Ah, autumn!!! It is so beautiful around here this time of the year. I wish I were riding my bike, with the cold air on my face and the smell of musty leaves around me. Alas, my bike riding is now confined to occasion bouts on the stationary at the gym. I am experiencing the fall through the eyes of a sitting, complacent non-participant. Sigh. Big deep sigh.

Still, things are moving along. I started back to physical therapy this week. I will see a physiotherapist two times a week for an hour and leave each time with a prescription for the exercise I must do for the next few days. The goal of this session, which lasts until the Christmas break, is to get strong enough to do the PT as soon as I can following surgery.

I've been battling a nuisance rash on my left ankle for the past two months, and I'm starting to worry that this thing could be a show stopper in January. At first my internal medicine doctor thought it might be some form of shingles. She sent me to a dermatologist, who diagnosed a fungal infection and gave me some cream. Well, two weeks later it's still erupting new blisters and the pain is deep and boring. It's enough to keep me up at night. On the positive side, it no longer itches, so that's a great improvement from the early days.

The other thing that is troublesome is my lack of energy. I get exhausted very quickly, and many of the physical tasks I would normally do (cleaning up the yard for winter, gutters, etc.) must be delegated to Mr. Fluffy. This has put him in a state of chronic overload, and I am incredibly guilty over it. I know that this is how couples support each other, but I don't make a very good patient. Nor do I have patience.

All in all, my days are spent mostly looking forward to a time when I can move freely, and quickly, once again.