Unwanted Free Time!

We've both been out every morning this week playing pickleball. I still meet up with the group at Churchill Street Rec Center, while Rich has been off to Pimlico, El Santiago, Saddlebrook and La Hacienda.

The weather here has been almost unbearable. Here in the Tampa/The Villages area we continue to break records for temperatures and heat index with temperatures in the high 90's and heat index well over 100. We've had a number of people getting ill, either with dehydration or just exhaustion. We called 911 the one day when my partner went down, and despite putting his legs up, the ice and cold compresses, we couldn't get the heart rate down. A few of the ladies have been escorted home by fellow players, because of exhaustion. The Villages has water on the courts every day for all the players, but in this heat you really need to bring the sports drinks, like Gatorade, to get the electrolites back in the system.

Rich and I have managed to keep well hydrated, so we've been able to cope with the weather. But Rich continues to have problems with the feet. The toes, where the surgery was done, are doing great! No pain at all. But now he is getting a lot of tingling and burning on the Both Feet! It's not constant. Generally OK in the morning, or after resting for a while. He can play four games or so and then it gets pretty bad. The doctor (Podiatrist) called in a prescription for him, but it doesn't seem to be relieving the problem. You know Rich - even the pain won't keep him off the courts. He still goes out and plays, even if its just four or five games.

Me? I was even out line dancing for about three hours on Tuesday aftern0on after playing pickleball in the morning.....But even I am out of commission now. Yesterday my opponent, trying to pull me off the court to set up a shot sent a ball low and to the outside of the court to my forehand side. I bent, stretched, and in an effort to return the ball cross court, twisted quickly to the left as I hit the ball. Made a great shot..........but pulled a muscle or something in my back! Had to quit in the middle of the game. Made it home on the bicycle and then iced it several times during the day. Was sore, but didn't seem to bad when I went to bed for the night. BUT!!!! It took me about 10 minutes to maneuver my way out of bed this morning and walk about 10 steps to the bathroom! Pretty painful..........but after getting up and around and moving a little bit, it is much more bearable. No pickleball or dancing for a while............

And no senior citizen comments (Mark!) We both refuse to say (or believe) we're getting older.