THR +87

Monday, September 29, 2014:

A rainy day in Vancouver... with lots on the agenda.

Up early to return rental car to the North Shore. Then back to the Vancouver housesit.

I spent much of the day pitching stories and working on Wednesday's item -- which I finished.

Got physio done before 10pm, but -- alas -- I didn't get a chance to have dinner. Guess rice cakes and hummus will suffice.

I think I know why my right shoulder still hurts: I'm working at a kitchen table, which is likely too high -- or the chair is too low.

And... now it's time to watch the season premier of Anthony Bourdain's 'Parts Unknown'. And then bed... because I have more work to do first thing...

Exercise: some walking, some stairs, ALL the physio

-30-

THR +86

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Another amazing fall day in Vancouver.

I had a rental car, so I did a bunch of running around and picture taking.

And then I hit Spanish Banks for a 3.5km walk around sunset.

A great day!

Here are some pix:

And now begins a week of rain!

Exercise: Physio, 3.5km walk, etc.

-30-

THR +85

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Beautiful day in Vancouver.

Did ALL physio this morning. Then went for a 7.33km walk at Spanish Banks. The longest yet.

Here are a few snaps:

But there's no doubt that fall is here. Especially with another week of rain in the forecast.

Exercise: All physio, 7.33km walk, stairs, general running around

-30-

THR +84

Friday, September 26, 2014

12 weeks later...

- New lease on life: so nice being mobile
- Some stiffness and very minor twinges
- Shoulder still bothersome, hand too (damn crutches?)
- Weight remains an issue -- wine may be the next thing to go
- Doing physio is a challenge (lazy!)

Overall, quite pleased with the recovery... looking forward to getting fit.

Exercise: partial physio, walking, stairs

-30-

THR +83

Thursday, September 25, 2014

It was mostly a work day and I stuck around the house.

Lots of stiffness and some soreness in the operated leg. Could be due to an increase in physio.

Weight still not changing despite cutting out wheat/sugar.

Not much else to report.

Exercise: some stairs, full physio

-30-

THR +82

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Point form:

- awfully stiff!
- went to old hood to get package (shirts!) at Post Office
- rainy day turned quite nice
- did complete physio!
- worked...

And now: bed.

exercise: some walking, some stairs, complete physio

-30-

THR +81

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

I haven't talked about sleeping recently. Last night was a solid one: nearly 9 hours!

I'm housesitting, so the bed is new to me. I don't think it's the bed, I think it's the environment. The bedroom is much darker than my place over on The Drive.

I spent most of the day at home. The operated leg was stiff most of the day. Also, the right shoulder continues to be bothersome. Not sure why.

After work was done, I went back to my regular home to fetch some things. There and back on transit took under 90 minutes.

It rained most of the day, so no long walk. It's supposed to be terrible on Wednesday. Guess I'll get more work done!

Oh, and I dropped the ball with physio again... 

exercise: minimal, some physio

-30-

THR +80

Monday, September 22, 2014

Point form!

- I had to return the rental car, which meant returning home via SeaBus across Vancouver's harbour. Here's a few pix:

Once home, I spent the day working on my GST taxes and other similarly boring stuff. Rainy days are good for that.

In the evening, I watched the New Brunswick election go off the rails while fall arrived at 7:29pm. The skies actually cleared:

And I cooked up a bunch of veggies and chicken. And that was that.

exercise: some walking, some stairs, some physio

-30-

THR +79

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Looks like the last day of summer although that's officially Monday Sept 22nd:

This is the end...

With all the rain on the horizon, I took full advantage of the nice day and my rental car:

- did a bunch of shopping, bought little
- went to: Porteau Cove, Ambleside, Horseshoe Bay, The Crab Shop and more
- walked 3.4km at Spanish Banks

It was an amazing day. Here's just a sample:

Sept. 21, 2014 at Ambleside Park in North Vancouver, BC

 More photos to come. But now: sleep!

Exercise: 3.4km walked (plus more). Some stairs. No physio (!).

-30-

THR +78

Saturday, September 20, 2014

The month is flying by! Fall on Monday. Guatemala in less than 6 weeks.

I have a rental car this weekend, so that meant lots of running around.

I was up early and headed back to my regular home to water the plants. Picked up some groceries. And then, because it was such a nice day, I headed to Spanish Banks for a walk.

A nice day at Spanish Banks

City in the distance

After that it was a relaxing evening at the place I'm housesitting.

And... zzz.

exercise: walk: 2.7km, stairs: some, physio: oops!

-30- 

THR +77

September 19, 2014

Eleven weeks after surgery and things are good.

- slept well last night, but woke up with a leg cramp
- worked very early this morning, filed two pieces
- took SkyTrain/SeaBus/Bus to pick up rental car in North Vancouver ($41 for 3 days!)
- got the hairs snipped -- first time since before my surgery
- went to Spanish Banks for a 5.6km walk

Crappy day turned nice. Sept 19, 2014

- found some wisdom:

Spanish Banks Wisdom

- chilled all evening

Bedtime!

Exercise: walked 5.6km, some physio, some stairs

-30-

THR +76

Thursday, September 18, 2014

It was a working day today. Lots on the agenda. Also, it was a rainy day. I didn't leave the house.

Operated leg was bothersome... rather stiff.

exercise: stairs, some physio

-30-

THR +75

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

A rainy day today.

I had to leave early to meet up with Bob Nixon for a walk. We met downtown and then drove to the west side. The rain stopped and we strolled from Sunset Beach to Second Beach and back... about 5.35km

English Bay at Sunset Beach

Me. No cane, big gut. For now!

Afterward, I went to the Commercial Drive apartment to water the plants and pick up mail (a tax bill!). Then I did some errands before heading back to the housesit place to work.

Exercise: some physio, 5.35km, lots of stairs!

-30-

THR +74

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Point form:

- Watched the documentary Fed Up - all about the crazy food industry. Scary.
- Noticed that the tomato sauce I bought has sugar added! Avoiding wheat and sugar is next to impossible when it comes to processed foods. Guess I better make my own tomato sauce -- out of tomatoes!
- The scale at the place where I'm housesitting shows my weight is high. Not much loss despite all the exercise and avoiding wheat and crap food.
- Need to figure this out ASAP
- Physio motivation low today -- I spent most of the day working.
- Knackered at 10.
- ZZZ.

Exercise: countless stairs, some physio.

-30-

THR +73

Monday, September 15, 2014

In point form:

- up early to return rental car to North Shore
- took SeaBus/SkyTrain back to the housesit house
- beautiful day!
- worked
- made dinner from scratch
- worked
- caught up on some TV
- crashed early

Exercise: walked ~10 blocks, lots of stairs, partial physio

-30-

THR +72

Sunday, September 14, 2014

I'm housesitting for the next three weeks. A fancy pad near Cambie/King Ed that's on the market for $2.7 million.

Life is tough.

Anyway... the first night was ok. Not a bad sleep, but everything is lower (height-wise) than I'm used to.

There's no scale, so no weigh-ins for a while.

I spent the day running around. I had to go to the flat on The Drive, do some shopping and get groceries.

I was going to work but decided I needed a long walk and to watch the sunset. I went to Spanish Banks (and walked it). It was remarkable!

Downtown

Dancing at the Drum Circle

A hovercraft showed up

The end of September 14, 2014

After the beach, I came home... watched some TV and that was it.

Exercise: 5km+ walked, countless flights of stairs, partial physio

-30-

THR +71

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Point form!

- did some running around with rental car
- moved to a housesit on the west side of Vancouver
- went for a walk

exercise: 20 blocks, 50 flights+, partial physio

-30-

THR +70

Friday, September 12, 2014

Point form!

- good sleep
- no pain meds for a long time
- pretty much ready to eschew the cane
- no wheat
- no wine is hard
- 10 weeks since surgery
- no cane all day
- picked up rental car
- took post-surgery stuff back to Red Cross
- three bars and a Vietnamese restaurant!

Life is good!

Exercise: 50 flights, 20 blocks, physio: range of motion

-30-

THR +69

Thursday, September 11, 2014

- woke up at 6:30am with cramps in operated leg, went back to sleep
- woke up at 8:30am!
- decent sleeps, but tend to wake up during the night to get comfortable (was like this before surgery)
- could be from the weight
- weight down a little more this morning (-7.3 total since Aug 1)
- worked most of the day
- escaped to Fets patio for a late afternoon w(h)ine or two
- chilled out

And... the sunset:

September 11, 2014

 exercise: 10 blocks, 40 flights, partial physio

-30-

THR +68

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Point form!

- Slept great -- until 8:30!
- Weight down
- Worked all morning
- 4.26km walk
- ALL physio
- Shot 10x10 photo project
- Reserved flight to Guatemala (though not paid for yet)
- BEAT, need sleep.

Sunset September 10, 2014

exercise: 4.26km walk, 10 flights, all physio (new and old)

-30-

THR +67

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Point form again today, unfortunately.

- I had a fitful sleep only to be woken up by a pair of Stepford Wives walking their barking dog at 6:30 or so. If it happens again, I'll be certain to remind them about being civil. Jerks.

- I discovered Corn Flakes and a lot of other foods contain wheat. BOO!

- I went to the grocery store in search of non-wheat food. It was difficult to find a can of tomato sauce without wheat. Amazing.

- I worked a lot and made a big pot of chili.

- Kind of blew physio today (the strength stuff).

- And then there was another nice sunset:

Same as it ever was: Sunset Sept. 9, 2014

exercise: 10 blocks, 10 flights, range of motion physio

-30-

THR +66

Monday, September 8, 2014

Today marks nine weeks since I left the hospital.

- sleep patterns returning to normal

- some stiffness and tight skin today

- shoulder much better

- worked a ton today

- went downtown (without cushion!)

- checked out a sweet housesit

- didn't do as much physio as I should have (will make up for it Tuesday)

- and the day ended with this:

Another nice Vancouver sunset - while Alberta got snow! Sept 8, 2014

exercise: standard physio, 10 blocks, 10 flights

-30-

THR +65

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Another decent sleep last night. Weight up a bit this morning.

To sum up:

- worked a bunch

- went for a 3km walk, took some pictures

A picture I took

- worked some more

- went for a 2km walk to get sushi, took more pictures

Another picture I took (Napier St. Party)

 - made Blerk™

- watched a couple of episodes of The Daily Show and Colbert Report from last week

- went to bed early

exercise: 5km walked (mostly sans cane), 20 flights of stairs, some physio (rest!)

-30-

THR +64

Saturday, September 6, 2014

I had a restless sleep which I'll blame on the two slices of pizza I had last night. The wheat doesn't seem to have caused any digestion problems. So far.

It was another beautiful sunny day. I worked ahead, went for a walk to get veggies for a batch of Blerk™ and met up with a couple of former-CTV colleagues for patio pints.

A beautiful summer day that ended with:

September 6, 2014

Bueno!

Exercise: 16 blocks, 20 flights, day off physio

-30-

THR +63

Friday, September 5, 2014

Coles Notes version:

- nine weeks since surgery

- 26 YEARS (!) since launching MITV in Halifax

- Went to physio -- all good. But I need to build strength. Was given lots of new exercises

- Met Randy downtown - ended up at the Irish Heather and enjoyed cider pints on the sunny patio

- Went to Commercial Drive. Ate 2 slices of pizza. WHEAT!!

- Went to Fets to enjoy their sunny patio

- pulled the pin around 10:30

exercise: 2.5km walked, 10 flights of stairs, physio

-30- 

THR +62

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Another great sleep. I wake up a few times, but fall right back to sleep. Love it!

The sunny weather is back with a projected high of 21C.

I have to finish one more piece and then no more deadlines until next Tuesday. That said, I'm going to try and work ahead over the coming days. It makes life so much easier.

UPDATE:

So... I worked until about 2pm. Went for a 3.5km walk, all of it without using a cane. Here's the route and elevation profile:

Commercial Drive: Broadway to Venables and back (via Fet's patio!)

On the way home I Popped into Fet's Whiskey Bar to enjoy a glass for red on their sunny patio. And to read more of the book Wheat Belly -- very interesting.

I've been off wheat (including beer) for 10 days now. I sleep better, feel better, have more energy and continue to slowly shed the pounds. No gluten issues, either (obviously).

The next thing to cut back on is rice. But not just yet.

And I still may do a month of juice, but not until I'm healed.

Everything seems to be coming together!

Tonight: catching up on some British TV.

Exercise: 3.5km walk (no cane), physio, 40 flights of stairs.

-30- 

THR +61

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Another decent sleep! I'm going to get used to these!

I could have slept longer, but I had looming deadlines.

Action items:

- worked

- walked

- relaxed

And it was a nice day, to boot! But fall is definitely here.

exercise: 4km walk (1.1 without cane), 2 flights, physio

-30-

THR +60

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

I had a decent sleep last night but had to get up early to work.

No leg pain from all the exercise on Monday, but the shoulder continues to be a bother.

Memories of Labour Day 2014. Indian Arm/Deep Cove, BC

It's a cold and rainy day here in Vancouver. I spent a large part of it working ahead. Finished today's piece AND Friday's.

A break was necessary -- a stroll in the rain to get a coffee. But before leaving it took 15 minutes to put on socks and shoes. Tying my left shoe was the hardest and I'm sure I broke my hip precautions (don't twist, don't bend more than 90 degrees, don't cross your legs).

But I got the bastard tied!

I also decided to wear jeans instead of shorts. My Commercial Drive costume has consisted of nothing by shorts and sandals since, what? June?

I dislike this winter garb, but the weather wizards are calling for sun for the rest of the week. Although those are the same weather wizards that called for rain yesterday.

UPDATE:

So... I walked in the rain to get a double americano misto at Continental. The waterproofing of my raincoat is somewhat suspect. Does good waterproofing exist?

The day was spent working, but I fit in laundry. I finally bailed at 10pm and went to bed shortly thereafter. The glamorous life of a freelance writer!

exercise: 1.3km walk, 50 flights, forgot physio - will make up for it on 9/3

THR +59

Monday, September 1, 2014

Time flies! Hard to believe it's September.

Today marks the start of a second week of no wheat and eight weeks since leaving the hospital.

BREAKFAST: Cornflakes, blueberries, banana, vanilla yogurt, 1% milk + coffee (+tin milk)

UPDATE:

I grabbed a car share car and hit the road. $50 for 400km/24 hours including gas and insurance. Sold.

I went to Deep Cove, bought salmon patties at The Crab Shop, checked to see if shorts and other summer apparel is on sale yet (no), bought groceries (Chinatown and a new supermarket - holy cheap!), went to the beach, walked 2.5km with cane and 2.5km WITHOUT cane. Amazing day.

Labour Day at Spanish Banks, Vancouver, BC

Came home. Worked a bit. And now it's time for physio and then to relax.

LUNCH: Veggie rice & chicken

DINNER: Lentil chips and garlic hummus, wine (yeah, whatever!)

Exercise: 5.5km walked, 2.5km without cane, 50 flights of stairs, physio

 -30-