Not a lot of pictures to go along with the post this time. Have been sorting through the storage stuff. I am amazed sometimes at all the things I sold for next to nothing, if not just outright giving it away. I really had a lot of nice things at one time. However, I am not missing all the home furnishings. It was and always will be just stuff.
  What I am doing is enjoying the fact that I did what I did to force a change. I know people back home think getting rid of everything and buying a sailboat on the other side of the country was crazy. Maybe?? What I know for a fact, is that doing it was the best thing I could have ever done for my recovery. If I had not done it, there is every possibility that I would still be laying in a recliner with nothing to look forward to. All I really had was a bucket full of willpower.

 Why do I have this on my mind? This past week has been another landmark in my recovery. I mentioned, several times, the exhaustion I felt every waking moment. The sheer fatigue in my legs. It has been a very miserable stretch that was with me for quite some time before I even bought Mary Lee. Every thing I did, even just getting up to get a glass of water, was so very difficult. I literally had to force myself to move. Throw in the excessive amounts of pain and miserable is the kindest descriptor I can think of.

  That first summer working on Mary Lee was just insane. I would drink an energy shot and take a pain pill, then as they kicked in I would force myself to move. When the pain got bad enough, I would do it again. The winter in Montana was exactly the same. I tried everything I could think of. I used supplements, even got into sprouting while trying to figure out where all the fatigue was coming from. I gave much thought to nutrition and its role. I know a lot of what was going on with my legs was caused by my back muscles spasming and likely pinching nerves. That, however did not explain all of it.

 So here I am with a good start on my fourth year of owning Mary Lee. Just this last week I am noticing a much lower amount of fatigue. I know it sounds like a small thing, but I assure you, it most definitely is a big thing for me. I actually get up in the morning and feel like moving.  "WOW" what a change.

  What do I owe the change to? Well certainly never giving up. But I think it is a combination of Vivian making sure I am eating better, good vitamin and mineral supplements,  and the muscles in my back getting stronger(exercise). Let's not forget a year and a half since I forced myself off pain meds. All this has led to finally figuring out how to get more sleep. Still not enough, but better.
   I just keep moving no matter what.

  So it is a very big deal. I know I am not there yet, but, I now know that I will get there. That, my friends, is what all the sacrifice was about. I turn 50 on September 25th. I do so knowing that all is not lost and my best is yet to come. Beat that!

  Vivian has been so wonderful through the part she has shared with me. Fate smiled on me when we met.

  So.....Where does this lead? OOOOHHHH.....the adventures with Mary Lee have not even really started yet. I am back in the gym for the winter. I will start off next spring on a roll instead of recovering enough to get going. I have a partner in this. Yes, if you guessed that Vivian is going boating you are correct. Her youngest son is in his senior year of high school then off to college. A move to Florida is in the near future. Much better sailing grounds for Mary Lee. All the particulars have not been ironed out but we will be spending time in the Islands getting used to the idea. All very exciting stuff. Now you know why a bunch of the "quality of living" upgrades to Mary Lee are needed.
  Vivian and I have been together well over a year now. Disagreements are very rare and inconsequential, we "fit". Our beliefs are so similar it defies logic. Who would ever believe a mountain man from a small town and a city gal, who have lived such different lifestyles, would be so alike?

 For now...I have just one picture of what I have been up to.

First brake job since getting hurt. It hurts my back to do it, but I won't let Vivian pay for a brake job when I have the tools and know how. It takes longer to get the tools and jack out than it does to put in new brake pads.
  This next week I will finish sorting through stuff and putting what I am keeping into a much smaller storage unit. We need the garage back.
  Not parting with any more tools. I am lamenting the loss of welder and torches along with some of the grinders, buffers, compressor....well, the list is long. I will part with no other tools.

 I have a saying. A man with no tools is at the mercy of the man with tools when he needs something done. With tools there is nothing I won't attempt to build or fix. Throw in a couple books and I think I can do an acceptable job on anything within reason. If I cannot, I will tear it apart and do it better the next time ;-)