For those of you who know me at all, you know that I’m not one to sit still any too long. Although I don’t consider myself as one who’s “physical” (sports/walking etc.), I do have a need to do something – I can’t just sit around watching TV all day.
So when my hip surgery was finally scheduled and I made the decision to take the whole month of December off work, one of the first thoughts was “what am I going to do with myself all that time?”
I knew I’d have 2-3 days doing a lot of nothing immediately after surgery. I’d be using a walker most of the time those days making trips back and forth from the bed, to the bathroom, to the recliner, and back to bed.
But after those first few days I’d have physical therapy scheduled 2 or 3 days a week to help keep me occupied. I’m going to get PT at the local hospital. I prefer that to having the therapist coming to our home because I feel the professionals at the hospital have all the equipment at their disposal, they have to record everything on their laptop, and since there are other patients and therapists in the room (including their boss) I just think I get a better all around therapy session. Besides, the way I look at it, it’s my Social Event for the week!
But aside from the PT, since I’m a licensed Amateur Radio “Ham” Operator, I knew that I could take advantage of this time to allow me to play a little radio and work on some of my DX (distance) contact awards. It’s always fun to get a new QSL (acknowledgment) card from another country confirming our contact and conversation. Here’s one I just got from the Netherlands.


I realized pretty quickly that my Man Cave or “shack” as we hams call it gets cold during Ohio winters. It’s a small workshop which is just off the 2 car attached garage. It’s a great place to have a shack (or workshop) because it’s on the main floor (no stairs to climb) and I can make all the noise I want and not disturb the XYL (wife) but the disadvantage is that it’s not heated so the inside temp is typically only 3-5 degrees warmer than the outside temps.
Now logic says “insulate it” but my surgery is next week and I just knew I wouldn’t have time to remove all the shelving, workbench, cabinets, and drywall to install the insulation and then put everything back together again in time.

So I felt the answer to my problem was NOT to install an electric heater (high utility bills) but instead install hardware and software so that I could operate the radio from my recliner in the living room. So now I have my laptop computer with me in my recliner and I can operate using a small boom mike/headset. SWEET!

As the month of December goes on and I feel like doing more and more, I do have some projects that could wait until spring but that I just might get started early. We’ll see …
Kathy helped out a little at a Christmas Sale this past weekend at one of the local fire halls where she came home with a few goodies. Since we’ve been on the road for the last six years, we didn’t have any Christmas decorations. She’s had fun setting up and decorating the tiny tree and she got her nativity set back out of storage at our son’s home so she got that all arranged today.

We’re looking forward to a comfortable and cozy Christmas season. We wish you the same.
Wishing you the best results with your surgery and recovery and a Merry Christmas to you & Kathy! We have a small tree too!
You write so well, how about submitting some writing for the Sentinel?
Maybe call this one, “Off road, gotta keep from getting bored!”
Alberta
Keep you out of trouble!
Glad to hear your recovery is going well. Sandy and I are no longer RVing; our rig is parked at the church where I am the maintenance man.
It will be very close to three years now! We live in a duplex 2bedroom, small, not much bigger than the motorhome. Her knees can’t handle the steps any longer. She is 70 and I will be 70 March 28, 2023.
Sounds chilly where you are. Stay warm and take care not to overdo things.
David and Sandy Robinson
Salem, OR
Recovery actually starts tomorrow, surgery is Monday at 11am. Sorry to hear you are off the road, we may be close to that as well. Sounds like we each have similar living situation, as we are comfortable in a smaller single story 2 bedroom home. Full time RV’ing was good while it lasted though, eh?
Merry Christmas ⛄ to you and Sandy
Yes, it comes to us all I guess. We loved it for over 6 years. Take it easy my friend and God Bless you both this Christmas Season.
David & Sandy Robinson
Love the high tech remote radio Herb.. We haven’t started the decorating yet but soon.
Merry Christmas to you and Darlene. Be good, be safe.