Today is a good day for spring cleaning, which for me means trying to return my place from serving as a rehab facility to normal living.

It's cool back to March temps, the rain has stopped, and what I need to fit in too is a nice long walk.

PT John Jowers said walking is the single best thing I can do.

I've been doing about 2 miles a day. Some days I walk to Friendship Heights instead of taking the Ride-On bus.

Now that spring is dropping in for a day or two (in between winter cold and summer 90^os), it's a really pleasant amble.




On Monday, I  went to the Tidal Basin and walked it, along with thousands of other cherry blossom tourists. What a joy!

When I worked downtown, I'd take a thermos of coffee and breakfast there by 5 or 5:30 am of so and catch the sunrise, along with almost as many blossomites as there were Monday at noon.

Fitting in good walks is an enlivening kind of exercise these days.

Today, taking a break from spring cleaning to iron my 3rd toe, to break the tissue down and flatten the toe, which has been wanting to rise up and to the left since the 1st of the year.



I saw Dr. Polun a week ago and he chided me for not pushing the tension of the DynaSplint up more.

So in my hour in the morning, hour at night, I have pushed the tension up to 3. In a week or so, I plan to push it up to 4.

I have been easy on myself about it, and I don't know if I'm making durable progress. It's a rental unit (Medicare and me).

After 13 months, I own the unit, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life splinted for a couple of hours a day.

Today, a day home, I'm fitting in a 3rd session at noon.

When I'm splinting, I can walk a couple of steps, but it's best to keep the foot elevated, pillow under the calf.

Two weeks ago, PT John and I talked about it and I decided to stop physical therapy. I can always go back if needed, but I graduated now.

Walking, continuing the toe rise, toe grip exercises, massage with foot creams (thanks Kasia and Gosia!), and tai chi, all will help keep things improving.

John said the lift-off of the right foot is better now than the left, the un-operated on foot.

The surgery improved the mechanical operation of the right foot.

Walking! What a great thing to do!

Back to spring cleaning? Or..."

The Tidal Basin peaked early this week.  I heard that Kenwood Forest, which isn't too far away, peaked yesterday.

Maybe I better take this splint off and go see.