Tuesday, October 16, 2012

GIMP, GIMP…SNAP, SNAP


Today was simply gorgeous here along the river…beautiful light, stunning color—though mostly yellows, golds, and rusty tans—and a spectacular blue sky. The shot above of the Cottage Riffle and a nice sycamore on the island, plus the slightly downstream view from just beyond the front door, were taken in early afternoon during the one attempt I made to gimp my way outside for a few minutes.

I'm gimping because I somehow managed to injure my left Achilles tendon Saturday after Myladylove and I had visited our family doctor for our annual check-ups in the morning. Except for the usual blood work yet to be done, the exam went well. We celebrated by going out to lunch, and then ambling around a nearby flea market for a couple of hours before returning home. By evening, I was beginning to notice some tenderness, which had developed into mild soreness by bedtime.

Around 3:00 a.m. Sunday I awoke in a fair amount of pain, and as the night wore on, the pain increased. By morning the tendon—plus the whole rear portion of my ankle, from heel upwards nearly to the calf—was puffed out with swelling, throbbing, and desperately sensitive to even the lightest touch. I could do little except keep it elevated, try the occasional salts-bath soak, rub with sports cream, and attempt to not sound like too much of wimp when I moved my leg a millimeter. Which you'd think would be easy for someone with a high-pain tolerance who's blithely gone through life banging and battering himself up…but confound it, it hurt

Anyway, I spent Sunday camped out in the recliner, reading, snacking, listening to music, snacking, and watching the tube. I snacked a lot, too. The swelling was still fairly sore yesterday—too sore to think about getting out and about—and only a little less sore today. So my fall color photography has been necessarily limited. 

However, I have high hopes for tomorrow…

12 comments:

The Solitary Walker said...

I hope you are up and about again soon, Grizz. Truly gorgeous autumn colours!

Grizz………… said...

Solitary…

Thankfully, the tendon seems much better this morning—still stiff, but not sore. I'm going to try a day out on it. You know, as many leg/foot injuries as I've had over the years—including once being told by a doctor that until I limped and moaned myself into his surgery, he hadn't realized, from a medical standpoint, that it was actually possible to sprain an ankle that bad—you'd have thought a swollen Achilles tendon would be no big deal. But it hurt like the dickens…or maybe I'm just getting older and wussier. Or both.

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ - good news about your yearly check-ups! "YAY"! Not so much about your swollen ankle, tendon, calf and pain. Ouch! I saw on one of your comments that today is better, I am glad for you.
We each had our doctor visits, flu shots and all of our blood work was VERY good!We are so relieved, blessed and ready to take on the world, well, our adventures anyways as of late! And FYI" Do you remember that my nc-name is "Gimpy", my Dad nic-named me that when I broke my ankle (falling of a barn roof) when I was eleven!! It will be 28 years he has passed away this October 22nd, and it is SO odd to not have my Mom ere to remember him with. Oh how I miss her, miss the both. sigh.
any-who - it is a glorious day and I plan on being a vital part of it.
Love Gail
peace...

Carolyn H said...

Griz:

Don't overdo with your trying out the gimpy tendon today!

George said...

Beautiful autumn colors, Grizz, but I'm sorry about that problem with the Achilles tendon. Good luck on a quick recovery.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Yup, the check-ups were good news, though we both still have some tests to run. But really don't expect any problems there.

Myladylove had a dental appointment this morning (possible root canal, which luckily turned out to be nothing more than a cracked filling) that I chauffeured her to…and which, in the usual scheme of the way we manage these things, turned out to be only the first of several stops which ended up consuming the entire day. But also—probably more for me than her—fun. And the tendon held up though lots of walking, standing, cart-pushing, driving, etc. The rest of my body probably feels worse, actually. So I believe I'm okay.

Hey, I did, indeed, remember your nickname when writing the post, and rather expected you to comment. I would have been disappointed if you hadn't.

My father passed away in June of 1983…and not a day passes that I don't think about and miss him. While that happened almost three decades ago, which I know is a long time gone, there's a part of me that still imagines him just walking through the door. Mom died in July, 2005. Much more recent. Yet both Dad and Mom remain equally fresh in my mind and heart. I don't think that ever goes away; I sure hope not. You're fortunate in having your sister. A part of that life—those days—you knew remain in someone to whom you can talk and share. As an only child, that's not possible for me. I have my daughter, but she's fundamentally removed from the times—the era—of my own growing up. To her, it's history. To me, it was life.

But…life goes on and is meant to be lived. Not yesterday or tomorrow, today. Always today. As I know you understand: "It is a glorious day and I plan on being a vital part of it." That's everything in a nutshell.

Grizz………… said...

Carolyn H.…

Well, I sorta did, by as much circumstance as plan…but I seem to have gotten away with it. But when a couple of hours out turned into nine, I must say I wondered how I'd feel by the time I made it home. Rain her tomorrow so no rambles afield. :-(

Grizz………… said...

George…

Today turned out much life yesterday, except even warmer—something in the low-70s. But what I saw of the leaves and colors while running around was splendid. Beautiful color! At least for here, this year.

I think I'm fairly well recovered, which is amazing considering how stiff the ankle was yesterday. Don't know what happened, but today everything felt back to normal—and withstood my unintended all-day test.

Gail said...

HI AGAIN - I really feel the 'oneness' of which you write in holding memories of your Mom & Dad. I am very blessed to share a family history with my Sis - My Dad passed away in 1984, sigh.......I miss him every day and remember him every day. My Mom? It is still an open wound - and also, she is everywhere, her love is HUGE.
It warms me all over that you remember my nic-name, "Gimpy"....:-), my Mom still called me that "Gimpy-Gays", or "The Gimp". I can hear her voice as I write, my Dad's too.....my heart is full.
Well, it is another beautiful day here in Connecticut. Skipp left early to head over to our new place to "edge" all the colors in the rooms so tomorrow and Saturday he can roll the walls.....it is coming together. Some not so good news is that the buyer for our place with-drew her offer.....so we are back at square one in that regard. Still, I/we know all will work out as it should.
Hope each day your ankle/calf/tendon is better and that all the tests you and Becky have come back with good reports. Keep the hearth fire burning and a pot of whatever simmering and know that a gal from Connecticut thinks you are a terrific guy.
Love Gail
peace....

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Love endures…wounds heal. Though losing a loved and loving parent takes time—and I don't think you ever quite get over that loss.

I hope you guys can work things out easily and satisfactorily on selling your old place and getting into your new one. Have faith.

A great day here now, though this morning was dark and raining. More rain is said to be on the way for tomorrow, however, so the sunshine probably won't last. The ankle is well. No stiffness or swelling, no pain, so yesterday's long, active day didn't hurt it anew.

Take care, be good, enjoy…

AfromTO said...

Love the bench photo, I finally get a human feeling from this shot unlike your usual anonymous snaps. I know you love your secrecy.(just poking the bear a bit)

Grizz………… said...

AfromTO…

I wanted a comfortable place to sit and watch the river, so I built the deck and bench. A second deck is located off to the immediate right, and runs across the front (riverside) end of the cottage. This deck and view is the left side, barely a step beyond the doorway.

Secretive? Ummm, more cautious and complicated, perhaps. Of course there is that bridge.… ;-)