"I'm DOIN' the WORK! I'm NOT a SLACKER! PLEASE!"

(--either 'Groundhog Day' or 'What About Bob?') MENTAL MATH (to stimulate memory): 1(squared) + 2(squared) + 3(squared) + 4(squared) + 5(squared) + 6(squared) + 7(squared) = 1 + 4 + 9 + 16 + 25 + 36 + 49 = 140

APPARENTLY,

...there's a difference between being a "BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER"--which I am--and being an actual doctor.  (THAT'S "NEWS TO ME!") (Staff wouldn't let me switch my "Gastric-tuba" myself.) But, the ACTUAL doctor conducted the procedure very well!  (LADIES, EXCUSE MY IMAGERY!) He just yanked out my tube very quickly.  I LEAKED MORE BLOOD from my lower abdominal-area than I HAD PAIN.  (Gentlemen, I guess that it was like "MENSTRUATING".)

INSPIRING WORDS

"I AM THE GATEKEEPER OF(OR IS IT "FOR"?) MY OWN DESTINY!"--'Nacho Libre' (I wrestled too, like "Nacho".  But, it was "amateur", REAL wrestling.  Also, I'm NOT obese, like  "Nacho".)

Also today,

...I did leg-kicks and knee-raises--WITH a 5 pound weight strapped around my left ankle and a 12 pound weight around my right ankle  I did 4 sets of ten repetitions with each leg--NON-SIMULTANEOUSLY.

[I don't know exactly why AJ emphasizes "non-simultaneously," but here is something worth noting. AJ's left leg used to respond to him better when he tried to move both legs instead of simply the left alone. This has to do with how our muscles communicate. It was easier to compel the weaker leg to work if the stronger one were working alongside it as a model. That AJ is now moving the left leg (so well and with so much weight on it) without also moving the right leg at the same time ("non-simultaneously" as he puts it) is confirmation that a huge amount of progress has been made in that leg. It is also very necessary for walking that each leg be capable of behavior different from the other leg. - Grant]

In Physical Therapy today,

...I did some "sit-to-stand"s: 20 in 2 minutes (THAT'S an average of 1 every 6 seconds.) then, 25 in 90 seconds (THAT'S an average of 1 every 3.6 seconds.) then, 22 in 90 seconds (THAT'S an average of 1 every ~4.09 seconds.) (THIS is how I think--quantitatively.)

brain exercise:

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/drmao/easy-exercises-keep-your-brain-shape  1) I do MENTAL MATH!  ("Brain injury, WHAT?!"--me) (SSSHHH!) 2) My accident SEVERELY INJURED my "left" ("less dominant") hand. (I'll "make do".)

ANOTHER BREAKTHROUGH!

So, (Stop reading, LADIES!) to prepare for my shower, I--from my wheelchair--took my shirt COMPLETELY OFF--WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE!

HHHMMM, maybe I DO have a "brain injury"?!

...I forgot to "tell" "y'all" about these PHENOMENAL (LITERAL) STEPS! Yesterday in Physical Therapy, I WALKED--with "MINIMAL" physical support--down the length of the "parallel bars (~12 ft. = 144 inches = 4 yards)! Oh yeah!  I did THAT  TWICE!

MORE LEG STRENGTH/PROGRESS

In Physical Therapy today, I leaned on the "parallel bars" to help me take back-and-forth steps.  Also, I did several "sit-to-stands". Furthermore, I did leg-kicks" and "knee-raises" AND "marching" with BOTH LEGS--NOT SIMULTANEOUSLY.  I did THESE EXERCISES WITH A 5 LB. WEIGHT AROUND MY LEFT ("BAD") (WEAKER) ANKLE AND A 10 LB. WEIGHT AROUND MY RIGHT ANKLE. I can REALLY see IMPROVEMENT in my left-leg (It's REALLY the ENTIRE SIDE.) movement.  So, YAY!

MORE PROGRESS!

Today, during "class"--YEAH, despite having a "brain injury", I "TEACH"--I "told" the co-teacher that I could SMELL the air freshener that she had just sprayed. THIS IS PHENOMENAL, because for the past OVER 3 YEARS, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SMELL!