Grace and glory

There's nothing better than a Swensen's burger, fried mushrooms and a Coke after wandering trails in northeastern Ohio while a light dusting of snow is falling. It's up to 41 degrees this afternoon, and it was much colder this morning when I was making my way up slippery rock and leaf-covered dirt trails to Top-O-Ledges at the HInckley Reservation. This is a popular site for rapelling, and there's a giant hill where people toboggan called the Coasting Hill. We are in the highlands of the midwest, and I am a happy camper. This is the first time in a year, literally, that I have been in a forest. The place is called a reservation because it's a wildlife reserve. I need another week off, people. Photos are forthcoming.

I'm in Cleveland, Ohio, where it may snow tonight. We can only hope. It's cold. Please see the new photo gallery. Drive was hard, and I'm in pain, but at least I'm not in pain in Jackson.

It's been a long time since I've posted anything here, because I've been recovering all this time from a neck and shoulder injury that has been driving me cra-zy.

Typing right now is hurting, and I've been avoiding it as much as possible over the past 10 months. I am able to do it now for long periods of time, but it affects how well I function every day at work and especially how well I function after I get home, so I'm trying to avoid typing on my days off.

I'm a lot more cheerful than I was even a few months ago, because I finally got a diagnosis and physical therapy that works. But recovery is slow-going and will be for the next six to eight months as I continue to have prolotherapy every six weeks or so and to exercise my rotator cuff.

I've fought the heck out of feeling sorry for myself and continue to do so. Want to run but can't swing or pump my arm and can't jar my neck. So that's out of the question. Want to get back into the active life I love. Ain't happening right now.

But I'm about halfway there and am playing congas again once a week, mostly out of necessity because our drummer is in college. I just have to keep in mind that I am regaining strength every day, and although I'm not where I want to be I'm better off than I was yesterday.

When I'm fully recovered I'll start adding to the page again.

Meanwhile, I have to type for my staff blog at jacksonsun.com, so that's the best place to keep up with me right now.

I mentioned recently that I would take a few photos when I finally dug my camera out of the trunk of my car. A friend did so today, so here are a few pix.

It hurts almost too much to check email today but I'm going to update for a sec. I used to be big on journaling every day, and then I stopped for a year or so when I got depressed over stuff going on in my life. Then I started emailing ppl again a lot and found that I was still journaling, only it was in the form of sharing my life and thoughts withothers. Then when I started writing the faith blog I realized that some of that old journaling instinct is coming out there too, and maybe even here. Still I have a million things to say and my body just won't cooperate. My hand strength is terrible and it hurts way up there in my shoulder just to tap a key with a finger.
Maybe I'll take some self portraits this week and some pics of my surroundings to post here so you can see where I'm spending all these hours sitting bored senseless. Of course, that means I have to find the camera. It's buried in the trunk of my car. And I'm not going to dig it out if it's too hard to find. House M.D. episodes help immensely with boredom though. Best show on television.
And I have a whole bunch of time alone to pray.