Santa Claws

Other videos at the Simon's Cat website here.

73 Degrees

In two weeks I have increased my knee bend from 65 to 73 degrees.  I may be able to drive soon.  I tried to fit in my truck when we got home this afternoon and while it is awkward getting in and out I do fit in the driving position.  My knee bends enough that my foot can now hover over the pedals and move in between the brake and gas.  I shall have to practice soon.  It has been over 3 months since I've driven!

Yesterday I had an appointment with the neurosurgeon again.  Still, nothing can be done until after the first of the new year because I was off so long for my leg.  I have an appointment for a new MRI followed by another appointment with the doctor just a few days into January.  Then maybe I will finally see a light at the end of this particular tunnel.

Are you getting ready for the holidays?  They always sneak up on me (mainly because I try to ignore them).  This year we have been mainly shopping online, so almost every day for about 2 weeks we have come home to a package or two.  I'm almost done, yet I never know what to get my wife.  She deserves diamonds for taking care of me but I'm sure she doesn't want me to spend that kind of money.  She does the finances so she would find out right away.  She says she'd be happy with a practical gift but I'm not buying it.  I'd be happy to listen to any other ideas!

We're Smelling Roses

This is a new video celebrating the Wisconsin Football Badgers.  This year is a big deal.  Championships and Rose Bowls don't happen often enough (yet).  Enjoy it, Bucky!

By Anthony Lamarr

W.A.S.P. Live Earlier This Year

I'm up late browsing Youtube watching recent live videos of W.A.S.P. when it occurred to me to check to see if there were any vids posted yet from the show I saw earlier this year at Scatz in Middleton.  There were two, and here they are:

W.A.S.P. - On Your Knees / The Real Me (great sound!)


W.A.S.P. - I Wanna Be Somebody

First Snow Arrived, As Expected

As promised, the first snowfall of the season arrived late last night and flurried out today.  I'm not sure of the official total, but my wife said it looks like we got 4 inches.  I didn't take many pictures, in fact this is the only one I took when Kate just started shovelling.  Unfortunately my leg and required use of crutches, walker, or sometimes cane prevents me from doing it myself.  Believe me, I wish I could. 

First Snow Expected Tonight

We bought a bag of hay at Ace the other day to cover the strawberry bed for the winter.  You can read more about it at my garden blog.  Probably the last post there for the year.  I only mention it here because nothing else has happened this week.

We are expecting our first snowstorm of the season tonight.  I've heard anywhere from 2-6 inches, starting tonight and ending tomorrow night.  This is the beginning of no-fun time for anti-winter people like me.  Alas, I manage to deal with it, year after year.

The Sports Geek In Me

Here's the sports geek that I have become:  I really enjoyed this little article, A (forgotten) drive for the ages, on Green Bay's game-tying drive at the end of their loss to Atlanta on Sunday.  In fact, this blog is one of my daily reads,  Kevin Seifert's ESPN NFC North Blog (also listed on the right).

College Pranks

I just laughed myself silly at this!  More here.  Via Bit and Pieces

Pic Dump 23

It has been over a month and a new computer since the last Pic Dump.  These go back a bit but I'll start collecting again and have some fresh ones for next time.  In the meantime, here's what I have, dumped just for you!  Remember to click the pic for original size and discretion may be advised after the break.  Enjoy!

Here's a pic of when my wife and I met, just as I was about to introduce myself!  Lucky her!

Neglected

I feel that I have been neglecting this space lately.  I have been dealing with things in real life and have not been able to share those things effectively here.  I guess we all have our moments.  Time to clean house?

Our New Computer is all set up and running.  Even with OpenOffice we had trouble opening old files.  So we hooked up the old computer yesterday and moved what we wanted to Google Docs.  Done.  I still don't know why file types are always changing and never compatible.  I have finished moving all the music that I want into itunes.  Almost 12,000 songs!  That means almost 8000 audio files I have are either comedy, audiobook, or old radio shows saved for a day that may never come.  All I can think of now that is left to do is to find a long term antivirus solution.  I need to take a closer look at AVG.com to find the actual free (not trial) version, but I'm still open to suggestions in the comments!

Physical Therapy is still weekly, except this coming week unless there is a cancellation.  I only gained 2 degrees at my last appointment, I was very disappointed.  I had been hoping to get off the crutches and walker very soon, but that looks like I was being too hopeful.  I was lectured a bit on what could happen if I try walking too soon and reminded that there is still bone filling in, I am not yet healed.  Rehab has it's ups and downs, and I'm in one of the downs right now.

For The Holiday, Kate went to her sister's house, I was left home with football and basketball games on TV.  More good football and basketball was on yesterday.  Today is another football day with the Badgers playing for a championship and possible Rose Bowl.  And tomorrow, Sunday, is Packers game day with the Badgers playing for their own tourney title in basketball on Sunday evening.  I love this time of year!
Tomorrow our house is the gathering place for food, friends and football.  Just good people, good food, good fun, good times, etc.  I don't expect anything out of the ordinary other than I may end up paying more attention to the football game than my wife would like.  It is the Packers, after all!

Winterization of the house and yard are finished.  A couple weeks ago I had a buddy help me by cleaning my gutters.  Kate and I managed a few details outside and in the garage.  But for the most part, my neighbor had an umemployed friend of her brother's help her clean up her yard last year and this year.  I saw him out last week and cut a deal to get my yard cleaned up for winter.  He was a real nice guy and he got all the leaves and dead plants cleaned up, lawn mowed, and everything removed.  I even got him to run and get me a new battery for my truck, which died since I haven't been able to drive it regularly.  It was worth the 80 dollars I paid him, I was pleased.  All that is left that I can think of, are a few more windows to cover in plastic for the winter.  I can manage that.