Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Apr 12, 2013 - 10:59pm PT
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Mike. Great to see you making good progress on the process of recovery. I'm getting closer to being there to see you and share what I can. What is a good day and time to visit and where? I haven't been on my computer very much recently , so I'm not sure where you will be be and when.
Peace Out.
Wayno
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moosedrool
climber
Stair climber, lost, far away from Poland
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Apr 12, 2013 - 11:09pm PT
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Hey Mike, heal up fast! We have Woodfest coming on May 25th.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Apr 13, 2013 - 08:55am PT
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What is a good day and time to visit and where?
Wayno! I would love to see you buddy! I'm in rehab monday to friday and i usually have appointments till around 4. So anytime after four is usually good. Then i leave friday night to come home, till sunday night usually.
Pm me or call to let me know and i'll gladly confirm. If you can't make it during those hours we can figure something out.
Moose- What is woodfest??
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Apr 13, 2013 - 01:04pm PT
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Snowboarding next year?
Man, after I busted my ankle - the first year skiing? No way.
I had the hardware taken out, and then the second season, I wasn't feeling the love. No skiing until the third season.
However, I did climb El Cap via Son of Heart about three weeks after they took out my diastasis screw. Did you know a crutch makes a good cheat stick?
Great video playing basketball! We should play sometime... [ahem]
Love the shot in the MEC, you Hoser, you. You need to explain the Merricans how bitchin' the MEC is.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Apr 13, 2013 - 03:13pm PT
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Ya i wanna ride next year. See what the doc says. I'll be carefull that's for sure..
These dudes know what mec is, it's our version of rei. Some stuff is better, but some rei stuff is pretty rad too, like the rei thin puffy i got in vegas.
Wanna play some ball? You should roll out to the wet coast this season. Maybe tackle u-wall to roman chimney's while you're here or something!
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Apr 14, 2013 - 11:07am PT
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Hey Mike -- I'm in your town. I'd love to arrange a visit, but I'm only here for 7 hours, and not allowed to leave the international transit zone at YVR while I wait for my flight to Hong Kong. On the short hop up here from Seattle I got a view of about eight zillion trillion tonnes of snow. Every mountain I could see was totally plastered, so naturally I thought of you -- in the hope that next year you'll be sliding down all that white stuff again.
Take care of yourself and work on the rehab -- maybe, if things go well, we can get out together this fall.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Apr 14, 2013 - 11:25am PT
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Things are going well Dave. We will be getting out this fall. One caveat. You're leading!! I'm currently at home (Whistler) surrounded by mountains. I love it. I'm just laying in my super comfy warm bed, but just being here is awesome!
We fought the crowds a little last night to go check out NAS. I didn't last long but what i caught was pretty sweet!!
Nas in Whistler
Thanks to Sandra for being brave enough to take me.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
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Apr 14, 2013 - 01:06pm PT
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Hideous.
Ah well, Vibes all the same. ;-)
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Baby Doll
Trad climber
Squamish
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Apr 15, 2013 - 06:59pm PT
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Haha... "hideous"... not so much; but some of the idiots in the crowd sure were. I'm unfortunately an anxious person by nature so you can imagine how "brave" i had to be to go with Mike in his current condition. We did really well though considering. Mike and I ended up standing beside this big tower they have set up for the outdoor show and some girl was smoking up there and her ashes were falling down onto us...so Mike decided to take one of his canes and reach up...Waaaaay up and managed to hit her bag with the cane to get her attention. She was a little startled hahah.
I myself had to scream at a guy for being an ignorant you-know-what who acted like Mike was some sort of inconvenience or was faking or shouldn't have been there or something...he gave Mike this terrible look so I screamed at him (it was pretty loud though so not sure if he heard exactly what i yelled). Haha...don't mess with this girl!
Was sweet though...glad that Mike was able to get out to enjoy it!
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Relic
Social climber
Vancouver, BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 17, 2013 - 03:48pm PT
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Apr 21, 2013 - 12:51pm PT
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Ok, so i know it's been awhile. Last week was really good. It started out with my buddy Cam giving me a ride to the city.
Two gimps on the road.
On the way to Squish, the chief was so well lit up we had to stop at the Tantalus Lookout.
I wished i had a real camera with a telephoto lense..
Then we stopped for dinner at the Wiegan Pier a local fish and chips shoppe.
I took this sunset pic on the way out of town
Cam hadn't been to GFS yet so when we got there I showed him a around a bit and we played some gimp ball.
On Monday when i got back from my room, I had received a package from Guido with a very cool Hex shirt in it and a nice letter. It's always really nice to get something in the mail, especially a very cool shirt i can wear! Thanks Guido!
Not long after that Rolfr came and picked me up for lunch. It was good to meet him finally. We had lots to talk about between climbing and contracting, so it was an excellent meeting.
We went to Biercraft on Cambie street.
A quaint little pub, with excellent food. It was just the right venue to stimulate and excellent conversation. We talked about his recent trip to J-tree which he quite enjoyed and old times at Squamish.
Before i knew it we were done and it was back to the grindstone. I got Rolf to strike a pose for this shot just outside the pub.
Rolf got me back just in the nick of time for swimming, he must be a business man or something! ;) Thanks Rolf!!
That night, Anders stopped by for a bit and we had an excellent chat also. He stayed well past visiting hours, and we broached many subjects.
Anders has become an excellent friend since i've been incarcerated, and i hope i will be able to repay him for all the kindness he's shown to me. His visits always brighten my day.
Me with my new shirt on showing off my card wall.
Anders Ourum Photo
Tuesday was another great day. After seeing Relics pics from Squamish on monday i got a bit jealous and told him we should hang out tomorrow. He was happy to oblige and after my "work day" (aka rehab) was complete, he picked me up and took me out to a tasty burger at Modern Burger on broadway.
Modern Burger
It had cool old school decor and amazing service. The food was really good too.
Chocolate shake.
Burger and fries
Vintage toy collection at the till.
Then we still had some time before i had to get back for swimming, so relic suggested we go to Kits beach. I said, "HELL YES!!".
Beautiful Kits Beach
Relic on said beach
On Wednesday Harry stopped by for lunch and brought me an amazing falafel. If you think i'm over enthusiastic about the food i get treated to, you should try eating off my tray every day... ;)
We had a engaging conversation about his wife's recovery from her cancer battle and i'm happy to report she's doing quite well and things are looking up.
Then we got onto the topic of climbing and, time flies when your having fun. I bid him adieu so he. Could go see he lovely wife and realized i was supposed to be in the pool 10 minutes ago! Oops!
After swimming I had my team meeting, which went quite well and we were all quite happy with my progress.
Sandra came down for it, so we got to hang out after and she brought me a nice home cooked meal which was much nicer than tray food. We also got to eat with some of my rehab friends and quite enjoyed their company.
We got to hang out late, and she blew off everything she had planned to do on the way home. That kinda sucked, but quality time is way more important than life bs, and i think she's finally learning that.
Thursday was interesting. After an engaging workout, i was playing ball in the gym and i happened to poke my nose outside to check out the power chair demo which was happening in the courtyard, and was shocked to find a table stocked with some of the most amazing sandwiches and salads i had seen since i had landed on my ass almost 8 weeks ago.
Having absolutely no shame, and starving for decent fare, i feasted as much as i could and then went to let the other patients know what was going down. Unfortunately i couldn't find anyone!
I found them all later at the lunch table and regaled them with tales of treasures long since passed... :) I was happy to be stuffed and passed on my tray, but didn't really feel guilty since i had made an effort to get a hold of them while the getting was good.
After lunch we had an interesting education session on complications after spinal cord surgery, but i found it difficult to sit through, literally since it hurts pretty good after spending more than 45 minutes in a chair. I spent most of the session shifting back and forth between the chair and leaning against the wall, and had to go lay down for twenty minutes before my next appointment.
Dinner was intellectually stimulating when one of the patients who had been at GFS fifteen years earlier and ended up there again brought up the subject of mental treatment. We had quite an emotionally charged conversation which left one of the girls in tears.
I'm so glad i have a strong support network.
Friday was pretty routine, I played ball for a bit after physio and then i got challenged to my first one on one since my injury. Neither of us could run, so it was pretty fair, but my height won the day. My ot appt was cancelled since Nigel is on vacation right now and my temp was pretty busy.
On the way back to my room, i ran into one of my friends who is really having a rough go of it. He's a quad who's walking, but he's plateau'd and he's in a lot of pain. I keep trying to tell him that he can't give up, but he's really depressed. We ended up talking till lunch.
Sandra had arranged for our friend Amanda to pick me up, and we had a lovely chat on the way home. Thanks Amanda!!
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MH2
climber
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Apr 21, 2013 - 01:31pm PT
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Good to hear from you, Mike. Keep talking to us. Keep talking to those other people, too. Some need it more and sometimes it's all you can do.
Also keep listening, preventing starvation, and the rehab, etc. etc.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Apr 21, 2013 - 02:07pm PT
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Thanks Andy. I just realized, i never really updated my condition! I'm walking a lot better now. I'm using my crutches like walking sticks for short distances and i'm feeling really good. I've been playing a lot of ball, and my goal for the week is the up the walking quotient. I want to hike the chief again soon so i need to get my endurance up.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Apr 21, 2013 - 06:15pm PT
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hey there say, big mike... was hoping to hear an update...
wow, you are doing so well!...
happy to see all this,
take care and keep doing good!
hey there to sandra, too...
:)
edit:
say, i got a little surprise for anders, so, when
you see him, ask him please to email me address...
or--if wayno, etc, or someone is going up to see you,
i could mail it to them?? and they could take it?
whatever works best, :))
let me know, folks, :)
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Apr 21, 2013 - 09:31pm PT
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I'm shootin' for next Monday/Tuesday for a visit.
Hey Relic or someone, can I get a couch or a floor for next
Monday night? I will bring wine.
Neebee, if you need to send something here for Anders,I can get it to him.
Mike, it looks like you will be picking that high-hanging fruit again in no time.
Peace Out and Live Upfull!
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wayne w
Trad climber
the nw
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Apr 21, 2013 - 11:11pm PT
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So psyched to hear how well you are doing Mike! Keep at it! I know that you will be back to 100% sooner than later!!
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Apr 22, 2013 - 07:54pm PT
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hey there say, wayno, great! i will try to send it by thurs, or even wed, ... hope it will make it in time... :)
wow, thanks!
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