So Far, So Good

Well, that wasn't so bad. I mean, what do I know... I was sleeping the whole time. But so far, so good.

I had my ACL replacement surgery this morning. And the hardest part was being unable to eat or drink anything prior to surgery. No water -- and I was really thirsty. No coffee -- and, well, I'm me. Have you met me?

I'm what the nurses called "an O-R virgin." Somehow, I've managed to avoid any broken bones, severe sprains or anything else that would require me to be admitted to a hospital. So this was my first time getting general anesthesia. The pre-op nurses were great -- making sure I knew what was happening, answering my questions and ensuring the surgeon would be cutting into the right correct knee. My post-op nurse was wonderful too. I remember talking to the nurses, meeting with the surgeon and walking into the operating room, noticing how bright it was and... yeah, that's about it.

So what now? I'm not exactly comfortable, but in any pain. I'm sure the femoral nerve block which hasn't worn off -- basically feels like Novocaine for the leg -- is largely responsible for that. And the pain meds, which EVERYONE has told me to be sure I take. I'm not a big fan of taking pain meds, but I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Stay ahead of it!" in the last few days. So, I will. I'm also hooked up to my constant companion, my new best friend -- this machine which pumps cold water and compression into pads wrapped around my knee, under the full leg immobilizer. 
           
And guys, let me just say my wife is awesome. Today hasn't just been surgery day -- it's also our 14th wedding anniversary. It's "Anniversasurgery" day. She's spent the day moving furniture around to set up the "Recovery Zone" -- I've got the ice machine, smart phones, a laptop, Playstation, books, magazines and TVs all within arms reach. There's even a window! I can't possibly get bored, can I? Stay tuned...

Today's Title: Song from a 1986 movie soundtrack that feels like it's from a 1986 movie soundtrack.

Return of the Mack (Or, at least of me... to blogging)

So, it's been awhile since I've posted anything here. Like, more than a year and a half. Don't judge me, I've been busy. Or lazy. No, I'm sticking with busy. But I need to start writing again about, um, stuff. (That's the technical term for "whatever I want to write about, whenever the mood strikes.")

For the next few weeks, I'm probably going to spend more than a few posts writing about my recovery from ACL reconstruction surgery. Surgery is tomorrow (9/30). And I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little uneasy about it. As far as I'm concerned, power tools should be purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot and be used to build things, not to drill holes in my limbs. My doctor is great and has certainly prepared me for it. But I know the recovery isn't going to be easy and definitely isn't going to be quick. I'm going to miss three weeks of work -- and spend a lot of that time on my back with my leg elevated and iced. While I'm looking forward sleeping later than usual, I'm not the most patient person and I'm usually on the go. So, what I'm saying is... this should be frustratingly fun.

Should I blame the Mets hat?

It's been a few months since the actual injury. I hurt myself in early July playing in a rec league softball game. I probably should lie and say I was scoring the game-winning run from second on a ground out, or making a game-saving diving catch. But the truth is I planted my cleat and turned my body while playing the outfield. The cleat pointed left, my knee twisted right and I felt a pop. I fell, the knee swelled and the rest is history. As my doctor says, if it weren't for old guys like me (I'm not THAT old) playing kids' games... he wouldn't have nearly as much to do.

To be honest, I've gotten used to the injury. There's still some swelling in my knee, but I can move around pretty well now. I still wear my hinged knee brace almost all the time. I don't want to take one funny step and make things worse. I can't run -- maybe I could, I haven't tried (which I'm sure my doctor appreciates) -- but I have been able to swim. So I've tried to stay as active as possible. I've been swimming, coaching my son's soccer team, etc. 

If NFL stars like Jamal Charles, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski can do it... if NBA players like Derek Rose, Al Harrington and Baron Davis can do it, I know I'll be able to come back from this injury -- run road races again, play softball, stop limping. What? They're professional athletes and they're younger... well, sure... but... 


Today's Title: A one-hit wonder that 18 YEARS OLD!!!

When You're Smiling

You may have heard, we lost a friend today. Dr. Mel Goldstein passed away this morning after a long battle with cancer. I just wanted to share a few thoughts about the man I knew first as a weatherman I watched on television, then as a colleague and ultimately as a friend. I'm honored to have worked with him and appreciate the support he gave me over the years.

People loved watching Dr. Mel on television in Connecticut -- his passion for the weather was contagious. The more active the weather, the more excited Mel got. Sure, we were going to get a blizzard -- but after hearing Mel deliver the forecast with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store, you couldn't help but kind of look forward to the storm! When it came to the weather, Dr. Mel was a teacher. He didn't want us to know WHAT was coming (rain, snow or sun), he wanted us to understand and appreciate WHY it was coming.

In the last decade-plus of his life, Dr. Mel was a fighter. And an inspiration. He got his cancer diagnosis and, if I'm not mistaken, was told he could expect to live 33 months. That prediction -- unlike most of Dr. Mel's weather forecasts -- was way off. Mel fought that cancer like a trooper. He searched out new treatments. And he was there for countless people dealing with cancer diagnosis in their families. "Have them call me," he'd tell anyone who shared a story of someone dealing with the disease.

And through it all, he kept working. And to those of us who worked alongside him, that was pretty inspiring. Especially working the early morning shift, it's easy to complain about being tired. Believe me, I know. Then I'd look at Dr. Mel. There he was -- talking about his latest treatment, about how he didn't get much sleep last night (or for the last week!), and how about much pain he was in. But then he'd get in front of that weather map... the red light would go on... and Dr. Mel's smile would be as bright as ever. Dr. Mel was giving the forecast, doing what he loved. And we were all watching and listening.

Today's Title: The song Mel would walk into the studio singing, more days than not

The Tebow Show (The NFL on CBS)

If you were monitoring twitter last night at about 8:05 or so, your timeline probably blew up with mentions of the Denver Bronco QB Tim Tebow. He was behind another Mile High Miracle. The final playoff game of Wild Card Weekend ended in remarkable fashion -- with an 80-yard TD pass from Tebow to one of his receivers (who cares who it was, really?) on the first play of Overtime. Broncos win! The Legend of Tebow continues.

But somewhere within the non-stop stream filled with "Wow" and #TebowTime was this from a NY sportswriter: "What we saw 2night is yet another reason why sports is greatest theater there is and the games always mean more than the bs."

That's the one that stood out to me. It's so true. Sports is theater. Sports is unpredictable. Sports is real-life drama.

I had no real rooting interest in the Steelers-Broncos game. Sure, I've got family roots from Pittsburgh, and I once was a Steelers fan back in the Bradshaw, Harris, Swann and Stallworth days. But now my heart bleeds Giants blue, so yesterday I was pretty happy. I was watching Sunday's late game because it was football and it was on true theater. Real "reality television." But unlike Jersey Shore, you can't script this.

I think the Tebow storyline has been fun to watch. Some question his traditional QB skills.. some support him no matter what.. while the guy says all the right things. And he wins. He's won at every level. And yesterday, he won again (throwing for 316 yards in the process) in a way that was fun to watch... but you could never script.


Today's Title: Tebow vs. Brady next week -> CBS wins!

Thankful Thursday: Black Coffee in Bed

I'm going to try something new on Thursdays here -- I'm going to write about something for which I'm thankful. I'm not going to call it a New Year's resolution, just a regular effort to take some time to focus on the positives -- on some of my favorite people, places and things.

Today: The first cup of coffee in the morning.

If you're a coffee lover, is there anything better? It can warm you and wake you... open your eyes and clear your mind. The awakening begins with the aroma -- the smell, teasing you with a hint of what's to come as the first drips of dark start to cover the bottom of your pot or mug (depending on your delivery method).

Yes, I get up ridiculously early in the morning (my alarm is actually set for 2:30AM now), so my first cup of coffee comes, quite honestly, in the middle of the night. But it doesn't matter what time you wake up -- the first cup is the best cup of the morning. The best cup of the day.
 
There may come a day when I write about a specific favorite coffee beverage, but that day is not today. Today, we raise a mug to that vital nectar of life, without which we'd be wandering aimlessly through our day. Here's to that first cup of coffee.

Today's Title: Cream, no sugar, and generally not in bed for me

Baby, It's Cold Outside

It's January 4th. It's winter. It's New England. And it's cold -- really cold. That's certainly not a surprise. Still, we can't help but complain about, right?

Perhaps it's because we've been pretty spoiled this winter with relatively mild weather. What was it, 50-degrees on New Year's Day? Then, suddenly last evening, you could get frostbite just walking to the mailbox. This morning, your cup of coffee will be ice coffee by the time you get back to your car.

But -- wah, wah, wah.. it's bitter cold today. My timeline on twitter and newsfeed on facebook are full of complaints about it. And I've been complaining too. I feel like a wimp -- I grew up in Connecticut and went to college in snowy Syracuse -- but temps in the teens and wind chills below zero are no fun.

The good news -- there are no blizzards in the forecast.. and temps are back in the mid-40s by the weekend. Of course, I'm sure we'll have plenty more weather to complain about before Spring.

Today's Title: Zooey Deschanel really likes this song

New Year's Day (Or, the day after...)

So, I figure the New Year is good time to dust off the old blog. Looks like I kind of quit writing in October -- got too busy or something. I'll call this one of my resolutions.Actually, writing more frequently will go along nicely with my (annual) resolution of being more organized.

Speaking of resolutions -- if you want help keeping yours, apparently there's an app for that.

I'm not going to promise every post will be a long one. I'm not going to promise enlightenment with every post. I'm not going to promise anything, really, except that I'll write more frequently. And I hope you'll read along...

Here's to a happy, healthy, productive, positive and more organized 2012.

Today's Title: U2 Live!