Day 54

I clocked in and celebrated being back at work. I always knew that I loved my job but I really never knew how much until it was taken from me. I walked in in my beard and immediately had to shave. It took about 20 minutes to get it all off and now I look so weird. I sat with Serena (the other lead at our stage) and she got me all caught up on what has been going on at the stage. I went back stage with our PT Michelle who helped me figure out just how I will get up and off of some of the set pieces and then I danced through the shark number back stage during the show. I think I will be okay but I will for sure have to take it easy for a bit. That will be harder for me than anything because I always try to give it my all.

I spoke with Cate, our stage manager, and she was saying what a year we have had at the stage with the abundance of injuries and pregnancies at the stage. Hopefully with my coming back and babies being born, we will be on the mend.

In physical therapy today, they kicked my butt. I was in there for 2 hours and 15 minutes and worked my leg so hard that right now I am soar as all get out. I brought in my banana bunker today and I think I may have changed some of the PT's lives forever. My favorite thing to do is to put an empty banana bunker on a chair and watch peoples reactions when they see it. Just in case you don't know, a banana bunker is a hard shell for banana's so that when you place it in a bag or lunch box, the banana is protected and won't bruise. The center is ribbed so that if the banana is curved more or really straight, the bunker can be shaped to match the banana. One lady walked in today and I only wish we had her reaction on camera. She sat next to it and kept staring at it and finally picked it up. I yelled across the room "Banana Bunker" to which she quickly put it back and acted as if she never touched it. They need to do that on candid camera. Google banana bunker and you will see for yourself. The best invention ever. Thank you Karl for the gift.

Tomorrow I get to do a convention with my friend Steve and then go look at Ryan's new home he just bought. I will let you know how all of that works out. I am just so glad to be back and I can't wait to get on stage in front of an audience. I watched Glee tonight and Rachel said such a Billy Flaniganism. She said that her life would be nothing without applause. I kind of feel the same way. I know better but the applause is just the best ever. I mean really,"what is it that we're living for....applause, applause"

“There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them have come about through encouragement from someone else. I don't care how great, how famous or successful a man or woman may be, each hungers for applause.”

George Matthew Adams quotes

Days 52 and 53

Well everyone say a big YAHOO!!! Cause papa is going back to work tomorrow. That's right, I was released to go back to work and I could not be happier. I had to explain to the doctor what I did in my show so that he could write some restrictions and when I told him that I ride a bike with a mana ray over my head and jump off of a scull while holding a puppet, he was quite perplexed. So he wrote, no restrictions as tolerated so that I can determine what I can and can't do. The stage has been great about allowing me to gradually go into shows. I am sooooooooooooo excited.

I had to go to health services today to get my restrictions lifted paper and waited about 2 hours. There were only 3 people there including me so I did not know what the hold up was but when I got back, realized that there was only one nurse. She was as sweet as could be and was from a town not too far from the one I grew up in. We ate at the same pizza place when we lived there. What a small world.

So much to tell as it has been two days. Yesterday was Mother's Day and I have to say that Karen's was fantastic. She slept in till 10:30 and then Lexi and I played a game with Karen called garbage that Lexi learned at dance school......it's a card game. When the boys got home from church, they cooked an amazing champagne brunch for Karen, eggs, waffles, sausage, bacon, orange juice and of course champagne. Lexi had made the pool deck look like a beach (work with me here, it looked like a pool deck) because she wanted to go to the beach but Karen thought it was too much work. We heated up the jacuzzi on a beautiful 79 degree day (again work with me, that is what she wanted) and she sat in there for a long time and laying in the sun. We all swam in the pool and had a blast. After that, Karen took a nap and Lexi and I went on a 10 mile bike ride. When we got back the boys were making dinner. Chicken, rice, veggies and salad. We then took Karen to Twisty Treat for her annual ice cream. What a great day had by all and the fact that Karen did not have to cook or do anything was such a treat.

Today, after the doctor, I went to meet up with a publishing company about my book. We had a two hour meeting and talked about all of my options. Thank you Alice Bass, you were so much help and gave me so much to think about. This is really going to happen. I am so excited. Now I just need to finish the book.

So now I will have to start getting up early, you know, make my eggs and oatmeal, go to the gym and then get to work. I will start my day tomorrow with physical therapy and then go for the last 3 shows. So I will go to bed now. I just want you all to know how much I appreciate your prayers, thoughts and well wishes during my healing process. I will still be writing my blog as my healing process is not over, just getting better, so please continue to read on. I am sure that I will have many stories to tell.

Today would have been my parents 58th wedding anniversary. I know my Dad is in heaven singing one of the many songs he wrote for my Mom. So I leave you with some lyrics from a song he wrote called Happy Anniversary to My Wife:

If God would so choose that my life he would give a second chance to be

And if he would say that I must choose someone to share it with me...............

..............then I would tell my God above, that once more I choose you!!!!

He loved my Mom more than life itself!!!! I miss you Dad. I love you both.

If you want to hear the rest of the song, come to my show June 14th at the Winter Garden Theater, downtown Winter Garden Florida. 7:00pm start time.

Day 50 and 51

It is so hard to believe I have been down for well over 51 days. Yesterday I got home from Boston and seeing my mother for Mothers day and I went directly to the gym and then to physical therapy. I go see the doctor on Monday and I am praying he releases me to go back to work. I am sure that it will be a slow return but a return is needed at this point.

Being out of town really messes your daily routine up. I missed a few days and I am sorry. Tomorrow is Mothers day and I really want to do my best to make this a very special day for Karen. She is an amazing Mom and to have raised the 4 kids AND deal with me, she will certainly go to heaven!!!!!!

Today my neighbor had a cook out and while talking to another neighbor he told me of how his son had a big party while they were gone and they came home unexpectedly in the middle of the party. He works for a beer company and gets free beer samples and needless to say, all of the samples were gone. In my way of trying to make him feel a bit better I said, "well I bet they were trying to decide weather to go to your house or call Adam (my son) to come over to my house. Lance (his son) probably said "my dad works for a beer company" and Adam probably said "my dad wears lycra" so they went to your house. Poor Adam was all alone last night. Really, I can't wait to get back into my lycra at Nemo. I miss everyone so much.

I sang at church tonight and it went really well. I love my church and the people who make up our church. They are all so nice. One couple asked me to sing at their wedding in March of next year. I looked on my calendar and can you believe it, I was free. Also one of our priests is Philipino and he sings in the Philipino Priest choir. They are doing a concert at our church on Sept. 17th and he asked if I would be the guest singer. Again I looked at my very busy calendar and amazingly enough, again I was free.

Off to bed to get rested up for tomorrow. Happy Mothers Day to all of you mothers out there.

“Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs… since the payment is pure love.” – Mildred B. Vermont

Days 48 and 49

I traveled yesterday up to Boston, taking a checked piece of luggage to bring my mothers and Karen's mothers day gifts. I waited for what seemed like forever for my luggage to come out and guess what? It never came out. I checked it in way before the cut off time but it did not make it on the plane. It was on the next flight. If I waited at the airport for it, I would have been stuck in so much traffic going to my mothers house so I opted for them to deliver it. They were to call me when they got it in. I specifically told them NOT to call my home phone (how they had it I don't know) because if Karen found out she would freak out because her mothers gifts were all in there. Well they called me and said they were at the airport and verified the address. Then I get a message from Karen about an hour later saying "the airlines called, they have your luggage". OMG, the driver they passes the luggage off to called my home phone. How could this happen. She was all worried and I was so mad.

After giving my mother her gift, I took her to dinner at a place my sister Patty was going to be hosting a trivia night at. We played 3 games, coming in 2nd twice and winning the last game. We had a very nice meal and my sister took my mom home so I could go to my hotel. Late night up and early morning.

I was up at 4:45 to go to the gym because I had to be at PartyLite by 7 for a telethon I was hosting on line. 11 hours later the telethon was over for me and my foot and I were both tired. I went to dinner with a friend and got some pretty devastating news that I can't share right now. The quote below sums it up for me. I ended up coming back to Patty's house to sleep and I am about to fall over so I will leave you with this quote:

There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right....
Martin Luther

Day 47

I can not believe that I let Sunday go by without saying Happy Anniversary to myself. I celebrated my 28th year working at Walt Disney World. That is right youngin's, I started working here before you were born. It is so hard to fathom sometimes that I am working with people who were not born when I started working here. I always make the joke that when Gina Varchetto came to Hoop Dee Doo in a stroller in 1983, I leaned over to her and said in my best baby voice, "Who's gonna be my Flora someday, you are, aren't you, your gonna be my Flora" to which she smiled and 20 years later, we were Flora and Jim. I am truly blessed to have been working there 28 years. Pray for at least another 2 so I don't have to change the title of my book (30 Years Wearing Ears).

I went to the gym today in 2 sneakers. I brought the boot just in case but I wanted to walk as much as I could without it. My ankle looked like a cankle by the time I got home but it was not bad. I spent the rest of the day going through pictures to put in the power points for the big show....which by the way I have come up with a title. Are you ready for this.? BILLY FLANIGAN.....50 YEARS ON CENTER!!!!!

Now you must know that this is a benefit for the JDRF but I want to have as much fun as possible while we raise money. I figure, all of the people I would want at a party, will be in the show. Perfect.

My friends the Flanagan's, spelled wrong, did me a huge favor and printed up a picture that I am giving my mother on Mothers Day, which by the way is this Sunday so you better make sure you call. Mark did an amazing job and I am so very grateful for their help and generosity. Came home from getting the picture and packed for my short trip to Boston. I will be able to give my mother the gift in person. When my family was here last year, my friend, the amazing Jim Harrison, took a family photo of all 27 of us on my stairs, and that is what I had blown up. It looks great. Thank you Mark and thank you Jim!!!!!!

Ocoee Middle School was on Oprah again today. Target finished the library redu and it looks great. Lexi was so excited to see her new school for next year on television. Too fun......PT at 7 am and then a flight at 11:30. I will be tired I am sure but I can sleep on the plane. I leave you on this 4th day of May with this:

By learning you will teach;
by teaching you will understand.
Latin Proverb

Day 46

I get a call from Karen this morning that she left her music in the garage and she had to teach her class in 15 minutes. I couldn't find the keys to my truck and we only have one set (we need to fix that quick) and the truck was parked behind the mustang. OMG talk about pressure. I found the keys in my closet, why they were in there I don't know, took the 429 against every fiber in my body because I have been boycotting due to the raise in the tolls, and got there just before her class started.

I had to take my lawn mower in again because the thingy that makes the mower move on it's own broke off when Adam was mowing the other day. So I took it there before working out. Back to the gym to workout and ride the bike and then off to physical therapy. I had a new therapist today, she was good, they all are. I actually did leg presses today. My @$$ is going to kill me tomorrow. I was told that my plantis flexion was good and my dorsal flexion is bad. The plantis is my point and the dorsal is what the flexing. I can flex but it stops at a certain point which makes it difficult to walk DOWN stairs. I have to go sideways but I am trying so hard. They said that they are amazed at what I can do after only 7 weeks. I thought I was way behind where I should be. She massaged my foot and iced it and I felt great when I left.

Home to clean my AC filters and do little chores I have not been able to do. I swept the floors, and killed some weeds, did some laundry and folded it. I just love that I can get around. It was so hot so when Lexi came home, we went in the pool. It was wonderful. I love having the pool. Very refreshing. It was 81 degrees, too cold for Karen, perfect for me. We swam and then studied some with her friend Rachel for their big health test. They are studying the small intestines and from the picture of them in the book, the girls thought that the small intestine was the penis. I laughed so hard. Poor thing must have over heard Karen talking about my small intestine............badum chink!!!!

Well Karen is now finishing her soap opera from today, from what I gather, Hope is wacko, Nicolle is a liar and Philip loves to make his father mad. Thank goodness that we do not have as much drama in our lives as those on the soaps. I am falling asleep sitting here so I am signing off.

That which does not kill you makes you stronger.
Neitzsche

Day 45

I love Sundays. There is nothing like a beautiful Sunday that makes you want to get out and do yard work, clean the pool and wash the car, and clean the fountain. Not even a broken leg can keep you down. OUCH MY LEG HURTS!!!!!!! I know, it is my own fault. I did not mow my lawn, Adam did that, I just edged and then together we cleaned the fountain. Well, I did edge all of the bushes as well, and pick the weeds but Adam was there to pick up the mess. The fountain was green and filled with those blind mosquitoes. It looks great now. Clean water and trimmed bushes and mowed and edged lawn. Plus the first of the month is when you take your pool water to Pinch A Penny and get everything it needs to keep it running well. I just couldn't stop. I have not done anything for 8 weeks and I just had to go. So washing my car that sits in the garage was not a priority but it was dirty with pollen. I did not vacuum it though, just washed the outside.

I did go to the gym when Karen got back from day two of Lexi's competition. She only had one number and there was cast of thousands and she is not on center so I stayed home. I know that is sad but I have seen it twice and I will see it many more times as the competition season is not over, and of course there is the recital. The won double platinum and an over all first place for the number. My house is now filled with medals and medals and more medals from the past 4 competitions.

Can anyone explain the latest bracelet thing for girls. They are little stretchable colored rubber that is in the shape of many things, animals, food, shapes etc. and you wear them as bracelets. Now when they are on your wrist, they are no longer the shape they were but a crinkled rubber band basically. Such a stupid thing but an amazing phenom. Whoever created them is now a millionaire and I am totally jealous. Perhaps I will invent an animal shaped condom that once placed on the ding a ling will be crinkled enough to act as a ribbed condom. Not that I ever wore one and a good thing too because I have a skin allergy to latex and rubber. Too much information, sorry. No one take my idea, I am submitting it tomorrow.

After a long day of work, I am so ready for bed and to put my foot in the air all night.

They can because they think they can.

Virgil