Dang It!

Went to go see the prosthetist yesterday, and she made me stay off my leg for two days, because I have a rub spot on my leg. She ground on the inside of the socket, heated it, and pressed it out, in order to give it some relief, but she wants to give the spot a chance to heal. I get to don it again Thursday afternoon, hopefully.

Oh, well. Better to have it, and not be able to use it for a couple of days, than not to have it at all.

Walrilla

Astounding!

My Father-in-law just sent me this news release of an amazing discovery, right here in my home state!

After having dug to a depth of 1000 meters last year, Scottish scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 1000 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 1000 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the Scots, in the weeks that followed, English scientists dug to a depth of 2000 meters and, shortly after, headlines in UK newspapers read: "English archaeologists have found traces of 2000 year old copper wire and have concluded that their ancestors already had advanced high-tech communications network a thousand years earlier than the Scots."

One week later, Texas newspapers reported the following: "After digging as deep as 5000 meters in West Texas, Texas A&M scientists have found absolutely nothing. They have therefore concluded that 5000 years ago Texas inhabitants were already using wireless technology."


Don't Mess with Texas


B-)>

Walrilla

Here I am, Ready for GQ*

Well, as promised, here are the pictures.

This is me.

(Yes, yes, I know. The pants are sagging on one side, because that's where I keep my wallet, and cellphone, and car keys, and house and work keys, and pocket knife, and about 5 bucks in change. No wonder it's sagging.)

This is me, showing off.

There it is, in all its' glory.
The socket is made out of carbon fiber, so it's stronger than steel. It's gotta be, to hold me up.

This is the liner I wear on my stump, turned inside out so I can wash it.

This is the liner, right side out, ready to be turned inside out again, so I can roll it back onto my leg. That bolt-looking thing sticking out of the end of it is the shank that goes into a lock in the bottom of the socket, which ratchets tight as it slides in. There's a button on the other side of the socket that releases it.

Well, that's it. I'm upright and mobile again. As I was walking out the door at lunch today, I passed a lady standing in the hall. She saw my crutches and said, "Ooh, that's no fun!"

I turned back to her and said, "Actually, it IS a lot of fun. I've been stuck in a wheelchair for the past year, and just got my new leg this past Friday. I'm having a blast, being up and walking, even if it is on crutches."

She laughingly agreed, saying "Yeah, I guess, when you look at it that way, you're absolutely correct!"

Next time, we'll talk about liner socks, and the proper selection thereof, and what a royal pain in the ass they are..

Walrilla

*That's Gimps Quarterly

Scary Images

No, not zombies. You can quit cowering in the corner, Eric.

I'm talking about images of my new leg.

Coming tonight.

I promise.

Maybe late tonight.

But tonight.

Probably.

Walrilla

"Lt. Dan! You Got Magic Legs!"

-Forrest Gump

Okay, more like magic LEG, 'cause the other one's still the original equipment, but you know what I'm going for here.

Yep, I got it yesterday, like I said I was going to, but I've been so busy dancing, and running foot races, that I haven't had time to stop and tell you about it.

Okay, so maybe not dancing and running, but I have been showing it off to family and co-workers. Right now, I'm using crutches to aid in my walking, but, by G*d, it's WALKING. I didn't think I was ever gonna get to this point.

One year and six days! It's been that long since my amputation.

What a long, strange trip it's been. And I'm glad y'all were here to share the trip with me. Friends like y'all have made this a much more bearable journey.

Walrilla

P.S. Camera batteries are charging. Pics soon.

Come On, 3 O'clock

That's when I leave work to go get my new leg.

Me, impatient? Nah!

Walrilla

This Leg is Made For Walking*

Guess what?

I walked! For the first time in over a year!

That's right! They finally got my test socket ready Friday. I went in, tried it on, and walked between parallel bars for the first time in over a year, which felt so good, I didn't want to give it back to the prosthetist for more modifications.

At the same time, it felt weird to be standing again, with no crutch, or walker, or leaning against a wall or car. Just my own two legs. Well, mine and the soon to be mine. B-)>

I go back Wednesday for the refitting, then the final leg will be ready FRIDAY! How cool is that? Gait training is gonna be a bitch, but one I am willing to put up with, if it means I can get back up on the trail again.


Walrilla

*With apologies to Nancy Sinatra

Catching Up

Wow, it's been a while, hasn't it. The Holiday season is death to blogging. So much going on, so little time, so many cool things to play around with! Let's see if I can hit a few high points:

New Nintendo Wii

The kids got a new Nintendo Wii game console, and this alone has caused all productivity at the house to come to a dead stop. This thing is freakin' amazing! Wireless controllers! Motion sensing! Exercise, in a sneaky way!

New Karaoke Machine

Daughter Dear got a Karaoke machine, which she loves! She sings along to all of the High School Musical Soundtracks. Me, not so much. I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket with two hands!

New Washer and Dryer

Just before Christmas, our washing machine finally gave up the ghost, after numerous service calls. It was decided for me that a new machine was necessary. It was further decided that a new dryer was necessary, in order to match the new washer. After all, it would be most improper to wash clothes in a spiffy new washing machine, then dry them in the same old ratty dryer. Hence, the brand new Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer that magically appeared in our laundry room. In theory, since they came after Christmas, they were an anniversary gift from me to Dear Wife. The pedestals they sit on were a gift from Dear Wife to me.

New Ring

In her defense, I must say she also gave me a new wedding ring. See, I lost mine changing a tire in our driveway a couple of years ago. I've looked for it ever since, even going to the point of asking a friend of mine to bring over his metal detector to search in the grass. Sadly, all this was to no avail. I've been saying lately that I need to get a new ring, since the old one was apparently long gone. The morning of our anniversary, the 28th of Dec., we were leaving for our annual Dinner And A Movie Anniversary Date when she handed me a little box, and said that this had already been purchased long before the washer went out, and had just been waiting to give it to me. It's a beautiful Tungsten grooved ring, dark charcoal gray, and polished to a mirror finish on the bevels and inside the groove.

No New Leg

Alas, no new information on the leg front. If I don't hear anything by this Friday, I'll call and see where it is, but I didn't really expect anything until next week. Oh well, at least I'm thisclosetodone!

Walrilla