I'm Hip

Hip, Hip Hooray!!!

“Well, I was born in the sign of water
And it's there that I feel my best”
“Cool Change”, Little River Band

I moved to Delmarva for many reasons, but the biggest was WATER!!!

I’m an Aquarius and, like the song, it’s where I feel my best.  I need to be near or see the water every day if possible.

My first days on Delmarva were spent walking two or three round trips on the Bethany boardwalk.  I did this as much for the exercise as I did for being able to see, hear and smell the awesomeness of the Atlantic Ocean.

From the beginning I’ve tried to get to the beach or boardwalk every day.  I’ve made lifelong friends with the others who are also drawn there to the water.  The 9:59 Club would meet at 6 AMish, walk for an hour or so and then occupy benches near the boardwalk clock to kibitz and watch the passersby.

Even Covid didn’t stop my walking, it just changed the location since (for totally unscientific reasons) the Bethany boardwalk was closed.  I was still able to walk around my community and see the water at its dock and boat ramp.

All that began to change nearly a year and a half ago in October 2020.  It began to hurt to walk.  What was initially an ache in my back became a pain in my back and hip.  I went to see an orthopedic doctor who took an X-ray of my right hip joint.  He told me I had some arthritis and gave me a cortisone shot which had no effect.

The doctor told me that there was spinal compression and referred me to a spine doctor, who referred me to yet another doctor to treat a pinched nerve in my lower back.  After a first shot in my back had no effect, the spine doctor referred me to yet another doctor (are you keeping track here?) who could measure nerve activity in my spine.  The results of that test showed a significantly pinched nerve.  A second shot to my lower back did the trick; my back pain disappeared.  Yippee!

Now my back pain was cured but the hip pain continued.

The orthopedic doctor tried a second cortisone shot that had a small effect but there was still a lot of pain.  The doctor said that my hip is fine but regardless he wouldn’t operate on me because I’m too fat.  Tell me something I don’t already know doc!

I got another orthopedic doctor.

The new doctor took an X-ray and immediately said “you need a new hip!”  Well duh!  But before he would perform the operation, he told me that I need to lose weight. Fair enough.

I lost 58 pounds.

And now, next Monday I have the surgery.

It’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait for the recovery to end.

But what I want more than just about anything is to be able to walk the beach with my sweetie and doggie and the boardwalk with my friends.  It’s where I feel my best.

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Think About Our World Today

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.”
- Voltaire

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“Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli”

Today, March 24, is the 50th anniversary of the release of “The Godfather”, arguably the greatest movie of all time.

I’ll never forget seeing the horsehead scene in the movie theater.

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Any Day Now!

For those of us who have bird feeders and enjoy seeing the little beggars dining on our decks and in our yards, the arrival of the cutest birds is imminent.

Hummingbirds will be arriving any day now!!

These cuter-than-kittens birds have wintered in Mexico and Central America and the adult male birds have begun their trip north to identify ideal breeding territories; the females will follow shortly thereafter.

If you’re interested in their progress, here’s a migration map.  It looks like the birds will be arriving on Delmarva around April 20.  Howdy, boys!

Speaking of hummingbirds, here’s a heart-warming story about one of the little guys:

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I’ve Had Recipes Bomb, But This is Ridiculous!

Imagine the verrrry lucky Ukrainian who woke up in the morning, went to the kitchen for coffee and saw this:

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