Thanksgiving 2016

Thanksgiving post. Probably every blog writer and his dog are going to punish the readers with a sappy thankful turkey day missive today, and I am no exception.

Sort of.

You already know I'm thankful surviving my crash and remaining alive and able to be a productive member of society. 

I have been reflecting a bit on the past, and came up with a few things....

• if I had to have a divorce, I'm thankful that it was amicable and she was generous enough to let me keep the house and all of my stuff. 
• I've got a few good friends that (maybe they don't know it) have stimulated my creativity and helped me to be a better woodworker 
• I like pie

Everyone has a holiday tradition, right? Some sit home alone moping and resentful. Some that are alone make the best of it, and do something to ensure they're not alone for the holiday. Some overdo everything, causing themselves and everyone around them so much stress and anxiety....trying to make everything perfect, trying to do everything just right, just like the way they have always done it. 

And there's some comfort in that. I wish I could go to Grandma's on Christmas eve to eat chili and marvel at the greasy milk with lumps of snot ("oyster stew"). I miss Grandpa asking every time I'd see him the last week of June and until his birthday "did you get it yet?". 

But life changes, and circumstances change, and therefore traditions change. The last few years I've spent several holidays alone. Home alone, just George and I. 

So I created a new tradition. On holidays I find something I want to make and I make it. One year on Independence day, I made a pallet flag. I thought I had made a post about that, but I can't find it. I took step by step pics with the intention. 

Yes, I know, it only has 48 stars. 

Just this last New Years day I made a shelf for my kitchen. I can't find the pic, come visit. 

Today, thanks to Kelly for the inspiration: 

 Susie painted and took home these next 2:

 and here's mine. Instead of just painting on eyes, nose, buttons and mouth, I cut slices of wood to give it depth, texture, excitement. Those that know me well may recognize the scarf as one of the striped shirts that I wore often, but reluctantly. Often in hopes of wearing it out, reluctantly because fat guys shouldn't wear horizontal stripes according to the experts. I don't think the shirt was ever going to wear out, so I cut it up so I could quit wearing it.

The wood came from the Stewartville brush dump, in March. It's been laying next to my driveway since then, and is getting a little rotten. I like the colours of the maple, even though it's not traditional for a snowman. Of course, it's not traditional for a snowman to be made from wood. 

Why does a snowman have buttons? I think I'm going to add some arms.

Friends, be thankful for what you have, and make the best of it. If you don't have what you want, do what you need to do to get it. If you don't know what you need to do, ask me for advice. 

edit: I'm thankful for being able to realize my limitations. Some friends have sent pics of things they want, and I'm able to make those things. I'd never have thought to make these things without the inspiration. I guess what I'm saying and started to say above: I'm thankful for the friends that provide the inspiration, the challenges. And I'm thankful for the ability to figure out how to make these things. To gauge size by a pic, etc. And being able to get over the lack of initial creativity. 

If you look closely, you can see that the snowman has 3d eyes, nose, mouth and buttons. I added arms, but not symmetrical arms. Don't judge.....LOL

10 weeks recovery

Yes, I know today is Wednesday, and 10 weeks since the crash was on Sunday. But guess what? On Sunday afternoon, I was busy gathering wood for a project.

 On Sunday evening, I was busy watching the moon rise. 

On Monday I was at my community ed class. Tuesday night uhhhhhhhhhhhhh I don't remember what I did; I think I celebrated my printer working, by printing a huge file. Don't worry, nothing has changed....

Last Tuesday, election day I went to see my doctor, for a couple things. Mainly to talk about the victoza. She had reviewed my file from UWMadison and says I'm doing more great than any of you think. I told her it's because I'm from Iowa, but she didn't seem impressed. I went in search of the file, and found it, read some of the CTscan notes. Friends....I am a lucky dude. I think my head bled more than I initially thought. Kinda reads like it bled on 2 sides. And I punctured a kidney, but never had any blood in the pee.....that I could see. 

I had a little dizzy spell on Sunday after watching the moon. I notice a somewhat sharp pain in my abdomen when I sneeze. I'll do a little ab massage, and have George focus his purrs. LOL

I know you're wondering what class I'm taking. Or did I already mention it? I can't remember. Seems like I hardly ever remember what I post here...and it used to be that I'd always remember what I'd write...but that was when I was taking notes in high school. 

If I recall, the doc said that most people would be just now peeling themselves out of the recliner. I said I was back to work at 2 weeks.  Do most people have more tolerance for sitting around? Am I not smart enough to take it easy and rest to recover? I dunno.....I'm pretty sure that I only overdid things a couple times and not too severely. I don't think those times set me back at all....except on the Jenga project. But I finally got it done.

I built this for my community ed class projects. That was some hard wire....but I think I should have made the base just a bit larger.

What else can I tell you? My elbow does not like being used as a "kickstand" (can't prop myself on it). Recovery complete? 

recovery, 9 weeks

For the last hour, I've been sitting here berating myself for being so out of shape. Then I listed what I accomplished, and I don't feel too bad about it. I worked in the basement for a few hours this morning, had a nap and lunch, then went out to do a few things outside. 

I didn't tell you the last 2 weeks, but the last two Sundays, I didn't go outside at all. 

And I wonder that I'm out of shape? LOL. After lunch, I cleaned my gutters. Always best to plan it when there's no plans to give anyone a massage, because it makes my hands smell bad for a day or so. Yes, I wash. The gutters were clear full, as usual, and the locust and elm tree are still covered with leaves. I may get to do it again! Yay!. One gutter to downspout connection needed repair, so that was fixed.

While the ladder is out, I better trim the tree from scraping the roof of the garage. That fiberglass pole saw has come in very handy over the years. Actually the saw sucks, but the small branch lopper is great. Just hook it over the branch and pull the rope. Do it too much tho and you'll have a sore chest.  Don't ask me how I know. LOL BTW, it helps a lot to lube pivot points of the mechanism.

Mow the lawn. Remember I mowed the flat section on week 2, and it hasn't been mowed since. Lucky it's been dry, I guess. It was much easier to start the mower today than that day, too. Maybe recovery helping. Wearing shoes also helps, can you imagine? Not going to trim....not even tempted. 

Sweep patio, haul freshly trimmed branches to the firepit. 2 wheelbarrow loads of leaves and twigs. Should be interesting, I'll put the 2 buckets of sawdust over the leaves, and then burn my bucket of scraps. Not sure when. Do you want to come over for the fire? Could make smores......last time I did that: built the fire on top of a pile of sawdust, the sawdust smoldered for about 3 days till it finally burned itself out, despite watering it before I went to bed. I've emptied the scrap bucket 3 times this year, it's a 32 gallon trash can...and the scraps are all short.

Put hose into new hose reel and store in garage. I don't like how it looked when it wrapped up, looks like the hose kinked. Normally I like kinks, but not in this application of the hose.

I guess all of that only took 2 hours. Driving a bus all day every day isn't good for me....but I hate the idea of giving up my shop time to exercise. Seems like shop time is (should be) exercise! 

Two years ago on Thanksgiving, a friend dropped off a whiskey barrel that he used as a rain barrel for a number of years, and it's been sitting on my patio ever since....I can't think of what to do with the pieces. It's rather weathered oak....and when I moved it today, the ungrateful fucker stuck a splinter into my index finger under the nail.  I understand very well why that was used as torture. 

Recovery. I had something I was going to tell you, thought of it last week. It was pretty good, too. Oh well...it's gone now. Can I still blame the concussion?

Got the hospital bill, and it's not as much as expected. However. If I pay $100/month, it'll take 70 years.....and I don't plan to live for 70 years. So that pic thingy you've seen on FB: I'm scheduled to work up till noon on the day of my funeral....that's me. Bill indicates that insurance hasn't contributed anything. Guess I'll have to call them. But....who? the hospital or the insurance company? Maybe send the bill to oBama....since he has made it so affordable, and whatever.

Maybe I was going to comment on my sleeping? I recall complaining about it once. Sleep is good. When the bed is not hard, I always sleep well. Well, that one time in February a couple years ago I didn't sleep very well for a while. But we're not talking about that.  Used to be (since the crash) that I'd have a dizzy spell when I'd lay down in bed, but that has pretty much gone away.  I've not had occasion to assume that weird bend to the left and turn the head to look up position for a while. 

Actually. Maybe I sort of did today, when I kinda washed the basement windows. I say kinda because all I did was take a wet cloth and wash the dirt off of them. And I also wiped the screen on the other windows. (that makes a lot of difference....if you're washing your windows, try washing your screens too). It'll be nice to have a little more light in the basement. But I don't remember being dizzy today when doing that. Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Everything else, though, seems ok. I feel a slight irritation/discomfort when putting a left sock on the right foot. J/K. somehow the sock (short/crew) somehow irritates that area that was rashed? I don't know, can't be bothered to look at it.  Rashy area continue to look better and less red, Hmmmm. want a pic? Ribs? what ribs. I don't notice anything. The back pain/discomfort went away when that weird pain in front went away.  Toes continue to improve very slowly. I still only notice then when I wriggle them.  My shoes, however, continue to come apart. I'm glad again it's been a dry autumn. 

Remember how I rode the motorcycle around the neighborhood on week 6. Well, I had to go to the post office on Nov 1 or 2, so I rode it over. And then I rode to work on Friday. Felt good to ride again, friends. I might ride again this week, depends on forecast. Riding can be therapeutic, too.

Unless you crash. Thanks for caring.

8 weeks recovery

Yep, 8 weeks have gone by already. The time has gone fast, much faster than expected or anticipated. That's probably because I've stayed busy with my workshop renovation and work. And ignoring my garden and lawn and other outside responsibilities. 

I've been cooking just enough to stay fat. I have not bought a bunch of freezer meals or only eaten sandwiches or soup or cereal. I keep up on dishes and laundry, but I've really been absorbed with the woodshop. 

Not a bad thing, probably. Keeps me out of trouble and out of the bar. I've done a few little projects, maybe you noticed the floating shelf that I posted a pic of on the FB page. That one started life as a siding board on the barn on the farm where I lived a year or so. Then the barn fell down, I saved some boards and built an entertainment center. Then I took it apart and moved to MN, where I built another entertainment center with it. Then I moved and I used the board as a shelf on my workbench for a lot of years. I'm pretty happy with how the shelf turned out. It is 20" long, 6" wide, and 3.5" thick.

I used Flood's Dekswood to clean the board, and Deft lacquer to finish. I used 6d cc box nails to assemble it. I suppose I should add a finished pic. 

So....recovery. Direct pressure on the toes causes discomfort. Still have dizzy spells. Turns out a side effect of the medication they scribed for me in WI has dizzy as a side effect....along with a lot of other fun things. For example: constipation and diarrhea. Copy paste is my friend: 

Less serious side effects may include:

• headache, dizziness;
• upset stomach, loss of appetite;
• nausea, vomiting;
• diarrhea, constipation;
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sinus pain, sore throat;
• back pain;
• tired feeling;
• mild skin rash

I plan to see the quack about a few things, should be fun.

Memory? Uh, I don't remember how it was before. I think I told you about this before, I have a weird memory.....always have. I'll remember some stuff forever, and other stuff I'm lucky it hangs around 40 seconds. I'm certain there's lots of examples, but I don't remember. Or maybe that's normal, to remember the things that are important and forget what is not interesting.  It sure is frustrating at times. 

I see on FB that a guy that I might have gone to school with was in a motorcycle crash and lost part of his leg, they're having a benefit for him in about 5 weeks. I might go, if I can conjure up a memory of the guy.  I think I heard that a classmate also crashed his, and lost part of his leg. Yup, I was lucky. 

It's a very enjoyable mode of recreation and transportation. It's also irritating, expensive and frustrating. I've met some really wonderful people due to the motorcycle experience.  It's impossible to imagine my life without those people and also what my life would be like now, w/o having the motorcycle experience.  I'm not going to start listing names, because I'd forget to list only those that read this and they'd be offended. Well, probably not, since they are reasonable rational adults that don't get offended by stupid stuff or (most) memory lapses. 

What else? I think I'm going to hold off buying a replacement pickup until spring, unless something wonderful comes along. I think I'll just park the old one at the garden and hope for the best. I need to clean my gutters, but the locust tree on one side and the elm on the other have all their leaves on yet. I've got a big box of books to donate. I've got a large stack of books I need to list for sale. I need to visit the grocery store, but I got a hose reel on clearance at fleet farm. I need to organize my garage so I can store the yamaha...but where to put all of that wood? Holy hell. A guy had a bunch of wood in a garage, but had to move, so I took a bunch of it, lots of plywood and particle board/melamine. Hopefully I can use a lot of it on my miter saw station.

As always, thanks for reading my bloggy posts. I enjoy comments.....

7 weeks recovery

Nothing new to report for recovery, but you can bet that I'll type a while anyway, and maybe find a pic or 2 to post.

I've gone days in a row (how many? I don't know, didn't keep track. at least 3) with no advil. And then I take it because my neck is giving me a headache. I still have dizzy spells when I tilt my head left and look up. For example, imagine one of those trendy canister lights that are put into finished basements. Think about how you'd go about looking into the damn thing to hook up the tiny springs that keeps the trim ring snug to the ceiling....fun times.

Ribs give me no trouble. Toes are the same, or maybe a little better. Road rash areas are the same...skin is a little thicker, and when there's direct pressure on those areas, it's uncomfortable still. Mostly the left index knuckle and the right wrist.

I spent some time tonight, between 2 and 3 hours working in my basement...I've been rearranging the thing, and the current project is the workbench and tool board behind the bench on the wall. The board measures almost 4' by about 3'.....which didn't seem big enough. And maybe it's not, I'm not sure yet. But....I've got my hammers hung, my pliers hung up, measuring and marking tools like the compass and rulers. I've made a hanger for my medium clamps and moved the smalls ones over to the new location. I have built a hanger for drills and jigsaw and biscuit cutter. The dremel thing will hang from a nail. 

I made a little shelf for spray lube and integrated storage for power screw driver things and pencil sharpeners. pry bars are hung, too. The problem I have are how to deal with the cords on often used items, like the dremel and glue gun....a hanger for them is easy enough, but often the cords don't cooperate.

What's next? Tool board will slow down now, I think and I'll start on either the miter saw station or table saw. Both are getting a total remake....

Made another shelf, repurposed a soap mold, made a drill bit block, which also holds the nail sets, and have no rib pain, no foot pain, not much shoulder pain ec. 

I'm still thankful that my injuries allowed me to come home and take care of myself. I'm thankful that I'm not more retarded than I have always been, thankful that I'm not more ugly than ever, and thankful to not be in pain. Also, glad to be alive. 

I suppose I should have saved that paragraph for next month. But I'm not that trendy. 

6 weeks recovery

But who's counting, right? 6 weeks ago today I got up, had a shower bent over in the tub (because the shower head was so low), packed up, and went next door to the combination McDonald's/gas station for breakfast. Lancaster, WI. Pretty crappy motel, actually. They had ice buckets, but no ice. The a/c made many attempts to start before running, was quite loud. But it wasn't too expensive, and was a place to sleep.

Recovery seems pretty much complete, except for a few minor details. Dizzy spells are fewer and less, as well as not as common or often, quite occasional, actually. Pretty much the only thing that triggers one is bending way over to the left and turning the head. For example...I had one while standing on a bucket, leaning over a workbench screwing a shelf bracket to the wall. (Fun getting off the bucket when the room is whirling like a tornado.) Another was when I was leaned over a bench (different bench) head turned so I could see to unscrew a shelf bracket. I was not on a bucket....much lower bench. And one other occurrence was when I was sitting on the floor, lying under a bench on my left side, with my head turned so I could nail on a staple to hold the power wire for my shelf bracket.  (not really, but I was trying to be consistent.) Lying or bending to the right does not cause dizzy, BTW.

Actually, the wire powers one of my more brilliant ideas...in my opinion. In an electrical box, I've got a switch and a receptacle. The switch powers one half of the "plug in" as well as a 6 foot cord that leaves the box. (the other half is powered as normal) I did that so I can plug in my soldering iron and be able to turn it on/off quickly easily and often. Or I can plug in my router, and flip it on and off with that switch. Or other motor driven things.  It's a 20 amp switch and receptacle so don't worry about that. I've had that set up for quite a few years, actually. Why mention it? I'm trying to impress you people, of course.  No, actually, I cut my bench down in size 2 ways, spun it around so it's on a different wall. It's part of my attempt to improve my woodshop. 

My ankle road rash has healed. My hand road rash looks good, too. Elbow as well. But I notice on my wrist and left hand when there is significant pressure applied there's some pain/discomfort. Like maybe the bone was bruised on the wrist? I don't know, it doesn't bother me much, doesn't slow me down.  My toes don't bother me at all, like mentioned earlier in a bloggy episode. The toe nails still are purple/black, and not from dirt or lint.

The fingernail I squished last week is looking fine...my fb post was premature, I think. It is still a little tender, if I grab something too strongly, I feel it. I just feel it when I use the shift key. Fun times. 

I guess I still have a little discomfort when I sneeze, which is fairly often due to all of the dust I'm stirring up downstairs. But otherwise, rib pain is nonexistent. I don't notice anything in any position. 

My Yamaha has been parked at the bottom of my driveway for weeks, with a for sale sign on it. I started it either 3 or 4 weeks ago, let it run a few minutes. It must have been 4 weeks ago, because I was feeling quite puny. Well, today, I thought since it was quite warm, I should give the bike a little attention, let it run a bit, charge up the battery a little. And so I did, except I forgot to do it until after dark, which is no problem.  It was still rather warm.  And it didn't start right up, but pretty quickly, all things considered. Battery is OK.  So there I am, sitting on the bike, it's rumbling away....so I put up the kickstand, and ride around the block. And another block. And then down the street and around a different block. LOL Probably a whole mile....maybe I'll look at the forecast and ride to work. 6 weeks, recovery must be complete......

Stay tuned...

shop organization and a little recovery 10 13 16

It's amazing what I find in my shop....it's like an archeological site. I found a pair of sunglasses that have needed a tiny nut for years. I found a whistle. I have found so much stuff that I don't know why I kept....other than I was sure I was going to use it someday. 

For example....I have a velveeta box that is half full of twist ties for plastic sacks. They're great for tying wires up, etc. But staples also work, and better. I plan to throw the box away when I've got the shop all put together.  Keep them just in case, for now. 

Used band saw blades. It's a tiny bandsaw, blades cost less than 10 bucks. I may try to sharpen one, though, just for fun.  Broken drill bits. Bent nails. I've just used a bunch of pallet nails, "repurposed" if I'm going to be trendy....except "repurposed" isn't the right word, because they're still being used to hold wood together.  I also use them to hang up stuff, like a roll of masking tape or a small clamp.

I've got a stack of old dull circle saw blades, table saw blades, and miter saw blades. I've seen different things made from those, like a draw knife, which I do want to do. 

I found a copper wall tile, actually, I don't know if it's copper, but I know it came from the wall (backsplash) of my kitchen. I only kept one of them, to remember how awful it was. I also found the can of paint I used on the walls...the paint is totally dry and the can totally rusty. 

I used to work at a paint store, and I knew very little about paint when I started there. That paint store does not have a warranty on the paint, like a lot of others do, and of course, that warranty is a marketing ploy. I know this, because when we bought this house and moved in, we painted the upstairs with some Diamond Vogel paint and some Pittsburg paint. We means I, btw. 22 years later, it still looks great, except for the dust and cobwebs.  The kitchen got painted maybe 11 years ago, and looks great, except for some of the trim and cobwebs, etc. The living room didn't get painted, and just has some flat white. It still looks fine....and will probably get painted this winter, maybe. 

Raise your hand if you want to help. Painting party....I have booze and can order pizza.

 I've since filled the small cavity to the right of the paint with tubes of caulk.

This is that set of waterbed drawers, upside down on the table getting legs, a shelf and wheels. It works great.  The entire basement floor is that green colour. I don't know why....but 22 + years it's holding up quite well.

Recovery....I figured out when that pain went away....it had to be the day that George put his head down and purred on me. Today I didn't take any advil till late in the afternoon. A bunch of discomforts turned into a synergy that was really bothering me, so I took 2.  Everything else is going good. My left hand rash is odd, if something touches it, then the skin hurts? A significant amount of pressure on it does not cause discomfort.

Yesterday, when taking the sheet of plywood out of the pickup for the bottom shelf and top of that drawer stack, I slammed my finger in between the plywood and garage. Since it bled right away from the side of the nail, I assumed that it'd turn black and die. But there's just a tiny discoloration in the middle and just a tiny bit of discomfort today. Thank goodness for that....

recovery 10 11 16

Recovery.  Hmmmmm. That pain I had? it went away. I am not sure when....I just kind of forgot about it.

BTW, only 1 set of advil today, due to neck induced headache. 

Short recap. Shoulder was scraped and hurt a bit. It's better. Hip hurt like crazy initially, but is better. Ankle "rash" is better. Toe....still a tiny bit of discomfort when I move it by itself. Not really pain.....and I don't notice it at all when I stand, walk, sit, stairs, stand on a bucket, sit on toilet, sleep, or anything else. Hand "rash" is all closed up, and looking pretty good. Elbow "rash" same. 

Head? Not totally sure....I cleaned a window in my bus, which required me to lean over sideways, and I was REALLY dizzy after.  

I'll find out if it's BP tomorrow, when I donate blood.  And then no heavy lifting. LOL Right.  I've got stuff to do. 

I'm able to suck 3000 ml on the suckometer. Spirometer? Whatever it is.  I'm probably the only guy in America to continue to occasionally use the damn thing 5 weeks post crash.

Splinter! Easy to remove, though.

10 8 16 recovery

2 naps today, friends. Yes, I feel a little bit bad for not being out enjoying the beautiful day. Oh well. And it started off pretty bad, too. My coffee cup slid off my car and of course, all of my coffee spilled. You can bet that I stopped by KT before I picked up my group for more.

Something I noticed in the hospital and didn't expect to continue, but was worse at home...was the mid back ache at the bathroom sink. Why is that sink so damn low? It's low enough that I could pee in it, if I had to.....

The hospital sink wasn't so low, and I noticed the discomfort when I was brushing and the day I shaved, which was the day I left. BTW, in case you care, and I'm sure you don't....I usually shave every other day. I'm lucky that my job doesn't care how I look, really. 

That discomfort was so bad that I very nearly moved shaving and brushing and even washing to the kitchen. Jim would have supported that, as it would have added about 20 steps each time. LOL 

That first week, I'd turn on the water, (Moen single handle, pull on, push off) and wash one hand at a time, or I guess get each hand wet at a time and then wash above the sink so I didn't have to bend over so much. Funny what comes back as memories.

When this is all over, I might replumb the sink, build a new lavatory, install a new sink and faucet. Or not.

Wednesday was the last day for gabapentin. Yesterday I took 2 pair of advil, 12 hours apart. Today so far I've been up 13 hours and have taken 1 set advil.

Let me tell you what is nice....today I got home from work, and btw, on the way home I stopped to snoop in a dumpster, a tall one, and it did hurt to climb onto it. So when I got home, the cat jumped on (doesn't feel nice) laid on my chest and started purring. When he laid his head down on my chest, his throat was right over my front fractures....and friends....that was nice. You should try it....minus the fractures.

I was going to try to describe the nice picture thingys that have a good caption, like that last pic thingy. But then I figgered I should ask uncle google for one instead. 

It'll be interesting to see just how long my shop takes to get all done. I keep finding more and more stuff to do. Latest is renovating a wall in my wood storage/project finishing area. I took the paneling off years ago to add an exhaust fan, which never got hooked up. Now I'm adding shelves between the studs to put soap making crap on, wood storage, aerosol can storage. I redid the light switch.  Funny, how the stud spacing is not consistent. It's a short wall, about 8', and all are a different spacing. Good thing I measured each before cutting the shelves. :) 

I've got some waterbed base drawer units stacked as wood storage. I plan to fasten them together, add legs with wheels and a low shelf. And add a nice top, I'll use that for my finishing table. I'll use the drawers for small scrap and exotic wood storage. Hopefully getting them off the floor will encourage me to use them more often.  Coming up with this idea is exciting, because it's the next step, really. I need to get those out of where they are, and it's a good transformation. Solves a couple problems...finishing table, and wood storage (logs). And it opens up a large area in the main shop. I plan to fill that with either the table saw or the miter saw.

Multi day effort here. Nothing new to report, other than increased ROM and less swelling of toes. And as of 12:30, I've had no pain meds. That may change, not sure....see how a nap helps.

Used some really junky wood like material to shelve up a small area in that wall next to the switch for spray cans and caulk. Good use of stuff and space, I think. Do let me know if you want to see pics of what I'm doing....it's not spectacular and probably kinda boring to everyone but me. 

Old post updates

Constant readers, do you ever want an update to an old post? Remember when? Etc?

I still use a spoon to slice my bananas for cereal, a butter knife for sandwiches and whatever knife is handy for that flaming banana dessert/ice cream topping. 

Bonus, you get to see peaches too. Did I tell you about the time I set some towels on fire when making it? That was fun.  BTW I use a paring knife to cut peaches.

Skip this next section if you're a prude or easily offended. Shut off your puter and go to the tv, watch some episodes of Romper Room, Captain Kangaroo or Mr Rogers.

Talk about a view from my office. Notice that she does not have fancy embroidered ass pants.....she needed no added decoration or distractions.  With the invention/popularity surge of yoga pants, I see fewer denim jeans...but of course, some have decorations. Let's discuss that  a little. Some is fake jewels. Looks nice, but would feel terrible, if a guy was so lucky to be able to fondle...I can't really imagine how it'd feel to sit on that all day....like sitting on little rocks, I suppose. Weird.  

Some is fancy embroidery, which is nice. We should discuss the every popular brand/style that has a lovely M on each pocket.  I see lots of them, and admire them. I generally spend several minutes imagining what the M might stand for. I'll list a few things that have come to mind: Mine Mick's masochist manipulator masturbator menstruation marvelous...well, you get the picture. Double M's get pretty bad....

That wagon was kind of a waste of money. Oh, sure. It was nice for hauling the luggage and crap around on our trip. But we only used one other time. I did plan to remove the box and build a bicycle rack on it, so I can haul the trailer with the motorcycle, so we can (we. HA) enjoy 2 hobbies in one day. WE. well, maybe someday. 

Of course, I'll have to get a motorcycle with a hitch again, first, since I sold the hitch off of the roadstar...but the wagon held up well. One thing I'd change, if I could, is the height of the thing, because the hitch is too low, which angles the tail lights up goofy.

I shaved in March of 15, I really only grew the beard that winter. I used a dollar store razor....after using the beard trimmer thing to buzz it mostly off. Wahl, I recommend it. Try the razors, you may like them. I will use them 10 or more times, even though the shave does begin to suffer....Dollar Shave Club. Bite me. LOL

 Did you notice that I didn't blur license plate? I'm so brave. LOL My old pickup, the subject of a few posts, including some autumn maintenance posts.....is very sick. Still usable, thankfully. The transmission leaks, the clutch slips grabs and jumps, the differential makes horrible noises, there's a broken leaf spring, and terrible frame and bumper rust. I'm a little afraid to pull my trailer very far, actually. Reminder: I've had this since April 99, and I've put about 60,000 miles on it. I'm tempted to start selling parts off of it.....since I can't sell it outright, except for scrap. Need any parts??

List of songs. Depends on the day....

Friend crashed his bike: He is doing very well. He's been to school and is becoming a prosthesis making dude.

The heater works, the light works, I eat PBJ most days for breakfast.

Regional review. Didn't go this year, crashed less than a week prior. But the old location in McGregor does not exist any more. Also did not go to the Davis Rally.

To be honest, I'm afraid to reread those old posts....I'd probably delete them....saying: what the hell was I thinking when I typed that. 

Thanks for reading along with me. 

recovery 10 4-5 16

I stopped using a pillow as a bolster under my knees when sleeping, Saturday night was the first time with out it since I've been home. Woke up early with back aches on Sunday. Also Monday, and my low back was so stiff it was hard to walk....couldn't walk normally, would have been funny to watch me waddle more than normal across the lot. Today wasn't as bad. 

I know what you are thinking...."if sleep is better with it, why remove it?" Good question. Immediate answer is that it's not practical, as it's a King sized pillow, and I can't get them in most hotels, and that's really where I need them. A hard bed is not good sleeping for me. 

Top pic is a month ago tomorrow, 9/7. Middle pic is when I tore open the scar while at work. Bottom pic is kind of interesting, how the scar changes colour when I work hard. (In the bottom pic, I'd been working and the scar is much more purple than normal)

So I was twisting to do something and then enjoyed some pain in my back. In the affected rib area, so I thought I'd be trendy and take some pain meds. Great idea. :) Got a lot done...and have not suffered for it. Yet. I'm sure my next trip to the bathroom......

It's a challenge to type with the cat on the arm, and he keeps moving around. Also purring, so that's nice.  

Workshop is coming along, sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. LOL

10 3 16 recovery + recap

I don't have much recovery to write about lately, seems like every day is a little better, but nothing much stands out....other than yesterday I only took the gabapentin and advil when I got up and another set of advil shortly before bed. AND I sleep pretty much thru the night again.

Recap: Sept 9, near Madison, I crashed my motorcycle, and flew in a helicopter to UW Madison, where I spent 5 fun filled and action packed days, coming home on Thursday, Sept 8. The crash fractured ribs 3-9 in back, an inch or so from my spine, (I'm guessing) and also 3-7 in front, kind of in line with my right nipple. Also fractured were 2 toe bones, in the main part of the foot, (tarsals?). I hit my head hard enough to cause a slight concussion, brain bleed, too. I also have enjoyed "road rash" on both hands, my right elbow, and both ankles.

Fun times, but I don't recommend it. I do recommend anyone that rides a motorcycle to wear a helmet....without mine, I suspect I'd still be in the hospital, probably drooling.  My helmet was a Vega Summit II, about 6 years old.  Not an expensive helmet at all....but really worked well.

I wear size XXL, in case anyone wants an idea for Christmas. :) The visor was intact before the crash, as was that foamy thing that is hanging down. NONE of those scratches were present before 9/4.....I'd have ground off my chin, ear, nose, glasses (probably embedded them into my eye sockets) ground off the rest of my hair too.....since there's scuffs on the back and one on the other side. I guess the hat preserved what looks I have.

That white tape stuff....I added that a long time ago, to add some visibility to my head while riding at night. They call it retrosomethingreflectiveorother. MSF passes it out at the class, and at the motorcycle expo. 

Improvements. Hmmmmmm. Yesterday I only took the pain pill when I got up and right before I went to bed I took another set of advil. Today kinda the same thing, but the advil was about 3. Seems as if working makes me achey. 

I bought a new pair of slippers, and tried on the new one on my affected foot....and it went on, with a minimum of discomfort. The insole of the old pair is pretty bad.....but....they are a few years old.

Dad wanted to see the bike, maybe he's already seen one of these pics. I've got a bunch of crashed bike pics, in a damn pdf....I don't know if I can put them on here.

Shows the majority of the damage. Broken engine, mirror, etc. None of the pics are of a good angle...all are goofy. Oh well......

9 30 16 recovery and giveaway

Elbow: Yesterday afternoon I realized that there was a bubble, like a blister forming on my elbow. Looked just like a blister from a burn or sunburn, which is just like a burn, only different. But. My elbow is very careful to not get burned....so it was puzzling. 

I took the needle that I used to sew the buttons on my ugly brown shirt, you constant readers must remember that!

Poor old shirt has had a rough life....but it is so comfortable and warm....my favorite shirt....great 3 bucks. That top pic shows how it saved a good polo or work shirt from a stain spill.

So I popped the blister, and squeezed out the liquid, which was clear and reddish brownish, I guess. It didn't fill up again, because it had a hole in it? But it didn't continue leaking either, so like I commented, no big deal.

And then I remembered that my ankle briefly felt like it was getting stung, and then a laser beam of pain shot into my toes, and thankfully it went away. I noticed this morning that my toes are less swollen and have more motion.

Chest pain went away, and didn't come back when I trimmed the shelf and put it in. Only took me 22 years, but I got that done.  Well, maybe the chest pain didn't go away totally. Advil was 5 hours ago.....

Views of this are way down from a week ago, so I'll probably lessen the interval, eventually switching it over to all wood or at least general stuff.

How about a giveaway? I made those chicks errrr started the chicks maybe 15 years ago for Grandma, but never got them finished. I'm pretty sure she doesn't want them now. OR you can have the hummingbird/oriole feeders.  Really. I don't want them. 

recovery 9 29 16

Overdone it episode. Been home 3 weeks now...and celebrated by going to the grocery store....Pineapple looked really good, and pork N beans were on sale for .49  That is a bargain for me. LOL 3.8 cents per ounce.

So yeah, overdone it, I think. I've been reshelving my laundry area and built a basket shelf/table between the washer and dryer. I don't know why they put the drain and supply for the washer on one end of the room but the dryer hookups on the other. Lucky there's only about 2 feet between, right? Anyway....the understairs area is open and accessible and makes decent storage....except there's not decent shelving.  Earlier today I was able to remedy part of that, and was working on the rest of it tonight.  

Simple enough, just measure the height of an existing board on one side and put one on the stairs at about the same height. Measure how big the shelf needs to be, and make it so. HAHA. Measure twice and cut 3 times. Or something like that. 

For the shelf, I found I had a half sheet of 1/2" plywood that was rescued from a dumpster, and I was pretty sure that 34 x 36 would work. Nope. I turned it a couple ways, measured it a couple more times and gave up, errrrrr. Quit for the night since it's past 9.....besides, my chest is hurting. The right side, starting about rib 3 and going to about rib 7.

Apparently a half sheet of plywood is heavy. The table I put it on was kinda high and not exactly sturdy, which is why it's on the dissassemble list. Took a gabapentina and a pair of advil, might be only my 2nd pair of advil today.

I'll try again on the shelf tomorrow, unless my chest still hurts, and then I'll leave it for Sunday, since still no one has volunteered for a massage. Oh well.....be that way.

Uncle Google says a half sheet weighs about 33 pounds. Hmmmmmm. Time for more recovery. 

recovery 9 28 16

I guess it's final, I mailed the title of my crashed GoldWing to the junkyard in Madison today. I plan to not buy another bike until spring, so all of that money can sit in the bank and earn another 65 cents. Then, when I pick up about 45 aluminum cans, and sell them, I'll have enough money to buy a spare key.  But I will have some space in the garage.

Anyone want to buy a Yamaha?

Let's see. Recovery news. Uh. hmmmmm. Well, I took one gabapentin, one set of tylenol and 2 sets of advil, and I feel pretty good. But then, I spent 90 minutes sorting thru paper looking for that title, then took about a 2 hour nap. (on my mid day break) 

Every now and then I think to use the sucky thing, that' supposed to prevent pneumonia. For a long time I couldn't get it past "2000". Today my first suck was 2500. I have no idea what the numbers mean.  Oh, ml. Whatever that means.

2750 ml isn't quite 3 liters. 3 quarts. Hard to imagine my lungs having much more capacity than that, isn't it?? They say to do it 10 times every hour. Hmmmmmm. maybe 10 times a day. some days. Maybe

I wish I could have my regular bus back...it has a more comfortable seat....I know that would help me be comfortable all shift. 

I have a confession to make. I turned on my space heater today. If the sunshine doesn't cooperate, I might have to turn on the furnace WAY early this year. Yes, I was wearing an extra layer, a flannel shirt.  Of course.....I did have a cold supper too. Correlation? 

I don't have much to tell you today. No one volunteered to come for a massage on Sunday....but there's still time. :D  no charge..... 

recovery 9 27 16

Some of you know and some of you are about to know something about me. I know that recovery is occurring because I am starting to dream about giving massages. It might be fun to give one on Sunday afternoon....who is willing to be a "guinea pig"? (crash test dummy?) 

bit O background....This time of year in 2002, I was in massage school, 500 hour course, to become certified. It was very interesting...anatomy and physiology, palpation, hands on learning, internship, etc. All of my classmates were fresh from high school, and skinny. I wasn't. LOL At least one other guy was hairy....

So anyway. I tried fairly hard to succeed at the business, stayed with it until 2009, when I gave up and went back to driving bus so we could quit accumulating debt that my wife was hiding from me, and so that we could start going on cruises.  I see just enough clients now to not forget how to do massage.....I'd like to have a few more.....

Sleeping thru the night is better and better....I'm sure the cooler weather helps...I love piling on the blankets. I still wake up a few times, but for shorter times, and not as often. 

My toes are still swollen, the nails have the purple spots on them like when you hit your thumb with a hammer, so they'll likely fall off. BTW, my shoe has some damage on it, the sole is slightly pulled off...so my toes must have grabbed the ground to act as a brake or pole vault.  I don't limp, so that's good.

Road rash on hands, elbow and ankles is healing. I have not picked the scabs off my ankles, pain has diminished, all are doing fine. 

The bruise on my belly from the table saw kickback is better. I can't believe none of you took the opportunity to ridicule me. Cause I'm home alone doing dangerous things. LOL Not being careful or safety first.

My ex motherinlaw brought over some food.....some of my favorites.....and I appreciate it a LOT. It's never too late to bring over something...and I'll think good thoughts about you forever, or at least until I forget. ;)

Recovery 9 26 16

Working in my basement, I've had the "opportunity" to get down on the floor to do some stuff. Shelves, mostly, in between the studs of my little room which is rather multi purpose.....wood storage, finishing, tornado hiding. My brother and father used to come visit occasionally and they'd get to sleep down there, they'd call it the "dungeon". There's no bed in there any more, such as it was. 

Getting down onto the floor isn't too hard. Getting back up is slightly more of a challenge, due to gravity.

I started the day with a gabapentin, and I don't think I will repeat the experiment of going without for another week or maybe even a third of a month. Just one pill a day does make a difference. 

Stamina is improving, I'm able to work longer with less discomfort. Hard to tell day by day, but.....that's my story.

Jeez, sorting thru some electrical supplies....you'd think I was afraid of needing or wanting lamp cords and not being able to find some. I save too much stuff, so I'm tossing a bunch of wire and those cords; if they are less than 4' or there was one that was all wound up...it'd never relax and be smooth. I'm thinking about consolidating those supplies between the house and garage...because I've got a bunch of stuff both places. What a great idea, just haul it all out to the garage and forget about it until the day before the first ice storm.  

Tossing a bunch of other stuff too. Like BUBBLEWRAP! LOL 
I had pulled out a jump box thing from a dumpster, but it never would work right, surprise, huh? I wonder why it was thrown in the dumpster? duh. Hopefully the battery will still be good, and some of the other components are....the light, the clamps, a switch.

My intention is to put the electronic/electric stuff at a bench so that it's easy to use. My basement has a low hanging cold air return that runs the length of half the basement, and I'm tired of hitting my head on it. I hope to be able to set it up so the sit down bench will be under it.  I'll be able to solder, sew, do some leatherwork, calculate soap, etc. I'll wrap christmas gifts, ebay and amazon sales, lamp repair, maybe knife sharpening, carving, and much much more. 

Recovery? Yes, it's happening. I'm able to concentrate on stuff that is much more interesting than how miserable I feel. And today I realized that I really made a mistake 3 weeks ago.....I should have asked for a vasectomy. LMAO