Man, moving around is much more of a toil than I had imagined at this time of my hip healing. I don’t think I’m “walking” any better than I was a couple weeks ago. It my muscles not wanting to do what they previously did. And when I try to make them do it, they rebel with anger and I pay for it. That is doing anything but riding. Riding, I can’t produce any power, but my muscles are super sore and unusable afterward.
But today they are. Yesterday, I started a project to put a new roof on Trudi’s mom’s garden shed. Trudi said it needed new shingles and a little plywood, but the whole roof was toast. It had been leaking for a while and it was completely rotten. So, once it started, it got more and more energy intensive, as most repair projects are.
So, I ripped off all the old roof, by hobbling around with a sledge hammer, while Trudi and her sister went to Home Depot and bought materials. It didn’t take too long to get it down to the rafters. I had Trudi get the guys at Home Depot to cut the plywood to correct measurements. There was some other wood that needed to be replaced, but it wasn’t a but deal. But leaning over to cut wood, or trying to climb up a ladder is nearly impossible.
It all went together as good as a garden shed should go together. I only brought a roofing nailer, so there was a lot of hand nailing. We got covered with felt yesterday and Trudi is going to get shingles right now. It shouldn’t take too long. I’m thinking about putting a pattern in the shingles, something a little more decorative. We’ll see.
Trudi’s mom’s 80th birthday party is this afternoon. I’m not going to make it to the triathlon. I texted Pat and am going to try to meet up with him and Gwen tonight later. I hope to watch the triathlon live this afternoon, but haven’t looked for a website yet.
Okay, I better get back to work. Back to painkillers this morning. That is probably a sign I overdid it a little?
Original 40 year old shingles.
Old shingles removed. You can see the mold on the rafters.
New sheathing and some other wood.
Trudi and her brother, Bob, nailing on the felt.
We drank some of this last night. I haven’t had much of a stomach for wine the last month. I didn’t know baseball teams had their own wine lables.
How about this Restoration Hardward catalog? It is like three Topeka phonebooks. I heard that their rational for it being so big is that it is actually less waste to just send out one, huge catalog, than do mutiple ones throughout the year.
seriously – I wrote you weeks ago with 1st hand experience (at age 56) on recovery – I’ve been baffled ever since by the completely different recovery procedures we’ve experienced. I can only assume your fracture was much more benign than mine, as I was totally non weight bearing for nearly 6 weeks and wouldn’t/couldn’t even thought of doing the shit you’re doing.
good luck with this!
I don’t see repairing a roof as a good idea. I know you want to still live life but at what cost? There is a reason your body is not liking some of the stuff you are doing. I personally think your just delaying recovery if not worse. I’ve never broken near as many body parts as you but I have seen it enough with others and “common sense” tells me that your over doing it!
Don’t be too proud…….Get a temporary handicap thingy, to hang on your front mirror.
That storage shed looks a little like the one behind my house. The guy stores all sort of crap behind it, so that he doesn’t have to see it. Unfortunately, I see it when I’m on my deck.
PS. Never, and I say never, take a picture of your S/O, when she’s in a position like your one photo. If she sees it, you will pay.
PSS 80 ain’t too old. I was riding with an old ex-pro this morning, who is turning 80 this fall.
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I don’t know Steve’s situation at all, but the sitting around thing creates its own complications. Loss of mobility, loss of range of motion, scar tissue basically binding joints and muscles, loss of strength to nearby musculature. I know this from experience. It’s a long road back in physio.
Again, I don’t know Steve’s situation, but there may be no way around the discomfort.
I grew up near there , Old style beer is cubs fans choice,first beer I ever puked. The wine might be ok. Have you ever ridden Kettle Moraine while up there,it’s about 1 1/2 hr from where you are best MTB around, know you cant now.
We received not one but three of those Restoration Hardware catalogs within a week. Took the last one over to our nearest RH the other night and duct taped it to their front door. Such a ridiculous thing to do.
Steve, you are a complete nut! Lol! You are also a great inspiration to a lot of people! You have the energy, will and hardheadedness of a kid. I am the same way. I know what is probably smart and best for me but dammit I’m gonna do things MY way and on MY terms! It doesn’t always workout good for me but that is the way it has got to be! Keep living life brother!