Back in Circulation

Had my 8th annual check-up on my leg grafts last week.
The absolute good news, is that my circulation is the same at my ankles, as it is on my arm. They do blood pressure tests at both sites and see how they measure up. What this means practically, is that any surgery I may need as a result of diabetes and/ or infections, can be done mostly safely. As in, healing can happen because I can get oxygen down to my feet and back.

I know, most people take that for granted, but middle aged men really shouldn't. There seems to be psa's on tv now, for PAD. Peripheral Artery Disease. If you get pain and cramps after walking a short distance, but the pain subsides upon resting; you have Intermittent Claudication. Get it checked out!

And stop smoking!!!!!!! There is a genetic component to this disease; smoking cigarettes is like holding a gun to your head.

So, at the moment, all is pretty good in the health department.

Besides the pneumonia I had last month and the two unhealed wounds I have on my feet.

But, i'm certainly mentally happier!

A Quick Winter Poem

" After that, what else?"

A small boat, with a cover for shade.

A small but powerful steady engine.

Have a copy of "A week on the Concord & the Merrimack" by Henry David.

A slow burn up from the Pawtucket Falls.

Slowly glassing the Shore.

Looking through the undercut roots.

Peering back through the centuries.

Looking for the clues, tell tale glints,

Campfire spirits materializing in the haze.

Ears alert for the baying of the camp dogs,

alerting my distant cousins that another one,

more white than red has come calling.

Eager to find the flints, the cuttings the pottery.

Mic Macs - masters of the small boats and the

little places where the Salmon Go.

Wanna Buy A guitar?

Hey, it's happening!
I'm losing feelings in places that i didn't even know I had!
If you are familiar with the guitars I own and/or are interested in purchasing them. ( Or, just one! ) don't be afraid to inquire.

I'm going to keep a Les Paul, a Strat or two, a Tele my 135, and not much else. I'm going to make the switch to slide. I already have an Asher, a Chandler and an old Fender clone. But i'd consider trades.

More to follow. ( All my photos are on another computer.)

I Have Been Unable To Post!

Because I lost my way!
My Dashboard disappeared from me!
A woman whom I have never met, showed up
when I googled Reverend Lowell!
I am not dead; yet.
I will resume posting later.

October Red

... or lack of it.
As of today, the foot doc has cut me loose. My amputation is healed.
No more open areas. No more infections. No more PICT lines. No more vancomycin twice a day.
Of course, I have no idea what will come tomorrow. I'll just have to trust that the world will be awaiting me when I nudge the eyelids open.

The home rebuilding is done. I need to put up an "After" little film. I need to edit the last one, as it is massively unwatchable.

Not to be seen as searching for pity; but  the first thought I had upon seeing the room : " What a great room to die in!"

I have a Kindle (sorry Beckett). As I was culling books for a scaled down library, I discovered I had six copies of Moby Dick. I still have 1965 copies of "Peanuts".  I have every "Doonebury" book. I have amazingly huge color cartoon books of "Calvin and Hobbes". Pynchon and Helprin, of course.

I'll go out tomorrow and pick up a repaired guitar amp. A 1962 Epiphone Devon Tremelo.  I'll see if John Harrington is there and drop hints about jamming with him up at the studio. Look up Little John and the Sherwoods; to get a sense, a touch, a taste of what 1960's Lowell was like.\

I'll , at last, see if Tom and Ness and another Derry guy want to get together and play some CSN&Y.

I'll hire some hot shot secretary/typist to help me assemble all my poems and get them out to UMass Lowell and be done with it.

I'm still working on "Radio Plays - Drama, Doom and Comedic Ditties (Rhymes with Kitties). Except I'll learn how to blogcast? them.

In other words, I'm Back!

Perhaps I spoke too soon.

Indeed.

After behaving quite nicely in the Healing Department, my left foot began hurting the other night. I got my usual 100.4 temp and severe pains in my joints. Although there was no redness in the leg; it was clear that the leg was not right and would be shortly going bad.

So we didn't fool around.  On wednesday, we drove out to see the Doctors' Assistant and she advised going right into the hospital. Which we did. Or, I did. We saw the Emergency room staff and they presented me with the Steak Knife premium from the Gift Catalogue. We had vancomycin flooding into my arm about 16 hours from the first twinge of betrayal.  Spent two nights there thinking we had reacted quickly (we had) enough to stop this from advancing. We are now not so sure. One of my Doctors thinks it's not too bad and the anti-biotics should kill it. One another, a friend of Maureens spoke to her and suggested more dire endings. He thought I should accept my fate and have a Below Knee amputation.

This week I will see a Foot guy and an ankle guy. They will order some pictures and read the results of my blood tests. Get the lab reports on what' exactly is brewing down there. They will make their recommendations and on thursday I will meet with my Primary Care guy and we will make a decision. I'll probably write about it here; rather than the FDP, because I don't want it to be a distraction. I think i'll put a notice in Moe's, sending the interested here.

Also; i'll be putting the 'Bird up for sale at the FDP.