Keeping On Keeping On

It's been an eventful week for the guy with the "bogus shoulder" as Mark puts it. Wednesday I did a very contentious PUC hearing which got me on television, I'm told, although I was too busy typing to turn on the TV. Thursday, I did another PUC hearing involving some arcane natural gas crap. It was annoying but it helps pay the light bill. Friday, Just Friends played in Shippensburg at the VFW for a small but enthusiastic crowd. Someone yelled for "Hank Williams" and I know they meant Junior but I did "Hey, Good Looking" anyway and it was just as good -- if not better.

Saturday, the trio played at the Verhovay, and today the trio did a 4oth anniversary at the Harrisburg Civic Association, a venue that brings back fond memories from the early eighties of keg parties and loud rock bands. Somewhere around here I have photos of a very young Joreen and John playing while a very young Mary dances around wearing headphones to protect her tiny eardrums.

Coming up this week: Just Friends at the casino on Thursday, and the trio at the Hershey Hotel on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Phillies are winning and Joreen is a happy camper. Speaking of Joreen, she finished a post-grad course on line this week and got an "A." Yes, I gave her a dollar, and you should, too.

Another Radical Lefty Weighs in for Obama

Whichever way your politics lean, you've got to admit it's getting interesting when Colin Powell says stuff like this:

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/10/colin_powell_tries_shaming_big.html

I'm sure Palin will have a snappy comeback to this. You betcha. I have reservations and outright problems with some of Obama's positions, but I really think, after eight years of W. and his masters bringing the country to the brink of collapse, maybe we should try putting some smart people in the White House. The alternative? A vice president who shoots defenseless creatures and ignores subpoenas. Wait, I'm having a deja vu....

Status Report

Many kind folks have been asking how my shoulder is and what's going on with my working and playing status, so here's where I am as of today. Right now, I am able to type and play guitar as well as before (for better or worse). I had some trouble in the beginning with the acoustic due to its depth and the forward roll of the shoulder needed to play it, but I'm doing better. I do have some soreness in the arm, but it's very manageable. The tendon is a complete break and the torn piece has retracted back over the ball of the shoulder, as I understand the explanation. They're going to stretch that puppy back over, put in a couple screws and stitch it up on Nov. 12.,outpatient. As of that point, I will be out of action for four weeks, immobilized. After that, it will be a race to rehab in time for the holiday gigs including New Year's, the Big One. I hear it can be a painful recovery and rehab, but the doctor has convinced me at this point that it's not an unusual or difficult surgery for him, so that gives me confidence. I should be mostly back up to speed in two months.

As of now, I will be playing until the surgery date, then out of commission until right before Christmas. As for work, the doctor assures me that I will get back the movements I have now before I get full range of motion, so I should be able to at least proof-read. I could even envision reporting, although I would have to have someone take me to the hearing room. Driving stick may take a while to get back.

So there's the deal. If I stay in the condition I am now until the 12th, we'll try to find a time to get together and jam before then, but that's still tentative. I have a lot of prep work to do before this fandango on the 12th. Thanks for your concern and prayers, and don't forget to be grateful for things like being able to button your own shirt. It's the little things that mean a lot.

The Other Shoe

Turns out I did a real number on my shoulder, or rather on the supraspinatus tendon in the shoulder. Those charts in the doctor's office are chock full of information. I have surgery scheduled for November 12th. I'll be immobile for about four weeks, and we'll see after that. Oh, well, it could have been worse.

Tomorrow tells the tale

My appointment with the orthopedic surgeon is at 8:45 a.m. I'll know whether I have to do the rotator cuff tear repair or not. I'll post as soon as I can and let you know what's up. Having had some time to process the situation and look at contingencies, we might still be able to get through this in relatively good shape. We'll see.

Things have improved

The flu has pretty much passed, seven days on the money. I just ate an orange, which I've been looking forward to for days. Tasted like paradise.

The Italian job went well. All the patrons were pleased. I'm sorry for the lack of coverage, but I was still not up to speed. The band was in good form, though, and Craig and Jim really stepped up to the plate. We have the gig next year.

Speaking of the future, I go for my MRI results Thursday. We'll find out then what's in the cards. Like the Petty song says, "The waiting is the hardest part."

Now, back to typing. Thanks to everybody who's helped me through this, with prayers and offers to help, especially my little brother David who filled in for me at the Singles Dance in Lancaster. He must have been getting some tone; when I turned on my amp yesterday, before I even hit a note, it started growling. You rawk, Dave!

In case you're wondering

I took a bad fall Saturday and bunged up my shoulder, then caught the flu Monday. Say a prayer to St. Rocco that I can play the Italian job Sunday. Talk to you later.

In Bedrooms Everywhere...

... there are folks sitting and making music like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU9HiwmcLWQ

In a perfect world there would be venues (smoke-free with micros on tap and good house sound) where guys this amazing could play. I don't even know this cat's name or anything about him.* Surfing a Grateful Dead link (rukind.org) I ended up hearing his version of Weather Report Suite. Next break this morning I'll have to check out "Martha My Dear."

The tuning is DGCGCD. Who thinks this stuff up?

*BTW, here's the guitar player's blog: http://tonyrclef.blogspot.com/ Not a very prolific blogger, but there's an interesting essay on arranging songs that gives an insight into the process of coming up with covers this good. Pretty prolific video maker; nice version of "Martha My Dear."

To the non-guitar players out there, sorry if this is boring stuff. Hey, how 'bout those Phillies? They won yesterday! Joreen was in the car and made me narrate the end of the game to her. Instant heart attack stuff. These guys could make you crazy following them. Go Phils.