What's New(s) - Personal Edition

• Well... It's been a while. I'm scheduled for a surgery to remove my middle toe on my left foot today (early afternoon). I don't anticipate any other problems there. This was (we think) the last toe done by my former orthopedic surgeon. GRAPHIC PART START: To remove the nail, he would cut the whole nail-bed out, cut the end bone, and fold the tip of the toe up, giving a good fleshy end to the toe. Problem was, on this one, the end was so bad, he didn't have anything to fold up. He sewed it back together (think of a bag where when you pull the handles up, the top closes. Well, that's basically what he did. He said it may cause problems later, and now it has. END GRAPHIC PART. Apparently, he did well enough to last the longest of all prior surgeries on my feet. (No toes on right foot, big toe and one next to it gone on left, until now.) I think my podiatrist and I have figured out that I "calcify" real well, and whenever a bone is cut, I'm going to get major pressure at that spot. So, he will remove the bone at the next joint. It leaves me with the outer two toes (the only ones I had with nails) on my left foot. He's also going to use a graft-jacket on both ulcers (one on the left foot, where that blister happened, and one on the right, which doesn't seem to want to heal quickly. The right is my "pivot" foot, and the ulcer is right at that spot! I have new shoes ordered, and expect them soon. I will probably have to put off trying them on until more healing's taken place, but...
• Ok... I've found a group of people (family historians/genealogists), who seem to be related to damn-near every person from Indiana (and maybe elsewhere) in my database! Since then, I've added close to a thousand people to my DB. Also, the guy I met when he was looking for an apartment in Sheridan and talked to my grandmother, was at her funeral, and we've been IMing pretty much since. He's taking pictures of all the monuments and stones in many of the graveyards in Boone County (and a few surrounding Boone). As he's "tagging" the pictures, he finds those with names he doesn't have in his DB, and I've found almost all of them in mine, or tied to mine. We seem to be related through more than a couple of family lines! He's the one that introduced me to the group.
• I'm still looking for a job. I had what I thought was a really good interview a couple of months ago, the guy was in contact with me for a while, and had me write a simple PHP/MySQL Contact DB to show how fast I could learn PHP/MySQL, but I haven't heard from him in a couple of weeks. He was moving to a new building, and having physical security issues there, last I talked to him. I would really like the opportunity! Meanwhile, the lady from Crossroads and I are still looking. There aren't a lot of jobs I would be hired for listed on any of the boards we search through.
• So, I've been working on my genealogy; adding and updating pages, and figuring out a number of things I want to try on this site (including using PHP/MySQL for external links); scanning my grandmother's pictures off and on (think I have 2,000 scanned, so far, and still have six (6) boxes to do!); and looking for a job. Guess I've been busy. I'm glad this surgery will happen before I start a new job... Would hate to piss them off by missing a couple of days right at the beginning!

• My 91 year old grandmother died this past weekend. (See my "A Tribute to Mamaw".) My 73 year old father spent the last couple of weeks of her life with her, while taking care of other things. He'd driven from Florida just a few weeks earlier (earlier than they'd planned) because of her diagnoses, and knowing how scared about it she was, alone, up here in Lafayette. It sure seemed to happen fast... hospital one week, a rehab center the next, and, when they had issues with that one, and her other two boys were able to spend the afternoon with her, moving her to another center, she died that Saturday night. Tuesday they had the viewing, and Wednesday the funeral service. Dad didn't get much sleep through all of it, and many of us worry about him. However, he's pretty strong, and has Mom to take care of... Hopefully he'll be able to get some more rest.
• Speaking of my parents in Florida, they never did make it back for a couple of other funerals (two being family and one being a very good friend), NOR for Christmas. Mom just absolutely refused to fly, and Dad couldn't justify driving up here, just to turn around and drive back, especially with the cost of gas, now. And, he wasn't going to leave her alone down in Florida to come back, himself, for a couple of days. I believe the parties involved all understood the situation (I hope!) But, with Mamaw living in the apartment by his, and he being the eldest son, and, with one uncle in Florida, and the other out of the country for business, he packed up the house down there, and made it back to be with her. I'm glad he did. I'd have hated for her to go through everything she did without him there. Rest or no rest, he seems to have and to be handling it well. (After all... It WAS his mother.)
• I have been going to Crossroads, or she has been meeting me here (at the Library), searching the job-boards for jobs for which I qualify in Central Indiana without much luck. We're still looking and still hopeful. It'd be nice if I could find a permanent position using my years of programming experience, that would also be willing to take the chance to teach me some of the programming languages I lack, and for which everyone seems to be looking. I firmly believe I can learn syntax much faster than a ... "rookie" can learn logic. Oh, well... We'll see.
• The pinched nerve situation still exists in the weakness in holding my outer fingers apart, but my hand still seems plenty strong, I can still type and drive, and the pain has gone away.
• It took a long time, but we finally got that blister healed. Then I wore my shoe to my grandmother's viewing and funeral, and guess what? It's Ba-a-ck. Guess I'm gonna have to get new shoes before long.

Well, that's it for now. I have to publish this and get to bed. TTYL -BS

• Guess I didn't mention, before, that we got the van mods (hand-controls and lift for my scooter), so I can get out on my own, now. It's nice that I can let Chris sleep (she works third shift, 10:30PM-7:00AM, and needs it). I've been to Indy (Crossroads), and stopped by a couple of cemeteries on the way back for pictures. I also got some pictures of the Lebanon National Guard Armory for my Handicapped Voting piece. No... I didn't get out of the van, but I could get a few shots from the driver's seat.
• Saw a Surgeon for the pinched nerve. He said that surgery MIGHT help, but described it as such: They go in from the FRONT, moving the windpipe and esophagus out of the way, remove the bulging disk that is causing the nerve pinch, and fuse the bones together. Seems weird to me that they go in from the FRONT. Anyway, when we balked, he prescribed an "in-home traction" device, that hangs from a door... Straps go around your head, one under the chin, the other behind your head, and a weight is on the other end. He prescribed 40 pounds for me! I describe it as "hanging" myself, but the straps aren't near the throat. I'm supposed to do this 3 times a day for a while. He also prescribed Physical Therapy. I have GOT to remember to call my insurance company and the local hospital's PT department tomorrow to set it up. There's no guarantee that this, or the surgery will help with the weakness, and if it gets worse, I'm to call back. It doesn't seem to be getting any worse, so, hopefully, the PT and traction will help bring back the missing strength.
• We're working on a blister on my more complete foot. Almost immediately the doctor put a graft-jacket on it, since it worked so well before. It seems to be healing well.
• Mom and Dad went to Florida for the winter. Dad IMs me almost every night. Mom is refusing to fly home for Christmas. More about this in my Remember Family Christmases? piece. Hopefully, Chris and I will go down to Evansville, to see some of her family, between Christmas and New Year's.

That should do it for now... Later.

• Sometime in Mid-October, I believe I pinched a nerve. The pain was in my right shoulder-blade (felt like a zit or boil, but my wife said there wasn't any mark, there), but ran down my arm, through the crazy-bone area, and suddenly my wrist felt a little weaker, and for a short while, my fingers didn't want to work right. (Still don't when squeezing a bottle, unscrewing a new lid, and things like that.) I tried using a TENS unit (see Rehabilicare's ProMax unit - my wife's doctor ordered it for her, when her back hurt for some time and didn't seem to be getting better - see the information on TENS, at healiohealth.com tens page) This relieved the pain in my arm (which I likened to "sciatica in my arm, not my leg") for a time, but not permanently, and my hand was still weak. I went to my doctor about a week after I noticed everything started, and he gave me Cyclobenzaprine (generic for Flexeril) and Methylpredisolone (generic for Medrol - "tapered dose pack") for one week. Nothing. I'd put away the TENS, but got it back out, because my upper arm hurt so bad. He had also ordered an MRI and an EMG. The MRI at Witham was a fiasco. I believe their machine is "normal" sized, which means it's SMALL on me! As my head and shoulders got into it, my shoulders touched the side, and I opened my eyes to find my nose what seemed like less than an inch from the top.  I tipped my head back, and asked the operator how far I'd have to go in, and he said 1/2 way for about 30 minutes. I said "I can't do this", and he got me out of the tunnel. I NEVER thought I was claustrophobic! The EMG was the next day. I heard nothing for a weekend and a couple of days, then the doctor's nurse called, said that the results suggested surgery, and did I want to make an appointment with a surgeon. I said wait. I emailed my cousin (who is a neuropathic doctor - albeit ocular), but who works with a neuropathic group, and he set me up with one in his group who specialized in my problem. The first visit, he did a little "poking and pushing", and scared the hell out of me, when he asked me to spread my fingers, and hold them out while he pushed, lightly in, and I couldn't. I hadn't noticed that before!. Anyway, he set me up with an open-sided MRI, and scheduled himself to do an EMG my next visit, which was after the MRI. The Open-Sided MRI was MUCH easier to take, even though my it was still close to my nose, but the doctor had prescribed a low dose of Xanax, to help. (I think I could have done it without the Xanax, but took it as a precaution.) He looked at them when I went for the EMG (which was the plan, I thought, though the nurses didn't know it), and he ran the test. He said I had bad Carpel Tunnel (never felt it), some neuropathy in my arm (they never felt like my feet, so I never noticed), probably a pinched nerve at my elbow, and probably one at C8 in my neck, which, I believe, is the bone that protrudes a little, between your shoulder blades. He said I probably needed surgery for the pinched nerve in my neck before it causes more havoc (especially with my right hand, which is my dominant!). I asked what the surgeon would do, and he said, "remove the disk."! I said something about being 6'-9" most of my life, and they were trying to make me smaller.... I couldn't tell if he was joking, or what? His office set it up for later this month. I need to take the MRI with me, and I'm sure he'll get a copy of the EMG (or both of them). I hope the surgeon will ask for at least one more test, though the prior ones may be enough. I will find out then what HE thinks is needed. I guess with at least two doctors saying it's the C8 (can't remember if my family doctor mentioned it or not), then it must be. The elbow thing is something else. Before my last visit, most of the major pain faded, though I still "feel" it, now and then, and my wrist is still weak, as are my fingers. Obviously, though, I can still type! ;-) We'll see what happens! :-\
• Meanwhile, I've been to Crossroads Job Placement a couple of times (about once-a-week...), and applied to Butler for a web content management job (they emailed back that it was filled). She's going to revamp my resume (shorten it). The rest will be more "talking points" and cover-letter, I guess, kinda like the "non-programming jobs" I currently have (if they're interested). I don't know that I want to program full-time, anymore... Part-time may be ok, as long as there's something else... I look through all the programming and internet-related jobs I can find on the boards. I also look at the history department and DNR (they are supposed to be cataloging all the cemeteries in the state, which ties in with my genealogy/history "bent"), and anything else I can find that I'm interested in and can do. Remember, I can no longer stand for any length of time, because of my knee and the strength I lost while recovering from it, the fact that it won't bend right, if I'm up too much, I tend to get sores which turn into ulcers, and, since before the knee, my balance seemed to be getting worse with the partial foot amputations and neuropathy. Thank God I can finally drive myself to appointments (and work, when and if that comes), so Chris can sleep. (She works third shift - 10:30PM-7AM most nights, though recently it's been 8:30PM-7AM.)
• Be sure to check out my new opinion pieces (about politics and my going to vote) on my Authorship-Opinions/Commentary page. The last one happened yesterday, as I tried to get into the precinct building.

Well, that's it for now. I have to publish this and get to bed. TTYL -BS

• Split Personal from Website news.
• Almost there... YEAH!

• Health-wise everything seems to be going pretty good. A hammer toe (I only have three (3) left, may require some work, but we're trying to hold off at least until the van's fixed.
• Speaking of the van, I passed my driver's test, and am legally able to drive using hand-controls. One problem, now, is that we have to wait a while longer before the hand-controls can be installed. Since we got a new(er) van, while most everything is the same as the old van, since it's NOT the same, and is so much newer, they need to get new estimates. The other is that I cannot LEGALLY drive using my feet, because my license has been amended. Technically, I COULD, but if there's an accident and/or I get stopped, I would be in REAL trouble. Oh, well. It's not like I've been driving normally up to now, and suddenly can't. That happened some time ago.
• There was a problem with the "What Have You Done For Love" challenge. For some reason or other, though I had sent my contact information within a couple of hours of receiving the notification that I had won, they said they didn't get it. After some emails back and forth, with them telling me I didn't win because they never received my info and me pointing out that every email I sent to the same address HAD the contact info in it, and then actually calling someone at the advertising firm running the contest for DeBeers (owner of the A Diamond Is Forever website, where the contest was held), they finally agreed that we should get one (since I was the winner, though not as the "winner" will... It will be sent directly to my home address.) They sent an affidavit, I signed and mailed it Express Mail-Next Day back (not taking chances), and I've received word that we should get it in a couple of weeks. Anyone I've told about the situation has asked if I thought it was a "scam". I told them that I didn't think so... ADIF is owned by DeBeers and the advertising firm handling the contest has clients world-wide, that they were too big to pull a "scam" like that. Besides, I didn't think even they would want possible bad publicity of "a problem" with one of their contests. (No... I never threatened them with that, and wouldn't. However, without the money for lawyers to work on this, the next step would have to have been to call one of the "Call for Help" investigators at the local  newspaper/local TV stations.) We'll see.

• Hmmm... Should have mentioned last update that we got a new van and that was one of the stories on my Writings page - New Van Shopping (01/2006). Check it out. It's under Chris' name first, then mine, but it's OURS!
• The day we had scheduled for the driving trainer to come and take me out in HER van at about 9:00, she called at about 7:30 or so, and said that her van wouldn't start. Apparently at least one of the electronic items they use had drained the battery (and the backup) and it wasn't recharged, at least enough to start the van that day. Since she's at a conference this next week, it's been rescheduled for 02/13/2006. I'll let you know what happens. (Wonder if the car dealer in my Van Shopping story sold them the van?
• I had entered the "What Have You Done for Love" story contest on www.adiamondisforever.com, where I used an extremely abbreviated version of The Bestest Birthday Ever story. On 01/26/2006, I received an email that I had won! I'm currently awaiting the affidavit we must sign.
• I also heard about the Indianapolis Airport soliciting poems for use in Glass Art on the news. (See the airport's 01/18/2006 article for more information.) Winning entries "will be included in the artwork by Martin Donlin..." (see http://www.newindairport.com/art_bios/donlin.shtm for preliminary designs.) I entered two poems: "Peace and Quiet? (On Lake Freeman at 1:30AM)" and "Hey Little Fella", a lullaby written on 08/29/1983, a few weeks after my first son was born. I have not included them on this site, yet, but may soon. My last email from them, today, said, "It may be a while before we have final results ..." Here's hoping!
• Genealogy: For Christmas, I gave away CDs and DVDs of the family genealogy to a number of family members. I FINALLY got them to the post office (Christopher took them), and everyone should have theirs by now. (Still can't get in touch with my aunt in Arizona to get her address.) At that time I had over 8200 individuals listed, and over 1000 pictures. Since then I have found over 300 more individuals, and have 8511, with 2918 families. Most all have at least notes about where I got the information, and I have 308 sources listed. I've also added a few more pictures from my "stock". Not bad, if I do say so myself.

• The doctor says my foot is looking good. The bone of the longest toe left on the left foot is "close to the surface", but doesn't require "shortening" at this point. We need to keep an eye on it, though.
• STILL working on getting van modified. They keep asking me to sign papers that I've received items or papers I haven't received. I've also been told that I need to get my van inspected BEFORE they can authorize the company I'm going to have do it. I understand the request for estimates for the mods went out over a month ago, and have yet to receive any information about that! They pay people $110 an hour to do driver's training on hand-controls, $55 per hour (it appears) to drive to and from the place of testing, AND $0.28 per mile for gas. DAMN! I want that job! And the state wonders where their money is going? By the same token, hand-controls require special training, though most of my training will be to get rid of bad driving habits, like where to stop at stop signs, etc. (At least until the actual driver's test is over and I'm authorized to use the hand controls )
• My 72yo father was riding his bike (his exercise) in Florida, and was hit by a hit-and-run driver. Luckily, though he estimates the guy was driving 30MPH and he was IN a cross-walk, the older van only hit the front tire, turning it. Dad said he was "frozen" holding the handlebars, and they stayed straight. The wheel turned almost perpendicular though. AND, the van never slowed or stopped. (And NO... The ex-INSURANCE agent did NOT report it to the police!) He said two seconds later and he'd have been hit square and at the very least, injured! (and being on COUMADIN®, would probably have bled out!) EXTREMELY lucky. He straightened the wheel and rode home (about 1-1/2 miles), got a bright orange shirt and helmet, and got the bike fixed right (and will probably drive much MORE defensively than before.) Now he'll NEVER get my 74yo (in Feb '06) mother to ride the 3-wheeler he bought for her with him!
• And, we're still squeaking, at least slightly.

• Some of this may be a little gross: The doctor said it looked like the surgical site was opening up. He put sterry-strips (kinda like "pasted stitches") on it and sent us home. The next visit, my foot was swollen pretty good, and the "strip" was now about an 1" or more in the middle, tapering to the ends, and was full of blood-clot. The doctor prescribed a special "Vac Freedom" machine, where they put special tape around the wound, and a light vacuum machine on it to gently pull the sides together, the healing blood to the surface of the wound, and help heal it faster. For the next 4-5 weeks I went to St V physical therapy department, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, where they cleaned out the wound, and applied the vac. At the end it was only about 1/8" deep and about 1/4" wide. The Dr put a graft jacket on it, and within a couple of weeks it was closed. Now, it's obvious it was there, but there's no leaking of anything, and I can walk on it. The vac was a kind-of-a pain-in-the-ass to use, but it worked!
• I finally got out of the house for a full day last month (Friday after Thanksgiving). We went down to Evansville and visited Chris' kids at her older daughter's new house. When we left there, we went to Jasper (her hometown) and visited with a brother and his family for a few minutes, and one of her sisters and her husband. Matthew came by and took the dogs out, giving us the whole day. We were tired when we got back, but it was a very nice trip, and I finally got to meet a couple of her siblings!
• I'm still working on getting my van modified by Voc Rehab. Now I have to get it inspected for "roadworthiness" because of it's age. I also have to take some driver's training using hand-controls and get my license amended to allow me to use them. While I can walk some, the partial right foot isn't really all that safe to drive with and I recently found out it's illegal to drive left-footed (and can't any more anyway, because my knee won't bend right). The plan is to get a "push-pull" "gas-brake" lever, a "suicide knob" (steering, especially for sharper turns), the driver's seat moved back a couple of inches to give me a little leg-room, a seat-belt hooked further back for that moved seat, and a "curb-sider" lift for my scooter. Sounds like a lot, but it's not considered a MAJOR modification (like lowering the floor or raising the roof of the van). With any luck, all should be done by February and I can start getting out more!
• Still looking for something I can do from home (or have to wait until van is modified to go out.) SS Disability just barely covers the bills in the house and health insurance, and Chris' check goes for her bills and food. Not quite a full squeak, but there's a little noise there!

• Surgery seemed to go well. The doctor removed the bone (and said there was a LOT of bone in there - that was causing all the pressure), was supposed to have cleaned up and sewn the sore closed, and then made a small (1") cut to try to move the ligament. He couldn't find it, so that part wasn't done. Apparently, I had "a bleeder" which he knew about, and when we got home and I got inside (trying to keep all weight off foot, but ending up using the heel), the Ace bandage wrapped around the Curlex was starting to show leakage. GROSS WARNING: When we removed the Ace bandage, the Curlex (two full rolls of it wrapped around my foot) was red, except for the part farthest from the surgical site. We called the doctor (he gave Chris his pager number) to make sure all was well, and it was. She washed the Ace bandage, and wrapped a smaller roll of Curlex (cast lining - the soft stuff they wrap around your limb before they put on the plaster/fiberglass cast...) around what was there. When the Ace was dry, she wrapped it back on. Nothing on the Ace since, though the Curlex under it shows a little discoloration (not near as RED as what was there. I transfer to a wheelchair to get across the living room, then sit in a padded "stackable" chair (like at schools/churches) and scoot to the bathroom door (then walk, staying on my heel on this foot), and into the bedroom to go to bed. I HATE not being able to get around at ALL! Hopefully this will take care of my feet for a few years! I have an appointment Tuesday to see him for a followup (where he'll unwrap it and check it out, then show Chris how she'll have to change the dressing). This may seem a little early (4 days after surgery, not a week), but they didn't have anything else open late enough for Chris to get off work a LITTLE early, and she doesn't have that many days of Vacation left for the year. It'll probably be a week or two after that for the next appointment.
• That's all today. Pray for the Gulf Coast. It will NEVER be the same, thanks to Katrina.

• Once more into the breech:
  • My right (partial) foot is getting better. The ulcer is healed completely, and the sore caused by the soft-cast boot is almost healed. That's the good news.
  • The doctor x-rayed my left foot. Apparently, I'm VERY good at calcium production when bone is broken/cut. The bone behind where my big toe would be was cut behind the joint. When I look at the x-ray, I see a cloud around the end at the cut. The doctor sees calcium deposits, which cause a lot of pressure, and eventually breaks down the skin, which is what happened/is happening. We know this, also, because except for taking the dogs out (usually once-a-day for me, about 15 minutes total for four dogs), and the occasional trip to the kitchen and bathroom, my feet are up off the floor, with no pressure at all (no shoes) on them. (BTW: I am not only a card-carrying member of AARP, but I get Medicare and SS Disability because of these damn feet and the neuropathy which makes keeping balance difficult.)
  • I will be having ANOTHER surgery on Friday (09/02) to take that bone out at the next joint, thereby alleviating the pressure and cause of the calcium deposits in one "swell-foop". He said he's got to reconnect a ligament from that bone to the next one over. (This ligament is the one that allows you to flex your foot up at the big toe - Uh... If I had one - up on the front side of the arch. The doctor doesn't believe this will effect my walking any more than it's been effected already by the neuropathy, knee and other foot surgeries, so I should be able to get around for short trips on my feet. For the long ones, remember, I have a kewl relatively new scooter.
  • I have an appointment near the end of October for review of Van Modifications (a lift for the scooter and maybe hand-controls, because of the foot problems), and a Driver Evaluation (may be needed for the hand controls?) Wish us luck on that one... Chris can't drive me everywhere every time I need to go somewhere and I don't have anyone else here to drive me, and, once there, if I will be on my feet for more than a few minutes, we have to pull out two foldable aluminum (not particularly light) ramps, reach in, get the scooter out using those ramps (there's a "bump" and "wheelie wheels" hitting the ends of the ramp before the rear wheels of the scooter do... tends to knock the damn things down), then whoever's helping has to load the ramps back into the van while I get on the scooter. Getting back in is pretty much the reverse. I hope we get a good lift, preferably platform-type, so I can unload the thing myself, and don't have to have people helping me get places all the time. These evaluations were supposed to happen at the end of last year, but I had that knee problem, and couldn't go. Then we were waiting for them to call and they were waiting for me to call, and the Voc Rehab vouchers ran out and... One big C-F! Hopefully there won't be any type of problem, this time.
  • As for the business idea, we're going to wait until the evaluations and that work is done. Then we will see.

• It's been a while since I updated you on what's going on with me:
  • Married life is great. 'Nuff said.
  • Health:
    • My back had gotten better, then spasmed again. It's been pretty much ok since then. (*Whew*)
    • The callous turned into another ulcer. The Dr used a new graft, and it healed within about six (6) weeks. BUT, a new "soft-cast" surgical boot we tried caused a blister on the side of that foot, once the surgical wrapping had been removed. I switched back to my "crow-boot" (a hard, almost knee-high clam-shell-like boot - think removable cast) and it's been healing, slowly. BUT (... I HATE those "buts") I did something with my other (mostly there) foot that caused a blister on the inside of it (behind where a big toe would be). While it was fairly small, we took care of it and were waiting for my next appointment. BUT (*GRRR*) somehow, it spread UNDER my foot and I actually started feeling pain in my ankle (a possible sign of infection.) We called the doctor, and with my dad's help, got in the next day. He debrided it and the other, pronounced the FIRST problem healed, and prescribed antibiotics. Again (and still) I'm trying to stay off my feet as much as possible. *GEEZE*
    • The knee still won't bend more than about 90°, but is looser, meaning I don't have to pull my lower leg with my hands, flexing the knee, to get it into the tub any more. I can even almost get it on the scooter, and, when Dad took me to the doctor's, I actually made it into the front seat of his van, comfortably. (Ok... Getting out the first time wasn't a picnic, but...)
    • Anodyne has gone by the wayside (only allowed a certain amount of physical therapy, and had hit the max), but I would still recommend it, at least to try, if you are having problems.
    • Chris' daughter and her boyfriend were in a roll-over accident last month that totaled the car. It ended up on its roof, after going over a fence. The cops, ambulance driver and attendants, etc., say they were EXTREMELY lucky, because they were not wearing seat-belts and ended up in the back seat. If their windows had been rolled down, there might have been a different outcome. As it was, her boyfriend was somewhat disoriented, because he thought he had kicked out the back window to get out, when it was actually the windshield. Both walked away with minor injuries (if you call three vertebrae compressed about 10% minor) - cuts, scrapes and bruises, otherwise. This is a case where we aren't sure they belts would have helped, but then, who knows? WEAR YOUR SEAT-BELTS! Remember... (at least in Indiana) It's the LAW. ("Click-it or Ticket")
  • I have been working on documents for Voc Rehab about a business tied in with genealogy and history (and other things), which I think could make some money. I believe everyone I've talked to about it who would not have anything to do with it as a business (except as a customer) think it's a great idea. It would take some time to get started, and I could not do the research I had originally planned for it (back when I lost my job!), and there's some database and internet stuff I have no experience (or training or idea of how to do) that needs done. This, and the fact that there's no way I can predict how much could be made from it, has made Voc Rehab and others reticent. I have noticed a couple of businesses like it on the web, but one is in Newfoundland, and the other in Ireland. All those even remotely like it in the US use volunteers, and therefore, have relatively lax standards, and high "employee"/volunteer turnover. The businessman I discussed it with for Voc Rehab made some suggestions that I had originally thought of, but was told to remove from the proposal because it made it more "educational" than a business. *GEEZE* again. Wish I knew how to get hold of some venture capitalists and people interested in the same thing. ... Kinda hard to do from my desk at home!
  • Chris and I are now card-carrying members of AARP (I turned 50(!) in March, and I start Medicare (I'm on SS Disability) in August. Anyone reading this have any good suggestions for medical/prescription/vision/dental supplements that aren't too expensive? As long as they are less than the COBRA I'm now paying (close to $450/month!) and they cover things with low copays, I am interested! :-\
  • Genealogy of my and its allied families has been keeping my DB growing. I'm now at near 6000 people, almost all of them verified by some database other than others' data. I still don't have some of my cousins' spouse's family information back far enough I can research it, but I've been working on getting it! Heck, I finally - just recently - got some information for my brother-in-law's family!
  • Oh, the ice and snow's melted, we've had a couple of VERY heavy rains (with big lightning and thunder), and the temp has been closer to Summertime than Spring.
• That's it for now.

• Warm up continues - Ice and snow are almost gone

• Warm up started. Ice and snow melting and falling off trees everywhere.

• 4" of snow on top of all that ice - Made it a "Winter Wonderland"

• Ice Storm - Lotsa limbs down in front and back yard

• Married Christine Cecelia Eckert Klump at my parents' home in Lafayette

• Health-wise:
  • For the past month or so, my back has been killing me, just above my left hip, when I step and/or twist the "wrong" way... I haven't yet found the "right" way, apparently. Went to the doctor last week, and after noticing a little swelling in the general area, he said it sounded like nerve and muscle problems and gave me a muscle relaxer and pain pills. Neither really work all that well, but things seemed to be getting better until today, when I did SOMETHING (wish I knew what it was!) and made it difficult to walk, again. I have been using a heating pad (nearly destroyed it scooting up and down in the chair) and taking the pills, but... I sure hope THIS problem clears up fast!
  • My knee still won't bend more than 90°, but, except for my back problem, I seem to be able to get around fairly easily. Both knees are a little wobbly, again, and I am afraid of the back "twinging" (big time) enough to buckle my knees, so I am not moving around any more than I have to. Makes it VERY difficult to take the dogs out, go to the bathroom, bed, etc.
  • (They say that pain is pretty much forgotten... You remember, but you don't remember it as strong as it was when it happened. I hope I get to forget this back pain soon!)
  • Anodyne Therapy seems to be working, some... My description, now is "I can feel the numb", where before I couldn't feel anything.
  • I got another callous on my right (partial) foot, and the podiatrist has been debriding it. Chris thinks it's getting smaller. That's a GOOD thing!
• Otherwise:
  • I have a new desk. It's in what used to be the dining room. I get the whole corner as my "office". The only thing I don't like is that I'm a little farther away from the computer screen, and I have my back basically turned to the living room and kitchen. However, I have a much "cleaner" area in which to work! Now if only I can figure out what's wrong with my printer!

• The Orthopedic Surgeon, apparently, only talked about manipulation. Since I CAN get around some with a cane, and CAN bend it almost 90°, he said that if it was getting better slowly, it would better for it than "the big push" (my words). That's ok with me, except that I can't get out to the graveyards to take pictures of the stones. (Remember... I got into Genealogy, and I have LOT of relatives around here.) My back still kills me when I'm making my coffee, but I can take a longer time taking the dogs out. Four trips, about 5 minutes each - they sniff a LOT - leaning on the ramp or deck rail seems to help my back.
• Managing to get all the way into the tub, now. Knee still won't allow me to just lift leg in with my leg muscles, but I can grab the ankle and pull it in, then when done, use a towel to help get it out (it's damp, you know!)
• Got my shoes back. That's all I'm doing, for now... It's not like I'm walking all over the place. I use the scooter in stores (when I go) and am walking when the distance is fairly short. I feel like I can walk better than I can stand! I HAVE managed to get into the driver's seat of the van and drive down the road and back, but Chris doesn't think I should do it alone, especially due to the fact that the van has an electrical short [11/16 UPDATE: It seems that the battery terminal had a bad connection. It's fixed, now. wds] and A/C problems probably both requiring removal of the dash, which is why we haven't had it done, yet. ... Well, that and...
• ... Have started on Anodyne Therapy. My podiatrist has used it before, and it's supposed to help my neuropathy. It's hard to tell if it's working, but I think I'm feeling more than I was before. They put pads on either side of your calf, and pads in a "T" shape on the bottoms of your feet. The pads shoot infra-red light into the "affected areas". They don't "fry" your skin, it's set too low, but it can and does warm the area of the pads. It works on your circulation. Check out the site for more.

• Getting up and down from recliner easier, now. Using cane exclusively (no walker). Still takes a moment to make sure I have my balance, and still starting out with short steps, most of the time, but... Walking is easier than standing. I find my back hurting badly when I stand in the kitchen to make my coffee in the evening for the morning. Can get out of breath just standing - All the muscles in my legs are working, and my ankles almost vibrate to keep me upright (stand on one foot and watch your ankle... BOTH of mine do that when I'm standing on TWO feet!)
• Can ALMOST bend my leg far enough to get it in the tub. Sitting in a chair to take a shower. Resting foot on the edge, bent as far as knee will let me. MAN, it hurts when I'm done, but seems to be getting closer to getting it IN the tub. Hope I don't have to have the Orthopedic Surgeon "manipulate" it (force it back while I'm under general anesthesia... SOUNDS like it would hurt worse than the actual surgery. Trying to get my head around the fact that it probably wouldn't hurt more than a sprain, and then I MIGHT be able to bend it enough to drive. AND, that it shouldn't be any worse off than it is, currently. Kinda hard to do! :-/
• Getting one of my two pair of shoes repaired. The soles are worn badly, as are the inserts. They cost around $800 (hand-made, custom, extra-deep and extra-wide with inserts), so would prefer not to have to order a new pair. Will probably get a new pair (if insurance will cover it) anyway, using the older ones as "backup". Hey, at $800 a pair, they should last forever, shouldn't they? GEEZE!

• Walking in to therapy and out to van with walker. Knee bends to 72 degrees by itself, and more if they "push to pain" where I can't stand it anymore.
• Loaded new Maxima scooter into van (just fits behind long seat on one of the back lock-downs) using dad's ramps and went to Lowes for freezer. (Ours died.) Can't bend leg enough to drive van, and have to lay ankle on wheel fender to drive scooter, but I can use it. Man, it can go! Problem with ramps is in parking lot, they stick out almost 1/2 way across lane. Scooter also needs lifted to get it on ramp because of "wheelie bars" on back.
• Got a heavy-duty "straight cane", and am using it when I can. Still very wobbly getting up from bed and recliner, and still using walker, but after a couple of steps... I COULD use the cane, then...

• Around mid-April - Removed splint, permanently. Knee would barely bend and couldn't quite get it straight. Also, knee was still too weak to walk. (Still used wheelchair for a few PT visits.) They started having me walk (with walker) out towards the end of the month, after therapy.
• First of May - Began walking (with walker) from van into therapy and back out. Wheelchair only used for trips around stores, now. Need to get lift in van so I can use new scooter. Still can't bend knee enough to drive, but can keep it straight enough to use walker. Still get "tense-ups" (whole leg tenses up for a few seconds) when I move or brush it the right way.

• Splint reset to allow 30 degree bend in knee and physical therapy set up.
• Some home therapy by home nursing, then scheduled into Witham Physical Therapy for more extensive (safer!) therapy, like making knee work to walk!

• Surgery (finally!) to repair knee. "Towel Rack" (external fixator - iron bars screwed into bone to hold all pressure off knee) was put on/in.
• In hospital until Sunday, then transferred to Rehab Center in Lebanon.
•  There until early March, when "towel rack" (external fixator - was removed and a splint put on with 0 degree knee movement allowed.

• Knee gave out and fell again.
• Over next week: Had to cancel Dr appointments (couldn't get out of house), had ramp built out front, rented wheelchair and made new Dr appts.
• After 2-week wait finally got in to see orthopedic surgeon. He thought I would need "big" surgery and wanted an MRI. Got it done within week, then had to wait another 2 weeks to see him again. He reviewed MRIs, told me I tore the tendon and needed surgery (duh!) Referred me to surgeon in Indy. When I finally saw him, he scheduled surgery for after holidays.

• Fell coming in from garage, tearing quad tendon from kneecap, though we didn't know that for sure at the time. Went to ER. X-rays showed no bone break. Got *cheap* brace/splint for knee and nearly fell again getting off gurney to wheelchair there. Made it home, crawling on rump and elbows into recliner.
• After a couple of days, began walking with a walker I had. Can't move lower leg forward, only backward. Knee hurts!

• Orange Frog Productions website debuts on the web with Home, About, Resumes, FAQ Central/Email FAQ, Link Central/Hometown and Job Search Links pages.

• Early in month:
  • Position eliminated.
  • Update resume and pass on to a number of friends.
  • Look in many job boards and add resume to a few of them.
  • Begin designing and writing Orange Frog Productions website (banner and basic color-scheme have existed for some time.)
• Mid-late month:
  • Export Favorites Links  to html and begin reviewing
  • Review Local and Job Search link sites, looking for a job and for information for those to be included in Links Central pages.