Lightning Struck at the Beach

     Yesterday at Venice Beach


http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_26226371/lightning-strikes-venice-beach-boardwalk-la-another

I don't know anything about lightning, except that in the US it strikes most commonly in Florida.  This is another reason why I will never go to Florida.  My paramount reason for avoiding Florida is the presence of alligators.

So, this poor fellow is in the wrong place at the wrong time, for sure.  And fourteen others left buzzing by the strike.  Things like this are why we don't worry about sharks in the water. 

By the way, I am STILL waiting for insurance approval to get my back surgery.  I am now a big fatso who does nothing.  The insurance is making me see a neurologist/surgeon--only four more days to wait for that appointment.  This is a one-month wait to see this guy as a mandatory second opinion.  I bet I'm in the office for ten minutes.  What I don't get is that my L3, L4, and L5 discs are all herniated or leaking or bulging, and the technical description goes on about L3 & L4 damage, BUT the orthopedic surgeon plans to fuse just ONE disc (L5 to S1).  Seems to me you'd fix all three discs but what do I know?



"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Ironically, this is good swimming news for me in Oceanside.

     I just looked up in this blog and my last swim was three months ago.  And I was barely in action for a few months before that.  I started the blog as an aid to my recuperation from neck surgery.  Cervical fusion C5,6,7.  The blog put pressure on me to get my lazy butt in the water.

     So my good news yesterday is that I need another spine surgery, this time a fusion of L5 to S1.  And along with that I get to rehab myself again.  My L3 and L4 aren't in great shape but no fusions there yet.  My doctor's theory is you go forth and suffer until you can't stand the pain any more.  Then you get more testing and await the insurance approval for surgery. 

    Surgery will be in approximately six weeks and the initial brace afterward is for two or three months.  I'll plan to start water work after that or while wearing the brace, depending on the type of brace and recovery.

    It took me four months to rehab from my neck surgery before I could trust it to use it.  At least I'll have something to write about again in a month or two.  This swimmer is feeling hopeful again. 










"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Takes Major Guts to Swim Off New Zealand

I copied this amazing photo taken by vetstreet of Adam Walker doing a swim that most of us couldn't even walk.  These Cook Straits are known for the presence of sharks. This photo captures one dolphin of a pod of dolphins that accompanied Adam for a while on his swim.  It was reported that a great white shark also accompanied Adam for an hour or so on the swim and that the bunch of dolphins kept the shark safely away from the swimmer. 
What strikes me is the body position and form of the swimmer.  His legs are high; his body above the waist is quite high in the water.  I wish I had some of that body position.

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

I Read a Great Post by Evan Morrison Yesterday

    
http://marathonswimmers.org/blog/2014/04/farallones-toughest-marathon-swim-world/


This post above has nothing to do with me but one can gain some insight into how far ladies can push themselves when self-challenged. 



"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Putting My Swim Blog on Hold for Now

      Just a brief note to blog followers that I am suspending my blog for the time being due to health reasons.  I hope to return here.






"The first time you quit is the last time you try."