kata the snow clearing fairy on Wednesday when we got about 18", after she cleared a long long path up my driveway and to the house. Thanks. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rde5-AzPggI/AAAAAAAAABg/hUaftsisk8I/s1600-h/pbr.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rde5-AzPggI/AAAAAAAAABg/hUaftsisk8I/s320/pbr.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032695583627772418" /></a> And finally, the vexing PBR question has been answered. To remind, the question was "how did a can of PBR get into my fridge?" This is not the usual choice of my very generous and discerning friends. The answer, I am told, is Chris. Hmmm, next party he throws... Waste not want not though, I drank it, with lunch. Burp.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-23283120547985439652007-02-14T17:21:00.000-05:002007-02-14T17:26:22.035-05:00The unbearable lightness of this waterI can sit and watch a rainy day without problems. I can sit and watch the sun stream in through my window without feeling too bad. Watching a foot of fun fresh fluffy snow accumulate as I am trapped and immobile is really frustrating. That is all I have to say about today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-29608924944744532512007-02-14T17:13:00.000-05:002007-02-14T17:32:53.243-05:00Monday checkup: OK but no speed recordsI had my first out-patient orthopedic checkup on Monday 12th (day 30). Many x-rays of wrist and leg. The wrist is healing well and I'll probably lose the cast in two weeks (hurrah!). The femur is OK, all bits in the right places, but not showing so much sign of bone healing so we just have to wait and see.<br /><br />I did get permission for my PT to work on some new exercises -- ouch, why did I ask for that? I'm also encouraged to put 20lb weight on the right leg to encourage bone growth. This is not much, less that the weight of the leg. All progress though, if not as fast as I might hope.<br /><br />To be fair to my PT, she did also suggest that I might take advantage of leaving to house for a checkup, and go out for lunch. Kata, Leslie and I enjoyed a fine lunch at Olivia's, washed down with some very pleasant fizz. Yum.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-44988261012041576252007-02-10T18:48:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:27:42.655-05:00Incisive comments?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rc5Z5AzPgfI/AAAAAAAAABU/IO8MvyT-Az0/s1600-h/healing2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/Rc5Z5AzPgfI/AAAAAAAAABU/IO8MvyT-Az0/s320/healing2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030056669821764082" /></a> So, there you have it. A picture of my naked right leg. Sexy, eh? Actually, I'll have to agree that it is not a very pretty sight though the incisions are healing up very nicely.<br /><br />I woke up on Thursday morning to an NPR report about increases in addiction to painkillers, especially OxyContin, the one I'm taking. I think I'd better avoid getting addicted, especially if there is any chance that <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/10/rush.limbaugh/">Rush Limbaugh's</a> brand of hate speech might have been in some way connected with his OxyContin addiction.<br /><br />My new evening meal plan continues to work wonderfully. Thanks to Carol, Don, and Carl and Sandy! Yesterday I ventured to make supper myself -- it took me about three stints to make a simple pasta sauce but I think the achievement still marks progress of sorts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-46574969836771827552007-02-06T08:36:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:27:42.914-05:00Eating like a king<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RciEqFEg-VI/AAAAAAAAABI/2vMsuswYsb0/s1600-h/stand.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RciEqFEg-VI/AAAAAAAAABI/2vMsuswYsb0/s320/stand.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028414842409646418" /></a><br />I'm now settling into the long haul waiting for my bones to mesh so that I can stand on two legs again. A fine silver lining is that I have friends coming over every evening to keep me company, to prepare a delicious meal, and even do the washing up. Thanks to Leslie, Jeni, Phoebe and Thorsten, and Laura! I wonder what Carol with bring tonight?<br /><br />The weather has turned cold cold cold. There is snow for skiing and ice for climbing. I, on the other hand, am mobile only with the walker shown. Fortunately I have to wear the neck brace only when I'm up and about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-3920975925661940482007-02-01T19:56:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:27:43.119-05:00Gotta brag<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RcKMYrcdfiI/AAAAAAAAAA8/LWsPaq4X_f4/s1600-h/cnj206.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RcKMYrcdfiI/AAAAAAAAAA8/LWsPaq4X_f4/s320/cnj206.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026734489705741858" /></a><br />I might be incapacitated at the moment but the mail reminds me of better times. I just opened a package to find a copy of the <a href="http://www.cordee.co.uk/CNJ206.php">Alpine Journal 2006</a> with my picture of Ade on Good Neighbor on the front cover! We knew they were going to include the article about our climb (see also <a href="http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/463719/site_id/1#import">version on Cascade climbers</a>) but I didn't know we'd get the cover. Yay!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-1088700057012009942007-02-01T15:25:00.000-05:002007-02-01T15:59:00.457-05:00I too can take a shower every dayTo avoid any interpretation along the lines of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/us/politics/01biden.html">Senator Biden's stupid comments</a>, I'd like to point out that I make no claim that I will be any cleaner (hygienically speaking) than any 2008 or earlier US presidential candidate of any race. I do think my record on lying and war crimes stands up pretty well against Bush's though. Am I straying into politics? Oops.<br /><br />Thanks to Don's efforts in fitting a hand-held shower head I can now sensibly shower on my own (cast in a plastic bag). Another feel-good step in the right direction. Kata had to head back to PA to work so I even fixed my own lunch. It wasn't very complicated (bread, seitan, oil, olives, juice), but I did wash the dishes too -- tidier than normal I'd say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-29343433040004412492007-01-30T19:30:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:27:43.275-05:00Home sweet home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RcJMV7cdfhI/AAAAAAAAAAw/qwslSVlFltg/s1600-h/bedleg.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RcJMV7cdfhI/AAAAAAAAAAw/qwslSVlFltg/s320/bedleg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026664073716923922" /></a><br />After 17 nights in hospital I'm home. This is good, very good. I haven't magically gained more mobility, a shorter healing time, or less discomfort. Nonetheless, it is wonderful to be home. Thanks to Kata and Leslie for orchestrating the break out, and to Jim for building extra legs to make my now-downstairs bed a convenient height.<br /><br />So far I've got myself juice from the fridge, made toast with butter and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmite">marmite</a> (yum), put on a CD, and had a shower with a little help from Kata. Not much, but a start.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-10721070283270464482007-01-29T10:00:00.000-05:002007-01-29T16:55:05.812-05:00Exit visaWhen an employee leaves Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), they get a sheet of paper with the names of about a dozen people and departments that must sign the form before they can leave. I don't know what is supposed to happen if you don't get all the signatures, but then again, I've never met anyone who left without them... Good to know that we can be sure no federally funded paper clips are left unaccounted for. After all, it only takes a day or two to get the form filled in (which with an average LANL salary costs...).<br /><br />This morning my Occupational Therapist signed off on my hospital exit visa. Apparently I can now wash myself, dress myself (with a sock aid), get in and out of bed, and am potty trained. Now I just need signatures from PT and the doctors...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-19974196335039684252007-01-29T09:49:00.000-05:002007-01-31T08:35:36.839-05:00Patience level: lowSometime around Saturday my patience ran out. I think a two week stretch of being good, patient and not-so-sarcastic is a laudable innings. However, it couldn't last. I now want out, to be in my own home and <b>in control</b> (albeit in some limited sense for a while longer). <br /><br />Another weekend of the very finest Kata-care with various visitations. Many thanks to Polar for constructing some intermediate steps that should allow me to get on to my deck and over the threshold into the house (in 4" not 8" steps -- 4" I can do, 8" is optimistic with the walker). I haven't seen them yet but I'm told they are a fine construction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2199582711340043628.post-86412862547247233362007-01-26T15:02:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:27:43.455-05:00New cast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RbpegLcdfgI/AAAAAAAAAAk/veAOzraA5sk/s1600-h/new_cast.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rlI10fxIK3w/RbpegLcdfgI/AAAAAAAAAAk/veAOzraA5sk/s320/new_cast.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024432241206197762" /></a><br />Another forward step. I have a new cast on my left forearm (above) which is both much lighter than the earlier one, and doesn't extend to include my elbow. I have much improved mobility though I think I might need this new one tweaked as it cuts in slightly when walking with my elbow bent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com7