Leap Day

There is no post today.
There is a cat in my lap, sleeping, who makes nearly impossible to use the keyboard.

Leap Day updated:

9:50am

Stretching doesn't work well when you're on a lap. . .

. . .but it can be done while still asleep

Where was I?

I can't remember what I'd planned to write here today.
You can bet it wasn't anything profound [that first sentence is a clue].

It rained a little bit here late Friday afternoon.
That really disturbed the cat.

He was angry because he wanted to go out after his afternoon all day nap

If he doesn't get out after sleeping all day, he becomes a holy terror in the house.
Routinely it is around six pm that he heads out.
Many nights he doesn't return.
I don't see him until I wake up in the morning.
Usually he is waiting patiently for me to open the door.
 
He then makes every effort to trip me and knock me to the floor while attempting to feed him.
Sometimes he eats a lot.
Other times he just sniffs the bowl and turns up his nose.

Then he's ready for his nap.

Mostly he prefers to go to sleep in an occupied room.
He has no preferred chair.
Sometimes, when it's Sunny, he'll crash on the patio.

The big issue with him is when he stays in for the night [not very often].
Usually, if he hasn't found someplace else to sleep, he will show up at the door around ten pm.
He saunters in like, "Here I am."
He'll grab some lap time, if it's available, then look for a likely chair to sleep upon.
Invariably, some time during the night, he'll awaken to find it dark [which doesn't mean a thing to a cat] and start prowling to find a body [me].
Most of the time he does it soundlessly, but occasionally he will ping out a "meow" to get his bearings [you know, just enough to wake one up].

In any event he knows how to land on the bed in full pounce.
Then he'll curl up and go to sleep until before anyone else wants to get up.

That's when he can't make up his mind whether to go out or to eat.

cats are jerks

Is anyone, beside me, sick of politics yet?

Okay, okay, okay. . .
. . .maybe it's not politics I'm tired of.
(I thought about rewriting the previous paragraph so it didn't end with a preposition, but it sounded stupid)

It may be that the darn electioneering started so long ago. . .   and quite possibly none of the candidates thus far has caught my interest.
The only one who even comes close to sounding positive about anything scares me.
He is the only who has said what specifically he plans to do.

Over on the other side there seems to be plenty of hot air and accusations.
Oh there are a couple of really quiet folks there, too.
But they're virtually unnoticed.

I any event it is darn near impossible to avoid hearing about the elections taking place each week.
It is so tiring.

That is one thing I think maybe some other countries do right.
They get it over with in a hurry, all at once.

Maybe we could get a law passed that forbids political advertising?
That way the only way politicians could get on the air or in the newspaper would be if they actually did something.
Then maybe all of the money being spent could be used for something really worthwhile.

yeah, yeah. . .   pipedream

TIFPA*

Yeah. . .   it's on the acronym page.
That's why there's an asterisk.
However, since this is the first time I have used the term, I will save you some time and tell that it means Things I Find Particularly Annoying.

Sarge promises it will be a regular feature on his blog.
Joe already features annoying things over at his blog on a regular basis.
Suldog doesn't post about the things that annoy him on his blog, instead writing opinion pieces for his local fishwrap.

Now, you might ask, where are you going with this?

I have no idea.

This was kinda fun. . .

. . .and a little thought provoking.
I saw it over on f/b and immediately realized it could be a post on the blog.
The best part is it required little work.
Calling it a bucket list is a bit of a stretch.

 Bucket List -
(X) Shot a gun
( ) Been Tased
(X) Been Arrested
(X) Gone on a blind date - several
(X) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die
(X) Visited Canada
(X) Visited Hawaii
( ) Visited Cuba
(X) Visited Europe
( ) Visited South America
(X) Visited Las Vegas
( ) Visited Central America
(X) Visited Asia
( ) Visited Africa
(X )Visited Florida
(X) Visited Mexico
(X) Seen the Grand Canyon in person
( ) Flown in a helicopter
(X) Drag raced your car
(X) Served on a jury
( ) Been lost
(X) Traveled to the opposite side of the country
(X) Visited Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the Ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Played cowboys and Indians
( ) Recently colored with crayons - just not recently
(X) Sang karaoke
(X) Sang a solo or duet
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only
(X) Made prank phone calls
(X) Laughed until some beverage came out of your nose
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Been a parent
(X) Had a dog
(X) Had a cat - nobody really has a cat
(X) Been skinny-dipping
(X) Been fishing
(X) Been boating
(X) Been downhill skiing
(X) Been water skiing
(X) Been camping in a trailer/RV
(X) Been camping in a tent
(X) Driven a motorcycle
(X) Been bungee-jumping (ripcord jumping) rappelling
(X) Gone to a drive-in movie
(X) Done something that could have killed you…
(X) Done something that you will regret for the rest of your life - there are things that I wish had turned out different [too many]
( ) Rode an elephant
( ) Rode a camel
(X) Eaten just cookies or cake or ice cream for dinner
(X) Drank your dinner
(X) Been on TV
(X) Stolen any traffic signs
(X) Been in a car accident
( ) Been in the Hospital or ER in past 24 months - not  in the past 24 months
(X) Donated blood
( ) Gotten a (speeding) or any other type of ticket in the past 12 months - not  in the past 12 months
( ) Gotten a piercing
( ) Gotten a Tattoo
(X) Driven a manual transmission vehicle
(X) Ever owned your dream car
(X) Been Married
(X) Been divorced
(X) Fell in love
( ) Fell out of love - Nope!
(X) Paid for a stranger's meal
(X) Driven over 100 mph
(X) Been scuba diving
( ) Written a published book/story/poetry
(X) Eaten snails - I really enjoy Escargot
( ) Eaten Haggis
(X) Taught a class

I made a few minor adjustments to the list.
Had I wanted to make work out of it, I could've probably doubled the length.

there's probably a lot more

H/T Sandee

When I thought I wouldn't have anything to post. . .

. . .there was an email from a classmate.

Yeah. . . click on it to embiggen, it's worth the effort.

this gruntles me

Where are you going with this?

A brief stop at another blog took me on a little search for verification.

Done!
Now the question is, do I tell anyone where the fist though took me?

Monday update

Really!
You might have noticed there was just some filler here over the weekend.
I was off to other places doing Lions stuff.
No, not the fun stuff, more like the tedious stuff that has to be done so we can do the fun stuff.
You know?

 . . .takin' care of business.

The only real advantage to these periodic forays into the mundane is the chance to expand the horizon and see what is happening outside of my neighborhood.
(it was even better when we'd go statewide)

Anyway, the rodent appears to have been right in his prediction about the start of spring.

I really like going to the far south part of our Lions District because I get to look at the "World's Smallest Mountain Range" up close and personal.

The added advantage this time of year is that it is usually green and the orchards have begun to bloom.

Needless to say the weather cooperated and views were spectacular.

. . .continues

I liked yesterday's so much

Yeah
Yeah
No
No

No
No

Yep

While I'm away

A little musical interlude

almost

Normal Friday

Another throwback...
The best parts of the post are the comments of support that you can only see if you click on the link.
(okay. . . so I was wrong about that, too!)

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Today

GS has an early show time at the Outpatient Services.
Another hemo shot.
There's some concern because there've been some subtle changes.
Maybe they aren't so subtle.
Maybe we've been too complacent lately.

Crap!
I.
Hate.
This.

Hate's a really strong word.
I use it sparingly... or, occasionally, with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek.
This is not one of those occasions.
I should mention, also, hate is used relative to my own feelings about myself and situations in which I find myself because of those feelings.
It comes just before a loss of control.
Control over anything is tenuous anyway.
That's because those in the know realize just what it is we control.

Anyhow, this, too, shall pass.

in its own time

5 comments:

1. 
   OldAFSargeWednesday, February 19, 2014 at 7:37:00 AM PST

   I so get that, Skip.
   
   I'll be keeping GS and you in my thoughts and prayers.

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   joehWednesday, February 19, 2014 at 7:52:00 AM PST

   Me too!

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   SandeeWednesday, February 19, 2014 at 8:12:00 AM PST

   Me three. ☺☺☺

   ReplyDelete
4. 
   BuckWednesday, February 19, 2014 at 1:25:00 PM PST

   I dunno if I can "fourth" the sentiments, but they are there and they are the same. Hang in there, our best thoughts are with all y'all.

   ReplyDelete
5. 
   limeSaturday, February 22, 2014 at 7:03:00 PM PST

   dang it, i'm sorry to hear it. fifth-ing...

   ReplyDelete

It's nice to have friends who know exactly what to say.
Thanks!

TBT

This photo was in a previous post.
Ironically [or not], I will be down the road again on the weekend.

if only

Winter is over

It isn't because it was 82 degrees the other day. . .

. . .or because it was 73 yesterday.

No*!
It's because pitchers and catchers report today.

So why do they get a head start.
This story may explain it?

back to your regularly scheduled programming

*It's raining this morning

Antidote

To counter what I was ranting about yesterday. . .

. . .combine with this. . .

Yeah. . .

. . .that'd work.

Now the only challenge is to find it.

humility makes it almost invisible

What I think. . .

. . .when I hear or see the news:

The sad thing is the media spreads it almost faster than it can be created. . .

. . .most of the public eats it up. . .

. . .and it's everywhere!

literally and virtually

Done

The Logging Conference is over for another year.
Once more I have no pictures.
There really isn't that much to photograph unless one wants to hang around to watch things like ax throwing and log bucking.

Bigwigs in the logging industry were mentioned in a comment.
I have to say that I haven't seen any of those.
All the loggers I see are hard workers.
The only bigwigs would be on the supply side, those who sell logging equipment and the like.
They're much to busy to attend a logging show.
They send sales people instead.

I saw a few folks who thought they were bigwigs and were entitled to special treatment.
There were others who reminded them they still put their pants on one leg at a time.

Somebody asked me about ducks again.

This tale was originally posted on another blog over a period of nearly three weeks from the end of October 2009.
The last post, an addendum, was posted in the middle of January 2010.
There have been other duck posts.
However, none of them probably would have occurred unless the following had happened.
I have left it in the original format so you can see how frustrating it might have been for the reader.

This may take some time: The Duck - Part 1 

Sometime back, when I was an up an coming Vice District Governor in Lions (emphasis on Vice), we... that would be all of the Vice District Governors, District Governors, spouses, partners, significant others, various committee persons and VIPs from all of the Lions Districts in California... were attending a Council of Governors at Cathedral City... specifically at the Doral Desert Princess Resort.
These events... anything that runs from Thursday to Sunday is an event... consist of training sessions, seminars, business meetings and social activities. Everyone looks forward to the social activities, particularly the hosted hospitality rooms. Those are usually set up in a suite designed to hold maybe 15 - 20 persons and Lions will manage to find a way for 75 - 80 or more to get in. The hosted hospitalities are normally held just before dinner on Friday and Saturday evening in the room of the hosting DG [District Governor] and his SPSO [spouse, partner or significant other]. In this case the hotel had provided a second floor corner suite with a balcony (these are mildly significant facts). Now bear in mind that there are 15 Lions Districts in California. That means that with the Council Chair (CC), DGs, VDGs and SPSOs there are at least 62 people. That means that it is virtually impossible to keep track of everyone (this is definitely a significant fact).

To be continued

The Duck - Part 2 

So we left off without even the slightest mention of a duck so far. That may or may not be significant to this story only in that no ducks had made an appearance as yet... or at least nobody noticed them.
So, picture a hotel suite (sitting room with wet bar, large bedroom, and a good size bathroom) situated on the corner of the building with a wrap-around balcony. There are upwards of 75 people in many different groups discussing all manner of topics relating to service to humanity (yeah, sure they're drinking). Among these folks are some individuals known as VDGs (Vice District Governors), who are basically in training to be DGs in the following year. These VDGs really don't have much in the way of an official function so they spend a lot of time together getting to know one another. Then they are put in a social scene where the only folks who they really have anything in common with are their fellow VDGs. About half of the group are in the host DG's hotel bedroom wondering what they can do to establish themselves, when one of the SPSOs suggests that it will be brilliant to short sheet the bed. Quicker than... well we heard no negatives... about five folks stood in ssuch a manner as to disguise the actions of the others and the deed was done. Then everyone went off to dinner only wondering what would happen when out hosts discovered it and if they would figure out who were the perpetrators.

To be continued

The Duck - Part 3 

Dinner and the rest of the evening passed without incident. The following morning those who were aware of what had been done were anxious to find out the reaction to the little prank. Frankly, it was less than spectacular. The response was basically a non-response. Although there was at least an acknowledgment.
The balance of the day, a Saturday, was taken up with meetings... what else? By 4:00pm everyone was looking forward to an opportunity to relax and enjoy a libation or two at another hospitality hosted by the very same DG and SPSO who'd endured the antics of the previous evening. Would there be a follow up?
If anything there were even more folks there this evening than on the previous. There were plenty of beverages and food those in attendance. There were groups of folks scattered cramped in every part of the rooms, balcony and even into the hallway outside.
There was some discussion among the conspirators of the evening before as to what can we do to top the previous incident.

to be continued

The Duck - Part 4 

A number of the VDGs and SPSOs were standing on the balcony overlooking the resort's golf course when someone said, "What can we do to top that?" Meaning, of course the short-sheeting of the bed.
About that time a flock [as good a word as any, thought I am informed that badelynge is the proper term] of ducks wandered by on the edge of the grass bordering the hotel grounds and someone, who shall remain nameless, hinted in such a manner that nobody would miss the hint, that a duck in the bathroom would pretty much do the job.
One of the SPSOs immediately began to head to where she thought she could find a towel to use in capturing a duck, but was called back when cooler heads prevailed and it was determined that a real duck was entirely unnecessary and probably unsafe.
An idea had been planted, though. A plan was forming. Some folks were beginning to take action. Lookouts would be needed. The time was right because others were beginning to leave for dinner.

to be continued

The Duck - Part 5 

So now timing was crucial. We had determined that an imaginary duck would make an appearance and leave evidence of said appearance. Now we had to arrange it so that there would be no evidence of our complicity in th event.
It is amazing how much dried quacamole looks like what a duck leaves behind, particularly if mixed with other green stuff. That was the duck evidence. It was determined that the only place to leave it where no damage would be done was the bathroom, specifically in the tub.
A couple of the SPSOs created a bit of a distraction... it wasn't difficult because they were suspect anyway... while a third slipped into the bathroom to place the faux duck poop.
Off we went to dinner.

To be continued

Where was I... The Duck - Part 6  

To reiterate: No actual... or even virtual... duck have been harmed by any of the individuals described anywhere in this story.

Dinner, the typical dinner fare at these events is usually a main course that includes either chicken or tri-tip and steamed veggies, preceded by a salad and followed with a dessert.
The hosts also try to arrange for some "organized" local entertainment.
Aha... but what about the present that had been left for the hosts in their bathroom?
To be sure that they would find it one of the VDGs went and found a house phone. He called their room and, his voice, announced in a faux Spanish accent on the voice mail that he was from housekeeping, apologized for the duck finding its way into the accommodations, and assured them that someone would eventually clean up the mess. Some assurance was needed that they'd find the deed sooner rather than later.
Mission accomplished.
The next morning the meeting room was abuzz with the news of what had occurred. Nobody was particularly upset, or even cared particularly who had actually perpetrated the act. The only real question was who on the hotel staff had been bribed to make the phone call.

Oh, of course from that point forward ducks have made appearances just about wherever that particular group has shown up. The best part of that has been the confusion it has caused others who have no idea of the real insignificance that ducks have for a small group of friends who spent two years in close contact with one another and who can always get each other's attention by saying, "Quack."

some continuation may occur

Did you think the duck story was done? 

Just about the time when you think it is safe this duck rears it's head again.
When we last visited this storyback in mid-November, book one had been finished. However, that was really just the beginning because our group had found its mascot, if not an identity. Thanks to one individual in particular... could we tell some stories about her!!! ...we had an inflatable to bring along wherever we go. When the big duck can't come along, someone always seems to have convenient pocket sized ducks to spread good cheer. It was probably a good thing it wasn't with us when we went for training in Chicago. 

I did post the links to those posts once before in a post on this blog. What I am truly sorry regarding the duck posts is I have failed to label them all ao you can click on the label and see just how absurd it can get.

Oops again

I forgot all about the BIG EVENT here.
Yesterday was the opening of the 66th annual Sierra Cascade Logging Conference Expo at the fairgrounds on the other side of town [that would be the north end].
The Conference itself opened earlier in the week up the road [a euphemism for Redding], but it's the events at the fairgrounds that get most folks, other than loggers, excited.

The reason I forgot is that I don't have any involvement until this morning.
That involvement is minimal.
The Lions Club is responsible for securing the VIP parking area.
Essentially, we make sure there is a place for the executives, who must run back and forth between the conference and the expo, to park near the fairground entrance.
The Logging Conference then donates to the club's community activities fund.

My shift starts at 8am this morning.
Maybe I can get some pictures?

it's all done Saturday

Oops

I shoulda saved somethin' so I'd have somethin' to post today.
Now I am stuck with saying that the weather has been downright balmy since last Saturday, even reaching the 80s at times.
The Warriors won again.
Pitchers and catchers report Wednesday.

aaah, routine

This is what I got

I said yesterday that I'd shot some photos from the top level at a hospital parking structure.

Looking east toward the transition area between the Northern Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade mountain ranges.
That is Mt. Lassen on the right, Burney Mountain on the left.

Another look at Burney Mountain, but, more importantly, also at the Lions Clubs Flag alongside I-5

The main attraction when it's a clear day is Mt Shasta.
It's great to see it covered in snow.


Do I hesitate to mention it reached 80 degrees as well as being a gorgeous day?

not at all

I didn't watch

When I heard the outcome I was pleased to hear that Denver had won.
It is nice for Peyton Manning to go out a winner [if it the case that it was his last game].
I was also happy for Vernon Davis, who has had an otherwise disappointing season.

I worked the breakfast fundraiser early.
Changed clothes at home after that and ran an errand before looking to see if I could get some scenic pictures from the top of the parking structure at one of the hospitals in Redding.
Then it was the book study at which I'm participating.

When I got home I did watch Curling Night in America.
I fell asleep.
It had been a long day.
I also found out later that it was a replay from Friday.

Some might say I protest too much, but I really have had little interest in the NFL lately.

I can't really pick when change occurred, only that it has evolved over a period of a couple of years.
I still have a passing interest in the college game and the local high schools, but they even don't excite a whole lot of interest.
I'm pretty sure the greed and the showboating have a lot to do with my disillusionment with the pro game.
That it has become more like a business at the "amateur" level has helped, either.

I can remember back to when the game was played for "fun."
The professional players all had regular jobs, or owned their own businesses, in the off-season.
That was how they supported themselves when they weren't receiving a football salary.
They all did regular stuff, like mowing their own lawn, during the time between seasons.

I may have mentioned before that I delivered the newspaper to former NFL quarterback, Y.A. Tittle [I'll wait while you look him up].
(I also went to grade school with Jerry Garcia, but that's not even a story)
Six months out of the year Mr. Tittle was an insurance broker.
I watched his house being built.
He did his own landscaping, even installing the sprinklers himself, just like my pop.

Back in those days, it seems to me, the pros didn't try to maim their opponents on purpose.

Today it seems like everyone wants to show up the next guy.

not a sport any more

As promised

Sarge posted snow scenes from his home in New England.

He expressed a desire to go sledding with his grandchildren.

Someone commented on F/B they hoped he’d have that opportunity.

I was reminded of the times I have gone sledding.

Two times I have gone sledding   . . .or what could pass for sledding.

It was playing in the snow    Okay?

I will tell the second story first

We live in an area where some really, really great snow falls, nearby but not on us, annually.

One of the most spectacular is Mt Shasta, about 70 miles north.

At the time the ski bowl was on the mountain directly above the city of Mt Shasta.

My wife and I thought it would be fun to take the kids to play in the snow.

It was a nice day and only a short journey.

We had some kind of sledding apparatus.

I think it was a snow disc.

In any event it was my duty to demonstrate how it works.

So I hauled it up an incline along the side of the road where there was a wide spot.

I climbed into it.

I shoved off and started downhill.

It came to an abrupt halt sending me head over heels ass over teakettle.

Also causing a twinge.

We played for a while.

The kids got cold, so we drove up the road to the ski lodge and paid outrageous amounts for hot chocolate.

By the time we got home my neck hurt.

I had hyper-extended my neck.

(that may explain, at least partly, how this blog came into being)

The first time was on spring break from college.

A fellow veteran, Woody (he was Air Force), and I took a trip to Lake Tahoe.

His parents loaned us a toboggan, not realizing out main purpose for the trip had nothing whatsoever to do with snow play.

 

They also loaned us some tire chains, “Just in case…”

We left on Monday, traveling scenic U.S. Highway 50 through Stockton, Sacramento, and Placerville.
(Actually we bypassed Placerville, but there was no freeway through Sacramento and Stockton wasn’t much better because getting across town required taking city streets)

About 40 miles east of Placerville, despite the fact that it was April and the Sun had been shining when we departed, it was snowing.

Not only that, the Highway Patrol was out in force, there were chains required over Echo Summit.

Good thing we had chains, huh?

Woody knew how to install them, much to the chagrin of the folks at the side of the road who were charging $10.

We arrived at South Lake Tahoe after dark.

We found a motel and checked in.

The next stop was a casino for food.

Back then the choices were limited.

Harrah’s and Harvey’s were directly across the road from each other.

Harrah’s had an outstanding buffet [for all I know maybe they still do].

In any event it was a late evening.

If memory serves we came out about even in the casino and purchased a bottle of bourbon on our way back to the motel.

Tuesday morning found us searching for breakfast, after which we decided to try our hand at riding the toboggan.

Neither of us had any prior experience.

We didn’t know where we were going to try it, either.

But we were game to try.

We drove along looking for a likely road to take us further into the hills and found Ski Run Boulevard.

What luck.

Some distance up that road, but not actually at the ski area, we found folks playing in the snow on sleds and other sliding implements.

Furthermore, we also discovered two attractive young ladies who were on an adventure similar to ours.

They also had a toboggan.

It was almost identical.

Both toboggans were large enough for four people.

How propitious!

Gosh, I wonder if Woody remembers either of those girls names.

We pulled the toboggans up the slope and decided to ride just one down, reserving the other for the next ride.

What an adventure.

Cold and wet. . .   none of us had proper attire. . . …but exhilarating nonetheless.

Hauling the toboggans up was a lot of work for a quick ride down.

Even just walking uphill was tiring.

(Considering we were at 6800 feet that has to be somewhat understandable)

We scampered back up the hill for the other sled.

The riding arrangement was me in the front, two young ladies next, and Woody in back.

We took off downhill, but never quite arrived.

About three quarters of the way down we hit a mogul and were launched into the air.

Why did we come down nose first?

Anyhow, once we landed I knew there was something terribly wrong.

So did Woody.

He said, “Skip, I don’t think your foot is supposed to turn that way.”

We’d hit hard enough that I’d lost my watch, though it wasn’t noticed at the time.

I’d also lost my sunglasses.

There was no immediate pain, but I really couldn’t [or seriously didn’t want to] move my leg.
One of the young ladies was less seriously damaged. . .   some sort of leg strain.

They managed to roll me onto the toboggan, which had managed to remain undamaged.

The real trick was getting me into the car to transport me to the emergency room.

About all I remember is sitting awkwardly in the front seat of my ’57 Chevy, looking at my foot, which was at a right angle to the rest of my leg and thinking that it was gonna start to hurt pretty soon.

I was right.

What we found at the ER was they were equipped to do triage, X-rays, first aid, and not much else.

The Dr explained I had a fracture/dislocation and would need to have surgery.

There were two options:

• ·  I could go to Reno, or
• ·  I could go home to a local hospital

Either way all they would do was put a temporary, cardboard, splint on the leg, and load me back into the car.

Where we were going was a no-brainer.

There was one brief stop at the motel to pack our things and were headed back home, where the local hospital is Stanford University Medical Center.

At the time my primary care provider was the doctors at the Palo Alto Medical Clinic.

We packed our belongings   . . .I took a big swig from the bourbon bottle   . . .it didn’t keep the pain away, but I cared a lot less, and were on the road.

We stopped at Placerville for gasoline and I had to go use the bathroom.

That proved to be an interesting proposition.

Fortunately, it was in the days before self-service.

There was an attendant who could assist Woody in getting me to and from the bathroom.

Then it was off to get something to eat, where I would not be required to get out of the car.

If I remember correctly it was a hamburger stand.

I vaguely remember the rest of the journey, which became more and more painful as we progressed.

There was a brief stop to give my folks a heads up.

I remember crossing the San Mateo Bridge and wishing it was shorter than it is.

To bring this to a close.

They removed the cardboard splint and made one from plaster of paris.

Surgery was scheduled for the next morning.

I was forbidden any food until after surgery.

So early in the morning I watched as the others in the ward drank coffee while I was allowed an occasional sip of water.

Then I got to watch them eat breakfast, while they gave me some kind of shot for pain.

I’m pretty sure it was Demerol.

After a bit I just wanted to sleep.
The surgery wasn’t to repair the brake.

They had to re-attach the deltoid ligament.

There was some cutting and stitching.

The break healed in three weeks.

I was in a cast for three months and on crutches for another month after.

Maybe that helps explain why I enjoy snow from a distance?

the fun part deserved more explanation