Days 98 and 99

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away......oh wait, I am not a Beatles.....yesterday I had a very very long day. I finally got 8 hours of sleep the night before and got up to go to work. I was thrilled when I got there because I discovered I was doing Gil, the lighter puppet. Plus I only had 3 shows on what is normally my 4 show day. After shows I rushed home and ate a delicious Tuna Steak dinner that Karen made and then I was off to a recording session for PartyLite.

From 7:00pm till 2:00am we were there. I was only producing so I did not have to sing but Juan, Jeremy and Mark were awesome. They worked their vocal chords off and were just great. So I got home, went to bed and got up 5 hours later to go to work again.

This morning we had put in's for the new Shark puppets. They are beautiful and challenging at the same time. I think I will love them in a few days. After doing a few runs, I did my shows and then went to a recording session to read books on audio for National Geographic. It was very fun. They are doing books for students that are not traditional National Geographic books. I got to do some character voices and I had a blast. The 2 hours I was in there went by so quickly. The woman who works for National Geographic was actually on the phone listening to my session and giving feed back.

After the session I came home to eat and then spent the rest of the night working on an audition tape that I will tell you about tomorrow because it will require you to go online and vote for me. So now it is bed time so I leave you with this quote:

Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be - George Sheehan

Days 91,92,93,94,95,96,97

Wow, it has been a whole week since I had the chance to sit down and write the blog. I am sure that many of you just gave up on me so now I am writing to ...... no one. I do hope that you will check back in once in a while to catch up.

So the long and short of it is that I have still be going to physical therapy and I will continue to do so until they decide that I should be released. I am doing great but my leg still has pain at times and I still can not jump on it. I do a mini tramp while at PT but after a few minutes, I have to stop. They say that my point and flex are great but it is the side to side motion that is restricted. So I go and they play with my foot until it moves well enough for me to exercise and then I go and exercise.

I worked Thursday and Friday at Nemo and was choreographing when I could for PartyLite. My mother was still here and I was scheduled for the Back Yard BB Q on Thursday, so Mom came and sat with some friends of ours that came to the show as well. It was very fun to do that show again since the last I performed it was last year in November and the last I rehearsed it was the day I left for my ski trip.

Friday I was back at Nemo and then home to work. Saturday was a big day as it was Lexi's recital. She was so excited that so many of her friends and her school teacher and Grandma were going to be there. All of her brothers went as well so she had quite a showing. I MC'd the recital during costume and prop moves. Most of the Dad's help move props, I move my mouth.

Sunday was Karen's birthday and Father's day. Everyone got up early to go to church and then brunch was made by Karen. I was choreographing and recording all day long. I did manage to finish my work, take my Mom to the airport and was home in time for the family to take Karen and I out to dinner. I told them that Mom's birthday trumps Fathers day but we shared it just fine. This has only happened a few times since we have been married so it is no big deal.

Monday I worked and flew to Boston to work at PartyLite on Tuesday. I flew back Tuesday night and was in rehearsal all day today for the Luckow family celebration at Disney. I did okay considering that for the past two nights, I only had 5 hours of sleep each night. So after checking 53 emails, looking at the pictures from my show and realizing how old I really do look, it is time for bed. And so I leave you with this quote:

Forty is the old age of youth, fifty is the youth of old age.

Days 87,88,89 and 90

I have been so bad. Tired from the show, company and work. I am so sorry. I had family arrive on Sunday night and I did not get to bed until 2:00am. Then Monday I woke up at 6:20 and I do every year on my birthday (that was the time I was born) crazy right? Of course Monday was the big show and I did not get to bed until 2:00am and was up early again because of company. Then last night I was up until midnight answering emails that I had neglected for 2 days and today I am so tired but I am writing.

Sunday, I mowed my lawn and noticed that I forgot to plant flowers in the front of my house. So I ran to Lowes to get some and on my way, was in company / show mode and ran a stop sign. I got pulled over. When the officer came to my window, I said," I ran that stop sign didn't I"? He said "Yes you did". So I took out a poster of my show and said, " I am so sorry, that is not like me at all. I turn 50 tomorrow and I am doing a benefit show for the JDRF." Looking totally un impressed, he took my license and registration. He came back 5 minutes later with..... a warning!!! He said, "You turn half a century tomorrow, I don't want to add to your stress level". I looked at his badge and said, "Thank you officer Wood. By the way, would you like to hang a poster for my show in your police base?" He just smiled and walked away. I love officer Wood!!!

Got my flowers planted and lawn mowed and then company came. They ate, went swimming and I worked with my life saver Lin for the next 7 hours in my office making cue sheets for my show.

Monday, woke up and went to the gym. Was home early to get a few things sorted out. Went to pick up my mic stands and the high school I was borrowing from was closed. I called the principal and he thought it was the next night and I was out of luck. My friend Rhonda came through for me and got someone out at Disney to call some one and loan us the stands. Got to the venue at 2:00 and was non stop until the show ended. What a great night. I was so pleased at how everything went. When people were thanking me for letting them be in the show, I was taken back. Everyone did me such a huge favor and here they are thanking me!! Wow. We raised a little over $4000.00 for the JDRF. I was hoping for 5 thousand and it still might get there. Some people were prepared for credit card donations, but there was no way, so they took the business card from the JDRF lady and said they would mail in a donation. After the show, we partied at my house till 2.

Tuesday was picking up spotlights and returning them as well as the mic stands and costumes I had borrowed. Then straight to work. My sisters left but my Mother is staying until Sunday. When I got to my email there were so many and most of them about the show. I was in awe at the notes that people sent. Just an amazing experience.

Wednesday was the gym, taking my mother to the Silver Sneakers class and then off to work. I dropped my mother off in Celebration at a family friends house who is watching her 95 year old uncle. I was hoping for a love connection, but no such luck. They guy is great but he is a Red Sox fan and my mom is a Yankee fan. It would never work. Dang!!!! So now you are all caught up. I am going to bed and leaving you with this quote that I live by:

“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.”

John Wesley quote

Days 85 and 86

Yesterday was Karen and mine's 27th Wedding Anniversary. Busy busy with gym, work, picking up costumes, buying stools, picking up and dropping off spot lights. But when I finally made it home, we got ready and went to dinner. We went to the "Big Fin" out on Sandlake road in that new complex. We had our choice of many restaurants but chose sea food. Did we make the wrong choice. I asked the girl who sat us what the most popular item on the menu was and she said the swordfish. She explained how tasty and moist it was. When our waiter came I asked the same question, he gave the same answer. I was sold. We got an appetizer that sounded great on the menu but it was just okay....too much bread. Our meal came and as soon as I put my fork in the sword fish I knew it was cooked too much. It was dry and really bad. The waiter saw the face I made and came over and said "that was not a good face" I explained how dry it was and he asked me to try the center of the fish. Still dry!!! He took it back, very reluctantly as he said no one has ever sent it back, it is the chefs pride and joy and he could not believe that I thought it was bad.

Not 2 minutes later the owner was at our table asking what was wrong. He too was shocked and again repeated that I was the first to ever send it back. I ordered something else but Karen already had her food and my meal took about 15 minutes to get to me. It was much better but not great. All of the employees would walk by, stare and even point. I was the guy who did not like the swordfish. I hope the chef did not have a nervous breakdown. They offered us free dessert but we declined as nothing really looked good. We got in the car and had every intention of going to a movie. We were both so tired that we headed home. We stopped at Twisty Treat for a fat free sugar free ice cream then went home to bed.

Today I got up early to gym it then do all of my pool maintenance. Pinch a Penny and making my water just perfect. Sheila came over to go through the show and transitions and after she left it was time to get ready for church. I sang the song "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlinson. Great song and it went well. Then we came home and ate a rubbery pork roast that we got at B.J's. and began cleaning more for our company tomorrow. So now it is after 1, my boys are watching Shutter Island, Karen just went to bed and that is where I am headed. So I have come to the conclusion until tomorrow:

A conclusion is the place where you got tired thinking.
Martin Henry Fischer

Day 84

What a day I had today. I was up at 7:00 am, on my bike at 7:10 riding 12 miles to the car place to pick up the mustang. I was home by 8:30 and started balancing my check book. I still do it with pen and paper and a calculator. I know, that is archaic but that is what I trust the most. I have tried Quicken but failed every time. If it works, don't fix it and my method works.By 9:30, I was off to physical therapy. Today I had Kristie and the first thing she did was work on my heal. I have been having pain in my ankle area but not bone pain, tendon pain. One of the stretches, she had my foot right under her boob. I reminded her of the blog I wrote about Stacy, the PT with whom my foot has been intimate with. She was laughing a Stacy was there and over heard our discussion. So now she knows. We all blushed and laughed very hard.

After PT, I ran to the gym and then over Trudy's house to rehearse blocking for the show. She did great and is feeling much more comfortable with everything. I then ran to Keith's house to practice with the band. THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!! I was so blown away with the talent and perfection of what they were playing. Gina and Kevin both stopped by to rehearse their songs. Just great.

I then ran home, grabbed dinner and was off to pick Lexi up at her dance studio and rehearse with another dancer for the show. On my way home, Paul Rizzo called and needed me to lay down some PartyLite tracks for a video we have to produce. Lexi came with me and counted her silly bands while I was singing. 285 minus the one she gave to Paul, so now 284. Whoever created those is rich and laughing all the way to the bank. A rubber band shaped like something, anything, dogs, cats, Ipods, peace signs, you name it. You wear them as bracelets, trade them or collect them. Genius.

So now it is bed time. Tomorrow is my 27th wedding anniversary. We have been married a long time. How lucky I am to have married someone who puts up with me and is just HOT!!! Like Julie Andrews said in the Sound of Music, I must have done something good!!!

True love stories never have endings. ~Richard Bach

Days 82 and 83

So yesterday was Lexi's 11th birthday and I forgot to blog. For anyone who is still reading, I am so very sorry. What a busy couple of days. We woke up early to start our day on Tuesday. Lexi opened her presents before breakfast. I remember being a kid and wanting nothing more than to open gifts first thing in the morning. She was very excited with everything she got. So many outfits from her favorite store, Justice, and an Ipod Touch. She immediately charged it, synced it to her itunes and started downloading all of the apps that I have on mine. That kept her busy for quite some time. We then took her and some friends to see the movie "Marmaduke". I have to say it was very cute. I really enjoyed it.......if talking animals is your thing, and when you have kids, talking animals becomes your thing. After the movie, they all came back to swim. I had to go to work so that I could pay for the Ipod Touch.

Well all met back home at about 8:00, Lexi from dance and me from work, and I was beat. We did our best to stay awake and make the day really special and Lexi said it was a great birthday. She loved her gifts and her day with her brothers on Sunday and her day with her friends. So it was successful and I passed out.

I got up early today, put my bike in my mustang and drove the the dealership to get my last free tune up. It is free for 100,000 miles and I have 99,989 miles. There was no way I was missing the last free one. Everything was great on the car except I need 4 new tires which will cost $1000.00. So needless to say, the car will be living in my garage for quite some time. They say they are in the danger zone. The reason I took my bike there was I left the car to be tuned up and drove my bike home. About a 12.5 mile ride. When I got home, Karen took me to pick up my truck which was at a place having the air fixed. When it rains it pours. I got my truck and went to the gym and then home to mow and edge and trim bushes. My mother and sisters arrive on Sunday and I want everything to look great.

I took today off from work because I have so much to do with my show. I had to get my hair cut, rehearse with dancers out in Cleremont, then to Disney to rehearse with the Kids of the Kingdom. Wow, what a great reunion it was. Everyone looks great and as soon as the music started, we all just did the choreography like we did the show yesterday. We stumbled a bit at the end but all in all we were done in less than an hour and most of that time was taken up with talking an laughing. What a great group of people. Then the girls from Nemo came by and rehearsed the opening. It is going to be so darn cute. Alex did a great job and Serena and Melanie are so wonderful.

So now I am home to get caught up with life and write this blog. Again I am so thankful to those who are helping with the show and those who are my friends and of course to all of you readers......Until we meet again, I will say goodnight.

I feel a very unusual sensation - if it is not indigestion, I think it must be gratitude. ~Benjamin Disraeli

Day 81

What a day I had today. I actually slept last night for 9 hours. I was so excited when I woke up and saw the clock. We are on later shows at Nemo for the summer so I have an extra hour in the morning. After the gym I went to work and to my surprise I only had to do 2 shows. I was out of there by 2:00 and then off to a recording session for PartyLite. Paul Rizzo was awesome and wrote some music out for me for my show. He is great. After the session I rushed home and the Top of the World cast came over, minus Trudie, and we rehearsed. How I miss that show. I have done many shows at Disney but that by far was my favorite. Great show, great music, great hours and GREAT people!!!! Karen was our comic relief tonight. Jaimie, bless her heart, learned a part she never even did up there and was great. Barbie drove from Sanford for the second time and sounds great and Steve and Tracy, still suffering from their accident, are just amazing.

I never did tell you about the accident. An 18 year old was on his way to graduation practice, talking on the phone and driving, pulled out of his street and hit the back of Steve and Tracy's van. The van spun around a few times and then rolled 2 times and landed up side down. Steve was bleeding from the head and still in his seat belt. They managed to get out of the seat belts and out of the car. A nice stranger gave Steve something to put on his head until the EMT's got there. Tracy suffered many bangs and bruises, you should see his arm....yuck, and Steve has 7 staples in his head and many aches and pains. With all of that, they were at rehearsal the next day and again today. I tell you, I have some pretty amazing friends. So giving.

Karen has been a cleaning maniac all week getting ready for my Mother and my sisters to come. She is certainly a keeper. I am one blessed individual. So here is your daily quote because I have to get to bed. Tomorrow is Lexi's birthday and she has plans.

A friend is one with whom you are comfortable, to whom you are loyal, through whom you are blessed, and for whom you are grateful.”

William Arthur Ward quotes

Days 79 and 80

I am so sorry that I missed Saturday the 5th. I did four shows that day and in between each show was submerged in scheduling rehearsals, vacations, extra people and trying to make everything even and fair, that by the time I got home, I was exhausted. I had to do work for PartyLite when I got home and then worked a bit more on the big show. I had promised Lexi I would watch a movie with her and I hate going back on my word. Her choice of movie was "Tinkerbelle". Wow!!! It was the best nap I ever had. After the movie I went right to bed and forgot to blog.

Today I woke up at 7:00 to go to the 7:30 mass at my church. My priest makes announcements before every mass and today he announced my show on the 14th. I am glad I was there and did not walk in late. He was so great to announce the show to the congregation, and they even had a poster up in the lobby of the church to promote it for me. What a great parish. On the way out of church, the assistant pastor, Father Val, said to me, "I can't believe you are turning 50. I thought you were in your 30's" I said thank you and then he turned to my son Adam and said "It is okay to lie sometimes". He is very funny. He sings in the Philippino Priest Choir. They have a concert at my church in August and I am going to be the guest entertainer.

After mass, we rushed home to eat quickly and head out to Disney for Lexi's 11th birthday. Her birthday is on Tuesday but my boys will all be working and her wish this year was to have a family day at Disney. So today was the day. We all left the house at 9:00, thanks to Luerne, we were signed into the Animal Kingdom by 9:45 and on our first ride by 10:00. There was a plan for the day. What rides, in what order and who she was going to sit next to on the rides. Poor Karen hates rides and when we were on one ride, she was off getting fast passes for the next ride. God Bless her!!!! It was so hot today and it never rained. We did quite a bit in the Animal Kingdom and then it was off to the Magic Kingdom to do the same. We got there at about 2:30 and the lines were a bit longer there. Still we were able to complete Lexi's list and we were back in the car by 6:00.

I have to say I am so glad that people love that whole theme park experience as it has kept me employed for all of these years but.......OMG!!!! How do people do that and think it is fun. I have to say this was my very first time in the 28 years I have worked here that I ever spent the whole day in the park as a guest. Usually I go around a bit but have to go do a show that the people I am with come and watch. I was miserable. Plus I had to pretend for Lexi that I was having fun. I don't ever think I could do that again. It is a wonder I am still awake now. Plus, I got in for free. People usually pay for that. If I ever do it again, I would have to be paid to do it.

We got home and ordered Chinese food and then Lexi opened her brothers gifts. We jumped in the pool just to cool of and now I am off to bed. Lexi lost a tooth today, before we went into Disney. So the tooth fairy will be visiting our house. She hopes it is the Rock. (he was in the movie "Tooth Fairy" in case you did not know) A few more still need to fall out before she gets braces. Well, off to bed. My quote for the day made me laugh because, I thought it was so......

“Nothing is miserable unless you think it is so”

Boethius quote

Day 78

78, the year I graduated high school. That was a long time ago. I don't know about you but I really hated my high school years. Thing would have been so different if I grew up in a place where singing and dancing were excepted. My high school did not think that it was a cool thing at all. I could fit right in with the cast of Glee. Sue Sylvester was really the track coach Mr. Healy, who used to pull me out of my classes to run with him saying,"I will turn you into your brothers if it is the last thing I do here". Oh how I hated school.

I have no idea why I just got off on that tangent. I saw 78 and that was it. WOW!! Anyway, I did 2 shows today after the gym and came home to buy our plane tickets to Kyle's wedding in October. Then I sat here at the computer and typed up some scripts and detailed show orders for my show. I am so tired. My foot kind of hurts today. It is even a bit swollen. I really did not do anything. I only had PT once this week so maybe that is why it is a bit stiff. I have not stretched at all today. My bad. Well I am going to bed now but I do leave you with this:

“Together we have come to realize that for most men the right to learn is curtailed by the obligation to attend school”

Ivan Illich quotes

Day 77

I just finished my first rehearsal for my show. Carol Stein (GOD BLESS HER) is now playing and she is AMAZING!!! The rehearsal went well. So great to see everyone. It is funny how some of us remember it like we did it last week and some don't remember it at all. I mean really, it has been over 20 years for some and 17 for the rest. Pretty good. I hope that no one is overwhelmed and that they all have a great time.

I had the day off because my counter part wanted to switch, so I got to go to the Mac store and finish my project. Everything is done computer wise and it all looks great. Now I have to do cue sheets and some scripts for a few and then I am done. Other than rehearsal and day of show. I pray it all goes off well and that it is entertaining and moving.

After the Mac store, Lexi and I swam for a bit and then I was off to the theater to have a meeting with the tech guys so they could answer questions. That went well and I know what I need to get. I wish my friend Lin was here to help. She is my go to girl for PartyLite and I really need her now. I hate to burden Karen because she has so much else to do with our kids and weddings and such.

How about the rain today. I am kicking myself for keeping my sprinklers on last night. It did not rain yesterday and I was afraid it would not today either. Oh well. So now I have to get to bed to start all over tomorrow. Thank you so Steve, Tracy, Trudie, Barbi, Jaimie, Karen, Carol, Ben and Karen for all you did tonight to make this possible. I love you all. Your kindness will be returned ten fold.

OMG, Steve and Tracy were in an awful accident yesterday, I will tell you about it tomorrow. I leave you with this.

Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns. ~Author Unknown

Day 76

Every time I see the number 76 I think of my Dad singing "76 Trombones" in a church show. He was so good. I miss him.

Today I got up early to mow my lawn but the grass was too wet, so I went to the gym and then came back to mow it before I had to go to work. Lexi was hoping that I would finish the lawn in time to jump in the pool and I did. I tell you, the swim after mowing the lawn on a hot day, makes me so glad that I got the pool. The water was a perfect 84 degrees (still too cold for Karen) and it was so refreshing. I was able to swim for about 20 minutes before I had to get out and get ready for work.

I did 3 shows today at Nemo and it was a very good day there. One show as Gil the other two as Mr. Ray. When we were learning the show and it was all new, we were in rehearsals and the music director asked for all of the principals to stand to sing. So the Nemo's, Dory's and Marlin's all stood as did I. Juan tapped me on the back and said, "Billy, your not a principal!!" I said " Of course I am" and then the music director said " No your not". I was devastated. I did not know that I was not a principal. I had a character I was doing, I had lines, I had a solo, the show goes down if my part is not there, why am I not a principal? Everyone got a good laugh out of it and we moved on. Tonight after the last show, the principals had a rehearsal they called a "Principal Mixer". Well as I was driving home, I see Juan behind me going home as well. My phone rings and it was Juan, he said "Why aren't you at the principal mixer? You are a principal....right?" I laughed so hard. Very funny.

I got home and Karen was cleaning the house, she screamed at me not to walk on the kitchen floor with my shoes. YIKES!!! I went upstairs and checked my 24 emails. I also had to try and find a piano replacement for my show. The guy that was going to do it had to drop out. I called Carol Stein and I pray she will be able to. She is going to come over and play for our rehearsal tomorrow night with the Top of the World folks. I am so excited about this. Carol is such a brilliant pianist and a great woman.

After dealing that, I put some more video's on my computer for my last appointment before my show. They will help me put the whole thing together and it will be done. Only a week and a half left and so much to do. Now it is bed time and I am so ready to get some sleep. My leg feels great, all is well with the world and I am happily working and keeping myself busy. What more can anyone ask for:

“Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can”

John Wesley quotes

Day 75

Okay, it is a decent hour now and I have some time to write. Wow the past two days have been so very busy. Yesterday, after the gym, I went into work. Now I have to do shows but in between shows, that is where all of the work is. I am a lead and I have to cover vacations and do schedules for about 40 full time cast members. In addition, the managers are always asking us to schedule special events, fittings, hearing tests, conventions and rehearsals. After we schedule all of those, there are switches and then people miss their fittings and hearing tests so it is reschedule time and then a vacation pops up or an audition that 10 people want to go to and everyone wants to switch and change days off. Needless to say, it can be overwhelming, but I love a challenge.

After my day of work, I came home to find Karen about to go into the spa. It is 90 degrees out and once again, she is sitting in a hot tub. REALLY? Lexi wants to swim and wants me to go swimming with her. I have tons of work to do for PartyLite and my show but I don't want her in therapy at age 12 saying my Dad never does anything with me, so I go for a brief swim. Then she asks if we can play Monopoly. REALLY? We can't find a game that might take 15 minutes, Monopoly? We land on Disney Trivia because I thought I could really get that game over fast but it lasted about an hour. Then it was dinner time and we really did not have anything so we got Chinese.

After dinner, and dishes, I got to work for a bit before I had to go to the airport and pick Ryan up from visiting Cayla, his fiancee. Bed was at about 1:00 and then up at 6 to get to the gym and to work. Another day of scheduling challenges and vacation covering before I got to head home. On my way home, I stopped in downtown Winter Garden and asked a few places if they would hang my poster in the window. They are all so nice there. I got home just in time to take Lexi to dance in Cleremont, go back to Health Central area for physical therapy and then back to Cleremont to pick her up again. We got home at 8, ate dinner, did dishes and showered and here I am. Where does the time go. It is raining, thank God, and Karen is trapped at my neighbors house and can't get home. She thinks she will melt. She has to shower anyway so I say, run for it. But she won't. Not sure how long the rain will last!!! LOL.

Today Karen took Lexi on a shopping spree as a reward for getting all "A's" all year long. Quite an accomplishment according to the teacher. Especially in the A Beka program she is in. Very proud in deed. Not only is she beautiful and talented but she is smart. She will be quite a catch ............ someday!!! Not anytime soon. I don't want this going on forever so I will end here with this quote:

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

Dale Carnegie quotes

Day 74

So sorry.. Please come back tonight. The time got away from me yesterday and I was picking my son up at the airport at midnight and I had to get up at 6 so I was a bit tired. I will be back tonight.........sorry Tracy.

Day 73

Every Sunday I try and ride my bike 20 miles. Usually Lexi comes with me but she did not go to church with us last night so she had to go this morning during bike ride time. She gave me that face that makes me melt so I told her that I would ride 10 miles without her and when she got home from church I would go another 10 with her. After my ride alone, I came home and started working on more video's for my show and when Lexi got home from church, we went on our ride. From my house, I can get to the West Orange Trail pretty easily. It is about a mile and a half to the trail and you have a choice to go toward Apopka or Winter Garden. Lexi chose the Winter Garden way like last week so that she could stop and get an ice cream.

If you recall last week we were eating ice cream when the guitar player sang piano man, which I thought was brilliantly funny. This week we were eating the ice cream and the guitar man was playing. Every song he played, Lexi would ask if this was the piano man song. We never did hear him sing that one but I thought it funny that she remembered that. After our ride home, it was back in the office for more work.

Now I started this blog to keep everyone posted on my leg healing process so here goes. I wake up in the morning and walk like I am 95 years old until the stiffness goes away. Once I can walk normally, my leg starts cracking especially when I walk up the stairs. After about 15 minutes, all of the cracking stops and I forget that I have broken my leg. The swelling is still there but not bad at all. Of course I am not ready to jump around and dance like I am 20, but it really gets better and stronger every day. I am praying that by the time I have to start dancing for PartyLite, I will be ready.

Karen and Kyle's fiancee went to see Sex in the City tonight. They loved it. Lexi is watching Legally Blonds, a Disney Channel addition to the original movie, Kyle is watching sports and Adam is playing Wii with his girlfriend, which leaves me here to write. Not home alone yet....alone. I will miss them when they leave. Having everyone here is always fun. So now I will go to bed and leave you with this:

“We need others. We need others to love and we need to be loved by them. There is no doubt that without it, we too, like the infant left alone, would cease to grow, cease to develop, choose madness and even death.”

Leo F. Buscaglia quotes (

Day 72

So I thought I would sleep in but I was tossing and turning all night. I have a million things going on in my head and I could not sleep. At one point I did fall asleep and I woke up sobbing. Not sure what happened in the dream but it must have been bad. I got up before Karen left to teach her class and started to do laundry. No one was home to stay with Lexi so I could not go to the gym until Karen got home. I made good use of my time and cleaned out my garage and cleaned the racks from the oven. Karen is trying to deep clean everything before my family comes here on the 13th.

By the time Karen go home I was ready to go. My workout was so so. I am so used to doing it first thing in the morning that when I go later, I kind of drag. After the workout, I came home and made another video for my show. I have a little more than two weeks left before the show so I have got to get it into gear. I got my poster from my friend Mark Flanagan who printed them up for me. They look great. Andy did such a great job.

I went to church tonight and sang in the choir. Because it is Memorial Day, we sang some Americana songs and they went well. People were crying. After church we went to the Flanagan's and ate dinner and played Bananagrams. Great game. Karen won twice and I won twice. So the Flanigan's kicked the Flanagan's butts. LOL. Now we are home and ready to go to bed. My foot is a bit swollen today. I did not do my exercises so I have to before I go to sleep. I can finally sleep under the covers. 11 weeks of sleeping on top of the covers with a blanket over me and my foot up on pillows. I have now graduated to under cover sleeping. Maybe that is why I did not sleep last night. Hmmmmmm? I bet so. Well on that note, I leave you with this:

“Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.”

Arnold Bennett quotes

Day 71

I am so tired. 2 nights of 5 hours of sleep is not good. Especially after 10 weeks of 8 hours. Yikes. I got up at 4:45 to take Ryan to the airport to go see his fiance. He was going there to meet with the priest for their classes before they get married. After dropping him off I went to the gym. I took my time working out because I was there so early but after finishing, I got to work early. Of course as soon as I walk in, I have to cover some call in sick people. Good thing I got there early.

I only had to do 2 shows which was great. My foot did not hurt at all during the shows. Even after I did the 4 shows yesterday. After the shows I went over to the Epic Stunt Spectacular to meet with my friend Kevin who was going to help me with a filming I had to do for PartyLite. Kevin has lost sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much weight!!! He kept walking and pulling his pants up. I kept want to sing "Pants on the Ground". He has been doing a workout similar to P90 X and it worked. He is ripped!!!!

Got the video done, ran to Friday's where Kyle and his fiance were working to grab some lunch and then off to the Apple store for more project time. Brian was my instructor today and he is great. He has seen more embarrassing photo's and videos of me than anyone. I keep telling him "Don't judge". Nice kid. Got stuck in traffic on the way home and my air conditioning is broken and it was raining, so I was in a hot car with no air, not moving with rain. Great ride home.

I spent the rest of the night working on my show. Tonight I did the diabetes section with pictures of my sister Gail who passed away 10 years ago. I showed Lexi the video that will be playing while she is dancing and she started to hug me and then wipe tears away. It was so cute. She tried to pass off like she was not crying, but it moved her. I hope it does the same to the audience. So now I am going to bed and not waking up to an alarm. I hope I sleep. So tonight I leave you with this quote that describes my day best:

Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express. ~Joseph Addison

Day 70

Got up and went to therapy at 7:30. I was the only one there for a bit and I had Mary Anne today. She was great. She worked on my foot for the first 45 minutes and got it loose before I started my exercises. Kristie was hanging out chatting with us and I told them both about Stacy's foot massage....you know, the one where I feel her boob with my foot. They were laughing so hard but then said, they too use their boobs as a resting place. They were sad I did not notice that they did the same thing. I guess because Stacy is...um......larger in that department, I notice it more.

Got to work a bit late because of PT but was there in time to eat my breakfast and get on stage. I had four shows today, all Mr. Ray and Chum the shark. By the time I got to the fourth show, my foot was sore. I made it through the day with one ice bath in the middle. Wow do those hurt.

After work I went to the gym and then went out to Lexi's dance studio to pick her up. I had the pleasure of driving some of the other girls home. One of them was texting the whole way home, she is in 5th grade, and the other two were so not wanting to be in my truck. They looked miserable. I am not sure if Karen gives these kids treats or what but they were not having it. I dropped them all off and not a thank you for the ride or nothing. I told Lexi, that if I ever found out she did not say thank you for something, I would be very disappointed. She assured me she always says thank you.

Ryan called and asked for a ride to the airport tomorrow. He leaves at 7, which means to the airport at 6 which means leave the house at 5:15. So it is bed time for me. Karen is in the office taking an online driving course for the last ticket she got. She gets them at least every 6 months. I am surprised they still allow her to take the courses. She has a lead foot. Kyle too. I think Adam just got a ticket as well. Does anyone pay attention to the speed limits? People get so mad at me when I take Lexi to school because the speed limit on one road is 25 and I go 25. They honk and get mad but I still go 25. Anyway, until tomorrow, I leave you with this:

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone. ~G.B. Stern

Day 69

I have got to be crazy being up this late. I have physical therapy at 7:30 in the morning and then 4 shows. I was so excited tonight because the amazing Andy Terechenok designed the poster for my show and it is just incredible. He is so talented and I hope that if you ever need graphic designing, you call him. I actually cried when I saw it. I am so blown away. It is everything and more than I could imagine.

Today I drove the the car care place and left my truck for an oil change and some freon. My air was not working great. Well there was a hole in the hose that the freon runs through so I have to replace it and it will be a fortune. Good thing I am back at work. Anyway, I dropped my truck off and rode my bike to the gym, worked out and rode my bike home. Beautiful day for it. When I came home, I mowed my lawn and finished in time for a shower and to get to work. I did 3 shows today, one as Gil and the other two as one of the sharks. My foot began to hurt after doing the shark shows. It is just more running and moving. I drove home with ice around my leg.

When I got home we watched American Idol finale and what a joke that boring boy from the paint store won. He got votes cause he cries. I can cry. Will I get a million dollar recording deal......NO!!!!! Oh wait, I actually smile, I think you have to cry and not smile ever, that is how you get votes. He is just lucky. Crystal should have won. That show is dead to me. No more. Janet Jackson looked great. Kelly Clarkson needs to lay off the french fries and Carrie Underwood is so classy and great. She is the best thing that came out of that show. Where was David Cook? Wait....who cares?

So now I have to get to bed so I can function tomorrow. I hear the Nanny on the TV in my bedroom. That means Karen is still awake. Until tomorrow, I leave you with this:

Those who have succeeded at anything and don't mention luck are kidding themselves. ~Larry King

Day 68

My day started out with Karen's alarm going off but she did not hear it. It was Tuesday and she does not have to teach on Tuesday's so I got up, shut her alarm off and got Lexi ready for school. Well, when a soon to be 11 year old is used to Mom doing her hair and then Dad tries to, all is not well with the world. First I did not part it good, then there was a lump in the back of her head, then the pony tail was not tight enough, then her earrings were too long then the knot in her shoe was not on center when she tied it so I need to assist, then we were leaving too late for her to be able to sit on the bench before school. It was not a good morning. After dropping her off at school, I went to the gym and then to physical therapy. I had Stacey. She is the one who rubs my feet and presses her chest into my foot. Again, today, after kicking my butt, she rubbed the foot and just as expected, my foot and her chest were best of friends.

From therapy, I met with Sheila, who will be hosting my show. She had some great ideas and I was laughing all through lunch. She is so talented and funny and nice. I can not imagine anyone ever disliking her. I am so humbled that she will be there to host this show. She will make it a success. Finished lunch with Sheila and off to Nemo for 2 shows as Gil.

After work, I zipped to a PartyLite recording session. I had not seen many of the singers in a long while and they all looked great. Kurt lost so much weight, Ryan was looking great and Jeremy was great as always. The girls were Michelle M, Michelle A and Suzie. A wonderful group of ladies who look and sound wonderful. The session started at 7 but because of our late show times, I could not get there until 7:45. We were there until 1:00. So now I sit in quiet, writing and thinking about my day tomorrow. How could I go from sitting on my couch for 9 weeks to full steam ahead? It was great having the time off and it is great to be back to work, but I need to meet somewhere in the middle. I am not sure I know how to do that. I need to learn. So I will leave you with this:

Man is so made that he can only find relaxation from one kind of labor by taking up another.

Anatole France

Day 67

Late shows today and what a surprise when I walked in and saw that I was doing Gil. A much easier roll for my foot. I was thrilled. I did the show with no pain at all. I was so excited. For the first time I did not feel like I was walking on broken toes. I can even walk in bare feet and it feels okay. I do have some swelling but it feels great.

After work I went to the Mac store for a session on taking video off of a VCR and putting it on you computer. It was so cool and very easy. The thing to do it cost $99.00 but it is tax deductible and I really need it for getting some video for my show. How embarrassing it was to have the tech at the Mac store watch really bad video of my when I was 19 and dancing like a girl. I can't believe I ever looked like I did. Skinny, with long hair and.....well if you come to the show, you will see. I found video of when my family was on Family Feud. How funny. Late 70's and just wrong. All my sisters had Farrah hair and my Dad and I had matching suits. We lost big time, but had many parting gifts. That is a story waiting to be published.

After the Mac store I came home and was in my house alone for 50 minutes. Pretty good. I ate and answered some email and then the girls came home. Lexi is in her last week of school and she has final exams this week. We are pre studying for them so there is much to do. I was on her bed as she was on the potty and I was helping her with her Bible verse. Well I begin to hear the toilet paper roll turn, then turn some more, then more and even more. I mean, she is 10, how much toilet paper does she need? Before she flushed I ran in to look and sure enough, it looked like the finale of Blue Man Group in her toilet......with one little poop!!! My frugal self began to get upset and she started to cry and scream and go into this melt down. All over toilet paper. I was brought up to use 4 sheets and fold until you could not any more. I tried to explain that philosophy but she would not hear of it. We spent more time discussing the toilet paper than we did studying. I think she cried herself to sleep.

I must go back up to my office and work more on my video's. 3 weeks from tonight is the big show. Spread the word. Tonight I leave you with this:

“Today you can go to a gas station and find the cash register open and the toilets locked. They must think toilet paper is worth more than money.”

Day 65 and 66

So I did not want day 66 to be alone so I combined 65 and 66. I am so lying!!!! I was way too tired yesterday to sit down and write so I will catch you up.

I went to the gym and worked on my butt and legs. I can finally do lunges again so now I can't even sit down without pain. Good pain but pain. When I got home, I started doing things that I have wanted to do for the past 11 weeks but was not able to. I cleaned my fountain so it is no longer green, and took Steve and Tracy's advice and put a toilet bowl cleaner thingy in it too keep the mold away. We tried that a long time ago but Karen bought the blue one's and I did not know that so when I put it in, all of the water turned blue and it looked so wrong.

After the fountain cleaning, I went on the roof and cleaned out my gutters and made sure all of the leaves were off the roof. Then I washed all of my windows outside with the Windex outside window cleaner. It comes with a pad and a long pole to reach higher windows, and the pad had enough cleaner on it to wash 20 windows. Perfect. So I followed the directions and wet the window, washed with the pad and then rinsed them off. It says you don't need to dry them with a cloth and it will leave no streaks. Well they did speak the truth, it left no streaks, only WATER SPOTS!!!! So after all of them dried, I had to clean them again with regular window cleaner. What a rip off. Don't think I am not writing to Windex and telling them I expect free window cleaner.

I was so hot from all of that so I jumped in the pool and swam for a bit. Then it was off to church to cantor the 5:00 mass. After church, Karen and I went to Bonefish for dinner. Adam opened that place as a server. I wish he stayed there. Love the bang bang shrimp. By the time I got home, I fell into bed. We were going to watch a movie but I could not keep my eyes opened.

Woke up today and went to the mac store to work on my show projects. They are coming out great. I stopped at Steve and Tracy's to return music and found out it was Steve's birthday. I am so embarrassed. I had it in my calendar for tomorrow. He never forgets a birthday. My bad. Happy Birthday Steve!!!!!! I came home and Lexi and I went for our Sunday 20 mile bike ride on the trail. I promised her this week that we would stop in downtown Winter Garden and have an ice cream. So we are sitting outside of Scoops having our ice cream and across the street at one of the bars, a guitar player starts playing. Okay, in my opinion this was wrong and humorous at the same time. His first song.....on the guitar.....was........Piano Man!!!! How funny is that. I started laughing so hard. Lexi did not understand why I was laughing and when I told her she even laughed. Brilliant!!!

At mile 11 Lexi was tired and for the next 9 miles, I did more pushing than pedaling. Tough ride. We got home and swam and Karen made a great dinner that we ate on the screen porch. I am going back upstairs to work more on my show. Lexi is in her last week of school this week and has 3 more final exams so the rest of the week will be taken up with studying. So please enjoy this quote for the day dedicated to my friend Steve:

“I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me, I'd like to be the help that you've been always glad to be; I'd like to mean as much to you each minute of the day, as you have meant old friend of mine, to me along the way.”

Day 64

What a disappointment and a relief at the same time. I walked into my therapy session and it was Larry. He is the nicest guy but he does not take as good care of me as Kristi and Stacey. When the girls are giving therapy, I am there for 2 hours, with Larry I am there only 1 hour and 15 minutes. I don't get a foot massage with Larry and that is the worst part. So all of the worrying for nothing. Stacey works every other Friday. Oh well, I go back on Tuesday.

I got to work and there was a call in so I got to do the easier on my foot role but I had to do an extra show. I did not have a check this week. Something happened in the system which made them not pay me. I was so excited that I was going to get paid for the first time in 2 months and nothing!!!! I know I will get it but there is nothing worse than going on line to look at your pay stub and having it be blank.

I did my ice bath on my foot before Phil came up and made me. My foot was still in the ice at places. I screamed (of course I had to give drama) and hobbled to the stage with a frozen foot. I did not have time to wrap it and it wasn't till the finale of the show that my foot defrosted. I thought it was bad doing a show on a hurt leg but doing it on a frozen foot takes the cake.

Had a great dinner with all of my kids and Karen. I love that. When all of my kids are here and we are laughing and sharing stories, there is nothing like it. Hard to believe that two will be married in a few months. Before you know it, I could be a ...... G pa~~

Well it is late again and I have to get up early again so I leave you with this:

“The love of a family is life's greatest blessing”

Day 63

4 shows today and boy am I hurting!!! I had a break between the first two and last two shows and did the ice bath on my leg. Frost bite set in for sure. I think some of my toe nails actually had icicles forming on them. I made it through the day and got home in time to make dinner. Karen was with Lexi getting her from dance and she had gone to BJ's (we have a free 60 day trial) so I fixed dinner for us and I have to say it came out great. It was a salad......but I cut everything up, and Karen bought lobster meat that is almost like the imitation crab and it was delicious!!! I also made Lexi's dinner.....hot dogs. So I am not a gourmet cook. I could have made eggs and oatmeal but that is my breakfast food.

Tomorrow I have Physical Therapy and I have to tell you a bit about my therapists. They are really great. Kristi is the one that came to the park to see my show and she helped Stacey rearrange my workout because of what I need to work on. Well Stacey is as tall as Karen. Only 5 feet tall and blond and in great shape and she has large baby feeders......if you know what I mean. Anyway, at the end of my therapy, they do a laser treatment and then they rub my foot and leg to move the swelling out. So Stacey (remember she has large ..... boobs) has to stand on a stool to reach my leg because I am on a high table. She grabs my foot and as she rubs the swelling up my leg, my foot basically massages her breasts. So I flex my foot to try and get it away from her but she then tells me to relax my foot. OMG!!! I am totally feeling her up with my foot and it does not faze her what so ever. I blush, I try and talk so that there is no silence but I feel like a dirty old man. My foot has had more action than my hands since my injury.

There is just no avoiding it because of how small she is....well short.

Then there is the British man who is there in the morning who talks about how stiff his leg is and he calls it a stiffy. Now I am no idiot, I know what a stiffy is and it is not a leg. I tell you, it is like a brothel in there. My favorite is the lady who comes in, picks up a towel and puts it on the wall and moves her arm up and down. It looks like she is washing the wall. I thought I would be funny and I said, "put some Windex on that clean the windows"......the lady was not amused. Maybe she needs a good stiffy.

So because my PT is at 7:30, I have got to get up early to go to the gym first. So I am going to go to bed early tonight. Oh wait, it is 9:30, there goes the early. So here is my quote for today:

Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else.
Will Rogers

Day 62

I can't believe that I have been writing this for over 2 months. It seems like yesterday I was sitting here and I started this. Time for me to go back and reflect on my journey to recovery.....not that I am done. Glad I am not in the sit in the shower stage or fall in the toilet stage. Over!!!!!

Got up early to go to the gym because I had a phone conference call with PartyLite at 9. I got home at 5 minutes before 9 only to find an email that said "we will call you at 11" So I mowed my lawn. I have the lawn mower set to turtle so it ended up taking me about 45 minutes longer to mow than normal. Now that I have the pool and all of the extra bushes, I have more edging than ever. I was so hoping for rain because my grass is dry in spots that get hit by sun all day, but no luck. Good thing tomorrow is Thursday....my even number house water day. (it's the little things)

My call lasted an hour and then it was off to work. No time to shower so I smelled like grass......lawn grass that is. I was not in the green room for 2 minutes before Phil came up and said "are you ready for an ice bath". So back in the ice my foot went. It was not as bad today. I did not start whining until the 8 minute mark. 10 minutes in 10 minutes out and then 10 more minutes in. Phil said when he pulled his hamstring at Indiana Jones, they had him sit his lower body in ice. OMG can you imagine? I am sorry if this offends you but talk about blue balls. His penis must have been inverted by the time he got out. Shrinkage!!!!! Okay I'm done the the profanity. Sorry.

After my one show at Nemo, I showered and went to the Boardwalk to host a game show for the Disney Vacation Club members. My friend Steve was there so it was a great show. We had fun, but those people really love the actress who plays my wife. Dee Vee See, the first lady of the Disney Vacation Club. So they get a bit disappointed when they see me. What are you going to do.

After that game show, I was off to the Mac store for another project time for my show. I did a video with my PartyLite footage. It came out so great. This will really be fun. Don't forget to spread the word. June 14th at the Garden Theater in Winter Garden at 7. So now I am home and ready to get to bed. Up early again for a very long day. I am supposed to do 4 shows. We will see what happens there. Yikes!!!!! I have to say how blessed I am to have such great friends, a great family, health and employment. I am truly thankful. On that I leave you this:

“There's always something to be thankful for. If you can't pay your bills, you can be thankfulyou're not one of your creditors.”

Day 61

I have felt the worst pain I ever felt today. I was at work and my dear friend Kevin and my friend/stage manager Phil have been in cahoots and decided that it would be best for me to put my foot in a bucket of ice for 10 minutes. I now know what the Titanic passengers felt like. OMG!!!! Talk about pain? 8 minutes in I thought I was going to vomit. I did last the whole 10 minutes and pulled my foot out and I swear I had frost bite. I wrapped it in a towel and 10 minutes later Phil came back and said "okay, time for round 2". Are you kidding me? So back in the ice my foot went. I screamed like a girl but I tolerated the pain and went through round 2. I have to say, I might not have made it through that third show if I did not do that. Maybe I was just numb but it did feel better.

I had therapy today and because my PT went to my show, she totally changed my therapy. They kicked my @$$!!!!! I was sweating and could not breath. I am not in as good shape as I thought. After this whole thing is over, I need to do PX90 to mix it up and get in better shape. They told me at PT that I had to wear a compression sock. I went to get one and there were way too many choices. I will decide later.

I have a new app on my ITouch that gives you workouts and exercises for every body part. It is so cool. It even gives you demonstrations on how to do the exercises. So I used it today and did an entirely different workout. I expect to be sore tomorrow.

I am now watching Glee. What a great show. I want to be the Glee teacher. Will was the original Link in Hairspray on Broadway. One of the Voght brothers was on there tonight. It is always so great when you see people you know on stage or on TV. Plus Idina Menzel was on tonight and she and Rachel sang a duet and I always thought they looked alike. What a great episode. How about American Idol tonight? It was awful and really who cares who wins this year? Not me. Off to dreamland now so I leave you with this quote:

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”

Days 58,59 and 60

Well to all of my readers, I am so sorry for not writing for two days. I guess you can tell that I am back at work and trying to find time now to write what is going on. First here is the update on my injury, as that is why I started the blog. On Saturday I signed my PT in so that she could see what I do and have a better idea of what to work on with me. She was great and came back and met the stages PT and they talked about how to best help me. She also said something that must have been relayed to her by my doctor because it was the first I heard it. She mentioned to Michelle (the stages PT) that they would be dealing with a protruding screw, that it was not in all the way. Remember I told you the doctor wanted to go in and put a longer screw in, well since the swelling has gone down, you can actually see and feel where the screw is. It is very uncomfortable so I am now wishing that I went back in. Too late now but if it bothers me in a few months, I will be going back in to get it done.

Saturday I did two shows and because I was doing Gil, it was much easier on my leg. Sunday I had off and went on a 7 mile bike ride with Lexi and then went to church and came home to ride 13 miles to that I could get back into my 20 mile biking on Sundays. When I was not biking, I was doing bills and scanning more pictures. I tried to work on my power points and forgot everything I learned in my project time so I go back on Wednesday to do that. How about Desperate Housewives finale? Not such a cliff hanger.

Today, I went to the gym (shocker I know) and then to work. I did the first two shows and my foot was killing me by the end. I am supposed to do three shows tomorrow so we will see how that goes. I stopped at Walmart on the way home to pick some things up and my bill came to 19.71. When the cashier said 1971, I said, "Now that was a good year......of course I was not alive then but I heard it was a good year". She looked at me, paused and said..."No comment!!" OMG I totally look 50!!! I was not having a hard time with the number thing because I really did not think I looked 50 but I guess I do....according to the Walmart cashier!

Came home and worked on my show some more and now I am going to collapse. So I leave you with this quote:

• A person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called an old man for the first time. Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes

Day 57

I woke up at 5:15 to go to the gym before Physical Therapy and went back to bed. I have never done that but I think after sitting for so many weeks, trying to get back into my normal routine to fast was a big mistake. So I slept another hour and went straight to PT. Stacy was my therapist today and she kicked my butt again. Actually I kicked it. I am such an over achiever that if they say do 15 I do 20. If they say 70 pounds I do 80. If they say rest for 1 minute I rest for 30 seconds. I just want to be better faster and they say that I am doing great. 10 weeks ago today I broke my leg, 9 weeks ago I had surgery and I am doing well, but I don't have the speed or the weight baring that I would like to have. Can you say impatient?

I was in PT for 2 hours and then went right to work. I did two shows, some lead work, iced my leg and then went to the gym. The crowd in the afternoon is quite different than the morning. In the morning you have all of the men and women who are there early to workout, shower and go to work. So your business types. In the afternoon it was the after school crowd. All young men and women on the hunt. OMG I must have heard the word "hot" from the boys and "stud" from the girls at least 20 times. And if you think that I look in the mirror alot...........I have nothing on these young guys. They check themselves out every second. I was laughing as they did some sit ups, lifted their shirts to check the stomach out, flexed and then back to the sit ups and shirt lifting. Did you ever see the commercial where the guy weighs himself, runs on the treadmill for 15 seconds and then goes back to the scale? That was the crowd today. One asked me to spot him. I looked at the weight and said "Okay Popeye, I hope you ate your spinach cause Whimpy here might not be able to help you". Boy did not even know who Popeye and Whimpy were.

After the gym I came home and worked for PartyLite for a few hours before showering and going to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Garden Theater. (where my birthday show is). Mark Huffman from Disney is the director and Patte DePova was the narrator. It was really wonderful. I brought my daughter and her friend and they loved it. I saw so many people I new. Rhonda Day was there with her mother Thelma, Ken Thiboult was there and Ray Fornieer and Amy Bullock who is not Bullock anymore and even some old Tarzan groupies. It was very fun. After the show the girls wanted to meet the entire cast, especially the boy who played Benjamin. (he looked like Justin Beiber) It was so cute.

Came home to find Karen on her new IPad. I think she might be addicted. Oh well, I am glad she likes it. So now I have to get some rest for another day of work. I am working on a Saturday this week to get my 40 hours in. I will actually get a pay check on Thursday. I am so excited. I am still having trouble with the speed thing but it gets a little better every day. Just being around friends and family helps me heal a little more each day as well. So I leave you with this quote:

“The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.”

Hubert H. Humphrey

Day 56

OUCH!!!!!!!! I actually did shows today. I think I should have been a bit less aggressive and did one show but I have to be an over achiever and I did 2. I had my foot wrapped pretty tight and I had a tight shoe on. It was a brand new shoe. I got a pair of new shoes a bit before I got injured and when I went back to work today, they were gone. Someone said that they were taken and sold on eBay. I am sure that they did not make much money. LOL. Anyway, I got through the first show okay but the speed at which I am trying to move is very hard. The second show I stopped a bit too hard in the shark number and for the rest of the show, I limped. I know that I just have to get used to it and I am thrilled to be back, I just have to take it easier.

After the last show, I stayed around for another 15 minutes and iced my leg. I worked on schedules and filled in all of the holes we had. It is a never ending job and God bless Serena (the other lead) for doing an incredible job while I was gone. I was told that she was scheduled for the first two shows and at 5:40 was still there filling schedule needs and never complained or fussed about it. She is the sweetest person in the world and is going through a lot personally, so the fact that she stayed extra and made sure that all of the shifts were filled shows how dedicated she is. I am so blessed to work beside her in the lead role.

I came home and ........ oh crap I have to shut off my sprinkler.............hold on......I am back, as I was saying, I came home and had to check my sprinkler system because there was a section of my grass that was dry and did not get enough water. I have cups that measure and it was way low. So I tested them and found that one was buried under a bush that got very thick. So I had to trim the bush and then put the sprinkler on the section that was dry. You know I live in an even number house so my water days are Thursday and Sunday so I had to take care of it today. Plenty of water now cause if forgot all about it. Now my water bill is going to be way more....dang it!!! Thank goodness for the blog, otherwise it would have been on all night.

I have PT at 7:30 so it is up at 5:15 to make food and go to the gym before therapy and then off to work to do 2 more shows. OMG Lexi is soooooo going through puberty. What a crank tonight. She just came down and said " I am going to sit in my room and be by myself cause nobody cares about me". This after I just spent an hour pretending that I know anything about diagrams in grammar and then studying for a health exam. Wow. Uh Oh, Karen is on her way up, let's see if it will be menopause verses puberty.......wait for it..........hmmmm, pretty calm, I am impressed. As I was saying earlier in this paragraph (I know what a paragraph is) I have to go to bed so I can get up early. So here is the quote for the day:

The trouble with learning to parent on the job is that your child is the teacher.

~Robert Brault

Day 55

I have only 15 minutes to get this done so that Tracy can read it and go to bed.

MY TOES HURT!!!! I am walking very carefully still but my toes hurt. The PT's said that because they were trapped in a boot for 9 weeks and did not have any weight put on them for that long, it would take a while. It feels like I have 5 broken toes when I walk. I am sure it will get better but not yet.

I went to the gym today and came home to mow my lawn. I have not done that for so long and it was a perfect day to do it. Edged, blew, swept and picked more trees out of my lawn. Good thing tomorrow is water day because I have many dry spots. I remember when I first moved here to Florida, every day at 3:00 it would rain for about 30 minutes. Now that I own a house and have a lawn, it decides not to do that anymore? OMG where the heck is the rain..........anyone?????? Al Gore???? Leonardo DiCaprio????? I need rain!!!!!!

Last year when I put in my pool, I had my sprinkler system redone and went from 4 zones to 8 so that I would get better coverage. Well not only did I get better coverage but I got a bigger bill. Wow, water costs a lot of money. I am about to do what my mother did when we were young because we had a septic system. There were times we could not flush the toilet because it would cause something to back up and then something else would go wrong. Anyway, look at your bill and see what you pay in waste water. That is truly flushing money down the toilet. I tried to leave pee in the toilet once because I was drinking a lot of water and it looked clear and I thought Karen wouldn't find out, but does that woman have a good nose. I guess it smelled. The only time I smell my pee is after I eat asparagus. TMI??? Sorry.

I did a convention today with my friend Steve. It is so great to work with him and since he lives so close, we went in together. Great conversation, great company and just a great friend. He even came with us to see Ryan's new townhouse that he is buying. I know that Ryan appreciated him being there. After dinner I barged in on Steve and Tracy to borrow some music for my show. I am sure I stayed too long but they are so fun to hang with. I know that I will always laugh when I am with them. I was talking about my doctor having MS and not walking well. Tracy thought I said he was a mess and asked if he were a drunk. I can see how he could have heard that wrong but it was funny. So one minute to go before I have to push send so here is my quote for the day dedicated to Steve and Tracy.

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”