I read with considerable interest the article in the Nov newsletter about why some make better recoveries from strokes than others. I can certainly relate to the article. I have a reasonably positive self image, know what I may be able to fix and what I cannot, etc. but to the point of this blog. For long time readers you may remember my friend "Mike" I met in rehab. We had similar strokes at about the same time, and called each other every day for quite awhile after we both came home. Soon it b
Well how time flies! I had no idea it has been so long since I last blogged, but thanks to Sue, I'm back! Lesley and I just returned from a month in New Zealand visiting family and friends there. I had the good fortune to attend one of the Rugby World Cup matches being played in NZ at the time in person thanks to my dear mother-in-law. What a thrill! I also got in some ocean fishing and surf casting, something I had never done before. Otherwise a good trip with family and friends. A very long fl
We folks, it has been awhile since I wrote here. So much going on in our lives just no time for blogging. First the medical issues. I am recovering from hernial surgery three weeks ago. All went well, but not being allowed to lift over 10 pounds or do anything much is driving me crazy. But the surgeon said unless I wanted to come and see him again, don't lift anything over 10 pounds for 6 weeks. Lesley is the enforcer and so here I sit! Stroke wise, the left arm improvement I spoke of in the la
I am so excited that I just had to tell about it. A month ago I got an e-stim or tens unit from the VA. I have been using it faithfully nearly every day. The results have been amazing. I am now doing things with my left arm I have not done since my stroke. I can now reach up over my head and actually lift small items with the left hand. I was recently told that I would have inflammation in the left shoulder the rest of my life. It is nearly gone now, and I am starting to remember how I used to d
Well here we are with summer over half gone, just flying by. So much news in our lives. Lesley is now fully retired, and we are both finding life pretty busy. Fishing has been very good for me this summer, the freezer is full for the winter. Lesley has a garden that is the envy of all who see it. This spring I added 4 raised beds about 2 feet high and 10 feet long. I also put soaker hoses in all the beds and put a timer on the whole thing along with a fence to keep the deer out. I have no idea w
As those of you who are regular readers of my ocassional blogs know, I don't talk about my medical situation often. But I think this important enough to try and get the word out. About six months ago I was diagnosed with arterial fibrillation (a-fib). I found that pedalling my exercise bike at any heart rate above 115 to 120 caused me to go into a-fib. I saw a cardioligist and was put on a beta blocker. No improvement. The next alternatives were not attractive to me. One day while on webmd.com,
Well it is time for some catch up on our lives here. It has been warmer than usual, little snow, and try as I might not to, thoughts of spring abound. I know it could be fooling us like it did last year and give us a foot of snow in April, but the bright sun is irrestible.
Lesley is trying out new breads for the market this year. Now that she is retired she has the time for it. I don't mind, someone has to test these new breads and I don't mind being a guinea pig. Now that Lesley is back, l
Well a happy holiday season to all! My good news is that Lesley is coming back Jan 1. The family has all settled down in New Zealand, The son and granddaughters have a place of their own again living their own life, and Lesley has come to be of the opinion that it makes no sense for her to work in New Zealand to support herself when she could be here in Minnesota retired. She has resigned from the hospital here and is now officially retired. So, the first flight she can get out is Dec 24th, the
Well am I ever happily embarrassed!. The report I wrote on my last blog about my friend Mike was premature! I had gotten bad info, made an assumption, all proved to not be true. I got a call from Mike a week ago, just about knocked me over, and it turns out he was incommunicado for a time, and those that were supposd to let me know did not. Anyway, he is in the rehab hospital that we originally met in, says he should be back home in the near future, and is expected to recover almost fully. Not
Some sad news today to report. Regular readers will recall me mentioning my friend "Mike" I met while in rehab. We stroked about the same time, and our recoveries were similar. Mike rode his bike up to 20 miles a day after his stroke and was never satisfied with his progress, always striving for more. Mike has passed away unexpectedly. He developed a bleed in his brain, not a stroke, but the result was terminal. I went and saw him in Duluth hosp (125 miles away) while he was there I'm glad I did
To understand the title of this entry you will have to read the end (don't cheat). Summer is fast slipping away and it has been a busy one. So far it is the coolest summer on record here. Anyway, the bread business has exploded into other items. We now make about 20 pies each week for sale to individuals and one lodge in the area, (Lesley assembles the pies, yours truely does the actual baking), about 60-75 loaves of bread each week, scones, and the latest idea of Lesley's is pizza parties on Th
We are patiently waiting for spring ( and hopefully summer) to arrive someday. We had a snowy, cold winter that just won't leave. In March we had a warm spell, temps in the forties. I started to think we would have an early spring. A friend of mine told me not to be fooled, it was just teasing us. Man was he right! May 31st we had snow flurries! This morning it is a beautiful day, I plan to go fishing, but when I looked in my boat the bit of water in it was now ice.
Anyway, enough about the
Lot's to catch up on so here goes, Lesley recently spent four days in hosp, some intestinal bug really got hold of her. Home now and much better but still recovering her strength.
Other news, well winter has arrived! We wanted snow, we got snow, and along with it real cold. We have had -50 wind chills, very brisk indeed.
I have FINALLY finished rehabbing from the shoulder surgery and can now start on the backlogged list of honey do's on Lesley's list. It feels good to finally be doing
Well here we are still waiting for snow. We have the cold, but little snow. Supposed to be some on the way, hope so. We need it. I did go ice fishing with a friend yesterday. No fish, but saw two moose, and sat with my friend fixing all the worlds problems in 8 degree (F) temps with a 20MPH wind. Cool, but not too cold. I realized I did not have the right fishing gear, so we came in. It took me two hours of sitting in the cold wind to figure this out, but I finally did. No one ever accused me of
Well the forced vacation from the shoulder surgery is over, now time to get back to work on Lesley's "honey do" list. (gulp). The shoulder has full range of motion back, lacking some strength due to inactivity, but next week I will force myself to exercise again. Alas, I fear that my excuse for "can't do housekeeping" is gone as well. I must admit it is good to be past all the "couch" time, but it could become habit forming!
Working to finish the inside of the garage is next on the list. I
I am now half way thru my forced vacation. The doc said last week all is well, just don't lift anything with the repaired arm for three more weeks. Ugh! Boring! He even said no to my desire to walk in the woods with my dogs, because I might trip and undo all the surgery. I have regained most of my range of motion already, no longer wear a sling (to Lesley's chagrin), and no longer have pain. Next month the real rehab starts, I will start lifting weights again, will probably start the exercise bi
Well my surgery on the right shoulder (good side) is complete. The rotator cuff tear has been repaired, other junk removed. I am in a sling and will be for several weeks. I feel good now, just bored not being able to do what I want to. Sitting around watching TV and reading is not my thing.
Attached are some pic's of Lesley baking bread and us selling it at the local market. We have stopped that for the season since I can't help anymore and the tourists have mostly left town, making things
Summer here is starting to wind down, night time temps are bouncing all over the place and sometimes nearing frost levels. Daytime temps are still very nice, but wind is becoming more pronounced. The leaves are starting to show some color, and the raspberries are plentiful. Tippy and I pick whatever is left from the bear's rummaging thru the night. Fishing is also winding down, but has been good this year and still some to come (hopefully).
Attached are some pic's of the basement finishing
Sue reminded me a few days ago that I hadn't blogged in some time, so here goes. I sometimes wonder if I have much to contribute to this forum anymore since I don't talk much about stroke related issues here. We were reminded this week how blessed we have been. A friend of a friend of ours had a stroke and died within a week. I count my blessings everyday, especially after a hard day of work or play and I am sore the next day.
I'll try to give you a bit of an update of our summer so far, in
Just a quick note today. I am off to Duluth to get another key made for the new car. These days you don't just get a key made at the local hardware store for cars with all of this security. The Kiwi Bird will fly again soon and bring you all up to date on the trip to New Zealand, probably a week or so.
Tomorrow is the big bread day at the market, so today she will be baking. I fired the oven yesterday so that she will not need much of a fire today to bring it up to the proper heat. It was s
Finally Lesley has returned! The dogs and I went and got her in Duluth (125 miles away) Tuesday night. All went well, she arrived on schedule and the dogs went crazy. We got home about 2:20AM wednesday happy indeed. Fortunately she liked the new car (whew) and she was thrilled and shocked at the progress in the basement project. The only remaining work is to panel the new bedroom, all else is done.
We had to go to the grocery yesterday to restock produce, as her idea of a well stocked refer
Still a bachelor until May 13. Lesley is having a great time in New Zealand, all there is well apparently. Here, well the dogs still look out the window every morning expecting her to drive up. Soon Tippy, soon.
Some good news. Since the snow has melted, Tippy has become quite difficult to control outside. There is a winters worth of stuff to sniff and chase, minding me was not her priority. I have gotten an electronic collar for her and it has worked wonders. After just a day of use she us
Home alone in a blizzard. That is my plight. Lesley is somewhere in transit to New Zealand. The last I heard from her she was heading for Denver, Co, then to California for a day, then on to New Zealand. Meanwhile, the dogs and I sit here in a real blizzard. 50 MPH winds, and several inches of snow so far,and more coming all day. The driveway is impassable and will remain so. It is supposed to warm up next week, hopefully enough to melt this stuff. It is a good day to read a book and watch the M
I don't have any more solutions for problems at the moment, just waiting for some of my previous ideas to be implemented. I did receive a most uplifting letter a few days ago.
During my investigation of Saeboflex as a treatment after my stroke, I contacted a referral they gave me. He stroked about four years ago. He spoke highly of the Saeboflex. During our ensuing conversations, I recommended Active Release Therapy (ART) to him. I just got a letter telling me in much detail how much ART ha
Today is another day of hard work. Watching two young lads paint the stairwell and then carry material to the basement. I have already gone thru two cups of coffee watching them work. Lesley stayed at the hospital to avoid the noise.
Anyway, it is time to solve some more problems, so here goes.
Men cause most of the problems of this world. Women don't start usually wars, commit violence, commit sexual harrassment, be homeless, etc. So I propose we attack the problem at the roots.
I prop
