MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I am not a winter person, but if you have to have cold weather, let's have snow. Somehow, it seems appropriate and you can always curl up with a good book by the fire . . . . and you have to admit that a lot of times, snow storms are pretty to watch.
Early spring has no such redeeming quality . . . perhaps with the sole exception that eventually it gives way to actually "Spring" and then to Summer and then to sailing. Last week, when temperatures actually hit the 70's a couple of times and I could actually laze about on the patio and watch the clouds rolls by, has become a mere "cruel" dream. After two days of cold rain, i am beginning to wonder if it was all not just a illusion. I still need sunshine as my vitamin "D", or is it "A" supplies are low and I get mopey. Even with the Red Sox on TV, I can barely "survive."
Tomorrow the staples go away. Huzzah! For those of you who might have escaped "stapling" so far in your surgical history, you are out when they go in and very much with it when they get taken out. It is something akin to a "long root canal!" Perhaps there will be something to dull the pain?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!
No new inquiries about ABISHAG, which is both good and bad. Good because I don't want to sell her and bad because, unless something changes, I have to sell. Things are not much better on the condo front. I just had a meeting with my realtor to sign a renewal contract. In the past , there have been 21,000 hits specific to my condo. Evidently, the hold up is that because of the market, you need 20% down for a variable and that is the sticking point. We talked about seeing if we can do a deal with HSBC the current mortgage holder(fixed) to see if we can work something out. Perhaps something may come of it. Then again, pigs may fly . . . but not anytime soon!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
So Much For An Early Summer
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Well it was too good to last. The weather that is. And now it is returning to where it "should be," the weather of March. It will be a good thing to have a spring in that we have not had one for several years now and a slow warming, to match a slow healing, would be appreciated. Ome good thing I just realized what that the shift in the weather was not presaged by a corresponding "ache" in the hip. I guess one of my "barometers" has been permanently removed adn now I am down to two knees, my lower back, my left wrist and several fingers with which to forceast the approaching weather. I would be more than happy to depend on the weather channel but a "slight" lessening to the forecasting "aches" is still aprreciated.
I did "too much" yesterday. My sisters took me out for lunch and a drive and by the time I got back I was exhausted. I hit the rack and slept for three hours straight. I am still amazed how tiring doing seemingly nothing can be!
My PT guy just showed up so I am off to go walking and exercising. O joy!
Well it was too good to last. The weather that is. And now it is returning to where it "should be," the weather of March. It will be a good thing to have a spring in that we have not had one for several years now and a slow warming, to match a slow healing, would be appreciated. Ome good thing I just realized what that the shift in the weather was not presaged by a corresponding "ache" in the hip. I guess one of my "barometers" has been permanently removed adn now I am down to two knees, my lower back, my left wrist and several fingers with which to forceast the approaching weather. I would be more than happy to depend on the weather channel but a "slight" lessening to the forecasting "aches" is still aprreciated.
I did "too much" yesterday. My sisters took me out for lunch and a drive and by the time I got back I was exhausted. I hit the rack and slept for three hours straight. I am still amazed how tiring doing seemingly nothing can be!
My PT guy just showed up so I am off to go walking and exercising. O joy!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
It's May In March! ! ! ! !
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
One of the toughest things about recovering from my operation is the planning involved in even the most simple and mundane activity. To get up out of a chair for instance, I have to have my crutches within ease reach. I have to make sure that the area around the chair is uncluttered. I have to position my crutches so that I am pushing up and out with my arms as I am lifting with my legs. I have to be conscious of my balance until I am "in balance" for one out of every 15 or so maneuvers is a little "off." This also means I have to plan on "returning to the landing site" each time I "take off."
I have to constantly remind myself not "to reach" but to move to whatever it is I want. I also have to remember to take everything I need to perform a "particular" function. I have developed an ability to have a mental check list and to run down it whenever I move between here and there to do this and that.
All of this sounds a bit complicated but for a sailor, it is almost second nature. Whenever I am sailing, I am forever mentally going over the lists of necessary things to do to say change course, drop anchor, raise or lower sails. If I think out and plan out each maneuver, it usually goes off without a hitch and if there is a hitch, it is most often anticipated and accounted for. Still, it doesn't mean that I have not during my recovery already left some "vital item" in at the farthest point away from where I need it to be at one particular moment.
The weather has been spectacular and I have been forced, forced mind you, to sit outside and soak-up lots of vitamins (A(?) and/or D (?)). I am still suffering the fatigue attacks but they seem to be getting few in number and are are spacing themselves farther and farther apart. Sleep at night is longer and deeper and less interrupted. Rather than awakening every 45 minutes or so, I am actually making it almost all the way through the night. What usually wakes me now is not so much a FLOMAX moment as it is sliding my arm across the rip saw blade made up of the staples on my hip. Thankfully they will be gone on Wednesday. Huzzah!
I am spending some small time figuring out how to do all of the maintenance on ABISHAG with the limitations of movement I will have. If I am told one more time that I can dislocate the hip by bending, squatting or twisting the wrong way, I think I will scream. Maintenance on a sailboat is all about bending and twisting and squatting, not to mention stretching and reaching. Perhaps, I will win Powerball and will be able to hire a limber soul to handle it all. Not likely, but you never know!
One of the toughest things about recovering from my operation is the planning involved in even the most simple and mundane activity. To get up out of a chair for instance, I have to have my crutches within ease reach. I have to make sure that the area around the chair is uncluttered. I have to position my crutches so that I am pushing up and out with my arms as I am lifting with my legs. I have to be conscious of my balance until I am "in balance" for one out of every 15 or so maneuvers is a little "off." This also means I have to plan on "returning to the landing site" each time I "take off."
I have to constantly remind myself not "to reach" but to move to whatever it is I want. I also have to remember to take everything I need to perform a "particular" function. I have developed an ability to have a mental check list and to run down it whenever I move between here and there to do this and that.
All of this sounds a bit complicated but for a sailor, it is almost second nature. Whenever I am sailing, I am forever mentally going over the lists of necessary things to do to say change course, drop anchor, raise or lower sails. If I think out and plan out each maneuver, it usually goes off without a hitch and if there is a hitch, it is most often anticipated and accounted for. Still, it doesn't mean that I have not during my recovery already left some "vital item" in at the farthest point away from where I need it to be at one particular moment.
The weather has been spectacular and I have been forced, forced mind you, to sit outside and soak-up lots of vitamins (A(?) and/or D (?)). I am still suffering the fatigue attacks but they seem to be getting few in number and are are spacing themselves farther and farther apart. Sleep at night is longer and deeper and less interrupted. Rather than awakening every 45 minutes or so, I am actually making it almost all the way through the night. What usually wakes me now is not so much a FLOMAX moment as it is sliding my arm across the rip saw blade made up of the staples on my hip. Thankfully they will be gone on Wednesday. Huzzah!
I am spending some small time figuring out how to do all of the maintenance on ABISHAG with the limitations of movement I will have. If I am told one more time that I can dislocate the hip by bending, squatting or twisting the wrong way, I think I will scream. Maintenance on a sailboat is all about bending and twisting and squatting, not to mention stretching and reaching. Perhaps, I will win Powerball and will be able to hire a limber soul to handle it all. Not likely, but you never know!
Friday, March 19, 2010
I've Got Weather Helm! ! ! ! !
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
"Weather Helm" is a sailing term that refers to the tendency of a boat to "turn into the wind." Due to the design of the boat, the type of rig she carries and the configuration/combination of sails she is carrying, a boat will, if the helm (steering wheel) is release,tend to sail along on course by itself. If any of the above mention characteristics is out of balance, the boat will turn up into the wind (weather helm . . . turning into the weather) - a good thing as she will slowly come to a stop, or she will turn away from the wind (lee helm . . . turning to the lee of the weather) - not always a good thing as she will keep right on sailing whether you are on board or not. A balanced helm - will just a slight weather helm - is always best.
I have developed a "personal weather helm" as with the hip replaced and the muscles not fully stretched out and realigned, the strive of my right leg is not as great as that of my left, so I find myself going in small circles to the right. This will undoubtedly correct itself as the healing continues and the crutches get dumped for a cane and eventually for nothing at all.
After a weekend of horrendous weather, this week has been progressively more wonderful, with temps in the 50's and even flirting with the 60's. There is even a possibility of one day in the 70's over the weekend . . . before the return of the snow. That last part is mere speculation, but it seems to fit seamlessly with the way things have been going so I just tossed it in.
Yesterday was a truly glorious day as I got to take my first shower. Please keep you snide comments to yourselves!!!!!!! After two weeks a sponge baths, to be able to stand in the shower and have the water beat down was glorious almost beyond the power of speech. As I said to my home health aide, "Boy, I could stand here for an hour!" He informed me that I had a 45 minute time limit as that was the length of his "assisting" and I couldn't stay in and get out of the shower all by myself. . . . without prior medical approval. I did 30 minutes! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
The staples get pulled next Wednesday and I can't wait for that. My mobility is great and I can "scoot" quite well, and stairs are not the problem I anticipated. I am still ambushed by "fatigue." It is not surprising when, after doing 50 stairs or so, that I get the sudden urge to do a serious power nap, rather it is the "sneak attack" that comes when I am simply sitting and reading or working at the computer and I doze off in place. While they are probably getting less in duration and fewer in number, they are still annoying.
No bids or bites on anything up for sale. I can "appreciate" God's control of the situation but the "trusting" part at times is a real high wire act. I have to move from saying that "so far" God has always been there and just believe that such will always be the case. Easier some days than others, but I be working on it.
"Weather Helm" is a sailing term that refers to the tendency of a boat to "turn into the wind." Due to the design of the boat, the type of rig she carries and the configuration/combination of sails she is carrying, a boat will, if the helm (steering wheel) is release,tend to sail along on course by itself. If any of the above mention characteristics is out of balance, the boat will turn up into the wind (weather helm . . . turning into the weather) - a good thing as she will slowly come to a stop, or she will turn away from the wind (lee helm . . . turning to the lee of the weather) - not always a good thing as she will keep right on sailing whether you are on board or not. A balanced helm - will just a slight weather helm - is always best.
I have developed a "personal weather helm" as with the hip replaced and the muscles not fully stretched out and realigned, the strive of my right leg is not as great as that of my left, so I find myself going in small circles to the right. This will undoubtedly correct itself as the healing continues and the crutches get dumped for a cane and eventually for nothing at all.
After a weekend of horrendous weather, this week has been progressively more wonderful, with temps in the 50's and even flirting with the 60's. There is even a possibility of one day in the 70's over the weekend . . . before the return of the snow. That last part is mere speculation, but it seems to fit seamlessly with the way things have been going so I just tossed it in.
Yesterday was a truly glorious day as I got to take my first shower. Please keep you snide comments to yourselves!!!!!!! After two weeks a sponge baths, to be able to stand in the shower and have the water beat down was glorious almost beyond the power of speech. As I said to my home health aide, "Boy, I could stand here for an hour!" He informed me that I had a 45 minute time limit as that was the length of his "assisting" and I couldn't stay in and get out of the shower all by myself. . . . without prior medical approval. I did 30 minutes! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
The staples get pulled next Wednesday and I can't wait for that. My mobility is great and I can "scoot" quite well, and stairs are not the problem I anticipated. I am still ambushed by "fatigue." It is not surprising when, after doing 50 stairs or so, that I get the sudden urge to do a serious power nap, rather it is the "sneak attack" that comes when I am simply sitting and reading or working at the computer and I doze off in place. While they are probably getting less in duration and fewer in number, they are still annoying.
No bids or bites on anything up for sale. I can "appreciate" God's control of the situation but the "trusting" part at times is a real high wire act. I have to move from saying that "so far" God has always been there and just believe that such will always be the case. Easier some days than others, but I be working on it.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Yes, But It's A Different Kind Of Pain! ! ! !
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
It has been over a week now and my hip still hurts, but it is a different type of hurt. This is definitely all muscles/ligaments/ tendons and I can even feel it beginning to fade . . . at least a little.
I was only on the morphine pump for 48 hours but that was sufficient to "fall in love with my little friend." There was no real "buzz" just the edge missing from the pain. One experienced "discomfort" rather that real PAIN so long as one didn't move a great deal. I spent the first two days trying to find the illusive and probably non-existent position where there was no pain..
The drugs really scrambled my brains. I could barely complete a sentence and it was very disconcerting to pause to think up a word to use and then loose the word . . .the context . . . . the sentence . . . and then even what the hell I was talking ab out.
The people at the Middlesex were wonderful and couldn't do enough. I'd got back there anytime though not anytime soon. And I was out by Tuesday morning. I am staying with a good friend with a great house . . . . one floor . . . and with the way in which I am healing, I should be out and about before the end of the month. All of the medical professionals are very pleased at the progress. The next milestone should be next week when the staples ( all 33) get removed.
One amazing aspect is my tolerance for fatigue. . . .I don't have any yet. I get up, perform my morning ablutions, have breakfast, read the paper . . . .and I am exhausted. I have to rack-out for a couple of hours! And it is not a question of putting it off either. Either I choose to shut down for a couple of hours or my body does it on it's own! I mention that now because I am crashing. See you soon.
It has been over a week now and my hip still hurts, but it is a different type of hurt. This is definitely all muscles/ligaments/ tendons and I can even feel it beginning to fade . . . at least a little.
I was only on the morphine pump for 48 hours but that was sufficient to "fall in love with my little friend." There was no real "buzz" just the edge missing from the pain. One experienced "discomfort" rather that real PAIN so long as one didn't move a great deal. I spent the first two days trying to find the illusive and probably non-existent position where there was no pain..
The drugs really scrambled my brains. I could barely complete a sentence and it was very disconcerting to pause to think up a word to use and then loose the word . . .the context . . . . the sentence . . . and then even what the hell I was talking ab out.
The people at the Middlesex were wonderful and couldn't do enough. I'd got back there anytime though not anytime soon. And I was out by Tuesday morning. I am staying with a good friend with a great house . . . . one floor . . . and with the way in which I am healing, I should be out and about before the end of the month. All of the medical professionals are very pleased at the progress. The next milestone should be next week when the staples ( all 33) get removed.
One amazing aspect is my tolerance for fatigue. . . .I don't have any yet. I get up, perform my morning ablutions, have breakfast, read the paper . . . .and I am exhausted. I have to rack-out for a couple of hours! And it is not a question of putting it off either. Either I choose to shut down for a couple of hours or my body does it on it's own! I mention that now because I am crashing. See you soon.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Dancing the Hornpipe with a Peg-Leg
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
I received a call from my broker last Thursday. He had been contacted by another broker who had a client that had some questions about my boat. I spent a good 30 minutes answering them all but have heard nothing since. I am heartened by the fact that this "client" was asking about a boat in February! It means that he has been seriously looking at boats, probably for awhile, and the fact that he was asking very pertinent question, would seem to indicate that he has "serious interest." If he had been asking in April or May, I wouldn't give much credence to the inquiry, but February is a month when "serious boat buyers" are at work. However, I shan't get overly excited and will simply wait for thing to happen . . . . not that it wouldn't been immensely beneficial if she sold, and soon.
ABISHAG seems to be wintering well. Truth be told, it has been a hard winter, with lots of storms, lots of snow, lots of wind but she is "a North Sea Boat" and should be able to handle it all with ease.
Friday is "cut and slash" day and by day's end, I will have shiny new hip which will make it impossible for me to go through any metal detector without setting it off. Ah! the indignities of old age!
I received a call from my broker last Thursday. He had been contacted by another broker who had a client that had some questions about my boat. I spent a good 30 minutes answering them all but have heard nothing since. I am heartened by the fact that this "client" was asking about a boat in February! It means that he has been seriously looking at boats, probably for awhile, and the fact that he was asking very pertinent question, would seem to indicate that he has "serious interest." If he had been asking in April or May, I wouldn't give much credence to the inquiry, but February is a month when "serious boat buyers" are at work. However, I shan't get overly excited and will simply wait for thing to happen . . . . not that it wouldn't been immensely beneficial if she sold, and soon.
ABISHAG seems to be wintering well. Truth be told, it has been a hard winter, with lots of storms, lots of snow, lots of wind but she is "a North Sea Boat" and should be able to handle it all with ease.
Friday is "cut and slash" day and by day's end, I will have shiny new hip which will make it impossible for me to go through any metal detector without setting it off. Ah! the indignities of old age!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Nothing New, I'm Afraid!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
One of the nasty aspects of winter is that so little gets done adn you seem to have so much more time to do it. I would really love to be down on the boat doing some of the work that needs doing but it is literally too cold and, with the boat also in the water, there is little that can be done. come spring, of course, there will be too much to do and too little time in which to do it. It is a never ending cycle I'm afraid.
There has been no movement on the boat, not offers, not even a nibble. As we get closer to spring, I am hoping that that will pick up but right now, who knows. Of course, I could win Powerball and that would solve a number of problems but, as of now, ABISHAG going to a new owner is the best thing.
I have a carefully crafted and ever-expanding list of projects, few of which can be tackled until the snow stops and the weather warms at least a bit. I am hoping for an early spring so that I can get started and then get sailing if she doesn't sell. But for now, it is simply one day at a time, all the while hoping that something will happen to ameliorate the whole situation.
As for my own repairs, the cutting and slashing will take place on the 5th of March. According to the doctor, I'll be in the hospital for 3-4 days, then convalesce for another 5-10, and then it is simply getting better. I have been hobbling along on this leg for so long now that I really wonder what it will be like to walk pain-free.
One of the nasty aspects of winter is that so little gets done adn you seem to have so much more time to do it. I would really love to be down on the boat doing some of the work that needs doing but it is literally too cold and, with the boat also in the water, there is little that can be done. come spring, of course, there will be too much to do and too little time in which to do it. It is a never ending cycle I'm afraid.
There has been no movement on the boat, not offers, not even a nibble. As we get closer to spring, I am hoping that that will pick up but right now, who knows. Of course, I could win Powerball and that would solve a number of problems but, as of now, ABISHAG going to a new owner is the best thing.
I have a carefully crafted and ever-expanding list of projects, few of which can be tackled until the snow stops and the weather warms at least a bit. I am hoping for an early spring so that I can get started and then get sailing if she doesn't sell. But for now, it is simply one day at a time, all the while hoping that something will happen to ameliorate the whole situation.
As for my own repairs, the cutting and slashing will take place on the 5th of March. According to the doctor, I'll be in the hospital for 3-4 days, then convalesce for another 5-10, and then it is simply getting better. I have been hobbling along on this leg for so long now that I really wonder what it will be like to walk pain-free.
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