Pain Pills & PT

I started back on my physical therapy on Monday, exactly one week after the knee operation.  I am using Noonan Physical Therapy just like I did with the other knee replacement.  They did a great job on that knee and I didn't see any reason to change away from them.

The first therapy usually is one where they check your leg movement and overall flexibility and then plan the next therapy session based on the those results.  I came into the session in better shape than last time and had better results.  Hopefully I can recover quickly work my way out of these sessions.

One thing I do have to work on is my memory.  They poke and prod you and twist the knee into painful contortions and by not taking my two pain pills, I upped the level of pain I had to go through.  That won't happen again.

A common thread to the blogs I follow is the cold weather and overall lousy weather out there.  We've had a couple cold nights, but nothing really bad so far.  Way too cold to sit outside in shorts and a t-shirt, but ok compared to the rest of the nation.  The weather forecast for Wednesday calls for the high 60s during the day.  I'll take those temps all winter if we can get them.

Time for a late night coffee run to pick up my foo foo coffee.  It helps clear up my breathing passages and gives me an additional boost.

 

Football & Great Defense

Well, I made it through a great weekend for football.  There were a number of great games going on and much was at stake for college teams.  It's all about winning and getting into a prestigious bowl game and the $$$$ that go with that.

The national title game is the ultimate prize and just a week or so ago it looked like Alabama and Ohio State would play in the championship game.   When Alabama lost it opened it up for Florida State, Missouri, Ohio State and Auburn.  Then it looked like it would be Ohio State vs Florida State for the title.  Florida State held up their end of the bargain, but Ohio State was knocked out of the picture with a loss to Michigan State.

You may wonder what all the above has to do with great defenses.  During each game it seemed like the announcers would ramble about how good the defensive was for each team.  What do you think about the great defensive was in these games?

Florida State U 45, Duke 7
Ohio State U 24, Michigan State U 34
Missouri 42, Auburn 59
Oklahoma U 33, Oklahoma State U 24

When I think about great defenses, score in the teens come to mind more than plus 40 pts in a game.  They constantly modify the rules of the game to make it more interesting and it seems that most people like the high scoring games.  At least you have to sit and watch the game to the end or you miss the most exciting part.

The Pro games were interesting yesterday and couple of them were played in a snowstorms.  For some reason they televised the Eagles vs Lions game in the Tucson area.  It was snowing so hard that they couldn't kick an extra point due to the depth of the snow.  The Eagles did find a way to score 28pts in the 4th qtr and won the game.  Great defense?

I did enjoy watching the games and most of all enjoyed the final episodes of The Amazing Race.  It was an interesting finish and for a change a team we rooted for won.

That was our weekend, how was yours?

    

I'm back home

Friday was the big day for me since that was my projected release date from the hospital.  I passed all the physical requirements along with the occupational ones and I am now a free man.  Well, as free as someone can be with a bum right knee and in a lot of pain.  Nothing I can't handle though.

Gerry picked me up at the hospital around 2pm and we came home after a short stop to drop off a prescription.  I have pain medicine that is still good and will use that first and then start on the new medicine when the old runs out. 

I am still on hospital time and wake up about every hour or so waiting to be prodded, woke up, vitals taken and the usual questions from the medical staff.  Anything to make you stay up longer for some reason.

I wanted to be home for the football games today and watch them on our 42 inch tv with great sound rather than deal with the tiny tv with terrible sound like the hospital tv.  Mission accomplished.

As you can imagine, I don't have anything interesting to write so I will cut this entry off before I ramble around like an old fool.  When/if I have something interesting to report on I will start blogging again.  Till then, thanks for all the well wishes, cards and emails regarding this time.

Got to "run along" for now.  See ya.

The Day Before

Well, I can't put it off any longer.  Right after watching our favorite TV program "The Amazing Race",  I will take my shower with the special soap and try to hit the hay early for a change.  Our usual bedtime is anywhere from 11pm to 1am and even at those late hours it takes me a while to fall asleep.  With all that is on my mind, I have no idea when sleep will come.  I did take a 45 minute nap before the race so that should help.

I've finished all the chores that I can and the rest will have to wait until I am more mobile.  Now all I have to do is concentrate on getting the knee operation over with, physical therapy and strengthen the knee.  Simple!  I wish that was so, but going in I know what is ahead of me and hope it all goes as well as last time.  One good thing, I only have two knees, so I won't have to do this again.

I'll be off the air for a while until I get back to the motorhome.  Plus, I don't think I will have anything interesting to write about unless you like hospital stories.  I don't!



  

Today was for the birds

Some days are more interesting and exciting than others, but today was one for the birds.  There is a bird feeder near the motorhome and it is always full of doves and gambel quails plus some other smaller birds.  Lately there have been a couple road runners hanging around the feeder, but they don't seem to be eating the bird seeds.

Road Runner

Road Runner sitting & Gambel quail in bush

Buddies

Gambel quail

 I was working outside cleaning the portable grill and putting it away for the next month until I will be grilling outside again.  Gerry came out and pointed out a road runner that was about 15ft from us and totally unafraid of being so close to us.  Gerry went back into the motorhome to get her camera and the road runner kept getting closer to us.  After getting it's picture taken the bird decided to move on back toward the desert.  We always enjoy seeing road runners and they remind us of Wiley Coyote and the cartoons.

Aren't I pretty?

 We bought a wireless printer on Black Friday for $30 and I decided to install it today.  I wasn't able to get it up and running and will try again on Sunday.  It would be nice to have a wireless printer and place it back in the bedroom out of the way.

Gerry also picked up a Kindle Fire on Friday and we've been playing with it and downloading some books.  This one has a wireless connection and Gerry can pick up her email and surf the web with it, in addition to using it as a reader.  I know many of you have moved past the Kindle Fire and on to more recent and nicer tablets, but the Kindle is all Gerry wants at this time.  It was so cheap that we couldn't pass it up.  Better late than never.

Ron C came over and worked with Gerry on downloading a book and explained some features of the Kindle.  I don't have any experience with it and was hesitant to learn it before my operation.  Maybe I can fool around with it and see what it can do while I'm recouperating.  Thanks Ron.

Maryland Terps 41 -  North Carolina State 21  Bright spot today.

Later on Ron & Dee C, Gerry and I went to Montgomery's for dinner and took advantage of their happy hour prices.  Gerry and Ron seemed to enjoy their meals, but I don't think Dee was that happy with her fish and chips.  We ordered some Wings and also Onion Rings for appetizers and they were fine, except for one wing that didn't seem to be cooked long enough.  

The restaurant has TVs placed all over the place with different football games being shown.  There was a loud cheer from the bar area and everyone was up clapping and cheering like their team won the Super Bowl.  Alabama was attempting a field goal for the win with one second left and the kick fell short and the Auburn player caught it and ran the ball back for a touchdown.  So much for another National Championship for the Tide and goodbye undefeated season.  It will be nice to see another team win it this year even though none of the teams I root for have a fighting chance.  

We stopped by Ron & Dee's place for a drink and some conversation after dinner.  The Missouri-Texas A&M football game was on at that time.  Dee is from Missouri and we all rooted for them to win and they did.  Now they will play Auburn for the SEC championship and most likely the winner of that game will place for the National Championship.  You got to love college football and the passion the players exhibit during the game.

Now it is time for me to take my pre surgery shower which consists of an anti-microbial soap.  Then I have to take another on Sunday night and one Monday morning before the surgery.  I just hope it doesn't dry my skin out so much that I itch all night.  Yuk!

I got a report from Al, my cousin Sharon's husband, updating me on her condition.  She has colon cancer and is refusing any further treatment and basically has given up.  It is especially sad to see someone close going through this when there is no hope.  I do hope she remains pain free and doesn't suffer a long time.  We saw them in April and it was evident she wasn't in that good of shape.  Sad.  Say a prayer for her.