Day 43

It was 8 weeks ago today that I broke my leg and 7 weeks ago that I had my surgery. I thought for sure that I would beat the odds and be back by now but I guess I was wrong. I am doing better and better every day but my range of motion is not what is should be and I am still swelling and getting pain when I walk. The physical therapy is helping a ton. Today I insisted that she measure my point again. If you recall on Monday she measured my foot and the one was a 63 degree and she said that was great. The norm is 65 but my good foot pointed is 89 so I knew that I had a long way to go. Today I measured at 70 with a little pushing from the PT. Not bad for only a week.

I started my day in physical therapy and then went to the gym for a workout and a swim. After leaving the gym, my son called to tell me he just bought a townhouse.Talk about getting in under the wire. Today was the last day for the $8000.00 rebate. The contract had to be signed by today. Now he has to close by June 30th. They are growing up so fast. Now I have two homeowners.

I came home and got ready to go to my Relay For Life in Port Orange FL. A PartyLite Team was there and I sang to the survivors. They brought all of the survivors up on this huge amphitheater stage and I sang "You Raise Me Up" to all of them. It went really well. You know how at times you think you have problems and then you are put into someone elses world and realize you have no problems. Here is something I heard and will never forget:

If everyone put all of their problems in a pile and you had to choose one, you would pick your own.

Tomorrow, dance competition and maybe seeing Hair in Tampa. I have 3 friends that are in it. Have a good night.

Day 42

Another alarm wake up day. OMG, I have to start getting up early so that when I go back to work it is not such a shock. I went to the gym and was dragging. I did ride the bike again for 5 miles. It is amazing when you can't do the cardio you are used to how uncomfortable you feel. I am in no way fat, but I feel bloated and the tube around my waist looks bigger to me. I don't weigh anymore than I ever do but I feel like I do.

Rushed home from the gym to grab a quick bite, shower and left for the funeral of my fellow church choir member Pat Lepart. I cantored the first part of the mass and shared the rest of the mass with two other choir members. It was a beautiful service. I cried as Father Tim was talking to Pat's daughters. Pat actually died on her daughters birthday. How do you get over that? Pray for them.

After the funeral it was back to the studio for some more recording today. The two Michelle's and Shaleesa were back and at later in the afternoon Juan, Jeremy and a new guy joined us. It went well but it was a long day. I came home and went outside to tackle my pool.

Here in central Florida we are having an infestation of Lake Bugs. I live near a lake so you can't even go outside without swallowing bugs. They are around all of the trees and they love water. Every morning I get up and my pool has more bugs lying dead. They are so small that they come in through the screen and they don't collect up in the pool net all that well. I was out there for about and hour trying to get them out but there are thousands. My friends Steve and Tracy stopped by to give us our peanut butter that they get for us at BJ's because Sam's does not sell it anymore, and told us about their neighbor who left his garage door open, the bugs flew in and died and it looked like snow there were so many of them. They are annoying and must go away.

I spent the rest of the night working on the power points for my show. My leg feels good but it is swollen. I have therapy in the morning. I can' t wait. Time for Everybody Loves Raymond and the Nanny.

You will never "find" time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.
Charles Bruxton

Day 41

In the past 7 weeks, I have not had to get up to an alarm and boy can one get used to that!!! Today I was up with the alarm at 6:00 AM to go to the gym because I had my physical therapy at 8:00 and a recording session at 10:00. I forgot how 6AM looks. I don't like it. Now don't be alarmed, I am so ready to go back to work, so I will need to adjust my staying up habits and not watch Everybody Loves Raymond at 10:30 and the Nanny at 11:00. I will have to be in bed by 10:00 so that I can get up at 6. (I am used to 8 hours now)

My therapy was fantastic. I actually had to do some stretching exercises today and pick up a towel with my foot and then finally my foot massage. Here is the secret to get a longer massage, you strike up a conversation that would involve questions and stories, so that the 10 minute massage turns into a 30 minute one. Brilliant!!!!

Because I ran late there, I had to run home and eat breakfast, grab my computer and then off to the recording session. It was so great to be back in the studio. Michelle Lindhall was there and Shaleesa James was there and a new girl who did a great job as well. They sang for almost 6 hours. We are back in the morning to finish up and add guys to the vocals. Another long day.

After the recording session it was a quick trip home to shower and then off to the service for Pat, the woman from my church choir. A beautiful service with a harp player playing background music. Father Tim and Father Val held the service and people were able to get up and tell stories. I finally found out why Pat was in a wheel chair. She had polio at the age of 15 and had been in a wheel chair ever since. Amazing woman and never without a smile. I tell ya, a broken leg is nothing compared to what she has endured her whole life. Raising two daughters while in a wheel chair, can you imagine? I sang my song at the end of the service and then it was home to gather Lexi from dancing school and get her to bed. Karen took her friend Michelle to see "Xanadu" tonight for Michelle's birthday. I saw it on Broadway and LOVED it. I hope the tour is as good.

Tomorrow I fill out all of the paper work to start the process of publishing my book. My friend Rhonda has a friend that is going to help my finish developing the book and hopefully getting it published. I have got to get back to work on that. So now it's time to say goodnight to all my company:

Quote of the Day The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. Walt Disney

Day 40

Not much of an exciting day. I got up and worked on the big show for June 14th. Spread the word so we can fill the house. I am hoping that it goes well. I know that everyone in it is a professional so I know it will be wonderful and funny and touching. After spending a few hours in my office working I went to the gym and then to the mac store to work on more of the show power points.

After working for 3 hours in the store, I went back to the gym and rode 5 miles on the bike before meeting Karen for dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant while Lexi was in religious education. We came home, studied for spelling, and watched American Idol and Glee all the while feeling the effects of the mexican food.......well it has been a while since I ate that way so let me just say that there is no gas shortage in our house tonight. Poor Karen.

Tomorrow I start recording sessions for PartyLite so I will be very busy all day. I also have a funeral service to prepare for. A lady from our choir passed away last Friday. She was such a sweet woman. Always came in with a smile on her face and sang with such joy. Pat was in a wheel chair and the first time I came into the church with my crutches, she pulled up next to me and said "do you want a ride?" What a great sense of humor. She was at every concert I did at my church and loved the music so much. She will be missed. The other day while thinking about her, a song came up on my IPOD by Chris Tomlin called Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). I took that as a sign that I should sing this at her service, so that is what I am doing. I will let you know how it goes. So good night everyone.

“If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character...Would you slow down? Or speed up?”

Day 39

Do you remember the episode from the old Dick Van Dyke shows where Rob was writing skits for Alan that actually happened in his marriage, and when Laura figured it out she was really mad? I believe all who write use experiences from their own lives and poke fun at it to amuse an audience. Everybody Loves Raymond was written from Ray's real life family, and I know there are tons of other writers, whose wives must watch or read and recognize themselves in the writings. I know that I poke fun at Karen's menopause and her mood swings but I have to say that she has been so wonderful and supportive during my time down. She has been a one woman show for the past 7 weeks and I know that I would be going bonkers if the situation were reversed. Just so you all know, she is a kind and wonderfully giving and loving wife who is straddled with my as a husband. That alone is a one way ticket to heaven. (What you are all thinking....YES....she might be reading my blog)

I had physical therapy for the first time today. I was there at 8 ready to go. My PT, Kristi, was great. She pretty much massaged my foot the whole time, working on all of the swelling and explaining to me why it hurts in certain places. She did some measuring and the arch in my bad foot was 63, she said the norm is 65. The arch in my good foot was 89. She said she had never worked on anyone with an arch that much. So although my 63 was good in her book, it was really bad in mine. After I left there, my foot felt sooooooooooooo much better. I walked all day without the use of my crutches.

My pool was overflowing this morning due to the giant storm we had last night. So I started to drain the pool and forgot all about it. Stupid me!!!! Now I might need to add some water in. How foolish!!!! Only me. I remember the pool guy saying, put a sock on the floor to remind you that you are adding or taking out water so you don't forget. I should have listened.

I got some marriage counseling from my soon to be married son today. I've been doing this for 27 years and he is not even married but his incite was valid. I can't wait till he has kids so I can tell them to make sure they always give marital advice to their parents. Kyle is my 2nd son who has been so wonderful during my injury taking me to the gym and always making sure I am good before he leaves. I will miss him when he leaves.

Well, it is time for bed but before I go let me give you this advice:

Family life is a bit like a runny peach pie - not perfect but who's complaining? ~Robert Brault

Day 38

There is something to be said about parenting. It can make you blind, tone deaf, and quite an oblivious fool. So for the past three days I have endured teams of dancers from all over compete against each other. Some were great, some were okay and some were down right BAD!!!! But no matter who was up there dancing, there were the parents of these children who told all of them how wonderful they were. There were 5 year old girls dressed in a bra top and practically a thong, shaking there hoo ha's like they were strippers and the parents are cheering for them. I would love to see the father explain to his pole dancing daughter why it was okay to do this when she was 5 through 17 but not okay to do it for a living. The same thing goes for the parents that we see on American Idol who think there child is the best singer in the world and on a good day they would make anyone want to be deaf. What is up with parents?

It was another early day, up at 7 out of the house by 7:30, in Lakeland by 8:30 and, what a shock, Lexi didn't dance until 10:30. I was able to leave for a while and attend Mass at a very nice church in Lakeland, then I went to the gym and rode a bike for a while. I was back in time for Lexi's last number, actually I was back in time to wait 2 hours for Lexi's number and then we were on the road to home. I immediately went out and skimmed the pool because it was filled with those awful bugs that infested Orlando the other day and then I went for a very cold swim. The water was 76 degrees but it felt good. I showered, ate and went to a movie by myself. I don't know about you, but I love going to the movies alone. It was 5 dollar Sunday's in Apopka and I saw "Death at a Funeral". The original British version was better but it was funny. I laughed out loud. Tracy Morgan is just a riot. Just my luck there was no parking close to the theater and it was pouring outside so my boot and shoe got a bit soggy.

As the rain still comes down, I love the sound of rain, I am just remembering how wonderful MY daughter was today. Just like Mary Poppin's, Practically Perfect in every way.

There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it. ~Chinese Proverb

Day 37

It is after midnight so I will try and make this brief. I was just at my friends Steve and Tracy's house. They hosted a gathering for a former Disney Director, Barbara Epstien and a fellow Top of the World performer, Marsha Mechant and her husband. Barbie Bauman, Pammy and Wesley, Kevin Brassard and myself were all there to cherish great friends and fond memories. We laughed and got caught up and had a spectacular time. Thank you Steve and Tracy for a great night.

So yesterday, Friday, I was sick of driving a dirty truck, so again I bit the bullet and paid 18 dollars for the wash, vacuum, tire wash, window wash....etc. and the truck looked great. Perfect for our drive to Lakeland and back. Today we had day two of dance competition and we drove back to Lakeland. I dropped Karen and Lexi off close to the door to carry in all of the make up and costumes and then I parked. There was an older man in a cart and he said, "there are a few spaces in the back" to which I replied, "I am on crutches, can you come pick me up so I don't have to hobble that whole way?" to which he replied "Of course young man, I will be right there." So I parked in the back and started making my way through the parking lot. The man started driving toward me and turned around and drove off. I was waving my crutches and screaming for him but he either had a better offer or forgot, or maybe I was on video and he and his buddies were laughing in the back some where.

The dance competition was long but Lexi's numbers got 1st place and 5 stars today. Pretty darn good. After the last number Karen went to get the stuff out of the dressing room and I went to get the truck. As I am walking closer and closer to the truck I am seeing what looks like blotches of white paint all over the top and sides of my truck. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!! Bird poop, not only a little.........a TON!! On the top on the sides all over the windshield..........a ton. I just washed this truck, no I just paid to wash the truck, and I get this. REALLY??? What did I do wrong. First the leg, then the broken shower chair, then the toilet falling into, then the broken lawn mower and paying for the lawn service and now 18 dollars, shat upon by some overweight bird who could not hold it till he was over a field or something. OMG!!!!

So now I am off to bed to sleep for a bit and then get up to do it all over again. More dancing tomorrow. Last day. Here you go:

One way to get the most out of life is
to look upon it as an adventure.
William Feather (don't you love his name is feather....bird...get it?

Day 36

So for sure I over did it yesterday because I woke up this morning and had to use my crutches again. My leg is feeling better now but I did use my crutches all day. Karen had a doctors appointment early this morning due to her allergies and asthma, so I took Lexi to school and then went right to the gym. By the time I got home, Karen was back and we got ready to leave again for Lexi's dance competition in Lakeland.

We arrived 2 hours before her first number so I went in the hotel that was next to the convention center and used the free wi fi for my IPod Touch. If you don't have one, it is great fun. I read the newspaper on it and played some games and even watched some television shows that I had not seen yet. Technology!!!! While I was sitting there, a cold hand touched the back of my neck and lo and behold it was an old friend of mine, Karl, who was judging the competition that Lexi was in. We spoke briefly and he had to run. He did mention that he liked my beard. It is a shame when two people can be so close and then just like that, they drift apart and never see or speak to each other. I have been in this cast for 7 weeks and this is the first time I saw him.

Lexi's dance went very well but she only had the one number today and really wanted to stay for the awards which were supposed to happen at 9. So Karen and I found a YMCA and she ran while I swam. We stopped at Subway to get some dinner and were back in time for the awards, but they were running 90 minutes behind. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN????? Once they finally started, the MC, who was so annoying, had to explain all of the new scoring system and give out lame awards. Lexi's routine got

4 3/4 stars out of 5 and placed third. We grabbed the goods and drove home. Walked in the door at midnight and have to be on the road by 7 to get back there for more dancing. When my boys played football and baseball, it was the same thing, just less entertaining. I tell you what, the little skanks who are 6 and 7 wearing slutty costumes with all of their guts hanging over their clothes is just wrong. Lexi's dance teacher will not let any of her girls have any belly's showing. They are always covered. Not the other studio's. Just wrong. Anyway, time for bed so here you go:

/God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Day 35

Happy Birthday to my brother Mike. Not that he will ever read this, I don't even think his friends know he has a brother Billy, but Happy Birthday to him anyway. 54 today.....he is my much older brother.

Well I did not get the release I was looking for from the doctor. Let's look at the positives. I got to loose my crutches, I start physical therapy on Monday and I am alive. I walked out of the doctors office with no crutches, went into the gym and actually walked around on my own. I had to get home quick because I had to grab my computer and get to the mac store for my personal project time.

There are good people in the world. I was walking from the parking lot carrying my desktop computer and being oh so careful. As I passed someone who worked in the mall and a custodial worker, the noticed my struggle and asked if they could walk me to the store and put the computer on the custodial cart. I was so grateful because adding the extra weight as I walked was not a good idea. I asked the employee to get me a guest satisfaction card and bring it to me so that I could praise them both for going above and beyond, but they never came back. The just were nice for the sake of being nice.

My personal project assistant at the mac store was awful. He did not know anything about what I was working on and I was there for over an hour and had nothing done. I saw the guy that helped me last week and asked for a few minutes of his time and he got me up and running in no time. I stayed there until 5:00 and then went back to the gym to swim. When I took my boot off my leg was quite swollen but after swimming, the swelling went down and felt much better. I am feeling stiffness and discomfort but not really pain.

By the time I got home, Karen had made us some delicious salmon for dinner and then I was off to a home owners meeting. It amazes me how few people are interested in what goes on in there community. Your house is your biggest investment, you should invest time and interest in your investment. I mean, Friends is not on anymore and American Idol, Glee and Dancing With the Stars is not on Thursdays, so what the heck are they doing? I got home and Karen had just left to pick Lexi up from dance.....AT 9:30. OMG these are young kids who have to get up for school. She has a dance competition starting tomorrow and all weekend so I know they were running everything but PLEASE!!!! Not it is past 10:30 and she is just drying her hair. She will be a night mare in the morning. Pray for me. On that I leave you with this:

The father of a daughter is nothing but a high-class hostage. A father turns a stony face to his sons, berates them, shakes his antlers, paws the ground, snorts, runs them off into the underbrush, but when his daughter puts her arm over his shoulder and says, "Daddy, I need to ask you something," he is a pat of butter in a hot frying pan. ~Garrison Keillor

Day 34

Tomorrow is the big day. I go to the doctor and find out what is up. I was walking again in the pool today but I am walking really slow. I really hoped to be back at work on Monday and unless I am just taking it way too easy, I don't think that will happen.

I went to the downtown YMCA today because they have an indoor pool and after I worked out and was ready to swim, it had stopped raining and the sun was out. Oh well, a change of scenery is always nice. So many old people there........older than me!!!! After the gym Karen and I took Lexi to dancing school and went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D. I don't get the 3D thing. If they had things flying out at you maybe, but it was not like that at all. The movie was okay, should have rented it, not worth the 19 dollars it cost to see it. Now we went before 6 and the theater in Clearmont has their matinee prices before 4. Our movie was at 4:30. I asked the girl why they do 4 instead of 6 and she said "we lowered our price 50 cents so we moved the time from 6 to 4 for the matinee prices. Can you believe that. I won't go there again. Robbery. I was bad. I bought tickets to a different movie and had my own 3D glasses and then snuck into Alice. Again, they charge you for the glasses and then want you to recycle them. What the heck!!!!

After the movie we came home and watched Idol Gives Back. It was alright. It has been better in the past. So now I am ready for bed and will hopefully sleep tight and be all ready for the doctor in the morning. Take care.

It is the trouble that never comes that causes the loss of sleep.
Chas. Austin Bates

Day 33

April 20th, 2010!! A day I am likely to remember always. I am going to be a bit sentimental right now but please bare with me. Today I realized so many things that were evident, but I guess I was holding on to not only my youth, but my children's youth as well. For the first time ever, I paid a stranger to mow my lawn. My lawn mower broke and by children have been so busy with school and work of their own, and even their own houses, that I could not even borrow a neighbors mower to have them mow. It was either mow on crutches or pay. So I paid!!!

My son Kyle has booked and paid for his HONEYMOON!!!!! He owns his own house (which by the way, his fiance lives in and he does not out of respect for his bride to be and so that his father will not cut his ding a ling off) He gets married in a bit over 5 months. The other day I was watching him on a video at the age of 4 singing the 12 days of Christmas, so timid and so very cute. When did he grow up? He has really done well for himself, owning his own car, his own house, paying bills when he does not even live there and taking care of his dad on crutches, making sure I get to the gym every day and even working out with me. I am proud of him.

My son Ryan came over tonight and for the first time, I saw him as an adult. He is 26 but I will never forget the day he was born, the feeling of being a father for the first time, scared out of my mind, yet more excited than I had ever been. Tonight we talked about his impending wedding, and what lies ahead in his life. He is an adult, with a grown up job, and responsibilities and soon a wife. In his job today, he is facing removing 3 children from 3 different homes. He has to be strong and professional and pretend that it does not bother him, but I know deep down inside, his heart is breaking. I do hope that seeing all of this now, will make him a better husband and father one day. I am proud of him.

My son Adam, who ever sees him anymore? We laughed the other day while watching video's of Adam as a child, the boy who never spoke because his brothers did all the talking for him. The boy with stitches ever other week or a cast or a splint. It is no wonder that DCF never came knocking on our door. He was always in the emergency room for something. Football injuries, playing ball in the tub and splitting his chin, falling and hitting his head on the table and needing more stitches. With school, work and the girl friend, it is like he does not live here. He comes home while we are in bed and leaves before we get up. I miss him already. Proud? Yes of course.

And then there is Lexi. As I listen to her and Karen argue about what shirt she will wear tomorrow and what earrings match, I realize that this is just the beginning of the many years ahead where I will have to take up drinking just to survive. When Karen does her all up for her dance competitions, I get a glimpse of the future and how this little girl is going to be a knock out, with a killer body and a smile that melts my heart. When she is dancing, she reminds me of Karen when I first met her. Only a few more months of age 10 and elementary school, then 11 and middle school comes and forces her to grow up.

I sit here literally in tears as I look back on these 4 blessings and wish that I could just freeze time. I don't want them to grow up, yet at the same time, I know they must and in 3 cases......have. I hope that they will always carry with them all they have been taught and that they will always know they can turn to me for anything. I love them dearly.

A loving heart is the truest wisdom.
Charles Dickens

Day 32

My day started with a drive out to the Animal Kingdom to sign in a friend for her birthday. Since I was there, I stopped by the stage to say hello and just my luck, they had a later call time today and the cast was not there yet. I did get to speak with Todd and Gretchen and had a nice visit. I miss the stage so much. I miss everyone. I really work with some wonderful people. Not seeing them for this long has really been a bummer. I stopped at the bank while I was out there. The one downfall of having your bank out at Disney, having to drive all the way in to go to the bank when you are not working.

Of course after that I went to the gym and after my workout I went in the pool. I did 18 laps today. 4 of them were walking in the water. It is really cool that you can walk in water but not on land. I felt really good and when I came home, I ended up dropping a crutch. Now it took me a while to figure out which one to drop. I broke my right leg so do I use the right crutch or the left one. When I used the left one, I felt like I was walking sideways so I have decided to use the right crutch. Kevin says my doctor is a whack job because he originally said I would not need physical therapy. I go on Thursday and I think I will insist on having it. I have been doing it on my own but I really don't know what I am doing.

Then I spent the rest of the evening helping Lexi study for a chapter test. It took us from about 5:00 to 8:30 with a break for dinner and a 20 minute phone call I had with my brother. OMG, I don't remember school being so hard. She is really smart and the things she can retain just blow me away.

I know, nothing exciting or funny really happened today. Pretty low key and boring......my lawn mower broke when my son was about to mow the lawn....nope still not funny........my wife is going through menopause......really not funny.......my daughter is starting puberty.......about as funny as the menopause. Just know that I usually am working a ton so I am not here a to experience the menopause verse puberty...........GET ME BACK TO WORK!!!!!!!!

On that note, here is today's quote:

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Angelou

Day 31

Today I got a taste of what my house will be like on holidays and special occasions as we had just the family over for dinner with all three girlfriend/fiance's. I need a bigger table. We were supposed to go to the beach today but due to the rain, we stayed home and played games and watched old video's. The things I made my children do when they were younger, it amazes me they are not in therapy right now. With the mullet hair doo's and the video taped Christmas cards having them sing and dance when they wanted to play sports, we were in hysterics.

At one point Lexi was sick of watching things that she was not in so I told her to get a tape that had her name on it. Now we were watching VHS tapes earlier and all of the tapes that she would have been on are on mini DV tapes. She comes out of the room with a cassette tape that had her name on it and says " I found one that is of me". I told her that was not a video tape, it was a cassette tape and out of the mouths of babes she said "What is a cassette tape?" Kill me now. In her lifetime, we have never used a cassette tape. How is that possible? I told her that cassettes were how we listened to music before CD's came out. The only reason this one had her name on it was because someone gave it to me when she was born because it sang Happy Birthday Lexi. I did not dare to tell her about 8 tracks or dare I say RECORDS!!!!!

I have been walking on my leg adding more pressure to it throughout the day. I am so hoping to beat the odds and be back to work by next week. YIKES!!! We will see. I rode the bike at the gym today for 50 minutes burning only 325 calories. During the ride I was watching the P90X informercial and I think when I am healed, I might try that for a while. I have been doing body for life now for 10 years and although the principals of the program I will keep with me, I must change my workouts to get better results. I need something different. 1 hour a day is 15 minutes less than what I do now but I have to be completely healed to do this as the program requires jumping.

Caught up with Glee tonight, was not that thrilled with the episode but fun to see Idina Menzel on the show. It is like Broadway comes to TV with most of the leads. I do hope that they bring Krisitn Chenowith on the show while Idina is on it and have them be past rivals. That would be fun.

So kind of a sit around and reminisce day where I was looking at my past and all that I have been blest with, and now what is ahead with 2 sons getting married and my third turning 21 soon, and a daughter who will be as sexy as here mom, so here is the quote I have found for you:

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Day 30

I was in a deep sleep when I heard some loud voices outside. I got up and looked out the window and there were cars parked up and down the street like someone was having a huge party.......our sub division was having a community garage sale. Most of my neighbors participated but the Flanigan's did not. Our house was used a parking lot. I just can't do the garage sale thing. I am no good at it. I end up giving everything away. I just feel so bad for some of the people that show up and when they ask how much, I say, oh that's free. And if they have kids with them, forget it, I just put the stuff in their car for them. When I was moving out of my last house we had a pool table in our garage that we were going to sell at our garage sale. This nice young married couple came up, the husband really wanted the pool table but the wife said they could not afford it. I was going to stand my ground and not go any cheaper......I mean it was in great condition and it was a pool table!!!!! They were so nice, I told him that if I did not sell it for the price I had on it by 2:00 he could have it for way cheaper. Well he pulls up at 2:00, I had not sold it so I gave it to him. He came back with a truck and some friends and they picked it up and took off. I can't do garage sales.

When I went out to leave for my gym and swim, every neighbor had tents up with clothes hanging and shoes and purses and stuff that every shopper was going through. I got out of there. When I came back, it was all over. I pulled up some more little trees in my lawn (don't plant oak trees) and then came in to balance my checkbook. Now don't judge me but I still do it the old fashion way. With a calculator and a pen. I have tried Quicken and it never works for me. So I do it by hand. I then got ready for church because I was cantoring tonight.

Call me a heathen but I sang the song " I Can Only Imagine" and after the song I got applause by the congregation and it was so nice to hear that applause.......I know, that is so wrong to enjoy the applause you get in church when you are singing for God but I did. After church, I came home and scooted around on my but to brush my pool and skim the top. Lexi was going to sleep over a friends house so Karen and I went to a movie. We saw " The Bounty Hunter".....it was okay, not close to being as good as "Date Night". We just got home so now I am off to bed. But not before I share this quote with all of you that reminded me of my garage sale failures:

We learn wisdom from failure much more than success. We often discover what we will do, by finding out what we will not do.(we will not do garage sales)
Samuel Smiles

Day 29

My first drive out to Disney by myself today to sign in my neighbor and her son for the school's field trip. When she asked me to do so, I did not have a broken leg. I drove out to EPCOT and they let me park in Handicap parking. Even handicap parking if far from the main gate. I finally got there and signed them in and then it was off to the gym. After the gym I went to the dentist. After my hygienist found out about my leg, she began to tell me every story of every broken bone in her body. Kill me now!!! I would rather have plucked out my eyelashes one by one. It was painful.

After leaving the dentist, it was home for a shower before my computer lesson. I have a Mac computer and I purchased the One to One lessons for the year. I love them. I get to either go for one hour and have a one on one session with a Mac expert or I can sign up for a 3 hour personal project where I would have to share my lesson with as many as 6 people. I have done this on numerous occasions and every time I was either alone or with one other person. They are fantastic and if you have a Mac, there are so many things your computer does that I bet you don't even know.

I left the Mac store, got a home wrecker at Moe's and drove to Lake Mary to sing at their Relay for Life. PartyLite has teams at the relays and they have asked me to go and sing at them if I can. I started the Relay off during the survivor lap singing You Raise Me Up. I stayed and took some pictures with the PartyLite consultants and tried to get home before dark. When I arrived home, Lexi was going to get and ice cream at Twisty Treat with her friend and her dad so I went with them. While eating the ice cream, Mark (Lexi's friends Dad) and I were sitting on the tailgate of his truck and Mark's childhood best friend pulled up. 1 hour later we were on our way home. The conversation went from soccer to guns to baseball to guns and ended up with guns. I have nothing in common with Mark's childhood friend. As a matter of fact I know he would have beat me up in high school. He did however think I was too young to have a 20 year old son. When I told him I had a 26 year old son, he was taken back. So I ended up liking him because he thought I was young.

I am falling asleep as I am typing this so I must go to bed. A very long day and way too much walking around. My foot is swollen and I need to put it up. Tomorrow is a community garage sale in my sub division. Perhaps I will sell my broken shower stool. Can I do that?

If you have an hour, will you not improve that hour, instead of idling it away?
Lord Chesterfield

Day 28

I was thinking all day about how life for the disabled really $uck$. Granted I only have a broken leg and my leg will heal, but what those who have to live their life every day in a wheel chair have to endure is not fun at all. I have so much more respect and compassion for them and I want to be an advocate in making sure that when those with disabilities have to travel, it is convenient and easy. Not only for those who travel but for those who have to do anything. For example, my gym had a push button for the disabled on the outside of the gym. When I go to push it to open the doors, it does not work. Every day the lady who opens the gym chuckles and says "I always forget to flip the switch." So the past few times I have gone, it does not work, I struggle to get through the door and take my crutch and flip the switch, give her a dirty look and move on.

I went to a different YMCA today and they have a wheel chair ramp, but no door opener. So you can go up the wheel chair ramp and then have to struggle to open the door. Come on people, let's all get together and make some changes. I don't know who I have to talk with but I have so many ideas that could make things easier. My new mission.

I actually slept until 10:00 this morning. I was shocked when I woke up because it has been years since I have done that. After getting up I had to take my tax form to be postmarked. Happy Tax Day everyone. Then to the gym and swim and by that time it was time to pick Lexi up from school. Ryan's fiance Cayla arrived today and he had to work so Karen Cayla and I drove Lexi to dance and went to see the movie, Date Night. I have not enjoyed a movie so much since Simon Birch. I highly recommend it. Steve Carrell and Tina Fey are great. After the movie we went to get Lexi but she was not done. We got to see her run some numbers and then we made our way home.

As for my leg, I started putting some weight on it. I have started being aggressive in exercising it and I am hoping for the best. I go back to the doctor in a week and I so want him to release me. Pray for me!!!! I want to beat the odds and be back before the 8 weeks he said it would be. Tomorrow will be 6 since the break and 5 since the surgery. I have been counting the days, I know, but I have been trying to make them count as well. Enjoy the quote:

"Don't count the days, make the days count."

-Muhammad Ali

Day 27

Home sweet home!!!!! I got up early again today to go to the gym and I actually rode the bike and my leg felt great. After going back to the hotel to shower and eat, it was another day in meetings. I have to say that I am glad to have something to do but I miss performing. I think being on stage is my addiction. I just have to get better so that I can get back on stage. Even pushing the @$$ of a turtle looks good to me. (Nemo joke)

The meeting ended at 3:00 so I was able to stop in and see my Mother before going to the airport. My brother Tim was there and then oddly my brother Mike phoned in. So for the first time in a very long time, my mom had all 3 of her sons (sort of) together for a few minutes. My Mother was commenting on my beard saying that she liked it and wanted a picture of me with the beard. I will post one so that you all can see, as soon as I learn how to do it. After leaving my Mom's house my sister Patty called to tell me that there was an accident on the highway I had to travel to get to the airport so she talked me through back roads so that I could catch my flight.

I arrived at the wonderful car rental place and again was greeted by a young man in a suit, he carried my luggage, called me sir, offered me a seat and water. This place is amazing. Enterprise Car Rental.........I am a customer for life. I got the the airport early so I grabbed a bite to eat at Legal Seafood before I caught my wheel chair to the plane. As soon as I got to the gate, they rolled me right on up to the plane. My seat was in the back and the guy sitting in the window seat was trying to convince me to switch seats with him cause he would have to get up and pee cause he had a few beers. I was so looking forward to talking to him.

During the flight my leg started throbbing. I think I just had the boot on too long. I just took it off and OMG my toes look like 5 pigs nursing on mama pig. HUGE!!!! Now the the blood is flowing, I feel much better. My poor wife is sleeping with the television on and it is so loud. She is loosing her hearing. So I must go shut the television off and get to bed. Kyle just called and he has a flat tire. Poor thing. Adam just went to help fix it. Here you go:

One way to get the most out of life is
to look upon it as an adventure.
William Feather

Day 26

I went to bed without writing my blog. So here I am about to start a meeting and thought I would catch you up. Yesterday I was up early to go to the gym and back at the hotel by 7:45 to shower and eat before my meeting started. Let me tell you how I am going to become an advocate for the disabled. In my room, the closet is suited for the disabled. The shelves are low but what happens after you iron your pants? They drag on the floor. The door to get in the room is heavy and closes on you many times before you enter. Why are these things not thought of? I am going to make a change in the way hotels handle traveling disabled. I have ideas and will be bringing them to the forefront.

After my meeting I went to dinner with people from PartyLite and then back to the room. Nothing exciting. My foot was swollen so I did put it up. I think I did a bit too much leg down yesterday.

Meeting is starting. Got to run. Here is a quote for you.

Never let life's hardships disturb you ... no one can avoid problems, not even saints or sages.
Nichiren Daishonen

Day 25

Oh boy another travel day for Billy. I left my house around 10:00 and had to put air in the tire of my mustang. I think is sat for so long without being driven that it was low on air. So I arrived at the airport at 10:35 and I pulled a Kevin Brassard (who was born with a horseshoe up his @$$) and willed a parking spot right near the elevator. Low and behold, as I pulled in the parking garage, someone right next to the airport was leaving. Then I waddle down the elevator thinking I could do this on my own and some nice people saw me struggling and got a skycap for me with a wheel chair. As we are pulling up to the gate he asked what time my flight left, I said 11:30 but there was no sign for an 11:30 flight only an 11:15. Well I guess I borrowed Kevin's horseshoe cause it was 11:15 and the flight was delayed. Thank you Kevin and thank you God!!!! I was able to get some food before boarding and the flight was great.

When I got off of the plane, the nice man took me to the rental car bus stop and got me and my luggage on the bus. I have never rented from Enterprise before and when the bus pulled up, a man in a suit came on the bus, greeted me, took my luggage, helped me off the bus and opened the door for me where I was greeted by another man in a suit with a cold bottle of water for me and an escort to the counter where I was greeted by a smiling face Amy. They rolled out the red carpet for me. They escorted me and my luggage to a car and let me pick a car and I was off on my way. I am a customer for life.

I stopped at the gym, then my mothers to find pictures of me as a child for my 50th birthday show and then to my sister Mary's house for dinner. Another gourmet dinner by Mary. Pistachio crusted Haddock with an asparagus and prosciutto salad with wheat something and home made Cole slaw. UNBELIEVABLE. She needs to have her own show on the Food Network.

After dinner a long ride to Plymouth and into my room. So a quick story on my blog and off to bed. I put the toilet seat down so no falling in the toilet tonight. I am good to go. Fun to be home and see family. Quote for the day:

Life's a voyage that's homeward bound.
Herman Melville

Day 24

Not much to report today. I was up early and went to church. At the end of mass, our priest, Father Tim, asked the church to pray for my recovery so that I was back in working condition. I thought that was just awesome that he did that. After mass we came home and I pulled some more trees out of my lawn, not the big trees, the little ones like I told you about a few days ago. Then I went to the gym and Karen took Lexi to the store Justice. I guess they are selling the Zuzu pets that are not supposed to be coming out till summer and of course Lexi HAD to have one. After their trip there, they met me at the gym and Lexi and her friend Rachel went swimming while I swam laps. Swimming is hard.

After the gym I came home and showered. We have not replaced our shower chair yet so I have to be very careful. One of the few wood seat slats that are left is loose and I just know it will give any day and then it will pretty much be a toilet in the shower.

I packed for my upcoming trip to Boston, did some high finance, ate dinner and then we watched Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeakuel. Lexi got it for Easter and Kyle and Erica and Ryan came over to watch it. It is so darn cute and looked great on the LED TV. After that Ryan and I had a chat about life at the age of 26. Being a parent to adults is way harder than being a parent to kids. I hate the phrase "when I was your age" yet I found myself saying it. My kids are so great, I am so fortunate to have such wonderful children. I love that we can talk and I hope they listen. Which leads me to todays quote:

I just want my kids to love who they are, have happy lives and find something they want to do and make peace with that. Your job as a parent is to give your kids not only the instincts and talents to survive, but help them enjoy their lives.
-- Susan Sarandon, Readers' Digest, May 2002

Day 23

Woke up in Fort Lauderdale today too early. Lexi had to be at the stage for her dance competition at 8 so it was up at 6 for hair and make up. And then I had to get Lexi ready. Only kidding, Karen did her hair and make up. We left at 7:30 because Karen hates to be a minute late and it was a good thing because thanks to map quest, we got lost a bit. I dropped them off and then I went back to the hotel to get my free breakfast. There was no way after listening to Sister Act last night that I was not going to benefit from it. So there I am at a buffet, on crutches and NO ONE offered to help carry my plate or my bowl of oatmeal. They all just watched. I ate, left my coupon and was on my way to the gym when Karen called and said that they were starting early with the group numbers. So detour back to the stage. I got there just in time to see the first number. As I sat there all day watching my daughter dance, I could not believe the passion she put into all of her numbers. The joy of being on stage and dancing just oozed from her soul. If she were on center, I would swear I was watching me. She was always one away from center. Close enough.......for now.

The competition ended and we got all of the awards, most of them 1st place and platinum, a few high golds and one second place. All in all a very decorated day. We packed up the car (and when I say we I mean Karen) and we were on our way home about 2 hours earlier than we thought. Being hungry on the way home, we pulled into a Turnpike service center to get something to eat. It was either Earl of Gray, KFC, Cheeseburger-Cheeseburger or Pizza. Well Earl of Gray sounded great....white bread only, so it was KFC, they have grilled chicken.........but not on the Turnpike. So it was original recipe and take off the skin. Boy did that bring back memories of about 20 years ago. The tables were dirty and Karen asked the attendant if she could wipe the tables off......poor thing must have thought she said "could you cut off your arm and give me your first born" because she was not pleased. So she wiped off the dirty table....on to the benches where we were going to sit. ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? We got some napkins and did it ourselves before she turned into Aileen Wuornos.

We ate and pottied and were back on the road for another hour and fifteen. When we got home, it was unpack and get to bed. But I had to stop and write before I went to bed. I do want to say that today is my Great Nephew Jack's first birthday. My niece/God daughter Jen's son. How can it be that the little girl I took to the beach when I was 17 now has two children? My how time flies. Enjoy every minute of it. Before I know it, Lexi will be walking down the isle and I will be wishing for the dance competition days again. Is it like the quote says:

The whole of life is but a moment of time. It is our duty, therefore to use it, not to misuse it.
Plutarch

Day 22

OMG I almost wish I had the surgery. I am in the lobby of a Sheraton in Fort Lauderdale because tomorrow is Lexi's dance competition. So after the 3 hour drive that should have taken 3 and 1/2 hours but Speedy Mc Speederson AKA Karen was driving, we arrive at the hotel. It looks lovely. We check in and they put us on the second floor and the elevators are right there which is great because I am still on crutches, and we look at the sign for our room and we follow the arrows...............................a full circle that brought us almost all the way around. Not fun. We dump our stuff and turn on the air and go to dinner. Lexi's friends were all going to Sweet Tomato so we thought we would go there. I have never been but my friend Sheila LOVES it. I take a look at the food choices and it is all salad, soup, pizza, pasta and potatoes. No protein, all carbs. What is up with that? So we gave Lexi money and Karen and I went to Longhorns and had a great meal. Back to the hotel, there is a Gospel Revival going on in a small banquet room. Guess where it is located.....no really guess? Right below our room. Singers, drums, screaming, noise and more noise. We get to our room, still hot, and I felt bad that I did not pay because it was like I was there. I call down and they say, "don't worry, it will be over by 11:00" Well it is 8:00 so 3 more hours of Hallelujah. The hotel gave us breakfast for free. They fixed the air and now I get to write.

If I had my surgery, I would be home in my bed with no noise and no 500 little girls running around a hotel. But tomorrow I get to watch my little girl dance her heart out. She really loves this.

Other than going to the gym, swimming 16 laps, going to Sam's and getting here, there really is not that much to report. Patience Billy, patience. You will be glad you came..................tomorrow. So here is the quote for the day:

Never let life's hardships disturb you ... no one can avoid problems, not even saints or sages.
Nichiren Daishonen

Day 21

Hard to believe that I have been writing this for 3 weeks now, surgery 4 weeks ago and injury 5 weeks. So remember that I said my surgeon called and wanted to go back in and put a longer screw in on him? Well the HIM part was only him. The surgery center called and told me what my copay would be then the anesthesia people called with their copay and so I called the doctor and said "WHAT UP"? Well I really didn't say what up, more like "I thought this was free"? So we discussed this further and the re surgery was more for him to be a perfectionist that it was for my healing. I will still heal the same but instead of the screw being in my bone 100% it is in there 94%. I will still heal the same and I don't have to take sponge baths for two more weeks. I can continue moving my foot and not have to get drugged up and be waited on. Okay when I am typing this I realize that maybe I should have done it.

Today was gym, swim and meet with the Winter Garden Theater for my upcoming 50th Birthday Show. I really want this to be good and after the meeting today I know I have a lot of work ahead of me.

I was asked to be the DJ tonight at my friend Amy T's parents 50th wedding anniversary surprise party. It was fun. I sat in the back and took in a wonderful evening. I got to talk with Hannah and Jim and Amy's kids are just so darn cute.

Came home and got caught up on American idol. What a boring season this is. I can tell you the last three will be Big Mike, Crystal Dreadlocks, and Sabaen Weird Girl. Where are the personalities. I think I will wait to read it in the newspaper. I watched Ugly Betty and the previews said next week is the last episode. How sad. It is a great show. We need to bring it back. Let's all start a campaign to bring back Betty.

So now I am off to bed. I am still having anxiety over not having the surgery over a few co pays, but I have to believe that I made the right decision. Was I foolish? Let's ask WC Fields?

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it.
W.C. Fields

Day 20

So I was brave today. My leg felt good and my foot motion was great so I decided that I would drive myself to the gym. So I had Kyle move my truck out of the driveway because I wanted to drive the mustang. It has easier breaks to push. So Kyle left, I got my stuff in the car and turned the key and ..........................dead battery. Well I could not move around enough to jump the car so I thought I would take the truck. NO KEYS. Kyle took them with him. So I called my neighbor Tom to come over and jump me.....well not me....the car. We got it started and.....................no gas. It said 7 miles to empty. Well the gym is 7 miles and there is a gas station on the way so I attempted the drive. Not bad at all. I did not have to left foot break. I stopped and got gas and a guy from the last nights baseball game pulled up to get gas behind me. I recognized him but he just thought I was a weirdo when I mentioned I saw him play last night.

After working out I swam at the YMCA and did 14 laps. Not bad. When I got home I went outside to mend to my lawn. I have huge oak trees and for the first time since we moved here, the trees dropped thousands of acorns.....this year only. Anyway over the winter months the ground is soft, the acorns migrate into the ground and you guessed it, mini trees are sprouting up all over the place. So I crawled around my front lawn on my knees pulling up tree sprouts. Now you must get the acorn to come out of the ground so you have to be very careful. I must have pulled up 2oo or more.

Watched an episode of Ugly Betty and did bills for the rest of the day. I have so many goals to accomplish while I am out of work and it seems that the time is fleeting. I can't wait to go back to work but I must finish these things. Tomorrow is another day. So now it is time for bed and time for your daily quote:

The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything if you want to succeed in business--or almost anywhere else for that matter.
Lee Iacocca

Day 19

What a fun day this was. After taking Lexi to school, Karen and I went to the gym. She does not teach on Tuesdays but while working out, she was asked to teach for someone who could not make it into work. Good thing she was there. After our workout, we drove to Celebration Florida to pick up our taxes. Our tax lady, Mokey, lives there. She is a huge Disney fanatic and does a great job on our taxes.

When we got home, it was a quick shower and then the greatest photographer in Orlando, Jim Harrison, came over to take some pictures of Kyle and myself. I wanted photo's with my beard. Jim wanted to take some pics of my as a cowboy so we went to a field with a broken fence and hopefully got some good shots. He then took some of me in the pool. You see, I shaved my chest for a commercial audition because they wanted a hairless chest, so I thought, while it was shaved, I should take some pictures like that as well. I hate my body without hair. I look like a naked mole rat. Plus I am the whitest man alive. Jim did his magic and the pictures I saw so far look good.

My friend Mark asked if one of my sons could fill in at his softball game and being that Kyle and Adam were working, Ryan jumped at the chance to go. Karen and I went to watch the game. It was so great to see Ryan on the field again. He is happiest playing baseball. I wish he would get his shoulder fixed and go back into the game. You can only nag so much before you have to let them make decisions on their own.

After the game we picked Lexi up from dance school and studied spelling. OMG, her words are so hard. There are 35 of them, 10 that have definitions that you need to know every word correctly in the definition. No paraphrasing. I don't know how they do it. So now I sit in quiet with my thoughts of a great day. It was nice to be somewhere other than my couch. So my thought for the day is this:

Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.
Doug Firebaugh

Day 18

This morning I woke up to a phone call from the surgeon who put the screw in my leg. He wants to go back in and put a bigger screw in my leg. When I went for my 2 week check up, he looked at the exray and said " I wish I put a bigger screw in, what you have is fine it is just that I am a perfectionist". Now he says he has not been able to sleep because this has been bothering him so he wants to go back in with no cost to me. He said this would not prolong my recovery, it might speed it up. So Friday I go back in under the knife and have a longer screw put in. Lucky me.

Today, I went to the gym and then for cardio, I got in the pool and swam 12 laps. For the first time doing cardio since I got injured, I think I did too much because I got out of the pool and thought I was going to faint. I had to sit for a bit again and the hurry home to get food in me.

I got a call from the theater confirming my date for my 50th birthday show so I started sending out emails to sign people up to be in the show. Lexi came home and I helped her study history and health. I am learning so much. I did not get to work on my book today but I will do double duty tomorrow. Ah what an adventure this has been. I leave you today with this quote:

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
Helen Keller

Day 17

So here we are on Easter Sunday, my older kids acting as if they were 10 again so that the excitement of Easter morning would be here for what I trust to be Lexi's last in believing in the bunny part of Easter. She woke up at 7:00 which was way earlier than she did for Christmas. I found that odd but still, we all got up and searched high and low for the Easter baskets. She managed to find hers quickly and stated that the Easter bunny must have been tired because it was not as hard as usual. Kyle and Adam searched high and low for theirs and the eggs that were hidden about. Too funny. When Ryan came Lexi told him where his was so that he did not have to search.

We had a great breakfast that Karen made and got ready for mass. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to sit in church with your wife and all of your kids at the same time. How blessed I am to have such a wonderful family!!!! My boys all wore ties, Lexi and Karen were dressed in pretty dresses, hair curled and jewelry just perfectly matched. I sat there in awe of how blessed I am. Normally, I am either singing at mass or we all go to different services due to schedules. This was fantastic.

We all got home, Karen cooking, Adam helping me outside, Lexi vacuuming, Kyle and Eric helping wherever. We were having 6 people over for dinner and swimming. We heated the pool so that we could swim and then the jacuzzi and sat in for a while. Swimming was great for my leg. I actually got some good cardio out of it. Lexi and her 3 friends put on a pool version of High School Musical 3 and it was hysterical. She directed and starred in the show. I don't know where she gets that from. Must be Karen.

So now the house is quiet, Kyle studying, Karen bathing, Adam with his girl and Lexi in bed and I relish in the sound of silence. As I sit here and write, again I dwell on my blessings and how fortunate I am to live the life I do. Broken leg and all, I thank God for all that I am and all that I have. May you all experience the joy I do every day. Happy Easter:

Happiness depends upon ourselves.
Aristotle

Day16

Holy Saturday, the day before Easter and so much to do. I went to the gym (shocker, I know) and was abandon by Adam who thought that it would be better for him to go to his girlfriends house and leave me at the gym to wait for Karen to get there after she taught at another gym. So after doing the weight portion of my workout, I thought I might try to ride a bike. I got on the bike, which was fully equipped with a television, and set the seat and placed my good foot on the pedal and then put my boot on the other pedal and started to......well.....pedal. The level one went so fast that my boot foot kept falling off so I raised the level up to 8 until I had the right resistance. Meanwhile almost everyone in the cardio area was watching me waiting for me to hurt myself I am sure but I disappointed all of them because it went very well.

Karen finally arrived after I rod 3 miles and burned a whole 110 calories. Did not even break a sweat. I came home and was so sick and tired of looking at my dirty pool so I was able to gather all of the pool equipment and place it around me, sat with my feet in the pool and vacuumed, and skimmed and brushed the whole pool, scooting around on my butt. I love to entertain my neighbors!! Now this is where I broke a sweat. Now my pool looks lovely and I may even go for a swim tomorrow and do my cardio there.

Rushed to get ready for church as I was the cantor tonight and Denise from the choir piked me up. Once again, I had the stool and my music stand. Not sure if anyone is familiar with a Catholic Easter Vigil but it is a 2 1/2 hour service where new members of the church are initiated. A beautiful service but very long. It is amusing to see people coming to mass thinking that it will be the normal mass and it goes on and on and on. After communion, many of the people left. Some didn't even wait that long. So sad. It is Easter for crying out loud.

Came home and immediately started decorating Easter eggs with Lexi. Karen found neon food coloring and the eggs came out beautiful. So now off to bed to allow the Easter Bunny to come. YEAH!!!! Lent will be over tomorrow and we can all go back to our bad habits that we gave up for the past 6 weeks. Happy Easter everyone. Enjoy the peeps and chews and chocolate bunnies.....and most importantly, your freedom from sin.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalms 30:5)”

Day 15

So today is Good Friday and it was a good Friday for me. I got up early to go to the gym with Kyle and Adam and their friend Eric. We went to a different YMCA because I had a haircut appointment closer to this other gym. After the gym, Kyle and Adam went to work and Eric was kind enough to take me to my appointment and then home.

Once home, Karen left and I was left alone with Lexi and her two girlfriends, the Rainsoft man who was fixing out system and the Evergreen Lawn guy who was treating my lawn. I did not sit for a second. Once they all left I was able to sit and chat with my son Ryan. He took a test today for the Orlando Police Department. It was an opinion test to see what how they would handle certain situations. The score you had to get was a 145 and Ryan got a 140. So he has to wait 6 months to take it again. He was bummed and I was for him.

Karen and I went to a 3:00 Good Friday service at our church that was beautiful. We came home and she made us a delicious salmon dinner and then she took Lexi and I to the living Stations of the Cross at another church. What a great service that was. Amazing readings and a great performance. Now I am home and ready for bed. I actually did not hurt myself today at all. My leg is not swollen and I feel great. Tomorrow we decorate eggs and get ready for Easter. So to get prepared I leave you with this quote:

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

- Galatians 2:20

Day 14

After a few days away and a pretty swollen leg, foot, ankle area, it was nice to be home. Lexi is on school vacation this week and she really wanted to go see "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" with her friend Destiny. So it was off to an 11:05 movie. Kyle drove us there and dropped us of and after the movie (which was quite..........stupid) Destiny's Mom dropped me off at the gym.

I had a good workout and Karen picked me up on her way home from getting her hair done. When I got home I plopped myself on my couch office and wrote for the rest of the day. Ryan came over for dinner and Karen made a delicious roast beef dinner. After dinner I plopped myself on the couch again and wrote some more.

No klutzy stories today. It was very productive and quite incident free. I am getting very antsy and when I do, I start to worry about what this injury might do to my Disney career. I pray that this will not have a negative effect on their decision to rehire me come September. So here is the quote for the day:

Don't waste your life in doubts and fears: spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours or ages that follow it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Day 13

I had no idea what a klutz I was until I broke my leg. So we all know that I was staying at a hotel while in Massachusetts. The hotel was very accommodating by getting me a room on the first floor very close to the doors and making sure that it was a handicap room. I drink a lot of water so usually in the middle of the night, I get up to go to the bathroom. Well that is just what I did. Now it is dark, I get my crutches, I waddle into the bathroom and even though I am a boy and can stand, it is just easier to sit due to darkness and an unstable stance. So I go to sit and SPLASH, I fall into the toilet!!!!! What kind of chamber maid puts the seat up in a handicap room? Does she think that those in wheel chairs pee from there chairs? I was so grossed out and stuck in the toilet with a wet behind and since I had leaned my crutches against the door, they were out of reach. So I had to touch the nasty toilet rim to get myself out and sit on the edge of the porcelain.

To make matters worse, the idiot who designed the rooms put the towels near the sink which was on the other side of the doors. So now, I have to crawl out of the bathroom to the sink area to get a towel to dry off my butt, only to have to crawl back into the bathroom to put the seat down and finally go. By now I am wide awake, grossed out because of toilet water on me and my knees are hurting due to crawling on tile to get the towel. So I ended up taking a bath at 2:00 in the morning to wash off the memory of what just happened. By the time I got back to bed, it was 2:30 and I was too awake to sleep. There are so many nasty commercials on in the early morning hours. I ended up counting sheep and finally fell back to sleep just in time for my alarm to go off as I was being picked up at 5:30 to go to the gym.

After a day of meetings, I was driven to the airport and was there 2 hours early. I got myself into a restaurant. Because I was so early, I had a glass of wine and was talking on the phone, I ordered my meal and before I knew it, it was 30 minutes prior to my flight. My meal had not come yet and the guy with the wheel chair clearly forgot me as he was supposed to be there 45 minutes before my flight as prearranged. I called the number they left me and he was on his way, I got the food to go and was rushed through the gate. I heard my name being called and of course, going through security with a broken leg is not the easiest. I had to remove my boot, take my computer out of my bag, struggle to get my belt off etc. I finally got through and the last called my name. The man pushing the wheel chair started running through the airport and just my luck we were the gate farthest away. I got there just as they were about to close the door and they let me on. My seat was booked prior to the leg break so I was not that close to the front. I had to scoot down to 19D only to find a woman in my seat who asked if I minded if she stayed there. WHAT!!!! I HAVE A BROKEN LEG YOU HAG!!!! was what I thought but of course I smiled and said that I would go further back to find a seat. The flight attendant was great and helped me get settled.

We landed 35 minutes early and when I called my son to tell him, he had not left for the airport yet so I knew I would be waiting some. I got wheeled outside where I waited for his arrival. While I was sitting there I realized I did not tip the guy in Boston who ran me to the plane. I feel awful. I go back in a few weeks and I am determined to find him and give him a tip. Home at last, I unpacked and went to bed.

Sorry for the same quote so here is a new one:

Believe that you have it, and you have it.
Latin Proverb