Hole-n-Wall

I drove to Greed, WA this afternoon, to check out the cabin I rented for Field Day…

June 2nd, 2012

I drove to Greed, WA this afternoon, to check out the cabin I rented for Field Day weekend. The cabin is located in the Snoqualmie National Forest, about 2.5 hours of Seattle. I found out today, it is right next to the American river. I made the reservations way back in December, without ever actually seeing the site.

Overall I think it is going to be good, I was hoping for something with a little more privacy, but everything else is great. (When shooting lines to put up antennas, you really don't want lots of people around) The cabin has power, heat and a real kitchen. We'll just have to pack in our own water.

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Last Wednesday was the twelve week mark since my knee surgery

May 28th, 2012

In some ways, I'm surprised it has been twelve weeks already. You get into a rhythm with things like the physical therapy and the exercising. It seems like just yesterday that I couldn't get up and down the stairs without holding on for dear life. But those initial challenges are overcome and things go back to a semi-normal state.

But as I look back over my exercise log (Thanks for the idea Gail!), the progress becomes more obvious. Stuff I couldn't hardly do initially, I'm now cranking out multiple reps of without a problem. The knee bend things are the most obvious, this is where you lower yourself on the bad knee and back up. I was initially doing it on the stairs (seven inches), when that became to easy, I moved to the bricks around the fireplace (12 inches). Before I would have to struggle and go slow to get the 10 done before resting. Now I crank out 15 and move on to something else.

Its also been four weeks since I started back at TKD. The plan was to start slow with one night a week, but that plan went out the window pretty quickly. I went twice the first week and am now going three times a week. I really enjoy going and my knee honestly feels better afterwards. It also really helped that everybody at the Do-Jang has been incredibly supportive and willing to help me adapt to the knee restrictions. The benefit of the lack of kicking is that my punching is getting better (slowly).

I saw my surgeon last Thursday and I'd hoped he would green light me to start kicking again. But he wants me to wait another month. (6/20 is the date!) He was impressed though, especially with my strength and flexibility. I could actually see the surprise when he was pushing and poking, checking for limits. So the plan is to start kicking with light contact in four weeks and after another month, start with full contact. I hope I can still remember how to kick…

My surgeon wouldn't commit yet about when I can plant with my hurt knee and kick with my other leg. (That is how everybody hurts themselves, the planting and twisting.) I might get the OK in August (six months) or he might make me wait until September(seven months). But for now I can start moving more normally and doing things like light jogging.

The other thing the surgeon said is that I can drop down to seeing the physical therapist once every other week, mainly so I have check points to keep me on track. I had expected this actually, so it wasn't a big surprise. I have found the routine of doing the exercises every other day works well. I only double up with TKD and exercises on Wednesday night that way. I'm also going to try adding some more stretching activities to the mix.

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On my way to another airport, …

May 21st, 2012

On my way to another airport, hoping to make it home this time.

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I'm on my way home from another year at the Dayton hamfest

May 20th, 2012

(Largest radio nerd fest in the world) It was a really great trip, zero airline problems, all the talks I went to were interesting and nice chats at dinner each night.

Saw fewer 'amazing' new toys this year, but I'm probably just getting jaded or know to much. I only purchased a few little things, including a old book from the ARRL I've been looking for and couldn't find. ($2!) I'll probably order up a Icom IC-31 in the next month or so, they are really amazing little radios. I'm really lazy and didn't buy one this weekend because I didn't want to deal with trying to pack it.

So even after multiple days of hiking around on hot asphalt, my knee did really well. Little sore in the evenings, but nothing some ice and an adult beverage couldn't fix. I even rode the exercise bike at the hotel on Thursday and Friday for 30 minutes before doing all my exercises. Big milestone next week, visit my surgeon on Thursday.

Now I just want to get home to my family. The evening skype calls just isn't enough….

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