Posting on April 22nd, Events from April 14, 2020

 Daily update 4-14-2020
NOTE: This post is from Tuesday the 14th. I am writing on the 22nd. Progress is going well. Monday, I learned about Environmental Support, from Linda the Physical Therapist. I walked from the dining room to the kitchen and back, with the walker. She was happy and also wanted me to go slow and be  careful. understandable. Environmental Support is using a wall, door jam, countertop etc. to maneuver around an area (my definition). I immediately put the words in my phone, and told Linda i would share it on the blog. Linda also demonstrated and let me take a couple laps with a cane on Monday the 20th. More to follow later.
But remember, the most important thing in rehab, is not to do anything stupid or careless and take a FALL! I go that message loud and clear.

​Tuesday the 14th started with a burst of energy. Woke up did some exercises on the bed had about a half hour conversation with Debbie. We put a plan together for the day. I finished the update for the day before getting ready to go downstairs.

I completed a little groundwork for a client that we were doing a special project in about seven of his operations. Was about a half hour worth of communication talking and emailing.

I put a call into my webmaster Kate Toma. We were discussing the website for the update blog. I became sick to my stomach. I had to cut the call short I never got back on the phone with her the rest of the day. Spent the next couple of hours just trying to feel a little bit better.
I made myself go downstairs around 11 o’clock trying to do a couple of exercises. I needed to get something in my stomach. I showed Debbie a Facebook post from the weekend. They prepared eggs quickly and efficiently. She made me a very thin omelet, you set a soft tortilla on it just before flipping. You allow the omelet to cook through for about 20 seconds. Flip it back over on the tortilla to warm and place whatever you like on the inside. I elected for a little bit of Swiss cheese and some black pepper. You could add salsa, avocado, ham and cheese. During this time of the pandemic whatever you have in your refrigerator or fresh counter you could use. Complete with as a roll up. It was delicious and it hit the spot. My stomach was settled, and I had a visitor coming about 11:30 AM to drop off a document. We spoke for almost 45 minutes from the kitchen through my screen door. And I wore a mask!

We settled into the afternoon. I did a couple more therapy exercises with Debbie at my side. She prepared a sandwich for a snack and I settled in on a chair in the family room. Fortunately, throughout this new chapter in my life I have not turned the TV on early in the day. So, I missed Governor Mike DeWine and Dr. Aton’s daily updates. I cannot tell you that I miss them. Prior to the stroke I was listening and practicing both social distancing, clean hands and environment. I still am. I was actually keeping track of the number of sick people in Ohio as well as the number of deaths in the state. I missed a few days last week and just put a total in probably on Holy Saturday. And I need to update that today. Sad thing is watching that numbers grow. The good news it is flattening. It will grow again if we are given permission to leave our homes and socialize in big numbers.

For those of you that know me, a big part of my life is socializing. On March 13 I began to social distance. I was becoming very good at it, clocking from our family room close to 40 hours a week Monday through Friday for work. And then watching movies, cooking, watching great documentaries on rock ‘n’ roll and just working around the home. Well I want to get myself better and move around without balance being my number one priority.

I’m afraid we may be social distancing through the summer. If that’s the case I will make leaps and bounds in my recovery, develop a habit of eating a lot better and strengthen my upper and lower body just from the therapy. I also believe there is a creative energy running through all of us if we take the time to sit down and let ourselves speak to ourselves. There is going to be music written, books, plays, and movies created. Businesses are going to be retooled and work processes changed for the better. Artist Are going to cover canvases, wood, anything that they could get their hands on with colors, landscapes and thoughts that they have grabbed through this shut down that has given us an opportunity to get into ourselves.
I have actually been inspired for a sales presentation. It’s going to be a good one! I have listened to a handful of webinars in our industry on workflow, process and communication skills. The bottom line prior to the coronavirus we were too BUSY to take the time to think about it and its long term affects. I think some of these ideas could’ve helped us do more business, more efficiently and profitably.  We have a product called Pavaso. It’s been a reality for over 2 1/2 years. Three weeks ago, 2700 companies applied to use it. A complete overload. As our people get their arms around the applications people are starting to use the product and they say it’s easier. It will change the industry and products just like it. I watched another webinar, to very bright young industry changers talked about texting and its effectiveness. It was a productive hour. I emailed him and told him, great hour and content, good luck and I’m looking forward to their next webinar.

Another feeling that I strongly have is the people that are reaching out and communicating by Zoom, Go-To-Meeting or other ways to be face to face while social distancing are going to make a huge impact on their business, relationships and will even sculpt the new look of our business and industry.

Business is getting done and people are learning without the old clichés, “We don’t have time to change” or “That will never work”. My advice, no matter what industry you work in, get off your TV, set up a time to watch an hour or a half hour of news a day, schedule time to watch a movie or documentary and steal some ideas. Write them down. Pick up a book and look for something to grab your attention. Always review the Chapters of a new book. If you find any interesting topic, flip to that page. Even if it is 200 pages in. Read it. That may be all you need from that book today or ever. Make notes and look for an opening to develop.  Schedule your day for some creative time. We are definitely in a time of renewal. Draw, paint, sculpt, organize and renew.

As a lifelong salesperson, think of other ways to connect with customers, I am hearing of inexpensive and creative ways to touch people from folks all over the country.

I write/read in a journal every day. It was given to me by my son-in-law Andrew for Christmas. In March I made a commitment to write a quote about Calmness every day. For April I decided to write a quote on Renewal. On April 5 I had a stroke. After I was released from the hospital on April 7, I missed the next few days journaling. I went back and filled in a couple of notes and on the bottom of the page for April 13, I wrote “a stroke survivor is reborn “. And yesterday I wrote “life renews itself daily! “JV Jr. What a work! Calmness and Renewal, and BAM, a stroke, and both are now part of my healing process. That’s crazy, but I’m rolling with it.

We had dinner brought in from a neighbor, Pam Skelton. Corleone's is a fine Italian restaurant close to Independence Ohio. She has three brothers there are vegetarians one or two may actually be vegans. I have a heck of a time telling the three men apart. One of them loves the portobello mushroom medley. It consists of roasted and sautéed vegetables. Very tasty we also had a Napolitana pizza and a side salad. This was a delicious dinner with no animal proteins. We were full and satisfied. Maybe the Skelton brothers are onto something. All I had for dessert tonight was a graham cracker. That’s pretty weak for me. But I feel very good. Since the stroke, I am not consuming or craving sugar. That is beneficial, and it will lend to a healthier recovery. I did some exercises on the couch and called it a night around 915. Thank you, Skelton Family.

Before I finish this update, I have to tell you about Jesse, the occupational therapist. We spent an hour together this afternoon. Jesse is from Georgia. He is a dead giveaway as soon as he spoke. His character and his mannerisms. I just flat out asked him, where you from? He said Atlanta. He is a Veteran and spent time in Minot, ND. And has a handful of jokes that he shared with us on each visit. He gets people laughing, while he’s helping you do the simplest things that you take for granted with your hands or arms, your whole life. I spent three days in Minot, with some of the finest Title Professionals in the industry at their Christmas dinners. It never got warmer than -30 degrees. We had two great dinners, hosted by Paula and Tim. Tim introduced us to Chef Michael Monzon-a Teppan Chef, internet sensation, TV personality and a great guy Find him on Facebook. And Mr. Richard Turner, a Card Mechanic. Richard is extraordinary! To say the least. I will share a link; 
https://youtu.be/nPuQF3eSJ
so you watch him and be amazed. We had breakfast, dinner twice and I watched in amazement and delight at his trade.

Back to Jesse, I now I have a container of rice and a container of elbow macaroni’s with a little items in them like a black clip, little things from a pen drawer or junk drawer an eraser, paperclips, a little rubber stopper Just miscellaneous items that I can pick up identify and then reach back in to the rice or pasta. All with my left hand. It’s pretty juvenile, but beneficial for getting the feeling and coordination back in that hand. He also had me picking up coins off of a wooden table. This is not great for building your self-esteem! He had me do it with my eyes closed, I had no clue, couldn’t feel them or can pick them up. Jesse backed off and said let’s do that with your eyes open. I’m happy to say that produce much better results.

Next we filled up two nice size containers at the sink. The first one with hot water (100 degrees) and second with cold water and ice cubes, (approximately 32 degrees). My job put my left hand in the hot water and squeeze a sponge for two minutes and then switch over to the cold water for a minute squeezing sponge alternating back-and-forth three or four times until the cold water really starting to affect my hand. Jesse said that’s good. You can feel your left hand, mostly the cold sensation. The exercise is to wake up your nerves.
Throughout his visit he explained the nerves in my hand and arm, they went dead, and we were waking them up. He ran a massager over my hand and arms, He also ran a dishrag through the palm of my hand and rubbed it in the palm of my hand all to activate life. I will tell you I’ve been taking a lot of things for granted for 63 1/2 years.
Without going into every exercise, we did on Tuesday afternoon, I was given a number of great opportunities to accelerate my recovery. Thank you, Jesse. Day 10-Out!

Quote for Calmness-Always ask: "What will happen if I say nothing?"

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