So I got this new foot...

And this thing ROCKS!

It's an Ossur Flex Foot, and it's part of my newest running leg--the third one that I've had since I decided that just walking wasn't gonna be good enough.

The first one was pretty crude, being little more than a curved piece of hi-strength fiberglass laminate bolted to the back of a regular fiberglass and plastic leg sleeve. It wasn't adjustable for height or camber or anything, but my prosthetist is good and he got it chose enough to perfect on the first try that eventually I was able to run the Army Ten-Miler with it.

It wasn't much-in fact, the sole was covered by a hard rubber that started life as an industrial floor tile, but that leg served me well until I went down for more leg surgery, after which it never fit right again. So a second one was made, this one little more than a clone of the first, the exception being that the laminate running blades were now starting to evolve as companies began putting some serious research and development into them.

This one was somewhat adjustable (but not much) and the running blade had a pad, a double-thickness for more energy return, and a real running surface on the bottom.

Sadly, I never really got this one working right. There was always a spot inside where I'd get pain during a run, and we were never able to solve that problem despite cutting out large sections of the hard plastic. But after a second bit of leg surgery, this one didn't fit right anymore either so it joined the first one in a box of cast-off legs in the basement.

Enter the third one. This one is cutting-edge technology. It's fully adjustable in all directions and for height and it has a removable/replaceable sole make by Nike. It's also made of a new material and it's easily half the weight of the last one. This thing is cool beyond description.

On Saturday, I took it out for a test run. Rock Creek Park in Washington DC closes off much of Beach Drive on the week-ends, restricting the road to pedestrians and bikes only. I happened to be down there, and the fall colors made for a nice run along the creek in the company of countless other fitness-minded folks. This was my first off-treadmill run in over a year, so I didn't push it too far. I kept it down to a mile and a half, and though I really wanted to run farther at the end of that run just because it felt so good, I knew from past experience to cut it there per the plan, and lemme tell you, today I'm glad that I did; I'm feeling it a bit from that run, but not really bad like I would be had I decided to run farther and over-do it. But the stiffness today is all in my other joints--the leg feels great. This running leg fits perfectly and there were no hot spots under it when I was finished, so I'm thinking that me and this leg are going to be great friends indeed. Heck, maybe next year, we'll do the Ten-Miler again, or even a half marathon. And one day, before I'm done...a whole marathon. I've just gotta.

A nice promotional video put out by the Ossur folks:

Sadly--but good for me and others--the advances in technology on these legs over the last decade has been greater than at any other time in the history of prosthetics, and it's all courtesy military spending due to the large numbers of amputees coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of what I use today on all of my legs wouldn't even exist but for that.

Feets-I got 'em!

So the question was posed last week here about swim feet.

For those who are brand new here or just not terribly observant, I'm one of those folks who is missing a foot and part of a leg, and I make up for it with a batch of "store-bought" feet, each tailored to a special function.

So for you, my readers, and for anyone else who should have questions about prosthetics and their capabilities/limitations, here's the promised post about them, at least from my point of view.

Mere mortals only have one left foot. I, being enhanced, have three of them.

Most of the time, I just used this one.

It's a low-profile carbon-fiber blade ensconced on a foam foot-shaped shell that allows regular shoes to fit properly. This one is tuned and balanced for shock absorption and energy return (meaning there's a bit of spring in the step), and if I've got long pants on, you'll never notice anything different unless I'm sore or tired, in which case I will begin to develop a bit of a limp. But for a year, I worked in an office where I was surrounded by people who did not know that I had this. With this foot, I can walk for miles, sprint short distances, slow jog, or kick people should I choose to. This is the one that I use for hiking, biking, piloting and motorcycle riding. I've also been known to take it off to use it as a bat in impromptu baseball games, to win drinks in bar bets, and to scare small children who annoy me. It's pretty much suction-fit around a liner that I wear and it's held in place by the neoprene sleeve at the top It's not terribly secure, but it gives me in incredible range of motion such as I could not get with the traditional and more common pin-mounting systems where the leg locks onto a pin on the bottom of the liner.

Next, I have this running foot, which tends to be a bit more conspicuous.

Yeah, there's no hiding this one. But when I run with it, it sends a message: "Look what I can do, bitches!"
This one is suction fit too, and it uses the same liner as my walking foot above, so I don't have to switch liners when changing feet like I had to with my first-generation feet. (Both of these are second-generation, meaning that they are subsequent to my originals.) This one is much springier and gives pretty good energy return, enabling me to run and to an extent, jump with it.

Then there's the swim foot.

This one I use for swimming and scuba diving. It's handy for this as the ankle articulates with the punch of a button, allowing the foot to swing down and lock into a swimming position like so:

Fins fit on it great and I've used this one and it's predecessor on a few dive trips this far. This one uses a pin on a separate liner to lock in place a bit more securely as pressure and water will combine to break the seal on a suction-fit-only set-up. (Ask me how I know this...)

As is typical of bureaucracies, the insurance entity that pays for these critters refused to pony up for a swim foot, rejecting the request as swimming and scuba diving are not essential functions" and thus I was not eligible for such a foot. So my prosthetist, being nothing if not savvy, re-submitted the request, this time specifying that the foot was needed so that I could stand in a shower as my regular walking foot is not approved for such activity. THAT they approved, so I got a $16,000 "shower leg", complete with articulating ankle.

And yeah, these things now cost about $16,000 each. They're custom made just to fit me and have a life-expectancy of 3-5 years, at which time they need to be replaced.

Here's $48K, not including the cost of liners ($120.00 each, and I have over a dozen) and lots of special socks to help tighten the fit.

And here are two first-generation legs that currently reside in my basement, having been worn out.

They were a little cheaper a few years ago at only $15K each.

That running leg is the one that I used to run the Army Ten Miler back in 2008. My goal is to run it again one of these years, and ideally work up to a marathon. Sadly, I'm back working full time and work gets in the way of training. And honestly, I'm also not getting younger or lighter. But I'm still fighting that fight, not being ready to give up yet.

Sure, these legs can be a bit of a pain at times, and they don't always fit right or work without hurting, but when all is said and done, they really aren't very limiting at all if you really want to do something and are willing to do your part. And besides, they're lots of fun at airport metal detectors if you feel like making TSA work for it for a few minutes.
("I have no idea why that keeps beeping. I've taken all the metal out of my pockets...")

Hey, why have a plastic leg if you're not going to have fun with it, right?

And remember-just because something's part plastic, that doesn't mean that it's sub-par.

Steel and plastic limbs--not the end of the world by any means.

And anyone reading this is always free to drop me a comment asking questions. If you don't want the question or answer made public, include an e-mail address and I won't post either of them.

When giants walked the land...

Seems those folks on Britain just found a few seconds of footage of the legendary World War Two pilot Sir Douglas Bader walking on his two prosthetic legs.

The smile of a stern-faced hero: Rare footage of WW2 fighter ace Douglas Bader walking with false legs shown for first time

Lots of good background in the article about the guy who lost both legs but still came back to become one of Britain's highest-scoring fighter pilots (and one of Germany's most trouble-prone prisoners after he was shot down.)

His story, written by Paul Brickhill, is definitely inspirational. I know that it did wonders for me at a time when things were looking grim.


I knew that if he could get back to flying these with two 1940's-era metal legs:


Flying one of these with one modern one would be more than do-able.


And it was. But re-reading that book during rehab helped more than a little; it gave me a goal and the motivation to go after it. After reading his story, how could I not?

It's coming...I can feel it.

Just wait. Any day now, Obama and Congressional Dems will put down their "I hate the Constitution" coloring books and decide that, because of the Oscar Pistorius murder case, there needs to be a new law against amputees having guns.

Should they try it, I would like to be the first one to put a foot in their asses.

Running, Prosthetics, and the Olympics

A couple of weeks ago, reader Lenard wrote in and asked my thoughts on Oscar Pistorius, the South African Olympic runner who has two prosthetic legs.

Sadly, this came up as a global issue when a whiny-baby athlete named Michael Johnson whinged that the prosthetics might be giving Pistorius an "unfair advantage".

Readers here for any length of time know that I also run with a similar set-up, although I only have one "store-bought" leg.

Using this leg, or more correctly, it's predecessor, I've engaged in a fair bit of running over the past few years, to include running the Army Ten-Miler in Washington DC in an hour, forty-one minutes in 2008, a year after getting fitted for it.

I've set out to run it again since then, but unfortunately, something has usually stalled my efforts, usually fit problems with the leg as it got older. And after I was sidelined for a while for other leg surgery last year, it wouldn't fit at all afterwards and a new one had to be custom made, a process that took months and we're still working out fine-tuning and adjustment issues that are keeping me from doing much serious running with it.

As one who knows all about these devices in a way that Michael Johnson can and hopefully will never understand, I can tell you that, yes, when they are fitting and working perfectly, they give you some extra spring. Maybe it's as much or even more than you get from a natural leg and ankle, but it's often offset by fit problems. If it's even a millimeter or two out of whack height-wise, it's not going to be as efficient and damage in the form of bruising or abrasions to the leg stump may occur. Sometimes the pain is a warning for me to stop, but other times the damage will start in one of those areas where there aren't many functioning nerves left, and when that happens, by the time I notice it, enough trauma has occurred to inhibit even walking for a few days. Oh, and adding to the game, my leg changes shape while running as a result of fluid loss through dehydration. Yours does too, and so does Michael Johnson's, but when mine does, now the leg doesn't fit as tight. It begins to slip and move, and at best it's efficiency is diminished. At worst, it moves far enough out of place that damage starts to occur, but that's rare. It also slips when I perspire and the socket liner starts to fill up with sweat. Now add to that the fact that it doesn't corner like a normal foot, and that it can't compensate for holes, rises and other sudden changes in topography like a regular ankle does, and when all is said and done, I'm grateful for my running foot but I have to give the advantage to regular feet at the end of the day.

On a perfect day when everything is working just like it's supposed to on a track, perhaps Oscar Pistorius might gain a bit in terms of energy return and speed. But if he does--and that's a pretty big "if"--it's almost assuredly cancelled out by fit problems and fatigue. Remember, that leg is still 5lbs or so of dead weight, and the calf muscle is totally useless if there's even one there. I have one, but it's no longer attached to anything at the distal end so it's effectively worthless.

Given a choice, would Oscar Pistorius trade the nebulous "advantage" that he allegedly gets from those prostethics for real feet? Hell, I know that I would. And as one who can fully appreciate the extra hard work that Oscar had to do to learn to run and run efficiently with those legs, especially to the degree that he has, I like to tell Michael Johnson to go fuck a duck. And if Johnson still has a jealousy problem over these legs, he can always go to the surgeon's and get one or two for himself. Funny how I don't see him rushing out to do that, though. He apparently doesn't want to raise himself up that badly; he just wants to bring potential betters down instead. Jackass.

New and improved ass-kicker

It's finally here. my new foot.

This one is light years ahead of the old one technology-wise. It had a flexible heel as well as toe, and an shock absorber that also flexes laterally to a small degree, giving me a better angle of attack on uneven surfaces. It's got a new vacuum seal valve to ensure a tight fit, and it's slimmer and lighter than the old one. I can go upside someone's head with this one even better than I could with the old model, which is now being retained as a spare.And the fit's a lot better now, too. No more blistering or chafing. This one ROCKS.

Now I've got a week to test it to destruction and see if I can find any weak points in the new system. So what to try for a thoroughly proper test? I've got as few ideas, but my prosthetist probably isn't going to like them. Heh.

Training Day

It was 90 degrees in the shade today, and there was no shade at all on the range where I go to train.

I had the place to myself this morning, so that meant that I got to set up a real nice multi-position shooting course to run through. I put several 5-gallon pail targets downrange at various distances, from 10 meters to 90 meters (sadly, that's all the room there is here) and parked my truck perpendicular to the targets midway between a large rock on one side and an orange and white ex-construction barrel on the other side. A bit forward of this line--between the truck and the barrel--was a smaller dirt berm. Downrange of the barrel there was the remains of an old table that I put several empty drink cans on. They'd be my final targets. Then I set about to practice my cover and transition drills with the Uzi submachine gun, Remington 870 shotgun and H&K P7M13 pistol.

The drill ran as follows:

1. Starting from a seated position in the truck, exit the truck and engage two of the targets with the primary weapon (Uzi or shotgun).
2. Run to the rock. Taking cover behind the rock, engage two targets from there.
3. Run back to the truck. Kneel behind the tire and fire around the front bumper. Engage two targets.
4. Run to rear of truck and use it for cover while engaging two more target pails.
5. Run forward to the berm and go prone behind it. Roll out and engage any two visible targets left.
6. Get up, run back to the barrel, and drop the Uzi (it's on a sling) or set down the shotgun (it doesn't have a sling) and transition to the pistol. Using the barrel as cover, clear the table of the cans.
7. Reload as necessary during the run, but without stopping. If the primary weapon jams or goes completely empty before getting to the barrel, transition to the pistol and finish the course.

Sounds easy, right?

Hell...

Anyone can just stand and shoot static targets like drink cans, but when your heart rate is up and your chest is pounding, you're out of breath, and the sweat is just flowing down your face and into your eyes, hitting those same little cans can be a vexing exercise, indeed. Add in the heat and the rough terrain, and well...you've got reality staring back at you. And that's the idea; real-life gunfights don't take place on 15-meter indoor pistol ranges.

I ran this course eight times--three times with the Uzi, four times with the shotgun, and once with an M1 carbine. I stumbled once while running with the Uzi and fell on top of it, and I'm extremely grateful that Uziel Gal put a grip safety on that thing as the muzzle nailed me hard in my ribs when I hit the ground. (This is why we don't run with our fingers on the triggers, people.) But I got right back up again and finished the course.

With the Uzi and the carbine, there was just one mag change required midway through each run, but with the shotgun, I had to constantly strip rounds from the sidesaddle and stock tubes to top off the gun or feed through the ejection port as I ran. That's an essential fighting shotgun skill that few people practice adequately.

During the four shotgun runs, I fired 65 rounds of buckshot and slugs, and when I finished the last run, I actually burned my hand on the barrel, it was so hot. But those 870s, like the Uzis, just keep going.

Only twice out of the seven runs was I able to clean all of the cans off of the last stage with one shot per can. Every other times, I was shaking and muffed one or more. But that's why we train--to get faster, smoother and better.

When I finished, I went down to check out of the range. The desk staff was shocked to see that I was soaking wet and covered with sand. "What were you doing out there?" they asked.

My prosthetist asked the same question half an hour later when I showed up in his office for another "emergency" repair. Once again, I'd torn through the neoprene sleeve holding my leg in place by repeatedly kneeling and going prone on it. And once again, I was reminded that my leg wasn't designed for this sort of abuse. But until they come out with one that is, I guess I'll keep tearing this one up. Screw it--that's why I have insurance and plenty of spare sleeves and other parts for it at home. But for now, I guess that I probably should go out and try to find some knee pads that'll fit over it.

Oh well...other than a burned hand, a few cuts and scrapes, and some bruising in my ribs, I'm feeling great. Confidence is high.

So what'd you do today to make yourself a better you?

My lifesaving tools.

The guy in the mirror is an idiot

Sure enough.

Two evenings ago, I went out for a run. Not a long run--just a few miles--but it was so nice out, and things were slow enough at work that I was able to slip out for an hour or so...

It was hot and the humidity was pretty low. I knew it, but I didn't bring water with me. I know that I need to stay hydrated just for my leg if nothing else. But I ran without any because I didn't have anything to put water in.

Then my leg started hurting about a mile into the run. Not the usual mild and temporary pain that I get for the first little stretch before my leg settles into the prosthetic, but a deeper, sharper pain suggesting that things weren't fitting quite right. I should have quit running and called back to work for someone to come pick me up. But vanity...vanity is strong in this one. I will not quit, and I will not show weakness, especially in front of these co-workers who have only heard tales of the incident that cost me half a leg a few years back. I will finish this run despite the pain, and when they day is over, everything will magically be all right again.

Self-delusion is strong in this one, too.

I did finish the run even though every step brought me a new, sharp stabbing pain, and I finished it in pretty good time because by the last mile, I was mad at myself because I knew that I'd caused some damage, and because I was mad, I drove myself that much harder. And when I got back to my workplace and stopped running, it was just about all I could manage to do to even walk once I switched back to my regular walking leg. I knew for sure that I'd done some significant damage indeed. Idiot.

I tried to ignore it yesterday, but it got progressively worse the longer I was up on it walking around. By the end of the day, I was really hurting, and when I got home and took the leg off, I knew right away that I wouldn't be putting it back again this morning. I called work and let them know that I wouldn't be in today. So now I'm just sitting home with my leg off, talking to Lagniappe, playing on the interweb and reading my new book about Air Force legend Robin Olds while trying not to spill too much coffee out of my mug as I hop around the house on one foot.

A lost work day, just because I didn't listen to my body and stop a run when it was telling me to. Now I won't be running for a week or more, and the upcoming 5k that I was ready for? Scratched.
All because I wanted to tough it out in front of my peers instead of being smart and sensible and stopping when I knew that it wasn't going to work. I just had to show everyone that I can do anything, and that my missing leg never slows me down. I guess I showed 'em, now that I'm not there today.

Dumb...
Dumb...
Dumb...

OK, I've seen it.

Two years after losing my foot in the line of duty, I can't help but tire of people asking me if I've seen the episode of COPS where the amputee police officer chases down a crackhead and catches him. (For the record, I never saw it.) So I looked on-line today and found it.

And here it is.



Not bad. Personally I think I could have done a little better, especially with the take-down and arrest, but then again it's easy to be the Monday morning quarterback. The cameraman sounds like he's about ready to keel over though. THAT was sad.

I'm glad to see that officer back on the job. It must be nice to have a department willing to actually stand behind you when you get hurt and give you a chance to get back in the saddle again.

I wouldn't know.

And while looking for that story, I ran across this news piece about another amputee cop, Bill Lyle of Alexandria, VA Police Department.

Alexandria, VA, Police Officer Bill Lyle had his right leg amputated above the knee in September 2000 after suffering an injury chasing a drug suspect.

Seven months later, he returned to active duty on the force. As of JET press time, he'll try to regain his spot on the city's SWAT team by completing a grueling obstacle course that requires, among other things, carrying a battering ram up a flight of steps and dragging a 180-pound dummy 20 feet.

He already has outperformed some of the SWAT team members on the physical fitness portion of the test.

After he lost the leg, doctors told Lyle his career as a police officer was over. But Lyle says he never doubted that he'd return to the force.

"That doctor's wrong," Lyle told them. "He just doesn't know the God that I serve. I'm going to be a police officer again."

On Sept. 20, 2000, Lyle was patrolling a public housing project in the city just before midnight when he came upon a group using drugs and drinking. He ended up in a foot chase with one of the suspects. He did not see a thick chain stretched out in front of him, about three feet high. "When I hit the chain, I thought I hit a brick wall," Lyle said.

He landed on his back. As he lay on the ground, he saw a shadow above his face and quickly drew his gun, thinking the suspect had doubled back. Then he came to the sickening realization that the shadow he saw was not the suspect.

"It was my foot," Lyle said. "My foot was angling back toward me."

Lyle amazed his therapists during rehabilitation.

"This guy was in such good shape," said therapist Charlene Kelly. "No way could we do a traditional program. That had to be thrown out the window."

Lyle, a former Marine, would be drenched in sweat. His stub would be worn raw. They kept pushing. Even Kelly was exhausted. "I just had to keep coming up with things that were challenging," Kelly said according to the Washington Post.

Eventually she recommended that Lyle return to active duty with no restrictions. Lyle resumed work in May, and quickly earned the confidence of fellow officers.

His mother, Mary J. Davis, 60, isn't surprised by her son's positive attitude. "Everything happens for a reason. "I knew he was in God's hands ... I knew God wouldn't let him have no more than he could bear."

I had the pleasure to meet Bill Lyle not long after my injury. He came to visit me in the hospital and to say that he was an inspiration is an understatement. He lost his leg above the knee and he not only made it back, but regained his position on the department SWAT team and earned a promotion to sergeant too before he retired. He's now a minister in Washington, DC. When I met him, he was the first amputee that I saw and I was amazed at how well he walked and how little trouble he had with his prosthetic. His visit and his stories of what he went through did me a world of good. And because of the impact that he had on me, I've placed myself on call to go visit new amputees whenever my old surgeon thinks that it might help them. even though it's a long way, I've gone down a few times and every time I could tell that it helped, especially in the cases with kids. I couldn't imagine facing this as a kid so if I can help one cope, I'm there, just like Bill Lyle and a few others were there for me. Life's all about giving and taking. Sometimes you take, and sometimes, especially when you've been blessed, you get to give.

At least I'm not bitter after getting hosed by my old department.

Well maybe I am a little bit. But not enough to keep me from getting out and living life.

And flying, and shooting, and running 5K's.

And in the good news department...

This past Tuesday, an examiner from the Federal Aviation Administration came out to meet me at the local airport, and after a brief but intense fight test, I have been awarded a Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA), basically a waiver that allows me to fly with a prosthetic foot. In effect I have been declared safe to operate a small aircraft once again, joining the ranks of prosthetically-enhanced pilots. (Yes, there are more amputee and paraplegic pilots out there than you'd think.) I've still got to get my bi-annual and rental check rides out of the way, but this was by far the biggest hurdle, and my pilot's license now reflects my ability to safely operate all aspects of a single-engined land aircraft to FAA standards, and what's even better, I did it without any special equipment or required modifications to the aircraft, so there are no disability-related restrictions on my license.

Yay, me! One more step on the road back. Flying pictures to resume soon enough.

Got hosed on the Law and Order gig.

Sadly this did not work out as planned.

Monday came and went without a call, so obviously they'd chosen other people for the spot. Ah well...

However last night at about 6:30PM, they call me up and tell me that one of the people that they had chosen in lieu of me had canceled and could I possibly be in New York City by 8AM this morning?

Now my plan had been to drive up early Tuesday and enjoy an afternoon and evening in NYC before doing this on Wednesday. That mini-outing would have justified the 600 mile round-trip drive. But the idea of starting out at dusk and driving through the night just to be there first thing in the morning wasn't nearly as attractive, especially with weather forecasts calling for heavy rain in NYC all day today and tonight. effectively denying me any ability to enjoy the city after filming, so reluctantly I had to decline. Pity, because Tuesday night was beautiful with temps in the high 70's and it would have been a great evening to wander around Manhattan. As one of the relatively few people allowed to carry a handgun in New York City, I actually enjoy strolling in Central Park after dark. And I've yet to tire of the Broadway lights. It's nice to be able to sit on a bench and read a book by the light of all the advertising signs. Plus Lagniappe's never been there and I think that he'd have liked it.

Now if they'd called me when they'd initially said that they would and given me enough time, this could have been lots of fun. And of course I'm sure that once they saw me, there would have been a new Law and Order spin-off of the show in the works undoubtedly featuring me as the no-nonsense, dashingly-handsome BKA cop who solves crimes while saying things like: "Time to put on my ass-kicking foot."

So it goes...

This is it...my big chance

I was perusing a discussion forum for amputees the other day when I saw a posting announcing that the people who film the TV show Law and Order are looking for some amputee extras to star in an upcoming episode. Well darn it, I qualify for that. So I e-mailed the people and they e-mailed and called back asking for pictures of me. I sent them several--most with Lagniappe in them because every time I set my camera up on timer and took up my pose, he wandered into the frame just before the camera went off.

Well they just called me back a few hours ago and told me that they'd gotten the pictures and that they'd let me know by Monday if I was going to get the part. If selected, I have to be in NYC on Wednesday. But that's cool--I haven't been to New York in a while and it could be a fun trip.

it could also be my big break. You see, I'm sure that once I'm on the set, I'll get discovered and wind up with a contract to go to Hollywood, where I'll star as leading man in many action movies and wind up with numerous stunningly attractive leading ladies and starlets pursuing me. Heck, John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart are gone, Clint Eastwood's gotten soft, and Chuck Norris is getting old. It's time for a new action hero...one who stands tall, talks straight, and punches or shoots dozens of bad guys, all while using a prosthetic leg. I will get a really cool new signature line, like: "Don't make me take this foot off and go upside your head with it."

Yeah, if all goes well, this time next year I'll be living in Malibu with Hollywood's hottest actresses mud-wrestling in my front yard for the privilege of starring in my next picture and cooking my breakfast every morning. Someone please tell Traci Bingham and Halle Berry that I like my eggs over easy and my bacon crispy...

What a week...Drinking, shooting, WALKING!!!

All right. Back again. I apologize for the lack of updates this week to both this site and The Shekel, but Aaron, creator of The Shekel was here visiting all week and neither of us managed any site updates. But I dropped him at Dulles International Airport a while ago and as I write this, he's on his way to Toronto where he's undoubtedly going to catch hell for missing the flight that he was supposed to have been on. That's my fault though. If I hadn't insisted that we bring those two strippers back here last night we'd have been able to get up on time to allow him to catch that flight.

Uh, if Aaron's lovely and understanding wife Natasha should actually read this, I'm kidding about those strippers. We did not bring them home. Uh... I mean we didn't even go see any, Tash. Honest. Two nice guys like us would never even consider such a thing.

What we did do, however, was knock out a lot of pre-winter projects that I had lined up here. We stripped and painted my last deck, did some heavy grocery shopping, and got lots of other things done that I quite frankly needed a bit of help with.

We also went to the gym every day to work out, (Hooray! I finally found someone younger than 60 who is in worse shape than me!) we shot a couple of times, we visited a few Civil War battlefields, and we drank lots of beer and watched a lot of violent movies, critiquing the weapons-handing, military tactics and any legal arguing in all of them. In other words, we just did the guy thing for a week. (Except for the strippers, Tash. Honest...)


But the best news of the week was that I actually started WALKING again without crutches! Serious Yay for me!!

Let's deal with the walking first.

I got the new foot last Friday, but it was very rigid and heavy, and my leg wasn't terribly keen on my putting my full weight on it. I had to continue to use my crutches with it, but I was still grateful because I could move a lot faster and easier than without it and it was another step on the long road back.

Saturday was no big deal--I used it to get to the airport to pick Aaron up. Sunday we went out for breakfast, and as I stood up to pay, I was struck with a massive lower leg cramp in that leg. (Just imagine the worst Charley Horse that you've ever had...) And since I could not just stretch the foot and make it go away, I had to just grit my teeth and ride it out. Two more hit me at church that morning, but I still insisted on going to the gym. There, as I worked through my exercise regimen, they started up again and grew so severe that I had to quit and remove the foot immediately. And Monday I couldn't even get the foot back on due to the swelling. But my prostetist suggested that this might be caused by muscle strain due to the foot pulling at the leg muscles while I'm seated and he recommended that when I sit down, I should try releasing the foot's locking mechanism to take the tension off. I began following that advise Tuesday and I haven't had any further problems with it.

But Wednesday... That was Walking Day! Neither my prostetist nor I expected me to be walking on this temporary foot, but as Aaron and I were leaving the gym Wednesday, I decided to show off for the physical therapists there by holding my crutches off the ground and taking a couple of unsupported steps. As I lurched forward and took a step, something just clicked and two steps became three, and it didn't hurt. Three steps became four, then five, and not wanting to stop, I kept moving forward in a straight line right on out the door for another thirty feet until I reached my Jeep, where the leg finally gave out. Damn! First time on two feet since August 3rd. No one was more surprised than me. Thanks, God!

Thursday was even better. We went to Gettysburg National Military Park and I tried some more walking. I hobbled around a bit, with a gait resembling that of Frankenstein's monster, but it was good. And then I saw the tower.



It was an observation tower intended to let people see the panorama of the battlefield, and I just knew that I had to climb it. I looked at that tower and knew that it was going to be a tough one, but I couldn't just drive on and not do it. Leaving my crutches behind, I headed for the stairs with aron close behind, telling me not to overdo it. Yeah, like I've ever listened before when anyone's given me that good advice...
Using both rails, I took it one step at a time. Up, up, up we went. Slowly and with great exertion as the new foot not only doesn't have any muscles to help, but it's heavy and has to be lifted by the other leg. That tower has 121 steps and I'm proud to report that I made it all the way to the top, dripping with sweat and puffing like a vintage steam train. And Damn, it felt good!

I did one more strenuous walk a bit later, walking up the fairly steep and uneven trail that led to the Little Round Top position. This gave me a chance to try walking on soft earth, grass and rocks as well as asphalt. I also learned that it's easier with this foot to walk UP hills than to walk down them. And I was pretty much spent after those two short walks. It's definitely going to be a long walk back to where I was before, but I overcame these challenges and there's nothing going to stop me from going the rest of the way.

Again, Thank you, God. With Your help, I'm going to make it back.