M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thanks for the update. Good to hear the recovery is ahead of schedule.
Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The "Glendora Garage"
- Thread starter Dan in Pasadena
- Start date
Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Good news, Dan. Glad you are making progress.
Swanny1953
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Glad to hear your recovery is ahead of schedule. PT's are worth their weight in gold, if you can latch on to a good one!
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
1st night w/o pain meds!
7am alarm - Dropped phone so I got up as fast as I can w/sling to keep from waking up the house.
Knocked over the tv tray side table and my pills, water bottle, yada, yada clanged all over. Waking up startled pisses me off.
Anyway, all that then my shoulder started aching from the movement. So a couple Tylenol and only feeling a little pain now. More PT this afternoon and I'll need ice after that.
Garage Journal worthy stuff:
Our Fiat 500 toad is BADLY over due (by YEARS) for an oil change. I tried long before I hurt the shoulder. Absolutely could not get the drain plug off. It was "king konged" on there and I was afraid of breaking the aluminum crankcase so I intended to take it back to the shop that did the engine back when. Never did it.
Now my BIL staying w/us during my recovery who can do everything mechanical I can do - offered to try.
I had stopped at a long breaker bar when I'd tried. We (he) tried my impact wrench w/6 point socket - nope. It rounded off the piece-o **** drain plug. Removed a crossmember to get my best vice grips on it - nope just bit off metal. Then tried a sharpened cold chisel biting into the raised washer-like part of the bolt head - nope. The only thing remaining was cut a kerf into the head as deep as possible then use a large flat screwdriver w/square shank and wrench it. I decided against it. We might snap it off. Plus we were getting in too deep and I'm in no position right now to even lay down and see the condition. This drain plug was truly a soft POS. Didn't try to just replace the oil filter either as it's a cartridge type down in a recess in a plastic housing that looked questionable - maybe he same brain-dead idiot that tightened the drain plug did it too! So we'll make sure it's full and if the m*therf*cker blows up then hell with it. The BIL has been using it for months to drive 250 miles to central valley and back and offered to buy it from us. I am tempted to let him. We bought it for our 2019 cross country RV trip for only $5500. He'll buy it for maybe $3500 so probably as good as we can expect.
7am alarm - Dropped phone so I got up as fast as I can w/sling to keep from waking up the house.
Knocked over the tv tray side table and my pills, water bottle, yada, yada clanged all over. Waking up startled pisses me off.
Anyway, all that then my shoulder started aching from the movement. So a couple Tylenol and only feeling a little pain now. More PT this afternoon and I'll need ice after that.
Garage Journal worthy stuff:
Our Fiat 500 toad is BADLY over due (by YEARS) for an oil change. I tried long before I hurt the shoulder. Absolutely could not get the drain plug off. It was "king konged" on there and I was afraid of breaking the aluminum crankcase so I intended to take it back to the shop that did the engine back when. Never did it.
Now my BIL staying w/us during my recovery who can do everything mechanical I can do - offered to try.
I had stopped at a long breaker bar when I'd tried. We (he) tried my impact wrench w/6 point socket - nope. It rounded off the piece-o **** drain plug. Removed a crossmember to get my best vice grips on it - nope just bit off metal. Then tried a sharpened cold chisel biting into the raised washer-like part of the bolt head - nope. The only thing remaining was cut a kerf into the head as deep as possible then use a large flat screwdriver w/square shank and wrench it. I decided against it. We might snap it off. Plus we were getting in too deep and I'm in no position right now to even lay down and see the condition. This drain plug was truly a soft POS. Didn't try to just replace the oil filter either as it's a cartridge type down in a recess in a plastic housing that looked questionable - maybe he same brain-dead idiot that tightened the drain plug did it too! So we'll make sure it's full and if the m*therf*cker blows up then hell with it. The BIL has been using it for months to drive 250 miles to central valley and back and offered to buy it from us. I am tempted to let him. We bought it for our 2019 cross country RV trip for only $5500. He'll buy it for maybe $3500 so probably as good as we can expect.
M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Not a fan of working on BMWs. Fun to drive/ride though. One day at a time.
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
BMW'S?
M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Fiats either. I was thinking Mini.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
**** the oil out...
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Noted.
I hadn't thought a pump for this purpose would be affordable, then finding tubing, yada yada but a quick sweep through YouTube videos and found several examples of Amazon sourced pump "kits"
Just ordered this one because it is supposedly on its lowest price in 90 days.
PS: Interesting side note: A couple guys say this now the only way they change oil instead of having to pull out their ramps or jacks & jack stands, drain pans & tools to clean & put away, etc. A couple said after you do it the first time deciding which of the provided hose sizes to use it goes fast and pretty clean. We'll see!
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OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
First follow up with surgeon's office today but surgeon called in sick so I saw the PA. X-rays show all is well, incision healing good, range of motion is a little ahead of schedule.
These titanium screws are long and aggressive as hell looking so seem to have a strong bite on bone.
These titanium screws are long and aggressive as hell looking so seem to have a strong bite on bone.
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Back to Garage Journal-worthy stuff:
SWMBO brother passed away about a month ago. House being sold, decades of stuff being removed. I'm getting a very old front throw reel mower.- I'm guessing 1960's, possibly older. It doesn't run, I don't know yet if it can be made to run but I assume so. Don't know yet if it's a King 'O Lawn, McClane, Tru-Cut, other, but IF I can get it running, adjusted and working well I'll try to sell it for maybe $500.
This is admittedly kind of an ego trip: I'm getting it because it's available free and back in the day I had a huge St. Augustine lawn and wanted one baadly. I couldn't possibly afford it then - raising two little kids, didn't make much, marriage falling apart, etc. "Before" pics upcoming.
PS: B-I-L staying with us will do any wrenching on it. I've offered to pay him but he says he just wants "stuff to do".
SWMBO brother passed away about a month ago. House being sold, decades of stuff being removed. I'm getting a very old front throw reel mower.- I'm guessing 1960's, possibly older. It doesn't run, I don't know yet if it can be made to run but I assume so. Don't know yet if it's a King 'O Lawn, McClane, Tru-Cut, other, but IF I can get it running, adjusted and working well I'll try to sell it for maybe $500.
This is admittedly kind of an ego trip: I'm getting it because it's available free and back in the day I had a huge St. Augustine lawn and wanted one baadly. I couldn't possibly afford it then - raising two little kids, didn't make much, marriage falling apart, etc. "Before" pics upcoming.
PS: B-I-L staying with us will do any wrenching on it. I've offered to pay him but he says he just wants "stuff to do".
M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If it's from the analog era it can likely be resurrected without too much effort, and probably works better than anything you can buy new.
Looks like they just used some fancy deck screws on ya. Don't fret I've known quite a few fellow motorcyclists who have had the same, and they kept going.
Looks like they just used some fancy deck screws on ya. Don't fret I've known quite a few fellow motorcyclists who have had the same, and they kept going.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
As if giant drywall screws, advanced adhesives and machined titanium parts aren't GJ-worthy.
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Ha, ha, maybe you're right. I thought it might be boring but on the other hand I don't keep a diary or even much of a calendar but I'll know I have a record of what happened when here. Can't tell you how often I've already gone back 4-5 years to see what I did when or the progress I've made on something.
First follow up with surgeon's office today but surgeon called in sick so I saw the PA. X-rays show all is well, incision healing good, range of motion is a little ahead of schedule.
These titanium screws are long and aggressive as hell looking so seem to have a strong bite on bone.
Hmmmmm…….don't those look quite a bit like Tapcon screws?
Seriously, though, good to hear your follow up went well!
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Thanks, it did.
Last of the at-home RN and PT visits this week. Next and maybe last appt with surgeon is 3/13 and hoping for release to drive....maybe?
Ford52PU
Well-known member
good to read you came through everything ok. Thats quite the incision you got and the screws wow impressive. I'm glad I had the surgery I did yours looks way to agressive. Good luck on your PT thats what really turned my shoulder health around.
Good luck I'm sure youll be fine.
Good luck I'm sure youll be fine.
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Thank you Dennis!
I think I mentioned above that I had the option to have reattachment surgery on the 2 torn/retracted shoulder tendons and repair the of the badly torn 3rd one. Doc said he couldn't know if they were repairable til he got "in there". If they weren't he'd close me up and do this same replacement months later. Plus at my age he said the fixes wouldn't last long. I opted for the sure thing, probably will be glad I did.
My B-I-L has shown me the parts removed from his broken back that were taken out in a redo years ago. I don't know if they're identical but the screws are wicked long and aggressive looking titanium so I feel confident they'll hold if anything will.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
We all knew Dan would come around to embrace Tapcons some day....
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
It's removing them I have a problem with. Hopefully the ones in my shoulder will never again see the light of day!
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
The propane detector in our RV started to chirp a few weeks ago. I had no idea that they have a life of only 5 to 7 years. I just asked the BIL to remove it and found out it lasted waay longer than it should have: 9-1/2 years.
Replacement ordered and though it is advertised specifically as a replacement for the same part number on ours it's a little different in that it will have a digital readout when it detects and an "E" when it expires.
So many small tasks I just can't do right now, ugh.
Replacement ordered and though it is advertised specifically as a replacement for the same part number on ours it's a little different in that it will have a digital readout when it detects and an "E" when it expires.
So many small tasks I just can't do right now, ugh.
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M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
We decided to use a battery powered detector, and only only put a battery in when we are actually staying in the trailer.
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
I didn't even know there was such a thing as a battery powered one. I wanted t replace mine with the exact same thing if possible and (fingers crossed) it looks like I found it.
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Dan, great to see your recovery going well. If you need any tips on dealing with the one-handed life, let me know.
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Bob, you must be pretty close to the world'd foremost authority on that by now. You've lived...what, a couple times longer without than you ever lived with your 2nd arm? After all thistle does it STILL ever frustrate the hell out of you? It's hard to imagine.
In general I'm doing ok-ish because of course the arm is still there and I can unclip the immobilizer sling for some small tasks. I did this morning. My B-I-L was about to mow & edge the lawn and wasn't familiar with how to add line to my Milwaukee Quik-Lok weed whip. I explained a couple times but it wasn't working for him so I took off the ice pack I was using, went outside and reloaded it. I began edging but just a short distance, maybe 5-10 ft. It didn't hurt. I was carful not to bear much weight at all with the repaired arm.
A few minutes later when I came inside it REALLY began aching. I had to ice and take more Tylenol and considered if I should take an oxycodone - which I've been off for more than a week. It is improving but the process is glacially slow to me...one of the world's most impatient people.
larry4406
Well-known member
Dan don’t push yourself.
Get well soon.
Get well soon.
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Thank you. Like most of us here I'm mostly a "doer". Not that I'm all that talented, I'm a ****** welder and certainly not an accomplished wood worker....but none of that has ever stopped me from doing both! I'm just holding down the sofa these days and I have been since 2/12. Pretty much making me nuts. How many old episodes of "The Rockford Files" can I watch?! Ha ha.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Switch channels to ME TV so you can watch reruns of Dragnet, CHips, Emergency and My Favorite Martian..
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
I like The Rockford Files and Mannix because both were shot in the Southern California of my high school/college years so to me it's like visiting old times. The plots are reliably pretty stupid but I like seeing the locations, the cars casually parked on the street - Nomads, even an occasional 1940's car still a driver.
But they both also remind me that one of these days I'll be as gone as Jim Garner and the world will just keep on turning. Been having too many of these thoughts lately.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Dan, no one gets out alive, best to just make the most out of the time you have left, celebrate every day. Why dwell on your own mortality when you don't know the how, where, or when?
(Free advice from a freelance internet psychologist. Take it for what it's worth).
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
We're all told no one gets out alive all our lives. Meaningless, at least to me when I was younger. Actual mortality seemed so far away. Always did until my sister passed last July. I've truly struggled with her loss.
Everyone always says to enjoy every day. I already enjoy my days. What is there "extra" to do except think MORE about how today is great because I might not have more of them - which of course is the exact opposite of letting go of concern.
I acknowledge that one day you close your eyes and they don't open again. I suppose we all hope for an afterlife. I was raised Catholic by a VERY devout mother and certainly my older sister was super devout too. Mass every morning(!), a lay minister that delivered communion to shut-ins. For whatever reason that level of faith never "took" with me. Ok, enough of that, doc!
Everyone always says to enjoy every day. I already enjoy my days. What is there "extra" to do except think MORE about how today is great because I might not have more of them - which of course is the exact opposite of letting go of concern.
I acknowledge that one day you close your eyes and they don't open again. I suppose we all hope for an afterlife. I was raised Catholic by a VERY devout mother and certainly my older sister was super devout too. Mass every morning(!), a lay minister that delivered communion to shut-ins. For whatever reason that level of faith never "took" with me. Ok, enough of that, doc!
M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Getting old *****, but it's better than the alternative.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My father in law always said that "Getting old isn't for sissies"
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Both seem to be absolutely true.
I'm actually doing fine. I just need to develop a point of view, a "mantra" or a saying that rings true and reminds me aging only troubles me emotionally and not all that much physically....yet.
M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Just be ready to embrace the new normal. One day at a time.
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Agreed.
I'm thinking it's important not to develop an "I don't care" attitude. Taking care of myself is always important if for no other reason than the quality of life I have left isn't reduced. But to keep that "care" up on the surface. Don't let it seep down inside too much since?......."no one gets out alive" as we all know.
Thanks you guys for listening to my "old guy thoughts". Just way too much time sitting on the sofa and not "doing" anything these days.
larry4406
Well-known member
Dan - you being in CA your weather should be somewhat decent.
Are you able to just go for an extended walk around the neighborhood? Clear your mind, observe the neighbors abodes, landscaping, admire others car's and think about projects for the truck, pool, etc.
I get the "winter funk" as I call it. Time change, dark all the time, weather is awful, and I get a real poor attitude all thru it. This winter it seems to have hit a bit harder than usual. Any chance at a sunny day and bam! I am out there enjoying it!
OP
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
90* today and this weekend in SoCal. Winter - such as it is here, is over.
Yes, I can walk around but I have to wear the immobilizer sling whenever out. It's hot & sweaty quickly. Walking makes the new joint move even though the arm isn't hanging/dangling so it does ache after. I see my surgeon tomorrow and I'm hoping to be released to drive, maybe not have to wear the sling (oh please!).
My "funk" isn't about winter at all. It's about the combo of losing my sister, dealing w/a lousy shoulder for months, then surgery and the long recovery. I'm sure a dose of "feeling sorry for myself" is included if I'm honest with myself.