Life in Cayuga

 I’ve told you about my trip to Chicago to see the Cubs .  Well, we’re hitting the road again to go to Miami to the Orange Bowl .   Texas Tech will play the winner of Oregon and James Madison in the second round of the playoffs.   Susan is a proud (and loud) graduate of Texas Tech.  Other than her children and grandchildren, Tech is the thing she’s most passionate about. She has an extensive collection of Tech swag! She lived in Lubbock for several years as a teen and young adult, after her father retired from the Army. Her family is from the area, her father graduated from Tech, and her children were born there.  So, there are ties, and although she was an “army brat” and moved a lot, Lubbock is home to her.   She’s made a Red Raider fan out of me too!  I started watching them because she was a fan but I’ve gotten to be a fan myself.  They have a really good team.  A high powered offense and a dominant defense.   We’re going...

 I went to the dermatologist today.  Because I’ve had previous skin cancers, I have to go every 6 months to get a full body skin check.  Today they found another suspicious spot on my face and took a biopsy.  I’ll get the results next week.  Even though it’s a tiny spot, easily treatable, and easy outpatient surgery if it’s positive, it’s still pretty gut-wrenching to get the call saying you have cancer.  I’ve gotten 3 of those calls and I hope I don’t get number 4.  I’ve had 3 skin cancer surgeries, all on my face. The last one was less than a month ago. If this comes back positive, it’ll be number 4.  I asked why they all seem to be on my face and she said that it gets the most sun exposure of any part of your body. Since I grew up on a farm and worked outdoors as a farmer in my younger days, along with thousands of miles in trucks with my arm propped on the window, I’ve had more than my share of sun. The surgeries I’ve had were called Moh’s sur...

 Back in February, I told you about my friend Robert’s suicide.  Until now, his wife has been unable, mentally and emotionally, to have a memorial service. But she rallied and the service was today.  I was asked to give the eulogy.  A few years ago, Robert called me and asked if I would cover for him at the funeral of a friend.  He was to deliver the eulogy and had a last minute emergency and couldn’t do it so he asked me to read what he had written. I did. The theme of his eulogy was “A Perfect, Devoted Friend”.  I used a variation on that theme today. I told how we had been friends since we were 3 years old, how we started school together and went through 12th grade together. I told of some of our “adventures” as teenagers, (at least the ones I could talk about in church!)  and how we bonded even more after the deaths of our friends Reuben and Tim. How even though he was halfway around the world, he never forgot his old friend. I said I hope he knew ...

 I’ve told you about being an “esteemed” judge at The Tailganator World Championship Freestyle Wing Cooking Contest Of Newton County, TTWCFWCCONC. This year’s event was this weekend.  As usual, it was outstanding!  Wings were great but the “Mystery Mix” cocktails and the “One Bite Wonders” were unbelievable!  The only controversy was trying to remember if this was number 12 or 13! My favorite cocktail was a chocolate drink that was a variation on a mudslide.  Another was a piña colada that was really good. My favorite “bite” was fried  pimento cheese balls, followed closely by salmon burnt ends.   The best part, though, is spending time with good friends and making new friends. I don’t get to see my friend Todd but a couple of times a year and it’s  always good visiting with him.  Michael Wayne and Tracy, our hosts, are the same.  Great people and dear friends.  Here’s some pictures of the drinks and bites.  

 I had my knee replacement surgery on September 17.  Surgery went fine, no problems or complications.  They had me up on a walker taking a few steps that afternoon.  That’s when the fun began!   I’ve had a good bit of pain, about what I expected, but it gets better every day.  I have pain meds if I need them but I try not to take them unless it gets really bad.  I’ve been using a walker since the surgery. They are planning for me to “graduate” to a cane sometime this week. I’ll be glad. The walker is great, but I can’t do anything with my hands while I walk and it’s hard to get in and out of some doors. While I’m on the cane, they will help me learn to walk without it.  That’s the ultimate goal. I had home physical therapy starting the day I got home from the hospital.  I did that for two weeks then started outpatient PT.  I had heard all the horror stories about PT following knee replacement and I was a little apprehensive. It hasn’t be...

I have a new knee. Brand new, never used before! I’ve had it a week now and so far so good. I have a 12 inch incision down my leg that looks like they put me back together with duct tape! The surgery went well and I was up walking that afternoon. Spent one night in the hospital and came to my sister’s.   The rehab is everything I’d heard it would be.  It hurts.  I’m not going to lie. It hurts like hell.  They want me to keep the knee as flat as possible but also bend it as much as I can! I’m trying! Ice every 2 hours. Pain meds every 6 hours as needed. The therapist says I’m doing great and that I’m farther along than most of his knee patients at this stage. I have home physical therapy three days a week and I also have a stationary bike they sent that is connected to wifi and I have to ride it and follow the online program up to 5 times a day.  I’ll go back to the doctor in another week.  They will redress the bandage and set me up with outpatient rehab. ...