I was at a college last year whose administration chose not to live up to an agreement concerning making me a full time employee of the school. I was being paid through the money provided by the Letterman's Club. It was supposed to be for a year, then I was to be made full time. My mistake was that I liked the guy I worked for and the players. I should have not had as much faith in the administration as I did. I found out the middle of June that they weren't going to come through. Since it was very late to start looking for another coaching job, I decided to have the surgery as soon as possible. If the position had been opened for me I could have gone pain meds for a year and had it done next summer. I did this with my first replacement.

By having the surgery now, I'll be ready to go when the jobs open up in November and December. There are a couple of jobs that may open up and if certain friends get them I'll have a job. So now my full time job is recovering and trying to keep from going crazy since I'm not coaching.

Monday, Aug. 28 It was raining when I got up this morning, so I decided to change up my routine. I drove to the community center and did the stairs. I went up and down two sets of five with no rest between reps (I had been resting between them). And then I did a third set of four. Next time I'll increase to five reps.

I then went to the weight room and did a workout consisting of three sets of 15 repetitions on each exercise. I did cable crossovers with 60 pounds, standing cable rows with 60 pounds, triceps pull downs with 60 pounds, and in-front hammer curls with 20 pounds.

About 11 a.m. the rain had stopped, and I went outside for a walk. I went four times around the addition without the cane in 37 minutes, 30 seconds. My legs got a little tired on the fourth time around. I'm sure it's because of the change in workout, and because I did a little more. I felt that I deserved the nap I took later that day.

This evening the Green Bay Packers are playing the Cincinnati Bengals on ESPN.  One of the receivers I coached three seasons ago is on the Packers. So I'll be watching. He's worked really hard to get where he is. I coached him at a Division II school in Michigan, and it's tough to break in to the NFL from a small school. But the other receiver from that team is on the Detroit Lions. I hope when they play each other, it'll be televised here. And I hope they are both are still on their squads.

Tuesday, Aug. 29 I was able to walk outside this morning and I went four-and-a-half times around the addition in 41 minutes, 30 seconds. It was humid outside, but a breeze took the edge off the humidity. I didn't go to the community center to walk the stairs today since I had to drive a bit to go to Sam's Club. Since it's a pretty big store, I did a lot of walking. I felt I didn't need to do any more today.

Wednesday, Aug. 30 This morning when I walked for some reason I had a difficult time getting going. I just wasn't mentally into walking. I did go five times around (1.5 miles) but at a slower pace of 52 minutes.

I went to the community center at 11:30 a.m. I walked the stairs at three sets of five times with no rest between reps. Next time I'm going to add one rep to each set until I'm doing three sets of 10. I finished up in the weight room doing the same workout I did on Monday. After I got home I cleaned up, ate and then went to the bank and then the grocery store.

When Linda got home I had her help me start the lawn mower, she had to connect the spark plug connection and prime it. I then mowed the lawn. Our yard isn't too big; it usually takes me a half hour to just mow. It took me longer but I finished it. Later I fell asleep in the recliner. I did have to take another pain pill but it wasn't too bad. I had a pretty full day activity wise.

Thursday, Aug. 31 It was raining in the morning so I didn't go out. In fact it's been raining most of the day. I decided to take the day off, with all the activity I did yesterday my legs need a bit of a break. Tonight's the first night of college football on TV so I don't want to wear myself out and fall asleep in the 3^rd quarter.

Friday, Sept. 1 The day off from walking really energized me. I went out this morning and walked 5-and-a-half times around the addition in 48 minutes. I really felt good! Later in the morning I went to the community center walked the stairs, doing three sets of six, and finished off in the weight room.

When I arrived home I had a message from my sister that my mother, living in an Alzheimer's facility, got a gastrointestinal bug that was going around the facility. I decided to eat, get cleaned up and drop by to talk with the nurses to see how she was doing. As I was finishing dressing my sister called again and she received a call that mom wasn't doing well. I told her I'd meet her there.

To make a long story short a short time, my mother had become unresponsive. My sister and I stayed there most of the day. There was nothing we could do except call our three brothers and tell them the situation. She has a DNR (do not resuscitate agreement), so all we can do is wait. After being there quite a few hours I had to get out, so I drove to the local high school and watched just over a half of the football game. Then I returned and stayed with her for a couple of more hours.

Saturday, Sept. 2 I got up at 6:30 a.m. after not really sleeping well. I walked six times around the addition in 51 minutes. I then ate, cleaned up and went to se my mom. My sister and I spent most of the day there. I did go to Mass at 5 p.m., went home and ate then came back. We've signed mom up for hospice care. There is no doubt that she's dying, and we are going to make her as comfortable as possible.

Sunday, Sept. 3 About 1 a.m. I woke up. I caught the bug that my mother has. My sister and niece both have it also. I spent the entire day lying around. This thing  kicked my butt.