Testing "walking" in NYC

Well, it wasn't all walking - we took the train there and back and rode the E-line up and down Manhattan.  But there was still lots of "pounding the pavement" as we navigated streets and avenues to our selected destinations -

First to the Frick Museum to see masterpieces of Dutch painting from the Mauritshuis. Lots of people there -- and only two people taking admissions fees, so long lines to get in (see Facebook).  But the paintings and the rest of the museum were well worth seeing.

Dinner, then up to the Ambassador's theater to see Chicago -- a full house by showtime even though it's been running for 17 years.  A great song-and-dance show; glad we've finally seen it.

Back to our hotel close to Penn station, and the view from the roof before turning in.

Wednesday, the MoMA was first on the agenda.  The Magritte exhibition (no photography allowed) was the draw for us - and for lots of others, but here there were lots of people taking admissions.  We toured several other galleries.

As is our custom, we had lunch here before heading downtown to the 911 Memorial.

Too bad the Museum (back right in photo below) is open yet - I wonder when - if ever - it will be.

By now my right ankle was saying "enough", so we took a mid-afternoon train back to New London.
A good couple of days, and proof that I'm mobile again!

Testing my ambulatory ability

Off to NYC for a couple of days.  Pictures on our return.

14 week milestone

No more physical therapy! 

That's not quite true -- I have a long list of exercises to do in my home exercise program. So all that's really changed in the location.  And the motivating force of the therapist's presence.

You probably can't understand the exercises below, but I hope you're impressed by all I have to do, though not every one every day.

EXERCISE	REPETITIONS
Foot pumps and circles with 4lb weight	30X each
Foot alphabet with 4 lb weight	Caps, small letters
Towel pull foot towards me	30 count
Toe curls	10x
Stair heel stretch, knees straight & bent	30 count each
Balance "5x5"; aim for eyes closed	5 count each diecrion
Heel lifts, 2 feet, each foot, no hold	2x20; Lx30; Rx10
Theraband foot pumps with resistance; 4 directions	30x each direction
Theraband side-step, above & below knee	50 steps each direction
Sit to stand, bring 5 lb weight to forehead	30x
Lie on floor, back to wall, clam shell, each leg	30x each
One knee on cushion, hold other in front, both legs	10 count x5
"Curtsey Exercise"	Front & Back, each legx30

Here they are

If you haven't already seen them on Facebook!

Someone recommended Keen shoes, and Google said that Sears stocked them, so I went to the Sears in the Crystal Mall.  No Keens, but these at $59.  I think I got a bargain!  They will certainly last me till I can wear leather shoes again.

Thinking about ...

SHOES!

I can't wear these scruffy white sneakers for ever, and my physical therapist said that now I was walking normally I could wear some different shoes.

First I tried on all the possible pairs that I already own

Some were OK, others uncomfortable, and two pairs were impossible (guess which!)

Then I went to the Bass shoe store at the Mystic Outlets.

Nothing suitable there, even though there were some great bargains.  I didn't even try any on.
I need to go to the ...(whisper) ... mall.

Friday activities

Worked on my new exercise routine for when I no longer go to PT. This one requires Jack's cooperation

Took a "2x2 blocks" walk: North two blocks up Walcott Avenue, west two blocks on James Street, south two blocks on Langworthy Avenue, and east two blocks on Charles Street. Along the way saw what must be the last remaining patch of bullrushes on the Point - most of the wetlands has dried out so much that only phragmites grow there.

Went to see Gravity -- now that's a place where an Achilles injury wouldn't matter!

Shhh!

If I'm a good girl (i.e., do my exercises) and continue to walk properly (i.e., without paying attention to my gait), I may be discharged from the torture chamber next week.

Or maybe not.

Living up to my surgeon's expectations

It's three months since my Achilles repair surgery on July 22: the time when Dr Reach said, "It's my expectation that three months from now you will be glad you had the surgery."

Two weeks ago when I  saw him for a checkup, I said it wasn't yet so, but today it is.  I move around normally in my daily activities and don't favor my bad leg.  I went for a walk on the beach and it was just like walking on the road -- quite a difference from a month or so ago when I had to take each small step very carefully. I know I can walk a mile or more without feeling tired and go up and down stairs "foot over foot" even when carrying awkward packages.  I am glad I had it done.

Of course there are things I can't do, such as hop, skip and jump, run round the block, or do the polka.  But I have hopes that one day I will get up and find that I can.

I can't get overconfident - I still have physical torture three times a week and a set of exercises that I do at home three times a day.  I still like to use my disabled sticker for parking - but morally I should stop using it .... soon. I have yet to try on a proper pair of shoes following my disaster last week, and find it easier to put trousers on when sitting down.

So, bottom line, there's still more progress to come, but maybe my blog posts will less about my leg and more about other things of interest.

Time to grow up ...

and leave the nest ...
So this morning I put the window seat back together again.

It's still a good spot for reading and icing my ankle when needed.

Then this afternoon I went to PT - a "good" torture session.  maybe I was a little premature in giving up my nest!

For the masochists among my followers

Here's this week's photo of my scar

October 20

Followed by progress week by week.

October 13

October 6

September 29

September 23

September 15

September 7

August 24 

August 8

I need to pay more attention to proper lighting and the same view of my leg -- usually I'm twisted around to capture the picture so my foot looks crooked. I'm also surprised by how little progress there appears to be week over week during the past month, while when I look at the scar I think it's much better!  Wishful thinking, perhaps.

Westwood Ho!

My walkabout today took me to the west-most end of the Point: Trestle Beach.

I didn't walk along the beach to the trestle, but I did admire the carcasses of sea creatures

And looked back towards the south east and the 'white mansion".

Bonus!  A train went by as I returned along Lindberg Avenue.

This was definitely my longest walk yet, though I don't know how far it was.  I'll have to drive the same route.

What's new?

From PT:
According to measurements Tracy took on Wednesday and compared with those taken during my first visit, "Everything (i.e., range of motion in the ankle) has improved, except bending your foot back."  So, more work is needed there.  ... And I was hoping for some quantitative data!

BUT, brand new skill today, I can do a right foot "toe raise", lifting my heel about half an inch - still holding on, but not exclusively by pushing myself up.  Let me explain my excitement: Doing proper right foot  toe raises is my personal sign of recovery.

From my walk around the short block:
A new drain in front of the Kuhn driveway (the town put this in yesterday).

The Doodle dog is still looking for a playmate

Many of the colorful leaves on the tree along Walcott Avenue are now on the ground.

What an exciting post!  I must get a life!

Try again

Time to wear "real clothes " again - this time for the Hartford Stage Company's performance of Macbeth. But I've learnt my lesson; so dress pants, scruffy white sneakers!

Yes, I could buy some black sneakers - but my physical therapist says not to buy any new shoes until after the swelling has gone down. And I listen to her ;-)

BTW, I saw two other women wearing white sneakers under nice pants. I wonder what was their excuse.

And, the play was FANTASTIC!

Not such an interesting walk

I went in the other direction - up Walcott avenue.  The fire hydrant at the north east corner of our property isn't nearly as friendly as the leprechaun.

Numbers 66, 62 and 60 Walcott are now the Stork residences - or at least two of them will be rental properties when renovations are complete. Work complete on 60, continues on 62, and hasn't started on 66. It's hard to get all three houses in the same photo.

I "cheated" by turning on the "vivid color" mode to take this photo - but the tree is spectacular even with natural eye-color.

Round the corner onto Hopkins, wondering when the Klotz house on the north-east corner will finally sell.

And a feeling of nostalgia when looking at the late Mr. Ellis's former vegetable garden.  It was convenient to be able to go to buy vegetables from him two or three times a week.

Turn left onto Ashworth Street: nothing of interest there.  An left again onto Charles Street.  On my right, the Khuen craft (Shaun's, dory, Nancy's kayak, and  Jason's Whaler) are put away for the winter.

While to my left, the Woodilla boat didn't even see the water this summer.

Back up the deck stairs.  No, that's not the trail of a "naughty bird" but Jack patching the deck paint.

I didn't go as far as yesterday and my leg wasn't as tired.  Maybe I should go down Lindburg Avenue next time - to the most westerly point of the Point.

A longer walkabout

Yesterday I was instructed by my physical therapist to "go for longer walks." So today, on a beautiful autumn afternoon, I set off with my camera to take note of whatever there was to see ... First the stump of the pussy willow tree on the eastern edge of the phragmities; the tree died during Irene (2011) and was taken down last winter.

The area will be re-landscaped come November, but at all costs the survey marker at the base of the stump must be preserved.

I admired - yet again - the new drain at the corner of Charles and Ashworth (also the corner of our property). The tide was out so you can see the scope of the excavation.

I stopped to say "Hello" to the Doddle dog who lives in the crosswise house on the other corner of Ashworth and Charles. He didn't tell me his name.

I waved to the leprechaun fire hydrant just round the corner on Langworthy Avenue

and headed down Hopkins Street to Boulder Avenue.  Surprise!  The boulders haven't been tipped over yet - quite a relief because legend has it that if this happens Lord's Point will cease to exist.

Some dinghies are still tied up on Boulder Dock

But the hips are going to seed on the beach rose bushes at the house on the seaward corner of Skipper Street and Hill Avenue.

A short walk along Langworthy Avenue  and back on Charles Street, where I could admire the re-seeded grass in front of our house.

and retire to my nest to ice my ankle!

I'll go in a different direction tomorrow.

Finally afloat!

I've been waiting a long time for this evening -- a sail on the Agria, a commercial schooner out of Mystic. It was a beautiful evening with a light breeze.

Under the Mystic Drawbridge

Up with the sails

Enjoying the sunset

And back to the dock in the dark

I didn't even remember that I had a bad leg!