Update on Charlie

Here's an update on Charlie.

He is doing as well as can be expected. Since Charlie is rather difficult to assess (think psycho kitty), the vet thinks he is doing well. Some of the places that Charlie didn't have sensation she thinks he does.

 

If they can get Charlie off intravenous pain meds he might be able to come home tomorrow. My bet is more likely Wednesday. I have to say much sooner that I expected. And because of all this I've pushed back my stress test to October.

 

So fingers crossed Charlie seems to be doing well and should be back home soon.

 

 

Spectacular Sunrise

A spectacular sunrise this morning. It brought a much needed smile to my face. I only went to the Lincoln today. I hadn't been on the bike for about a week and when that happens I do a short ride. Mostly to make sure I don't cramp up. And judging by the "graceful" dismount from the bike, it was a good call.

The other thing I've noticed is it's getting lighter later and later which of course makes sense. But it's surprising how in just a couple of weeks how much of a difference that makes. I could leave my house around 5:30 and have no problems because the sky was starting to lighten. But now it's closer to 6.

 

Charlie Brown is in the Hospital

Charlie is in the hospital. I found him Friday morning unable to stand on his back legs for any period of time. With help of my next door neighbor, who has a car, we took him to Friendship Animal Hospital in Northwest DC.

They took Xrays and did blood work (not the easiest thing to do with Charlie since he is a terrible patient). After that the next step was to do an MRI. The thought was that he could have something impacting one of his disc in his back. The only way to see that was with an MRI.

If there was disc problems a decision would have to be made whether to do surgery (this is to avoid sedating Charlie again). I gave the go ahead to do the surgery (thank goodness I have credit cards with high limits on them. Additional funds would be available if the issue with my unemployment claim could be cleared up since I haven't been paid anything since the end of April but that's for another post).

Charlie came through the surgery fine. It's hopeful this will solve his mobility issues (it's no guaranteed but the only way to find out if it would work is to do the surgery). He will be in the hospital a few more days. Then home for recovery. There are a couple of possible other issues but again it's a wait and see if they happen.

I'm have to get a bunch of stuff for him. They want to limit the area he has to move around in so I'm getting him a dog crate and other things.

Fingers crossed that this works. I figure I owe Charlie this much to see if this can work.

One more quick note which is somewhat bitchy but I have to say since I lost my job a little over four years ago in general things have been one big Cluster F*ck and this can be added to the list. And I'm more than ready for it to stop.

Here's a picture of Charlie Brown resting in his cat carrier from earlier in the week.

 

 

Stressing Over my Stress Test.

 My stress test is stressing me out. 

I'm having a stress test to see how my heart is doing these days. So the test has stressed me out a little. The actual test is adding to my stress but getting the damn test is stressful as well.

My original appointment was for August 18 at 9:15 (I like early appointments so you can get it done and out of the way. Also the earlier in the day the less likely they are to be running behind). I would see my doctor after the test.

The test got changed. The new date was for August 27 at 12:30. Not the best of times. In part for the reason I said above but also because you're not supposed to have anything to eat three hours before the test. The appointment with my doctor was changed from an in person visit to a video conference which was to be on September 2.

Yesterday afternoon around 5 I got a call from the office saying they needed to put the test off once again. The new new appointment time for the test is September 9 at 9:45. The video conference with the doctor won't happen until October 1. I'm going to assume if they find something the doctor will be in touch earlier than October 1.

I'm hoping that the third time is the charm and the test will actually happen. And I can stop stressing over my stress test.

Linus and Charlie

Here are a few pictures of Linus and Charlie and all their fun activities over this summer. A good deal of napping was involved.

Fun with Peanuts

 

Riding Over 100 Miles in Four Days

 

I am very pleased and proud about what I accomplished today. This is something that I haven't done in at least ten if not fifteen years. This week actually over four days I rode over 100 miles. 107.55 to be exact. 

 

 I left 15 minutes later than yesterday for my ride.

 

 

Wow what a difference that made. When I got into Virginia I could actually see the trail. What a concept seeing where your riding. Who knew?

 

It was really humid out. Dew point was 70 which made for a very soupy ride. I rode 24.05 miles. 

 

 

I tried the Crystal City path again. Rode for a while and then it literally just ends. There's construction for the new Amazon facility instead of the path. So I just turned around and got back on the Mt. Vernon trail.

 

I like riding on Sunday because there is no one out at all. By the time I come back into the city people are beginning to stir.

 

I have an interesting story on scooters but that's for another post.

 

 

Tomorrow is a rest day. As for next week it look like it is going to get hot again so I'm not sure how many days I'll ride. Also I have a stress test on Thursday so definitely won't re riding that day. As we say in my family we'll see.

 

Finally got the full reflection of the Monument in a picture.

Up Early and on the Bike

I have been leaving the house early to on my rides. Early as in the crack of dawn early if not earlier. The sun rises around 6:30. I'm usually out the door by 5:30 ish.

 

Needless to say it's dark outside. The sky might be getting a little light but not much. Now that doesn't make much of a difference in the city because of all the lights. In fact the Metropolitan Branch Trail, which I take to get down to Union Station, has lights all along it. The streets downtown have lights too. It's a little dark when I'm actually down by the Smithsonian Museums but still not bad. 

 

 

 

However once you get across the Memorial Bridge it is a very different story. It's dark out. More to the point it's dark along the path which makes the path sometimes hard to follow. (Yes it would help if I actually had you know a light on my bike but right now I don't).

 

The Mt. Vernon Trail follows the George Washington Parkway. So the lights from the cars help light up the trail. Expect when they are directly in your eyes and you can't see anything at all (yes I know I should get a light but I don't think it would help in this situation). Yesterday I stopped for a minute until the cars passed and went on my way. It wasn't as bad this morning because there was less traffic. 

 

 

 

By the time I get close to Gravelly Point, there is close to enough light so you can see. However yesterday I was getting close to Gravelly Point and I notice two lights heading toward me. As in a light in each of the lanes of the trail. I get close and realize the guy in my lane is not going to move over (yes this would have been the perfect time to have a light). So I move over instead. I thought at the time a light would have helped in that situation. But then it occurred to me if I had been a jogger I wouldn't have had a light. I have a feeling if I'd been a jogger the guy wouldn't have moved for me either.

 

I went 20 miles today. I'm hoping to go at least that tomorrow. And maybe I'll leave fifteen minutes later so there's just a little more light to ride by.

 

 

A Rain Delay

 The trials and tribulations of Charlie Brown playing baseball. In the strip only rain is the problem. I wonder how he would have dealt the a pandemic. 

Scooter Scourge

The other day I was in Georgetown on my bike. Specifically I was on K Street under the Whitehurst 

Freeway. There are dedicated bike lanes. At one end of the lanes was a scooter parked right in the middle of the lanes. Exactly in the middle of the lane. So someone had to deliberately place the scooter there.

 

Just another example of what a pain these things are. Placed anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes this is done by the people that ride them. But other times it's the companies that pull this crap.

 

As far as I am concerned they are a menace. I lost count of the number of times one has passed within inches of me when I'm walking down a path or sidewalk. There is of course no warning at all. If I had suddenly moved or turned, I would have been hit. There seems to be this assumption that they are on a scooter and everyone needs to get out of their way. They also go way too fast.

 

It would be so nice if they were banned. But of course that is not going to happen.

 

 

A Great Sunday Ride

 

I realized something on the ride this morning. Actually after I'd turned around. I took a little rest to catch my breath and started back to DC.

 

I seemed to have a lot of energy and was going rather fast. That's when I realized I was going down river which of course means the elevation was slowly going down too. So I had a subtle down hill all the way back to Georgetown. That's also the reason I was huffing and puffing going in the other direction because 

I was going up river or up a slight incline.

 

The other reason I was huffing and puffy was it was very humid out so humid that there was fog. At one point my glasses fogged up to because of both fogs I almost hit a jogger. But missed him at the last moment.

 

This was a very productive ride. It was the first time I'd ridden for four days in a row. It was also the longest ride so far this year at 23.05 miles. 

 

Monday is a rest day.

 

 

Snoozing on a Sunday

 Linus and Charlie snoozing on a Sunday.