2/2/24

 Friday, February 2, 2024

Groundhog Day, Joe Daley's mother's birthday

In bed at 9 but had a hard time falling asleep, awake at 4, unable to sleep, had troubling thoughts, up at 4:23.  33°, high of 37°,  cloudy day ahead, wind NE at 11 mph, 6-15/23.  Sunrise at 7:06, sunset at 5:04, 9+58.

Treadmill; pain.  Woke up with very painful (5?) left shoulder and right wrist, hand, and thumb.  Yesterday, with Dr. Cheng in the PM&R Clinic, neither my chronically painful left shoulder nor my chronically painful right wrist & environs were painful, or only very little.  The wrist is the much greater problem, making me almost one-armed at times. . . . I had the shoulder and wrist x-rayed at the VA today and Dr. Cheng reviewed them almost immediately thereafter.  He called to say it looks like a rotator cuff problem in the shoulder which should be helped by the topical med he ordered for me and by the physical therapy also ordered.  The wrist looks like nasty arthritis but there was some confusion because he confused me with another patient who had a trapeziectomy, so I'm not entirely sure what's what with the wrist (and hand, thumb, and forearm.)  I'll check the written report when it is published on myhealthevet.com.  At 5:30 p.m., 20:16 & O.65, watching a documentary on OVID about rural Nevada, The Great Basin.

I'm grateful to Dr. Chang in the Physical Medicine & Rehab Clinic for his help with my earlier back pains, and the current shoulder and wrist/hand/arm problems.  He's young and affable and a pleasure to have as a doctor.  Within minutes of arriving home from having the shoulder and wrist x-rays taken at the VA, he was on the phone to me informing me of their significance.  A good guy.  

Text to PCC:  Hi, Peter,  I hope you’re doing well.   I’m looking to hire a bright, agile, assistant to help me stretch some canvas over 55-inch X 32-inch stretchers.  Years ago I used to stretch all my canvases myself rather than buying pre-stretched ones, but I got lazy as I got older and I opted for the pre-stretched ones.  In any case, I have a whole roll of raw canvas in our basement and I would like to stretch some of it over those 55 X 32 stretchers but it’s a two-person job.  Before I get to the main project, I need to move some stuff around in the basement to provide a working surface that is large enough to support the assembled canvas.  It’s probably been more than 20 years since I last stretched my own canvas, so there may be some trial and error in this project.  After the canvas is assembled, I could also use some help applying a gesso primer coat to it.  I can offer $25/hour for the help.   Do you have any interest in the job?  If so, we could do the work at a time (or times) that fit into your family, school, and social schedule, and of course, I could pick you up and take you back home if transportation is needed.  I think the initial work could be done within 2 hours, but I know you’re busy with school projects and other matters.  Let me know what you think.  Thanks. /s/ Grandpa.

My favorite line from Groundhog Day.   Rita to Phil (who is stuffing his mouth with breakfast pastries):  I like to see a man of advancing years throw caution to the wind.  It's inspiring in a way.

Troubling thoughts this morning about old age and the future, inability to do things around the house because of physical limitations (getting down on the floor and getting up again, climbing onto and working from a ladder, tasks requiring arm and/or leg strength, etc.)  I have a real dread of having to move from this house and into an apartment or condo, losing my basement 'sanctuary' with its painting space, office area, treadmill, etc.  Or worse yet, 'congregate living.'  If I'm lucky, it will be to Schmidt & Bartelt.