How to mend a broken leg- The hard way!

Several years ago, through a serious case of misjudgment of activity suitable for a guy  my age, I managed to break my leg and many parts of my ankle. It hurt! The doctor I went to at first mis-diagnosed it as a sprain and treated it as such for almost 5 months without any noticeable relief. Not so much enjoying the pain, I decided to obtain a second opinion. An immediate x-ray (not ordered by the first doctor) showed all the broken parts and I was sent to a very competent and well credentialed orthopedic surgeon who recommended immediate corrective surgery. "You've got a lot of broken bones in there" He said. "We'll throw the kitchen sink at it including bone grafts, steel plates and screws to stabilize it. "And after that heals" he continued, "We'll go in there again and fix the abnormal shape and fuse the ankle. It will be somewhat odd in appearance and you won't be able to flex the ankle but you will be able to walk for at least short distances. Perhaps with a cane or walker." I appreciated his honesty. I said I'd think about it for a day or two. He said I was not doing myself any favors by putting it off. "The longer you wait, the less I can do and the more deformed and weak it will be." I thought about it and  also studied the statistics regarding that specific procedure. Right or wrong I chose not to have surgery. I got an "Arizona Brace" instead. Along with duct tape, several other styles of braces and perhaps a couple thousand dollars in expenses for those other braces, I now walk relatively well for extremely long distances and the pain is very minor most of the time. I'm Ok with the results of my choice against surgery. I would not recommend that choice to anyone else. They have to make their own decisions.
The up side:
I never missed a day of work
I didn't have to spend time in the hospital
There was no opportunity for post operative infection and hospitalization
No opportunity for post operative crumbling due to screws or plates failing
Didn't have to go under sedation
Those are just a few but I think you get the drift.
The down side
For the first year there was a lot of pain, a lot!
The ankle is a bit tender
The ankle is a bit unstable
I wobble sometimes due to a lack of strength from underuse (it's getting stronger though)
The ankle looks rather deformed, maybe ugly
I have no idea what the future may bring (but that was also the case with surgery)


That's my story for today folks. It's been a long time healing and it's not over yet. However, it is a whole lot better than I thought the outcome and tribulations of surgery would have been. If you can walk fine today? Be grateful with each step and be careful......................Joe

More on publishing children's book

Yikes! Computer ignorance is still a major problem when it comes to retrieving, and putting together all the stories, poems and what nots I've stored electronically over the past few years. When I hand wrote or typed hard copies the paper was the issue but I could always find what I was looking for somewhere in the numerous piles. It simply took time. Now, since the piles are gone and due to a computer crash or two and moving the records from one computer to another and then another and then to still another the folder with the stories is temporarily lost. Temporarily being the proper term here though. They are there to be found, no problem there. It's just me and my mixed up mumbo jumbo hodgepodge of passwords and file names composed with an overdeveloped sense of privacy. I suppose I'm simply rambling here but it helps with the guilt of not properly educating myself in the tools of electronic writing and publishing. Looking for some progress to report next time. Today I shovel snow for the first time.

Publishing Children's books moving along

Well, it's been quite a ride for the past couple months with the printing of "All About Don". We're into the second printing now due to a better than expected market for the new story book. I can tell you, That is a real treat! Self publishing has advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is complete control of every facet of editing, format, composition, printing and marketing. Some disadvantages include initial costs, marketing, distribution and no assistance with anything. While working full time as owner of a 55 year old business with several employees, time and opportunity become real issues. With "All About Don" most of its all come together rather nicely and the first check to a chosen charity will be sent out right after Thanksgiving. A huge "Thank You!" To everyone who sent out the message to friends and relatives that the book was available. With the first printing completely sold and half the second printing ordered in advance it is going famously. Pretty good for a relatively unknown writer. Now, the work continues on putting all of my children's stories together into one larger book which includes a variety of parenting ideas and tid bits, silly rhymes and kids interactive activities. I'm thinking it's going to take a while but thankfully my business is going into its slow season and I will have some extra time on my hands for almost a full month to commit to this writing task. That's the plan anyway. I've had plans before so I'm looking at this realistically. The stories are already written but are in need of proof reading and editing as well as illustrating. So far, so good. We're going for the gusto with this one. Have a good day!

New Story Book finally printed and in hand for sale

At long last the children's story/coloring book: "All About Don" is in print and selling quite well indeed. Its been a long journey but the results are excellent. The illustrations drawn by 12 year old Alyssa Lake put the story of a short little deer with a big nose into a cold and snowy wonderland a child can see and understand and enjoy time and time again. With the coloring they can participate too. That's why its called a "Look, Listen, Think and Do Book".Springrove 5 and 10 variety store in Wyoming has them on the shelf and many of you who have been following the whole process have stopped nto my office at J&S to pick some up as gifts for children and grandchildren in your lives. I've been told its an easily read and amusing tale of a dangerous predicament with a happy and surprising outcome. As a writer those comments give me a great deal of satisfaction.


Thank you to everyone for your encouragement and support over the years. Tell everyone you know that they are available at my office: 5724- Clay Ave. S.W. in Wyoming Mi. or Springrove 5 and 10 variety store, also in Wyoming. $10.00 each. A relevant story just in time for Christmas.

Health insurance/Affordable Care Act

Is every citizen of the United States required to participate in the Affordable Care Act health insurance options? RE: Government employees, politicians, Amish, etc. Is any faction of the citizenry exempt? Is there a legal path to exemption? Can one be a conscientious objector? Also, are illegal immigrants required to participate in some special illegal way? If so, is that actually legal? Is it legal to take a working person's money and give it to an able bodied/ non working person to provide something they otherwise could/should earn for themselves?  Just curious. Nothing is ever quite as advertised.


Is the national health care system prepared with resources and manpower to deal with a forced system? With the national debt rising daily, how will the treasury pay the health cost to an ever increasing non-tax paying population?


Not saying there is a problem here, I'm not that smart.

Sometimes I surprise myself

I actually solved a computer problem all by myself! Yup! I did it. Now, to most folks that may not be any big deal but to me it's a major deal. So, anyway I'm back on line with the blog. Somehow I clicked onto some other program and I could not get out of it to get to the blog. Better now, Joe handled it just fine. I can't stop gloating here.


The art work is completed by my new artist. Now it's on to the printer and bindery to put one of my children's stories 9nto book form. Hopefully on time for the Christmas season. That'd be good because it is a sort of Christmas story. I am pleased to have the art work in my hands and even the cover. On to the next phase. Kind of exciting. "All About Don" One of Boompa's little stories. Different than having "Joe's Story" Published.


Back to work for now. Had to fix the mess I made with my tech ignorance with the blog. Took a lot of time but I'm way less ignorant now. Father's Day tomorrow, one thing I can't say enough:


"Thanks Dad!"

Joblessness of young males increasing.

The advances and declines of jobs regarding women not withstanding, I have been concerned for decades about the work ethic of the male population in the United States and more specifically, right here in this part of Michigan where I live. Being involved in a mentoring program for decades I had the opportunity too hear dozens of points of view on just why these guys couldn't find a job. Perspective, as influential as it is, is not necessarily the truth. How would you feel if you grew up with absolutely no expectations of ever finding any kind of job? Add to that a constant barrage of assaults on yourself as a person of worth. So many males grow up in that sort of atmosphere and as a result have absolutely no hope other than having to be taken care of by either the government or another type of enabler. I'm not saying that the entire blame for the high rate of joblessness lies with the parents/parent or school or neighborhood or society in general but, in my opinion at least part of it does. A male or female raised without encouragement has a huge amount of negativity to overcome in the job market. they are not expected to do much by those who are supposed to care so they don't expect much and don't accomplish much and then are justified in their poverty. About the only thing they feel they can do is produce children by whoever they happen to be with at the time. After all, producing a child is a "manly" thing to do in that world. When all else fails, produce  a child and don't be concerned about supporting that child either, the government will do it for you.


The answer to this crisis? Who am I to say? I was raised in an entirely different atmosphere. I was encouraged to go out and accomplish something on a daily basis. I was told regularly that if I made a mistake I would learn from it and not make that mistake again. I was also told that I would pay the consequences of my choices, good or bad. Sometimes my choices were not so good but my folks didn't take the consequences away. Instead, they stood by me while I paid the price. They reminded me that I was strong enough to move on. Dozens and dozens of the young males I talked to in the mentoring program did not experience that. It must be a difficult situation to deal with.


As far as an answer, I believe wholeheartedly that young men can learn to overcome the past and develop into productive and happy individuals with the proper training and realistic expectations. Beginning with the most rudimentary issues of proper speech, personal cleanliness, manners, issues of respect, acceptance of consequences, handling of money and achievement of personal goals. A big order I know. It's far easier to simply pay them off with some type of assistance, telling them that they are a product of their environment and they can always blame someone else for their situation.


I wonder when we will, as a nation of individuals, finally turn back the clock and do the right thing, not the easy thing? The reason I'm bringing this up today is that I received a thank you phone call from one of the guys involved in the mentoring over 15 years ago. He didn't have much time but he just wanted to tell me I was right. He could learn and get a job if he tried. He is working at the same job for over 8 years now after several trials and errors. He got married a while back, he and his wife bought a small starter home last year and they hope to have children some day. Wow! Can't beat hearing something like that on a beautiful Spring day.