100 Push ups

A couple of days ago I decided to try and improve my upper body strength. Walking every day has kept my legs from going downhill, but as I found out on my first kayaking trip of the year, my arms are pretty worthless.

As usual, when I have a problem, I turn to Google, and I quickly found a link to a promising web site called “100 Pushups.” Maybe a little too ambitious, but I could probably settle for a little less than 100.

According to the instructions the first step is to take the initial test and determine what group you are in by, (guess what?) seeing how many pushups you can do.

I creaked my way into a face down position and relaxed. OK. Lets get started... I barely managed to do 2 shaky pushups and was rewarded by a cramp in my right leg. So that put me in the 1 to 5 group, (probably called the 'weenie' group) or as the instructions advised, maybe I should start out by doing “bench pushups” which are much easier. I found that the step going up out of my bedroom was just the right height and using the elevation of the step I could do 6 pushups, which in my mind at least, got me out of the “weenie” group. I went back to the computer and printed out the first weeks schedule.

The schedule called for 4 sets of pushups on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays. The first set called for me to do 6, rest for 60 seconds, do 6, rest for 60 seconds, do 4, rest, do 4, rest, then to do as many as I could, (at least 5.)

On Friday morning I quivered and strained my way through the first two sets and started on the third when our puppy, Squeak spied me and decided that it was a great time to lick my ear. I steeled myself to ignore her and finished the set of 4. On the next set, after I got to 3, she put both of her front paws on the back of my head and tried to hold me down. She was successful. I still counted that as a 4 considering the handicap.

Now all I had to do was rest for 60 seconds, (or more if you need it, Weenie!) and do as many as I could, (but at least 5!) My arms felt like rubber and I didn't care any more if I was a weenie or not, so I took a five minute break.

After I was rested, I lowered myself down to the carpeted step and as Squeak watched, I pushed and strained, but try as I might, I couldn't raise my 150 pound scrawny self off of the carpet. There was nothing in the instructions about that happening, so I assumed that on Monday I'd just start over again.

I made it through all 4 sets on Monday, and on Wednesday I advanced to 8 reps despite having 2 dogs licking my ears. I doubt that I'll ever come close to 100, but if it helps me to paddle my kayak without getting pooped I'll be happy.

Rusty the Wonder Dog

There have always been dogs in my life. When I was born, part of our family was an Irish Setter named Baron. He was dad's pheasant hunting companion and a guardian over my brother, sister and me. When we moved from rural Ohio to the mountains of Colorado we had a bull terrier, Tippy. After we moved to the ranch we had Beagles, the most memorable being Beauregard, who was my rabbit hunting partner all through my high school years.

After Carol and I married and eventually moved back to the ranch with our four boys, Grande, a purebred Saint Bernard became a member of our family. He was one of the smartest, gentlest, easiest to train dogs I've ever had the privilege to know. When we took the kids out of school early one year and traveled the western United States he was with us. He was a joyful companion and a trustworthy guardian.

Next to join the family was Rusty, a Cocker Spaniel who traveled with us from Arizona to Oregon. Here's his story.

Kayaking with Parkinson's

I took the dogs out for their morning constitutional and instead of the usual rain, the moon was shining through wispy clouds. It looked like it was going to be a decent day, so I decided to get off my butt and drag my kayak over to the lake.

I've been making excuses for not kayaking for quite a while now; it's too windy, it's too rainy, I've got too much to do, etc., but I really need the exercise. Going for a walk every day has helped keep my legs in shape, but my upper body strength is fading away.

When I got to the lake, I removed the little lawn mower-wheeled cart off of the boat, tucked it in behind the seat and slid the kayak down the grassy bank to the shoreline. The lake was smooth and glassy with fog rising off the water. Just the way I like it!

There's a feeling that I never tire of, gliding out onto the water and quietly paddling, trying not to disturb the silence. For me it's a time for peaceful meditation. My mind clears and my arms and hands work the paddle on their own; I don't even have to think about it.

I got out to the middle of the lake before my meditation was interrupted by my once dependable arms and hands telling me that they were getting tired! I stopped and drifted for a while, resting. When I started paddling again I could feel the tremors in my left hand getting worse, and in a few minutes I had to stop again.

I slowly worked my way to the south end of the lake and into the little stream that feeds it. Paddling against the current was a chore, but I made it to the inlet where a culvert lets a road cross and I stopped for a long rest.

Letting the streams current do most of the work on the way back out onto the lake, all I had to do was keep the little boat between the banks, but when I got back to the open water a slight head wind had started up. I knew that I had my work cut out for me getting back to the put-in.

The tremors had spread to both of my arms and hands and it was difficult to keep a good grip on the paddle. With every stroke my arms had a cogwheel, ratchet feel to them. I was really tired and the boat dock where I usually get out looked like it wasn't getting any closer.

After what seemed like an eternity, I made it to the dock and slid in on the leeward side. Normally I can put my hands on the dock and roll up and out of the kayak, but I was almost too weak to do it. Somehow I managed to squirm up onto the dock without falling in or overturning my kayak.

I pulled the boat out, put the wheels on, and trudged back to the house. When I went to the kitchen sink to get a drink of water, my tremors were so bad I couldn't get the glass to my mouth, even when I tried using both hands.

Next time I'll take it a little easier!