Author Archives: skypilot123

Managing Pain in my C 30

Feb 4, 2017

It is a year and 1/2 since I wrote the post below. So much has happened since…. Snowing again in Steveston today…

June 16 2015,

I was driving in my C30 to my medical appointment when the pain started. Shooting. Driving pain up and down my leg. So much pain that I could not sit in the seat. Now, I do not easily succumb to pain. I have shot nails with a nail gun into my knuckle and took myself to the medical clinic. I have had my big toenail ripped off in my Judo matches and finished the match which I won. I have cut the tip off my finger with a hedge trimmer. The end was hanging on by some flesh still left on the end. Fortunately, Garry was available to take me to Richmond General and the medical staff was able to stitch it back on. So when the pain in my leg and back started to make me stumble, cringe, cry. I was at the edges of despair.

I have learned many things in my life and this time it was about pain. Physical, sharp, direct pain that comes like a knife in the back.

Late in my 30s I realized that I had become my father. I had the same concerns and worries about family, kids, jobs paying the bills. I learned to deal with the stress of it all.

I find myself complaining about my aches and pains, especially my sciatica, and discussing what medications and salves are the best to relieve the pain. What a way to start my life into my 60’s. I realized that I had become my grandfather.

This is particularly hard to accept because when I was young I was sure I was going to do things differently. I was going to do things better than my father when I became a father and better as a grandfather when I became a grandfather. I was naive and young. But now, I have realize that the context of my life determines a lot of what I do in my life. I realize that life was difficult for both my father and grandfather. Life was probably even harder for my grandmother and mother but that will be another story I have to write about.

The sciatic nerve pain started about a year ago with pain and numbness in the left leg. The pain would shoot up and down from my buttocks to the front of the calfs. It was difficult to walk. Sitting and lying down was fine for awhile. I could take a some ibuprofen and I could play golf and do most anything I wanted to do. The pain started getting worse in the fall and the ibuprofen and the aleve would no long give me much relief. Then this January, I found that I could not go for walks and take more than ten steps before I would have to stop to give the pain and pressure some time to dissipate. What I found strange was that I could get on my bike and ride for miles. I guessed that the pain had something to do with the angle of my back and legs.

Around the end of October in 2014, I decided it was time to do something about the pain because it was beginning to affect the quality of the things I was going to be able to do and to do with Carol. I could no longer stand long enough to teach at the Judo club and complete some of the goals that I had for the Judo club. I could not go for long walks with Carol.

Then the real pain started. I went to my family doctor and he said to do my stretches. A friend suggested an acupuncturist. She had me on the table putting needles in various place. She also tried some cupping which involved heating up glass cups and trying to suck the bad stuff out of me. None of this helped.

Carol and I were at the Vancouver Home and Garden show in early February 2015. There was a set up for a group of chiropractors and I had an evaluation done and they determined that I really needed some adjustments in my spine. The representative gave me a card and and appointment with a person close to home. I went to the chiropractor who did some tests and agreed that I needed some adjustments. That was when I learned that there is pain and then there can be even more pain.

I went to the first appointment and the chiropractor did some adjustments using a table that dropped down or popped up. The next day, the real real pain started. I could not sit or stand or lie down without pain shooting down my right leg now. Now my life was all about managing pain. Each night I tossed and turned looking for the least painful position for sleeping. Some days just sitting in my C30 caused the pain to develop. On a few occasions I had to stop the car or ask Carol to stop so I could get out bend over and walk it out. l could only describe the pain as a knife being thrust into my leg. During the day, the best position seemed to be lying on the floor with my feet up on the hassock. I was literally brought to my knees or to the ground with pain. I learned that no matter how much pain you are in there can be even more pain. I stayed with the chiropractic program because I thought that making the adjustments and was going to fix things up in the end.

I tried various combinations of ibu, Tylenol, Aleve, to ease the pain. This was not working and when I went to the GP he thought I was using too many meds that would affect my stomach and other parts of my health so he prescribed some other meds. The best combination seems to be Vimovo with an Advil chaser. This did help somewhat. I worried about the side effects of using these meds. When the meds wear off the pains came back. I still could not sleep well or do many things like sit and write.

Some days during this time I had thoughts that brought me to tears. I couldn’t play with my grandson, Wade. I would not be able to look after him. I could not chase him around. Carol and I would not be able to enjoy the next few years of our life together and whatever time we were going to have together. I could not finish my plans for the Judo club. I could not drive around in my C30 and write. I did not feel like doing anything but managing, bringing down that pain level. I could not write because it hurt so much to sit down for more than a few minutes. I wrote a bit in between the bouts with the pain. I wept for a day in despair. Fortunately, Carol was still at work and I was at home alone.

I have been deeply humbled by the pain that I know was probably caused because I did not look after my body and health well enough in my forties and early fifties. I did more that I should have. I have been humbled by life and aging.

I am feeling a better now and so I can sit and write and reflect on how I have learned to manage the pain. The one thing I learned is that you have to find out what the real source of the pain is before you can really do anything about it.

Next: Finding the real source of the pain…

Skypilot123…

Volvo C 30 Issues: Trouble With The Mice

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The mice are eating my cars. I was looking under the hood of my C 30 today. I found more mice poop and some gnawing marks on some of the foam and rubber pieces. I was horrified. I’m sure they are peeing everywhere as well. I had heard of this happening to others but never to me even though we have lived here for close to 40 years. I read that some mice like to chew on insulation material some of which is made from some plant based materials. I also heard of this ruining car electrical and ignition systems which ended up costing the owners a lot of money to repair.

I live in an older home without a garage so one car is outside in the carport and the other is in the driveway. During the cold Canadian winter the mice are looking for food and shelter. I don’t blame them, but they are eating my car. One day I found a tea bag on top of the motor. This was going too far. Not only were they eating at my car but the mice were having tea parties in the engine compartment. Sipping from the tea bag and having cute mice conversations.

“How was your day, dear?”
“Fine, except I had to drag that darn tea bag up here! Nearly broke my back!”
“Just take a sip and you will feel better.”

I had to do something. I did not want to hurt the mice. I Googled “mice problems” and found out that I was not alone and there were many solutions listed online. I bought a sound emitting device that was supposed to make noise at a frequency that mice do not like. It did not work too well. I found more even more mouse poop in the engine compartment. Perhaps, it was music to their ears and now they were dancing on the motor. The mice were probably laughing and singing mouse songs like “Three Blind Men” as they were sipping on fermented teas then peeing on the starter motor.

I bought some live mouse traps. There was bait in a little plastic container with a short maze in that would trap the mice and then I was to drive the captured mice at least 2 kilometres away. Relocation they called it. I liked that idea. I put some delicious barbecue chicken in the device and waited for morning. I tried this for a week. I never caught any mice and more plastic was being chewed away. They probably thought the trap was some kind of party game. The last one out of the maze had to chug on the tea bag.

At this point I was ready for some kind of truce or negotiation. If I could, I would meet with the mouse leader and discuss the situation with her. I think of mouse communities as being matriarchal societies. I could imagine a high pitched mouse voice telling her clan what to do.

“I need that tea bag up here! No here not there. No over more.”

I would find out how I could help her and her family survive the cold winter. It must be a hard existence I would say to her. But, I could never catch or even see the mice. I could not find away to communicate this with the mouse mum. I thought of making a mouse home for them to use but I knew my neighbours would be horrified. And, the pooping and peeing and chewing continued.

Finally, in desperation I used mouse bait. These contained mouse poison which the mice would eat and then go home get sick and die. I hated the thought of this. I couldn’t use the snap traps that would kill the mice or maim them. At least with the bait they could go back to their burrow or nest to die.

Unfortunately, this worked. Each night for 2 weeks I would place the mouse bait containers under the hood. After a couple of days I did not find anymore mouse poop in the engine compartment.

But, in this latest cold snap the mice are back. I will have to use mouse bait again. Maybe it just makes them sick and they think they have mouse hang overs and are holding their heads, lying down in their nest saying things like; “Never again…”

I consider the mice to be pests but I know I am the real pest in this world. I’d rather live in harmony with mice and spiders and the many animals that live around me. But, there are enough of them and only one of me and I can’t let them eat my car. Skypilot123

Cruisin’ Through Steveston In My C 30… Love Where You Live

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I’m sitting in the Steveston Coffee Company having a latte this morning. Frank, the owner, is working hard making up the orders. Lattes, mistos, teas etc. But, he’s a dad too. Working at being dad in the evenings and whenever he can. I’m here talking with him about supporting the Judo tournament we are hosting at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

Steveston is rich in history. Commercial fishing. Farming. Japanese Canadians. Scots. And many others. Many stories shared and written. Archived. And, still being researched and storied to this day.

But, that time has passed. It’s being put away for safe keeping. Museumed for all to access.

Now, Steveston is home to many families and businesses living life out here at the mouth of the Fraser.

I’m curious about the details, like how Frank got to this place and time. But, I don’t want to interview him. These are things I’d rather learn in genuine, informal conversation.

Turns out that Frank is originally from Singapore and was in the military. He did some martial arts training there as part of some British foreign unit.

I tell Frank that the tournament at the Richmond Oval will not really help him because it is relatively far from Steveston. He should support the fall tournament which will be held at the Steveston Community Centre. He would get more attention from that crowd.

I bump into Erica who has 2 sons that attended Steves Elementary while I was principal there. She brings back so many memories of the 6 years I worked there. She was always full of life. I find out that she has earned her welding certification and is now in the process of finding work in the field. Given her positive spirit, I am sure that she will find a position somewhere soon.

It is important to love where you live. People like Frank and Erica who have invested in Steveston by setting up a home and business here ought to be supported.

Skypilot123

Love Where You Learn: Side Trip in My C 30

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Somewhere, when I was emerging out of my teenage years I was fooled into thinking that I ought to be on some grand, singular journey and if I did not know where I was going I will have failed. School, society, media, all seemed to present this as the life story to be lived. Get a job. Have a family. Make sure you have a retirement plan. Then, freedom at 55. In this way I would be making my contribution to society.

I fell in to this pattern early. Teacher, wife, kids, not so good at the retirement savings though. This all seemed simple enough except that whenever I took a risk – a side trip off the safe, beaten path and going on some road less travelled, something interesting or wonderful happened. I was nervous facing people in new situations but when I did, I made new friends. When I took side trips in my studies I had to work harder but I learned about the importance of narrative studies. When I had to make myself more vulnerable to others, I hated it, but the conversations became richer. It seemed to me that side trips breathed life into my life.

Today, I took a side trip to visit my sister on Saltspring Island. My sister and I had wanted, for many years, to meet and talk with other school administrators about the work we do but we never had enough time or the time never seemed right. With more time on my hands now I was ready to listen and write.

The day was beautiful and the air was cool and fresh. The drive out to the ferry terminal was clear and smooth. Life seemed transparent that morning. I was apprehensive but it was going to be alright sharing thoughts and ideas and stories about public schools with friends I had not yet met and I would be sharing some of my self.

From the Long Harbour terminal I went directly to my sister’s school in Ganges. One of the first students I met was a student wearing a t-shirt that read “Love Where You Learn”. This happened to be the motto of the school. As I walked throughout the school this theme permeated all my encounters. I met teachers and educational assistants who where engaged and deeply committed to the learning process. They were keen to share their teaching and learning with me. I met students who were and having fun learning. The administrative staff of the office were polite, dedicated, and ensuring that the school was running efficiently and effectively. I did not visit with the intent of making observations like this. I could not help but notice and enjoy.

We met at my sister’s home near Southey Point. A beautiful wooded area on the water. Perfect for having a quiet discussion. I made some notes as we talked.

1. Reflective Practice: Safety and confidence are important so confidentiality (root word is confidence) is important. What is shared and discussed should always remain in the group. No judgements but questions and observations help the conversations to progress. As we listen we are always evaluating and making judgements, so we need to edit our comments. Feeling safe allows everyone everyone to be vulnerable to discuss our deepest feelings about our work as school administrators. If we are not vulnerable we cannot reach the roots of our work.

Reflective Question: “What does it mean to be a learner?”

2. Context and background and setting are important. Sometimes when we are in our workplace we just accept where we are living as the way it is. If we stop and listen, observe and consider the setting, we can find opportunities to enhance or improve our schools and the way we work within them. I was amazed at the diversity of assignments on the island. I was used to schools in a district being quite alike except for the names. I came to think that If one can understand the context and setting of the work, one can work towards improving the learning situation and the working conditions.

Reflective Question: How can we create a school setting where we; “Love Where We Work”?

3. Administrator as Learning Leader: I understand how the constant daily “busy ness” can keep us so busy that we feel we are only managing. We feel we should be doing more supervision and working with teachers. What is understood by the term supervision? Supervision can mean a kind of oversight of the work. It can mean “super” vision – somehow we can see beyond or deeper or through things. It can mean we are in a hierarchical position over staff. This is a lot for one person to carry. One word can have many symbolic meanings – because we give every word or name a metonymic interpretation. What meaning of supervision do we want to give our teachers and staff?

Reflective Question for me was “What does it mean to be a learning community?”

4. Implementation: How do we become the changes we want to see? How do we change conversations into actions? Some important narrative features of the implementation process: A. Begin with the values in mind. Bring the whole school community into the conversation. Make sure everyone is included and feels included even if they are not totally bought in. B. There is an “imp” in the very word “implementation”. There will always be the need to make adaptations and changes. Some forced implementation can cause staffs to lose connection. C. Constant conversation is needed to keep a pulse on the change. It is so important to keep track of the story for everyone.
D. Review the data both formal and informal and check to see if the implementation is having the desired effect…

Reflective Questions: “How do we get to be a learning community and when do we know we are there?”

I enjoyed my time on the Gulf Islands. Beauty, serenity, love, stories abound.

On Call In My Volvo C 30

Beginning the Journey: Looking for Blue Skies

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Today, I begin another writing journey – a different story. Since retirement I have had difficulty finding reasons to write each day. I can find lots of projects to do to keep busy but I have lost my impetus to write. I haven’t been writing much lately. I can’t seem to find a narrative thread to hang my life story on to. I need a muse. When you work in a school for 38 years there are plenty of things to write about because stuff is always happening and there are so many interesting people – students, staff, families. And when people get together issues happen, stories happen. There was always lots to write about. Now, I have to make things up.

John Dewey, educator, librarian extraordinaire, once said something like the following about teaching writing: All the difference lies between having to write something and having something to write about.

I decided to just write about something. One of the things I do each day is drive somewhere to do something in my Volvo C30. I enjoy driving my C30. I really love driving to find blue skies. This is probably not correct in this day and age of limited resources but I cannot deny my feelings about it. I just love driving in my C30 somewhere.

I try to make sure that I am doing something worthwhile, like the today. I wanted to pick up some supplies in Vancouver for my Judo club; return a kitchen sink to Costco; and practice golf. Most importantly, I wanted to meet Alanna and play with my grandson Wade. I also wanted to do something about the mice that keep hiding out in the carport. They are now eating at some of the plastic parts in the engine compartment. One day I found a tea bag under the hood. I can imagine them having a party on top of the engine.

Around 8:30a I hopped in my Volvo C30 and set my gps to look for the Mikado Martial Arts Supply store in Vancouver. I packed the sink and my golf clubs. I managed to get the clubs and the kitchen sink into the back of the C30. The C30 is a quirky looking car. The front half looks great. The backside looks to be a little cut off. A little too short. But, it fits my life style and needs. It seems to mirror the quirky looks of its owner.

The golf clubs and the sink fit quite nicely. I doubt that I could have done this with another small car or sedan. So, packed and I headed out to Vancouver. Each time I hop into my C30 I think how much I enjoy driving it. It has enough pep to merge onto highways without a struggle. It is quiet inside so I can listen to my favourite tunes and programs.

I realized that Mikado might not be open until 9:30 so I wondered what to do with the time. I had done a search the night before and did not remember the store hours. I took a quick look at my phone and sure enough it doesn’t open until 9:30. I decided to search for a Starbucks. I had a few gift cards from Christmas to use anyways. The Magellan GPS lists the coffee shops along the way. It will also list the Starbucks. I pull over to search for the nearest Starbucks. As usual, there is one nearby. I drive by the Mikado and around the corner to the Starbucks on Powell Street. I go to the drive through window and order a peppermint latte. I guess not many people order one. I get a quick bemused look from the server followed by a look of “okay, sounds good” and off the young lady goes to make my latte. Tastes great. Very refreshing. I drive off figuring my way through the complexity of one way streets and off ramps to get to the Mikado that was just a couple of blocks away. I have way more patience for looking for places than I ever did in my younger days.

At Mikado I order the Judogi and belts for the club. There are no sizes small enough for Wade so I order the Karate uniform instead. Karate uniforms are not as thick as Judo uniforms because there is less grappling. But, it should do for now. I pay for the supplies and watch a young, fit man trying out some hitting gloves. I am kind of sad about the Judo part of my life. Right now I cannot do all the things I was able to do even a short few years ago. In to my mid 50s I could spar with any of my Judo students no matter their age or size. I could have sparred with the young man in the store. Now at 60, I cannot even do a proper break fall. The last 5 years have taken its toll. I never thought that my body would grow old so quickly. I was hoping to teach Wade how to do Judo. Now, I am not sure if I will be able to more than cheer him from the side lines.

I make my way to Costco. I need new tires. I probably have 1/2 year at most left on these tires. I’m down to 4/32 and 5/32 of tread left on the tires. I hope it doesn’t snow. I keep wondering if I should go to the Volvo dealership or go to some discount tire outlet or to Costco. Costco seems to be cheapest place but the dealership did such good work balancing my tires after fixing a flat for me and they did it for free. I think the dealership might take better care with the work. But, I could save probably $25 per tire at Costco. I need to find out if the Costco deal included the tire stems as well. I hope I can remember to do this on my next visit to Costco. In the end, I will probably go to the dealership for peace of mind. In my younger days when the family was young I would have gone to Costco just to save the money.

I really love writing as a way to keep my thoughts coherent and to organize my life. I will keeping going down this road for a while until I sort out my retirement life. And, one has to write to get better at writing. Writing is also good therapy for me. Writing about my thoughts and worries help to resolve so many things that I am wondering or conflicted about.

Now, that I have started this journey I can think of many places and routes to go to. I will always be looking for blue skies…