Older....but not too damn much wiser
Here's a helpful hint for those of around my age...over 35. Don't try and pick up a lawn mower and put it into the trunk of your car.
I'm looking after my folks vacant house a few blocks away which includes keeping the yard up. For the last two years we've had a young guy doing it, but seeing greener pastures and larger yard jobs, he let us go. I have a temporary yard guy, but he only comes occasionally, so early Tuesday morning I thought I'd take my lawn mower over and clean things up a bit. Since it's only blocks away I don't mind setting my mower in the trunk for the short trip. I had done this once before.....after Tuesday I won't do it again.
I got the mower in and out at the other house and back into the car with not much problem. The mower is moderately heavy but nothing a He-Man can't handle, the problem is that it's unwieldy. Back at my house, as I was lowering it to the ground I was hit with PAIN. I'm used to some pain, but this was PAIN, the kind where you see bright lights and feel sick and about to faint kinda' PAIN. Lower back PAIN. The kind of pain that mostly paralyzes you and I had visions of the neighbors having to carry me in.
But I finally limped inside, took a bottle of Aleve and somehow got changed and went to a meeting. I found that if I stood up, straight up, I was able to function. So I stood up most all day and then went to photograph a baseball game that night. All the standing and moving, I suppose, loosening things up where I felt a little better by then and at bed time.
Here's my second tip. When you sleep all night on an injured back, don't try and jump out of bed in the morning. I tried.....and almost cried the PAIN was so bad, the back having tightened up again overnight. Luckily, with my sports connections at Midland High, I am able to avail myself of the Bulldog's professional training staff and equipment, which is what I did Wednesday morning along with a call to the world's best trainer, Doc Dodson. The trainers gave me a going over and recommended some helpful tips, especially about sleeping. I just love a pillow between my knees all night. But today it's somewhat better if I mind what I'm doing like not bending over, turning quickly or sitting crooked. I'm trying to teach D. Daphne Dog how to tie my shoes.
I'm looking after my folks vacant house a few blocks away which includes keeping the yard up. For the last two years we've had a young guy doing it, but seeing greener pastures and larger yard jobs, he let us go. I have a temporary yard guy, but he only comes occasionally, so early Tuesday morning I thought I'd take my lawn mower over and clean things up a bit. Since it's only blocks away I don't mind setting my mower in the trunk for the short trip. I had done this once before.....after Tuesday I won't do it again.
I got the mower in and out at the other house and back into the car with not much problem. The mower is moderately heavy but nothing a He-Man can't handle, the problem is that it's unwieldy. Back at my house, as I was lowering it to the ground I was hit with PAIN. I'm used to some pain, but this was PAIN, the kind where you see bright lights and feel sick and about to faint kinda' PAIN. Lower back PAIN. The kind of pain that mostly paralyzes you and I had visions of the neighbors having to carry me in.
But I finally limped inside, took a bottle of Aleve and somehow got changed and went to a meeting. I found that if I stood up, straight up, I was able to function. So I stood up most all day and then went to photograph a baseball game that night. All the standing and moving, I suppose, loosening things up where I felt a little better by then and at bed time.
Here's my second tip. When you sleep all night on an injured back, don't try and jump out of bed in the morning. I tried.....and almost cried the PAIN was so bad, the back having tightened up again overnight. Luckily, with my sports connections at Midland High, I am able to avail myself of the Bulldog's professional training staff and equipment, which is what I did Wednesday morning along with a call to the world's best trainer, Doc Dodson. The trainers gave me a going over and recommended some helpful tips, especially about sleeping. I just love a pillow between my knees all night. But today it's somewhat better if I mind what I'm doing like not bending over, turning quickly or sitting crooked. I'm trying to teach D. Daphne Dog how to tie my shoes.
