Hey guys, travelled north yesterday to pick up GGD. We have her for three weeks this time. Helping my buddy on a project that needs to be done this week. Hanging doors and putting trim up.

It's hot here and that probably won't change in the foreseeable future.

morning guys... was up at 4:45am to put an 8 1/2lb. pork butt on the grill, but back to bed and slept until 8:45 when I heard one of the temp alarms going off... the one next to the bone. So I repositioned it and made my coffee.

It was pretty breezy at 5am, but this morning it's calm. but headed to the mid 90s and pretty humid. Had a small shower about the time church was out and got a little wet walking home, but this block of sugar didn't melt...

Not a lot planned for today, other than watching the butt cook.

Morning guys... Not much on the agenda. Uppers 80s expected. We had a nice shower of 1/2" last night which put a stop to the fireworks for a while. probably a very positive thing to wet things down when the fireworks started back up.

Church later.

Well, I'm up. It's always good to get home and sleep in your own bed. It's 71 and breezy, headed for a high of upper 80s, cooler than a 'normal' July 4th.

Nothing planned for today. I got James washed before putting him on the lift. And washed off the caddy while sprayer was out. I might hit the pickup today as well.

Probably go out to the ball complex to watch fireworks this evening. I wish you and yours a wonderful Americas birthday.

Morning guys...

Hey guys, up early and off to home. James is a dream to drive. 80+ down I70 not breathing hard at all. Averaged 25.8 mpg and very comfortable. what a joy to drive.

Lots of wheat fields cut, but didn't see any combines in the fields.

Good to be home.

Yeah, that's got me beat Gris... My ankles aren't very good either....

A friend of mine found specs for those screws.... 10mm diameter and 60mm long (3/8" x 2 3/8") Those are some hum dinger screws.

Morning guys... Yea those screws are honkers.... Got a friend who fell off a roof, broke his foot pretty bad and they put several screws in to put it back together. Those screws have given him problems ever since, I think he had a couple of those removed...he needs a couple more taken out yet as he still has issues. I'm hoping mine never give me issues.

Not much pllanned for today, it's hot and humid here (like usual in July in KC). #3 didn't have any projects for me when we came, but, as normal, a couple things popped up after we got here. The evening we got here, she tells me the garbage disposal had jammed up again...It's done it several times in the past. The wrench was prominently obvious laying in the bottom of the cabinet, indicating to me that it has been a common issue even before she bought the house. Anyway, I grabbed the wrench and cranked it over and freed it up and hit the reset button, we're off and running. So I'm running water, washing down the sink good and the next thing I know water is running all over the place, out of the cabinet and on the floor.... Have I ever mentioned, I hate F@*king PLUMBING? So I crawl around on the wet floor trying to figure out where the water is coming from and I can't figure it out. So I say, I think we're better off just buying a new disposal and swap them. So off to Lowes and buy a new one, a BETTER (more powerful) one than what was in there. While there, I bought a quart of Helmsman Spar Urethane to refinish the counter tops. Something I've told her we needed to do for some time. Luckily, the disposal swap went reasonably well. Last night I cleaned the countertop and sanded it, then laid the first coat of poly on it. This morning, a scuff with 220 and the second coat.

Tomorrow, we'll head home.

Well, doctor was very pleased with my results and progress. He said I was responding better than most, but about what he expected from me. Told me I could start basically doing whatever I wanted to do, just work into it gradually. Your body will tell you if it's too much. Adding 5 -10 lbs lifting every week or so ... except golfing. Wants me to wait on that until after 12 weeks (6 more) before doing full swings, and maybe a little longer than that, which I totally understand. I come back up here on the 12th of August for that, in person, visit.


Pic of x-rays, the two on the left are from today, the one on the right is presurgery. Notice the length of those screws. Today he told me the rods between those screws are about 50mm long.... with that information, it appears those screws must be close to 2 1/2" long. I was thinking they might be 1 1/4".

Hey guys, made it to KC yesterday. Drove James. First time out since last summer when we went to Wisconsin. He really needed to stretch his legs. Come to find out (I simply forgot) that yesterday was National Corvette Day, so the drive was appropriate. It rained on us from Topeka all the way into KC, so James needed a bath this morning... he looks like a million bucks now. getting ready to have a bite for lunch and then head to the doctor.

I might check back after the appointment to let you know what the doctor said.

Hey guys, been AWOL this week. Can't really say why, as I don't really know.

Started doing a few little projects in the shop. I had a request for a veteran flag case, by a lady friend here in town. No real hurry as her husband passed almost two years ago, but I figure this is a small enough project I wouldn't overdo any of my restrictions. I'm freaking going crazy sitting around doing next to nothing. Hopefully that will change next week at my six week recheck. And while I' at it I built another one for my nephew as he acquired his maternal grandfathers flag. Again he requested it and he has had the flag stored away for more than two years. Biggest issue with that one is he lives in Washington DC and getting it to him has always been the issue, but Rosies' brother is going to be seeing him this summer and will make sure he gets it. And... I prefer to build two at a time, because when I buy the glass for them I have to buy a square piece and cut it diagonally to create the triangular piece needed, creating two identical pieces...... savvy? Anyway, today I delivered the one locally, I made the wife cry. when she tried to pay me, I told her "This is my way to give back to those who served." She tried to make a case, but I wouldn't have it..."Absolutely, NO." We will drop the other one off on our way to KC on Monday.

Then went out to advise a handy gal in her quest to "urbanize" an old grain bin she moved into her yard to create an outdoor kitchen/BBQ/social area. The same gal whom I helped with the old piano-> Wine bar. She's always got unusual projects going.

My back is doing great, the feelings in my lower legs and feet, I can't say are back, but weekly they feel 'different'. I assume this is normal as the spinal cord "decompresses" and the nerves begin to reconnect. I'll report back after my appointment Tuesday.

Hey guys, Slept in until almost 8. Made me a nice cup of coffee and relaxed. Walked up to the post office and the temps were higher than I expected for that time of the day. Windier than I care for too. Feels like that blast furnace Marc was describing the other day. It was 100 yesterday, only 94 now but they say it'll still reach 100.

Church in a couple hours, then Molly is having us over for a bon voyage supper for Leo. Kind of jealous of his upcoming trip. Ah, to be young and having no real ties to worry about.

Hey guys, Windy and HOT today.

Nothing really on the agenda. Taking GGD over to the 'city' so she can stay with her daddy over the weekend, after he gets off work. Monday is going to be busy. Leo flies out of the 'city' to go to France to visit his college running teammate for a month and a half. We are dropping him off at the airport at 5am (plane leaves at 6am), then go by and pick up GGD and take her back to her mother.

Hey guys, busy day here.

Nice, breezy and warm.

Actually worked today. Helping spray finish on a project. Sprayed 10 gallons of Lacquer through an Airless sprayer. Sand and repeat. Still have probably 5 gallons more to spray tomorrow.

Hey guys, been busy since we got home from KC. Cloudy and cooler today but no rain yet.

Feeling better all the time. Still have a couple weeks before I go back to see the doctor and hopefully have some of my restrictions eased.

Hey guys, was up early and left for Casey. We have GGD with us and had to stop an extra time. But she’s a really good traveler. Not a whole lot of complaining from her. Hard to believe she’s almost 3.

It was cloudy most of the way here. But, it was pretty warm, saw hi of 83°.

Those farm implements look pretty good Letty. There’s still plenty of good farm ground in western Kansas.

Morning guys... another pretty day coming here, Sunny, cool (for now) and light breezes. Headed to the low 90s this afternoon. May actually have to turn the AC on...might be a good test to see how the new unit is going to work.

Have haircuts this afternoon, not a minute too soon.

GGD and I are playing while grandma Rosie is on a bike ride.

Hey guys, Up and out early to pickup GGD. She was Soooooo happy to see me, makes my heart melt.

Spent most of the day playing with her. Pretty day with highs in the low 80s

Time for bed....

Hey guys, beautiful day here. Sunny, light breezes and high in the mid 70s.

I was able to go for three nice walks. Had a friend call and ask for some advice on a project she is working on. She told me she'd come by later and bring me some ice cream. When she came by we were just finishing up BBQing some burgers and so we invited her to eat with us. had to twist her arm a little but she did stay then we had a nice evening just out on the deck.

Tomorrow we head north to pick up GGD. We've been missing her something awful.

Morning guys... I bit of rain overnight, but sunny cool and calm this morning.

Nothing really planned for today, except church.

We get to go get the GGD on Monday. We really miss her.

Morning guys, cloudy, cool and damp this morning. Looking for highs in the low to mid 70s.

Nothing really on the agenda today.

Gris only if they are lib judges.......

Hey guys, nice day today. Didn't do much... what a surprise (haha).

That's all there is, Tommy. (Love that song). I've run out of gas once. Tried to go to the next town because the gas was 2 cents cheaper.... NEVER again.

I was thinking about the same song, Marc.

Still no rain, but it feels like it could at any second.

Up and around this morning. Breezy already as a low pressure system is coming through and they are predicting some rain this morning. One moved through last night and dropped a little more than a half inch.

Telehealth appointment this afternoon. Looking forward to having restrictions eased some. I still don't want to get carried away, but this sitting around watching TV is getting a bit old. Although I have found some pretty neat channels playing some old shows, like the Alfred Hitchcock channel. I really like the twists in those stories. Another one is the How it's Made channel.

I hope everyone here has a great day.

Morning guys....

Morning guys... Going to be warm today...into the low 90s, sunny and breezy.

I slept well, and no Tylenol. I have telehealth visit tomorrow. Hopefully they will allow me a little more freedom.

Morning guys... Going to be warm today...into the low 90s, sunny and breezy.

I slept well, and no Tylenol. I have telehealth visit tomorrow. Hopefully they will allow me a little more freedom.

Hey guys, everyone must be getting a late start.

Pretty day here, sunny, seasonably warm (78 right now, 1:30) and light breezes. Got a message from my back doc telling me I can walk as much as I want as long as it doesn't hurt. So, instead of a 10 minute walk I went for almost 30 minutes.

Watching the Royals now, hopefully they can pull out another win.

Morning guys...

Hey guys, was up and around and was going to post somethung here, but saw COR123 post about Jr and the Corvette team reunion and watched that a very cool 3 hours....

Anyway it is sunny and warming up here. I did break away from the video to go on a short walk. Rosie mowed and went for a bike ride while I was busy watching that vid. Now we are getting close to needing to get ready for church.

I must admit, this "taking it easy" is for the birds. Not enjoying this at all. On a side note, I've not had any Tylenol (or any other pain meds) for more than 36 hours, no pain whatsoever...well, my hips feel a little 'heavy' when I walk, but not painful.

Glad you are able to relax around the pool, Letty, even though it's too cool to get in.

That was a very cool watch!

That was a very cool watch!

Hey guys, been a busy day here. Up and out the door to the 'city' to pick up the couch. Took it over to have the arm re-upholstered as one of the granddogs, put their claw through the leather and it was just getting bigger. Picked up GS#1 at his house so he could help load it. Got back just in time to head to Colorado to visit our holistic doctor. Then back home stopping for lunch at this greasy spoon Mexican place with amazing food. Got home, ran some errands and now waiting for Leo, Molly and her hubby to come move the couch back in the house.

Been a pretty day mostly sunny and in the mid 70s.

Hey guys, Got a late start today. Felt really good all day yesterday as soon as I laid down in bed I got a slow, throbbing pain starting in my butt cheek and running down to the back of my knee. Wasn't horribly painful, but I couldn't get comfortable to sleep. So about midnight, I decided to go downstairs to my Lazy-boy and rest there. By then the achiness was set in and finally about 1:30 I took some Tylenol. That took the edge off and slept lightly (I heard the clock ding off every hour, 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4hour, except 4am) until 5 when I finally went back to bed. Finally slept until almost 9.

Doctor and his nurses told me I would experience some of that and that it was 'normal'. Not a great nights sleep though.

Happy birthday Letty! Tommy get those things taken care of. Marc, sun just broke through here a bit, then went back into hidding. We did get another 1.1" of rain last night.

Was AWOL yesterday as I was picked up early by #2 and Leo to run up to Hays to tour the University there (Fort Hays State University) as Leo is going to school there next year. They have the program he's wanting to do, Construction Management. This is the school I graduated from back in '79 with my BS and again in '82 with my MS, so it was a homecoming for me.

We attended the Welcome, then a senior student took us on a tour of the campus. I immediately noticed that the building I spent all those hours in was gone and a new building in it's place and several other new building around campus. Then lastly we went over to the new home of the department. As we were walking over to it, Molly is telling Leo we were meeting with his advisor. I asked her who we were meeting with as I figured we would have to look for the name on the correct office. She told me we are meeting with Kim Stewart. Kim Stewart? I asked, Kim and I were classmates up here during my undergrad work. I knew that he had returned to FHSU years ago, but figured he had retired long ago.

When we walked into the building, there another student and his mom attending the meeting as well, and they were leading, When Kim came out and met us. He looked at me and said, Tom! How are you doing and what are you doing here? It was a nice reunion. Probably hadn't seen one another in close to 40 years. He is now Department Chairman. I have a good feeling about having Leo going to school there.

After the visit, we went across town to see a place where he is going to be staying. Local friends, they have older kids that have attended school there, so they purchased a house there that they could live there cheaper than the dorm, and have told Leo he could rent. Nice place, and not too terrible far from Campus. After finding the house we decided we'd better find something to eat, so I did a quick search and found this place called "Professors Classic Sandwiches". I told Molly and Leo, I wonder if that is a remnant for My time there 45+ years ago that was called "Professor Pittewurst" a place we used to go to back in the day. The address I told them is about the same. So we headed that way and was telling them how the building set back from the street and just then we pulled up and it's the same place. We go in and we meet an middle aged lady, who is either the owner or manager, who welcomes us. "Have you been here before?" she asked. I said "The last time I was here it was called Professor Pittewurst." She looked at me funny and said, "Well, that was a LONG time ago, but we are the same place just a new name." As it turned out, she was just a small child when her parents opened it back then and then told me the 6 original sandwiches were still on the menu, but they had expanded the menu. I ordered the same sandwich I used to get 47 years ago. she was tickled to have us there and relive a few memories. BTW, the sandwich was still just as good as it was back then.

Made it home with lots of good memories. Today, just chilling a bit.

Morning guys....

Cool, cloudy and damp today. Highs, they say in the upper 50s. Nothing really on the agenda. I got around 2 miles in again yesterday. Will make every attempt to get at least that in again today.

Praying for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this great country, today.

I did NOT watch any of the 500 yesterday, and haven't heard a word about it, so must not have been much of a race, or it didn't happen. ?????

Morning guys...

Matt I'm doing good. Took Tylenol at about 9am this morning and haven't had any since. I'll take some when we go to bed, as it will sometimes keep me from sleeping comfortably. Tomorrow marks one week since surgery and I'm doing better than I had thought I would be.. not better than I hoped, but better than I thought.

Hey guys, we did make it home Friday evening. Only about a 7 hour trip. Stopping a couple extra times for walk. Yesterday, I walked 5 different times for a total of around 2 miles. Church yesterday and then #2 invited us over for supper. Hubby grilled chicken. late last night, had a thunderstorm roll through, dropped about 3/4", but they are predicting more tonight...we'll take every drop.

Not much on the agenda today, walks throughout the day. Might try to watch a little bit of the 500 later.

Morning guys... another eventless night, just what I was hoping for... post-op that is. Not expecting any other events for a while.

We are heading home here about noonish. The typical 6 1/2 hour drive will probably be closer to 8, I guessing today with extra stops for getting out and walking/stretching.

I think that recovery is moving along about as expected. Only walked a bit over a mile yesterday.

Tommy go see the doc and consider having your back fixed, I don't think you'll regret it. Matt, I've always liked those retro style wheels on that gen Camaro.

Have a great day! I'll check in again later today or tomorrow morning.

Marc, "NO Nsaids" Tylenol only as per Doctors orders. Told me Nsaids increases chance of bleeding.

Letty, he also told me "Walk as much as you can. Walking will help the healing process."

Morning guys...I can relate to your dilemma Tommy. I can say this, I felt cool and wetness for the first time in years in the soles of my feet the last couple of days. The neuropathy is much reduced as well. I won't say this is a cake walk, but I have high hopes that this cures a lot of my discomfort issues. Doc explained how, in my case at least, the nerves being compressed are like a couch sitting on a carpet floor, and when you move the couch the ents are still there for a while. It sometimes takes a while for the carpet to adjust...he also went on to say sometimes it never completely does. Those are odds I have chosen to take. What I get back, I get back. What I don't, I don't. Last night to get comfortable enough to sleep I did take 2 reg strength Tylenol. Then again at 4am.

Walked 2 miles yesterday, That might have had something to do with the discomfort at bedtime. Just back from a short walk, think I'll try to be a bit more conservative today.

Hey guys, another pretty good night here. I was able to lay on my left side for more than just a few minutes, something I haven't been able to do for months. Doc says walking is best for me, "Walk as much and as often as you can stand". So I've been up and around walking, not fast, but walking.

Sun is shining here and it's reasonably warm, 64 now, at 1 pm headed to low 70s this afternoon.

Keep working at those birds Tommy, just remember they are opportunists and will continue to come back where there is an easy meal.

A C8, just what you need Marc.

Letty, don't stress it, it'll get done when it gets done...if they ain't in any hurry to get it to you, then they ain't in any hurry to get 'er done.

Gris, glad you guys are finally drying up a bit.

WEll, good evening guys. Went in the the hospital at 5:45am Monday. Was prepped and in the OR by 7am out in the recovery about 11:30. Was pretty loopy, I guess, for a while. Rosie was worried about me... not sure why, I had just been under anesthesia for more than 5 hours. Finally got more "normal" and was feeling much better. Walked some around suppertime. Had a good night other than up every 30-45 minutes peeing in the cup 32-34 oz every hour, then having to call the nurse in to dump it. No pain meds all night or even now 11pm Tuesday. They released me this morning. We are not going home until Friday, staying here with #3 daughter.

Feelings coming back in soles of my feet already. Have felt 'wet' and cold floors for the first time in years. At this point in time, I'm glad I had it done.

Hey guys, mine is L4 and L5, but not arthritis. Doc said everything lines up correctly until L4 and it is offset by about a 1/4" pinching the spinal column and causing my numbness and tingling in my lower legs and feet. He's very confident that this 'minimally invasive'(4 small incisions) surgery will alleviate those issues. Time will tell and I have high hopes.

Headed to KC in the morning.

Hey guys, back from picking up GGD...she's growing up so fast. she is down for a nap right now.

Beautiful drive up there and back. Beautiful day, sunny, clear, warm albeit, a bit windy.

Hey guys, Knights served breakfast after Mass today. I came home after that (about 11ish) and told Rosie, "We need to take James out for a drive." So while she went for a short bike ride, I pimped on James. When she got back, we jumped in James and headed northwest to see my sister. She's been experiencing some health issues and we just needed to go see her. On the way up Rosie asks "When did you have James out last?" I had her look back in my 'diary/log' book and the last time it was out was when we came back from Wisconsin in late July. I did start it up a few times over the winter.. new battery and oil change. Had a nice visit and headed home.

Cleaned up James and put him back on the lift, then washed the Caddy, as we go get GGD tomorrow morning.

New Pope... should be OK...I'll wait to see how liberal he is. If he follows in the footsteps of the previous one, he'll be.. eh, alright.