The Art of Relaxation...

Me?  No, I have been plugging away with the walking, bicycle riding, and exercising.  And certainly not Joan - she always has a project she's working on.

This is about the furriest member of the family... Rufus the house lion.

This morning, I was modeling the latest in fashion: the feline scarf...

Notice the paws on me, front and back.  He is a snuggly boy.  In fact, as I'm writing this, he is laying on my arm, making it tough to type.  I don't mind one bit.

He has taken a liking to the big chair Joan bought for me... well, maybe for Ruf.  He sits in it with me, he sits in it on his own when I get up.  It gives him plenty of room to stretch out...

And roll over...

And stretch out some more...

Look at that furry belly - it takes all the restraint I can muster to not reach out and rub it every time I see it.  Yes, he likes belly rubs, but not so much when he's sleeping.  I think he gets that from me.

;-)

Should I get into the hot tub...

If you said, "Eddie Murphy, in the Saturday Night Live skit where he played James Brown (James Brown's Celebrity Hot Tub Party), 1983," you get 1,000 bonus points.  But, for full credit, you had to include the title of the skit and the year in your answer.

This post may contain some mental bathroom images (no actual images), so if you have a weak stomach or are easily offended by bathing or male nudal frontity (Archie Bunker saying), move on; don't read this.  You have been warned.

One of the things I wanted when we built this house was a 2-person spa tub.  I have always enjoyed a soak in the hot tub... good for taking away any muscle aches and pains.  One of the things I discovered with my current recuperation: cold takes away the aches better than heat.  So, I haven't been all that anxious to... "Should I get into the hot tub?  Will it make me sweat?  Will it make me wet?"... yeah, more lines from that skit.

For the first month or so, I was told "No baths, showers only, and cover the incision with plastic when you shower."  (No bathing until every bit of scabbing on the incision is gone.)  With that issue out of the way, the next concern is... falling.  I have to step up and over to get into the spa tub; while there are no handicap railings, there are reasonable hand-holds.

A few days ago, under Joan's watchful eye, I got into the spa tub (hereafter to be called: the hot tub).  Clothed.  Well, except for bare feet.  No problem.  Proof that I could do it without falling.  Well, when it isn't wet and slippery.

I decided this morning was going to be my reintroduction to the pleasure of spa jets and warm water.  Under Joan's watchful eye once again, I climbed into the hot tub.  Nekkid.  Because that is the way you are supposed to bathe.  I eased myself down to the raised seating position, then down all the way into the tub.  Ahhhhhh, that feels good!  Shortly after that, the muscles around my incision said, "Hey, we already told you we like ice better than heat."

I said, "Shut up, muscles."  I have taken to talking to them when they complain about stuff.  After a mostly relaxing soak, Joan turned off the jets and then it is just like any other bathtub.  Then, time to get out.  That took a bit more strategerizing (George W. Bush saying) about what appendage was going to go where to get myself essentially from a sitting on the floor (of the tub) to an upright position.  Success.  Then, step up and over to get out.  Again, success.

Well, mostly success... no slip and fall, but the heat and jet action was something different for the new hip.  I used some muscles that apparently haven't been used in a while.  Nothing that an ice pack can't take care of.  I missed my hot tub.

While climbing in and out, I thought of something my friend and music partner Mark said to me a while back: I got into scooter riding because it was painful to throw a leg over a motorcycle.  He said, "So, your Vespa is the "walk-in tub" of motorcycles?"  Funny stuff, an an old person kinda way.  I've seen those ads for a walk-in tub... probably even got a brochure for them in one of the AARP mailings.

Not sounding so bad these days.  ;-)

Negotiations...

Intense negotiations.   I feel like I have been watching my summer slip away.  Some things went unsaid... Joan has been OK with going somewhere, but didn't want to take the scoots.  I know she thinks it is "too soon" for me to do any lengthy riding. Of course, she said that when I first climbed back on the Vespa a while back, too.  I make no bones about it - I know I am not 100%.   Yet.  I told her that riding would be good for me physically as well as mentally.

At the follow-up visit at the surgeon's office yesterday, the Nurse Practitioner who saw me was impressed with my progress.  She gave her blessing for traveling, as long as I didn't sit in one position for too long, and took breaks to do some walking.   Joan was lobbying for Texas Hill Country or maybe Colorado... without the scoots; just pull the CR-V behind the motorhome.  I was pushing for the Black Hills... and most certainly taking the scoots.   With the Sturgis Rally on the horizon, she didn't think I'd find reservations anywhere during that time.  She under-estimates me sometimes, probably because I am so pretty.  I got us reservations in our favorite RV resort (where we are members), for a couple months (end of July into September).  She went along with that... still wanting to leave the scoots home.   More negotiations... "better to have them and not ride them as much, rather than not have them and miss all that great riding."

"OK, we can take the scoots, but you have to realistic about how much riding you can do.   I just don't want you to have any problems."

See, I am pretty and persuasive.

So, we now have a goal AND a departure date.   I don't know about the physical, but my mental state is greatly improved as of this morning!

And, a scooter ride helped, too...

And in spite of it being a Friday, a trip to SPI for lunch at Burger Fi and a cruise by the beach.  I am having a really good day.

Intense negotiations.  I feel like I have been watching my summer slip away.  Some things went unsaid... the Blonde has been OK with going somewhere, but has put her foot down about taking the scoots.  I know she thinks it is "too soon" for me to do any lengthy riding.  Of course, she said that when I first climbed back on the Vespa a while back.  I make no bones about it - I know I am not 100%.  Yet.  I told her that riding would be good for me physically as well as mentally.

At the follow-up visit at the surgeon's office yesterday, the Nurse Practitioner who saw me was impressed with my progress.  She gave her blessing for traveling, as long as I didn't sit in one position for too long, and took breaks to do some walking.  Joan was lobbying for Texas Hill Country or maybe Colorado... without the scoots; just pull the CR-V behind the motorhome.  I was pushing for the Black Hills... and most certainly taking the scoots.  With the Sturgis Rally on the horizon, she didn't think I'd find reservations anywhere during that time.  She under-estimates me sometimes, probably because I am so pretty.  I got us reservations in our favorite RV resort (where we are members), for a couple months (end of July into September).  She went along with that... leaving the scoots home.  More negotiations... "better to have them and not ride them as much, rather than not have them and miss all that great riding.  "OK, we can take the scoots, but you have to realistic about how much riding you can do.  I just don't want you to have any problems."

See, I am pretty and persuasive. 

So, we now have a goal AND a departure date.  I don't know about the physical, but my mental state is greatly improved as of this morning!

Intense negotiations.  I feel like I have been watching my summer slip away.  Some things went unsaid... the Blonde has been OK with going somewhere, but has put her foot down about taking the scoots.  I know she thinks it is "too soon" for me to do any lengthy riding.  Of course, she said that when I first climbed back on the Vespa a while back.  I make no bones about it - I know I am not 100%.  Yet.  I told her that riding would be good for me physically as well as mentally.

At the follow-up visit at the surgeon's office yesterday, the Nurse Practitioner who saw me was impressed with my progress.  She gave her blessing for traveling, as long as I didn't sit in one position for too long, and took breaks to do some walking.  Joan was lobbying for Texas Hill Country or maybe Colorado... without the scoots; just pull the CR-V behind the motorhome.  I was pushing for the Black Hills... and most certainly taking the scoots.  With the Sturgis Rally on the horizon, she didn't think I'd find reservations anywhere during that time.  She under-estimates me sometimes, probably because I am so pretty.  I got us reservations in our favorite RV resort (where we are members), for a couple months (end of July into September).  She went along with that... leaving the scoots home.  More negotiations... "better to have them and not ride them as much, rather than not have them and miss all that great riding.  "OK, we can take the scoots, but you have to realistic about how much riding you can do.  I just don't want you to have any problems."

See, I am pretty and persuasive. 

So, we now have a goal AND a departure date.  I don't know about the physical, but my mental state is greatly improved as of this morning!

If the creek don't rise...

My last doctor follow-up visit for 6 months was today.  I expected a "How are you doing?" question or two on this visit... and that's how it played out.  Really, I could have phoned it in.  The Nurse Practitioner told me I am good to travel, as long as I take frequent breaks so I am not sitting in one position for hours on end.  We can now start to make some plans, but probably nothing right away.

We had some other plans for our trip to the big city of Harlingen: a leisurely lunch out and a visit to our storage unit, which is just north of town.  That area had a lot of rain on Monday night.  And, by "a lot," I mean they received about 14" of rain.  Of course, there was flooding - there is always flooding somewhere in the Valley when there are big rains (flat terrain and poor drainage).  It was fairly localized, and I was told the water at our storage unit came up to the concrete pad, but "probably" didn't get inside the unit.  Just north and west of there, power is out and roads are still flooded.

We decided to stay on the main highway to get to our storage unit, believing that the road was OK to travel on.  It didn't work out that way.  We drove through two areas on that highway that had water over the road, not quite up to the axles...

Two miles from the storage unit, there were barracades across the highway, and the water was still rising...

We did a U-turn and drove back through the two areas of water over the road, and to the freeway.  South, then east, then north again, to find a road that would get us around the closed area.  One mile from our storage unit, it looked like a different situation: there was water in the ditches and fields, but it wasn't up to the level of the road.

When we were watching local weather reports for Monday night's rain, it looked like the heaviest of the rain was just west of our storage unit... according to the weasels, 14" north and west of Harlingen, about 5 to 6" where our storage unit is.  Just a couple miles apart.

We made it to the storage unit, opened the door and... no evidence of water getting in.  I think we lucked out.  We looked around the unit - all good.  Joan went in the motorhome while I sprayed for bugs in the unit.  We are good to go for a while.

Coming back home, we were headed east - it is surprising how a mile or two makes such a big difference in the amount of rain, evidenced by less and less water in the ditches.  Here at the coast, I'm guessing we had maybe an inch of rain at most from that storm.  Living on this island, rain can run off, so flooding from rain isn't much of an issue... now, storm surge from high tides and a hurricane - that is a problem.  It is early in "hurricane season," but I hope Mother Nature cuts us some slack... after all, it seems that she has been taking it out on the states across the middle of the country for the last two months.

Life's a beach...

I know this blog has been "hip centric" for the past two months... it is two months today since "the cut."  It hasn't been my full time job during this time, it has been my life.  As I progress, I hope it will become less about the new hip and more about enjoying daily life.

I was up and at it this morning.  Got my walk, bike ride, and exercising in early.  I even managed to do one of my chores this morning before getting in the shower: bug exterminator.  I take care of our pest control at the house, and made a lap around the exterior plus sprayed in our underneath storage area.  We haven't been seeing any critters, and I like to keep it that way.

Out of the shower and looking like a real person, I got an invite from the Blonde: "How would you like to go out for breakfast this morning?"  I'm in.

Across the causeway and a nice big booth for the two of us at Pier 19.  Good food, nice views of the water, and a couple dolphin sightings.  When we were done, Joan asked if I wanted to go check out the beach... we haven't been to the beach in a couple months.  She renewed our park pass, and we drove into Isla Blanca County Park.

We had looked at the construction being done in the park from the water before we put our boat away... goodness, that was last January.  Construction is still underway - the Event Center is still under construction, and one of the beach pavilions has a ways to go...

But, towards the other side of the beach park, the construction is mostly done.  I liked the way the park was before the construction, and wasn't sure about the planned changes (knocking down two large beach pavilions and building two new ones further in from the beach).  I have to eat my words: the changes here are going to make this beach area world class!  The northern pavilion is looking great...

Parking has more than doubled...

And, yes, there are even a couple parking spots where you can sit in your vehicle and enjoy a view of the beach.  But, the best addition: a beautiful boardwalk along the beach.  We got out of the car and walked around.  There are large umbrellas lining the walk.  I had to tell Joan to come out of the shade for a photo...

Not sure what that move was all about, but it isn't often I can catch her dancing.  More views of the boardwalk, right along the beach...

Obligatory selfie...

A walk about for us...

A walk up to the new beach pavilion...

Beach vendors in the pavilion...

Under the shade of the roof of the pavilion, picnic tables galore...

We checked out the new bathrooms (nice), and I saw Mothra on an exterior wall...

A walkway from the pavilion, down to the beach, where you can see several of the new rinse off stations...

Really nice to get the salt and sand off.  There used to be two of these (one at each pavilion), now there are plenty, scattered all along the new boardwalk.  A very welcome addition.

Looking back at the pavilion...

More picnic areas under umbrellas (above), and just some of the parking (below)...

When completed, this is going to be very nice.  And so it should be.  The entrance fee for the park has gone up substantially over the past few years... our annual renewal was $100.  Good to see that those fees are being used to make the park better.  I will look forward to coming back here more often - if we don't want to walk the beach, there is still plenty of good walking along the wide boardwalk, and still have a great view of the beach and Gulf of Mexico.

A passenger...

Well, more like a stowaway.  I didn't notice it at first... we had quite a rainstorm overnight, and I walked around the puddles in the street on my morning outing.  Back home, re-hydrated, and out on the bicycle.  I was about half way into my ride when I noticed a small gecko holding on to the brake cable.  When I say small: it was maybe an inch and a half overall length.

He looked up and made eye contact with me.  I said, "Hang on, little guy, we'll be back home in a few minutes."  Apparently, he didn't like being spoken to and started crawling down the brake cable.  Then, a jump to the other brake cable (coming off the levers on the handlebars).  He hung on for a while... and then a leap off the bike.

I felt bad for the little critter.  I have no idea if Momma geckos do anything to help the babies survive, but this guy jumped off a long ways from home... assuming home is somewhere around the front steps at our house.  We occasionally see geckos darting around there.

No, they aren't gross vermin - they eat bugs.  I've always considered them good luck.  I've never heard them talk with an English Cockney accent... but this little one did scream "Geronimo!" when it jumped off my bike.

--------------

More rain coming this afternoon, so I got out for a second walk earlier than usual.  When I got back, I sat in the chair to relax for a bit.  The big furry boy hopped up on me...

It will be 2 months tomorrow since "the cut."  This photo shows me that I continue to improve: yeah, I'm smiling; Rufus hopped up on me and I didn't wince; he is laying on me with all his weight on that hip and it is no problem.  But, the real take-away from this is: Rufus is back snuggling with me and on me; he gives me head-butts on my jaw (and he packs a pretty good punch).  He knows I am getting better.

:-)

Getting short...

No, I am not talking about our time here.  We have no solid plans for escaping to the north anytime soon.  I have written about how crazy things get on this island during the summer... more renters who don't care about the rules or the property.  Management does try to keep things under control, but each time they come up with a new rule, stupid people find new ways to ignore the rule.  I guess the thing that concerns me most are the golf carts... this time of year, they are not used while playing golf, but are the preferred transportation for some from where they are staying to the pool area.  I have no issue with that.  It is the high rate of speed and the number of people that are piled on the carts.  And even though there are signs (in English and Spanish) saying that anyone driving a golf cart must have a drivers license, these carts are often being driven by kids... with a bunch of other kids in the cart.  It is an accident waiting to happen.

The stop sign that is about 100 yards from our house has been knocked down 3 times in the past two months.  It happened again yesterday morning.  Maintenance came out in the afternoon to put it back up.  Each time it gets hit, it breaks off at ground level - it is now about waist high...

You may notice the sign is not overly close to the roadway.  Yeah, you have to be out of control, not paying attention, too young and inexperienced to be driving, or just plain stupid to run into that sign.  Or, maybe all of the above.

On the bright side, it is Monday morning, and all is relatively quiet again.  I do still keep my head on a swivel while I am out doing my daily walks.  Many of these carts are not the typical golf cart, but are more like a cross between a dune buggy and a multi-passenger side-by-side UTV.  I can generally hear them coming... not necessarily from the engine sound, but from the blaring stereo.

Yeah, I know: get off my lawn, ya damn kids!  LOL

Making more music...

This is one of my all-time favorite songs: More Today Than Yesterday, by the Spiral Staircase.  I have been playing this since it was first released in 1969.

I put down guitar, bass, and drum tracks, with a scratch vocal and sent it to Mark.  He added the horns (love it!), piano, and organ.  Back to me, and I redid the guitar and added vocals.  Here it is...

https://soundcloud.com/captainjimb/more-today-than-yesterday-2

Mark will be otherwise occupied for a while, so it may be just me making music for the near term.  It has been a lot of fun adding all these other instruments, but I am thinking our next joint project might have to be just two guys singing, with a guitar and a piano.

A five minute job...

Joan asked if I'd get the flagpole mounted today... before noon.  Apparently, it is important to put a "done by" time, but in this case it is so I don't have to stand in the sun on that side of the house.  My early morning was taken up with a walk, exercising, and a bicycle ride.  Then, time to tackle the project.

The flag kit she bought came with the mounting bracket, pole, and solar light.  It even included stainless steel screws for attaching the mounting bracket.  Of course, the screws were too short.  They may have worked if you were going directly into something solid, but we recently had PVC sleeves put on all the 4x4 support posts on our deck.  There is a bit of space between the PVC and the wood posts.  So, to get a good bite into the wood, the screws need to be about an inch longer.

I grabbed my wallet and keys to head to the nearby hardware store (2 blocks off our island).  Joan asked, "Don't we have some screws somewhere?"

"Probably, but it will take longer to find them than to go get some and know they are the right size."

On the way to our bridge, I got behind the slowest golf cart I've ever seen here.  When that guy turned out, another golf cart turned onto the main road, just ahead of me.  Yep, we have a new slow-moving winner!  When I got to our bridge, the "stop" arm was just coming down... a bridge opening.  Thirty seconds sooner and I would have zipped right across.  The bridge opened for a small boat... then continued to open further.  Timing: a tug pushing two barges was just coming around the corner.

Something I haven't seen before: a small fishing boat came roaring through the bridge when the first barge was about 100 yards from coming through the bridge!  The there isn't room for both of them to fit in that bridge opening, and the tug can't stop on a dime.  The dumbass in the little boat, made a hard left, then a hard right to keep from getting splatted by the barge.  Incredibly stupid.  No, I didn't get a photo; I got in my pocket to pull my phone out when I saw the little boat, but he was already on the far side of the barge - and there isn't a lot of room there, either.  Here comes the barge...

The bridge opens well in advance with an approaching tug; it is not unusual to sit there for 10 minutes before you even see the first barge coming around as the tug makes his turn to line up on the bridge.  This means plenty of traffic can back up, waiting for the bridge...

Just as the bridge was closing, another small fishing boat came roaring up to the bridge.  From his actions, it was clear that he wasn't happy that the bridge operator didn't hold the bridge open for him.  The bridge operator needs to clear that traffic, and the small boat will have to wait.  Weekdays, the bridge will only open on the hour for recreational traffic; on weekends and holidays, they will open anytime on request.  The proper way to contact the bridge is via VHF radio, but most of the small recreational fishing boats around here don't have a radio.

With the bridge set for vehicle traffic, I went into the hardware store, got the 4 screws I needed, and knew the bridge would be open again for that last guy.  Yep, I get to wait both directions...

Oh, well, the air conditioning in the car feels good and I enjoy some music on the satellite radio.  This was a short wait for the bridge since it didn't have to open far for the small boat.  I would imagine on some summer weekends, the bridge is open more than it is closed during daylight hours.

Back to the house and up on a ladder to screw the bracket in place.  Climbing a ladder is something I haven't done in a while.  This was the "5 minute" part of the job.  Well, it may have taken a minute or 6 longer than that while there was discussion of the final placement of the bracket.  Holes drilled, screws put in place.  Joan put the flagpole into the bracket and this project is done.  Looks good...

 Now, the only thing missing back there is a boat at the dock.  ;-)

Seasons change...

... and so do I.

If you said, "No Time by The Guess Who, 1969," you get 50 bonus points.

Do you feel the change?  Spring has slipped away and we are now officially into summer.  Here in the Tropical Tip, it has felt like summer for months.  Well, it has been hot and humid for months.  I feel like I lost about a month of it while being house-bound after the big cut.  For the last 3 to 4 weeks I have been able to get outside... and it has been hot and humid almost all of that time.  Although we did have about 20 minutes of 78º temperature during a change of wind direction a few days ago.  Then, it was back into the upper 80s within an hour.

Looking at our forecast for the next 10 days, it is like an endless loop: high of 90º, low of 82º, humid, wind out of the southeast at 10 to 30 mph.  Take today: the high will be around 90º (duh), but it will "feel like" somewhere on the far side of 110º.  In the shade.  Wind is 24mph out of the southeast, gusting to 31.

My morning and evening walks are not bad, but trying to walk mid-day turns one into a sweatball within 30 seconds.  That's why we get out of here during the summer.  Except for this year.  Negotiations, however, are on-going.

Now, about that whole "Summer Solstice" thing: it is the longest day of daylight in the northern hemisphere, occurring "around June 20 to 21st."  Often called "the longest day of the year," but that is a misnomer: the day has the same 24 hours in it as usual... it just has more time of daylight than the rest of the year.  The Earth will begin its seasonal tilt in relation to the sun once again, and we'll lose a couple minutes of daylight each day from now until the Winter Solstice.  Those in the northern latitudes will have more minutes of daylight than those of us who are closer to the equator... but, that evens out during the winter when we have more minutes of daylight.  Mother Nature is kind of an equal opportunity provider with this.  Well, with the daylight... obviously not with the "feels like" temperatures.

You do have to take "feels like" into account... today, I "feels like" having some BBQ for lunch!  ;-)

--------------------


Other changes: when lunch time rolled around, Joan suggested Italian; I am easily swayed.  When we got back from lunch, I was in need of some scooter time.  Yes, still hot, humid, and windy, but my plan was for just riding around our resort (village).  Riding by a friend's house, I saw him wave from his window - I swung the scoot around and stopped to visit with him.

This friend had hip surgery 3 days after I did.  He was up walking after the first week; driving shortly after that.  It seemed that he was doing a LOT better than me, and sooner.  In fact, he felt guilty (his words) when we first compared conditions after surgery that he was doing so much better than me.  I told him, "You know, when I said I was happy that you were doing so well, it wasn't just words - I truly was glad for you.  Not so glad for me, but definitely glad for you."

It was interesting to compare notes again, 6 weeks later (it is 8 weeks today since my cut).  From the conversation, I am doing at least as good, if not better.  Yes, I know: everyone's recovery is different.  The difference: I have been doing the exercises and the daily walking (still 3 times a day).  He only did the exercises while the PT person was there; hasn't done any since.  We are both moving around reasonably decent.  He said to me, "The biggest issue I am having is the pain - I didn't expect it to still hurt."

"Me, too.  But, it is getting less.  Not fast enough, but definitely less."

Yeah, I know: don't compare.  But, it was good to talk to someone who has been in roughly the same situation.  And to know that the exercises and walking are paying off.  And I plan to keep at it.

That face...

Rufus likes to be around us; we like it, too.

This morning, he was stretched out on top of the couch and I couldn't resist grabbing the camera...

I am biased, but that is a pretty regal-looking feline.  And that face - how could anyone resist that face?

Yep, that's my big furry boy.

How you doin'?

If you said, "Joey Tribbiani from the TV series Friends," you get 25 bonus points.  Interesting tidbit: although that is, by far, that character's most memorable line, he didn't say it all that often; out of 236 episodes over 10 years, he said it fewer than 20 times.

This post is friend related, but not the TV series.  A friend called today to see how I was doing; based on what he has read here, he thought I must be doing good.  Seven and a half weeks of pain and grueling work boiled up and burst out.  I wasn't a good friend.

Yes, there is still pain.  It is always there, whether I am sitting, walking, sleeping... certainly, it is less than early on.  Less than before the surgery?  Not yet.  Am I "glad" I did the surgery?  Not yet.  I am in better shape because I have been working at it.  The pre-surgery hip would not have allowed me to exercise this much.  I am still hopeful that the end result will have been worth it.

I am frustrated.  Can't get the boat out.  Can't load the scoots up and take them some place that is pleasant to ride.  Can't really sit out on the deck.  It's hot and humid... so I go outside for a walk or a bike ride and come back a sweatball.  Probably because I am "working at it" when I go outside... it isn't a leisurely walk.  I feel like I am "losing" my summer... it feels like I can't plan for traveling because I don't know what I'll be able to do for setting up the motorhome; or hooking up the car.

"Don't lift more than 20 pounds..."  For how long?  Are we talking a dead lift or a curl?  "You can't cross your legs..."  No shit;  I couldn't cross my legs before the surgery.  "No twisting motion..."  So, apparently, I can dance the Watusi, but Chubby Checker songs are out.

So, the answer to the title of this post is: better than it was for the first month after surgery, but it seems like a long way to go.  If I hear another "Everybody's recovery is different," I will probably explode.  I am aware of this - I am living it.  Every day is different.

On the bright side: Rufus has resumed hopping up onto my chair and head-butting me.  I know I mentioned this a few days ago, but it is something that brings me joy.

I take no joy in ranting.

Running errands...

Well, that is a misnomer, because there was no "running" involved.  We made a trip to the big city today, to pick up a few things at Sam's Club, get the oil in the Honda changed, and get me a Chick-fil-A sandwich.  We accomplished most of that - after waiting 45 minutes for a "10 minute oil change" that we were told they'd get to us in 15 minutes (you following that?), I told Joan I was done waiting, and we got into our car, backed out of line, and left.

At Sam's Club, Joan asked if I wanted a motorized cart... "I'm good."  I think she was impressed that I was able to walk through that whole store and not hold her up.  Hey, I am used to walking 3 times daily in the heat and humidity - Sam's Club is air conditioned... that was easy!

As of last night, I am walking around the house without a cane.  Most of the time.  Of course, there are countertops and furniture close at hand that I can use for support if necessary.  Anything beyond the front door is still with a cane.  Although, I did go for a bicycle ride in the early evening and intentionally left the cane behind.  I can use the bicycle for support if walking, and I wasn't planning on any stops and walk-abouts for my ride.  I am not easing up on the exercising/walking/bike riding, and I am seeing the results.

I think any "running" is behind me, but I am looking forward to a time when I can take a nice, leisurely walk, without any "support" equipment.  I can see it on the horizon.  :-)

The Strawberry Moon...

No, tonight's full moon isn't going to look like a giant strawberry.  This was the full moon to let Native Americans know that it was time to harvest the wild strawberries.

 

A little later, as the moon got higher in the sky, and less viewing through the atmosphere (no color manipulation on either photo)...

3 f/stops brighter after it was higher, as well.  Yeah, I shoot these on manual to get the detail in the exposure.

I was happy to go out to photograph this one, even though the mosquitoes were just coming out, too.  I was still on a walker at last month's full moon, and going down the stairs in the dark was out of the question.

Earlier today, I photographed another heavenly body: she was holding her new American flag kit she bought...

The flag, the flag pole, the mount, and a solar light.  Now we need to decide where to mount it.

Can I get a lift?

No, we're not putting in a device to get me up the stairs.  Well, we don't have any stairs in the house, just the steps that lead up to our front door.  And, I am doing those with alternating steps.

Joan was getting ready to go to the store.  I jokingly asked, "Can you give me a ride up and down our street, so I can get my 'mileage' in?"

She countered with, "How 'bout I give you a ride to the Event Center and you can walk back?  You'll get some different scenery."

While I do look around while I'm walking, it isn't for the scenery... but, yeah, time to change it up.  She dropped me off in the parking lot of our Event Center, and I walked home while she went to the store.

Along the golf course...

Past a couple canals...

It was a lovely walk, not just because of the change of scenery.  Earlier, a gust front had come through, with a change of wind direction... and it dropped the temperature and humidity.  It was 78º when I got out of the car, and not much wind.  Really nice.

When Joan got back from the store shortly after I got home, the temp was up to 84º, with a warm wind and more humidity.  Things can change fast here.  Glad I got out when I did.

It's been weeks...

We had our Monday morning breakfast out.  Yep, Pier 19, where every table/booth has a view of the water.  This morning, we saw a couple dolphins.  Briefly.  It has literally been weeks since we have seen dolphins.  Normally, if we were still here this time of year, we would be out on our boat, seeing dolphins daily.  Since the boat is still waiting for us in our storage unit, the only time we have seen dolphins this season has been while driving over the bridge to get on or off our island... and they haven't been there in quite a while.

I miss those delightful cetaceans.

Stand tall...

Joan asked if I'd play guitar for her this morning.  I aim to please.  I sat on the couch and played my X7 (the smallest of my Emeralds, and the guitar that has been getting the most play since the surgery).

When sitting with the X7, I hold it slightly tilted up.  The sound hole on the X7 opens to the front (my other Emeralds open to the front and up)... from a sitting position, and tilted slightly back, the X7 sounds much bigger than it is.

Since the hip is improving, I decided to play while standing (something I haven't done since before the surgery)... the X7 sounds much smaller from that position, since the sound hole is projecting all the sound forward (not upward).  Joan said, "Try it with one of your other guitars."  I got the X20 and gave it a go... yep, that sounds BIG, from any position.  Size, and position, matter.

The take way here isn't all about the guitars... it is about the standing to play.

Another step forward.  Get it?  "Step."  On that front, I am able to do a few steps at a time without the cane.  Yep, another step forward.

As far as "standing tall"... well, I am apparently standing medium these days.  Officially 5' 9" at the doctor's office.  But, I don't list to the left like I used to.  ;-)

Happy Father's Day!

I won't get to see our daughter today.  The last time we got to spend Father's Day together was in 2008, when they came to visit us while we were working in Yellowstone.  While I would love to see her face-to-face, I carry her in my heart... everyday.

There is something special about being a Father... Dad... Pops.  It is a life-long endeavor, no matter the miles that separate you.  It makes you want to be a better man.  I take some time to reflect on those Dad moments.  I can't speak for all Dads, but my best memories are not just Dad and daugher... they are always with the 3 of us.  Because, without my lovely wife, I could not be the Dad I am.

The years as the protector.  The encourager.  The turn-her-loose-but-still-be-there years.  The prideful look-at-her-being-an-adult years.  Then, if you are fortunate enough to get a bunch of years, the reversal of roles, where she worries more about your welfare (because you know she can take care of herself).  The time that comes to mind was when we were on our boat, out of any kind of phone coverage... for longer than anticipated... and when I was able to call: "Where have you people been?  I was worried sick!"  (Kinda makes up for some of those teenager years.)

And most recently, when hip recovery wasn't going as fast or as smooth as I had hoped, the daily phone calls from my sweet girl.  It made a difference.

Like being a Dad... it makes a difference.

Exercising...

Not talking about the walking, the bicycle riding, or the physical therapy instructed exercises I'm doing daily.  The generator in the motorhome needs to be exercised once a month or so... I'm a bit behind on that.

Off to our storage unit (38 miles inland); I backed the motorhome out, Joan started the generator and turned on the air conditioning so the gen would have a load on it.

We looked everything over in the motorhome - all good.  I walked around outside it and did a short "run-through" as though I was hooking up utilities.  Pretty sure I can do this.  Driving the coach is a piece of cake: the seats are comfortable and access is good.

Yeah, I can do this.  One more "follow up visit" to the surgeon's office in a couple weeks, then we'll see how things are going.

A challenge...

No, I'm not going to dump ice on my head or try to jump over a moving car.  I thought Mark (music partner) was my friend... he suggested a song... it was popular a few years ago... I remember the tune... didn't sound tough when listening to it.  OMG, I was so wrong.  The "easy" song is full of timing and phrasing changes.  Mark spent quite a while working on a piano track that he sent to me.

I listened to it last night and practiced with a few vocal tracks.  Then worked on it again today... about 6 hours worth.  Yes, I got my walks, bike ride, and exercises in... even managed to go out for BBQ with my Honey this afternoon... and then came back and worked on the song some more.  Whew!

I sent some tracks back to Mark; his turn to add some more.  Not ready for public playing, yet.

Yeah, I needed this...

A plan of sorts: get the scoots out, start 'em, have Joan ride 'em around to keep them charged up.  Then, perhaps, go out to the storage unit to do the same with the motorhome: run the engine and exercise the generator.  These all need regular use.

Joan pulled her Honda out... I told her I would be fine to roll the Vespa out.  Once outside, I had to sit on it...

Yep; that feels pretty good.  "Ya know, I can hold this scoot up fine - I think it's time for a short ride!"  I fired up the Vespa and rolled it to the end of the driveway; put on a helmet, and... some breeze on my face!

Joan pulled up alongside me on her PCX; "How are you doing?  You feel up to riding to check mail?"

"Oh, yeah!"

At the owners area, she took a few photos to document me riding...

"I think I'm up for a little jaunt around town!"  We headed off our island, down a side road, onto the main drag through town, then back to our island.  No, it wasn't a long ride... I'm calling it a "proof of concept."  The leg can support the scoot at stops.  It is actually easier to pull my foot up onto the floorboard after a stop than it was before the surgery... that is a first.  I hope that is a preview of how the walking will be eventually.

I used some different muscles on the ride; not sore, but I can tell I've done "a new activity."  (That's what I'm calling this.)  I'm not ready to take off on a cross-country scooter ride, but it is good to push forward to get stronger and better.  I had some anticipation when I rolled on the throttle that first time... I sure don't want to do anything to mess up the progress I've made... but, I really needed this!

I think we'll put the motorhome stuff off until tomorrow.

It's a good day!

:-)