dannyblog

For some reason Kitty asked me to post these two pictures. It is a tow car, that they use for all of their non-r.v. traveling.

 

 

I wish that we could go some where else other than here. Claudia is excited about her aviary.  She has purchased some new breeding birds.

Hal and Verdi spent 2 nights here.  We ate much more food than I usually do. I would be fat in one month if I kept eating this way. We met some of their r.v. friends who live in this area. They obviously have much more liquid assets than do we. Their dog and Nikki have been best Budd's since they lived next door to each other as puppies.

A touch of Frankenstein.

 

Here I am, hooked up to the lightening rod, waiting to get turned on. The relief was excellent and long lasting. Unfortunately the temporary wires had to be removed. I have a surgery date in June to have the permanent device implanted. It requires opening the bone of the spine, to insert the electric paddles directly onto the spinal nerves. I'll need to spend one night in the hospital.   I really hope that this will allow much less pain medicine, and allow most of my former activity.  Can you say "bicycle"?

When we get back from Hawaii in July I have to get ready for surgery to remove a large stone from my bladder. July is also Claudia's family re-union in Eureka.

End of weekend

Well, this thing really does seem to work. Minimal pain with much less  pain-medicine.  Hope it lasts.

Weekend

We drove down to the ocean with R and J one day last week. A very nice fish restaurant outdoors, over looking the ocean. Nice food too. Unfortunately, found that we could have taken Nikki with us. Who knew? 

I was in the O.R. yesterday, in Kaiser RWC, for a neurosurgery procedure. You must know about my failed back surgery if you have read this at all.  I had some success last year using an electric stimulation device.  But the inconvenience was greater than the result.  This time they placed 3 electric "Wires" into my spine. I was awake but sleepy. Laying face down, head on my arms.  Only a few moments of pain. They talked to me during the operation, asking where did I find the tingling. One leg, then the other, then my ribs etc.  I am connected to a car battery that I hang from my belt. Well, maybe not quite that big. I have 8 programs to choose from. Each program is a different location of the tingle. Then there are many strength of the stimulator.   Today I am using one third less pain medicine. I kept the stim on all morning, until we lay down for our late afternoon nap.  I turned it off for that. The battery is really too big to sleep on. Tonight, not using it, I am aware of my usual pain, but it is very very mild.  I have the stim if needed. My goal is to decrease my pain medicine as much as possible. This temporary stimulator can be changed to permanent if it stays this effective.

Wednesday

Claudia spent the mom's day weekend with her Mom in Eureka.  Mom still has more energy than Claudia does.  The trip was worth the trouble because there was a Walmart store along the way.  After many years, we have a new gardener who will hopefully do more than just blow leaves around. The animals are doing very well. Both birds are now able to fly.  This is very dangerous for them, but they are so much fun to watch.  We have to be very careful about open doors when they are out of the cages. We don't want a repeat of Jake and the tennis court. They are very unlikely to come back once outside and frightened.

Marc has moved to New York City. Working out of an office there, and living in  a fairly large but un-furnished apartment.

 

This is the r.v. park where we stayed in Memphis, right along the Mississippi river. On the news yesterday I see that it is almost certainly under water now. 

Sunday

Claudia spent most of the day working in the back garden. We purchased many heavy bags of mulch and potting soil. Wonderful to be able to take off the top when loading heavy objects. All of the cactus pots have been organized into their assigned locations.

The wild birds are very happy to have me home. There is a nest with two babies under the deck.  The blue bird is back as if we were never away.