Homebody this week!

Toward the end of last week we were visited by our cousin, her husband and our Aunt. Thursday started out cold and yours truly learned all about bursitis. Each year we enjoy a few visits with our cousin Angela, her husband Bob and when she can make it down to FL our Aunt Ruthie. First of all, you may notice that I use the word "our" to describe our cousin and her mother, who is our Aunt Ruthie. Pat and I as well as Bill's wife Angela have a unique relationship with Angela and our Aunt Ruthie. You see, Angela and Ruthie are a cousin and an Aunt to Pat and me and Bill's wife Angela. Simply stated, my mother's sister (Ruthie) married Pat's mother's brother (Leo). Pat and I go way back and new each other all our lives. Until we were old enough to understand our unique relationship we actually did think we were cousins. It's always a fun story to explain to people we meet. Aunt Ruthie has been blessed with a rewarding life as a nurse and lots of travel. We enjoyed their company for three days. One day Bill and Angela dropped in and we enjoyed an evening to reminisce.
The visiting trio got to see La Nouba at DownTown Disney. But, by far we all think they had more fun with Lilly than anything else! Angela managed to beat me to Lilly's leash for her walks. Lilly sat on all of their laps more than Pat's or mine.

From L to R: Bob, Angela, Ruthie, Pat (Lilly), Dave, Angela and Bill.

Thursday will also be a day I'll remember for a while. While sitting at the Toyota Dealership for a service, my right shoulder became sore and uncomfortable to move. By that evening I was in full blown pain and lost nearly all movement. Over the next several days I had all I could do to dress, sleep or do much of anything but try not to move my arm. Fortunately, I'm a "leftie" which meant I was able to perform the most basic daily activities. On a good note, I planned a visit to the doctor recommended by Pete and Jack... but that wouldn't be for nearly a week. Thanks to OTC pain killers I was able to function somewhat better. Then, last night I decided to try sleeping back in our bed. Oddly, I managed to quickly get comfortable and sleep most of the night. Lilly woke me up as usual around three and upon getting up to return her to her bed, I didn't have to wince when slightly moving my right arm. The meds must be working! I greeted the morning feeling better rested and the stabbing pain that tore through my shoulder with even the slightest movement was not there. The stiffness is still there but nearly 95% of the pain is gone. Over the past several years I've learned from Bill and Pete a lot about their shoulder problems. Jack also dealt with sever bursitis in his shoulder. I had a pretty good idea of what lies ahead for me. Judging from what I've learned I most likely had a bursitis attack and will need physical therapy. I'll know what lies ahead for me when I finally see the doctor later this week. This experience has given me an entirely knew understanding of what Bill, Pete and Jack (along with so many other folks with shoulder/joint problems) dealt with for a much longer time than I.

I took a pass on our weekly bike ride.... but not lunch! I was going to enjoy my Reuben at "The Wave" come h _ __ or high water! ...And it was yummy! We also got to celebrate Bill's birthday!

 

Thanks to Judy, we can share with you some of the fun their group had at the Wilderness Lodge Whispering Canyon Restaurant.

 

(Notice how stoic they all appear? That's because when I take a picture, I usually trip or fall over something either before or after taking the picture. Judy doesn't do that!)

 

Our two groups enjoyed an outstanding day for a ride. Unfortunately, one of our riders had a bad fall due to an "equipment malfunction."

To prevent a worse accident, Dave rode off the edge of a sidewalk that could have left him face down on cement. He tried to ride onto the soft shoulder only to run into a tree that left him with a bad scrape. I found out that he made it to lunch so we're all glad his injuries were not more severe.

 

(Editor's note: I'd like to tell my version of this story.) Dave, knowing he was heading for a fall wanted to go out in style. He decided he was going "rough riding!" Fearing nothing Dave put the foot to the pedal. He ended up making more than a mere mark on a Fort Wilderness sapling.

I'm sure the Fort Wilderness Rangers will be questioning him about this.

Then, hearing that he may be required to pay restitution, the usually mild mannered Dave threw his bicycle in frustration...

 

Normally, I try not to embellish my stories, but I got to thinking about what others think of us as our (mostly in blue, riders) stream by them. Hmmmmmm I wonder......

 

Here's what we think of our selves as we ride....

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Here's what others think of us as we ride by....

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But, here's what others think we really look like....

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Bill's birthday gives knew meaning to the phrase, "let them eat cake!" And that we did!

Not bad for another "29th" year celebration! 

 

While being stuck to the house (thanks to my shoulder), Lilly and I enjoyed frequent and longer walks around our neighborhood. Out "resident" gator was a "must see" each time we went out. The cooler weather of last week with little sunshine kept him from sitting at the pond's edge. However, once the weather warmed up and the sun came out we were treated to a few walks up-close to this critter.

In spite of several uncomfortable days I'd say we still had lots of terrific things going:
we enjoyed an awesome visit with Angela, Bob and Aunt Ruthie,
thanks to Bill we got to eat lots of cake,
and I gave Pat a few heart palpitations showing her the above picture,
and thankfully, my shoulder is on the mend!