Friday's Rehab

Today was the 2nd day of Rehab and also the 2nd day of unusual near freezing cold. The temps this morning was 37 degrees.

I tripled up on sweatshirts....one pullover and 2 hoodie sweatshirts pulled over one another.

Couldn't sleep too well so got out of bed at 6am and had some coffee.

Checked the emails and the tv news. It was all about the cold here and the terrible weather along the northeast coast.....

Tonight the temps are dropping to 41 and tomorrow will be rainy and 59.

Again the heat will be on most of the night but our bedroom does get warm and with 3 quilts on, we will be warm.

But it doesn't make much difference. As both of us are always fighting for the Kleenex box to get another sheet for our draining sinus'.

Yes, we both have colds. We think from AirTran on monday.
A good Chicago friend suggested a mask for the flight and I said that wouldn't be necessary.

Oh well, soon it will get warm here. Maybe we will get rid of our colds but not this weekend.

Anyway, here's a photo of me at the rehab on a treadmill.

Oh, we had a nutritionist today tell us about eating healthy. You know,explaining to us that I am killing myself by eating unhealthy. To be eating healthy, I should eat fruits and veggies and forget any foods that come in a box or as she said Manufactured foods.

After rehab, Karolyn and I went to the first watch restaurant. The breakfasts are so good and inexpensive there. So, I ordered a green meal. Eggs Benedict with Turkey sausage and green avocado....I feel healthy already.

Later, I'll take more photos. When it gets warm.

Weds

Wow, did today start off good.

Went to rehab and had the blood pressure taken before starting and several times
during the hour.

Put on the monitor and was assigned to ride a bike for 15 minutes then the treadmill
for 18minutes.

then few curls with a big dumbell ME lifting a 3 lb weight. I did side lifts and it all felt good.

another blood pressure...it dropped to 100/72 which was ok

Went to Walmart,,,home,,,ate lunch and SLEPT for 3 hours.

I was awakened by a strong wind blowing the trees and warm weather away.

Its going to drop to 40 tonight and a high of 55 tomorrow...What happened to
the warm weather...it might return Sat

First Day in Paradise

Today was a great day
I mean the weather was as perfect as Florida has seen for a few months.

Somewhere in the 70's. In the sun it seemed warmer. Just perfect.

Actually took off my Hoodie sweatshirts and sat in a outdoor restaurant
like it was summer..

I went to my first Rehab...a consultation and look and see.

I have Jill as my physical therapist....she explained that i wait at
the front door in the morning 9:45am with others in my class.

Then we go into the gym area. Its big with all machines.

But we'll be in the heart cardiac section with treadmills. and bikes.

After 2 weeks I'll be using resistance machines...whoopee...I can't wait and
after 13 weeks I'll be appoved for living.

So, I will have time to figure out what I can do. Same as all the other
cardiac patients.

The last time I did rehab was 19 yrs ago and i was 46 yrs old...I'm 65
today.

I think its going to be rougher this time. But its no big deal.

Did I tell you how perfect it was today.

Thurs the high is going to be in the 50's so a warm winter is not here yet.

Oh! they had a cocktail party for our arrival or at least that's what our neighbor
Paul Collins told us. He does make up a lot of stories. Actually it was
the monthly cocktail party for all those here at the condo...

Sorry no photos,,i left my camera in the condo. So next time.

Thanks for listening to me...

Pre By-pass

Just talked to the surgeon and he said he prefers only the immediate family the first
couple days.

Also, I would be not in the mood to talk or visit.

So, please......stay home and enjoy life and your family.

I'll be here several days for the by pass and then the new
pacemaker/ defiberator would be put in and that would be another
few days.

So, I love emails and the kids will bring the computer and read them to me.

I appreciate all the love I feel from the Elliott family and friends.

And all of you will be in my heart and mind encourageing my body to recover.

Don't forget

Uncle Jimmy loves you all....

Mirrors

Mirrors

They do so much for us and we don't realize it.

They let us know when we look good or our hair (not mine) is messed.

The list goes on and on.

Last night I walked up the stairs to take a shower.
I opened the door and sort of leaned in.

Looking to the left and turning on the light I noticed in the mirror,
sticking out from under a hoodie
a weak tired old man peeking at me surprisingly.

Once I realized he noticed me,,,I gave him my smile. He responded: first with
a small smile which I saw and then the eyes lit up.

My mirror friend gave me, the walk up was tiring....but its no big deal.

We made that walk and we'll continue. Why? thats what we do.

So, he suddenly stood up straight--lifted his shoulders and showed some smiling teeth.

I let him go and then after the shower looked for him.

Suddenly, standing in the mirror,
there was that tall handsome face, smiling with color in his face .

He looked so much healthier.

I thought about all the other mirrors with faces.

Are those faces smiling.

Recently, I suggested to a friend to look into the mirror and spend some time
viewing their face with a smile just for themselves. For no one else.

I thought it was something nice to say.

Now, I know how important that smile is....so

Keep Smilin

especially into those mirrors....

What happened to my little world?

Part of my rehab is to walk. Walk. Walk.

I had been walking in my house from the living room to the kitchen thru the other
side of the house to the front door.

But after a few weeks that gets boring.

So last week I thought about when I was sick 19 yrs ago and walked at our local mall, the Golf Mill Mall.

Wow, thats a good idea...I'll do it again.

In 1991 my experience at the mall was interesting. There were all
these folks walking around that looked like my neighbors and school
classmates.

You know Polish, Italian, German, Irish, Swedes and other Scandinavian countries.
They all had their groups walking and sitting in the food court.

There were hispanics and Asians...Philippino's. Everyone smiling and giving a hello sign or wave.

Well, Monday I walked for the first time and noticed an old geezer that walked there
20 years ago. He looked older.

I walked 18 minutes and was more concerned with walking than noticing that the
mall was empty..

Then Weds when I walked 23 minutes....except there were a couple tables
occupied by some south pacific type folks....Not Philipino's or asians but somewhere maybe manchurians. Big boned faces.

Then today Sat went there around 4pm. Wow, it was crowded. But I didn't see
anyone I knew. I didn't recognize any of the groups of folks sitting in the food court.

Most were older....short stocky dark complected...with those beads that they twirled
around and around in each others faces. The language's was nothing i knew.

As I walked further I passed several stores that tall slender shaved heads Russian types were working. Each one had that look of a KGB agent.

Or even worse the Russian mafia.

There would be 5 of these guys in a toy store staring at anyone that approached.
None of the stores had any customers on Sat afternoon.

I finished my walk and sat in the food court. Everyone was wearing black leather/plastic jackets. All black clothes with white socks.

I had the lightest color clothes. And the only one that spoke English.

It was like in a movie. I stood in the middle and slowly turned a 360 looking at all the people.

All I could think of was: where did all those folks from 20 years go. When and where did these new folks arrive.

But most important...

What happened to my little world?