Home, Home & Away

The annual Home builders Association Annual Spring Show was the event for this past weekend. This involves 360+ "home" vendors, construction companies, home builders, remodeling professionals like ourselves etc. all gathering at the Peoria Civic Center for the show. Standing there for 5+ hours on Friday, 11+ hours on Saturday, and 6 hours on Sunday took it's toll. I didn't realize concrete could be that hard on your legs & back. WOW!

This is what my legs/ankles were like on Saturday night! Needless to say, there was no training for me this weekend! Glad that is over for now. It was a good show overall. Got to see some existing & previous clients and have some fun.

Went to see Nurse Barb this am for stitch removal. Dr. Maxey poked his head in, and said everything looks like it on track. We are going to wait for full healing in about 6 months from now, or TWO full years since the accident. Oh well, it's better to have all of the time in the world, than no time, and no worries for that matter.

Pee-Wee

Want to see one of the smallest cyclist's in our VQ Coaching group?

There he is, the good looking Tom Cruise look alike on the left. To put it in perspective, Sheila, aka: Yoga Bad A$$ Instructor is like 2 feet tall, and I am actually shorter than she is!

Next to me is our VQ Godfather, Stan-O-Leeni, and the infamous Big Rob. Several great athlete's and even greater friends!

Have a nice weekend!

Snooty's Back in Town!

Our friend Snooty is back!!! He must've snuck back into town recently, as G has heard him several times in the morning, and saw him this am while she was on her morning run. Ok, to bring you up to speed, we have an owl that lives in our back yard named Hooty. He is a Great Horned Owl, and his call sound is hooo-hoooo. He looks mean, but is more of a lover than a fighter.


Here's a closeup of him, hanging out, and looking for some breakfast.








Hooty had a pretty good run of the place, until his "city slicker" cousin, Snooty showed up last year. Once we got to know him, we discovered he was kind of stuck-up, and didn't want anything to do with the relatively simple life of Hooty. Snooty is a barred owl, and his call sounds like "who-cooks-for-you". I kid you not, that is what he really says!

Here's a shot of Snooty. He's kind-of aloof to us simple folk.











We haven't heard from Snooty almost all winter, so I figured he packed his bags, and went back to the city. The city life must've worn on him, so he's back now! I think that's pretty cool news! The only problem with the arrangement, is that he brought his twin brother back with him. His name is Tooty, and I'll let you guess why...........

Like a surgeon, cutting for the 19th billionth time!

"Steve, if you want to have a good recovery, you have to be a good patient" Kelly Sparks 8/31/04

All dressed up, and no where to go, so I thought. After not eating, drinking, or swallowing saliva for 18+ hours, I was doing OK. I arrived for surgery, had to see my favorite nurse, Nurse Barb (I'm her favorite patient, if you didn't realize that) and like clockwork, 5 minutes later, into the pre-surgery center, go through the admin stuff with my really cool admin nurse, MeMe. Dr. Maxey strolls in, cool as a cucumber, and we start the shuckin & jiving. This is probably pretty routine stuff for him, but I always have to give him a little jab here & there. After a while, I thought, that's pretty stupid. I should do the jabbing AFTER surgery, as he is going to slice me open in a little while, while I am under. What if he "slips" or something........oh well. I am not a member of MENSA for a reason.


Upon arrival to the pre-OR, this is what Dr. Maxey gets from me. I thought it was funny, as I am a funny little man. Mad Max got a kick out of it as well!











Start of surgery. I believe I have been knocked out into la-la land at this point. The best part of surgery, is the 3 seconds right before you "go under".










I was wondering how they get the screws out? Now I know, with a HUGE screwdriver!












Here is the "freebie" I had taken out. Before surgery, Dr. Maxey asked if I wanted to have the screw at my knee cap taken out, as I had some pain, I mean discomfort from it. SURE! was my response. I got a buy-two, get one free deal, only on Friday's!








With the whole screw taken out, Mad Max attacks the broken one. Using a screw to "punch" the broken tip through the other side. Small problem though, as this is where my Shamrock tattoo is. So, as to not disturb the tattoo, he switches to plan B.








With "surgical precision" he diverts the broken screw, around the tattoo, and come out on the outside of the ink! VIOLA!










Tattoo intact, and the hardware removed!












And to think, this little piece of metal, can cause so much discomfort.














Post hardware removal X-Ray! Success, I believe! I now have 3 additional holes in the bone, where the screws came out.









Many Thanks to G, as she was there with me the entire time, making sure I was taken care of throughout the entire weekend as well. Dr. Maxey get a "hats' off" for being a skilled surgeon, and a good sport. Andy "The Sarge" Sargent for listening to bad cycling stories from back in the HeyDay when he used to pummel me on the bike. My friends J-LO and Robert, for helping Gina & I around the house for the weekend, and everyone who has called, well-wished, e-mailed etc. to see how we were doing.

I am feeling OK. Actually, I think with exception of a couple of spells this weekend, I feel better now than BEFORE the surgery, go figure? I, of course didnt listen to Dr. Maxey, and was on my feet most of the weekend, including all day yesterday down at the Tour De Groundhog in Springfield. G put me to bed about 845 last night, after I fell asleep on the sofa.

Hopefully this will close another chapter in my book. Be Good.

Back to the Drawing Board

Tomorrow afternoon is the day. I get to go back to the OR, for some more surgery. I used to get kind-of freaked out about these things, but for the fourth time in 17 months, I know the drill. I just spoke with "The Man" himself, and said bring the camera over, and he'll get some juicy shots that I can post on my Blob. I call the Blog, my Blob, in case you wondered. The only part that really stinks, is I cannot eat of drink after midnight tonight! Not even black coffee in the am. The nurse who did my pre-surgery physical (120/70 & heart rate of 56) said to even be careful when brushing my teeth in the am. I have a design appointment in the am, then relax, and off to surgery. G will be there for me, as she always has been. This is getting pretty routine for her as well.........what a routine to slip into, huh?. Co-Worker: "Hey G, whatcha doing this weekend?" G: "Oh, you know, the usual, attending surgery with Steve, and taking care of him, just another weekend at the Driscoll's"......now I know why Kelly nicknamed her "The Rock"!

Here's the two buggers they are removing. The inner one has snapped in two, and they are removing the other one, as it bothers the heck out of me. The larger one should come out quite easily, the broken one, well, can you say hammer & chisel? When the ortho doctor shows up for surgery wearing a full rain suit, complete with waterproof boots, you KNOW you are going to be in for some fun!

Spoke w/ our friend Wes last night. He's excited for the upcoming race season. This is his second year as a pro cyclist, and his attitude is awesome! Poor thing is out in California, 80 degree temps, sunny and beautiful, with his teammates for training. He's ready, and G&I are very proud of him, as I am sure a LOT of other people are as well, especially his Mom, Dad & Sis. I think it kind-of cool how far he has come, both as a pro cyclist, but as an adult as well. He has earned everything he has, and then some. Good luck to Wes & his new team, TargetTraining in Phoenix this weekend!

I'll see some of you this weekend for the Tour De Groundhog. All bet's are off on Chris though. He got the new "fly" cross-ride, which brought the betting down to an even status or 1/1 as they say in Vegas. When he pulls off the double-V, an ice cream cone is on the line!

There's a spot open on the podium for the Tour De Groundhog

Just got word, back to the OR next Friday the 17th, fourth time might be the charm. The screws at the ankle are going to be removed by none other than Dr. Maxey himself http://www.orthoii.org/oii-maxey.asp. Nurse Barb said that they could probably get by just using a local for the anesthesia, but Mad Max wants me put under, so he doesn't have to listen to me babbling the whole time, and telling him how to do his job. I don't know if that is a compliment, or insult? I'll take it as a compliment, as that feels better for me, on the inside.

I have to go in next week for a pre-surgery physical. This is where they check all of your vitals, and determine if you will live long enough, after the surgery to at least pay the bill.

What does this mean? I wont be racing the Groundhog, sorry. The good news is that there is now a spot on the podium, that has been opened up due to my post-surgery recovery! Good luck to all, and I'll keep you posted!



If you think of me, this is where I'll be for the afternoon of the 17th!

Let the Games, I mean Healing Begin!!!!

Saw Dr. Maxey, my ortho-doc, and of course, Nurse Barb (I'm her favorite patient) this am. for a consultation on the left tibia, took x-rays and all of that jazz. Funny, I seem to have gotten pretty good at reviewing x-rays over the past 17+ months, as I have seen about 1 kajillion of them up to this point. My legs actually glow in the dark, from all of the "X-Rays" that they have gone through.

Anyway, we have some healing going on! YEAH! The back of the tibia appears to be filling in, and Dr. Maxey was pleased with what he saw! The broken screw at the ankle must've allowed some movement of the bone, and therefore promoted healing. The only thing I believe I have left to do, is go under the knife one more time, to remove the broken screw at the ankle, and his partner screw at the ankle as well. This seems to be giving me the most "dis-comfort" or pain. This will be an out-patient type procedure, and I'll be back on my feet in a couple of days. Dr. Watson, down in St. Louie has to review and give his blessings, but if he says OK, I'm there!

















The healing is happening, so hopefully it wont be too much longer!!!!! I am getting sick & tired, of being sick & tired, and Racing season starts April 8th with the Hillsboro Road Race!!!!!

Quote of the day " So, it seems that you have some screws loose" Nurse Barb

First "race" of the year under my belt!

Yesterday was a good day. Went up to VQ headquarters in Lake Bluff, with 7 of my VQ Morton teammates. The purpose was to do some base testing, on the computrainer multi-rider, so it's like all 8 of us racing against each other, on a computerized course. The course selected is none other than the Coors Classic Morgul-Bismarck (sp) hill ride.

I have not had any performance testing since the spring of 04, so I had no idea what to expect. We did our warm up for 20+ minutes, and then had to get the computers calibrated. Looking at the course profile, ie: HILLS, I knew I wouldn't be the winner of this one (Being gravitationally challenged has it's drawbacks). BUT, the only reason I was here was to see how many avg. watts I could put out for the duration of the race.


Here's what we looked like at VQ, although this is not us.

25 minutes into the test, my compu-trainer "blew" up! Totally seized up. I would like to think that my wattage blew the machine up, but that was not the case. Just a fluke. Overall, I did the course in 38:01 avg. 247 watts. What does that mean? It means I am getting some fitness back, but I am probably off by 20% in wattage, and 50% in fitness & recovery. It's February, and the season is long.......

Race notes: Stan, the VQ Godfather, who's age I will not mention, but he is in his 50's, SMOKED the test! He threw down almost 290 watts average, and beat the nearest competitors (Bartonville & Michaelson) by a couple of minutes, who are ALMOST 1/2 his age.......I think he's on EPO, or just trains hard, the latter is probably more true.


This is the screen we watch on the LCD projector as we race! It's pretty cool, and high-tech.

























Here's some pics of the Range Rover, that I thought I would throw in, or as we call it, The Grover.

Could not come up with a clever heading!

It's the start of a new year, and time is a flyin! I have to go up North tomorrow am. to do some performance testing on the bike, with some of my fellow VQ teammates. This is a baseline test, which will be very beneficial for me, as I have not had any performance testing done since spring of 04. I know that I have lost a tremendous amount of fitness, BUT I want to see how far I have come, since I have really been back on the bike. Confused? Me too, but bare with me.

I go to see Mad Max & Nurse Barb on Monday. Mad Max is my ortho surgeon, and a pretty cool dude. He's world re-nouned and all of that good jazz. He also knows where to find oatmeal raisin cookies for me in the hospital. After my second surgery, I "ran" into him, literally, while I was cruising in the wheelchair, and he gave me a tour of the place. He then asked "what kind of cookies do you like?" OATMEAL RAISIN I replied. Next thing I knew, I had a handful of homemade cookies! I wonder what he would've done if I said banana-nut-pecan-blueberry cookies? He's good, but maybe not that good.


Here's Wes Hartman and myself. Wes & his Father, Gordy stopped by our house on the way to Chicago in December of 04, as Wes was signing his professional cycling contract w/ Advantage Benefits the next day. G made dinner for all of us, and the Hartman's stayed the evening.








Wes, G & I before we all head out for the day. Five hours later, Wes was a professional athlete.















After a crash in California resulting in a broken collar bone, Wes won his first race in his professional career at Super Week Stage Race!!! Not bad for a guy who has an "ugly doll" because he's afraid of the dark!