Yesterday, 04/29/09: triked errands mostly on roads, even the main drag through town. Total mileage was ~ 3 or so miles. Stopped at the post office - a man told me of a major biking tour through MI: DALMAC. I spent much time last night researching this event along w/the other events hosted by the Tri County Biking Club (or something like that). I'm seriously contemplating entering a 25K event this summer. I need to contact the organizer and make sure my trike is entry worthy. I know I stopped somewhere else yesterday, too, but I cannot remember....

TODAY, 04/30/09: 1st rain trike :-) I think today was ~ 4 or so miles. I've gotta place a pad of paper by my trike parking place to record miles. That would be helpful for me. I took my laptop downtown to get tweaked - scroll function is not working. There was no rain when I began, but it didn't take long for the sprinkling to start and then the thunder, then the lightning, then the downpour. WOW -- it felt so good. You know, I probably should've sought cover when the rumbles and lightning started, but I'm ready to GO. I'm not gonna go chasing lightning paths to purposely GO, but if I GO in the course of my daily living (or triking or driving or being a passenger), then I'm ready.

I am reclaiming Hwy 57 - the infamous road where many lives are claimed (almost mine). I triked ON it for about a mile today. Vehicle drivers were very courteous. I even saw a cop. No problems. My confidence was increased a hundredfold. GOD is good!!

Riding w/ the computer strapped just behind my head was a bit awkward, but manageable for the short trip. Of course, I took the long way to the computer shop which meant longer awkwardness. Yes, the computer was safe from the rain. Oh well, lessons learned today.

Lessons learned: Rain happens. And that's a good thing. It nourishes Mother Earth and makes all the colors vibrant. You know what else happens, too, don't you? S**t happens. And that's a good thing too, if you choose for it to be. Everyone Poops. We can get bogged down in the messiness & stinkiness (Yep, mine does stink!) of it or we can view it as an opportunity for growth. Essentially, S**t is manure, if processed correctly. And manure is essential to plant growth. Just like when "S**t happens," this can be essential for human growth. It's all choice. I know it isn't always easy to choose " :-) " all the time. Pain produces healing, if you CHOOSE. What's that saying? "No pain, no gain". Truth in simplicity. I'm am thankful for today's rain. I bet if I sat outside I could actually see the plants growing. I bet we each can see each other growing when S**t happens, too.

Blessings Abound!
~A~
PS: I was going to take a picture of Peter Cottontail's descendant today as s/he quickly hopped across my path. But, I wasn't fast enough in getting the camera out. Perhaps there's a way to mount my camera on the trike........

My traveling companion - I haven't named HER yet.

The pedal modification - one piece. Do you see the "O" ring by the right "accelerator"? That's the pull tab to remove the configuration so someone else can drive my vehicle. I cannot drive anyone else's vehicle (I have a medically restricted DL), including cannot rent a car or use a loaner while mine is being repaired. . . . That right "pedal" is actually a plate preventing me from accidentally engaging the actual accelerator. At some point, in the near future ("near" is relative when dealing w/ systems), the center console area to the right of the actual accelerator will be cut away so my right leg can stretch out for relief.

Sorry this is "crooked" - the modification for the gear shifter so I do not have to use my bum R thumb.

In my Element - this is the other way I get around. "Polished Metal Metallic" -isn't that the most redundant, sorry excuse of a color's name that you ever heard of? I would've called this color - galaxy grey or gunsmokin' grey. I like the latter.

Can you see that road at the other end of the lake? That's my goal to accomplish by the end of July - it is worse than "hell hill" - shorter distance and much steeper. I'll do it - one pedal at a time.

How many turtles do you count on that one log??

This is the view of my right "knee" . . .

. . . and this is the view of my left knee while triking :-)

This is the incredible "zoomer" - I am loving it!

o4/26/09: Sunday. Finally, adding pics, if I figure it out, again. I think I'm getting the gist of it... well, I think not, actually. I attempted cut/paste to arrange the pics in a different order. It is what it is (for now).

I haven't triked lately due to much needed rain. Actually, I think the last trike was last Sun (19th), when I participated in our town's annual Fitness event. There was a 5K run & a 1 mi walk. I registered as a walker, but triked the 5K course. I chatted w/ many walkers, runners, & runner/walkers. A 1st grader, named Alex, who I met at the starting line for the walkers, jogged alongside me for quite a distance. He was quite a chatterer - very friendly guy. His family followed, not too far behind, pushing Alex's younger brother in a stroller. One lady was wearing a light blue, long sleeved t-shirt w/ "Dashing through the snow" written on the back. It was from "yrs earlier"; I think that 5K was in IN in Feb. Makes sense that she dashed through the snow. A man who expressed great intrigue in my trike, as a possibility for his 70-something year old mother (I feel 70+ some days), was running the event b/c his employer pays entry fees for company wellness (Great Deal as fees can accumulate rapidly once you're addicted). Mike, or Sam, not recalling exactly what his name was - we never actually introduced ourselves until we'd finished talking about the trike and his running history. He's lost 500 # - not a typo: FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS. He's not focused on his weight so much now as his fitness. He was one of the runner/walkers I met.

I challenge you to get out there and participate in some charity run, bike, or walk this summer. You'll feel doubly good! If you cannot run, bike, or walk then invite someone to push you in a wheelchair. Get out; get moving; feel the air rushing around your face and into & out of your lungs.

Blessings Abound!

~A~

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04/17/09 (Fri) The beauty of today's weather was a foretaste of glory divine. Couldn't have been any more perfect.

My goal for today was to trike 10 miles. Did it!

Started out going UP Luray hill over to Marvel (aka: Hell Hill). My trike odometer peaked at 25 mph going DOWN Marvel before I started applying the brakes. I never ran that fast :-) IRunning down hills can hurt more than running up hills. Circled around the lake twice then went onto the trail to home. I took pics -- will work on getting them onto a post by Sun eve -- quite incredible pics, if I do say so myself. I won't describe them now.

I plan to participate in a fitness day here in town this Sun. You can either walk 1 mile or run 5K. Well, I rec'd permission to trike whichever path I want. IF the weather isn't wet, then I hope to go for the 5K, just b/c triking 1 mile won't take any time at all.

Back to today (Fri) - I chatted w/ many interesting people on my trike: a young family w/ Dad pushing one of the kids on a trike; a mom and 3 young kids out picking up garbage on the trail; a man who was completely intrigued by my trike (he was on a BIcycle); two men working in a yard wondering how fast my trike could go (25 mph down hill otherwise, as fast as my legs can make it go); a newly married woman who is also new to town (she moved from Kansas. As my good friend, Wendy would say about her being from Kansas, "Bless her heart"). I have a rear view mirror on the left steering hand thingie, which permitted me to observe many people turning around as I passed by them. This trike is awesome. I contacted someone from our local newspaper about me doing a volunteer column on the "unsung heroes" in town, like the mom and 3 kids cleaning the trail. I have the higher up name to contact next..... you never know what will transpire. I envision interviewing the ordinary people who use the trail in town - everyone is a hero to someone. We don't hear about these folks often enough.

I visited friends tonight who have encouraged me through the maze of legalities from being severely injured in an auto accident. The husband is a quadriplegic now from an auto accident about 5 yrs ago. I shared pics of my trike and new vehicle (again, will post pics by Sun eve). He has an electric 3-wheeler. Perhaps the three of us will hit the trail sometime this summer.

It is tomorrow already (Sat the 18th). I will be back.............

Blessings Abound!
~A~

04/15/09 Happy Tax Day (Night) - you have a little less than 1 1/2 hrs to get that paperwork to the post office.

I triked to the post office this afternoon to drop off money for the gov't. It was a fast & furious trike b/c I had just a few minutes between arriving home from PT and needing to return home for an appt that didn't transpire (gutter people didn't show - guess they may lose my business). In my rushing about I saw the daughter of our family's adopted g'ma. Grandma Marie died last year while I was in the hospital. She was 98 or 99 yrs old. She was still a spry, alert woman until that last year. She was on my list of "things to do" the weekend after my accident. That was her b'day wkend. She lived in an adult foster care home just a few blocks from me. I stopped to visit her just about every week: taking her for errands (until she disappeared from church one day - someone took her out to eat w/o letting me know -- that was a fiasco, which resulted in her not being able to go to church any more per her family), running, literally, errands for her, polishing her nails, massaging her hands and feet, just loving on her and listening to whatever she wanted to talk about. I don't remember the event of her death - it occured during the "black hole," the 7-wk period that I don't have memory of. It was good to see G'ma Marie's daughter today. We all miss Marie & will do well to live and love as well as she did. She was very ready to go Home. I am, too.

Tomorrow is supposed to be another terrific weather day and several days after that, as well. Tomorrow is the final road test w/my newly modified vehicle. I'll tell you all about it by the end of this week. I'm not as excited about the vehicle as I am about going to the grocery store ON MY OWN.

Blessings Abound!
~A~

Th, 04/09/09: Today's sky looked like a painting. Hardly a breeze which allowed the huge, blinding white, fluffy clouds to be suspended in the flawless blue sky. Wow - that's sounds beautiful, doesn't it? It was!

I triked an old running route today. From my garage to the trail (about 500' from my drive way), over to the truck route, around behind the middle & high school bldgs, past a new business in town (didn't know it was here), snaking around the curvy road by apts, past the bowling alley, to the main drag of town. That sidewalk really could use replacement. I stopped at the post ofc, then rode through down town, back to the trail by the gazebo park, and then to home. On that last leg, I saw a Dad & son resting from their bike ride and asked if the Dad would take a picture of me on the trike. The son jumped right over to look at the "cool bike" and to be in the pic. His name is Benjamin & 5 yrs old. Friendly guy. For now, he is with me on the main page. You can tell from the gloves & clothing that spring remains a little chilly yet. We'll get warmed up by the end of May; there may be a few warm days (no gloves & coat needed) between now and then. Just figured out how to upload a picture from today's trike onto this blog -- appears it popped up on the top.

May Blessings Abound in your heart this Resurrection weekend!

~A~

Wed, 04/08/09 - The weather & sky were absolutely perfect today. At least for a MI spring day: 50's & sunny!

After 2 1/2 hrs of physical therapy (indoors) I couldn't tolerate staying inside when I came home today. A transportation company carts me to/from therapy appts which are 40 minutes from my house. That will end soon as I will have another set of wheels in a few days. It's been 15 months since I last drove. Yep, I am a bit anxious. Not about my driving skills. About other people. Like the man who crossed the center line and hit me head-on. People in a hurry. Not paying attention. Being distracted. Being careless. I've been having dreams (night & day) about being hit while riding my trike or driving my vehicle (I'll tell you what it is when I take possession of it). I know this is a symptom of PTSD. I'm dealing with it - the dreams are in relationship to being vulnerable (again) as a driver. Being a Counselor tends to complicate my emotional/mental health recovery. You'd think there would be the opposite effect. But, you know medical doctors think they can heal themselves, too :-) A nurse treats him/herself vs going to a dr. Cslrs are not much different. However, I am seeing a neuropsychologist 1-2 times each month, so I am taking care of myself! Plus, I'm taking meds to orchestrate neurochemistry balance in my brain (TBI). Initially, I tend to deny that I'm affected emotionally. I have been dealing w/ the grief & loss matters; and continue to.

Back to getting out in that sunshine today. I triked to my bank (accomplishing an errand always helps me get motivated to get out and exercise: two birds w/ one stone). The bank is 1/2 way to the house of an elderly friend, who, I found out yesterday, had knee replacement surgery recently. She's been in my thoughts so I decided to go see her. She is struggling w/ nausea, but her knee is doing quite well. Then I triked for pleasure through neighborhoods I haven't seen in over a year. It's amazing that one can live in the same town for many years and not see parts of the town for too long of a time. Well, my excuse has validity. This time.

The fowl were a plenty on this jaunt. A river runs through our town. Near one traffic bridge there is a dam. In the past year, the water has been returning to former levels providing terrific habitat for wildlife. A few "islands" remain in the river above the dam. A congregation (of fowl) was assembling on a larger island. A couple (2 fowl) on a neighboring island either left the meeting early or boycotted it. They looked odd standing off alone on their own island. I certainly know what it's like to be on my own island away from the support and camaraderie of neighbors. I bet we've all been in that position a few times in our lives. Isn't it amazing what we can think about if we just slow down and listen to our own thoughts. Maybe that's why I stayed so busy up until this accident. Maybe that's why I work harder in recovering so I can cover up much of the chatter in my heart. Running provided the time & space for me to listen to GOD; to listen to my heart in connecting w/ GOD. Triking is taking me there now. I love it! I preferred running alone so I could have uninterrupted spiritual communion w/ GOD. I "learned" to run w/ a local club. They taught me a lot. They taught me to run road races and marathons. I learned the basics and moved my running up a notch to enhance a connection with nature. Some run to get better and win races. Some run to obtain a Boston invite. I ran to eat & be "at one" w/ GOD. To be atoned. To atone.

That's another quirk of mine -- determining purpose of words and word arrangement. To play with words and re-think words. "Say what you mean and mean what you say." Take time to communicate as clearly as possible. For those in close relationship w/ me, this frustrates the life out of them.

I overdid the exercise today. The right half of my body is whining. I got out my platform walker tonight to assist in ambulating around the house -can't put pressure on my right foot. Lesson learned the hard way (IS there another way???): trike less the day of physical therapy :-)

I love hearing from you. I'm grateful we're on this journey (of life) together...

Blessings abound!!
~A~

Mon, 04/06/09 -
No snow! I had a massage and chiropractic appt this afternoon, so I decided to trike over there (1.2 mi). It is chilly out there; I wore 4 layers of clothes and a head/face mask under the helmet. We'll see if the predicted snow shows tonight & tomorrow. Pray for all those attending the MSU/UNC B'ball game tonight in Detroit. Sounds like the weather is quite bad on that side of MI. Over 100K people w/o power in SE MI (Detroit area).

While triking, the name of this blog still bugged me. It wasn't right. Not sure it is exactly the message I wish to convey yet, but this is doggone close. It's a paraphrase of Heb 12. Endurance is definitely the theme of running a marathon &/or healing 35+ broken bones (and a myriad other issues). My massage therapist kneeded my quadriceps - she said she could feel the quad building up in my R leg. Feeling muscle growth is exciting. While I was in hospital beds for 70 days my muscles significantly atrophied. Due to loss of range of motion in my right ankle, it is possible that the calf (gastrocnemius) muscle will suffer considerable & permanent atrophy. Before I began running 6 yrs ago, I often joked about having muscular atrophy in all my muscles. I think it's called flab/fat.

I ran one season of track in high school - the 3 mile event. I definitely was not a stand out star, probably just one of the few morons who chose to run that far. Then I "ran" in college because guys wanted to run w/ Julia & me. This shouldn't be called running, because Julia & I had lots of fun being chased. I attempted to run two years after my last child was born with a friend. She was far more dedicated than I & taking care of 3 kids, ages 2, 3, & 4, consumed my dedication. My 1st born ran cross country his senior yr of high school. The transformation that took place within & without that kid o'mine was phenomenal. I craved what he had attained. So I took up running to challenge my husband to run farther than around our city block. From there the training began until I had completed two marathons & was training for my third. Running worked for me. I'd tried all the exercise fads over the years, but nothing stuck for me. Could be 'cause I chose to focus on keeping up with my kiddos' activities. Here, in MI, I ran 4 seasons. In all kinds of weather (sun, rain, hail, sleet, snow, thunderstorm, ice). The challenge greeting every day was getting out there: just do it! Well, I had very strong, lean leg muscles on Jan 21, 08. That's probably why my legs are as strong as they are now - better than drs anticipated!

On today's trike I saw one dog, two seagulls (go figure!), and quite a few people. I was surprised by the number of people out in the blustery winds. However, the sun was shining and that is a major lure to the outdoors for Michiganders, despite the temperature. The cold air smelled fresh and promising. Spring is coming........ and
Blessings abound!
~A~

04/04/09: Brilliant sunny & blue sky! Triked my favorite route (previously outlined) early this afternoon. I wore 3 layers of clothing & was very comfortable. Under my helmet I wore a dry-weave face mask; it is long enough to cover my neck, too. The air was slightly brisk, especially while zooming down hills.

Was thinking about the name of this blog while out triking. I am NOT an advocate of using the word "try" in my vocabulary. "Try", to me, is a poor attempt at making an excuse for one's choices. I agree w/ Yoda, "There is no try; there is do or not do." I understand what someone is meaning when they genuinely put forth effort to accomplish a task and explain that process as "try" or "tried". However, that line of reasoning always leads to an explanation of what interferred and derailed completing a task. In other words, "try" serves to expect leniency for not keeping one's word. When someone genuinely puts forth effort, then I prefer to focus on the steps that were actually accomplished and the steps yet needing to occur. I feel more positive about myself when I focus on what I actually do vs what I don't get done. I choose to view the things I didn't get done as the next steps for accomplishment. When I say "I 'tried,'" I feel a sense of guilt over what I didn't complete. When I say "I did thus & such and need to do this & that next," there is a greater sense of accountability toward myself & others. Another more crude way to describe "try" is: piss or get off the pot. You either do or don't pee. You may pee a little bit, that is not a "try"; that is an accomplishment. You did pee a little. Or you didn't pee at all. Dribbling is peeing. If someone dribbled on your toilet seat, you'd say that person peed on the seat. They may not have meant to pee on the seat, in other words, they "tried" not to pee on the seat. Yet, they did. My Dad use to say, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." Not that peeing on the toilet seat leads one to Hell (although in my house, I'm sure that's what the males in the house feared when I sat on a wet toilet seat), but the intention is key. If you pee on the toilet seat, then you did not intend to hit the hole wholly. You were careless, unthoughtful, disrespectful, etc... Dr Randy Carlson of Family Life Radio spends much focus on living life intentionally. People do not "try" when they live intentional lives. They either do or not do. Be like Nike: Just Do It!

WOW - that's a long way to get back to "tryking" for the name of this blog. As I was triking, I thought about changing the i to a y. I liked the possibility of tryking. As in, try my KING. But, then I went back to the line of reasoning expounded in the previous paragraph. I do not want someone to "try" my King. I want them to fully immerse themselves in my King. Even when "trying" on clothes; you're still putting them on and taking them off - there is no "trying" involved. There are decisions to be made: does this make my butt look big? can you see too much of what I don't want to show? does this color make me look more green? Those are decisions. So, I decided to forego tryking.

While triking this afternoon, I saw a plethora of wildlife. A squirrel darted across the path in front of me near the river. Two cats were sunning on the trail near the dam. Twelve turtles were sunning on the same log in the swamp pond while there were 4 turtles on another log and 2 on a third log. At the lake there were four geese on the western side of the lake searching for their afternoon snack. There were five swans gracefully gliding in the lake's current. I know swans mate for life. Well, several years ago, a swan died on the lake. I believe the odd-man-out swan is the surviving mate returning every year. I suppose that swan could be the odd-woman-out. I don't know how to decipher gender of swans. Many dogs (not wild life b/c they were leashed) were out with their people; one was pulling his/her people who was on roller blades. Made me think about whether to get a dog to power my trike. There is a harness setup that accomodates 1-2 dogs running w/ a trike. I guess we trikers could initiate our own Iditarod event. 1,160 miles would be a long triking trek. But, I imagine it's a long event for the sledders (& dogs), too.

Today's trike took < one hour. The 1st time I triked this trek (my favorite route) took just over one hour. I guess my legs are getting stronger! Blogging about this part of my recovery will help me keep track of improvement and gains in my lower limb healing.

Jan 22, 09 - this all began then. That was the day of a "near fatal auto accident" in which I was hit, head on, by a large SUV. Just typing the word SUV reminds me of a story my husband tells me (is SUV a word?). When I was in Trauma ICU, I did not understand how I ended up in the hospital. He kept telling me that I was hit by an SUV. Each time, I'd respond, "What's an S-U-V?" I could not comprehend his description. I experience mild TBI (traumatic brain injury), more about that at some point in the future, and I'm sure the TBI + drugs + trauma aided in my inability to comprehend and remember what an SUV was.

On Tues of this week, a friend reminded me that I thought I had been hit while out running. I do not recall hearing that element of this story before. However, it is entirely possible she &/or others have told me this same story many times. Recently, another friend laughed when she told me that she's told me the same story three times since I've been home from the hospital (which is one year ago on April Fool's Day); as of right now, I do not remember what she told me, but I do remember us laughing together about me not remembering. Running was a near daily experience for me. I may have been on my way home to run. I don't know. Not sure why I thought I'd been hit while running. Could be because I had so many broken bones (35+; some shattered beyond repair) and it made less sense that I could be that injured in a car accident when my VW Passat had airbag protection and I always wore my seat belt. I've learned, "SUV trumps Passat! every time". To sum up where this paragraph began, my legs were severly injured and to be able to trike is a miracle and JOY! Keeping track of my legs' recovery through this blog will also help me mentally, emotionally, & spiritually.

With that said, I will stop for now. We're supposed to get snow tomorrow (Sun) -Tues. This is spring in MI :-) But Wed's coming and it's gonna be sunny again - in other words, triking times again........

Blessings abound! and GOD is good! ALL the time!! (which reminds me of a running story, ..... I'll tell you another time) ~A~

Now, I am a triker (picture to be obtained in the near future). Formerly, I was a runner (picture to be unburied in the near future). Two marathons under my belt (er, shoe soles), a plethora of 5Ks, and quite a few other road races in between. I had just started training for my 3rd marathon (OBX) on Jan 19, 08. My ultimate goal was to participate in a charity marathon in HAWAII for my 50th b'day.

I ran to eat. So, in a sense, running was my life :-) In many senses, running was my life - it managed stress, provided exercise, aided time management, enhanced self confidence, and most importantly of all, connected me with GOD through nature, sanctuary, and gratitude. I felt invincible while running. Even when I didn't want to get out there or get out of bed, I knew how much better I'd feel once the run was completed. Running motivated me to face all challenges. The marathoner's creed, "There will be days when I don't know if I can run a marathon. There will be a lifetime knowing I have.", encouraged me to keep moving forward.


January 22, 2008. I do not remember whether I ran that day or the day before that or the day before that. I do remember running the 5K Portland Winter Run (MI) on Jan 19th. Generally, I ran daily 5-6 days each week for no less than 30 mins and upward to several hours (while marathon training). My favorite length of run was 1 - 1 1/2 hours at least twice a week.


I began practicing to be a triker on 12/30/08. I have a new trike (THANK YOU CITIZEN'S AUTO INSURANCE) made by www.terratrike.com . For one week I rode my trike (yellow zoomer) inside my house using a "trainer". Then I ventured outside one sunny, wintery day and felt the rush of wind over my face and around my body again. Refreshing!!! Life-giving!!! My blood was pulsing through my veins again. Winter returned, along w/awful depression (not that depression is ever less than awful), so I merely looked at my trike, often, as I hobbled through my family room.


On Sat, 03/28/09, spring sprung and I was out zooming the trails in town. For ONE solid HOUR (you can coast while triking - this is quite cool as it is similar to a runner's high). What a glorious experience. I triked my favorite running course: across the street to the trail, across the foot bridge, around to go under the bridge, then across another foot bridge, to the dash across 91, through the woods, around the lake, up hell hill, by the elementary school, zooming across 57, down Luray hill, and home to park in my empty garage (well, okay, there is a lot of college kids' stuff in there).


Today, 04/02/09, I believe the sun shone just for me, the very few minutes it graced us as a winter storm is heading this way. Using much self-talk to motivate myself to carpe diem, I triked (troked??) nearly the same course outlined above, but with a couple detours to complete errands to the post office and bank. It is wonderful to be able to manage these, seemingly simple, tasks by myself. So many people have generously provided transportation & assistance for me these past 15 months. Today, I proudly proclaim, "I AM A TRIKER". It seems probable that I'll never be able to run again. More about that later. For today, I am a triker.


My goal is to use this blog as an accountability tool to keep on triking. To log my triking, similar to a "running log". To keep this process fascinating for me to review, I'll add personal commentary about my journey to becoming a triker, hence, triking times. Based on the sound of "triking times", there is similarity to "trying times". They may share similar meanings, as well. We'll see...


If you choose to join me in this journey, I look forward to hearing from you (unless you're correcting my grammar). Bear with me as I learn about blogging.

Blessings abound!!

~A~