Another lovely day in Oklahoma. . .

[Dan Murphy]

Midsummer check-in! How is everyone doing? This knee rehab is nothing like what I expected it to be, but I am making progress overall. It's a "2 steps forward, 1 step backwards" kind of thing to begin with. Then I have a day where I feel good and do too much, and pay for it that night and the next day. However, I am hobbling around the house with just a cane or nothing at all most of the time, and DH and I walk into town and back at least once a day; I take the crutches due to uneven ground, sand, pebbles, etc., but try not to use them too much. It's about 0.3mi round trip. Not only is it good for me overall, but the "sun and sky" therapy can't be beat! Today will be my last in-home nursing visit, and after I see the PT here twice this week, I'll be completely discharged to outpatient. So far, my surgeons and PT are pleased with my progress!

Oddly enough, we didn't experience the smoke from the Canadian fires. We must be just a bit too far north and east, or something. We have had unseasonably warm, humid weather, with a lot of "grey" and not too much sun. That is OK by me, as I am pretty much hanging out on the 2nd floor of the house and we don't have a/c, just ceiling and floor fans. If the sun was beaming in all day, I'd be dying. Today we have a little sun, and I have to admit that it's nice to see some light.

Friday the resident 6 year old turned into the resident 7 year old. I had an "overdid it" day as his request for his birthday supper was "Lee's macaroni and cheese!!" How could I say no? I also made the layers for his birthday cake, as DD has been taking care of 99% of the household stuff since I've been laid up. The little guy has been very worried about me. In the beginning a couple of times he'd said "but I don't want you to die," which is heartwarming but saddening all at once. He's over that now and has been making me get well cards, get well stickers, and bringing me special rocks and toys to make me feel better. He also loves to sit beside me on the bed and look at pictures of WDW. He doesn't know it yet because plans might change (he has some challenges/issues that could come into play), but if things go well the 5 of us will be going to Disney for a week in January. I have rented a 4 bedroom pool home that is refundable until the day before check-in (he needs the "away" time from the bubble, and I'm hoping my sis and BIL from NOLA will come hang with us) and grabbed RT airfare on SW on points, so if we have to cancel at the last minute, we won't lose much. We also won't buy park tickets until we are sure it's a "go." I can't wait to go to Disney with a little one again, to see the magic through HIS eyes!

DH starts a new job today. It's a great position for him, although it comes with a 10% pay cut. It also comes with sanity, peace of mind, and great health and retirement benefits (meaning I can retire in a couple of years and we can afford for him to carry the good health insurance, instead of him going on expensive bad health insurance at his old job and me going on medicare- $$$ all around and makes up for the paycut). It will be nice to have him NOT grading every night and both afternoons on the weekend. Also, DD earned her masters in social work in May and just passed her certification exam, so she will start as a social worker in hospice in August. This is the job she hoped for when she starting thinking of grad school, so we are pretty excited for her- and of course, proud of her, too.

SO... what have you guys all been up to this summer?

Great update leebee! Glad to hear the PT is going well, I know you were pretty concerned about it (who wouldn't be?)

The January WDW sounds great! It is so fun to see your grandkids in awe of WDW, it's a great feeling! Hope it all works out and you can make it happen. That's so cute that he wanted your special mac & cheese for his birthday dinner. I'm the sandwich king to my DGDs, nothing special but they love them.

Congrats on your DHs new job! Workplace sanity is highly underrated, a small paycut could well be worth it.

Another congrats to your DD on her master's degree!

Haven't accomplished hardly anything this summer, and that's just fine with me.

BTW--from Slo's poll this morning--I like fried clams too. I get them at the Boathouse at Disney Springs. Not sure how they'd measure up to what is served in your neck of the woods, but in case you need a "fix" while you're there it might hit the spot!

leebee, I echo what @Micca said above. All of it.

And you will see, you'll make progress, do that outpatient PT, so important. It takes time, and work, but the end result is sio ery worth it.

Ron, not sure if you had Howard Johnson;'s by you when they were around years ago, but I often got the fried clams there, really good.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Low-key summer here. No huge vacations in the works at the moment, helping plan the annual flea market at DH's lodge, reading a lot, and trying to be good about exercise routines.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

I'm in New England (Massachusetts) where it has been humid and VERY rainy. Several places in my part of the state are flooded out. Vermont is in tatters. We are not used to this kind of weather during the summer. At least we're not in a drought like the last couple of years so everything is very green.

 

[Micca]

Ron, not sure if you had Howard Johnson;'s by you when they were around years ago, but I often got the fried clams there, really good.

Dan there was a HoJo's across the street from where I worked in Miami. It was actually a hotel with a HoJo's in it. Don't recall if I had clam strips there. Living in land-locked states for most of my life I'm not sure where I discovered their deliciousness. It's a treat for sure!

At the Boathouse the clams strips are basically an appetizer. I get that and a side of fries and cannot finish it. Fortunately in a DVC villa we can take the leftovers for later. Leebee is staying in a house so she can do the same (unless her DH wants to help her finish it.)

 

[leebee]

At the Boathouse the clams strips are basically an appetizer. I get that and a side of fries and cannot finish it. Fortunately in a DVC villa we can take the leftovers for later. Leebee is staying in a house so she can do the same (unless her DH wants to help her finish it.)

Nope, he won't touch them. I'm the only one in the family who eats clams. The downside to this is I don't have them too often at home, just out, but the good part is that all the leftovers are MINE!!

 

[Micca]

I'm the only one in the family who eats clams.

Me too leebee! I guess if we are ever having clams together there may be some arm wrestling involved

 

[ronandannette]

Count me in as a clam fan, although here in this land-locked part of the world I confess to never in my life having tasted a fresh one. Chowder made from canned ones and fried-from-frozen ones are all I have to go by.

Life is spiraling here - our house is listed and we're on the hunt for another, which in this market is literally crazy-making. Between multiple daily showings and us viewing properties all over town, I'm losing the plot a little. My office also just re-located (a huge, huge ordeal) and I've found myself suddenly with two, possibly three vacancies in my department to fill urgently. The construction industry is in DIRE straights for labour and recruitment feels impossible. Anybody interested in moving to Calgary and work for the best boss in the world? Pay starts in the high $70K's and we'll throw in public health care and at least one season per year that is not winter!!

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Count me in as a clam fan, although here in this land-locked part of the world I confess to never in my life having tasted a fresh one. Chowder made from canned ones and fried-from-frozen ones are all I have to go by.

Life is spiraling here - our house is listed and we're on the hunt for another, which in this market is literally crazy-making. Between multiple daily showings and us viewing properties all over town, I'm losing the plot a little. My office also just re-located (a huge, huge ordeal) and I've found myself suddenly with two, possibly three vacancies in my department to fill urgently. The construction industry is in DIRE straights for labour and recruitment feels impossible. Anybody interested in moving to Calgary and work for the best boss in the world? Pay starts in the high $70K's and we'll throw in public health care and at least one season per year that is not winter!!

View attachment 779070

If I was in your field, I'd seriously consider it. I've always thought about moving to Canada.

 

[Micca]

our house is listed and we're on the hunt for another,

We've been friends for a while now, mind if I ask why you're moving? More space, less space, closer to new work venue, just a change of scenery???

 

[ronandannette]

We've been friends for a while now, mind if I ask why you're moving? More space, less space, closer to new work venue, just a change of scenery???

None of the above, exactly. We're about to make a mitt-full taking our equity out and moving to something for about half the price. When we bought here 9 years ago it was with the goal of quickly paying off the mortgage and getting our outlay to a place where I could manage it on my income alone, so DH maybe wouldn't have to die at his desk (he's 69). We've been on an accelerated payment schedule and we've done pretty great, but the COL over the past year has really kicked our butts - we're not going to make it.

...so, Plan B!!

 

[Micca]

Plan B!!

Sounds like a really smart Plan B! Good luck with the sale of your home.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Count me in as a clam fan, although here in this land-locked part of the world I confess to never in my life having tasted a fresh one. Chowder made from canned ones and fried-from-frozen ones are all I have to go by.

Life is spiraling here - our house is listed and we're on the hunt for another, which in this market is literally crazy-making. Between multiple daily showings and us viewing properties all over town, I'm losing the plot a little. My office also just re-located (a huge, huge ordeal) and I've found myself suddenly with two, possibly three vacancies in my department to fill urgently. The construction industry is in DIRE straights for labour and recruitment feels impossible. Anybody interested in moving to Calgary and work for the best boss in the world? Pay starts in the high $70K's and we'll throw in public health care and at least one season per year that is not winter!!

View attachment 779070

Beautiful city!

 

[NFLDERS]

Midsummer check-in! How is everyone doing? This knee rehab is nothing like what I expected it to be, but I am making progress overall. It's a "2 steps forward, 1 step backwards" kind of thing to begin with. Then I have a day where I feel good and do too much, and pay for it that night and the next day. However, I am hobbling around the house with just a cane or nothing at all most of the time, and DH and I walk into town and back at least once a day; I take the crutches due to uneven ground, sand, pebbles, etc., but try not to use them too much. It's about 0.3mi round trip. Not only is it good for me overall, but the "sun and sky" therapy can't be beat! Today will be my last in-home nursing visit, and after I see the PT here twice this week, I'll be completely discharged to outpatient. So far, my surgeons and PT are pleased with my progress!

Oddly enough, we didn't experience the smoke from the Canadian fires. We must be just a bit too far north and east, or something. We have had unseasonably warm, humid weather, with a lot of "grey" and not too much sun. That is OK by me, as I am pretty much hanging out on the 2nd floor of the house and we don't have a/c, just ceiling and floor fans. If the sun was beaming in all day, I'd be dying. Today we have a little sun, and I have to admit that it's nice to see some light.

Friday the resident 6 year old turned into the resident 7 year old. I had an "overdid it" day as his request for his birthday supper was "Lee's macaroni and cheese!!" How could I say no? I also made the layers for his birthday cake, as DD has been taking care of 99% of the household stuff since I've been laid up. The little guy has been very worried about me. In the beginning a couple of times he'd said "but I don't want you to die," which is heartwarming but saddening all at once. He's over that now and has been making me get well cards, get well stickers, and bringing me special rocks and toys to make me feel better. He also loves to sit beside me on the bed and look at pictures of WDW. He doesn't know it yet because plans might change (he has some challenges/issues that could come into play), but if things go well the 5 of us will be going to Disney for a week in January. I have rented a 4 bedroom pool home that is refundable until the day before check-in (he needs the "away" time from the bubble, and I'm hoping my sis and BIL from NOLA will come hang with us) and grabbed RT airfare on SW on points, so if we have to cancel at the last minute, we won't lose much. We also won't buy park tickets until we are sure it's a "go." I can't wait to go to Disney with a little one again, to see the magic through HIS eyes!

DH starts a new job today. It's a great position for him, although it comes with a 10% pay cut. It also comes with sanity, peace of mind, and great health and retirement benefits (meaning I can retire in a couple of years and we can afford for him to carry the good health insurance, instead of him going on expensive bad health insurance at his old job and me going on medicare- $$$ all around and makes up for the paycut). It will be nice to have him NOT grading every night and both afternoons on the weekend. Also, DD earned her masters in social work in May and just passed her certification exam, so she will start as a social worker in hospice in August. This is the job she hoped for when she starting thinking of grad school, so we are pretty excited for her- and of course, proud of her, too.

SO... what have you guys all been up to this summer?

Good news on all fronts there!

 

[Dan Murphy]

@WillyJ, @King Schultz, fearless founder of this ALDIO thread, stopping here today to wish you another very Happy Birthday.

As with another friend here on the dis whom I wish a Happy Birthday to each year, I have nothing new to add here this year (we haven't seen you during the past year), so I will add what I posted here last year and previously....


Bringing King Schultz's thread around today to wish him a very Happy Birthday. Hoping that wherever you are, WillyJ, that you are having a great time. I'd be willing to bet that you are. Have a beer, maybe two, a shot of NyQuil, a slice or two of birthday cake, or whatever suits your fancy. It's your birthday, your choice! Or, have all the aforementioned.

We sure do miss you here, Willy. Have not seen nor heard from you in seven years now. But I'm sure you are doing okay in your own right.

One of the best times I had with Willy, was back 20years ago at Cedar Point and our dis Riddle-Con. A few fun pictures from that weekend.....


Here is a link to that Riddle-Con meet, what great memories!


https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...imers-too-where-are-you.1040191/post-62503389

















Happy Birthday, King Schultz!! Have one (or a few) for us.

Give me a call, you have my number. Shoot me an email, you have my address. Or stop by here and say hello. You are missed.

fixed picture links​

 

[ronandannette]

Sounds like a really smart Plan B! Good luck with the sale of your home.

OK - so Glory to God...it's done. Sold on Friday and bought yesterday. We were selling an "apple" and buying an "orange", and the price-point we were looking for is HUGHELY more competitive than the one we were selling. Most of what we saw was either completely appalling or already gone in competing offers. We found something practically perfect though, and almost all the boxes on "Plan B" are checked! 30 day possession so I'd better go pack...

 

[Micca]

Wonderful news, Congratulations!

 

[leebee]

@ronandannette So excellent that your home-hunting has paid off and you can move! Hope you have as much luck with filling vacancies at your company. Honestly, if I knew anything about construction and was 30 years younger, I'd consider coming to work for the "best boss in the world" hahaha!

@Dan Murphy Your post to WillyJ/King Schultz has made me think of several DISers from years (decades?) past and wonder where they went and how they are doing. It's always surprising to me when people just disappear from the boards.

I see the surgeon tomorrow for clearance to return to work. Not sure if it'll be full time or part time. In anticipation of returning full time, I've been kicking it up a notch around here, and am honestly worn out by the end of the day, with a swollen/angry knee and leg. I still have some sick time left so if the surgeon is willing, I might ask for a part-time return. Being on my feet for 4 hours non-stop, teaching every afternoon, is going to be a killer. We'll see.

 

[ronandannette]

I see the surgeon tomorrow for clearance to return to work. Not sure if it'll be full time or part time. In anticipation of returning full time, I've been kicking it up a notch around here, and am honestly worn out by the end of the day, with a swollen/angry knee and leg. I still have some sick time left so if the surgeon is willing, I might ask for a part-time return. Being on my feet for 4 hours non-stop, teaching every afternoon, is going to be a killer. We'll see.

We know so many people who are having/have had this procedure. Everybody heals differently. I'd think it would be more prudent to pace yourself than to go overboard and find yourself back on bedrest. Good luck.

 

[NFLDERS]

OK - so Glory to God...it's done. Sold on Friday and bought yesterday. We were selling an "apple" and buying an "orange", and the price-point we were looking for is HUGHELY more competitive than the one we were selling. Most of what we saw was either completely appalling or already gone in competing offers. We found something practically perfect though, and almost all the boxes on "Plan B" are checked! 30 day possession so I'd better go pack...

Our news reported that Alberta is exploding with new residents, and the housing market highly competitive. Your timing was good to implement Plan B. And I assume a large employee pool will become timely too.

Enjoy your new digs.

 

[leebee]

I saw the surgeon and based on her findings and those of the physical therapist, they've decided that I'm not strong/stable enough to go back to work yet. Part of that is because I handle 4L glass bottles of chemicals, acids, etc., and so of course there are safety concerns. I will go back to work on September 5th, part time for 2 weeks, then 3/4 time for a week, and finally full time on September 25th. I'm getting bored and starting to worry about the teaching labs. September 5th- and 25th- seem like a long way off.