No Swimming Pool This Year, Teaching The Wife To Play Pitch

We didn't open the pool this year, so much going on with the mother-in-law we knew we wouldn't have time to enjoy it. We researched the home healthcare options, set up the father-in-law's long-term disability insurance, and tried to take our fair share of visiting with her. Plus right in the middle of all that while she was in a coma in GBMC hospital someone charged $1200 to her Macy's account! Macy's has been nothing if not a nightmare to deal with, not even allowing us to report the charges. They said when she woke up to have her call them! Miss the pool, but as busy as the wife is, and it being too much for me to do, didn't seem worthwhile for the little bit we would have gotten use of it.

Friends of ours have asked us to start playing cards with them. Their game of choice is pitch and asked if that would be okay with us? For those of you not familiar with hits, it consists of high, low, Jack, game. The wife doesn't know how to play and wants me to teach her? The last thing I tried to teach her was driving a clutch in my truck, that didn't go so well and after we put the fire out she decided she didn't need to learn that! I'm going to give it a go but my plan is to ask for a different partner!

Dr Terry Wahls Diet, Swimming Pool Ready To Go

So what does everyone know about the Paleo diet?  Had run across info about Dr Terry Wahls a way back, she was chair bound with SPMS and now bikes 5 miles to work everyday.  Seems to make so much sense, I look at the crap I eat normally, know it's not good for me, but can food have that kind of impact?  I think I'm going to do it, what do I have to lose except maybe weight?  No legumes, soy and gluten free and no dairy, so I'd better polish off that 1/2 quart of butter pecan!

Went swimming for the first time today, this year obviously, I mean I've been swimming before.  Had a problem with the liner, when we took the cover off we notice the liner had popped out of the grove holding it in place.  Had a guy come out and fix it, but we had to take 2 feet of water out of the pool.  Filled it back up today, was 100 degrees, so I decided to take a dip.  I do believe my ms is the only thing keeping me from realizing I now have polio?  That water was cold, but it felt grand once I was acclimated.

Great Pool Day, And Harford County Restaurant Week

What a great pool day, not too hot, but the water was nice, perfect. The wife and me floated, talked, just the sound of the next door neighbors playing Yatzee. We got old at some point, missed it somehow? Had a couple of sodas, just us too, no music, it was great! If I knew it was this much fun I would have gotten old years ago!

Went out to dinner last night, Harford County had its restaurant week. Restaurant week is a load of places that have pick one of 3 appetizer, main dish and dessert, all for $20.11. Went with another couple to Silks, the club house at a golf course, not too impressed. Small portions, very small in fact, and not all that good. Surprised me because most of these places use it as a showcase for their places. I wouldn't go back, but the company was great!

Swimming Pool Closed For Another Year, Cell Phone Tragedy, and Somebody Needs To Kick AJ Burnett's Ass

Always a bitter sweet day when we cover the pool, and that day was today. It's amazing that in Maryland you can set your watch by Labor Day being the target for closing it up. The wife was swimming just the other day, Labor Day hit and bottom feel out of the temperature readings. It's nice having it, but I am always ready to shut it down when the time comes and can't imagine living in a place that doesn't have 4 seasons.

I was vacuuming the other day and knelt down on my cell phone. Needless to say I am in need of a new phone! I bout a go phone, plugged my sim card in and was ready to go, except the buttons are so small I can't use it. The boy has a phone here someplace, but if it's in his room it's gone the way of the Donner party, consumed! He didn't get that from me, at his age I was meticulous with my room, everything went on the floor. He has stuff on all levels, somebody should make him do something about that so he can find his old phone.

The Orioles lost a heart breaker yesterday to the Yankees in the bottom of the 9th inning. It was a well played game all the way to the end, but we buckled and gave up a walk off homerun. The one Yankee pitcher thinks it's great fun to run out on the field and smear shaving cream all over the face of the hero whilst he gives an interview. Somebody on the Yankees team desperately needs to kick this guys ass! How about they charge him with assault and battery, they have it on film. Nah, I like the kick his ass solution, ya know they want to.

Great Pool Day, Idiot Gardening, and My Facebook Experiment

Spent a great day out in the pool, just me and the wife. We floated, swam, listened to some great music, even made out like kids home without parental supervision. The butterflies and birds were everywhere! It was quite the day to be outside, glad we were able to take advantage of it. Tomorrow the daughters boyfriend comes over for dinner, we met him when he picked her up a few weeks ago, but tomorrow he's ours!

The garden has been mildly successful this year, but I think it can do better. The mortgage lifter tomatoes are out of this world, and big! We have a whole slew of jalapenos ready, time to make pepper jelly any day now. Green beans out the wazoo, and out popcorn is starting to tassel, I sure hope that's a good thing? The best part is the wife has been smitten with it, gives us yet another thing we like to do together. Time to get ready to plant the fall "crops"!

Getting ready to start spending more time blogging, going to give up Facebook, at least for a while. FB has been a hoot, reconnected with some great people from high school, the problem with it are all the posts people put on about stupid stuff! I am not exactly a people person, so it's not always easy for me to play nice. I love knowing what is going on in friends lives, as longs as it's not stupid, and as long as they are friends. I'm sure they will make out just fine without me, and will be in touch with the people I should be, if I was meant to be.

Looking at Wheelchairs, Cooking Club, and Time to Open the Pool

Today is a big day, going down to look at a power wheelchair for the first time. I've been fighting to keep this time away, but common sense tells me to start looking into it. Things like the grocery store, or going to Lowes, has gotten very hard. Stores and the like have ones you can use, but there are times when having your own would be beneficial. The boy's graduation is approaching, that is a long walk, have to decide if I want to spend all my stamps just getting to my seat, or have some left to enjoy?

A group of people I went to school with, 4 or 5 couples, want to start a cooking club, nothing fancy, something to do. Ideas are flying, how should it be done, where, when? One idea was to have everyone bring the same course, say your favorite appetizer, or desert. Last night a friend said how much she would like to be a judge on iron chef, and bing, an idea! Why not have a "secret" ingredient and have everyone make anything containing that one thing. We shall see how it plays out, be nice to spend an evening with friends regardless.

This weekend is the unofficial time people here in Baltimore open their pools. Wondering if everyone, including us will do it that way this year? The weather has been horrible here, and by the looks, many other place as well. The wife is going to be in charge of it this year, very little help from me, if any. I worry it's too much for her, not that she can't do it, she can do anything, just that it may be too much in addition to everything she already does. Either way the pool will be open soon, wish us luck.

Fatigue Grabbed Me, Bioness Electrode Issues, and Evening Primrose for MS

What a beautiful pool weekend it has been. The temperature has been great, humidity low, perfect. I didn't go swimming today, yesterday wiped me out, that's where I find myself, not able to relax 2 days in a row. I could see the family in the pool, just couldn't do it. I am having a hard time adapting to what looks like my new circumstance. I rolled along for long time in the old, so I need to give myself some time, but I don't have to like it.

I need to talk to the Bioness people about the electrodes for the stimulator. Got a a note in the mail that each set I receive I will be charged for, that's cool, didn't expect they would be free. What about the first 25 sets or so I went through will we were figuring out to use the stim? What about the ones I had on backwards because I was told do so? What about the ones I hydrated, but wasn't supposed to. I may have to take it up with Dankmeyer, or Bioness, either way, I don't think I should have to pay for the ones to replace the electrodes I was instructed to use wrongly. Where are they with the new cloth backed electrodes? I'm sure they will let me know when they are available.

Evening Primrose, what a pretty, native plant. Did you know it was one of those flowers you can eat, the whole thing. Anybody had any luck with it slowing the progression of MS? I could throw some on a salad, make a tea from its leaves, or even boil it's roots if it was going to help. I guess it would be easier to add Primrose oil to my morning oats, if I thought it worked. Medicine hasn't worked, I may as well eat flowers! Let me know if you had any luck with this one.

Africa Hot, Vitamin D Drops Again, and Eyes Not Working Right

It was Africa hot here today, I saw a couple lions chewing on a zebra, I tells ya, it was hot! This used to be primo pool weather, but it was too hot to even get out to the pool. The wife and girl are out there right now, I keep pushing my face up against the window, they didn't notice me. It was better for me to sit in the house, in front of the fan, with a 32 oz mug of iced tea. Next year I'm going to have and indoor portion added to the pool, just swim under the divider and you're outside, just like the playboy mansion.

A person would think that on 50,000 ml, twice a week, a guys vitamin D level wouldn't drop by half. Should I be worried about this? I'm supposed to go see another doctor, I think a neuphrologist? Do your kidneys control vitamin D? I think I already take too much medicine, so they can't fix this with a prescription. I'm hitting outside in the sun, but that isn't doing it this year. Are some people naturally D deficient? Does my family have D problems? Big noses run in my father's family! Haha, big noses run, somebody stop me! Does that calgon stuff work, because I need something to take me away.

How do you know when you're having MS problems, compared with just getting old? My eyes are driving crazy today! I feel like I'm looking through gauze, or milk, or, well you get the picture. It's like I should be able to wipe it away, but I can't. Do I need to have my eyes checked, or do I just chalk it up to my MS? I'm really sick of all this doctor crap. I wonder what would happen if I just stopped? Stopped all the medicine, canceled all my appointments, just quit? Sounds almost romantic, in theory, but in reality, you probably would have to pour me into the doctor's office to correct all the problems.

Pool Days, Things Are Changing, and Who Are Those Guys Radio Interview

Gorgeous day here in Maryland, hot, not too humid, sunny, perfect pool day. The girl worked, the boy went bowling, so it was me and my baby to the pool! The neighborhood was positively abuzz with activity. Tons of pools in our stretch, all being used today. The smells of grilled animal flesh, sounds of children frolicking, their parents yelling for them to knock it off, summer was afoot. We floated for a bit, then talked, she sunned, I floated some more, perfect Sunday afternoon. Show her how to hook up the new auto vacuum tonight, hope it goes well.

It was a very nice day, one we have always enjoyed, but even relaxing is getting tough. I am exhausted, my legs and arms are jittery they're so numb. It was one of those epiphany days I have when I realize something is no longer easy to do, therefore not so relaxing. The kind of day all you want to do is cry and feel sorry for yourself. I remember when I had to acquiesce to the fact it was no longer enjoyable to go in the ocean. It was a tough thing to accept, remember, I was on the Presidential body surfing council! It's not the same when things have conditions. I miss being me.

It seems I have a famous radio personality in my midst? He always could tell a story with the best of them, he has grown past our circle and is hitting the airways. This is the dude that I worked with, he took me hunting, to cooking class, and now he's a famous competition BBQ chef. He has granted an interview to our local radio station, 1090 am WBAL, hosted by Dan Durian. The interview is to air at 7:45 am on Monday, if you get a chance, tune in. I'm sure I will be main thrust of his conversation with Dave, and the fact that he and his BBQ team are enjoying a rocketing rise in the competition BBQ world. I plan on getting up to give a listen, maybe even to call on to comment!

I Got Your Clunker Right Here, Heatwave Hits, and Pool in Moderation

Where did they come up with the phrase, cash for clunker? That's not what the program is, by the way. It's cash for less fuel efficient vehicles. I know, because I have a clunker! Our 95 Oldsmobile, the one with 115,000 miles on it is fast becoming the poster car for the program. It's a beautiful car, looks brand new, the wife's favorite car of all time. The valves play a melodious tune, either whilst idling, or accelerating, so avoid those 2 things, and you're flush.

The Olds is listed at a combined 20mpg, something I don't think it ever achieved, and of course you have to be below 18mpg. You also have to get the same class vehicle, truck for truck, car for car, or so it seems to someone of limited intelligence, and someone who saw right away they didn't qualify and stopped paying attention. We pay our house payment, live within our means, and drive a fuel efficient car, so far we're not feeling very stimulated!

Here comes the heat, and I mean heat! By tomorrow we could be pushing 100 degrees, above 90% humidity, just stick a fork in me now, I'm done! That cabin above the Arctic circle is looking pretty sweet right about now. Was in the pool all day yesterday, it was wonderful, except I can't wear the stim into the water, so I looked like Quasimodo walking to get in. The water was cool, it was relaxing, and I thought I was going to need a Sikorsky helicopter to get me out of the water. Wobily is a good word for my legs, not what you want to call them, but accurate. Moderation will be king today. In for a bit, out for a bit. I know, party animal.

Carry On Calamity, Pool Day, and Knee Brace Needed

The wife and boy are safely home, had a great time, and brought home endless stories. Did you know it is against FAA regulations to store a bowling ball in the overhead compartment? Either did we, or the crew on the first 2 flights to Vegas! The return flight cost $60 a bag to put them in with the luggage. Query? Is 40 lbs of feathers more then 40 lbs of bowling balls? It doesn't seem to make sense to me, but then again, they didn't ask my opinion. Ya wanna have fun? Try explaining, post 9-11, what the x-ray is showing in the box that looks like a bowling ball, but has no holes? Strip search! One more riddle. The wife bought me a little trinket, a souvenir with my name on one side, Las Vegas on the other, on a knife, on a key chain, in the airport! WHAAAAAAA?

Today is going to be a day of rest. The travelers are jet lagging, the daughter is having sympathy lag, and I'm just plum wore out from a week of acting as a responsible adult in charge. Trust me, that is extremely tiring when you're, what's the word I'm looking for, ah yes, ME! The wife tells me my schedule, plans my schedule, reminds me of my schedule, and asks me how it went. She abandoned me to flit off on vacation, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Anyway, it is going to be a pool day supreme, cook out, do nothing day. No phones, no responsibility, no obligations. It's my day to have them both back, and his day to cut the grass!

Need to find out if Bioness makes any kind of knee machine to prevent hyper-extension? The L300 is working just great, and the final payment of 4.3 million has been made, but I can only walk so far before my knee hurts. I wonder if there is a brace, or a bandage that can help with that? I need something that keeps the knee from going past a certain point, do they make those? Do they sell that kind of thing at the cane store? Can I make something out of old clothes hangers and duct tape? Oh great Bioness Gods, hear my request, make my brace!

Eye Issues, Veggies, and Cool New Pool Cleaner

Woke up this morning, just to through a twist into things, I couldn't see. Nothing wrong with my vision, nothing new at least, couldn't get my eyes open. I've got to stop sleeping in my bullseye pajamas, this is getting ridiculous! I don't know if it's conjunctivitis, or if this nagging sore throat has spread infection to my whole head? Either way, I'm not real happy about this. I scheduled a care free weekend, and this ain't it!

Went yesterday to pick up our weekly share of vegetables from our friends CSA experiment. We got the staples for this time of year, red, white and blush potatoes. Yellow and green squash, cucumbers, onions, green peppers. We got the most delicious looking carrots I've ever seen. I wonder if there is anything you can do with carrot greens? They look so tempting, I'll have to search for something online to do with them, wore my juicer out, so no carrot juice. I'm getting ready to have a couple of the eggs we got yesterday, out of this world! They got a new batch of laying hens, about a week old, the wife didn't let me bring a few of those home, but I'm working on her!

We went and bought the Hayward Aqua Bug pool cleaner yesterday, looks just like a ladybug. It said you can install it, and use it in 10 minutes, and they were right. We hooked the hoses up, hooked it to the filter, and presto, it vacuumed the pool. I like it when it works that way, though I don't have a taste of it very often. We not only got what we wanted, but it was on sale, swish! I think I'm finished with the pool this year, buying things I mean, now it's time to enjoy it.