May 18-25, 2020

​Update Daily May 18-May 25
Below is a one-week account of therapy, exercise, work, people and a diet update. I’ve been taking notes every day. I know that the last update was four pages and I do not want to do that to you right now, so this is three pages and a couple paragraphs. I learned a lot about my left leg, walking and the operation of the knee: calf, quad and hamstring. There is a lot of science in performing correctly. This may not be as most humorous, but I believe it is insightful.

The collages include some great quotes as I read about leadership and sales, pics of family, espresso, bowling moments from early 2020 and my feet and AFO brace. You will find the complete Michael Jordan quote at the end of the update.

Debbie has been incredible. Her yard work and garden look amazing and she’s done most of it herself and with the help of a gentleman (Cesar) and his crew. She loves yard work, but this year she went above and beyond between the flowerbeds, planters and garden, our place looks really good. If it helps at all I’ve got a pretty good base tan and you might think that I did that work also. Not true!
She’s also kept up with the shopping, housework, majority of the cooking and making sure that taking the right dose is an amount of medication as needed. As a true Mother, she’s talks to our children and grandchildren every day. And a few friends and her brother and sister to catch up with during the day or in the evening. Pretty spectacular!
Thank you to Deanna, Angela, John and the rest of the family, Barresi’s, Fauceglia’s, Horgan’s Voso’s and the White’s for your love and support.
Monday, I had a new physical therapist, Donna. Her and Rick alternate weeks. She had an update of what I did with Rick the previous week and she built upon it. She had me stretching which I have not done very much in the last five weeks prior to starting therapy at a center. She also gave me exercises for my balance. It made me very aware of the work that I have to do to get back into shape. And she sent me my exercises by email. That was very cool.

Her and I also have a session on Thursday. She had me takeoff my brace and leave my cane and walker in the facility. She walked me outside on the lawn with a harness around my waist. She did not have a leash on it, but she just had her hand close enough that if I was going to fall over, she would grab it. The good news is I didn’t fall. I learned a lot about balance and the operation of the feet. Between the balancing exercises and this 15 to 20-minute walk I became aware of how important the tendons and muscles from your feet up your knee keep you balanced, walking in a consistent way and the ability to stop, go and respond to your environment.

I learned about “Slamming”. The hyperextension of a knee at the beginning or end of a step. As the reader you can probably guess this is an incorrect activity for walking. I had actually recognized this when walking up and down our cul-de-sacs in the neighborhood or crossing the street and walking back up the sidewalk. When I thought it was beneficial to get in 5000 steps, I adjusted my daily goals to about 3000 steps, but it took as long as walking for 5000. I’m going slower and taking methodical steps in the hopes to perform the steps perfectly. More to follow.

I worked two sessions with Stef, Monday and Thursday. Both days she really did a continuation of the physical therapy that I was doing with Donna. This back to back therapy really took a lot of energy out of me but it loaded me up with knowledge of what I needed to do when I was at home relaxing or energizing my leg, foot or left arm.

On Monday she had me bouncing a rubber ball and walking with my cane. That takes some concentration. We also played catch and I threw a ball from my right hand to my left hand in the air as well as bouncing it from the ground up. It actually gave me the opportunity to bounce it against the cabinet or wall at home. It’s best if Debbie is not home when I’m bouncing it against anything walls or the island in the kitchen.
For the record I put in some serious walks earlier in the week but after Thursday’s session with Donna I cut back on the distance and narrowed my walk to approximately 3 1/2 houses.  I turn around and walk back, covering only 300 steps back and forth, but the walk is relatively flat and consistent. I see my pace and perfect steps multiplying on each round.

Here is a rundown of the last week:

Monday-18-5000 plus steps and therapy
Tuesday,19-3500 plus steps
Wednesday, 20-6000 plus steps
Thursday 21-4000 plus steps and therapy
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday-22-25-3500 plus steps each day. “Practice does not make perfect, Perfect practice makes perfect.”
Over this past weekend my steps were shorter, firm and soft as well as many stops to reset when I “slammed a step or two”.
A very good friend of mine’s husband had a stroke a few weeks ago. I found out about it through a text you sent me. Of course, I was shocked that has I started to write A response to his text I decided to just call him we spoke for over 20 minutes and we’ve become brothers through the stroke that affected our lives. I sent him in edible arrangements fruit plate. I was never a big fan until I had a stroke. Became a very refreshing treat as a snack or after a meal. I’ve also followed up a couple more times with a card and a text just to check in. He’s coming along and I plan on being a pain in the ass to him. Just do the work listen to your therapist get plenty of rest and it’s a new day every day.

I spoke to Kim, an agency representative from the Georgia market. We connected on Microsoft teams and caught up for approximately a half hour. She’s a great lady I made calls with her probably 2016 a couple of times. We always enjoyed the visit with our agents in the food around the meetings that we have scheduled.

My brother-in-law Frank stopped by us took a walk and I showed him some exercises and rehab thoughts and progress on my foot and hand. I recommended for him to go to Gentiles’ on Broadview Road. His schedule did not permit but the next time it does I’m sure he’ll check the place up.
Giuseppe stopped by on Tuesday. We had espresso and a couple of cookies while catching up on world events.
On Thursday, I picked up 4 cases of cookbooks (Italian Recipes and Ethnic Recipes from My Friends) and a case of (Today’s Heroes, Surviving with Style.) For the consistent blog readers, I have authored three books and my daughter Deanna authored two. (Lily’s Bows and Lily’s Zoo Adventure). They are available on this site. Happy to personalize them for you or as a gift.

It was great seeing Jane and Kate. First visit since CoVid shutdown. They always inspire me to keep writing. We even had lunch together in the back of Gourmands (Great to see Andrea and Greg and their staff). For the record, their V8 veggie sandwich was amazing! The visits lifted a bit of the last couple months off my back. Great seeing everyone.

Talked with Phil from DC. He liked my walking video and said I’ll never catch the ice cream truck if I don’t get some speed in my step. What and Inspiration that is!!! For the record, I’m on coconut milk ice cream and sorbet. But the ice cream truck is a great challenge!

Had a visit by Isabell and Frankie, we took a walk, had an espresso, hearing about the end of Isabell’s school year and music. Loved seeing them.

Rearranging the office/art room with John, moved the wall of music and components. It went slow but adds a new look to the room and also gave the sound a new feel. Thanks for the help John. A great CoVid project.

Deb made excellent fish tacos. Soft shells and a mango fruit salsa, it was like being on the gulf coast of Florida. The meals have been light, refreshing and delicious.

We got a work update; our sales team will commence visiting title agencies after June 1st with some restrictions. I’ll be happy to do some local visits with our agents.
If you know a real estate, lender or title professional, this shutdown did not exist for many. Some people worked remotely. While the industries were somewhat unprepared, all of them rose to the challenge. Many producing record numbers and making the “American Dream” a reality. Thank them. Real estate is an essential segment of the business world and keeps the economy moving forward.
If you are considering buying, selling or refinancing an existing home or investment property, inquire today. A huge THANK YOU to everyone in the title industry and related real estate businesses. You made changes, took precautions for your office and the public and kept that segment of the economy healthy.
We celebrated a social distance birthday party for Suzann at her home on Saturday the 23r, 6- old people, sitting 8 to 12 feet away. A bit hard to hear!!! The next generation. It was a blast and a beautiful night. Some appetizers, wine and an ice cream cake. Happy 65th Sue. A birthday to remember, and Frank hits 70 on July 17th. Maybe we could hug by then.
Deb made filet and baked potatoes one evening. First steak in 6 weeks. I ate about four ounces of meat and the potato with Nature’s Blend butter. A healthy substitute was a treat. I’ll probably have a piece of leftover steak one day with breakfast.
On an exercise note, I took a few trips with the walker around the house, on the lawn both, barefoot and with tennis shoes. The terrain really makes your feet adjust for balance and stability. It is very cool. The grass is refreshing, and it is beneficial to activating my left ankle and peroneus muscles and tendons. To Rick, PT, I promise to wear shoes and have my walker with me. I am reminded often, “Don’t fall” and “Don’t take big chances without help”. I’m on it.

Memorial Day was excellent, a beautiful afternoon downpour, John, Carissa, Angela and the family enjoyed a great barbecue-smoked brisket, chicken and ribs with a number of side dishes accompanied by champagne. Angela and Andrew brought over a Slip and Slide and the grandchildren took us back to our childhood. Debbie found a frog, Cooper held it captive for at least 20 minutes. He loved it and we finally talked him into release it back to nature. I’m sure it’s still suffering from PTS!
Before everyone left, we said our distanced goodbyes and I walked the driveway 10 times, in light rain, great ending to a summer kick off weekend.
Here is the Michael Jordan quote from the collage:
“Winning has a price. Leadership has a price. I pushed people when they didn’t want to be pushed. I challenged people when they didn’t want to be challenged. Bout I never asked them to do something I wasn’t willing to do myself.”

Michael Jordan #TheLastDance

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