Hi Babe,
A pretty good night sleep, chores and breakfast before heading off to PT #10, which is apparently a milestone in my knee recovery. It’s looking pretty good, so I may be able to skip the last session next week after I have a visual visit with my surgical team next Tuesday. I had a disturbing dream that I tripped and landed on my knee and the whole seam burst open, and I was panicking because I knew I wouldn’t be able to stick it back together well enough not to leave a huge scar. In reality, it seems like the last of the scabs are just about to come off, and with a little luck I’ll be able to get in the pool in the next few days, fingers crossed! I’m also hoping that after my Tuesday appointment they might let me get back to riding, which would really make me a happy camper! After PT, I went to Walmart for a few things, and for the first time since the surgery, I walked around the store rather than ride in one of those motorized scooters, figuring if I could walk ¾ of a mile yesterday I should certainly be able to walk around the Walmart, and I did, with no problem! Spent the rest of the day icing my knee, reading and working on my computer. Bill and Sandy went off to have dinner with his sister, and I settled in for the evening. Shower and bed are next! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hi Sweetie,
After chores and a quick breakfast, I headed off to the truck repair place down by the fairgrounds and dropped off the truck. They were nice enough to give me a ride to the nearby IHOP, where I proceeded to have a second light breakfast, and to work on my computer for hours. It kept getting colder and colder in there, and I could feel the chill returning, and even though they didn’t call me that the truck was ready yet, at about 2:30 I decided to walk the ¾ mile back to the shop, which was a good workout for my knee after sitting for so many hours. The truck was ready and waiting (for how long, I have no idea), but I stood in line for a bit, then paid and drove off. The rear end is definitely a bit higher, but the ride doesn’t seem to have been affected too much, so I think this was a good choice. They replaced the old six leaf spring system with an eight leaf spring system, and put in some new shocks I had ordered online. They also adjusted the parking brake and checked the brake pads, so I guess I’m good to go on that! Got back to the ranch, sat around by the pool with Bill and Sandy for a bit, then they grill some chicken and we, remarkably, were eating before 6:45, with even Jeff joining us that early! We fed the critters, then finally sat down to play some euchre, which I’d been hoping to do for awhile now. That kept us busy till well after 10:00, which is why I’m so later tonight, but I’m off for shower and bed now! Good night, my darlin’! Love you!

Hi Darlin’,
Had a good night sleep with my earplugs in, though I still felt a little bit of a chill during the night. I can’t believe I just couldn’t shake that chill! It was cool in the morning but did manage to warm up during the day. It took a long time to get everyone moving today, but we finally decided on going out to lunch at the Snuggery, which Jeff has talked about for ages but I’d never been to, and left for there after 1:00. It was a very nice meal, a really nice piece of dolphin (not like Flipper!) on a lovely bunch of greens. There was also something I’d never heard of before, corn beef soup! Jeff ordered some and I tasted it, it was delicious! After that, Sandy and I stopped at the grocery store on the way home to pick up a few things while Jeff and Bill went to a quick service call, and we ended up arriving home at exactly the same time. We then got the three horses saddled up, and they all went for a ride around the little loop in Hungryland, leaving at 5:00 and getting back about 6:45, while I stayed home and did my PT and iced my knee, something I didn’t do at all yesterday. My knee very good today, when I got up this morning it almost felt normal, and my lack of limping is getting to be more of a habit. By the time we got the horses fed and put away, it was late enough where we said our good nights and went our separate ways. I did a little work on the computer, watched the last half of an episode of New Tricks that I fell asleep during last night, now I’m headed off for my shower and bed! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hi Babe,
Woke up at just the right time to get my chores and breakfast done, then because Jeff had confirmed a half day of drift fishing this afternoon, I headed out early, first to stop at Publix to get motion sickness pills, saltines and Gatorade, all of which I figures would help keep me from getting nauseous, which I sometimes do on small boats on the ocean (never big boats, or small boats on flat water), then ran down to the feed store for hay, then down to PT, where it’s starting to sound like they’ll be able to release me before my eight weeks is up (yay!), then another Publix to pick up a quick snack, then the drive to the marina, right behind a restaurant known as the Square Grouper (which is an old smuggler’s expression, meaning bales of marijuana that had to be dumped in the water when the authorities were chasing them down!). I found the boat, right on schedule, then called Jeff and they were just a few minutes behind, so we all made in onboard with no problem. It was still a bit breezy, but the sun felt nice, and we drove out to our first fishing spot in the sun, but when the boat turned away from the sun while it was drifting, I started to get really cold, even though I was wearing capri pants and an extra shirt over my tank top. Within about 50 minutes I was chilled to the bone, teeth-chattering chilled, so I had to abandon the fishing to go to the side of the boat that had sun on it. Unfortunately, there was no place comfortable to sit, and I ended up laying down on a cold, plastic seat, which was barely wide enough for me. Every time I was almost warmed up, they’d move the boat again, and I’d get chilled again, and I ended up never fishing again, I was just too cold. I think everybody thought I was seasick, and I was just a little bit nauseous, but I’d taken so many precautions it didn’t overwhelm me, thank goodness. When we finally got back to the dock, I got in my truck and put the heat on full, and it still took the entire trip home to start feeling warm again! I quickly put away my hay (though not quick enough that Apollo didn’t get a few mouthfuls before I was done), and James had already started to feed the critters, so he and I just finished off that chore. The others came in right after me, but all I wanted to do at that point was to make hot ginger tea, finish off my snack (though I heated it up in the microwave first), and stay in my nice warm trailer. It wasn’t long before I was ready for a nice hot shower, and now I’m ready to climb into my nice warm bed. I took a zinc in hopes of avoiding any illness that might come out of this chill, fingers crossed I don’t wake up sick tomorrow! So I’m heading off, hours earlier than usual, but I think that’s for the best. Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hi Sweetie,
Had a decent night sleep, then fed the critters, then, since Jeff doesn’t do breakfast, Bill and Sandy came down to my trailer and we all had breakfast together. Afterward they went up to the Church in the Farms for Easter Services, then later they did a little fishing in the pond, then they all went down the road to the menagerie for a bit. We tried everything we could to have a nice ham dinner at 3:00, but as is always the case around here, we didn’t actually get to it until about 5:00. Not for lack of trying, believe me! It was good, though, and James joined us as well. We were going to play some euchre but Jeff’s boarder showed up and kept him busy for quite a while, and by then it was too late, so I came home and settled in for the evening. Possible fishing trip tomorrow, we’ll see. I’ve had my shower, now it’s just a matter of making the bed and climbing into it! Good night, my darlin’! Love you!

Hi Sweetheart!
Woke up to a much chillier morning today, then went off to breakfast with our friends down to First Watch. Afterward they went shopping while I drove down to a truck place to have an estimate done for work on the truck, and received a much more amenable estimate than the previous place. They’ve even got the springs in stock for a very reasonable price, and with the added benefit that they will install new shocks to replace the old ones at no charge for labor if I provide the shocks, which I ordered off Amazon later in the day. Spent most of the rest of the day sitting out by the pool, where it had warmed up a bit, but a cool wind kept it from being perfectly comfortable, until we finally put dinner together, including pork chops on the grill, though all of our efforts to get brother Jeff to eat earlier seems to be for naught, as it was still 8:00 by the time we finally ate. After that I fill by iceman with ice and went back to the trailer to get some icing done on my knee. I did managed to slip away long enough to get most of my PT exercises, and am glad to say that my knee felt a lot better today. I can’t believe they’re going to make me wait another full month to ride, my walking is practically normal now, and it’s only a little discomfort, which I feel will be gone very soon. Fingers crossed they let me off the hook a little earlier! Anyway, settled down for a much appreviated evening before heading off to bed. Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hi Babe,
Spent the larger part of the day doing some overdue housekeeping, until an old friend of my brother’s and his wife (who’s a horse lover and follower) arrived around 5:00. We got reacquainted, had a nice spaghetti dinner and a pleasant evening before I headed back to the trailer to turn in. That’s about it for today, work, work, work! Good night, darlin’! Love you!

Hi Sweetie!
Had an early PT session today, starting to really see some progress now, am doing a good job of not limping, and I even went up and down the stairs at the clinic without too much trouble, yay! When I got back I changed into my new bathing suit and carried the pressure washer over to the pool to clean the deck up. It was in much better shape this year than last year, when I had to wash up all kinds of green stuff, but most of it this year was just dirt, so it wasn’t that hard, though it took until 5:00 to finish. Took a shower and settled down for the evening after feeding the critters, nice to have a productive day outside! But time for bed now! Good nigh, darlin’! Love you!

Hi Darlin’!
Slept a bit late this morning, then after chores and breakfast I got busy on the truck. I finally changed out the fuel filter, which was long overdue, and changed the air filter out as well. The actual time to do those two things was minimal, but I had quite a bit of trouble getting the old fuel filter off, which took a long time, but finally managed it. I was so dirty by the end of that I had to jump straight into the shower, then I spent some time in the afternoon working on my proposal for a new contract with Equity. I have just enough time to get a contract (if they’ll let me) to qualify for health insurance before the national free benefits run out. Hopefully I can get it through this time, since I’ll have had both of my Covid shots by the time the contract is scheduled to begin. We’ll see! Did my PT exercises and spent the day icing my knee again. I was told I needed to slow down my walking and try to walk without a limp, but it’s kind of hard since I’ve been limping for over seven years, I’m not sure I know how anymore! So that’s what I’m working on now. It mostly doesn’t hurt anymore, it just feels stiff and blocky, and I’m getting a bit tired of it, but at least I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Finally settled down for the evening, and now I’m just about ready for bed. Good night, babe! Love you!

Hi Babe!
Had a good night sleep (with earplugs and the fan going), and woke up with the alarm right on schedule. After morning chores and breakfast I headed down to the fairgrounds where I was assigned to get my first (of two) covid shots. It was very well organized, and everything moved along very nicely, no long lines, everything went perfectly, and I was in and out of there in less than 30 minutes. Afterward I went out to the Red Barn feed store, because they carry all the Nutrena products I use and it saves me a trip all the way up to Ranch Feed near Stuart. Then I stopped for fuel, then headed over to where my PT was, but I was early so I decided to have some lunch at a little restaurant in the same plaza, the Hurricane Grill. It wasn’t bad, more of a sports bar atmosphere, but I had a very nice Quesadilla Burger that I only ate half of, and took the rest home for later. That killed enough time till my PT session, and that went very well today, too. I got the same girl that beat me up last week, but she was much gentler (though still firm!) on me today, so I felt pretty good when I left. Headed home, put the feed away with James’ help, then settled down for the rest of the day. I got the fuel and air filters through Prime today, so that will be my job tomorrow, along with a few more odds and ends. Had a relaxing evening, still too hot, though a small cool front is supposed to go through tonight. Felt like a good, productive day today! At least now I have some more clarity as to when I’ll be able to leave Florida and head north. My PT is scheduled through April 15, my second covid shot is April 19, so I guess any time after that I’ll be clear, barring any other complications. I’m considering going to Loretta Lynn’s again for their summer ride the first week of June, though I doubt I’ll join in the organized rides again, it’s just too frustrating having one horse that’s too fast and one that’s too slow for either the fast or the slow groups! I’ll just ride on my own, or hook up with smaller groups that go my speed. Anyway, off to shower and bed! Good night, sweetie! Love you!