Update on Wendy, Fall 1 Meandering Hikes

Wendy's Status

Here's the lastest from Bill (as of Saturday, 8/28) on Wendy:

Continued progress for Wendy: much less pain and movement sensitivity for the knee and leg, the new smaller lighter brace is a huge improvement in comfort, mobility, she is off the pain meds, energy better, more independence using the walker, etc.  Surgeon says about 6 weeks from surgery (8/19) to 50 % weight bearing and walking with a cane; physical therapy will be after the 6 weeks.  Meanwhile she can do walker "excursions", gentle knee small flexion out of the brace, and at about 3 weeks some range of movement exercises.  

 

Thanks so much for all your well wishes, all your emails and phone calls, offers of help, bringing us needed items, gifts, bringing food, meals, etc.   

 

Warm wishes from us both,

 

Bill

 

Fall Meandering Hikes

 

Wendy tells Dick Jordan that she thinks that the Fall 1 Meandering hikes will run as scheduled, but will make some calls this week to confirm that is the case.  Dick will post any additional information on the blog as it becomes available. 

Wendy Practices Her New Dance Routines (8/26/10)

In case you didn't receive Wendy's e-mail, here's the latest on her bum leg:

Dear Friends,

 

I had my one week follow up today and all is progressing as it should.  I got all 15 staples out (didn't hurt) and can now take the brace off to do very mini bends of the knee twice a day. I have a lighter sleeker brace that is more comfortable and I can even lift it myself a bit.  And best of all I can take a shower using a shower chair as of tomorrow! 

 

I have been overwhelmed by the cards, phone calls, emails, visits, loans of equipment, and gifts of food, flowers and help.   I am so grateful to have such good friends.  Bill and I are deeply appreciative of all you've done.  "I get by with a little help from my friends."

 

I look forward to teaching you all the two latest dances, the Wendy Wobble and the Wheelchair Wiggle when I see you!

 

(BTW, please use our Comcast email address (bdreskin@comcast.net), not our AOL email address, for sending us emails, and update in your email address book.  Our AOL is just used for group emails because Comcast has technical issues with us sending out group emails.  Thank you!)

 

Love,

 

Wendy

Wendy Progress Report (8/26/10)

In case you missed Bill Dreskin's e-mail, here's the latest progress report on Wendy:

Dear Friends,

 

Wendy is progressing very well, slept well last night, and was 6 hours last night between oxycodone (Percocet ) doses.  She had ultrasound Doppler yesteday because of calf pain and I got to see her leg out of the brace and bandages.  Everything looks very good!  Minimal swelling in the foot and leg except for the knee area, color good, no sign of skin problems or surgical wound infection.  Distal proximal incision is about 5" - 6".  (I watched the type of surgical procedure on YouTube (ORIF - open reduction internal fixation). 

 

Many friends have been calling us and getting extra items for us when they shop at supermarket or CVS and dropping it by; this system has been a tremendous help to us to keep shopping, cooking and food preparation to a minimum.

 

Now I know first-hand what it is like to personally care for a non-mobile person.  A big job!  But hopefully in a few weeks she will have graduated to a cane, and Wendy will indeed be very happy to again have at least some mobility around the house and beyond!

Thanks so much for all your well-wishes, help, and support!

 

Warm wishes,

 

Bill

AUGUST 31 – NO HIKE THIS WEEK!

Just a reminder that there is no hike this week, Tuesday, August 31st. There are is no hike on Monday. August 30th, either.

More on Caring For Wendy

An update from Bill Dreskin:

 

All is under control.  I think easiest system for keeping track of those who have volunteered and signed up for a four hour shift is simply for Karin to keep a current hard copy calendar of volunteer help sign ups and for me to have an updated help calendar also.  Then when they call Karin or me, or email Karin or me, we will update our calendars and know what is still needed.  I think an online sign-ups system will be too complicated, unnecessary, and difficult to keep it "in real time" and current.

 

Dick, please post on your Tuesday blog that they are not necessarily four hour shifts but simply whatever a volunteer would like to do whether it is an hour, two hours, three hours, four hours, whatever. Thanks!

 

I will continue to send emails about Wendy's progress directly to Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Meanderers and others.  Thanks for also posting updates on your Tuesday blog.

 

Best,

 

Bill  

Helping Care for Wendy

Wendy is scheduled to return home from Marin General Hospital about noon today (Saturday, 8/21) and will need some assistance at home for a while.  In case you didn't receive it, here's Karin Thoreson's suggestions for helping her out:

"I visited Wendy and Bill in the hospital this afternoon.  I mentioned Pegge's plan to discuss how to help with Wendy's care. 

Since the in-home caregiver will be leaving Sunday, she will need one of us with her for at least 8 hours a day starting Monday.  I will be with Wendy Monday, so you guys can get a calender out and decide who can take which "shift".  We can start out with 4 hour shifts,  8:30 to 4:30, Monday to Friday.  This will last for three weeks.  Evenings and weekends I'm not sure about - Bill and Wendy can let us know what's best when they get settled in.

I'm not a member of any social website such as Facebook, so I don't have a place to create a calender where everyone could sign up for a shift and see what's available.  If anyone knows how to do this, it would be great if you could set it up.  

Another idea is to bother poor Dick Jordan on his vacation and see if he can create a comments section on his blog.  We could write which shift we want in the comments section, and everybody else could see it .  If anyone knows of a blog where we could this, that would be great. 

I'll be the coordinator for this, so Bill can go and coordinate all the other things he has to do.  Please write me at happywalker1@comcast.net.  Pegge, I'll keep my cell phone on while I'm at Wendy's Monday, so that if questions arise while you discuss arrangements, you can call me and I'll just ask Wendy!"

(If you want to volunteer to work a shift, you can try adding a comment to this blog post or just e-mail Karen.  Dick Jordan, who is leaving Ashland, Oregon Saturday will see if he can come up with a "shift calendar" either for the blog or Facebook after he returns home unless someone else has figured out a simple way to do so).

More About Wendy

Wendy's husband, Bill, says Wendy will probably be discharged from Marin General tomorrow (8/21).

Wendy's Post-Op Report

In case you didn't receive Bill Dreskin's "post-op" report on Wendy's status, here's the latest news:

"Surgery (tibial platreau fracture - open reduction internal fixation) this morning (1.5 hrs. procedure) went very well; recovery fine; Wendy will be discharged tomorrow early afternoon; no other soft tissue damage seen on surgery; prognosis 90 to 95% return of functionality; basic recovery expectations are: 3 weeks no weight bearing, rigid support for knee; 2 months with cane and 50% weight bearing; then 100 % weight bearing and 2 months rehabilitation/physical therapy; full walking and hiking ability about 4 to 5 months from surgery.

 

Wendy can have visitors at the hospital until 9 PM.  Her in room phone at the hospital is accessible by calling main number 415-925-7000 and asking for Wendy Dreskin at room # 4136.  Take elevator from main lobby to floor 4.  Visitors here are welcome anytime after we return home early afternoon tomorrow.  

 

Thanks so much for all your well wishes, all your emails and phone calls, offers of help, bringing us needed items, gifts, bringing food, meals, etc.   You folks are really terrific!

 

Warm wishes from us both,

 

Bill"

Crissy Field Walk, Monday, 8/23

Next Monday, the 23rd,  the Monday Meanderers have decided to do a walk at Crissy Field and do a "take out" lunch at Greens Restaurant at Fort Mason.  Meet at the Warming Hut at the west end at 9:45 AM.

AUGUST 24 – NO HIKE THIS WEEK!

Just a reminder that there is no hike this week, Tuesday, August 24th (nor next week, August 31st). There are no Monday hikes those weeks, either.

Update on Wendy

Wendy's surgery has been rescheduled from Wednesday to Thursday morning.

Update On Wendy

Here's the latest news from Wendy about the injury she sustained last Friday on the final day of her trip to Central America:  "Not to do anything halfway, I managed to fracture tibia, fibula, and femur.  I'll be hobbling in Marin for a while.  Surgery Wednesday at MGH, home Friday if all goes well."

August 16 & 17 Hikes Canceled

In case you didn't get Bill Dreskin's e-mail, Wendy broke her tibia during their trip to Panama and Costa Rica. She will need surgery and is seeking recommendations for non-Kaiser doctors. This week's hikes are canceled.
(From Dick Jordan on I-5 near Roseburg, Oregon)

Gone Fishing (Sort Of)

While you are preparing for and taking the final “Final Exam” hike of August next week, Dick Jordan will be into his second week vacationing in Oregon.  This week he has been loafing at the Metolius River Resort west of Sisters.  Tomorrow he leaves for Eugene for the weekend and then he’ll finish up his trip by attending the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.  (Click here for Dick’s trip blog).

Shell Beach “Final Exam” Hike (8/17) Preview

This will not only be our final, “Final Exam” for the summer, but our final August 2010 hike as well.

We’ll hike from (but not meet at) the same parking lot on Pierce Point Road that’s just before the turn to Heart’s Desire where we parked for the June 29 “Final Exam”.  On the way to Shell Beach we’ll stop to munch ripe huckleberries. Remember to bring your contribution to our gourmet feast, and a plate, cup and utensils. (Let’s try to cut down on paper and plastic throw-aways as much as possible).

THIS IS A SHUTTLE HIKE! CALL OR E-MAIL WENDY IF YOU'RE COMING!
Home: (415) 457-3949, E-mail: bdreskin@comcast.net.
 
Directions to the trailhead: Meet at the Shell Beach parking lot, not at the trailhead (we’ll carpool to it from the Shell Beach lot). After you pass Inverness, take a right on Camino del Mar (there’s an inn on your left; it’s just where the road starts going uphill.) Follow it to the parking lot. (Click here for a Google Map that shows this area; you may have to zoom in and re-center the map to see Camino del Mar).

We’ll carpool from there to trailhead, hike back to Shell Beach, then return to Heart’s Desire for our picnic lunch.

No restrooms at trailhead; stop at the Bear Valley Visitors Center on the way if you need to powder your nose. Meet at 9:00 am to carpool from St. Rita.

Weather forecast: Dick Jordan will be in Oregon and miss this hike, but you can click here the National Weather Service forecast for the hike.

More on this hike: "G15 Pierce Point Road to Shell Beach" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the area in which we'll be hiking. The trails are also shown on page 4 of the Tomales Bay State Park brochure. The Google Earth image below shows Heart's Desire and Shell Beaches as seen from the east side of Tomales Bay. (Click on the image to open a larger version in your Web browser).

AUGUST 10 – NO HIKE THIS WEEK!

Just a reminder that there is no hike this week, Tuesday, August 10th. There is no hike on Monday, August 9th, either.  The next hike will be the “Final Exam” Shuttle Hike to Shell Beach in Tomales Bay State Park on Tuesday, August 17th.

MORE CORRECTIONS: Fall Hike Registration

The first two e-mails and the corresponding blog posts (both of which have been corrected) about Fall hike registration had incorrect course numbers.  Here are the correct course numbers (CRN) and complete information on registration.  Cost for each class is $115.  (The brain-dead blog editor apologizes for the confusion).

As of Wednesday evening, August 4th, there were 5 spots remaining in the Fall 1 Tuesday hike sessions (Sept 7 - Oct 19) and 10 left for the Fall 2 Tuesday hikes (Oct 26 - Dec 7).   The College of Marin has also changed the "Term" designation on its Website from "Fall 2010 (CES)" to "Fall 2010 Community Ed."

Class Dates

Fall 1 (CRN # 85165) hikes run from on seven Tuesdays from September 7th through October 19th.  (The list of specific hike locations is not yet available).

Fall 2 (CRN # 85167) hikes run from on seven Tuesdays from October 26th through December 7th.  (The list of specific hike locations is not yet available).
(Wendy is also leading hikes on Mondays, but not Thursdays, this Fall).

Registration Options

You can in person, by mail, fax (415 460-0773), or on-line.
On-Line Registration
To register on-line you will need a Username and Password. Even if you’ve registered on-line in the past, you may not have or know these two pieces of information.  If this is the case, phone the College of Marin Registration Office (415 457-8811, Ext. 8822) and ask for your Username and a temporary password (which will probably be your date of birth).
Then follow these steps to sign up for classes:

1. Type www.marincommunityed.org into your Web browser.
   
2. Click on “Apply and Register” in the left-hand column.
   
3. If you’ve signed up for classes (including Meandering in Marin) before, then click on the blue highlighted link to MyCOM Portal under the heading “Continuing Community Education Students."
   
4. Enter your User Name and temporary Password.  (You’ll be immediately prompted to set up a new, permanent password).
   
5. Click on the “Student” tab at the top left-hand side of the Welcome to MyCOM Portal page.
   
6. Under “Registration Tools” either “Search” for classes if you don’t know the class number (“CRN”); if you know the “CRN”, click on “Register, Add or Drop Classes”, and enter the CRN.
   
7. Under “Registration Term” select “Fall 2010 Community Ed” and click the “Submit” Button.
   
8. Under the “Add Classes Worksheet” type in the CRN # for each class that you wish to sign up for.
   
9. Click “Checkout” at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions for entering billing information to pay for the class.

If you enter the wrong class number by mistake, you will have to phone the Registration Office (415 457-8811, Ext. 8822) and ask the staff to remove the class.  (Community Ed students can’t use the “Drop Class” feature of the Website to remove classes).

CORECTION: COM HIKE REGISTRATION

 The original e-mail/blog post about Fall hike registration had incorrect course numbers.  Here are the correct course numbers (CRN) and complete information on registration.

 

Class Dates

 

Fall 1 (CRN # 85165) hikes run from on seven Tuesdays from September 7th through October 19th.  (The list of specific hike locations is not yet available). 

Fall 2 (CRN # 85167) hikes run from on seven Tuesdays from October 26th through December 7th.  (The list of specific hike locations is not yet available).

(Wendy is also leading hikes on Mondays, but not Thursdays, this Fall).

Registration Options

You can in person, by mail, fax (415 460-0773), or on-line.

On-Line Registration

To register on-line you will need a Username and Password.  Even if you’ve registered on-line in the past, you may not have or know these two pieces of information.  If this is the case, phone the College of Marin Registration Office (415 457-8811, Ext. 8822) and ask for your Username and a temporary password (which will probably be your date of birth).

Then follow these steps to sign up for classes:

1. Type www.marincommunityed.org into your Web browser.
2. Click on “Apply and Register” in the left-hand column.
3. If you’ve signed up for classes (including Meandering in Marin) before, then click on the blue highlighted link to MyCOM Portal under the heading “Continuing Community Education Students."
4. Enter your User Name and temporary Password.  (You’ll be immediately prompted to set up a new, permanent password).
5. Click on the “Student” tab at the top left-hand side of the Welcome to MyCOM Portal page.
6. Under “Registration Tools” either “Search” for classes if you don’t know the class number (“CRN”); if you know the “CRN”, click on “Register, Add or Drop Classes”, and enter the CRN.
7. Under “Registration Term” select “Fall 2010 (CES)” and click the “Submit” Button.
8. Under the “Add Classes Worksheet” type in the CRN # for each class that you wish to sign up for.
9. Click “Checkout” at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions for entering billing information to pay for the class.

If you enter the wrong class number by mistake, you will have to phone the Registration Office (415 457-8811, Ext. 8822) and ask the staff to remove the class.  (Community Ed students can’t use the “Drop Class” feature of the Website to remove classes).

Fall Hike Registration Now Available

Good news, bad news, about registering for the Fall Meandering hikes.

Good news:  Registration opened on Monday, August 2nd.

Bad news:  The College of Marin has set up a new, and not very user-friendly Website for on-line registration.

Class Dates

 

Fall 1 (CRN # 85165) hikes run from on seven Tuesdays from September 7th through October 19th.  (The list of specific hike locations is not yet available). 

Fall 2 (CRN # 85167) hikes run from on seven Tuesdays from October 26th through December 7th.  (The list of specific hike locations is not yet available).

(Wendy is also leading hikes on Mondays, but not Thursdays, this Fall).

Registration Options

You can in person, by mail, fax (415 460-0773), or on-line.

On-Line Registration

To register on-line you will need a Username and Password.  Even if you’ve registered on-line in the past, you may not have or know these two pieces of information.  If this is the case, phone the College of Marin Registration Office (415 457-8811, Ext. 8822) and ask for your Username and a temporary password (which will probably be your date of birth).

Then follow these steps to sign up for classes:

1. Type www.marincommunityed.org into your Web browser.
2. Click on “Apply and Register” in the left-hand column.
3. If you’ve signed up for classes (including Meandering in Marin) before, then click on the blue highlighted link to MyCOM Portal under the heading “Continuing Community Education Students."
4. Enter your User Name and temporary Password.  (You’ll be immediately prompted to set up a new, permanent password).
5. Click on the “Student” tab at the top left-hand side of the Welcome to MyCOM Portal page.
6. Under “Registration Tools” either “Search” for classes if you don’t know the class number (“CRN”); if you know the “CRN”, click on “Register, Add or Drop Classes”, and enter the CRN.
7. Under “Registration Term” select “Fall 2010 (CES)” and click the “Submit” Button.
8. Under the “Add Classes Worksheet” type in the CRN # for each class that you wish to sign up for.
9. Click “Checkout” at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions for entering billing information to pay for the class.

If you enter the wrong class number by mistake, you will have to phone the Registration Office (415 457-8811, Ext. 8822) and ask the staff to remove the class.  (Community Ed students can’t use the “Drop Class” feature of the Website to remove classes).

Stan Walker’s Presidio Walk (Mon, 8/9)

Wendy is on vacation until August 17th, so there will be no hike on Tuesday, August 10th. But you can join Stan Walker for a walk through the San Francisco Presidio and lunch out afterwards on Monday, August 9th. 

Here are the details: 

When: Monday, August 9 @ 9:45 am.

Where: Meet at north part of Fort Winfield Scott.

Directions: Coming South off the GG Bridge, just past the toll booth, take the first right turn onto Merchant Rd. There's a bus stop on the corner. Continue on Merchant Rd. to the first STOP sign at the intersection with Lincoln Blvd. Continue across Lincoln into Fort Scott. There is parking on both sides of the street.

Please phone or email Stan if you are planning to be there so he can make reservations for lunch.

Phone: 415-331-2803

Email: swalkrn@comcast.net