“Stop Whining and Find Something to Do” - An Update – Where I’ve Been

 It’s been over a month since I blogged about my unplanned summer

I did write about it on a few of the Spark “lifeboat” groups I’ve joined.

This is a general update

After I stupidly decided to “hop” for a fitness survey in June, my injury was finally diagnosed by MRI on August 9^th
I have a “tear in the posterior horn of my medial meniscus”
Fortunately, I had one of these in my other knee in 2017, so I know that it will heal with treatment and TIME

I decided to continue with rehab exercises only at home.  I have a treadmill, a bike, resistance bands and a whole lot of stairs.
This is preferable to rehab with a therapist because of all the clients who refuse to follow Covid safety guidelines.
Not even the death of a well known church member and the hospitalization of others has convinced our majority to get vaccinated or at least wear a mask indoors around other people.

While I gradually increased my walking time & distance, I kept up with my upper body exercise with my set of hand weights.

Then on August 19^th, I cut my hand on a big sharp knife while emptying the dishwasher.  My DH Joe bought a set of new knives to process our garden produce. They are way beyond anything necessary to cut vegetables.  Lots of blood in the sink and stitches required.  The cut was on my very dominant right hand and limited its use.

That ended hand weight exercise and even my ability to type. 
The stitches were removed yesterday and my fingers are working fine. I was lucky actually.  It could have been much worse.
 
Meanwhile, I have buried myself in a very emotional project – organizing & indexing over 100 cassette tapes of my children’s music
Some of you may remember my DD Jeannie from Spark (Hayburner1969) and how she returned to piano competition in 2016 after 25 years
What you likely did not know is that her early career included performing with her piano partner.  They even won a trip together to NYC.
Hearing these little girls play again is emotional because Jeannie’s partner Mimi died at age 13. 

I’ve listened to about 50 hours of the recordings and I’m about half way done.
I’m using “Audacity” software to trim sections of each tape in separate files.  I’m creating a new section on my website – a family archive of an important part of our lives.
At one point we had 3 pianos so they could all practice at the same time.   Also flute, string bass, trumpet and trombone echoed through the house. 
A few tapes are of Community Theater productions.  Jeannie had child solos while I was in the chorus and sewed a lot of costumes. 

Summer is almost over – not what I planned, but I know others have had much worse to deal with.
I am grateful that I can type again and can now walk 4 miles over the course of the day in 1 mile intervals. 

I am also grateful for my online connections.  I’ve been reading even if not able to respond much.
Stay safe, stay well

Eileen