Happy whatever-day-it-is, blog readers! Life continues to be a whirlwind of activity (and occasional physical therapy-induced pain), so get ready for another update from the homestead.
Monday started with soaking up the last moments of outdoor bliss before heading back “home.” While I was out enjoying the fresh air (and walker-assisted mobility!), Dave launched a full-scale assault on our bedroom closet. The man is a purging machine! He filled an entire trash can with items, some of which I’d been desperately searching for. It’s like he has a sixth sense for finding the things you need right before he throws them away. On my end, I’m starting the great declutter of 2025, turning over a pile of goodies to Jared for his online selling empire. Might as well start downsizing now, right? Less stuff, less stress!
Tuesday was a big day! Jared started his new job (congrats!), Dave was working, and Albus and I were left to our own devices. Feeling brave (or maybe just slightly insane), I decided to take Albus on his very first walk! The walker was definitely not suited for the terrain, so I ditched it and went rogue. I made it most of the way down the driveway before my body screamed “ENOUGH!” and I hobbled back inside. A quick glance at my right ankle revealed it was puffier than a marshmallow after a campfire roasting, a clear sign I’d pushed it too far. But hey, at least Albus had a good time (I think)!
Dinner was a celebratory feast from one of Jared’s favorite restaurants. Dave and I even braved the great outdoors with Albus for a bit, until he turned into a tiny, furry demolition crew, digging holes and eating questionable things. We retreated indoors for some TV before calling it a night.
Wednesday morning started bright and early with physical therapy. Logan, my usual PT, was off, so I had a substitute. Things were going okay for the first fifteen minutes, but then the assistant came over with an exercise that involved rocking onto the balls of my feet while bending my knees. Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong! He didn’t demonstrate the exercise or stick around to make sure I was doing it correctly. Around rep number seven, a sharp pain shot through my left calf muscle, and that was all she wrote. I explained the situation, but after a short break, I still couldn’t continue.
Later that day, while chatting with Samantha, I realized the gravity of the situation. I mean, they didn’t even bother to show me how to do the exercise correctly! Since my main goal is to improve my balance, I need a physical therapy location that actually pays attention. So, I made the tough decision to terminate my relationship with that particular clinic.
My dad called from Skagway, where he was living it up on the Alaskan adventure I had to miss. He was having a blast, especially the seaplane excursion in Juneau. He was even skipping the Red Onion Saloon portion of the excursion because he’s done it three times already! For those who don’t know, the Red Onion Saloon is a former brothel that now offers tours. It’s actually quite interesting, and I highly recommend it if you ever find yourself in Skagway.
Dave declared it a fend-for-yourself night for dinner, so I heated up a frozen pizza. After dinner, I ventured back outside, but since Dave was moving the Adirondack chairs, I decided to revisit my spot under the awning. Dave popped out five minutes later, scolding me for not telling him where I went. But wait, there’s more! I re-entered the house through the lower level and *climbed the stairs*. I’m not quite ready for going *down* that many steps, but going up was totally doable! Small victories, people, small victories!
That’s all for this week, folks! Stay tuned for more adventures (and hopefully fewer medical mishaps) next week.