Had a minor setback the other day. Picked Lesley up from work in the morning, we went out for a breakfast after her three night shifts. As we were leaving I got my wallet out to pay the waitress, my credit card fell onto the floor. I reached down to get it, and over I went onto the floor on my left (bad) side. Most seriously damaged part was my ego. A sprained left wrist and a hip bruise, all else OK. Reminded me not to get too rambunctious, I did have a stroke six months ago. I guess these things will happen as I attempt to live life normally. Working on my new (to me anyway) boat, I am reminded that I now bruise and bleed quite easily. Have come up with the idea to wear tight fitting leather gloves like a golf glove and cut the finger tips off. Hopefully this will protect my hands a bit from all the nicks and band aids they are getting now. I do carry band aids in my fishing gear now.

I have finally listened to the many therapists that told me so and have temporarily stopped all my Bowflex exercises for my upper body, arms and shoulders. Only working the legs now. They have both gotten quite strong, I think stronger than pre stroke. I have to give the shoulders a chance to heal. I still do the range of motion exercises I got from the Active Release therapist. I don't want to lose what I have gained there. The arms seem to be getting enough exercise just living life normally, shoveling gravel, working on my boat and trailer, fishing, etc. This winter coming inbetween ice fishing and snowshoeing Lesley has finishing the basement planned, time enough for arm exercise then.

Muscle tone seems to be lessening, considering cutting back the baclofen further, already cut it in half. Currently doing a two month cholesterol test to see if I can cut back the Lipitor permanently. Then the happy pills are next on the list. One at a time.

Tippy continues to grow and learn her various commands. She now knows the "sit" command well. I take her out every morning and train her on the "come" command. She genrally does, but still some work to do on that one. Potty training is still a work in progress, but getting better every day. She now routinely goes all night without a pit stop. The bonus has been that our other dog Jasmine, not to be outdone is learning all of this as well. They play together all day when they are not sleeping. Tippy's first visit to the vet yesterday went very well. all OK, got shots, etc. She sat still on the scales just like she should, weighs 12 lbs now. (three months old)

Some much needed rain has come our way recently. Everything is green now, Lesley is spending her break planting flowers everywhere. I am writing this and enjoying an adult beverage. Next entry I will return to the original theme of this blog, a new gadget to show. Time to go now.