These past few weeks have been kind of odd. I have felt more and more like my mental capacity is being stripped from my brain several cells at a time… just enough to notice. Its driven out of things going on at work and the strain my back has been creating of late.
Sleep comes and goes. Some nights I sleep fairly well… Other nights I’ve had nightmares. Those are driven out of stress. I hope they are anyway… I haven’t had nightmares that often in the past but last weekend through the beginning of this week, they were fairly regular. By the time I got to Friday, I was very happy that we have a long weekend.
I got up this morning to the business next door smashing glass in their dumpster. I tried covering my head and going back to sleep rather unsuccessfully. When I finally decided sleep was fruitless, I got up and got ready. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to take Maggie (my motorcycle) for a spin or not. My back has been grumpy all week. If that wasn’t enough, I started picking up this headcold thing that has been haunting the office. I made the final decision only after going outside and seeing the blue sky and feeling the sun’s warmth. Maggie it would be.
I had a couple errands to run and then needed to meet Rick to help set up his DJ gear. He had asked if I could help him DJ the whole evening. I declined because it took all week to get my back back together after the last time. I just can’t lug sound gear around like I used to. Not to say that I don’t try now and again. Usually, I pay for it a couple days later.
After the DJ gear was setup, I decided I wanted to take a bit longer ride but not too far. I pointed Maggie out Route 62 towards Mercer with no other destination in mind than the intersection of 62 and 19. I stopped to answer a text or two at the gas station on the corner. I thought about dinner and my next destination. “I guess Hoss’s in Grove City would work” I told myself as I thumbed the starter button. After dinner at Hoss’s, I headed north east out of Grove City.
When I ride by myself, it is very stress relieving. I really needed that relief today. As I reached one destination, I would decide to stretch the run a bit more. Today, I chose local back roads that I knew. The run out of Grove City was on a small back road that ends up in Jackson Center. It was freshly repaved, so it made for a nice ride. I headed back down 19 out of Jackson Center… past the Corn Maze (which was packed with customers).
In Mercer, I turned down 318. I normally play on this road because I ride it frequently on the way to and from work. It has some fun little twists on it. Today, however, I got behind Grandma in her little Ford Taurus. I backed way down so that I had a bit of room to hang the corners, but I always ended up catching her coming out the far side. I was a little bummed but at least it was a beautiful evening to ride.
I stopped at the house for a break. I had made up my mind earlier that I would not go to Waterfire in Sharon tonight. I didn’t feel like dealing with the crowds. By the time I got home, I had decided that it would only be a potty stop and a short break. I didn’t want to waste a nice evening sitting inside. “Ok… I’ll go to Waterfire… but I’m going on the bike.” I told myself.
I spent a little more time than I should have on my feet today. I walked/stood for about 2 hours at Waterfire. My right leg was throbbing terribly. I decided to listen to the band that was playing on the Ballroom Stage. There were no more chairs, so I plopped myself down on a curb (It’s a stage in a parking lot). Mistake #1… The concrete was low and hard. I sat for a while anyway. Mistake #2… I sat too long. My back and leg had tightened up. I couldn’t stand directly to my feet. I ended up wiggling around until I got my left knee on the ground and was able to pull my right foot under me. I got up but it wasn’t pretty. I staggered around for about 5 minutes until I could get myself upright. That was pretty much the end of the night for me. I hobbled back to the bike and headed for home.
I put Maggie back in the barn. As I closed the door, I heard a cat meowing. I had to check the shed thoroughly to make sure I wasn’t going to lock it inside. It turned out to be over at the neighbors. Shwew… I’d hate to do that to the poor thing.
Speaking of cats… I haven’t updated you guys on Tink lately. She seems to be a little stronger. She moves from place to place a little more frequently. She has also started coming to me for her breakfast and dinner. Before this week, I would have to push the food back to her in her hiding spot. She still is antsy about something. I have to stay with her while she eats or she will go back in hiding. She loves a back rub while she eats.
She also loves the brush. She not only let me brush her the other night… she kept turning herself so I would get all of her. I had enough old cat hair that I probably could make another Tink. I know when she is happy with being petted or brushed because she purrs louder than I’ve ever heard before. When she doesn’t want messed with, she makes it a point to turn herself away from me. She’s pretty clear about that. The old tail thumps wildly.
She doesn’t eat anything hard anymore. I feed her two can’s of Fancy Feast wet food a day. I still think there is something wrong with her throat. I hate to take her back because it was the last trip to the vet that started this hiding phase. It has taken months of hand feeding her to get her to come out long enough to even eat and get a short backrub. I don’t want to undo that. If wet food keeps her ticking for now… Wet food she’ll get.
I guess I should go take my pills and lay my aching body down. I’d like to add some pictures to this, but right now, I’m toast. Maybe tomorrow.
Catch ya later.
~Cappy