Love Of Writing

While working on my book, and doing other writing gigs, I just realized something that is needed in order to accomplish any writing task.  That need is the enjoyment of writing.  One seems to hear from a variety of sources that “follow your heart and money will follow”.  Well, money may not be here yet, [...]

Early Withdrawals from NHL Live!

Well, July 3 is the last day for my beloved show..NHL Live!  Besides giving me the lowdown on hockey happenings, it provides me with culture.
For instance,  on Friday’s show, I learned about the Naked Cowboy.  Turns out that he is a real person living in New York City who plays guitar, and wears an interesting [...]

Scared of a Total Knee Replacement?

Don’t be.  It’s only natural to be anxious about a major surgery, but the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.  Here are a few items that I, personally, have to say about having the surgery:

I don’t need to carry around crutches while fearing my knee will ‘lock up’.  I did that for 8 months.
I can walk [...]

Another Hazard for tkr

It was a beautiful day when I decided to take my new knee for a walk through the local mall.  All was fine and dandy until….I came face to face with a new hazard.  A hazard that I was never made aware of, but still on the same level as a big dog.
While browsing through [...]

Book Writing Update

Still working on the book, adding more chapters and remembering facts to be put into chapters.  Just wrote a chapter about living with diplopia – double vision.  There are songs written about it and jokes made about it, but I don’t find anything funny about it.  I’ve learned to live with it, and be grateful [...]

Walking for Exercise – tkr

The simple task of walking is a pure delight for getting my knee in shape after a total knee replacement.  There is a local walking trail that has a bit of everything.  There is gravel, pavement, grass, and wood walkways.  I can go walk along the freeway (ugh), go walk on the roadside (another ugh), [...]

Icing and a Total Knee Replacement

I just found out that some patients were not told about icing after having a total knee replacement done.  This is unbelievable to me.  Without icing, my knee would be so swollen and painful, it would be difficult to walk. Icing keeps the swelling in check.  It also helps decrease the pain after exercising.  In [...]

Using Hills as a Walking Exercise-tkr

While recuperating from a total knee replacement, I have found it advantageous to walk up and down small hills.  It’s taken four and a half months to do this, however.  The incline provides me with a good overall leg workout, along with circulatory benefits.  The decline seems to mainly work on my quads and knee [...]

Seattle as a potential NHL market

There is talk, so I hear, about Seattle being a location for a future NHL team.  It seems like a great idea!  According to Bill Daly, NHL Deputy Commissioner, three things are needed in order to have a team.  These three things are: ownership, market, and a building (arena).  I learned that from watching ‘NHL [...]

NHL Live! Update

Yesterday (Tuesday) some of the NHL store staff defamed the cutouts of EJ Hradek and Don LaGreca.  EJ’s cutout was donning a pink Kings jersey.  Very pretty.  They caught the culprits, and it made for good entertainment.  However, it had longer lasting effects….
I was unable to catch the beginning of today’s show and had a [...]

Can Hamstrings Hurt after a Total Knee Replacement?

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I recently had someone ask me that, and the answer is a definite, resounding “YES!!”  In fact, four months after my surgery, I still need to elevate my leg on a pillow while laying down.  Without doing that, it can be very painful.  It is getting better, however.
If someone does not have painful hamstrings [...]

Continuing Total Knee Replacement Rehab

It’s been four months and a week after my total knee replacement surgery date and my knee is still swollen, my flexibility still needs improved, and my hamstring still needs stretching.  It seems to be taking longer than what I had originally expected.  The medical people told me I’d be swollen for about 2-3 months [...]

NHL Awards & Red Carpet Shows

The NHL Red Carpet and Awards Show was something to be remembered. The Red Carpet Show was just fun except for that blonde woman (I forgot her name) interviewer that was there. Sometimes she asked the most ridiculous questions. For instance, when talking to a wife or girlfriend, she’d ask..”Did you [...]

Better Late Than Never….Chicago Wins Calder Cup

The Chicago Wolves won the Calder Cup by defeating the Scranton Penguins (“baby pens”).  It was a great game to watch and even more fun to watch the celebrations.
It was televised on the NHL Network.  The coverage included the group photo and locker room celebrations.  This reminds me…
During the NBC coverage of the Stanley Cup [...]

Scoliosis and a Total Knee Replacement

My total knee replacement is due to my having fractured my femur 30 years ago in an auto accident. Here is a rough draft excerpt from my upcoming book….
After having fractured my femur (the largest bone in the body), my gait was altered. In turn, this caused my spinal column to become malformed [...]

Writing Difficulties

Writing my memoirs about being in a body cast for two years is harder than I thought. There are a lot of negative memories that keep popping up, so I find myself not being motivated to write about it.
I have heard there are authors who have negative life experiences and write about it in a [...]

Total Knee Replacement Story

I just found a New York Times article about someone who had total knee replacement three years ago.  It’s a great article, so I’m sending along the link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/health/03brod.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Four Months after a Total Knee Replacement

Four months later, my knee is still swollen and the flexibility still needs improved.  It can be depressing, but there is no joint pain like prior to my surgery.  I can walk without pain and do not need to carry around crutches like I did prior to my total knee replacement.
When someone (friend) asks me [...]

DETROIT RED WINGS ARE 2007-2008 STANLEY CUP CHAMPS!

Pittsburgh needs to be very proud of themselves. They gave a great fight, made for a terrific series, and have much promise. They are a young team that will only get better.
With that being said, here is a little ditty that is appropriate for this time and place:
Oh, the good old hockey game,
Is [...]

Using Rowing Machines as a Total Knee Replacement exercise

While gaining flexibility in my knee after a total knee replacement, the rowing machine works out pretty well. The seat can be adjusted, either stationary or moving.  The moving function offers me a chance to gain the most flexibility.  Even when not using the handle bars (similar to using paddles or oars), the moving seat [...]

NHL Live! Feud

On today’s NHL Live! update, EJ Hradek and Don LaGreca had another entertaining spat.  Bruce Boudreau (coach for WA Capitals) happened to be in the store, so he was brought up to the radio booth to be interviewed.  Well, EJ Hradek said that LaGreca wouldn’t recognize Boudreau unless he had a name tag on, and [...]

NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game 5

Wow. It was down to the last 35 seconds of the game, I was getting ready to count down to victory. Then, BOOM!!!! SCORE!!! Pittsburgh tied up the game. That hasn’t happened in 70 years, according to NHL Live! earlier today.
The game went into three overtime periods. It was a [...]

Detroit Wins Game 4 of NHL Stanley Cup Final

Since Detroit just won 2-1 over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the following is only appropriate.  Enjoy!….
The Hockey Song

Oh, the good old hockey game,
Is the best game you can name
And the best game you can name
Is the GOOOOD OLDDDDD HOCKEEEEEY GAAAAAME!!

Written by Stompin’ Tom Connors