Medical Issues/Recovery – The Laughing Wolf

Summer Bleg Update II

I posted this on GiveSendGo yesterday and thought I would share it here as well. If you want to know more about some of the challenges, will be glad to share a bit more, just let me know. Meantime, here we go:

First of all, my thanks to all who have donated! Anonymous or open, you are truly helping me to build and start a new life. For all that I have been blessed during and after being hit by lightning, I do seriously discommend being hit.

Right now, my main focus is on covering the cost of seminary classes. I took one this spring just to test how things would go. The cognitive testing I’ve had indicated that I was back to “normal” as in the ability range of an average adult and should be able to take a class. However, the doctor who gave me those tests also talked with me on the QT about one issue being to ensure the conditions to form new memories were there. The first course, which I loved, gave me a chance to try, modify, and verify things that could help ensure that I did form memories and retain the material. Not going to lie, though, it was a challenge.

Now, I need to see how that applies to doing two classes at once, and start looking at how things might go in a typical class. What I’ve done so far is distance learning on an asynchronous basis, meaning I can do parts of the class on my schedule rather than the courses schedule. However, I need eventually to be able to take regular classes and have what I need to do well in them. This is a step towards that.

There are other things going on as well. There are bills, there are some things I would like to do if possible here in the U.S., and ultimately I would like to do a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands and to go back to the monasteries that have invited me to come back for a longer visit. Taking care of all of those would be nice, but the key right now is covering the costs of the seminary classes, which are a major ouch.

Your gifts and prayers have gotten me this far on the road to recovery from being hit by lightning. With your help, and with the help and guidance of the Lord, the right things will happen for us all. Thank you.

So, thought this might help flesh out some of what is going on and why. I am being very deliberate for a number of reasons. Thought I should share a bit of that with you.

Summer Bleg

Summer Bleg Update I

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. If you would like to help me with seminary courses, pilgrimages, and more, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. Thank you.

Summer Bleg Update I

Just a quick update in regards the Summer Bleg. After talking with a guidance counselor yesterday (does that ever make me feel like I’m back in high school) and my priest, I signed up this morning for two classes this fall: Church History I and Patristics.

On the first, I’ve long described myself as a student of history. I was blessed to have a couple of good history teachers over the years, with my ninth-grade history teacher really making it come alive for myself and others. I’ve enjoyed what history I’ve picked up on the early Church and how people lived during that time. My hope is that we can and will get into the weeds a bit without having it become a slog of rote memorization of dates and such. The latter is how so many bad teachers kill any love for history, while the former is what makes history come alive.

On the second, Patristic and Conciliar Dogmatics may well be the key to a number of other courses. It will focus a good bit on the work of Saint John of Damascus, who laid out for the early Church it’s dogma (beliefs). That’s a bit of a simplification, but as I currently understand things his work codified those beliefs so that the Church had both a reference and a guide to share as they spread The Word. It will be interesting to see if that is a correct description or not, but understanding those dogmas will help with many other courses.

Any and all help with doing this and other things with walking a different path in a new life is very much appreciated!

A Summer Bleg

UPDATES BELOW

I was going to wait a couple of weeks on this, but an anonymous donor has kicked things off with a $1,000.00 donation towards more seminary courses. I’ve talked a little bit about taking more courses, and there are some other things in work as well, so here we go.

The Winter Bleg only raised about a third of it’s goal. I had enough to go on the pilgrimage, but not enough to cover seminary and more. So, there is some debt that I want very much to eliminate.

On top of that, the experiment that was my first seminary course worked out very well. While it was a challenge, I passed and in fact earned a B+ or A- in the course. It was fun, I learned a lot (both about the material and what I need to do to handle taking a course), and verified that I can keep learning — at least through distance learning. For all that the testing said I should be able to do so, real results were needed to verify that being hit by lightning had not taken away my ability to learn. It hasn’t, though it is a challenge to make sure the conditions to form new memories are present.

What I would like to do next is take two courses this fall. If I can handle two courses and do well in them, that increases the possibility that I could pursue full-time study. The more I do, the better for my brain. Right now, however, I need to test, develop the systems that work for me to handle a larger learning load, and hopefully have some fun even as I learn to learn on multiple levels.

This means, however, that I also need to stay undeclared and a part-time student. Which also means no financial aid. The recent $1k donation is a huge step towards that, as I am looking at around $8k in tuition plus the need to pay off around $3k from last semester.

While I am not planning on any long pilgrimages the rest of this year, I am looking at a couple of short ones here in the United States, and would like to do a bit more if I can. I’m not even going to put a dollar figure on it yet, as seminary comes first but it needs to be in the planning.

So, this summer bleg is focused on taking more seminary courses, and paying off debt. If enough comes in to also do a couple of short pilgrimages here in the U.S., great. But, the thing is to get me where I can continue my studies and try to get my brain in shape for possible full-time studies while developing the systems to support such.

Any and all help would be very much appreciated. Your prayers and gifts have gotten me through some very rough times. They have allowed me to work towards figuring out a new life after the lightning strike. Now, I hope to start truly building that new life.

UPDATE I: Things are off to a slow start, but there is movement. I’ve been talking with guidance at the Seminary and have two courses picked out for the fall semester pending some approval and blessings. More details once those approvals and blessings come in. Also, thank you to whomever sent the item off my Amazon wish list. Again, any and all help is appreciated. One course was a challenge, but I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes with two courses.

Today I Turn 5

Today, I am five-years-old. No joke. My life ended five years ago.

You see, today is my “Alive Day.” Among the mil-community, there is a concept that your Alive Day is the day that, but for the Grace of God, you should have died. It’s possible to have more than one Alive Day, and in fact I’m one of those who does have more than one.

In fact, if you hang around a number of the military/veteran blogs, you will see comments to posts like this one with someone grumping that they have several alive days. It is a sad bit of chest-thumping, but it is chest-thumping that can serve some good by getting all of us to sit down and give thanks for all the times God has spared our lives.

But, there is always that one big one. The one that truly ended your previous life and left you starting a new one. Sometimes radically so, as you face TBI and cognitive issues, loss of limbs or chunks, paralysis, etc. Sometimes it is more subtle: I knew someone in college who was in a car wreck, and was a totally different person afterwards. Radical personality change is a polite and understated description.

Five years ago today, at roughly 0445 hours, the life I had ended. A bolt of lightning hit a tree just off the porch where I was drinking coffee and reading the news. The doctors who have treated me since still have academic debates about what happened. The best/most likely scenario, worked out with those who actually work with the patients and one doctor who specializes in treating lightning strike and high-voltage electrical shock survivors, is that I did take a direct hit just behind my right ear plus got a load of inductance.

The good thing was, the right side took the brunt of things and the flow through my body. It exited my right foot via the ball of the foot (podiatrist was unsurprised at that), melted through my shoe and left a “scar” on the bottom of the shoe where it ran off. I’ve described the mental process here before, but will just say that the part of me that is me stayed alert and “thinking” even as my world turned white, then dark. Before the lights came back on, I wondered if I would see heaven, hell, or something else when they did come back on. I admit relief that I saw the porch when the lights came back on. In fact, I was convinced for a bit that I hadn’t been hit, and even said a prayer of thanks to God and the Theotokos that I was alive and it had missed me. Even then, part of me knew it was by Grace that I was alive.

You can read one account of what I felt at the time here; and, you can read up on this particular journey here. The high-level overview is that since then I’ve had open heart surgery, both shoulders replaced, found out that my right ear qualifies for a hearing aid but getting one is useless as about half the nerves are fried, dealt with a number of digestive system issues, and have spent more time in hospitals and doctor’s offices than I care for. I’ve fired a couple of doctors and found at least one good new doc. The oddest things that have happened are that I had to relearn how to sing, my eyes changed colour, and garbanzo beans/chick peas now can put me in the hospital. Some of the most effective things that have happened are speech/cognitive therapy, physical therapy, and massage therapy.

The best thing that has happened are several things that all tie together in one thing. Before I was hit, I was an unhappy Roman Catholic. Traditional Catholicism was being attacked from within and without, and the church I had been attending was no longer an option. Trying to find a new one near to me was frustrating. So, I widened my search parameters online and otherwise, and almost immediately three different things pointed me not only to Orthodoxy, but to one particular church. Not too long after I started attending that church, a change in cardiologist (much needed) raised the possibility of more open-heart surgery and I even thought a bit about a transplant (I decided no at the time).

Then, I was baptized into Orthodox Christianity. Not long after, a day of heart imaging showed that not only did I not need more surgery, but that all the damage from the strike had been healed. There was also some other healing physical, mental, and spiritual. That is an ongoing process. I began sharing that here, and elsewhere, but tried to keep it low-key in many respects. Turning the blog into an online ‘Hour of Glower’ was not and is not the plan as it is the fastest way to send people running rapidly away. Faith is a part of everyday life, and I think sharing it that way is the best way.

Today, I am five-years-old. No joke. My life ended five years ago. When I stood up again, the person I had been and the life I had were gone. Nor do I want them back. I was given the opportunity to live a new life and to grow into a new and better person through that process. There is more I could say, and over time I will share it. For now, there is one thing I think it very important to state for the record.

Today, I am five-years-old. Thank you to all my readers who have been with me over the years, particularly these last few years. Thank you to all my readers who have joined in since I started my new life. Thank you to all who just pop in every now and then. Your prayers, your support, and your gifts have kept me going and helped me to heal and grow. You have all been a valuable and important part of this new life, and I can’t thank you enough for that.

I think my journey is about to accelerate, and I hope you will all come along for the ride. In addition, there are some fascinating developments underway in space exploration and exploitation, interesting medical research, and a good bit more that I hope to share. And to my veteran friends and readers, if I ever do go ‘Hour of Glower’ you are free to have a verbal sock party and set me straight.

There is more, much more I suspect, to come. After all, I’m only five-years-old today.

If you would like to help me with this trip, seminary courses, and more, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. I’ve added Cash App ($CliffPow7) and Venmo (@Clifford-Powers-5). There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. Getting hit by lightning is not fun! It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Pilgrimage: Rainy And Cold Wednesday

Yesterday proved to be a good day to concentrate on my seminary class as it was cold, overcast, and a bit wet. The sun did peak out for a little bit midday, but it really was another wee gra da.

A good day to stay inside for the most part, which worked out well as the lecture turned out to be four hours instead of two. I was not entirely thrilled with that, but it is what it is. Taking the class is an experiment on and for me.

After the lightning strike, I had some short- and long-term memory issues. One of the therapists explained the long-term issues as being from my root directory getting trashed, and the brain having to figure out where everything was stored again. Most was good, but there were some odd gaps and I still occasionally “find” a memory that was misfiled.

The short-term memory issues we spent a lot of time dealing with via coping mechanisms. I still use a number of them, and live by lists to this day. If I don’t have a list, things often don’t get done. I have gotten to where I will, often, remember those things but it can be a while. As in days or weeks, not hours.

According to the latest round of cognitive testing I did last year, the neurologists say my memory is fine. Unofficially, the doc who oversaw the testing had a talk with me about the fact that it’s not that I can’t remember things; rather, it is that the conditions to form new long-term memories are not always present. In fact, they may not be present a good bit of the time.

Yes, the testing can be gamed and yes I have gamed the tests (I still do good at pattern recognition). Not long after I got struck, insurance and others (who stood to make a lot of money off it courtesy of federal funding) pushed home care and assisted living — hard. I wasn’t interested in that at all, and like being independent. So, I played the game with the tests even though there were downsides (including financial).

I’ve been trying to do some of the things that can provide the right conditions for long-term memory development with the class. It’s not natural for me and frankly I’m absent minded and as a result don’t always do what I should. It is one reason I make extensive notes, as the process of writing can help with retention as does repetition. Give me a few thousand times and I will eventually memorize the Trisagion Prayers. A few thousand times is not always an option for a class.

One thing with doing this class and doing the open-book tests with this class is that it helps me to determine how well I could do in a traditional class. Sad thing is, I’m not sure I would do well in a traditional class. In fact, right now, I’m pretty sure I would not. Got to do some serious thinking about such, and give the issue up to God. Meantime, I want to pass the class and if possible, do well at it. I can be a touch competitive on occasion, and this time it is in part with myself and what I used to be capable of doing. I don’t want to just pass, I want to ace it. Probably not going to happen, but…

Meantime, working the logistics for Mount Athos hard. Plan to go out in a bit and see if I can find out when a church near me is having services, and also check on a couple of others. Meantime, I’ve booked a day trip to go visit Rila on Saturday, and have my second cooking class tomorrow. Need to hit the Women’s market today or tomorrow morning to shop for fresh goods (milk, eggs, cheese, fresh veggies, etc. Also, see if the shoe guy is open again so I can get my fuzzy slippers. With temps dropping back down into the 30s at night, want them. Life is too short not to have fuzzy slippers.

Also, am amused at watching trucks and other vehicles back down the street out front. Since it doesn’t connect on one end, most traffic has to back down. Watching the garbage truck back down each day is entertaining.

Onwards!

Winter Bleg 26 5 March

First and foremost: THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to my Winter 26 Bleg! Particular thanks go out to Vodka Pundit for his post at Instapundit that brought most or all of you here. In addition to the automated thank you, I’ve hopefully sent a quick thank you to everyone I could. To all of you who donated anonymously, please accept my thanks! I also very much appreciate all the comments of support, prayers, and more that have been given. I also want to thank JC and LB for sending me something off my Amazon Wish List. I’ve made all the items needed for the pilgrimage highest priority, so they should show up first.

All the gifts, all the prayers and thoughts, and all of YOU are very much appreciated. Please help spread the word, as there is still a ways to go. THANK YOU!

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, and to start a truly new life, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Winter 26 Bleg

I hate to do this, as your kind gifts over the last 4.5 years have kept me going. Right after I was hit by lightning that June, and things started going South rather rapidly, quite a few of you stood up and helped me out as I dealt with health issues, health bureaucracy, and general bureaucracy. At that time, I wanted nothing more than to get better and move to the desert SW. As I look out at the roughly inch of snow that fell here this morning, there is a part of me that still very much wants to move there.

That said, about 3.5 years ago, I found a new Church home and my desire for a new life took on a new meaning. It was something long building, as I had for years thought there was something I was supposed to be doing, though I wasn’t sure what it was that I was to do. It literally took getting hit by lightning to have a moment of clarity, and to slowly (I am a bit thick and slow) realize that the end doesn’t matter, only the path. Bit more on this later in the post.

It took more than three years to get a small monthly stipend going, and during that time your gifts literally allowed me to live as I had no real income during that time. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate those gifts, and all the prayers that came with them. Both mean more than I can ever truly express. Which is why I hate to ask for more, but my stipend is not huge and while things are improving, there is more to do than I can cover.

So, I’m going to do a formal Bleg. Haven’t done this in a while, but here’s what I’m looking at over the next year or so.

First up, keeping the blog up and the lights on costs about $500 right now. I’ve got some fairly stable hosting that at least sorta-handles Instalanches and the like. There are support services that help keep the spam at bay, and things running smoothly (or at least relatively so). I would not mind doing a bit more, and expenses could go up if I start doing more video and the like as planned.

Second, I am doing an experiment right now by taking a seminary course as a remote-learning non-degree student. I will note that if I do change to pursue a degree or certificate, everything should count towards that. The last round of neurological testing done last year said I should be able to take a course and pass it. I will also note the doctor who did the testing and I had an interesting side talk on the fact that I can still form new memories, but that the conditions to form new memories are not always there. So, trying some things, including something told to me by a fellow lightning strike survivor to aid in creating those conditions.

I will admit right now the class is wonderful, I’m truly enjoying it (its on the theology behind the Liturgy, the main worship service for Christians). It is also sometimes overwhelming and almost always like trying to drink from a firehose. It is testing my compensation systems for life, and I’m having to devise new stratagems for handling the loads. Which is good, very good, don’t get me wrong; but, it is not easy and I look back at being able to breeze through some courses with a degree of envy.

It is also expensive given my budget. Right now, looks like the total cost is going to be around $2k for the course. A couple of you have stepped up and covered registration and such, and it is much appreciated. Now, if I do okay with this course, I would like to try again this fall with another course, which will be another $2k (bit more). If that goes well, I would then try two courses, and if that goes well, and I have the blessing of my Priest, I would consider seeking a scholarship and try full-time. That’s in the future, but for this year alone having $4k would be a huge help.

Now, as my regular readers know, I have the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage this spring. I am Eastern Orthodox Christian, and belong to the Bulgarian Patriarchate which means my home Church is in Sophia, Bulgaria. So, I will be going to Sophia and basing out of there. The trip is for spiritual development and discernment, and as such I will be visiting Churches and monasteries (and possibly a seminary) in Bulgaria; will be going up to Bucharest, Romania for a visit (and cooking lessons, more in a bit); and, will be going to Mount Athos is Greece to spend some time there.

For those who don’t know, Mount Athos is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Short version: fairly soon after the start of Church, Christian hermits took up residence there; and, when monastic life became a thing, monasteries were established there; and, during various times of persecution and such, those monasteries became a refuge and many items were stored there.

Getting to visit requires getting a “visa” via an office of the Greek government on the mainland, as Mount Athos is accorded as it’s own territory, almost it’s own country in some ways. You then have to contact the monasteries to arrange to visit. I’ve been approved for my “visa” though I am attempting to change the dates of my visit. My Bishop (our Church has one Bishop for the USA, Canada, and Australia btw) has invited me to join him at one of the monasteries for a special service, and I’m now waiting to hear from the ‘visa office’ on my request to change the dates of my visit.

For all I am working to do this on the cheap, there are still expenses. I got a fairly good deal on the airfare; but, with all the fees and taxes added on it ended up about $1,800. I’ve found some short-term studio apartment rental in Sophia that look good, have stoves and oven, wifi (my seminar class will be finished while on the pilgrimage), and such, for about $33 a day, or a total of around $1,800 with taxes and fees. Several of them offer a service to pick me up and take me back to the airport even. While I’m in Bulgaria and Romania, I want to take some cooking lessons, one of which is Romanian country cooking in the Carpathian mountains. Right now, looking at about $750 for doing those. When one visits and stays at monasteries, they do appreciate donations and so I am budgeting $900 for that. I also want to budget for some hotel expenses as I can’t always stay at monasteries and such, so am adding $700 for that. I’m also budgeting $500 for trains, busses, and other transport. Sadly, given age and the joys of having been hit by lightning, I am having to get trip insurance that includes hospital and medical evacuation. That looks to be $800 (possibly a bit more). So, looking at about $7,250 for the trip itself.

Oh, for the record, if I die or am killed while on the pilgrimage, I’ve given instructions that I am to be buried there. No need to bring me back here, let me rest where I fall. This constitutes full legal notice to any and all parties who may (or may not) have a claim on my estate.

Now, there are some expenses that are not a direct cost, but also need to be considered. First up, a new cell phone. I have a non-numbered model senior-citizen special right now. I would like to upgrade that so I can handle a particular translation app and take better pictures and videos. Several have already asked if I will post pictures and videos, and I actually hope to do so daily. I really want to video some or all of the cooking classes, and various explorations of Churches and more. From the Carpathian mountains to Mount Athos, we are talking some beautiful country and I want to share it with you. Given that my phone won’t even trade in on a new mobile, am budgeting $1,500 for that. I also need a new pair of prescription sunglasses. Insurance will cover part of that, but I’m still going to be out roughly $500 simply because of my prescription (rarely can be ground in store). Not looking for super high end, just a solid pair of glasses and yes I’ve already priced some out. Now that physical therapy and massage therapy have me walking more normally, I need a new pair of Redwings, and those will be about $135. For all that I feel their quality has slipped, these shoes are incredibly comfortable, can handle rough terrain at need, and are safety shoes — which can come in handy. Now, I also am looking at some specialty clothes, including a vest that a priest I know speaks highly of that can even be worn with a cassock (not an issue for me at present) that is pickpocket and RF resistant. Also looking at a couple pairs of pickpocket proof pants and such, and some decent travel pants that can be line dried at need (several of the apartments have washers, no dryers). There are some other miscellaneous things, including the backpack I bought that does not put weight on my artificial shoulders (app $450). So, budgeting about $300 for the miscellaneous (excluding pack). Which makes this part about $2,435.00.

So, I’m looking at a goal of $14,185. That’s a lot, though I admit it should probably be rounded up to $14,500. Heck, the marketing types would probably suggest that or more, but I would be grateful for any of that. Everything helps and is very much appreciated.

Now, I know some people may not want to donate money as that can be misspent, misused, etc. So, I’ve put as much of the clothing and other items for the trip on my Amazon Wish List and made them highest priority, so they should show up first. And, yes, I hope to ship over some things in advance (supplements and other supplies) so I don’t have to carry them in my luggage.

Now, to go back to something mentioned earlier. I am on a path of which I do not know the end, when it comes to this new life. I’m helping at my Church, taking this class to see how well I can handle it, and to, if possible, to push on down that path. It has several possible destinations, from monastic life to the priesthood. I have faith I will be guided to the destination that is right for me. This trip is a part of that process and I am thankful to my Priest and my Bishop for their help, encouragement, and guidance on this journey. And I appreciate your help, your prayers, your gifts in allowing me to make this journey.

Before I forget, I did promise to say more on the cooking lessons. I’ve already contacted and made tentative arrangements for one cooking lesson in Sophia, which will provide an introduction to Bulgarian cooking. There are some other possibilities there as well, but nothing scheduled yet. In Bucharest, I actually may have the chance to take three different classes: one introductory course to Romanian cooking, a cheese-making class, and one where I will be taken into the Carpathian mountains and learn Romanian country cooking. I’m hoping for more really, particularly in Sophia but we will see.

If this goes well, and there is any money left over, I am already thinking about a possible trip to the Holy Lands. Just an idle thought for now, as we need to see how well I do on this trip first, but it is there. And if I can go, I will be reaching out to some people for help in doing a bit more than the normal, as there would be at least three graves I would like to visit that are tied to October 7.

So, with reluctance and hope I make a winter bleg to you. I will be pinning this to the top, or reposting every day, to keep it available this week. I hope to do other, regular, posting as well, but want to push this while I can.

Thank you all for all you have done. I could not have made it this far without your help, your prayers, and your gifts. Your love, if you will. My hope for all of us is that there is much more to come.

Thank you.

UPDATE I: My thanks to G for using Zelle in the Bard’s Jar. You were the first too do so; I hope it went well for you; and, I did get it and it is applied to the trip. Thank you so much!

UPDATE II: First and foremost: THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to my Winter 26 Bleg! Particular thanks go out to Vodka Pundit for his post at Instapundit that brought most or all of you here. In addition to the automated thank you, I’ve hopefully sent a quick thank you to everyone I could. To all of you who donated anonymously, please accept my thanks! I also very much appreciate all the comments of support, prayers, and more that have been given. I also want to thank JC and LB for sending me something off my Amazon Wish List. I’ve made all the items needed for the pilgrimage highest priority, so they should show up first. All the gifts, all the prayers and thoughts, and all of YOU are very much appreciated. Please help spread the word, as there is still a ways to go. THANK YOU!

Cardiology Update/Celebration

Had my six month check-up with my cardiologist, and other than some well-earned comments in regards my having over-indulged in sweets and carbs over the holidays, things are going very well. So well, in fact, that 4.5 years after being hit by lightning, I now only have to see him once a year unless there are problems.

This is a huge milestone in my recovery, and the admonishments were far outweighed by the good comments on my blood work, the workouts I’m doing, and how I plan to proceed with the workouts. His only recommendation was not to do farmer’s carries as they could be very problematic for my shoulders and back. Otherwise, he was quite pleased with things.

It is interesting that about two years ago, when I first switched to him (and am so thankful I did so), the concern was that I would have to have more heart surgery. After my baptism, however, the scans showed that all the damage from the lightning had healed. Doesn’t mean other things can’t happen or I can’t mess up; but, to me it says a lot that things went from bad to fantastic after that significant event.

More to come.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, and to start a truly new life, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Gym

A couple of weeks ago, I was presented the chance to have a free membership at a very nice gym. We are talking one with an indoor track, indoor olympic pool, indoor full-size therapy pool, various basketball/pickleball/etc. courts, and a variety of outdoor areas when the weather is nice. They have a very nice collection of machines and free weights, along with a huge number of classes. While I do like my original free gym, there just is no comparison between the two, and I also now get a discount on my massage therapy.

So, this week I started the process of truly working out again. Boy howdy I’m glad I bought the jumbo bottle of ibuprofen. 🙂 Going to take a while to settle into a good routine, but what I am doing so far is focused on three major areas/goals: core, shoulders (with arms and chest), and legs with focus on strength, endurance, and mobility. Here’s the basics, and does not include some classes I’m looking at to aid in mobility/flexibility/coordination.

My warm-up is several laps around the indoor track, nice walk pushing towards brisk walk. The order then varies but here’s the basics:

Leg press, focusing on endurance and strength, not bulking up. Right now, I’m doing 6 sets of 20 reps at 100 lbs. First set is with feet close center of plate. Second is feet close at top of plate. Third is feet close at bottom of plate. Fourth bottom wide. Fifth center wide. Sixth top wide. Each one works some different muscle groups while getting core. Current plan (plans subject to modification based on expert input) is to work up to about five sets of all, then work up on weight a bit.

I’m doing both leg curls and leg extensions. Again, working on endurance and strength rather than trying to bulk up. With all the leg work, part of what I am doing is trying to get the muscles used to large-scale contraction/release given that they were locked up for so long after the lightning strike. It is making a difference, will be interested to see what the massage therapist says as she encouraged doing something like this rather than just walking/biking. I would also note that all of the lower body is aimed at helping balance, coordination, and mobility as sub-goals within the workout.

I’m also doing hip abductions and related, via working hips and inner/outer thighs. Main focused core for now is ab crunches and back extensions. Want to get my core in shape, build from there while also hopefully taking off some fat I want gone. For the upper body I’m doing seated dips, different lat pulldowns, chest presses, low row, pec/delt, and some light-weight free-weight curls. I finish with 15 minutes on an elliptical to get in some cardio. Given my meds, I have no shot of hitting official target zones, but know where I should try to hit and for how long.

Short-term goals include adding in one more ab exercise and to start carrying weights as I do my warm up. I eventually would like to add in full Farmer’s Carries to the mix (50 lbs or more each hand, do at least one lap before resting) as well as some crawls and springs.

But, going to take the time needed to build up so I get max results and don’t do anything (too) stupid. Per ortho who put in new shoulders, avoiding chin-ups and military press for now, and being careful with bench press and anything related. Need to build up then bulk up shoulders and upper arms, and that will take time. Hoping to come up with the funds to have a trainer work with me once or twice a month to help me get the most out of each exercise and session.

Really looking forward to a couple of the classes. There is a “flow” class that sounds like the body flow class I used to do up in Lafayette years back that was based in part on tai chi. That class kicked my rear and was great! Should really help with balance, coordination, strength and stability. There is a special class in the therapy pool that works on stretches and balance that sounds good. Also, couple of others that as I get going might make some good “off day” workouts. Then again, might just go swimming on off days.

Meantime, I’ve had to order some new gym shorts. Turns out some of mine were 40 (or more) years old and any elastic in them has given up the ghost. Even my Army PT shorts are almost 20 years old I realized. So, trying some new options to have some good shorts that will work in gym or pool.

Have to admit, I really appreciated the steam room at the new gym yesterday. The sauna just wasn’t warm enough for me, but the steam room really helped after the workout. Did some mild stretches while in there and could tell they helped.

While I may be a bit sore and tight in spots today, it was a good first week and good start to getting back into serious workouts. Hoping to do three days a week, and then see about classes on “off” days to help with the balance/mobility/coordination issues.

More soon I hope.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, and to start a truly new life, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Doing Fine

This morning has been spent at the doctor’s office, with a side trip to Costco. Courtesy of being hit by lightning, every six months I get a pretty good check up. Today’s went very well with the bloodwork very good overall. My blood glucose was one point higher than the average, and the doc said he wasn’t going to ding me over that. (smile). The important things were all in range and/or excellent in some cases. Hoping that getting to the gym will make things even better.

Also, yesterday I was gifted a car that had belonged to my Godfather. Not pretty, but mechanically sound and runs well. This despite being stolen at one point by people who did not know how to drive stick-shift and abandoned it. (grin, equipped with millennial anti-theft protection system)

My Godfather had a bunch of work done on it earlier this year, so should be good for getting to Church and back, and occasional trips to the grocery store. I go tomorrow to sign paperwork on insurance, and once I have proof of insurance will transfer the title. Doing a yearly bill as it drops my insurance cost to $55 a month at full coverage. The bill is an ouch, being unbudgeted, but long-term worth it.

My doctor being across the street from a Costco, walked across to take care of some things. When I joined, I had a high-pressure guy who got me to try the Executive membership. Didn’t do much for me, so knowing renewal was coming up, went in and asked to downgrade the renewal. They had me shop first, then came back. Long-story short, they did the downgrade now, refunded the difference, and used some other goodies to renew me for the year at the regular membership price for no additional charge, so I’m good until the end of December 2026 without any payment. That was excellent customer service.

More to come!

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, and to start a truly new life, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.