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 managed to get it insulated before my surgery and we heat it now, which is very nice, with winter setting in.

We have nearly completed our "pay off the bills" campaign, and Lesley will be cutting back her hours substantially in the spring after we build up a rainy day cushion. With all the turmoil in the financial markets today I still firmly believe that reducing debt anyway you can is the best strategy.

I did get a new AFO thanks to the good folks on this forum. I had not been wearing the big, clunky think I got in rehab, because it did not fit into most of my shoes or boots, but Lesley has always been fearful of me going out into the woods alone as I often do. Trips and falls are a fact of life for me now, and I finally decided perhaps one of the new carbon fiber super lite afo's that fit into nearly any shoe might be the best answer. After doing much reading on this site on the subject, I called my insurance, eureka it is covered! The company that handles the afo I wanted (Otto Bock sold by Hanger, among others) had a therapist coming to our area the next day, so a trial fitting was arranged. Turns out it was the same therapist I saw after my stroke for a Walk-Aide trial. She had one of the new afo's with her, fitted me, and I now wear it everyday with all my shoes. It has eliminated nearly all the tripping due to foot drop, hip pain due to improper gait and greatly improved my walking balance and endurance. I can even run a few short steps now when playing with my dog Tippy.

We are ready for and looking forward to winter coming soon, no snow yet but plenty of cool temps. The trees are bare, the bears sleeping, hummingbirds, ducks, loons, and geese gone, moose and deer have finished the business they do in the fall, the results of which will be seen next spring. Now that the bears are sleeping I put up the bird feeder for the Chickadees, nuthatches and other feathered friends that winter over with us. The chipmunks like it as well, but hey, everyone has to eat. Our little nearby town has gone into sleep mode, finding parking is no problem.

You know, if thought about it awhile I could probably think of something to gripe about, but it just isn't worth the effort. Good bye for now, I have a football game to watch and two dogs to pet.