long hot summer

This has seemed like a long hot summer here in the norhtwest -- our experience here is that we usually have a few hotter days at the end of July and the beginning of August and then it's back to the 80's or so -- not this year -- the heat turned up early and is still in full force, and it's not even August yet. So I made a decision: with no a/c in the office in which I work, and no a/c in the car that I drive, a/c is now being installed in the house. Even if we don't use the a/c as much as people do in other places across the country, it will be a 're-sale enhancer' at the time I retire and move to 'wherever.' Last year we installed ceiling fans, and thought that would take care of most of the 'warmer' days'. This year we had to rethink that. Even so, I'm very thankful for the fans!

Shirley, my wife, is leaving tomorrow for an extended time with the Grandkids, Son and Daughterinlaw in the Chicago area and then on to Michigan to spend time with a friend at their lake house. So for a couple of weeks, I will be home alone -- but air conditioned.

First Day

This was the day that I visited the doctor to get the results of the x-rays and MRI that have been taken of my hip and back. A couple of weeks ago the dr suggested that I might need a hip replacement to reduce the back and legs pains that I've been experiencing. So after all the tests, it was determined that a hip replacement is not needed -- that's the good news. However there is a stress fracture of the L5, along with some arthritus and muscle atrophy (mostly resulting from the polio). There seem to be some options available: strong meds to counteract the pain, back fusion, or the possibility of therapy. At this point I'm opting for the therapy. Not sure how long it might be until I will be able to talk to the therapist -- nothing is as easy as one would think.