The Instrumentalist

 

Had an interesting experience recently.  I attended the Solo and Ensemble competition held at Waldon Middle school in Lake Orion.  Grandson Elijah was playing his tuba with a piano accompanist to be judged by a music educator.  It's him all alone showing his abilities.  He received a 2nd division for his efforts and a medal.  Many of us remember including myself participation in Solo and Ensemble,  me with my clarinet in the early sixties,  later Jonathan in high school playing the viola.   This is a rite of passage for a young musician.  As the grand father of the player, I felt quite proud of his prowess at his instrument.  If he was nervous, it it did not show.  The adjudicator was a Santa looking man with a booming voice who gave his students good advise and direction on their playing.  He even got a smile out of Eli.

We all had a wonderful sunny and warm day yesterday.  Residents here that never leave the building went outside to enjoy it.  Shannon came and everybody had a pleasant afternoon.  Today promises to be nice as well although not quite as warm.  

Well, I am off to my treadmill for the morning

thats it

all for now

stay safe

Tiffany, Virginia and Mia

 So as part of my recovery I am receiving a number of therapies to aid in my improvement.  These are my newest smiling, cheery torturers.  All offer a chipper greeting and clear instructions.  But in all cases, they disrupt my world.  Just when I think I am approaching normal, regular guy status, I am put thru a task that clearly shows otherwise.  

Virginia is a late thirtyish lady, blond and fit, a runner with an even gait.  She is an occupational therapist.  This job is to improve my fine motor skills and build up my upper body strength.  Another part of this is to improve hand-eye coordination which is now lacking.  As with her colleagues, each task gets more trying.  She presents me with a job to put tiny pegs into holes on a board with my right hand,  not easy with my fumbling fingers.  In fact there are about 40 of these pegs (lots of fumbling).   The real telling task was a light board in a dark room.  you had to spot the small lights that  come on across this board and touch them to turn them off.  It is a test of reaction time.  While kind of fun, this is timed and the operator has to  touch 55 in a minute to be considered effective and to have driving reaction time.  I am about at 35.  

Next we have physical therapy.  This is supposed to improve strength and stamina as well as work on balance which wasn't very good in the first place.  My therapist is Tiffany.  She is a late twenties girl  very tall about 5'11", brown skinned with a lovely complexion and beautiful smile.  Tiffany is probably my most strident and demanding therapist.  All the while smiling,  she doesn't give an inch.  Each task gets more difficult. Many are involving balance, like standing on a balance board with a cylinder in the middle with me trying to gain some semblance of balance.  When I am instructed to complete 5 reps, we are not done till the last one is completed.  And of course, she is still smiling.  We get done and I am further convinced of how far I have to go.  

Mia is my trainer in Cardiac Rehab.  This is basically a gym with the enhancement of folks checking our vitals during exercise.  She is a perky twenty something again always smiling who tapes the leads on my chest and puts me on stationary bikes and something like a sitting elliptical where all body parts are used in the exercise.  After 25 minutes on the elliptical and another 20 on the bike going as fast as I can, I am worn out but not in any distress. somewhat pleased with myself for completing.  

Thats it for therapy news.  I am traveling down this road having my shortcomings hitting me in the face.  There is a ways to go. 

Judy and I are going to breakfast this morning and out to look at countertops for the new kitchen.

thats it

all for now

stay safe and dry

Another day on the Journey

Another day on the journey.  Had a nice weekend with visits from all my grand kids and my son from far away.  Got lots of outside exercise time too.  Stamina is improving.  Doing multiple laps around the perimeter of the complex and still feeling good.

Grocery shopping with Judy this morning and more outside time today.  Supposed to be in the  70's in the afternoon.

These boys still enjoy the school park at the end of the block.   At this point trying to stay on track and fix myself

Have been walking around the perimeter of the building, trying to pick up my feet and not shuffle.  Judy and I went to the Madison Heights nature center yesterday to enjoy the lovely day.  Still have a ways to go on my stamina.  Legs were sore this morning.  More movement will build them up.  Like the rest of America I should have been enthused with the Great Eclipse. I wasn't. The media is still harping about it.  Facebook feeds are filled with it.  There's nearly a religious fervor connected to the event.  

More doctor visits for me today.  Feeling more clear headed today.  Brain fog is exiting. Maybe it is the exercise.

Well, thats it.  

Enjoy this day

stay safe

all for not

Working on a Rebirth

 

I am trying to figure out a schedule for my life, when and what to eat, when to take medications and when to start increasing my activity level.  This medical condition has thrown me for a loop.  I have brief feelings that are akin my old self but they are fleeting.  Am still in a state of transition to the new normal.  Balance has improved but not 100 percent.  Sleeping is still a problem.  If I can put together 3-4 hours I am lucky.  

Need a little sea picture from Cape May to brighten the morning, 

Had pie and conversation yesterday with some of my male friends at the penitentiary  yesterday.  All have their medical opinions.  Many are based on YouTube experts.  Their value is measured with the amount of views and likes they get.  I cannot see the merit in that.

It's the next day.  Yesterday afternoon had therapy at Corewell health.  The company has stripped all the Beaumont logos from buildings, uniforms and all signage.  It's like the institution never existed.  The PT was good and again taught me how to walk and pick up my feet.  The OT was all on fine motor activity like picking up pennies with my non dominant hand and stacking them in a pile.  It was not easy at all.  I will be with these folks for a while to improve myself.  Tomorrow I go to Cardiac Rehab for more fun.  

Today is my darling daughter in law Stephanie's birthday.  We send our fondest wishes to her on this day.

Did something normal today.  Took Harry out for his morning duties without mishap.  I think its going to be a good day

thats it 

all for now

stay safe

(Go Tigers!)

Tuesday Morning

It's 5:10 in the morning and raining outside.  I have been awake since about 4 and contemplating the day ahead.  Taking more pills than I can count each having its own purpose.  A month ago, my life was much simpler.  I did not know I was sick and my heart was failing.  I always felt robust and ready to take on the world, now not so much.  Visited my primary care doc yesterday and she told me to take it easy and take time to heal.  

While I was in the rehab unit, my brother in law John brought me wonderful sloppy food from Vinsetta Grill.  It was such a pleasant change from the hospital food that had all flavor stripped from it.  Sure it kept you alive but at such a cost.  And, he talked to me sharing his experiences from his time in the same unit.  In recent times, he too had major heart issues and was at death's door a couple of times,  His visits were very important. 

Got a gift card from Trader Joes from my sister.  As mentioned many times before, this is my favorite store.  Judy is taking me over there today  to do something normal and buy some food.  

Still need to add some weight,  really did not eat for weeks and food from home is tasting much better.  Made frozen pizza for myself yesterday.  It was good but not great.  Visited with my senior pals yesterday and retold my story.  It was good to socialize.  

Thats if for today

one foot in front of the other

I love my wife more than can be told.  Without her, I would be sitting in a corner feeling sorry for myself.

all for now

stay safe.

Really don't care about the eclipse!

 

Post Easter and some reviews

 

It's the day after Easter.  Went to Andrew/Stephanies for dinner will his kids and Katey.  Still struggling with balance.   Still not close to feeling like myself.  Body is functioning and the heart is beating but not in touch with myself.  I have to be more patient.  Have gone from a couple of daily pills to a handful twice a day.  Need ti get some medication issues resolve with the doctors.  Very frustrating.

A couple of reviews

The Beautiful Game (Netflix)

This is the true story of the Homeless World Cup held each year in Rome.  Soccer players from 70 different countries play in a tournament.  British actor Bill Nighy leads the international cast.  This is probably the most inspirational film I have seen in 2024.  If you are a fan of this game, you will be hooked.

Shirley (Netflix)

A partial biography of the Brooklyn Congresswoman that ran for the presidency in 1972.  Regina King does a masterful job in the title role.  It is also the last outing for Lance Reddick before he succumbed.  This is another part of history I knew little about.  Definitely worth a look.

thats it 

all for now

stay safe

This is Louisa who took great care of me and my family when I was in the thick of this body repair.  I cannot offer her enough thanks

Another Chapter

Don't know really where to begin.  On Friday March 1st I noted that I had sine discomfort in my chest.  Ignored at first, finally relented  and asked Judy to take me to the emergency room at Beaumont hospital.  From there all became blurry and unclear.  

One if the arteries leading to my heart  is completely blocked and needs stints to be opened up, in fact 8 in total.  This is accomplished and I am put in a medically induced coma for 5 days.  Have multiple  mini strokes during all this.  With all this,  I should not even be here to write this and should be a footnote in the local paper.  Really, did not even know I was sick.   had amazing folks taking are of me, a patient and caring wife, and family along with a team of medical professionals.  Have pictured some of them below.

thats it for now more to follow.

stay safe

all for now