Guy says goodbye

Today at 2:30pm Guy died.  He was well loved during his life, but over the past week he had gone downhill in his health.  He was no longer happy here and so I decided it was time to let him go.  Love is hard.

5 Waltzes on Sunday and still moving on Monday

Had a great time being the Dance Chair Minion at the FSGW Sunday Night Contra last night.  Had five great, slow, straight waltzes with partners who were ever so gentle with me.  I did put ice on the leg when I got home that night, and took some ibuprofen.  Got up Monday and while the leg was sore, and stiff, it still moved.  PT went well, they are working on periostalis (?) now, the swelling of the membrane around the bone.  I would swear when he was done today the leg felt better deep down than it has in months.  No pain meds today, probably some to sleep.

Oh and removed the just-in-case chair from the shower - number 9 on my list.

2 Contras and 2 Waltzes were 2 Much

Saturday evening was the Frederick Contra Dance, my home dance and I volunteer.  It was also Summer Tunes which meant a wall of sound to dance to.  So I did.  In the first half I danced a Contra and the Waltz, then repeated in the second half.  Went to the after dance party and was offered ice packs, which I used.  Sadly, the knee still felt as though I had pounded on it all evening when I got up Sunday.

Sunday evening I was shadowing Penelope in training for being the acting Dance Chair next Sunday.  I danced two waltzes and I suspect had my knee not been stressed from Saturday it would not be fussing at me today.

All my dances were great, with wonderful partners who really took care to be gentle with me.

And now a note from Guy, the cat:  All this dancing is getting in the way of her being present and available for me when I wish to be petted, fed fried chicken or simply wish to complain about life in general.  I really think that you folks need to limit this dancing thing, oh and that boardgaming thing as well.  I am fine, although not getting enough hand-fed fried chicken.  If you wish to visit, please bring me some fried chicken and feed it to me, you will still have one hand free to pet me after all.  And all you do with her is talk so you don't need your hands for that.

Okay, so now you know where he stands on the whole recovery process. Firmly in the middle of the forward path.

Dancing was okay

Yay, I danced last night and was functional today.  I managed to meet a friend for a late lunch, then was client productive while sitting.  I also went upstairs using the left leg first.  This might just be working.

Danced tonight :-))))

Went to the English dance at the Glen Echo Town Hall tonight and danced, or at least committed a reasonable impersonation of a dancer.  Danced 6 dances, the last two in a row, and thanks to my gracious partners and fellow dancers did not throw anything to far off beat.  Felt marvelous while I was there, and hopefully the iced knee afterwards will keep it feeling decent tomorrow.

July update

I saw the surgeon, Dr Nascone, on the 17th.  He seems happy with my progress.  Sadly his timeline for recovery is 6 to 12 months and he suspects I'll be on the slower side of that.  I almost agree with him after today as my knee was not happy about all the sitting and walking it was forced to do yesterday.  Hopefully it will be a bit more comfortable tomorrow and I can get back to giving it full workouts.

Top 10 Ways to Know I'm fully Recovered

10.  Able to use the bike with both legs pedaling - Accomplished on most days as of 7/12/12
9.  No longer have to plan out all the steps in getting a shower and dressed, the in-case chair gets removed - removed on 8/7/12 as it was in the way of getting a shower
8.  Able to wear jeans - can do as of 8/20/12, although tight on the knee by the end of the day
7.  Started the outside work, including mowing and weeding - started 8/31/12
6.  Good days and Bad days aren't determined by my knee
5.  A momentary pause when I stand rather than a minute
4.  Able to safely use stairs (up and down) with alternating legs
3.  Can sit and work for more than 1 hour at a time
2.  Able to schedule client appointments without thinking about my stamina
1.  Able to dance a full night's contras on time. (Yeah, I couldn't do on time before but I can try again)