Update AFTER Surgery (IT IS FINISHED!!!)

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

I'm guilty of being too obsessed. I'm working on it, but the bright side is there's much worse stuff to be addicted to.

I told myself the same thing.... Unfortunately that didn't matter much to Ashli

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

I got a really nice U2U from Sean (ssayre) and I realized after I responded that what I shared, outside of appreciation and a general cliff notes of the surgery, would be worth sharing with you all. First and foremost I want to thank you all SO much for your prayers, and well wishes. Though the surgery was not MAJOR, I was still considerably nervous and leaning on the unseen always does the best work to soothe my being. Thanks for your support and I am praising God now that the surgery is all over. I got home from Surgery about 4 hours ago and was "out of the fog maybe 2 hours ago... The surgery ended up taking about 2 hrs longer than anticipated (total of 4 hours) due to the extent of the damage. Now I have 2 plates in my heel rather than the expected 1. The Doc seemed surprised they didn't keep me at the ER and operate immediately. But hey, looking up from here. On a separate note I want to share with you all that over the last 3 years, kiting has become for me an obsession that has literally been an addiction, and not in the good and fun way. It has had a small but noticeable adverse effect on my marriage and completely skewed my priorities away from the needs of my family. It has become a completely self focused pursuit that pulls me away from them. I'm telling you all this in order to be transparent and to make sure you see what hindsight has put in front of me. I tell you this in the case that maybe you may be hearing things from your wives and kids that makes you all think maybe it's becoming a sore subject. If that's the case, take a look at it and how it might be affecting you and your family. I for one am going to try hard to figure out how to do it in a way that is not so self indulgent and more family oriented. Less performance driven and more fun focused. I know many of you easily make it a family affair, but I know there are those of you out there who are like me, who work at not discussing it with your mates for fear of the rolled eyes and general frustration. Sorry for the heaviness, I just wanted to share, And hope that I'm provoking thought for someone out there who might be experiencing something like what I have experienced over the last 3 years. Spencer

I'm sure your family have taken pleasure in seeing you enjoy the things that make you happy.

Kite traction sports can be dangerous and I guess some including I have kept that from our families. My own single minded and lone pursuit within it on reflection felt like a selfish one. When something like a fall comes along it must be a frightening realisation that our families are depending on us.

In my case the whole idea of buggying become a little toxic, I'll say no more, but the effect was the same, you realise close friends and family are all the matter. I have curtailed my outings the past couple of years, I'm not suggesting you do too but after 18 years I feel like a recovering drug addict and it feels liberating to no longer obsess over weather reports.

I pay more attention to family & friends these days than I do my kites but we all need a few hours to ourselves once in a while and what better way than to cruise around in a buggy or on a board sharing our exploits here. Everything in moderation.

Thanks Red, that's exactly what I mean... And I'm looking forward to getting there

I have to tell you all that I was talking all this over with my father-in-law (who just so happens to be a recovered alcoholic and drug user) and wife, about how I've been giving a great deal of consideration to restructuring my mindset and my priorities and at the mention of PKF, Ashli piped up and spoke you guys' praises, commenting on your support and well wishes and particularly the phone call from Jeff... Good work team,... Lurv you guys

I've really been battling with a lot of pain last night and today. I didn't get much sleep last night, but was able to doze all morning. In spite of Ashli getting my prescription filled for a stronger Oxycodone I'm still hurting quite a bit, which is disappointing because I was really looking forward to going to Christmas Eve Services with the family at the church where I work.

On a lighter note, my "knee Walker" arrived today:



Lookin forward to less pain so I can race around on my new Hog!

its a speed machine.... it has to have brakes

just need some racing stripes

Betcha that thing costs as much as a Bigfoot Bugggy..

NOPE.... It's a rental

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

its a speed machine.... it has to have brakes just need some racing stripes

And just for the fun of it, a handlebar bell.


Here's hoping for a speedy recovery. Sorry you had a tumble but it seems to have shaken the priority points. Keep God and family first. Nothing else truly matters. God Bless and Merry Christmas.

You need a Bike Flag to complete the ensemble

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

On a lighter note, my "knee Walker" arrived today: Lookin forward to less pain so I can race around on my new Hog!

Wonder if you could hook in with your kite on that thing... just kidding. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

First post-op appointment

Met with my podiatrist for my first post-op appointment today and everything is looking up! My doc seemed to be impressed with my recovery to this point. He took off the split cast to inspect the incision and give my foot a good look. I'm kinda squeamish so I kept my eyes closed as he removed the cast and checked things out. He said he was mainly concerned over "flap failure" and infection due to my diabetes, but only mildly considering that I'm a healthy young diabetic. He figured it would look worse, but said it looked absolutely great and was pleased.

He finished up by putting on a new rigid cast which I asked for in red, so as to be a good canvas for the girls to decorate with sharpie markers



So now I am regaled with illustrations and lyrics from Disney's Frozen... big surprise :D

Quote: Originally posted by 3shot

Spencer. Please tell me that your toe nails are bruised and not painted Frozen blue???

I let my 3 yr old paint them blue on Christmas day... they all got a bottle of kiddie nail polish (yes in Frozen blue) in their stockings

They're not bruised, but I am totally secure in my manhood... plus she's very proud of her accomplishment... makes it worth it to me

Quote: Originally posted by 3shot

Figured it was Frozen blue. Lol

How in the world bro... ?

Okay good answer....

Quote: Originally posted by cheezycheese

Okay good answer....

Moving right along on the recovery it sounds like!!

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

First day back at work today, gang. The church offices were closed 12/25 though 1/2, so I've been on a vacation of sorts for the last week (major blessing) following a week or so of sick leave from the injury. I've essentially been off of work for 3 weeks and now I'm back and ready to do the best "light duty" job I can do. ... thankfully my boss and I have come up with a list of good administrative and otherwise light weight tasks I can take care of over the several weeks. (IMHO, my employer has been super awesome through out this ordeal) ... I've probably got about 5 weeks more in a cast followed by 2 in a walking boot (which I fortunately already own from the broken toe). I'm still having to take the prescription pain killers about every 8 to 12 hours so I'm not allowed to drive yet. Ashli had to wake up, and get all the girls ready this morning to drive me to work. I'm hoping to ween myself off the prescription meds through the week in order to be able to drive myself by next week. In other news, as some of you may know, I've successfully sold the first kite in the quiver in an attempt to usher in the new era of NS3s ... perhaps officially bolstering Club Presidential support for the new Rag Flapper Division of the JWC

Spencer - glad to hear recovery is going well. One of the great things about the NPW kites is you can pretty much fly them with any line length you like, or even no line length, so you don't need that many of them. Then again, why do I have so many I have bought (2) and made (4 so far).?:D

Thats just crazy talk Randy,... why on earth would I want LESS kite

Though... I am in a little bit of a quandary; I really want to keep the 3.5m RII but I don't think I'll be able to raise enough to get the full set unless I do... give me you're opinions.

A. Keep or sell the 3.5m?
B. If I keep the 3.5m, which size NS3 should I pass on for now, the 2.5m or the 4m?

Just FYI, I'm leaning toward keeping the 3.5m RII, getting the 4m now, then the 2.5m later, but I would love to hear opinions. I DEFINITELY need the larger sizes due to lighter wind her in ATL.

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

7m 9-12 5.5m 12-15 4m 15-18 2.5 19-25 in my world at least.

That's pretty dead on with my experience too Sean!!

In just a few months, I am going to put massive miles on my 5.5 & 7m at JIBE. Might even make John Holgate a little jealous

Quote: Originally posted by 3shot

In just a few months, I am going to put massive miles on my 5.5 & 7m at JIBE. Might even make John Holgate a little jealous

Hopefully you and me both

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

7m 9-12 5.5m 12-15 4m 15-18 2.5 19-25 in my world at least.

in your world, what line length are you using?
As for the use of these kites on no lines while flying them on the bridle only, the larger sizes dont like bridle only flying. The 15m I have needs 15m lines to allow the kite to open fully. Flying it without lines makes the kite way tooooooooo squirrelly.

Great to read the upbeat banter here. Mojo restored.

Wow... Talk about a thread veer.

Yes... Mojo restored

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

Wow... Talk about a thread veer.

sorry about that, didnt think.
I will now return the program back to the original channel.

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

Ok... Off to the Doc's office now... This cast is getting loose and I think he might want to change it out.

enjoy the loose fit, it means the swelling has gone down. It also means you can itch that spot with a coat hanger.
besides your not to be on it, right? So loose is good.

Very glad to hear your recovery is going well, Spencer.

Quote:

Might even make John Holgate a little jealous

LOL, let's compare vids at the end of the month..... :D

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

Loose = blisters, blister (esp on incision) + diabetes = very bad + very uncomfortable

So I don't mean to hijack the thread, but Type I by chance? I ask because I'm curious, if you use a waist harness, any issue with insulin pump sites and it? Any of my harnesses seem to love to attack those

Quote: Originally posted by bigE123

Well done Soliver on being so open with your situation and sharing, hope all goes well with your recovery and "new" way of thinking!

Thanks BigE, I appreciate that. I like to consider myself pretty transparent and I thought this might help a few guys out there.

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

Ok volock, here's the thread on infusion sets and kiting... there's actually some interesting solutions recommended: http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=25350#pid24...

Thanks, and that makes a lot of sense. I go pouch on my belt (Timbuk2 Shag Bag - small) which works in most situations, though my waist harness can put a bit too much pressure on it for comfort, so pump goes in my pocket. My real issue is sites on my back/stomach, if I go legs, no issue, but sweat = harness edge catching and off it comes.

The plastic clips are so outrageous I've given up using them outside of pajamas/things with no pockets or belt loops.

Edit: Truthfully I know a surfing rashguard makes a good solution, I'm just too lazy to always put one on. Though maybe a seat harness would fix the issue... Hmmm, I have wanted to try one on snow

No More Cast!!!!

Alrighty gang... so I visited my friendly podiatrist today to have my cast removed... so I went from this guy:



to this guy (who you may remember from a previous injury involving our local big orange box home improvement store):



I'm having to wear a compression sock to help with the swelling... looks weird.... my foot is still swollen, but my calf has atrophied significantly.



He took X-rays to see how the healing is going and seemed very pleased. Doc says there's a good chance that I may actually get to try walking in 2 weeks, instead of the 4 which I was expecting. That is given tat the X-ray looks good. For now I can try standing for shot periods and lifting my foot with the boot off to help build my calf back up. Given the extreme floppy-ness of my calf, I foresee walking being very difficult at first.

It's possible that it may be JIBE before I get to sit back down in the buggy seat.

Sounds like good news that you might be able to put weight on it sooner than planned.

Good to hear you are coming along good and I'm glad I'm getting to see this because it totally brought me back into the right frame of mind to respect the kite at all times, use all safety gear properly, and practice using the safety devices at the start of each session. Hope you keep getting better, we are still praying for you.

Btw I got my new Hornet and I love it perfect in between kite for my beamer and my Twister.

Moving right along it sounds Spencer.

Visit with the doc today and he was very pleased with the healing. I'm supposed to start to transition out of the boot and try a shoe. I was finally able to get up and snap a pic of my recent Xray:



you can see all that loverly hardware which now resides in my foot

Wow! That is a lot of hardware. Glad the healing is going well.

good news