I just got back for mass and breakfast. I went to my favorite restaurant this morning, but the waitress that I always have didn't know me at all. I had to finally tell her how she would remember me and she finally did. That's as bad as Margo not knowing who I was in a picture after I cut my beard and hair. I do look in the mirror each day and try to remember what I look like with hair and a beard. My beard is starting to come back, but it sure doesn't look like it once did. The last time I had to wait for a beard to grow back was 1971 when I shave it to get a job. When the guy saw me with my beard cut off he told me I looked better with a beard, so it's OK to grow it again. When I joined the Research Institute of America a year later I had a beard and when I went to the first National meeting I tried to get into the meeting room but the National sales manager stopped me because he said no one with RIA had a beard. I then pointed to my regional manager and he came over and got me in the door. He then told my regional manager that I had to shave my beard. We then had a big discussion and I said that if I was not successful in the first six months that I would shave it off. As it turned out I was back at the home office in five months,in the training class that is usually after a person is with the company for at least a year. The same National Sales Manager greeted me at the meeting room door and said that I still needed to shave my beard. Until the man was let go two years later, he always told me to shave that damn beard. The man that replaced him grew a beard and mustache then became the president of RIA. So that's why I have always kept my beard and mustache. I never did get to be President of RIA however. I thought I was going to be, but then I got that call, and that ended that.
Enough of that, I have been working with my left arm as much as possible. I'm trying to us it the way I normally do. Brushing my teeth is quite a chore. It is very difficult with the bandage on to get my elbow to bend all the way to make it easy to maneuver. It's the same when I try to use it to eat. I can get it most of the way up to my mouth, but it just isn't quite the same. I tried to open a jar of pickles yesterday but no luck. I just can apply any pressure without it starting to hurt. There are things that I can do that make it seem that it OK, but then other things just can't be done. My blood sugar is getting much better. I'm not using any insulin any more. I have to be very careful, but it is working. I cooked Sharon and me a steak and mashed potatoes the other night. That was the first time for some time we had that. I took Sammy and we went to the Essen House yesterday morning for the buffet. We went to surprise Sharon, but she left early and we actually passed her on the way. We still went and had breakfast anyway. Sammy had a cinnamon roll and some bacon and I had eggs and sausage and bacon. It was good to get out and see all the regulars at the restaurant on Saturday morning.
We finally sold the tanning bed after we heard about the Cancer scare if someone under thirty used it regularly. Apparently the people that bought it didn't care or didn't read about the study. I would never get in anything that closed me in like that thing anyway. I remember a James Bond film when they locked someone in a steam tub one time. You'll never get me in anything like that.
My big day is going to be watching the final round of the PGA, my money is still on Tiger. I know I'm stepping out on a limb, but I love to take chances as you all know. If I feel the urge, I might also go to the gym. I didn't go yesterday and I should have. I still lost two more lbs and am now down to 242lbs. I feel a little light headed the past two days, but I think it's just from not getting enough exercise or something. I don't have it when I work out, but I get head rushes when I get up from sitting and watching TV etc. I'm also not sleeping too well because I like to sleep on my left side and I can't get my left arm under my head the way I normally sleep. I try to do it braced with pillows and sticking up, but it wakes me up when I move at night and try to put it under my head. I'm sure it will be OK when I get the bandages off.
That's all for today.
Tom
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Hi Tom, My name is Barbara Pope Longmeier. I went to school at LCC 1960.If you remember, good, if not , that's okay too.Tom Whitney sent me your address and I've been following everyday. I recently had surgery on my left arm (pinched nerve in my elbow) It's called a Cubital tunnel. Kinda like carpal tunnel of the arm. I'v got a 10 inch scar. I had 43 staples. Tell them to numb the area before they take them out as those little suckers HURT. I also found that I could sleep better if I laid on my right side with a big pillow beside me which I laid my left arm on. Aren't you supposed to keep it elavated?
ReplyDeleteAny way, just wanted to let yuou know that I've been following your blog. Keep up the good work.
Barbara Longmeier
blt4042@verizon.net
Barbara: I remember you, it's been a long time however. You know Tom W and I both left LCC at our Junior year but a lot of people don't remember that so we just slip back it when it comes time for the reunions. An you are right on about how to sleep. I do the exact same thing. I must have ten pillows on my bed anyway, but I have found if I use them to keep my arm elevated and away from rolling on it, sleep comes much faster.
ReplyDeleteI had the staples pulled Tuesday and your correct some of them were did hurt.
I glad that you are following the blog, I hope the news from now on is all positive. I went to the office where I will be having the radiation and they seemed very cooperative. I'm going to have six weeks of five days a week but they said they would work with me to make it as easy as possible.
Are you living in Lima? My brother David lives in Elida, but the rest of the family is in and around Lima, but no one actually lives there since my parents died in 2000.
Thanks again
Tom tdm3ltd@aol.com