THE WHITNEY ZONE

The Mountaineers Route is in the couloir to the right of Whitney. Photo compliments of Richard P.

The "Secret Sacred Place" but be careful where you tread. Photos compliments of Bob R.

Bighorn Park and next to the rock formations to the left is Outpost Camp. Notice the spindrift at the crest. Photo compliments of Bob R.

ADVICE

From Tom:
20 years ago I had 3 herniated disc's could barely walk for a year and had all the symptoms you have described. All caused from racing bicycles. Your question can you hike? My thoughts, every back problem is different you will know the days before your hike. My fix after a year of unsucessful Chiro experiences was an epidural steriod shot followed by a 12 Pack of Bud and a year of rest. Since then life has been problem free half-marathons, one-day Whitneys, on and on. Good luck and don't push it.

From Kev:
Just over two years ago I had surgery on L5 S1 for a ruptured disc. Prior to the surgery I had pain in my left leg that eventualy led to total loss of feeling from the hip down. After surgery the leg pain is gone but 2 years later and I still have numbness from the knee down to my toes. I still have pain every day in my low back and being a fireman it gets worse after fires or physical activity. I still hike, ski, climb but with constant minor pain and sometimes strong pain. I take vicodin for the pain at home but not at work. NSAIDs do nothing for me nor does chiropractic except for the short term. There are others out there with much better success than I have had so dont get discouraged. I would and could do Whitney in a heartbeat. I would call my surgery a success because I can still walk where I could barely walk before.

From Hose:
I have suffered from the same herniated disc as you for the last 6+ years. Sounds like the sciatica and numbness you endure is a little more extreme than mine but this will likely reduce with time. I used to run for training but have been reduced to walking the last few years; fortunately I live in a hilly area. I summited Whitney via the Main Trail last July 9. Since my injury I have summited Borah Peak in Idaho, Boundary Peak in Nevada, Mt. Sill, Middle Palisade, Mt. Dana, Mt Gibbs, Mt. Hoffman in the Sierras, packed in and bagged Kings Peak in Utah, got stormed off Bonney Pass in an attempt on Gannett Peak in the Winds last fall, blah, blah, blah. My point is be patient and give it some time. When CA State Disability determined that I was 27% permanently disabled I blacked out, but was backpacking again within 2 years. I also think that you should consider chiropractic treatment. I was very hesitant to seek services but found a doctor that utilises what is called low impact chiropractry; no bone-cracking neck-twisting and body-snapping. Allignment is achieved using a small instrument to, "nudge", parts back into place. All this said, I still have problems and pain, sometimes acute, but usually associated with travel, (long periods of sitting). Good luck on your Whitney attempt.

From Pink:
Have you thought about trying Pilates? It teaches you how to stabilize your spine by strengthening your core muscles. Many people with spinal problems have experienced relief - short and long term.

From WBT:
I've got similar problems, with numbness down to the knee, and am scheduled for an MRI on the 3rd. So, I'm interested in your progress.

From H Bob:
Please don't have the same reservations about having your ruptured disc surgically repaired as you might have had a few years ago. Medical science has come a long way.I know you didn't want anectodal evidence, but I do personally know of two close friends, both of whom suffered their injuries in active duty in the Marine Corps. While there is no way I'm going to be critical of the Veteran's Hospitals available, both of my buddies did extensive research and had their surgeries performed through USC Medical Center. They are relatively young men, in their early 30s, but they were becoming cripples. I could see this happening to them. And now after sucessful surgery, they are swimming, running, and definitely hiking, (Trying not to backpack with a heavy overnight pack). If your condition continues to deteriorate, consider surgery as an option, but definitely do your research as to where it will be done.

From Passin:
I will wade in now. I had the same symptoms, although confined to left leg only and deep inside left hip. Came home limping every day, almost couldn't make it inside the house. Found relief with ice packs at first. Finally went to my Dr.==referral to physical therapy for 8 weeks. Back to Dr.==referral for 8 more weeks of P.T. Finally referral to Orthopedist who worked with a Neurologist too. Neurologist took base-line "functionality" of my nerves, and was present in the O.R. during surgery to notify Dr. of any impingement during procedure. MRI showed one herniated disc, but they found two when inside. This all took place in '96. RESULT == IMMEDIATE RELIEF FROM THE PAIN. Only 2 days in hospital. Walking == GOOD, sitting == BAD. Now watch posture all the time== GOOD. Just hiked Sat. to a geocache with son and grandson, hiked to Cottonwood Lakes last August, will be 63 next month.

From K:
Ok, good to hear that you are doing better! Lets talk about the anatomy of the situation: A disc is literally a short, fat disk, consisting of an outer durable membrane, and a inner jelly-like liquid. At the back of the spine, there is a "tunnel" of bone, through which the spinal cord passes, and at each vertebrae level, a nerve leaves the cord to supply that level of the body. These "supply nerves" also pass though a bony tunnel to exit on each side of the spine, roughly at 45 deg from the back, on either side.The pathology occurs when the outer membrane of the disc ruptures, allowing some of the inner jelly to "pooch" out. If this happens in any direction OTHER than where the "supply nerves" are, at 45 deg, *there are basically NO symptoms*. HOWEVER, if the "pooching" occurs at the 45 deg angle, it traps the supply nerve against the side of the bony tunnel through which it passes, applying a crushing pressure on the nerve.This can produce two distinct syndromes: pain, by itself; or pain along with other neurologic effects, such as weakness, numbness.What will happen with time, is that the pooched out inner disc will act like jelly left on the countertop.....is will dessicate, losing it's water content, and shrinking to nothing. This takes time. The folks that are generally candidates for surgery are those with advanced or advancing neurologic signs, and those for whom the pain does not resolve in a reasonable time. This is less than one person in twenty! (of those with REAL disc pathology, most people with back pain do NOT have disc problems!) In these folks the nerve is being crushed, and permanently damaged. In people with JUST pain, it is virtually always a transient event, and will resolve on it's own, with time. However, the time frame may be a couple of months. Generally, the error made is to operate prematurely on people with pain only. While it is gratifying to see someone in significant pain lose the pain, an operated back is never the same, and the operation has significant risks. It is also gratifying to see someone recover without surgery, as occurs 95% of the time.....By the way, in our "techno-crazy" society, it is worth noting that MRI's are WAY overused. A skilled clinician can accurately diagnose a disc problem with no imaging (even rule it out). An MRI is NOT the deciding factor in going to surgery, nor in making the diagnosis....it is useful mainly in telling the surgeon where to cut, after the decision has been made. So all that having been said, it sounds like there is no reason for you to have surgery. (I DO play a doctor on TV, and am one in real life)

From KM:
It sounds like you are already feeling better - Great! And I hope that you continue down that path.I have several degenerated disks wtih the worst ones at S5-L1 and L3-L4 and had 5 or 6 epidurals, facet joint injections, radio frequency nerve cauterizations (2x) all with no results. After a diskogram ID'd that the pain was coming fom L3-L4, I had IDET (Aug. '04) with GREAT results. It can be painful and slow to recover from, but I was not interested in fusion, which is irreversable. IMO, IDET is still surgery, but it is much less invasive than the other options. Granted, that ain't a herniated disk, but some things are transferable. 1 - make SURE that your problem is coming from the herniated disk, and not from elsewhere. 2 - when your first doctor and possibly the neurosurgeon say "we won't cut for at least 6 months" listen to them even if you can't stomach the thought of living with pain for a minute longer. Sometimes the pain just does "go away" (but you already know that...) 3 - core strength, core strength, core strength and flexibility, flexibility, flexibility!!! And make sure to stretch your psoas muscle - it took me 5 physical therapists to learn this one, but once I did life got much better. 4 - yes, you will hike again. It might seem like a million years ago when you were healthy and you will never walk without pain again, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just take it slow getting to that light and don't aggravate what is currenly healing. I make darn sure that my pack is transferring its weight via the waist belt to my hips and not via the shoulder straps. Watch your progress. Take it slow and steady. And you will hike again. Disclaimer - This is solely based on personal experinece. I ain't a doctor, and I don't play one on TV. But I do think that I am good lookin' enough to do so..... or not.

From StC:
Now that you are better, it is time to get on a program to help prevent future occurrences of your back trouble -- strengthen your torso. In the past, I have suffered with severe back problems, but have been mostly free of problems for a number of years now. I credit that to the fact that I do situps and curls, back extensions, use a back-twisting weight machine, and several others specifically for my back. In fact, about half of my weight workout exercises are done to keep my back healthy. It really helps!

From Mar:
I ran across a book, Pain Free, by Pete Egoscue several years ago. I was having problems with carpal tunnel syndrome. Doing simple exercises, for lack of a better word, solved the problem. This past summer in training for my JMT trip I started experiencing severe knee pain. It hurt to walk at all. I purchased a new copy, not remembering who I had given the old copy and did the exercises. I was able to do the trip with no problems, at least from my knee. I got a nasty rash on the back of my calf, plant related, and hiked out at Florence Lake. The book is broken down by body part; feet, knees, shoulders, ... and backs. It focuses on balencing the muscles in the body so that each muscle is doing what its supposed to, no more or less. It may not help, everyone's situation is different, but I think it is definetly worth a try. Good Luck.

From Raf:
I'm sure that the weights and strengthening help in prevention of injuries. I use to get a real sore right knee on long downhill hikes. My father-in-law who is a former basketball coach suggested a weight regimen for strengthening the legs and since I've done it it has eliminated the knee pain completely. It also has helped give more spring to my legs when hiking up steep hills.

From Loose:
I'm sure you know but stretching is even more important than working out in avoiding injuries.The more flexible you are, the better...

From Bob:
Your excercise regimen is impressive for any age. I used to run long distances regularly to train for marathons. I recall the principle of the "light exercise week" to avoid tearing down the body and give the body a chance to rebuild. In other words, about every fourth week, if I remember correctly, I would have a week where my running mileage was significantly reduced. Maybe this applies to your type of exercises too.

From Brik:
Ken is the doctor and having experienced a bout with sciatica two years ago, I wholeheartedly concur that surgery should be only the remotest last option. Avoid it if at all possible. I got, read and applied techniques offered in a booklet "The Sciatica Relief Handbook" (Chet Cunningham) from United Research Publishers. It's got several explantions, diagrams, and especially useful exercises to strengthen muscles. Also, from another source I learned about the "tennis ball" drill where you lay flat on the floor and place a tennis ball where your back pocket would be (on whichever side is experiencing pain) then gently roll up onto the ball. If too much pain occurs, back off. This is done over a period of days until you're able to get up onto the ball and stay without pain for a minute. The drill is designed to massage the piriformis muscle which often traps the sciatic nerve and causes pain. My episode began in December, 2003 and I could barely walk, sit, get out of bed for the next four months. As has been recommended here, I did nothing. I typically exercise (a 4 mile walk/jog, stair climb, or Nordic track) four-fives times a week. So I got a case of the guilts not doing anything, but then again I simply couldn't do anything. The layoff, coupled with the floor exercises, finally let me get back to normal by the end of March, 2004. As others have said here too, as often as not the problem will go away by itself, but you've got to give the body the chance it needs to rest. Good Luck. I can see you at the top of Whitney this summer for sure.....

From NM:
Hi,I had surgery on my L5-S1 in June 2001 and it was the right decision. I have been totally pain and symptom free ever since. For months prior to the surgery I tried everything but it progressed to the point I could barely walk, could not sit. Immediately following the surgery I was pain free. I carried 45lbs+ on several trips last year, including a solo backpack/Whitney climb in early Oct. with no problems. I highly recommend the surgeon (Dr. Tim Peppers of Scripps San Diego).

From Bruin:
Knowing you just went through your last round of epidurals yesterday, I can only imagine how you're feeling today. Probably far from being on the top of your game -- and probably more than a little dejected about the whole hiking thing. One thought, though. Your back IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE right now. Your entire focus. A long-time buddy of mine (professional painter) took a spill off a ladder last year from about 30'. The good news is he stuck the landing. The bad news is that he stuck the landing ... and broke both his heels. Very painful, very slow process, but progress is being made. A friend of his is Marty McSorley (enforcer-guy of Kings hockey fame, but actually a very "normal" and caring individual), and Marty said something to him that my buddy said stuck with him throughout this ongoing process -- "your only job right now is to get well -- everything else is secondary." And it's true. The switchbacks will always be there. And while we're on that topic, keep in mind that some switchbacks are tougher than others, and even some demand the hike be interrupted. Bottom line: whatever lays ahead, you WILL get through it. With all that you've endured, especially over the last couple of years, do you have any doubt? If you do, you shouldn't. Whether Whitney's a reality this year or not, it will still be there for future attempts. Focus on the back. Continue to take care of everything you are doing, from unloading a dishwasher (yep, that simple task threw me into a sciatica episode once), to getting up from sitting, to everything else. The back is the focus. (You know better than anyone how important your back is.) One other thing -- based solely upon your Hiking Organization 101 MegaList, you're a planner (7 P's). Great attribute. But you don't have to "decide" on Whitney for a good couple of months, really. The true training will kick into high gear by May, and your crew will just need to make due until then. So, relax for now, get as comfortable as possible, take in a few basketball games on the TV (Go Bruins), get as close to 100% as you can, and then decide on whether this year's attempt is possible. You're gonna make it.

From KK:
I have one too, plus a disc that has deteriorated. The pain forced me to bail out early of a group hike in the Grand Canyon, and I set aside plans to arrange a large group hike in the Sierra, presuming I might not even be able to get to the trailhead. This was two or three years ago. I went through several physicians looking for a happy answer—pretty much what you have done. Not liking the prospect of surgery, and deciding that shots weren’t a long-term option, I decided just to do what physical activities I could, taking a generic form of Aleve daily. I resumed modest weight training at home. It wasn’t too long before I found I could mountain bike for a couple of hours before the discomfort became too much, even though I couldn’t stand erect on my feet for 10 minutes without my back annoying me. (I suppose the forward lean of a bicycle puts less strain on my discs.) Then I found that I could begin hiking again, provided I used a light pack. My discs have not improved, I’m sure (they don’t un-herniate on their own), and I have daily discomfort, but I spent three days this month backpacking in the Grand Canyon and ended up with sore legs but not a sore back.


From SteveM.
Yes indeed. I was one of the lucky ones. I'll give you my history and what solved my problems. I can't say that they'd necessarily be the same, but from experience, I can say, I can't think of any worse pain than a herniated disc and a pinched nerve. I did have a herniated disc and pinched nerves.

Initially, I weighed 245lbs. At 5'8 tall, that's a lot of excess baggage. One day, woke up with excruciating pain down my left butt cheek. Went to the chiropractor. Had visited the chiropractor about 2 times every couple of years. My back would tend to lock up. Chiropractor made it worse. The pain ended up down the back of my entire leg anytime I stood straight up. Ended up getting 2 epidurals at Loma Linda and one at Kaiser. One of the epidurals gave me relief for about a week or two, then the pain came back. I suffered for 10 months. I did find that if I leaned slightly forward, like I was leaning on a shopping cart, the pain would subside, so I started riding a bicycle and dieted. In 9 months, I lost 75 lbs. One morning I stood up and the pain was gone. Scared the crap out of me, but it disappeared for 5 years. I kept the weight off and have done a pretty good job of it since.

After 5 years of peace (and pain free) I started getting an uncomfortable feeling on the front of my thigh--on the opposite leg if I sat for more than 20 minutes. Progressively got worse over a period of time. Pretty soon I had to dash my car to the side of the road and jump out. I'd have to walk off the pain. Drive another 15 or 20 minutes and do the same thing.

One day, woke up to the most excruciating pain I could ever imagine. Couldnt understand why my brain wouldnt shut down and let me pass out. Went to Kaiser. Tried another epidural. Didnt do squat.

At that point, a neurosurgeon by the name of Todd Goldberg at Kaiser gave me the option of waiting another month for another epidural or to have a procedure called a microdiscectomy. Which grinds out part of the hardened disc that has been crushing the nerve. I couldnt stand the pain and opted for the surgery.

I have to say, it was a strange and scary situation after the surgery. The following morning, they gave me a walker and let me walk around the hospital section I was staying in. Was a difficult thing. I can't understand how a simple operation can practically take away your ability to walk, but it was very difficult, and was for a month or more after the surgery.

I could no longer ride a bicycle, due to the fact that I couldn't push down on my right leg when the pedal got to the top. I was able to walk, but I could barely lift my right leg off the ground and found myself face flat on the ground several times when my toe kicked a high spot in the sidewalk or a curb that I just didn't lift high enough to clear. Had little control of my right leg. Another odd thing was, the front of my leg where the pain had been, stayed numb for nearly a year. Finally, all my senses came back.

I never got back into bicycle riding, although I can now. But I did start walking. Nearly 7 miles each day. I worry about the weight and pain coming back. It has now been about 5 years since the surgery. I started hiking a year after it. Have carried loads nearly 50lbs on occasions (although I've cut that in half with lighter gear) and have never had a wince of pain since.

I will say that if you're in constant pain, you need a Dr who has sympathy. There are some that I've found to be worthless. I would not suggest an orthopedic surgeon. I'd try a neurosurgeon. You need to check into the options available to you. I don't know if Todd is still at Kaiser in Fontana and I don't carry Kaiser anymore, but I'd pay out of my pocket just to talk to him, if I had the problem again. He did me good.

I wish you well.

PORTAL LAND

Doug's vision of the new Whitney Portal Store Hotel, Casino, and Spa.

NEUROLOGIST CONSULTATION

Big day today! My neurologist appointment is at 2:00.

This appointment is like hiking a trail I have never been on before. I will not know what is up ahead until I get there. I am prepared and very anxious. Just another switchback closer to the summit.

Once I am at that switchback...

On to the next.

POST EPIDURAL

I was in jovial spirits when I arrived at surgical center.

They were expecting me as usual. Walked right up to the front desk and Chris had my patient ID band ready to go.

Around 1:00 p.m., the doctor summons me to the surgical bay to get started. I go into the changing room and I told him that I knew the whole routine.

Instead of Susan attending to my pre-op, I had Deidra, who had some sort of attitude about her. She had a hard time trying to stick the IV in my arm. Don’t know why because I am vascular enough as it is and my veins protrude for the entire world to see.

The epidural procedure was uneventful. They told me to sit up on the side of the bed. I asked the doctor if they gave me the "cocktail" because I wasn't feeling funny. They said they did.

I felt the pressure as the doctor stuck me with the needle.

There was one time when I was warned that a cold solution would be sprayed on my back and they told me not to flinch. Now, whenever something cold touches my back you are damn right I am going to flinch. I flinched a little. Deidra kept telling me to breathe. I told her I was and that “you told me not to move so I am doing deep rhythmic breathing so there!”

After the epidural, she took my blood pressure. 170/110! Why so high? I don’t like hospitals or any clinic for that matter. In fact, when Deidra asked me if I were allergic to any medications I replied, “Nothing, just hospitals.”

My last two visits they took my vitals before the procedure. Why after?

Deidra she put the heart rate monitor on my right forefinger. Then she told me to "bend my arm straight."

Eh deh what? Bend my arm straight? I look at Deidra and said, "Where I come from we bend our arms and we STRAIGHTEN our arms out." She gave me that "smart *ss" look. Better than being a dumb one. I am not a member of that gene pool.

Then Deidra started asking me questions:
When was the last time you ate? 10:30.
What did you have? I ate a banana and an apple and a chewy granola bar.
You need to eat a big lunch. I wasn’t hungry.
When was the last time you drank any fluids? Around 11:30 a big tall glass.
Oh, so we are on the dry side. I didn’t want my bladder full in case I couldn’t control the flow during the procedure.
Any alcohol last night? Yes, I had a seven course meal – a cold pizza and a six pack.
When? Eight o’clock I guess because the beer and pizza started to make me sleepy.
Would you like something to drink like water or juice? Got any JD?
Juice or water? Juice.

I was waiting for other questions like "When was your last bowel movement?" or "When was the last time you had sex?" Those questions were never asked. I did have the answers if they were asked.

After the interrogation, I was given two packages of Capri Sun Wild Cherry. I guess I was rewarded with two due to my good behavior. No wonder the cost of medical care is skyrocketing.

Then Susan, my “clinic wife,” came over and noticed the IV was halfway out. I whispered to her and said, “Because you didn’t do it.” I gave her a wink and she smiled back. I am such a flirt.

It was time to get dressed and plop myself down in the wheelchair for my final ride to Kindra’s car. Did I say final? I sure as hell hope so.

About 2:05 p.m., Kindra drops me off and as I got out of her vehicle I could feel my legs are wobbly and my mind is groggy.

I am fighting the urge to sleep, but it looks like my brain is misfiring because I am having a hard time blogging right now. My entire right leg is numb right now. I am sure it has something to do with the epidural. I can still feel the tingling sensation in my right toes. My left leg is fine. I will watch some golf to lull me into a deep sleep.

I just hope I do not have a repeat performance like I did two weeks ago. March 11 was not my best of days.

Another trek and another trail under my belt.

Have a great weekend everyone!

EPIDURAL NO. 3

Today I go for the third and final epidural shot. I shall miss these shots, because it was my ticket to an early weekend. It sure was great "crashing" on the Fridays of my shots.

I want to thank Kindra, my "hiking wife," for providing transportation during these last five weeks. She has had the same kind of treatment herself, so I guess you can call her my "mentor" as well. Kindra, I owe you big time and I am good for it! I know, "What comes around, goes around!"

I also want to thank Dean, who works in the MIS Department, for providing me a ride to work on two of the three Fridays. It was very nice of him to offer a ride. Dean gave me a ride to work on March 10. He wasn't feeling well yet he still showed up at my apartment complex and drove me to work and then he went home. Above and beyond the call of duty. Dean also stopped by last Saturday to fix my computer woes!

I have been pain-free for 11 days today. It has been amazing I have lasted this long without any discomfort aside from the tingling sensation in my right toes.

That concludes the hiking on this trail. Time to head back to base camp to rest and recover.

One more down and many more to go.

WORLD'S EASIEST QUIZ ANSWERS

Here are the answers to the "World's Easiest Quiz"...

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?

116 years



2) Which country makes Panama hats?

Ecuador



3) From which animal do we get catgut?

Sheep and horses



4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?

November



5) What is a camel’s hair brush made of?

Squirrel fur



6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?

Dogs



7) What was King George VI's first name?

Albert



8) What color is a purple finch?

Crimson



9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?

New Zealand

TINGLING

I awaken with a severe tingling sensation in my right foot. No pain, just an amplified tingling sensation. Concerns? Yes.

The more I walk the better it gets. Sitting while blogging is no problem.

I also feel a slight twinge in my lower left back. That has subsided. It wasn't a shooting pain. It was like, "Hello, I am still down here."

I have been eating an apple during lunch since March 13 and the right leg pain has subsided and disappeared on March 14. It could be a placebo kind of thing. Maybe an apple a day does keep the doctor away!

I have to find a little humor in all this. Laughter IS the best medicine.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

After 38 games it comes down to just one. Game #39. Japan versus Cuba. Who would have thought?

Congratulations to Japan for defeating Cuba, 10-6, at Petco Park in San Diego. Congratulations to Cuba for being allowed to play in this inaugural classic and for their sportsmanship following the game.

Baseball at its finest, at its purest. National pride on and off the field. You would have sworn you were at a football or soccer game.

Too bad it is all over. Thank you to all teams that participated.

"SCRATCHED"

This was some of the gear I was going to take with me: parka, goggles, mountaineer helmet, ice axe, snowshoes, crampons, cap, gaiters, and hiking boots.

I cancelled my hike to Mt. Baldy. Not the kind of "scratch" I had in mind.

I kept thinking about what people have been telling me over the past couple of months, "Get well, Gary, the mountains will always be there."

With my third epidural on March 24 and my neurologist consultation on March 31, it would be wise to lay off the strenuous physical activity until I get the green light.

While on the topic of getting well I am still pain free. I am ever so careful how I pick up things off the floor or how I turn around or how I lie down or get back up. I know there is a fine line between agony and ectasy.

I want to enjoy the ectasy part.

MOUNTAIN LION SAFETY TIPS

With spring less than a week away, many people are heading out into wilderness areas. Remember, you are in their "yard." Nature is unpredictable.

Report any mountain lion sightings to the California Department of Fish and Game.


MOUNTAIN LION SAFETY TIPS
Orange County Register
Source: California Department of Fish and Game
Compiled by: News Researcher Michael Doss


DO NOT HIKE ALONE; go in groups with adults supervising children.


DO NOT RUN; that might stimulate a lion’s instinct to chase.


Stand and face the animal; make eye contact.


Pick up young children, without bending or turning from the lion if possible.


DO NOT crouch down or bend over; you might appear like ordinary four-legged prey to the lion instead of a human.


DO all you can to appear larger -- raise your arms, open your jacket, throw stones, branches.


Fight back if attacked.


Mountains lions have been repelled with rocks, sticks, garden tools and bare hands.


Remove dense and low-lying vegetation that provide good hiding places for mountain lions.


Install motion-sensitive outdoor lighting.


Keep pets from roaming and don’t feed pets outside.

AND ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT

I awaken without any problems. A full 24 hours! Imagine that!

I heave a sigh of relief in recognition of reaching a long awaited milestone.

I feel like jumping up and down for joy. On second thought, I think I will pass on the jumping up and down.

Wouldn't be prudent.

ALL THROUGH THE DAY...

I lasted a whole work day without any pain or problems.

When I came home...nothing.

I went to bed...nothing.

For the first time since February 4, I was pain-free!

IT'S A MIRACLE!

NEUROLOGIST

Last night, my doctor called as a follow-up to the message I left him yesterday. I told him about my visit to the ER Saturday night and I gave him a rundown on my current condition.

I had told him that the nurse from the neurologist's office had called and left a message for me to schedule an appointment. My doctor strongly recommended that I make that appointment now and not wait until the epidurals end. He told me there could up to a two-week wait.

I will call that neurologist first thing this morning. I told my doctor that once I make that appointment I will call him and leave a message that I did so.

I have a feeling I may require surgery. Another switchback in my life. Overcoming another switchback means I am getting closer to the summit.

My doctor is a very good doctor. He tells things the way they are without holding anything back. You have to respect a person like that.

I slept well last night. No pain, no problems. All systems are fine in regards to other bodily functions. I did not take any meds before retiring last night. I slept like a big baby.

I awake without any pain. On the pain scale of 0-10 with 10 being THE worst, I am around a 1. I attribute that "1" to the tingling sensation still in my right toes. The time now is 5:49 a.m. There is still a lot of day left today.

I will blog with any latest developments.

Thank you for reading.

TINGLING SENSATION

There is a tingling sensation in the toes of my right foot. I do not know if this is a good or bad.

The pain comes and goes now whenever I walk or sit. It feels like a really bad cramp in my hip area. After a while, the pain subsides and I am able to carry on about my work. Sometimes the pain returns just to put me in check.

Standing seems to be a new "painful" problem. Guess I will either have to keep moving or keep sitting. I stand it hurts, but not sitting, moving or lying down. I sit it hurts, but not standing, moving, or lying down. I move it hurts, but not sitting, standing, or lying down. I lie down it hurts, but not sitting, standing or moving. Trend? Cycle? What is up with that?!

I have not taken any Vicodin today. My main objective is to go through the entire day without taking a single pill even before I go to bed.

I have called my doctor and left a message about my visit to the ER on Saturday night.

LAPTOP

I purchased my very first laptop, an HP Pavilion notebook, from Circuit City.

My trusty 8-year-old Gateway PC has seen its last days. I am going to have one of the MIS guys at work perform "CPR" on it this weekend to see if it is worth it to keep it.

Now I have an electronic companion to occupy my idle time in the wee hours of the morning. Guess I can say I have an "e-wife." I can hop on the I-net to get the latest news, sports and weather.

Did I just say hop on?

PAIN

The following entry is a recounting of the day's events on Saturday, March 11, 2006. The entries are out of synch in regards to the timeline:

I awaken to an unbearable pain in my right leg at 3:30 a.m. today. Check that, EXCRUCIATING!

I popped two Vicodin at 6:30 a.m. to alleviate the pain. No results. I am reminded what Brydon had told me. I keep his words alive every time I pop those pills. I wound up taking five of those pills with my last pill taken at 6:00 p.m. No results. No relief. Why don't these pills do what they are supposed to do?

When I urinate, it is only a trickle. The pain is too intense. I try to stand. I try to sit. Nothing but a trickle if I am lucky. I have the urge, but I cannot purge. Yes, it sounds funny by saying that but it is not a good sign as far as I am concerned.

Speaking of that part of a man's anatomy, I now have erectile dysfunction due to my sciatica. It's not working. Viagra? Not in my lifetime! Either I can do it naturally(?) or not at all. Figures.

One of the side effects of Vicodin is constipation. I have not had a "#2" today. This concerns me. I am contemplating Ex-Lax or any other over the counter stool softener. If it ain't one thing it is another!

All I had to eat today was a plain wheat bagel from Brueggers that I bought last Saturday, March 4. NO RICE!

I couldn't take a catnap in fear of awakening in a different kind of "water bed."

I "walk" to the closet to get out my Thermalite mattress pad that I use for my camping trips. Blowing it up only intensifies my agony. I lie on it on the livingroom floor. I prop my legs on either the chair or the ottoman trying to find a comfortable position. No relief.

Every breath is accompanied with a moan of pain. Check that, groan.

Evening comes. I am in my bed around 8:00 p.m. I am writhing in pain. The heating pad does not provide relief.

I am contemplating calling 911 for an ambulance ride to the nearest ER. I pack some clothes in my athletic duffel bag. I crawl to the door to unlock it. I put my cellphone, glasses, bottle of Vicodin, wallet and apartment keys in my fleece jacket with zippered pockets. So if the paramedics have any questions, I have the answers in my jacket pocket. If the ER staff asks if I there is anyone to contact, my cellphone has the answers. I am lying on the floor with my land line phone. All I have to do is hit 9-1-1.

I had called Kindra this morning to tell her I am in pain. I called her because she had the same epidural procedures I am going through. I leave a voicemail message telling her of my symptoms. I need self-assurance. I call her again around 8:30 p.m. I don't remember. She offers to take me to emergency. She tells me to call the on-call nurse at my hospital.

She arrives to pick me up and we drive up Bristol to locate the hospital. We drive to the entrance and she drops me off while she finds a place to park.

I report to the window and I am handed paperwork to fill out. I stand. Sitting is not an option. Besides, there are a lot of people in the waiting area.

There is a small Hispanic boy crying in pain from his elbow. I wish I could cry with him. I could but it will be lace with profanity.

I am summoned for triage. Blood pressure, temperature, what the hell if bothering me. I am asked to return to the lounge are until a space in the ER becomes available.

Dr. Choi is my attending physician. Good doctor. He prescribes Flexeril and Dilaudid. The nurse administers the pill and the shot in the arm. Whoa. This stuff is potent! The doctor returns to check up on me after the shot takes effect. I am feeling no pain at this stage.

Kindra and I leave the hospital around 11:30 p.m. She drops me off and I ask her to call me when she returns home safely. She calls and then I retire for the evening. Check that! For the morning. It is 1:30 when I finally fall asleep. I have been awake for 22 hours.

To all you bloggers out there: If you have a friend like Kindra consider yourselves very lucky that there a few good people out there willing to go above and beyond. I owe her big time. She has been there for me in my time of need and now it is my duty to reciprocate.

EPIDURAL NO. 2

The second of three the epidurals. Here are just a few of my thoughts. This blog entry has been in the making for the past two weeks. Sorry, there are no pictures.

I have been in excruciating pain in my right buttock and groin area whenever I stand or sit.

My doctor upgraded my Vicodin prescription to "extra strength" at my request. Even this provides only "temporary" relief. My tolerance for pain is very high, but such is not the case right now.

My desert trip to Agua Caliente with Kindra was a relief to get out of the house. The small hike did wonders for my mental well-being. It was nice to get outdoors again. I was ever so careful not to stumble or slip. The pain haunted my weekend. The ride down and back was uneventul for some reason. I did not experience any discomfort.

My parents call to check up on me daily. My father had a herniated disc when he was in the Army. He has metal pins in his back and the scars to prove it. My father's surgery was in 1968 and I know there has been great strides in treatment of herniated discs since then. He knows my pain. My mother worries to the point of aggravating me. "Mom, I am an adult...I will be just fine...I will be careful...Mom, please, don't worry about me!" I have the greatest parents in the world. I love them both.

At the start of the year I weighed 183 pounds. I am now down to 173. I attribute my weight loss to muscular atrophy due to inactivity. My leg muscles are not as firm and strong. I haven't ridden in more than a month. This time last year I rode for over 870 miles. This year? Only 124. I haven't ridden my bike since January 27.

I haven't hiked as much either. This time last year I hiked over 180 miles and this year I have hiked 29 miles.

The news about going to hike Mt. Whitney again has given me hope. First things first. First I must get better, then I will proceed with the training. I have five months to prepare. I can only imagine the jubilation I will experience while at the top of that 14,497 foot piece of 60 million year-old granite outcropping in the eastern Sierra Nevada.

I can accept the fact that I may not make it to the top. Getting to the top is optional and getting down is mandatory. I do not want to be a burden on my friends. I have been to the summit three times, but I want my friends to experience their chance of a lifetime. They worry about my well-being. I tell them not to worry. I will help them get to the top.

I have paid my $15 to hike Whitney to secure my spot on the team and I am going to do it! I have made camping reservations at Lone Pine Campground and hotel reservations at the one of the hotels.

Showers and dressing up to go to work are discomforting. It is very difficult just to put on my right sock and clip my toenails. It just sucks the wind right out of me and there is a groan with a few profane words. It hurts to cough or sneeze.

Ice and heat therapy provide only temporary relief, too. However, it is part of my daily regimen. An ounce of prevention...

Coming to work seems to agonize my condition. (Who doesn't experience this whenever they come to work!) Sitting down is not good. I have to constantly stand and move around ever so gently. Driving can be a challenge during the accelerating and braking with the right leg. I only live three miles from work, but they are the longest three miles.

I hear stories from my co-workers and friends who view this blog who have also had to endure what I am enduring right now. Steroid shots, surgery, acupuncture, orthopedists, neurologists, physical therapy are some of the many their suggestions and experiences. They feel my pain. They can see my pain.

I see people jogging, riding and hiking. Oh I wish. Someday I will again.

I must say that this "pain" is more tolerable than the "wretching" over the last couple of years.

What if I don't get better? What if I do need surgery? So be it.

What if I am confined to a wheelchair for the rest of my life? So be it. I get to park in those blue spaces with a blue placard dangling from my rearview mirror! My wheelchair will be narrower and lighter with with knobby tires! I may be limited due to terrain features, but that ain't gonna stop me from trying to "hike" the trails! I know I am not the only one who has these same ideas! I believe there is already a wheelchair designed just for offroading! Imagine that!

To Mom and Dad, MJ, Kindra, Joe, Garv, Kandy, Amy, Bruin Dave and Jane, Kathy and Brydon, Rhonda, Daphne, Horacio, Jonathan, Karen, Bob, Mariana: I want thank you for the support and advice. PMA - positive mental attitude.

I did not request permission to give up.

WORLD'S EASIEST QUIZ

Passing requires 4 correct answers. The answers are not as obvious as they seem. These are not trick questions. Answers to follow in a later blog. Have fun finding the answers!


1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?


2) Which country makes Panama hats?


3) From which animal do we get catgut?


4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?


5) What is a camel’s hair brush made of?


6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?


7) What was King George VI’s first name?


8) What color is a purple finch?


9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?

IN MEMORY OF PAUL DONALDSON

It has been one month since my very good friend Paul passed away.

I am sure God has been convinced to go 1040EZ this tax season.

I am sure God has given Paul a lot of pointers about golf.

I am sure God has plenty of Tums, Rolaids, and Pepto-Bismol after eating Paul's infamous chili.

I am sure they have one hell of a softball team, too!

I am sure they will all be watching the Chino Air Show from a very advantageous position.

EPIDURAL NO. 1

The pain still shakes me...

The epidural has provided no relief from the pain in my right hip area. The only relief I get is when I am lying down on the floor or on the bed. Once I start moving around, the pain returns. However, the pain is not as intense as it was last week.

I went to Ikea to shop. The pain was so intense I had to sit down in one of the comfortable chairs until I could walk again.

I know one shot does not constitute full recovery status. I am ready for another epidural this Friday, but I am not scheduled until March 10.

I am going to call my doctor to prescribe me pain medication. Vicodin does not help. Now I am concerned about becoming addicted to the pain medications.

That I do not need in my life.

SAY WHAT?

I received in the mail my MRI results from NDC. I called my doctor and left a message to explain all this medical mumbo-jumbo. He returned my call and we went over what the heck I was reading. I asked my doctor, "On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the worse case scenario, where am I at on the scale?"

His reply was, "About a 3 or 4."

I like those numbers.

MRI LUMBAR SPINE WITH CONTRAST

CLINICAL HISTORY: Worsening sciatica

PROCEDURE: Coronal and sagittal T1-weighted, sagittal T2-weighted, and axial dual-echo sequences of the lumbar spine were performed on a 1.5T Siemens Vision Magnetic Resonance Imaging System. Postgadolinium axial and sagittal T1-weighted images were also performed.

FINDINGS: There is normal anatomic alignment of the lumbar spine. There is normal bone marrow signal intensity.

The T12-L1, L1-L2, and L2-L3 intervertebral discs appear intact.

At the L3-L4 disc level there is moderate disc desiccation with associated mild degenerative endplate changes and minimal anterior and marginal osteophyte formation. In addition, there is a 5 to 6 mm (anteroposterior) broadbased left paracentral-lateral disc extrusion which is abutting posteriorly displacing, i.e. apparently impinging upon the traversing left L4 nerve root. This is best demonstrated on image number 28 of the axial T2-weighted sequence and postcontrast image number 6 of the sagittal T1-weighted sequence. There is resultant moderate to severe compression upon the left ventral aspect of the thecal sac. The extruded disc extends by approximately 5 mm in the cephalocaudal dimension posterior of the left aspect of the L4 vertebral body. In addition, there is moderate facet joint arthropathy with resultant mild central canal stenosis and mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis.

At the L4-L5 disc level there is moderate disc desiccation with associated mild degenerative endplate changes and small anterior and marginal osteophyte formation. In addition, there is a 3 mm broadbased posterior central disc protrusion with resultant mild compression upon the ventral aspect of the thecal sac. There is a tear of the central aspect posterior annulus. In addition, there is moderate facet joint arthropathy which in combination with the disc protrusion and congenitally shortened pedicles has resulted in mild central canal and mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis.

At the L5-S1 disc level there is moderate disc desiccation with associated mild degenerative endplate changes. In addition, there is a 3 to 4 mm asymmetric broadbased posterior disc bulge which is more prominent in the right lateral aspect central canal where it is abutting without significantly displacing the traversing right S1 nerve root. This is best demonstrated on image number 41 of the axial T2-weighted sequence. In addition, there is moderate facet joint arthropathy at this level which in combination with congenitally shortened pedicles has resulted in mild central canal and mild left neural foraminal stenosis. There is no significant right neural foraminal stenosis.

The conus, medullaris, and thecal sac otherwise appear normal. There is no evidence of abnormal enhancement following contrast administration. The limited imaging of the prevertebral soft tissues is unremarkable.

IMPRESSION:

1. L3-L4: 5 to 6 mm (anteroposterior) broadbased left paracentral-lateral disc extrusion which is abutting posteriorly displacing, i.e., apparently impinging upon the traversing left L4 nerve root. There is resultant moderate to severe compression upon the left ventral aspect of the thecal sac. In addition, there is moderate facet joint arthropathy with resultant mild central canal stenosis and mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis.

2. L4-L5: 3 mm broadbased posterior central disc protrusion with resultant mild compression upon the ventral aspect of the thecal sac. There is a tear of the central aspect posterior annulus. In addition, there is moderate face joint arthropathy with in combination with the disc protrusion and congenitally shortened pedicles has resulted in mild central canal and mild bilateral neural foraminal stenosis.

3. L5-S1: 3 to 4 mm asymmetric broadbased posterior disc bulge which is more prominent in the right lateral aspect central canal where it is abutting without significantly displacing the traversing right S1 nerve root. In addition, there is moderate facet joint arthropathy at this level which in combination with congenitally shortened pedicles has resulted in mild central canal and mild left neural foraminal stenosis. There is no significant right neural foraminal stenosis.

EPIDURAL

My family doctor-referred anesthesiologist called to schedule sessions for my epidural.

The three sessions will be two weeks apart. My first session is Friday, February 24 at 11:30 a.m. He wanted to do it on Monday, February 20, but I have other issues with the exterminator man that day.

My co-worker and "hiking wife," Kindra, has offered to take me to the clinic. It is a coincidence that we are going to the same clinic I took her to when she went for her epidurals. Strange, but true.

After the sessions, I will be sedated and I will be in no condition to drive. This should be fun!

Imagine me trying to explain to the CHP officer why I was driving erratically: "But ociffer, I had uh edipural and me under evy shedayshun and I wuz on my waaaaaaaaaaaay hoam. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Humor is the best medicine.

I figured Fridays would be good since it extends my weekend and gives me two days to rest during the weekend.

I have also decided to go for a walk in Crystal Cove State Park. No pack. I have a Camelbak FlashFlo pack that I will use. I will shoot for 3 miles on relatively flat trails. From the parking lot to the junction of Poles, Mach One, and El Moro Canyon is about 1.5 miles. My two hiking friends, Garv and Joe, will hike the route I scheduled. We will probably grab a bite to eat afterwards.

The forecast calls for some rain. How much will fall in Crystal Cove State Park is anybody's guess. If the trails are too muddy, I will not walk it in fear of slipping and falling and really screwing things up.

Wouldn't be prudent.

MRI

Had my very first MRI this morning at Newport Diagnostics.

I went to my doctor yesterday to tell him my sciatica still lingers. Now it is painful in my left hip and it feels like my leg is on fire. The Lodine, Flexeril, Vicodin, Ibuprofen, Darvocet does not work. It is difficult to sit down and enjoy a meal or watch TV or drive for that matter. I haven't ridden my bike for quite some time either.

He scheduled me for an MRI for the next day. There was an opening at 9 a.m. on Valentine's Day.

I drove to the clinic and filled out some paperwork and sat and waited. About 40 minutes later my name was called and I was escorted to a small room and was asked to take my shirt and pants off and put on the gown. Reminded me of "Animal House": Toga, toga, toga, toga....

They had me put on a gown and lie down on the table. They put on a pair of headphones with classical music from Mozart. They raised the table and the radiologist said, "See you in 15 minutes."

"Beam me up, Scotty, it is time to get resonated."

Weird sensation being inserted into a tube with super-magnets.

To avoid feeling claustrophic, I closed my eyes as I listened to the soothing classical music.

Then I heard this "techno" beat sound. Sounded like a jackhammer.

I started to feel a little warm and uncomfortable. I kept thinking of the movie, "The Fly." Are we done yet?

As soon as I thought that, I was slowly being withdrawn into reality. Oooooooooooo....

I was still feeling warm and the radiologist assured me it was the MRI. I was told the machine does warm you up. Skinny people complain of chills. Guys like me with huge muscle mass tend to get warm. Whatever.

Then I was slowly being withdrawn from the tube. The radiologist said, "We need to do a contrast."

So, the radiologist inserted the stuff in my veins and went back in for another 5 minutes.

After that, it was all done.

Now my next concern is what the results will be. The radiologist said it will be one to two days until my doctor will contact me.

I hope it is nothing serious, because I have a couple of mountains to climb...

Mt. Whitney (14,497) and Mt. Rainier (14,410).

POW WOW FOR PABLO

Bob, me, Ken, and Gary of the Fugowhee Tribe. We were the last active members of the team. We played a lot of games together. A lot of games.

We muster at the Claim Jumper in Santa Ana for one last tribute in honor of Paul.



I do not know their names, but they were some of the many mourners in attendance.

"Batman", me, Bob, Gary, and Ken. We are the "Fugowhee!"

As we gathered and ordered our drinks, Batman stood up and proposed a toast. We relived old times. We drank and ate.

The crowd started to thin out. I asked Kathy to take a shot of the four of us outside Claim Jumper.

Afterwards, an eerie feeling came over me and I returned to Fairhaven Memorial Park. I drove up to the spot, got out, took a picture and said, "Paul, we had a get together in your honor. I just thought you might want to know that. Then again you are up there looking down so why am I here?"

And I bet his response was, "You dumb jarhead!"

I smiled and chuckled. I walked away. Got into my vehicle. Took one last glance and drove off.

I shed a tear.

THE MEMORY REMAINS

Today was rather a very difficult day for me and for all of us who knew Paul.

As always, and anyone can attest to this, I always arrived early to all of our ballgames just to get mentally and physically prepared. Such was the case today. I got to the cemetery around 8: 40 a.m. I drove by Lawn AW where Paul was to be put to eternal rest. I couldn't stay and wait for the others to show up at 10:30 so I visited my friend Ken at the Chevrolet dealership where he works that was nearby the memorial park.

As I drove, I drove past the school where Paul and I had batting practice with some of the women on our co-ed team. Paul had a lot of patience. I ran out of gas shagging balls.

Then I got to Glassell Street/Grand Avenue. Off to the north on the other side of the 22 Freeway is W.O. Hart Memorial Park. Many Fugowhee softball games were played on those two fields. Fond memories.

When I arrived at the dealership, I walked inside to the receptionist's desk and I had the receptionist tell Ken that I was here. Ken emerged from his office and we walked outside to the parking lot where our vehicles were.

We walk to his car and he opens up the car door and he hands me his Fugowhee jersey. I cannot recall if I had thrown my jersey away because it didn't fit or that I stored it somewhere else. Nonetheless, Ken came through. My jersey number was 19. His was 11. We chatted outside for a while then went back inside to give him my new mailing address to update their database.

I drove back to the cemetery and got there around 9:30. I walked around with jersey in my right hand. I noticed joggers and walkers. Strange. I could never jog in a cemetery.

I noticed an old familiar face pulling up into the cemetery entrance. It was Dave aka Batman. I waved at him as he drove by and he had this perplexed look on his face. He didn't recognize until I introduced myself. He drove 4 hours from Santa Maria to say goodbye to his friend.

As I strolled back to Lawn AW I noticed Ken had pulled up behind my truck. He had his jersey on and I in turn put mine on.

People started arriving. Old faces. Old faces with forgotten names. Faces with no names, but were friends of Paul and his family.

My other good friend and teammate Bob arrived and he was carrying a placard with the picture I had placed in my blog. The picture was of crystal clear quality. Much better than the one on my blog. I made a comment to Bob, "If it were our time to go, then we should all go at once so that we wouldn't be doing this."

Then I saw Gary arrive with his girlfriend, Kathy. A few months ago, Ken and Paul told me he got married so I offered my hand of congratulations. He wasn't married. Ken and Paul were pulling my leg. Insert foot in mouth. It was all in good gesture.

More people started to arrive. I estimate the mourners to be 100 or more.

Paul's mother, Gabrielle, arrived with her daughter, Kit, and her son-in-law. I never did get his name.

The Reverend Rose was fantastic. I was singled out to step forward to share with the others in attendance on the meaning of our team jersey, "Fugowhee." To make a long story short, the name came to be when a band of ancient Native Americans walked to the top of Santiago Peak and exclaimed, "Where the fug ow whee?"

After telling that story the people gathered burst into laughter amidst their tears of sorrow. I told of how Paul got "peppered" by a line drive and a hard throw. I told of how he wasn't the best baserunner in the world but he always ran out every hit whether he was safe or out. I talked about his fight with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I touched on a few other topics but I was getting a little choked up and felt it was best I exit center stage before breaking down. Ken and Bob congratulated me on my oration.

There was another gentleman in attendance who stepped forward to speak and told of Paul's chili. He told a great story.

After the services, I approached the Reverend and told him that he gave a great service. He hit on a few things that made me think as I stood by the casket. My eyes panned the many faces with tears in their eyes. I did not shed a tear. I knew Paul wouldn't tolerate seeing a "sea going bellhop" cry since he was Navy and I was in the Marines.

I noticed my ex-wife Mary in attendance. I thanked her for coming and gave her a hug. Paul was her friend as much as mine.

I stayed around and made my way to see old friends and teammates. There was one gentleman who introduced himself and told me that he and Paul started playing softball together in 1970. Incredible. That is a long time!

Another gentleman approached me saying that Paul was a big NASCAR fan and Greg Biffle. I did not know that.

It was decided to have lunch at Claim Jumper as a final tribute. I walked around certain groups to tell them of our intentions. I tried not to have the Donaldson family hear of our plans out of respect for their grief.

I got into my truck and rolled down the windows and hit the Guns N' Roses version of "Knocking on Heaven's Door" and headed down to Claim Jumper.

KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR

Ken, Bob, Paul and me at Wallaby's in Santa Ana.

The four of us are the best of friends.

That's me kneeling on the far right yelling, "TIME TO BREED!"

Glory days at Centennial Park in Santa Ana after winning the mens' Sunday softball league championship in the spring of 1989.

Graveside services will be on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana in Lawn AW. Bob, Ken and I will be wearing our Fugowhee softball team jerseys in tribute to our dear beloved friend.

This obituary appeared in the Orange County Register on Wednesday, February 8, 2006:

Paul W. Donaldson, 56, of Tustin, an accountant, died Feb. 1, 2006, of congestive heart failure. Services have been held. Arrangements by Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary, Santa Ana. Survivors: Mother, Gabrielle; sister, Kit Katz.

I received a phone call last night from one of my friends and old Fugowhee softball teammates, Bob. He called to inform me that Paul, fellow teammate and all around good friend, passed away sometime early February 1. He got the news from Ken.

I called Ken's home phone and left a message. He later returned my call. Apparently it was pneumonia. Ken has known Paul since 1980. I cannot imagine how he felt when he first heard the news.

I do not know at this time when the services will be. There are two things in this world I do not like to go to: funerals and hospitals.

Paul used to live in an apartment around Old Town Tustin. He eventually moved in with his mother who has Alzheimer's. I do not know how Mrs. D is doing now that her son has passed away.

Paul was my tax guy for a while. He was an airshow fanatic, especially the one at Chino Airport. We would often frequent Flo's for breakfast. He was our pitcher on the Fugowhee softball team. He always needed a courtesy runner if he reached base safely, because he had weak knees. The one thing you never saw him do was give up. He ran out every hit hobbling down the first base line. We played softball almost every night of the week in mens and co-ed leagues in Orange and Santa Ana. I had a lot of trophies to prove it.

There was one game in particular that we played in Centennial Park in Santa Ana. I was the catcher. There was a hard hit line drive up the middle. Unfortunately Paul was in its path. It caromed off of him. He had no time to react. He winced in pain as he circled the pitcher's plate. And if that wasn't enough "insult to injury" the third baseman picks up the ball to throw to first and hits Paul on the side of the head. Ouch! Poor Paul. All this was happening right before my eyes. If it were me I would have gone down for the count. Not Paul. He hung there. Finished the inning. Finished the game. We won. Afterwards while downing pizza and beer we recounted the game's highlights. We busted a gut. Paul gave me one of his "evil stares" but eventually Paul was laughing, too.

We used to go to Claim Jumper in Santa Ana every Friday night for male bonding night. It would be me, Ken and Paul talking about stuff. We also used to go to Claim Jumper every Sunday morning when they served breakfast. We would waltz in to the bar, plop our Sunday paper down on the counter, order breakfast, and then eat as we read the sports page or comics. I always ordered the "Kitchen Sink Omelet" with extra side of hash browns.

There were other watering holes where we would muster. Louie Louie's especially after batting practice. Pineapple Hill Grill. Benjies. Wallaby's aka Slammy's aka OBs.

I never went to Tustin Tiller Days to taste some of Paul's chili. Maybe it was good I didn't.

A couple of years ago, Paul was stricken with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL). I was going to ride in his honor for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training cycling team, but never got around to doing it. He pulled through. Just like his baserunning, he never gave up.

I last saw Paul at the Santa Ana Claim Jumper on Friday, January 20, 2006. I hadn't seen him in a while. My friend Ken and I were already there chatting. We got to talking about Paul and how he "looked like sh*t."

Then Paul walked in. He did not look good.

We talked for a little bit. Then it was time for me to leave. We shook hands and said, "See you later."

I was in sorting things out in the garage when I came across that softball picture. That night I had a dream that I attended Paul's funeral. I remember distinctly during the wake. He was wearing his Fugowhee jersey #17. Eerie.

My heart goes out to Paul's family.

Paul, have fun up there in heaven. Just think NO MORE TAXES! No more struggling to meet deadlines or filing extensions with all your clients around April 15. I bet you are trying to convince St. Peter and God to file 1040 EZ. I can imagine that heaven is THE PLACE for an airshow with chalet seating and all the Conmemorativo tequila you can drink. Easy on the spices in the chili too, Paul! We don't want God to experience any Divine Wind.

Goodbye, Paul, I will miss you.

NITERIDER NICAD

To know more about Nite Rider, click on the above title to the link.

The NiteRider NiCad (nickel cadmium) battery I ordered on Monday, January 16, came yesterday. Nite Rider is headquartered in San Diego. Whenever I need something, they have always come through in the clutch. Thanks guys and gals at NiteRider!

This battery can get you in trouble at the airport, because Transportation Security Administration personnel have mistakenly identified it as a bomb. If you were the TSA and saw this flash before your screen, you would be alarmed, too.

SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES?

I couldn't help but notice words inside my REI Traverse pack that I use for my cycling commutes. Amazing what phrases were inside...

God's cathedral is the forest.
The road to heaven is a trail.
Open your ears to the silence.
Climb the peaks within yourself.
The best camera is your memory.
I am a sherpa.
Animals were here before you.
Reach the top.
Make the bottom.
Wind tumbles down.
Move like a glacier.
Carry no burden.
Life begins at the trailhead.
Just about halfway.
You can always take one step more.
Switchbacks keep me rising.
Home is where you pitch it.
Reality is for those that can't deal with nature.
Peaks scratch the sky.

There are more phrases, but I ain't tearing apart my pack to find out. Maybe when it is very worn and frazzled.

It is amazing what you can discover every day.

WILDERNESS PERMIT APPLICATION

Click on the above title to view the form. For any enthusiasts out there planning to hike to the highest in the lower 48 states, feel free to print and fill in and follow the instrucions on the application and good luck.

The groundwork for another dayhike summit attempt of the 14,497 foot Mt. Whitney is in the planning and development stages.

Target date is Wednesday, August 9, 2006. Second choice is Thursday, August 10. Third choice is Tuesday, August 1. The rest will be random weekday dates for August, followed by September, then August weekend dates, and then September weekend dates. About four pages of the application will be filled out and sent after midnight on Wednesday, February 1.

All applications must be received between February 1 through February 14. The lottery will be held Wednesday, February 15. Anyone entering the Whitney Zone the cost is $15.00 per person. You can pay by credit card or personal check. Just watch for any "hits" on your statement. A "hit" means YOU ARE A GO!

The permit will be mailed to:
Wilderness Permit Office
351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200
Bishop, CA 93514
Fax 760-873-2484

One of my co-workers, Horacio, is coordinating the event. I am the team leader.

Me (August 6, 2004; July 12, 2005; August 5, 2005)
Greg
Anthony
Horacio
Garv
Jonathan (August 5, 2005)
Kelly (Horacio's girlfriend)

Besides Jonathan and me, the rest will be trying to summit for the first time. Garv has tried twice and failed. The rest are not experienced hikers, but that will change over the course of the next few months. A vast majority of our training will be at Mt. Baldy with at least one or two hikes scheduled to the top of San Bernardino Peak (10,649). They don't know what their training schedule is like, but they will! Oh, they will!

If I can do it, they can do it.

A TALE OF SIX BOYS

I received this email from one of my friends, Kandy. I pass this on for all to read:

Each year I am hired to go to Washington, DC, with the eighth grade class from Clinton, WI. where I grew up, to videotape their trip. I greatly enjoy visiting our nation's capitol, and each year I take some special memories back with me. This fall's trip was especially memorable.

On the last night of our trip, we stopped at the Iwo Jima memorial. This memorial is the largest bronze statue in the world and depicts one of the most famous photographs in history -- that of the six brave soldiers raising the American Flag at the top of a rocky hill on the island of Iwo Jima, Japan, during WW II.

Over one hundred students and chaperones piled off the buses and headed towards the memorial. I noticed a solitary figure at the base of the statue, and as I got closer he asked, "Where are you guys from?"

I told him that we were fromWisconsin.

"Hey, I'm a cheese head, too! Come gather around, Cheese heads, and I will tell you a story."

James Bradley just happened to be in Washington, DC, to speak at the memorial the following day. He was there that night to say good night to his dad, who has since passed away. He was just about to leave when he saw the buses pull up. I videotaped him as he spoke to us, and received his permission to share what he said from my videotape. It is one thing to tour the incredible monuments filled with history in Washington, D.C., but it is quite another to get the kind of insight we received that night.)

When all had gathered around, he reverently began to speak.

Here are his words that night:

"My name is James Bradley and I'm from Antigo,Wisconsin. My dad is on that statue, and I just wrote a book called "Flags of Our Fathers" which is #5 on the New York Times Best Seller list right now. It is the story of the six boys you see behind me.

"Six boys raised the flag. The first guy putting the pole in the ground is Harlon Block. Harlon was an all-state football player. He enlisted in the Marine Corps with all the senior members of his football team. They were off to play another type of game -- a game called "War." But it didn't turn out to be a game.

"Harlon, at the age of 21, died with his intestines in his hands. I don't say that to gross you out, I say that because there are people who stand in front of this statue and talk about the glory of war. You guys need to know that most of the boys in Iwo Jima were 17, 18, and 19 years old.

(He pointed to the statue) "You see this next guy? That's Rene Gagnon fromNew Hampshire. If you took Rene's helmet off at the moment this photo was taken and looked in the webbing of that helmet, you would find a photograph... a photograph of his girlfriend. Rene put that in there for protection because he was scared. He was 18 years old. Boys won the battle of Iwo Jima. Boys. Not old men.

"The next guy here, the third guy in this tableau, was Sergeant Mike Strank. Mike is my hero. He was the hero of all these guys. They called him the "old man" because he was so old. He was already 24. When Mike would motivate his boys in training camp, he didn't say, 'Let's go kill some Japanese' or 'Let's die for our country.' He knew he was talking to little boys. Instead he would say, 'You do what I say, and I'll get you home to your mothers.'

"The last guy on this side of the statue is Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian from Arizona. Ira Hayes walked off Iwo Jima. He went into the White House with my dad. President Truman told him, 'You're a hero.' He told reporters, 'How can I feel like a hero when 250 of my buddies hit the island with me and only 27 of us walked off alive?'

"So you take your class at school, 250 of you spending a year together having fun, doing everything together. Then all 250 of you hit the beach, but only 27 of your classmates walk off alive. That was Ira Hayes. He had images of horror in his mind. Ira Hayes died dead drunk, face down at the age of 32 -- ten years after this picture was taken.

"The next guy, going around the statue, is Franklin Sousley from Hilltop,Kentucky. A fun-lovin' hillbilly boy. His best friend, who is now 70, told me, 'Yeah, you know, we took two cows up on the porch of the Hilltop General Store. Then we strung wire across the stairs so the cows couldn't get down. Then we fed them Epsom salts. Those cows crapped all night. Yes, he was a fun-lovin' hillbilly boy.

"Franklin died on Iwo Jima at the age of 19. When the telegram came to tell his mother that he was dead, it went to the Hilltop General Store. A barefoot boy ran that telegram up to his mother's farm. The neighbors could hear her scream all night and into the morning. The neighbors lived a quarter of a mile away.

"The next guy, as we continue to go around the statue, is my dad, John Bradley from Antigo,Wisconsin, where I was raised. My dad lived until 1994, but he would never give interviews. When Walter Cronkite's producers, or the New York Times would call, we were trained as little kids to say, 'No, I'm sorry, sir, my dad's not here. He is in Canada fishing. No, there is no phone there, sir. No, we don't know when he is coming back.'

"My dad never fished or even went to Canada. Usually, he was sitting there right at the table eating his Campbell's soup. But we had to tell the press that he was out fishing. He didn't want to talk to the press.

"You see, my dad didn't see himself as a hero. Everyone thinks these guys are heroes, 'cause they are in a photo and on a monument. My dad knew better. He was a medic (Navy corpsman). John Bradley from Wisconsin was a caregiver. In Iwo Jima he probably held over 200 boys as they died. And when boys died inIwo Jima, they writhed and screamed in pain.

"When I was a little boy, my third grade teacher told me that my dad was a hero. When I went home and told my dad that, he looked at me and said, 'I want you always to remember that the heroes of Iwo Jima are the guys who did not come back. Did NOT come back.'

"So that's the story about six nice young boys. Three died on Iwo Jima, and three came back as national heroes. Overall, 7,000 boys died on Iwo Jima in the worst battle in the history of the Marine Corps.

"My voice is giving out, so I will end here. Thank you for your time."

Suddenly, the monument wasn't just a big old piece of metal with a flag sticking out of the top. It came to life before our eyes with the heartfelt words of a son who did indeed have a father who was a hero. Maybe not a hero for the reasons most people would believe, but a hero nonetheless.

We need to remember that God created this vast and glorious world for us to live in, freely, but also at great sacrifice. Let us never forget from the Revolutionary War to the current War on Terrorism and all the wars in-between that sacrifice was made for our freedom. Remember to pray praises for this great country of ours and also pray for those still in murderous unrest around the world. STOP and thank God for being alive and being free at someone else's sacrifice.
God Bless You and God BlessAmerica.

REMINDER: Everyday that you can wake up free, it's going to be a great day.

The Clint Eastwood directed movie, "Flags of Our Fathers," is scheduled for release August 2006.

SOLD?

Signed paperwork for a possible sale of the "shoebox."

iPOD

My 30GB iPod is great! I wanted to get a Nano, but Circuit City was out of stock and an urgency of need outweighed the wait. For $50 more, I figured why not get the 30GB.

Just where am I going to find 7,500 songs, 25,000 photos, and 75 hours of video? CDs I have and maybe that's only 800-900 songs. I do have some DVDs, so I will download two to see how it goes. I will download "Silence of the Lambs" (A census taker tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti. Th-th-th-th-th!) and "Touching the Void" (SIMON!).
Photos? I have plenty of those on CDs, too.

I asked the Circuit City associate all kinds of questions. I am not much of a techno-geek, but I am working on it. I used their no interest plan and I got a few accessories. They also threw in $15 of music to download from iTunes. At 99 cents a pop, I am going to make my list of hard-to-get-songs. A vast majority of my music CDs are "best of" or "greatest hits" so I am pretty much covered.

I went to the Apple Store at Fashion Island to get a Speck Tough Skin Case since Circuit City didn't have any at any of their stores. It has a belt clip and I figure that is good enough for me.

I will use my iPod for use during those moments when I want to rock my brains out listening to Metallica or relax listening to the sounds of Japanese classical music.

Use while running, biking or hiking? Never! I intend to keep "in tune" with what is around me.

Besides...

Wouldn't be prudent.

AND THE RAIN CAME DOWN

First major storm of the new year. Heavy rain, gusty winds, and SNOW!

I have been monitoring San Gorgonio Backcountry Bulletin Board. Avalanche conditions will be a major concern during the upcoming winter season.

I will be waiting for more snow and get my permits for either South Fork, San Bernardino Peak or Vivian Creek trails.

2005: A YEAR IN REVIEW

Hiking/running totals: 718.48 miles / 303 hours 52 minutes 54 seconds.

Commute cycling totals: 2,222.96 miles / 145 hours 28 minutes 7 seconds.
Ride days: 137
Non-ride ("wasted") days: 95Weekend/recreational cycling totals: 42.19 miles / 3 hours 8 minutes 48 seconds
Overall ride total: 2,265.15 miles / 148 hours 36 minutes 55 seconds


Pushups: 66,100
Crunches: 119,000
Pullups: 1,310
Bardips: 1,310


Summits for 2005 (elevations in feet):San Gabriel Peak (6,161) -- Red Box Station, ODC, January 29
Rocky Peak (2,714) -- Hummingbird Trail, ODC, March 13
Sunset Peak (5,796) -- Mt. Baldy Village, ODC, March 19
Bedford Peak (3,800) -- Silverado Motorway, ODC, March 26
Bald Peak (3,947) -- Silverado Motorway ODC, March 26
Modjeska Peak (5,496) -- Silverado Motorway, ODC, March 26
Tahquitz Peak (8,828) -- South Ridge Trail, ODC, April 17
Strawberry Peak (6,164) -- Red Box Station, ODC, April 22
Thunder Mountain (8,587) -- Manker Flats-San Antonio Road, ODC, May 14
Timber Mountain (8,303) -- Ice House Canyon, ODC, June 5
Mt. San Antonio (10,064) -- Baldy Bowl-Devil's Backbone-San Antonio Road, ODC, June 25
Mt. Whitney (14,497) -- Mt. Whitney Trail, ODC, July 12
Mt. Whitney (14,497) -- Mt. Whitney Trail, ODC & TFG, August 5
San Bernardino Peak (10,649) -- San Bernardino Peak Trail, August 13
Mt. San Antonio (10,064) -- Baldy Bowl-Devil's Backbone-San Antonio Road, ODC, August 20
Bertha Peak (8,201) -- Cougar Crest Trail (Big Bear), ODC, September 4
Mt. San Antonio (10,064) -- Baldy Bowl Trail, Solo, October 22
Los Pinos Peak (4,510) -- East Horsethief Trail, ODC, November 19

Almanac:January 6: First ride day of the year (16.52 miles / 1:06:34)
January 18: 30,000 cycling commute miles since working at TFG.
January 19: I get a FasTrak transponder. No more fumbling for quarters on the tollways.
January 23: Pulled my left calf and right hamstring in a co-ed softball game. Two limp gimp.
January 26: My sixth year at TFG.
January 29: First summit of San Gabriel Peak (6,161)

February 13: Led my first ODC hike at Crystal Cove State Park. The muddiest ODC hike ever!

March 26: First summits of Modjeska Peak (5,496), Bedford Peak (3,800), Bald Peak (3,947).

April 14: One thousand miles cycling commute.

May 4: "Blogging" for the first time.
May 14: First summit of Thunder Mountain (8,587).

June 5: First summit of Timber Mountain (8,303).
June 13: Unsuccessful Whitney summit. Hyperextended right knee.

July 1: Vivian Creek trail opens after months of logging.
July 12: Second Whitney dayhike summit with ODC members Tonya, Joe, and Adrienne. Their first summit on their first attempt. 22 miles in 13 hours 46 minutes.
July 28: Chemotherapy over. Onward to the next switchback.

August 5: Third Whitney dayhike summit with ODC member Cisco (first summit first try), and friend, Joe (third summit) , and co-workers Garv and Jonathan (first summit first try). 22 miles in 14 hours 27 minutes.
August 13: First summit of San Bernardino Peak (10,649).

September 1: Mandatory Settlement Conference. Divorce final. Time to move on.
September 4: First summit of Bertha Peak (8,201).
September 8: 100th bike commute day.

October 15: The "shoebox" goes up for sale with an asking price of $519,000.
October 22: First solo summit of Mt. San Antonio (10,064) via Baldy Bowl Trail.

November 11: Two thousand commute miles. Egads! Seven months to ride 1,000 miles?
November 14: The "shoebox" drops to $499,000.
November 19: First summit of Los Pinos Peak (4,510). Easy scramble!
November 23-27: Walking in a Whitney Wonderland. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
November 27: The back goes out trying to repair a vacuum. Go figure!

December 7: Ex-wife "proposes" to pay me $2,000 to move out by January 15. Not! NUTS!
December 8: Sciatica. The back and now this!
December 10: The "shoebox" goes down in price to $485,000.
December 18: The "shoebox" gets a bid for $485,000.
December 25: Another Christmas come and gone.
December 28: Broke the 2,200 mile barrier in cycling commute.
December 29: Signed paperwork for a bid of $475,000 on the shoebox. Counter offers to follow.
December 31: I buy an iPod. Thank you, Mom and Dad! My parents still spoil me so at my ripe age! The one that stores 7500 songs. Jeesh! I don't know that many songs!

And that's the way it was for me in 2005.

I was lucky. There are many of you out there who know of people who lost loved ones and were displaced by the recent hurricanes. I cannot imagine losing my home, my business, my job as well as my worldly possessions and having to evacuate and to live in a strange city without knowing where I will be living next. My heart and prayers go out to those families.

Natural disasters and wars take their toll. We grieve, but we must continue with our lives. Yes, it has been hard for all of us.

I always say to people, "If I can do it, you can do it." We have to pull ourselves up from our despair and continue to live and breathe another day and appreciate all that surrounds us.

Well, damned if we do and damned if we don't. Well, damnit, let's do it!

May your 2006 be a wonderful year. My resolutions? Have fun, ride more, hike more, run more, help others, etc.

In other words...

Carry on and be myself.

RED SKELTON'S RECIPE FOR THE PERFECT MARRIAGE

Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant, have a little beverage, good food and companionship. She goes on Tuesdays, I go on Fridays.

We also sleep in separate beds. Hers is in California and mine is in Texas.

I take my wife everywhere...but she keeps finding her way back.

I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary. "Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said. So I suggested the kitchen.

We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.

She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric bread maker. She said "There are too many gadgets and no place to sit down!" So I bought her an electric chair.

My wife told me the car wasn't running well because there was water in the carburetor. I asked where the car was; she told me "In the lake."

She got a mud pack and looked great for two days, then the mud fell off.

She ran after the garbage truck, yelling "Am I too late for the garbage?" ...The driver said "No, jump in!"

Remember: Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.

I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.

I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months, I don't like to interrupt her.

The last fight was my fault though. My wife asked "What's on the TV?" I said "Dust!"

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

May you have a safe and wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.

As for me I will pick a direction and go.

CARPE DIEM

Didn't sleep well last night and this morning. Wasn't anyone or anything keeping me awake. I get into thinking early in the morning.

I figured that my current condition with my back and sciatica is the result of becoming "soft." I have been accustomed to riding 25-30 miles per day. Riding 5 miles each way is not my idea of keeping an "edge."

A lot has transpired in my life these last few months. Some good and some bad. It is time for an attitude adjustment.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.

Well, I know the things I cannot change and I know what I can change, but I don't need the wisdom to know the difference.

It is time I HAVE to make that difference. Today is the day of MY resurrection. I "cleansed" myself by riding 15.66 miles in 1:03:49 (ride day 132) on my Trek 6700 mountain bike.

That is something I haven't done since I rode 14.31 miles in 59:58 on April 27 (ride day 59).

Carpe diem.

I had to leave work early for a doctor appointment so I rode 5.36 miles in 21:07.

I rode for 21.02 miles. My first 20+ mile ride since September 8 the day after a tragic event.

Carpe diem.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIBERALS, CONSERVATIVES AND ME

Scenario:

I am walking down a deserted street with my wife and my 2 children. Suddenly, Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein come around the corner and are running at us while screaming obscenities and wielding scimitars. In my hand is a Glock .40 and I am an expert shot. I have mere seconds before they reach us. What do I do?



If I were a Liberal…
Well, that's not enough information to answer the question!

Do they look poor or oppressed?

Have I ever done anything to them that is inspiring them to attack?

Could we run away?

What does my wife think?

What about the kids?

Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the scimitars out of their hands?

What does the law say about this situation?

Is it possible they’d be happy with just killing me?

Do they definitely want to kill me or would they just be content to wound me?

If I were to grab their knees and hold on, could my family get away while they were stabbing me? This is all so confusing!

I need to debate this with some friends for a few days to try to come to a conclusion.



If I were a Conservative…

BANG!



But since I am not a Liberal or a Conservative…

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! click (sounds of clip being ejected and fresh clip installed)

Wife: “Sweetheart, he looks like he’s still moving. What do you kids think?”
Son: “Mom’s right, Dad, I saw them flinch.”

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Daughter: “Nice group, Daddy! Center mass! Can we go home now?”


That’s the way I am.

Disclaimer: This scenario does not reflect my political views. Humorous purposes only. Not responsible for content.

SCIATICA

Sciatica...sounds like a name of a rock and roll band.

This morning while taking a shower I noticed my lower left leg was numb. No major cause for concern, but I am monitoring all the little aches, pains, and numbness and will see my doctor in about another week. It is time to take those soft mattress pads off the bed and sleep on a firm mattress. I have to stay active. Hiking may have to be put on hold, but maybe I can do short hikes with a lighter pack to ease back in.

I rode my bike again to work. Temperatures were not as cold as yesterday. I tried to stand up on my bike while pedaling to see how the leg would hold up. I couldn't.

I am experiencing discomfort as I sit at my desk. Relief comes when I force myself to walk around the confines of the office while looking busy at the same time.

A nice soaking in the Jacuzzi tonight is in order. Maybe a lap or two underwater in the pool may tweak me in the right way.

Refuse to yield.