The Christmas List

I know, I know, I'm old and it's not even November yet, but I have been asked for a Christmas list from several people and this is the easiest way to do it. I love Christmas gifts!

Vinyl Records

-Against Me! - Searching for a Former Clarity

-Against Me! - Reinventing Axel Rose

-Against Me! - Crime

-David Bowie - Hunky Dory

-Brand New - Daisy

-Flogging Molly - Float

Books (Kindle versions can be sent as gifts to my email: djs9pd@gmail.com)

Resident Evil Archives Vol. 2

The Boy Who Loved Batman - Michael Ulsan (Kindle edition)

A Dance of Dragons - George R.R. Martin (Kindle Edition)

When You Are Engulfed in Flames - David Sedaris (Kindle Edition)

Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and People Who Cook - Anthony Bordain (Kindle Edition)

Tasting Beer: An Insider's Guide to the World's Best Drink - Randy Mosher (Kindle Edition)

Comic books

Criminal #3 - The Dead and the Dying by Brubaker

Punisher #9 - Long Cold Dark by Ennis

American Vampire Vol 1 - Scott Snyder and Steven King

Incognito #1 - Brubaker

Batman and Robin #3 - Batman and Robin Must Die - Morrison

Hellblazer: Dangerous Sins by Ennis

Entire original Punisher Run - 5 comics

Blu-rays

-The Bourne Trilogy

Brewing

-Sink Faucet Adapter

Video games

-Rock Band 3 bundle

-Ico and Shadow of the Colossus

-Dead Island

-Mount and Blade Warband (Steam)

-Cryostasis (Steam)

Gift Cards

Steam

Amazon

Slackers

Oh the crazies you see at physical therapy.

Even though I hate waking up to go to physical therapy, it has been helping.

It's something that I get that immediate, physical evidence that I'm progressing. Everyday I go, I'm breaking another personal best. The first week, I went from being able to bend 70 degrees to this week, where I hit 108 degrees. I was at +4 degrees as far as straightening, I'm now able to get to 0 degrees. Only was able to do a half crank on the bike before, today I was able to do full rotations.

I go to the doctor on Thursday and I'm hoping he tells me I can start walking.

The entertaining part of physical therapy is the other people that go to it, cause they are crazy.

1. Gangster - A few times, there's this straight up prison gangster that wears like an Oakland Raiders jersey and baggy jeans to come to therapy. He did something to his back, so they have him doing a lot of arms. If the therapist says, let's do 5 lbs, he grabs the 10 pounder. He works out like he's in a prison yard.

2. The starer - It's hard not to start staring at something when you're doing repetitive exercises, but I found this creepster sitting directly across from me, his eyes met mine. He stared at me for a good 10 minutes while he rolled stress balls in his hands like some sort of Bond villain.

3. The Hipster - This guy is wearing his thick Weezer glasses, red blue jeans that are three sizes too small, and chucks on his feet. He's the skinniest guy in the world and they had him doing push-ups. I've never seen a hipster workout before.

4. The Gruff Old Man - Today, there was one of those old men that hates the world. The guy that yells at you for hitting your baseball in his yard. He spent the entire hour we were near each other complaining about how sensitive he is, telling the therapists what exercises he should be doing, and how everything causes cancer. The stretches I was doing... spread cancer. The stimulation machine... spread cancer. The lights in the building... create cancer. The therapist gave up trying to contradict the guy after about 15 minutes.

Quick Update

I haven't had an update in a few weeks. There really hasn't been much to report.

I'm going to physical therapy now. I've definitely noticed an improvement in strength in my leg. It feels natural to stand on it again. So progress!

There have been a few times where my leg gets bent just a little too much and I get shooting pains. They've also started that electrocuting thing. You know the ab device that promises you six pack abs while you sit on the couch? That, except the medical version. The setting they put is on is called "Russian" and feels exactly how I would think a Russian electrocuted me with a car battery and dirty puddle of water would feel. Not pleasant.

Right now I'm going twice a week for about an hour to an hour and a half everyday. Eventually the physical therapist wants me to start going three days a week for two hours at a time. I just don't know how I'm going to be able to do that. I won't have a ride. Feel like its a little excessive.

I'm getting around pretty well. My upper body strength is getting insane. I'm probably stronger than I have been in a long time.

Other than that, there's not much going on. I'm working and hanging out, that's about it.

Blues!

So went for my first all day outing on Saturday.

The Blues gave us free tickets to fan fest against the Dallas Stars. It was just a pre-season game, nothing really on the line, but they were doing other activities like player meet and greets beforehand.

Sallie and I got there at about 9:30 am and wandered around the True Blue store for a while until autographs started.

We didn't really buy much, but we did buy a blue Blues bandanna to get signed. It was only $9 and we figured it would look great on our wall.

So autographs started and we just sort of jumped in whichever line was nearest on account of me having to crutch around.

The first table was my favorite. It was the two Russians, Nikita Nikitin and Evgeny Grachev. They barely speak English and were just smiling and pleasant and signing anything anyone gave to them.

We also met:

Matt D'Agostini

Jonathan Cheechoo

Brett Sterling

Adam Cracknell

Ryan Reeves

Phil McRae (Who was the only one that asked about my leg. What a nice guy)

Unfortunately most of the players play for the minor league team. TJ Oshie, Kevin Shattenkirk, Vladimir Sobotka, and Bernie Federko were the big names but I didn't get to any of them until the lines were being cut off. It also sucked because Blues player was using a blue pen to sign. So basically, 50% of everything people wanted signed, this marker wouldn't show up on.

The game itself was pretty awful. This was the last day of the preseason, so they had to make roster cuts, which means most of the minor league affiliate was playing. We got stomped. The game was sloppy. But at least I got out.

We went and got Greek food afterwards and when we finally got home, my arms were shaking from how much I used them.

My foot and knee were incredibly swollen that night. I've been elevating and putting ice on them since. They're still a bit swollen, but much less so now.

This week, we have a Wilco concert at the Peabody Opera House on Tuesday, my first physical therapy meeting on Thursday, and the Blues home opener on Saturday. Going to be a busy week.