I CAN ONCE AGAIN CARRY MY OWN CUP OF COFFEE FROM THE KITCHEN TO THE SUNROOM

 HEADING TO EXETER ONTARIO FOR MY PHYSIOTHERAPY THIS MORNING

Waking up and glancing at the clock first thing this morning my first thought was, 'I am soooooo glad this is not two weeks ago right now.  I would have been on the chopping block at Sarnia's Bluewater Hospital.  While on the subject there are two things I forgot to mention.  As of yesterday (Monday) the swelling finally went down in my leg and I am now walking with shorter more normal steps upright with the walker.  Before I had been taking longer strides and was bent way forward over the walker.  A reader noticed that bent-over stance in a post photo a week and a half ago.

NICE TO FINALLY HAVE A SIGN POSTED AT OUR PARK ENTRANCE TELLING US WHAT ROAD WE ARE LIVING ON

It was a cloudy 50F morning with distant thunder and the threat of rain in the air when Kelly and I rolled out of our driveway at 10:15 heading for Russett Rehabilitation in Exeter, Ontario.  Using my tried and true way of thinking I had already convinced myself that this was going to be very painful.  I envisioned them tying my legs together and twisting them into the shape of a pretzel.  I figured they would try to bend my leg around behind the back of my head, and for sure they would make me do 'jumping jacks'.  Well, imagine my relief and wondrously good feeling when none of that of course happened.  Yep, my way of thinking wins again.  Sherry Yantzi, my Physio person had me do a number of new exercises and then, flat on my back, she moved my leg around with more exercises.  At no time did I have any grinding pain and the new exercises felt good. Now do keep in mind, I had previously taken a pain pill at 10 a.m. knowing where I was going.  She said at two weeks out from the operation she was very pleased with my progress.  And, I was very pleased that she said she was very pleased.  My next appointment is next week.  She also showed me how to use a cane properly (I had it all wrong) and said to start using the cane round the house.  If I go outside for a walk, I am to use the walker.  10-4 I thought, sounds logical to me.  So, with two weeks behind me, I can sum up both mentally and physically how I feel in three simple words.....'pretty darn good':))))))

 AND YES, THAT CAR REFLECTED IN THE WINDOW IS US GUYS

 RUSSETT RECEPTION AND WAITING ROOM WITH THE THERAPY ROOM LOCATED THROUGH THE DOOR AT THE LEFT

 ABOUT THE ONLY THING I HATE DOING MORE THAN WASHING WINDOWS IS DOING PAPERWORK SO KELLY VOLUNTEERED TO COME IN AND DO THAT FOR ME.....SHE'S THE BEST:)) .... OH AND HEY, HOW ABOUT THAT HAPPILY SMILING WOMAN IN THE BACKGROUND 

Following Physio we slipped across the street to A&W and picked up a couple 'Double Buddy Burgers' and two coffees.  A cruise through Exeter to look at a few things and we were soon on our way home.  Nice weather all the way.  We had a very happy little doggy waiting for us.  In the morning we'll have an earlier start as we head to Sarnia's Bluewater hospital for a surgery follow-up with Dr. Garach whereupon my stitches will be removed.  I am already bracing for the pain when he rips them out with a pair of rusty old pliers.  And then Saturday morning, more pain is headed my way when..........oh I'll tell you about it in Saturday's post.  Let's just say it involves my feet and maybe a chainsaw!!

 HERE COMES THE COFFEE AND DOUBLE BUDDIES

Arriving home and getting myself into the house this afternoon (after relocating a bird feeder) around 1:20 I right away transitioned from my walker to my cane with the next goal in a few weeks being to transition from the cane to 'no cane'.  And, of right now with my cane, I can once again carry my own cup of coffee from the kitchen to the sunroom:))))      

HOW NICE AT RUSSETTS TO SEE A BLAST OF SUNSHINE COME THROUGH THE WINDOW AND LIGHT UP THE COLORFUL FLOOR TILES

Al's Music Box:)) Southern Cross is a song written by Stephen Stills, Rick Curtis, and brother Michael Curtis and performed by the rock band Crosby, Stills and Nash. It was featured on the band's 'Daylight Again' album and was released as a single in September 1982. Stephen Stills sings lead throughout, with Graham Nash joining on the second verse. Because David Crosby did not reunite with Stills and Nash until the album was well underway, his vocals are not featured on the album version, although he did appear in the video and subsequently sang the song with the group in live performances.  "Southern Cross" is based on the song "Seven League Boots" by Rick and Michael Curtis. Stills explained, "The Curtis Brothers brought a wonderful song called 'Seven League Boots,' but it drifted around too much. I rewrote a new set of words and added a different chorus, a story about a long boat trip I took after my divorce. It's about using the power of the universe to heal your wounds. Once again, I was given somebody's gem and cut and polished it."  The song title and lyrics reference the Crux constellation, known as the Southern Cross.

JUST MOTORING ALONG WITH THE TUNES GOING

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A kindergarten student was having trouble putting on his boots and asked his teacher for help. Even with her pulling and him pushing, the boots still didn't want to go on. Finally they got both boots on. She grimaced when the little boy said, "They're on the wrong feet." Sure enough, they were. The teacher kept her cool as together they worked to get the boots back on - this time on the correct feet. The little boy then announced, "These aren't my boots." The teacher sighed and pulled the boots off.  The boy then said, "They're my brother's boots. My Mom made me wear them."  The teacher felt like crying, but she mustered up the strength to wrestle the boots back onto his feet. "Now," she said, "where are your mittens?"  The boy replied, "I stuffed them in my boots...."

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When you truly don't care what anyone thinks of you, you have reached a dangerously awesome level of freedom.

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