ernie scofield

2007.08.26

I had an appointment with the surgeon on Friday and he put me back on "full duty". When he asked me how I felt I told him pretty good for three months out and I knew from last time I wouldn't really feel good until about six months out. He remarked he wished I could talk to some of his other shoulder patients. I know what he means, It takes a long time to heal and most folks get impatient. I now feel better every week.

2007.08.18

At work last week, I told them to advertise the job and see if we could get any qualified applicants, but I would not leave them in a lurch. We'll see if anyone wants to take the vow of poverty and join our organization. On a lighter note, I graduated from physical therapy yesterday. When your insurance benefits run out, you are healed. Just like last time. I still have a degree of discomfort at times, but when I look back at the last surgery I was in the same boat.

2007.08.11

So the bosses at work popped the question on Thursday. Since we've been thru three Fire Protection Engineers in three years. Between them I had to do both jobs so now they want me to take the job. I've been reluctant to take the job the last two times but this time I didn't immediately say no. I have the weekend to decide. I'll let you know.

2007.08.08

w00t, iWork has Numbers. On principal, I hate to learn the new Microsoft Office 2007 or the obsolete Appleworks, so I've been waiting for this ever since the rumors starting flying a couple of years ago. There is a trial version available for download. I so don't want to continue using Office 2000!!

2007.08.04

All in all, things went smoothly at work. The work load was light for some reason and I rode with a building inspector the whole week. Lots of jokes from the other inspectors about a chauffeur! The pain level in my shoulder seems to be improving quite a bit. There are times now when I don't think about it. That is the first step to recovery. Next week brings another set of challenges I'll talk about next Saturday.

2007.07.28

So it's off to work Monday. I don't know how I'll do considering the screwy therapy appointments. I'm supposed to have another fellow riding with me and he will eventually qualify to do the job I do. He will need to fill in when I'm not there or so the boss says. I have only four years and a few months to go 'till retirement and have a whole lot of leave time to use, so I'd better get to it. Oh yea, I finally took the plunge and paid for a domain and hosting. Erniesplanet.com, has a nice ring to it :-)

2007.07.25

It's off to the surgeon again this morning followed by therapy. I expect he'll send me to work even though I had one of the worst nights I've had since the operation night before last. I don't know what happened other than I slept on it the wrong way but it woke up in a lot of pain and I had a devil of a time getting back to sleep. The moving in is going fine except my checkbook is taking a beating. It's a slow and arduous process making a hose a home.

2007.07.17

In my mailbox this afternoon I received a pleasant surprise from an old friend. "Chesapeake Boyhood" by William Turner. Seldom do I sit and read a book straight thru but this one I did. He uses phrases I haven't heard since childhood, growing up in the marshes of Dam Neck, interacting with the old timers, hunting, and fishing. I sat entranced in a folding chair in the opening of my garage door reading as an afternoon thundershower approached. I was transported back to the long summer afternoons on my childhood home's front porch and the thunderstorms I loved. The place I grew up, Princess Anne County, no longer exists except in the memories of folks who won't live forever.

2007.07.16

The move is finally over. We are in the new house, except for all the things you need to do in a new place. Hang the artwork, buy a new piece of furniture or two for that odd area, and a new lawn mower. When I moved to the Mayflower, I gave a lifetime's worth of gardening tools away. It's time, I guess, to buy them back. The house and the neighborhood couldn't be better. Our first night here, Tom and Elizabeth, new neighbors, brought us a bottle of wine. This morning it's off again to the Therapist, bummer.