Alligatorob's Diary

Yesterday was a good day, I ate well and got some good exercise. Went to the physical therapist yesterday and she measured my shoulder strength. It continues to get a little stronger, but not a lot. Today I talk with the doctor, he wanted to make the surgery decision today, we'll see. I really don't want the surgery, but if it is necessary I'll do it.
I would prefer to eat fresh, tree or vine-ripened fruit ahead of any other sweet so I must make sure I make the most of our season coming up. I will buy in bulk if I can & stew as much as I can fit in our chest freezer. Reading your diary has inspired me to make the most of the season, even if I have to buy it all.
I understand, this is the first time I have have access to so much tree ripened fruit. We have local fruit stands that sell the locally picked fruit, do you have similar? We live in Utah's "fruit zone", more of the fruit stands within about 5 miles of our house than anywhere in the state. https://www.theutahfarmersnetwork.com/post/fruit-stands-in-willard-and-perry-utah That's where our peaches go.

Mondays are not always bad days, just this week...
Free Calorie Counter, Diet & Exercise Journal _ MyFitnessPal.jpg
 
Let me know how the granita experiment goes!
 
We don't have any fruit stands near us at all, Rob, but do have a berry farm not far away. I'll make sure I visit more regularly. Our local fruit & veggie store is owned by a Mennonite family & I will ask if I can buy fruit in bulk cheaper when things are available. I will buy sauce tomatoes this year & freeze a lot of them.
I was being silly about Monday as the "I don't like Mondays" song came into my head.
I hope you don't need surgery, but if you do I hope it's soon so you can get it done & dusted xo
 
Love the photo of the gorgeous mountains where you are in that fruit stand link. You must have the most gorgeous hikes you can go on! I hope all goes well with the doctor visit and that maybe you can dodge the surgery.
 
Today was a good day, ate well, exercised and feel good tonight. Its been a couple of days since bingeing, that feel better...

Been eating pears from our trees, finally ripe. We still have about 20 peach trees with peaches, need to find out what the farmer's intentions are. And then decide what to do with our share, maybe more juice.
Let me know how the granita experiment goes!
Haven't tried yet, but I do still plan to.
Our local fruit & veggie store is owned by a Mennonite family & I will ask if I can buy fruit in bulk cheaper when things are available. I will buy sauce tomatoes this year & freeze a lot of them.
Wish you lived nearby, we are about to have hundreds, maybe thousands, of pounds of over ripe tomatoes, always do. They may great sauce, but you can only eat so much tomato sauce. We still have lots left over from last year. The farmer usually invites people from his church to pick their fill, but still lots are left.
Love the photo of the gorgeous mountains where you are in that fruit stand link. You must have the most gorgeous hikes you can go on!
Thanks, yes we are quite close to the mountains, I can hike from home. However they are quite steep and lack developed trails so it can be challenging.
I hope you don't need surgery, but if you do I hope it's soon so you can get it done & dusted xo
I hope all goes well with the doctor visit and that maybe you can dodge the surgery.
Thanks, but I think I will opt for the surgery. I am getting stronger, but the physical therapist tells me I am just getting better at compensating for the muscles that don't work. She is very good at feeling my back and shoulders when I exercise, so she can tell. When she tries to hold my right shoulder blade where it's supposed to be the weakness returns... Problem is the doctor says the longer I wait the higher the risk that I won't be able to get the strength back. But it is hurting a lot less... kind of a hard decision.
Free Calorie Counter, Diet & Exercise Journal _ MyFitnessPal.jpg
 
Wish you lived nearby, we are about to have hundreds, maybe thousands, of pounds of over ripe tomatoes, always do. They may great sauce, but you can only eat so much tomato sauce. We still have lots left over from last year. The farmer usually invites people from his church to pick their fill, but still lots are left.
I wish we did too! You would love G's cooking :)
Problem is the doctor says the longer I wait the higher the risk that I won't be able to get the strength back.
I think I know which way I would be going. I wish doctors would tell you what they really think instead of worrying about being sued. I appreciate being given choices but love it when they answer truthfully to the "what would you choose if it was you" question.
 
If you're just compensating, not regaining or even just maintaining strength, I'd personally say it's surgery time. If the spinal cord gets more and more compressed you aren't just at risk of not regaining strength in your shoulder but other muscles will likely follow.
 
Today was a good day, I ate well, exercised and feel good tonight. And I did get my few seconds of fame, not much of a role but I do appear in the background at about 34 seconds...
I wish we did too! You would love G's cooking :)
I am sure I would, I hope to sample it one day!
I wish doctors would tell you what they really think instead of worrying about being sued. I appreciate being given choices but love it when they answer truthfully to the "what would you choose if it was you" question.
Thanks, I think I will ask him just that. Though I am pretty much resolved to doing it...
If you're just compensating, not regaining or even just maintaining strength, I'd personally say it's surgery time. If the spinal cord gets more and more compressed you aren't just at risk of not regaining strength in your shoulder but other muscles will likely follow.
Thanks for the confirmation Llama, its just sinking in that I probably need to do this... sure don't want to.
Free Calorie Counter, Diet & Exercise Journal _ MyFitnessPal.jpg
 
I think it’s great that you’re in that video. You look fit! Good for you, Rob.
I hope you do get to visit us one day 😊
 
I think it’s great that you’re in that video. You look fit! Good for you, Rob.
Just noticed my right shoulder and the side of my head made it into the end of the cycling pan at 36 seconds, blue shirt on the far left. George Clooney needs to be worried, this is just the beginning, LOL! Expecting a call from George Lucas any day now...
I hope you do get to visit us one day 😊
So do I!
 
Last edited:
Nice you made it in the video!!

It's too bad about probably needing the surgery, but you'll get through it...Do you know what the recovery time is like afterwards?
 
Spotted you!

About surgery yes or no: you're making an informed decision weighing pros and cons, listening to the doctor, and you've done the things you can do to be in the best possible position for surgery. That means you're doing the right thing for you.
 
Today was a good day, ate well, exercised and feel good tonight. Drank some of the freshly squeezed peach juice, it was good, sweeter and more flavorful than most years. One more peach harvest, the late variety is finally ripe. That will be the end of it!
Yes, you do look fit. Nice big gym.
Thanks Vic, that is a bit misleading. The guy owns 2 gyms, I go to the smaller and older one. The video of classes and group things was shot at the gym I go to. The ones showing the big space and lots of relatively new machines is not where I usually go. We can go to either.
Nice you made it in the video!!
Thanks, my well short of 15 seconds of fame, LOL.
It's too bad about probably needing the surgery, but you'll get through it...Do you know what the recovery time is like afterwards?
As for the surgery it is what it is, I am just trying to get used to the idea... I need to talk to the doctor about recovery time, there are lots of things on the internet about it, but the sources are all over. At a minimum it will take 2 weeks before I can do much and probably 6 weeks before fully returning to normal activities. And probably longer for vigorous exercise. It is supposed to be significantly easier than the knees. I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary of the knee surgery and they still hurt a little when doing some things, not nearly so much as before though.
Spotted you!
Now I'm in trouble...
About surgery yes or no: you're making an informed decision weighing pros and cons, listening to the doctor, and you've done the things you can do to be in the best possible position for surgery. That means you're doing the right thing for you.
Thanks Llama, and I am just trying to accept that the surgery probably is the right thing for me. I've talked to a number of people and done a lot of online research. It does seem that with my symptoms and the MRI results surgery is the only way to avoid further nerve damage...
Love the video Rob! Well done. Glad you had a good day. You've gotta stay camera ready now! ;)
Put on my makeup every morning, no telling when Cecil DeMille will show up on my doorstep!
Free Calorie Counter, Diet & Exercise Journal _ MyFitnessPal.jpg
 
That peach juice sounds so good.

Good to hear that at least the recovery time will be better than it was for the knees if you do go for the surgery.
 
Yesterday was a good day, I ate well, worked most all day in the yard/garden, and felt pretty good. Only problem was a sore arm from the flu and covid shots I got Friday, still hurts a little. In the middle of the last peach harvest, may finish up today. These last trees have some really big peaches. IMG_3992.jpg
Didn't weigh that one, but I am sure it was over a pound. More the size of a cantaloupe than a peach.
That peach juice sounds so good.
It really is, and it's just pure 100% peach, nothing added, no sugar no water just peaches.
Free Calorie Counter, Diet & Exercise Journal _ MyFitnessPal.jpg
 
I_have_serious_peach_envy!
 
Back
Top