Wishes for 2015

2014 only needs a short review, not an independent blog post since it was kind of dismal as far as sports for myself, Jan and friends. Filled with lots of injuries, surgery, physical therapy, slower than desired race times and, really, a lack of participation. Personally I completed three sprint triathlons, a 5k and a 10k. Oh, I did complete last year's Freezeroo series which was going to lead me to a great 2014 but that didn't pan out.

There were a few top three age group finishes in various races, but not what Sals, or friends of Sals, usually win. I see 2015 as a comeback year for many of us.

I hope we are all healthy throughout the year. Sure, there may be some minor aches and pains, but nothing debilitating.  My personal goal, which may sound a bit silly, is to finish in the top three in my age group for Rochester Runner of the Year. To accomplish this goal I will have to run a majority of those races and consistently place in the top 10 and higher. The series typically includes a one mile race on the track, several 5k races, maybe one or two 10k's and possibly a 15k or half-marathon. If I am truly in running shape these are good distances for me.

I will not be attempting a marathon. After the 2012 Marine Corps Marathon (my 19th marathon) I said that would be my last one and am still sticking with that statement. I visit my shoulder surgeon on December 29th and am hoping he gives me clearance to begin running again next week or soon thereafter.

I'm curious what some of your goals are for 2015. Please send a comment with your thoughts.

Tough Being a Buffalo Bills Fan

We have suffered through fifteen years of not making the playoffs, the only NFL team not to make the playoffs at some time in those years. This year there was some hope, if only the Bills could beat the Oakland Raiders, a lowly 2-12 team with a rookie QB they would still be in the running for a spot. As usual the Bills flopped and lost the game and all chances of playing in the post-season.

MW came up with the Top 10 Good Things About the Bills Losing Yesterday (Sunday):

1.    We now can openly discuss the real truth that they are not a playoff team and stop filling our heads with false hope. 
2.     When the Bills get slaughtered by the Patriots next week it won’t be so bad.
3.  Sundays just got 4 more hours of free time.
4. Time to focus on how much the Yankees will disappoint us next spring.
5.   We can play the Bills’ favorite off season game, Name Our Next Quarterback.
6.  Post season awards. Is there a Most Valuable Offensive Defense award? The Bills are the only team I know that wanted to keep their defense on the field to score points.
7.   Lou and Mikes can now go back to discussing health care and injuries.
8.   We can get back to saving our money to buy the Bills a new stadium.
9. We can purchase E J Manual Christmas jerseys for $5 instead of the original $85.
10.  For the last game maybe they’ll do some trick plays, like the Statue of Liberty play or the old Three Stooges ball under the shirt play. 

I responded to MW with my own list.

Before the game I had a sick feeling they would lose. That is the type of game they always blow. It was sad to watch. Bringing back Spiller was a huge mistake, the offense didn’t know what to do with him and he just kept running directly into defenders instead of using blockers. Not that their O line is really good.

Top Ten Bill predictions:

1. Orton will be back starting at QB. 
2.  They will let EJ Manuel go to another team.
3. They will draft a QB who will be let go in 2 years.
4.   They will get a top notch offensive lineman from college, develop him over 3 years, and let him go.
5. 2015 will be the year they win 9 games and don’t make the playoffs.
6. The Pagulas (new Bills owners) will alternate Buffalo Sabres hockey players with Bills players. They all know how to lose.
7.  Spiller will be traded for a tight end who will get injured in game 4. Spiller will gain 1,200 yards and be all-pro and in the playoffs.
8.  The Bills will keep their incompetent offensive coordinator and remain a bottom 10 offense.
9.  Brady (Patriots) will beat the Bills 2x again next season.
10. All the home games will still be sell out crowds.

Work is Calling

It's thirteen days after surgery and I am back at work. Fortunately, I guess, being a librarian in today's high technology world doesn't require much, if any, physical stress. Being able to drive to work safely and use a keyboard are my only real requirements.
There are a few things I've noticed this morning about working (remember I'm an old man, 58, so my perspective has changed over the years).

1. Three hours into the day (around 11am) I looked up at the clock. It felt like I had been here for five straight days.
2. At 8:30am I realized the lunch I made last night to bring to work was still sitting in the fridge at home.
3. I miss my mid-morning laying on the couch having a second cup of coffee time.
4. Commuting is still not fun.
5. How many darn meetings can librarians schedule in two weeks? This profession has more meetings than any I can imagine.
6. I'm sooo Fat, my work pants hardly fit anymore. Something about not running, swimming, biking or lifting weights with my upper body I think.
7. It is nice eating anything I want without concern of how my body might react the next day when running and wondering what route I should take that has bathrooms and/or port-a-johns close at hand.
8. I miss my mid-afternoon laying on couch time and the third cup of coffee, maybe dozing off for a few minutes. My boss seems to frown on snoring sounds coming from my office.
9. I like my fellow employees but would not have missed them a ton if I never came back.
10. I get a lot of junk emails in my work account. Many emails I consider junk concern meetings I'm supposed to attend. Ugh.

Time After Time

Once the surgical drugs wore off and I began to feel more human, which really seemed to take 48 hours, it was time to figure out how to spend my days. With limited movement and no strength in my dominant arm, the right one, I am also limited to activities I can pursue.
I have ten accomplishments thus far;

1. Shredding. Jan has set me up with this annual task, the destruction of envelopes filled with receipts, pay stubs, bank statements and the like. I'm working on my second garbage bag, anyone need starter paper for their fireplace?
2. Reading the bookclub book, "Brave New World". Our bookclub will meet this Saturday to enjoy some discussion, wine and food. I'm finding this book particularly challenging to read, classic or not.
3. Napping. Normally I don't take naps, now I just fall asleep uncontrollably around 3 every afternoon. I still don't like naps as I always feel so groggy after I wake up.
4. Getting the mail. Yes, just walking fifty feet to the mailbox and breathing fresh air feels good. Except then I get to the box and find no mail and it's 4pm or later (it's 5:30pm today and no mailman yet). Why do we have daily mail, it should be delivered maybe 3x a week?
5. Updating my ESPN fantasy football team. I play in a league with some distant family members and their friends. For three years in a row I made the championship round, winning one, kind of like Peyton Manning. This year my team stinks and I can't seem to find players who will come through on game day, just like the Bills have struggled to find some good players for 14 years.
6. Watching Ellen DeGeneres on tv. This show is on about the time I come out of my nap. She provides a gentle introduction back to life.
7. I try to watch the television news, but it's so depressing after about five minutes I have to change to sports talk, though that can get old quickly.
8. Physical therapy. Today I began therapy, which went well. I will be going back once a week for a couple of weeks, at least. I might be able to drive a vehicle again by next Tuesday!
9. Drinking coffee. I still seem to be on the Pacific Northwest plan of drinking coffee at least three times a day.
10. Bugging Jan. She has had to do everything, including working from home, making three meals a day, getting me water, helping me dress, she does it all. I am very lucky.

Surgery Update

This will be a short article as I can only type with my left hand. All of the nurses, doctors an physician assistants were really nice at the UR Strong Medical center yesterday. It was nice being at a small medical building instead of a huge hospital.  I kept telling Jan we should leave because my shoulder wasn't that bad and I was wasting everyone's time. She wouldn't let me go. :(

My surgeon ended up repairing a frayed bicep tendon, shaving a bone spur, repairing torn labrum cartilage and doing something with bursitis. I guess the surgery was necessary. Kind of amazing I could do three triathlons the end June through July. Now it's all about recovery and not driving my caregiver, Jan, nuts.

Fears of Surgery

On December second I get to have arthroscopic surgery to repair tears in the cartilage around my shoulder (the labrum). The length of recovery will depend on how much damage there actually is; hopefully it’s just some minor scar tissue buildup and not extensive tears.

1.       When I begin swimming again will I just go around in circles since my right arm will be so strong?

2.       Will I get over the fear of falling? Snowshoeing and falling go hand in hand for me and that could be a real mental challenge to get over.

3.       I plan on lifting weights with my left arm while my right is still in a sling. Will the left arm become grossly distorted when compared to the shriveled right arm?

4.       I’ve only had surgery once before, yes I have been lucky. When I was four years old I had my tonsils out and my stuffed dog Bela came along. Do you think I can take him again?

5.       People wear pajamas everywhere now. I am supposed to wear loose fitting comfortable clothes to the surgical center, but the idea of a 58 year old wearing pj’s out in public seems weird to me. I think sweat pants will suffice.

6.       If the anesthesia wears off and I wake up during surgery is it okay to scream?

7.       Will the doctor give me a tape of the surgery so I can watch it later?

8.        Will Jan get tired of waiting on me? I’m a bad patient when I have a cold, can’t imagine what this will be like. Have pity on her.

9.       Is Bourbon a suitable alternative to pain medication?

10.   How long before I get sick of daytime television?