A quicky for you

Just a quick update so as not to get too far behind (hey, only a month between posts this time -- much better, no?).

Got my new liner and was cast for a new socket on the 12th. The socket was delivered this past Monday and I'm glad it's just a check socket because it's not very comfortable right now. I do have an appointment to see the prosthetist on Monday to see what we can do.

Have some plans to do some traveling this year -- fly to AZ for a couple of days in April and ride to FL in June for a few days. Lots of local events, too, but hoping to get some additional, longer trips in this year as well (on the Road King).

Resolutions for the year: besides the usual "eat better, exercise, lose weight, etc," I also want to make this the year I finally get back on my bicycle. Of course, I've been saying that since the accident... hopefully this will be the year, though.

Improvise, adapt, and overcome, right?!

Merry Christmas to all!

Looks like it's been a few days since I posted :-). I actually did have a post up here for a short while in September but took it down -- having to do with my settlement with the county, or rather the lack of one. Maryland has a sovereign immunity law which apparently also covers firetrucks heading to picnics. Check out Maryland Annotated Code, section 5-522... that's a law that needs to be changed. After the insurance lien and the lawyer's fees, I got screwed, without even a kiss. Water under the bridge now. Oh, by the way, if you ever need a lawyer in the Baltimore area, don't go to Jay Irwin Block in Owings Mills.

As for what's been going on with me, I'm in the process of being fitted for a new socket, starting with a new custom liner. The liner should be in sometime next week, at which time I'll get cast for a new test socket. My current carbon fiber socket fits fine (currently socket number 24 if any one's keeping track) but I've developed an allergic reaction to the liner material. New liner means new socket(s).

Went to NC about 10 days ago to visit my brother. While I was down there, I figured I'd head over to Asheville and check out the Biltmore Estate:

Big house but I'm not sure it was worth the price of admission, except that I can now say I've been there, done that.

Christmas spent in NY with the rest of the extended family. Will celebrate Christmas with Rene' and Jack as soon as I return to MD (tomorrow) and New Year's will be spent with my other family -- my brothers of the USMV MC and their extensions.

Maybe I'll post more now that we're getting ready to roll into a new year (perhaps our last if the Mayan calendar has been properly interpreted :-D).

One month and still comfy

Well, I've had the new socket for better than a month now and it's still fitting quite well; I can't say I'm not surprised because I am. However, my stump continues to shrink, which means more socks, which means more wiggle room, which means... less comfy. But not yet. It's still feeling pretty doggone good.

Other news... hmmmmm. Oh, I'm getting my kitchen done. That should start in a few weeks -- still have to actually buy the cabinets and such as well as speak with the general contractor about flooring and lights. I'll take some before and after photos, and probably some in the middle as we eat off the carpet, breathe in dust, smell rotting food, toss out things we can no longer identify, etc. And, Rene's working on making room in the dining area for the buffet that's lived in the kitchen long enough. It'll be a challenge keeping Jack occupied with something other than whatever mess we've got laid out.

And I'm a great uncle again -- welcome to the world Dyan A. Doll, Geoff's first grandchild. Being a grandpa is great, by the way... if I'd have known how great, I would've done the grandpa thing before the dad thing :::hehehehehehehe:::

Okay, that's it. Big party this weekend and I'll be riding (and staying at a hotel so no worries about the enjoying both). L8r!

snow, snow, go away!

Okay, so we really don't have, and haven't had, that much snow (maybe 9" or so) but it's been a really cold winter and the snow that is here isn't melting very fast. BUT, after some cold rain today, we're supposed to have sunshine and mid-40s tomorrow, and maybe even up to 50 on Monday before the arctic chill of February returns.

So today, I shoveled the snow from behind my bike (which I started up on Friday, by the way, to see if I needed to put the battery on the tender). Tomorrow, I hope to get a few miles on the road and perhaps even ride in to the office on Monday (may have to wait until later than usual to go in if there's ice out there from the melting snow).

Anyhow, that's the plan. Dress warm and ride...

Saw my prosthetist on Thursday; apparently, their company just doubled in size when they purchased another O&P business. Well, one of their offices (in Asheville, NC, actually) has a lot of bicyclists as prosthetists and techs... guess where I'm going to get my bicycling leg made?! We're going to wait until my leg stabalizes some more (yes, I'm still shrinking like crazy... or rather, shrinking like crazy again now that I'm able to pull vacuum once again). When I got the new socket a couple weeks ago, I was wearing 3 or 4 socks; I've been up to 13 in the last couple of days. Amazing.

I'm also going to get a swim leg, which will allow me to shower with two legs, as well as go to the beach, maybe hit the surf, and of course swim at the local pool (though I will mostly swim without leg if I'm just exercising). Which reminds me that I have to get back to the gym... soon. I'm sagging a lot where I shouldn't be... doesn't become me :::giggle:::

Also bought a new camera recently -- really like it but have to practice a lot because it's got more bells and whistles than Carter has pills. But once I get the hang of it.... I was out last weekend, trudging through the snow, to get some shots. Got a few nice ones... maybe I'll even reinstate my photo pages.

That's it for now; hoping this sleeping pill kicks in soon. Niters!

Undefeated

Firstly, I've got to admit that I found this on a fellow amputee's blog. Secondly, a little background from wikipedia:

"At the age of 12, Henley fell victim to tuberculosis of the bone. A few years later, the disease progressed to his foot, and physicians announced that the only way to save his life was to amputate directly below the knee. It was amputated when he was 25. In 1875, he wrote the "Invictus" poem from a hospital bed. Despite his disability, he survived with one foot intact and led an active life until his death at the age of 53."

Invictus (latin for "undefeated")
by William Ernest Henley (1849-1903)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Drinking age...

Socket #21. Please click on the image(s) for a larger view. This time, I made sure to take pictures before it got all taped up and the sleeve covered the design -- that way I didn't have to redo everything. It is quite nice, if I do say so myself. Now, as long as the fit is as good as the looks, we'll all be happy :-D. And, at least for the 4 hours I've worn it, so far, so good.

In other news (since it has been 4 months since I posted), let's see... my mom should be able to see these photos easily now since she got a new computer and a broadband connection for Christmas/birthday (it must be tough on those folks whose birthdays are so close to Christmas :-)). Speaking of Christmas birthdays (okay, not quite but close), my grandson Jack is more awesome every day; please see Rene's blog for pictures and lots of information (she's a pretty awesome mom, too, by the way).

I did make it up north for the holidays and thanks to some camera trickery... here's a picture of me with my mom and two brothers:

Okay, so there really wasn't any trickery but I do want to thank my uncle Mike for taking the picture for us.

Still seeing too many doctors and such but at least the case is moving forward; the lawyer is preparing the documents for district and circuit courts (my case is going to circuit, the others to district -- it's got to do with the dollar amount of the claim). The documents will initially go to the county's insurance company to let them know we're serious and give them an opportunity to make a settlement offer. Oh, and here's a picture of the vehicle that hit me:

He was not headed to a fire or any other emergency (actually, I guess he was but he didn't know it until he hit me :-D) -- lights and sirens were off. He *was* headed for a wounded warriors picnic, one that we had just left. The driver crossed the center line coming around a curve in the road and the rest, as they say, is history. One of these days I'll post the picture of the front left tire with bits of my leg on it.

Okay, I'll close now with a Happy New Year wish to you all... and one final picture:

Number 17...

Yep, socket 17. Got it a week ago Thursday (2 Sep). Would love to say "this is the one!" but I can't cuz it ain't. But I'm tired of complaining... I know, I know, if I don't say anything, how can they know there's a problem. I see both my doctor and my prosthetist this week (that whole team approach thing) and I'll bring it up then. I think the problem is with the lab John uses... I really wish he made his own sockets but he uses a lab in Florida. It's communication, or lack of it, that's the problem... in my humble opinion.

Anyhow, on to accident related news: the insurance company for the bike wasn't getting paid by the other party's insurance company so the case went to arbitration in June. Got the results this week: the panel found the other party 100% at fault for the damage to the bike. No, it doesn't mean the case is settled, far from it. But now we've got one objective panel ruling that the accident was entirely their fault... we knew it was but just getting it in black and white is a huge relief.

My yellow pepper plant has produced two fruits, neither ready to pick yet (one is getting a little burnt from the sun) but am looking forward to seeing what the peppers taste like, especially since it's taken them so long to grow. The red pepper plant continues to grow and is nearly as tall as I am; and, yes, this afternoon I saw that it has a couple baby peppers on it.

Finally got some much needed rain last night and this morning, though I've been loving the sunny weather and have ridden the bike to work every day for the last two weeks; looks like this week will be another fine one (well, Friday might be looking a little if-fy...). Unlike Barry, I do have the option of not riding...

Oh, almost forgot - I performed a wedding last weekend! The couple was already legally married, this was only the ceremony, but still...

Until next time, may happiness be with you.