ART SUPPLIES

Thursday, March 10, 2011

UPDATES

Well, it's been a while since I've posted anything. I've been busy the past few months even though I'm not training for anything. Here's what's been going on:

SEMPER FI
First, Daniel is being deployed to the Mediterranean Sea at the end of the month to keep an eye on Libya and the reast of the Middle East. He wasn't supposed to be deployed until summer. This time he will sail to the Med and wait to be sent into the fray when needed. Unfortunately, his deployment will probably be extended to his original date and not be able to come home a few months early.

SWIM, BIKE, RUN
I'm in physical therapy for my ankle/tendon. Apparently I have a split tendon and hopefully PT will help it heal so surgery won't be necessary. It's a slow process and for the past few months and the next few months about the only thing I can do is swim and walk. No running and no biking. My first scheduled marathon for this year happens at the end of the month so that's one race I'm missing. The two I wanted to make are the Kona Marathon in June and Honolulu in December. June may not happen but my physical therapist seems to think Honolulu may work.

DRUMS
Since I can't run or bike I have a lot of free time on my hands so I decided at 50-plus years old it's time to learn how to play the drums. So for the past couple of months I've been driving Karen, the kids and the neighbors crazy with a lot of banging, quite unrhythmically, but I'm starting to get the basics down. I've even sold some of my - now useless - triathlon gear so I can buy some electronic drums. That'll make Karen and everyone else happy because the noise factor is almost zero.

HURRAY FOR KAREN
Karen finally was healthy enough to take her certified nurses assistant test and passed. She was supposed to take it back in November but because of her mo-ped accident and breaking her collarbone she wasn't able to do the test until a couple of weeks ago. Now she is working part-time at two jobs. Her regular job and now at a nursing home. Good job Karen. I'm so proud of you.

GEORGIA ON MY MIND
Rachael, Josh and Maddie have moved from Oahu to Fort Benning, Georgia. Nearly 5,000 miles away. That's a long way. Hopefully we'll still get to see them at least once a year, if not more.

AARON AND GRACE
Aaron and grace are nearing the end of all the mountains of paperwork and money and interviews and everything else so Grace can finally become a U.S. citizen and move here from the Philippines. They were married about a year and a half ago and haven't seen each other since the wedding.

Well, that's about all for now. Take care and thanks for stopping by.

2 comments:

Debbie said...

Hey Randy, It was so nice to speak to you the other day. And I love catching up with what you all have been up to even though I do my best to keep up with bits and pieces on FB. I am happy to hear PT may be your solution instead of surgery. I am also happy that Aaron and Grace willfinally be together. She seems perfect for him. I try to stay posted on her but there is a language barrier that I get hung up on, however she puts a lot of photos on and it is true what they say about a picture. I am very proud to hear about Karen being certified. She is in the most perfect line of work, it suits her. You should record some of your drumming, that way we can all hear your progress. Keep enjoying, Deb

Bruce Stewart (施樸樂) (ブルース・スチュワート) said...

Randy, thanks for the update. I agree it must be hard to post something without some training or race to talk about. I have been busy, too - hopefully recuperating from stresses of the past, but no doubt regressing, too.
Our younger son played drums for a year before going to college, and it drove us and the neighbors nuts. However, he did make a lot of progress, by finding lessons on YouTube and playing the rock accompaniment on his iPod. Fortunately, we found someone who wanted a drum kit, so the house will be quiet next time our son visits.
I am off to Italy at the end of this week to accompany my wife who will study there for 3m. I will stay about 6 weeks and will also briefly visit the UK to see our elder son and my mom. I will just take some running shoes and basic swim gear to Italy but am not sure what will be available or what time I will have. Life is busy with two kids in college.

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