A picture’s worth a thousand words

So if only the female DG was a really evocative writer. Or if she had a camcorder ready at her side. That way she’d be better equipped to capture the numerous steps and trips it took the male DG and her to barbecue and eat outside on their very pleasant patio during a mini Menlo Park heat wave tonight.

It’s only 50 feet from kitchen to Weber, but it involves a step and a half. Even the half step needs to be carefully considered when you’re a gimp. The full step down needs careful negotiation. But they did it in a spirit of real teamwork – the male DG standing on the patio and the female DG handing him the various components that made up their dinner from the top step.

Question: how many gimps make up a barbecue-ready platter of food as tantalizing as the male DG’s rack of lamb and veggies?

Fact: got the results of Friday’s MRI and it was good news. No indication of tumor growth and no increased “flair” (aka edema). Meanwhile, they ponder options – and potential risks – the male DG could take to reduce the edema and regain some functionality. For now, it’s continued diligence on the “Heidi” exercises.

Getting a bit of (oh-my-god!) exercise

The dual Gs (gimpy and grumpy) do strive for a semblance of a normal life. Normal not by their old standard of a 6 to 10 mile run on Saturday morning. Or normal even by their most recent history of an outing where the male DG walked while the female DG jogged. Normal in their current status is – drum roll – a morning outing to downtown Menlo Park where they spent 90 minutes or so gathering content for InMenlo.
As they were winding up their stops on Santa Cruz Avenue, the female DG suggested they stop at the Russian Orthodox Church (link) on Crane St. – one of the hidden gems of Menlo. But this is where it got a bit interesting – the female DG decided to scoot there. She’s still learning how best to “drive” her knee-walker scooter, and there were a few challenges going down the slopes leading to cross walks – and step upgrades like the ramp in the the church which had no rail seemed too risky (it was easier to life the scooter up the two steps into the church.

On the way home, a thought occurred to her: She actually had a bit of exercise.