The niece and nephew are still in town, 4.8 and 11 respectively, in desperate need of entertainment.  Prior to my ATR, their Aunt Mary was their main transport around and a big chunck of their entertainment as well, since I could let them come on the local bustours with me.  Alas!  No driving!

I decided to take the Muir Woods (Redwoods) bus tour with another driver/guide from my company, and I have to say, that after weeks of hanging around, it was fun to go on the foggy ride over the Golden Gate Bridge and let someone else drive and give the lecture.  Buddy, a fellow with 20-plus years’ experience as an international guide, was super informative.  My nephew thought that he was better than me!  Well, gee, thanks, kid! 

In the redwoods themselves, I didn’t walk far, but sat in the cafetaria yakking with the other drivers and guides I hadn’t seen in about two months.  My nephew was mainly interested in the Jumbo Dog, soft drink and Skittles, all junk food his own parents won’t let him eat at home.  Only Aunt Mary will let him eat this junk on vacation.  I seriously doubt that I am the only source, as he is a genius at earning a bit of money here and there.  Last year, he scammed the tourists coming out of the Redwoods to buy buckeyes from him at 25c/each, although they were lying all over the ground.  European tourists in particular seemed to find it amusing and called him (in German and Dutch and French, I could understand it): Typical American businessman!

Back on to the bus, there were exclamations of surprise coming from the back.  Apparently we had someone famous back there!  Yes, it was Katey Sagal, the character Peg Bundy on MARRIED WTIH CHILDREN.  She was with her own two teenage children, ages 14 and 18.  All three were thin and dressed down; one would never notice them at all.  Once she was spotted, she was low-key but generous in talking about her work.  At the moment, she’s doing a FX show called ANGELS OF ANARCHY (watch for it!) about the Hell’s Angels; she is the wife of the head honcho in the film.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Katey_Sagal.jpg

That’s the link to her photo if you cannot place this person.

I and the kids took the ferry back, then BART, then called their  mother for a ride to the house.  Public transit does take a lot of walking, or humping, or whatever we call our Department of Silly Walks.

Tomorrow is the big day back at Ortho:  cast off, and straight into two-shoes.  I bought an Aircast Walker Boot directly online at E-Bay to have as a backup, $22 total incl. shipping.  For the price, I thought it might be a good thing to have some of the time.  The doctor said bring a sportshoe.  Digging into the old closet at home (parents’ basement), I swore I had once had some sportshoes, but when WAS the last time I was ever sporty?  Just plain could not find them!  Found a bunch of really old and nice ones I had forgotten I owned!  But when to wear them?  Not for months, apparently…

I stopped at a superelcheapo outlet and got some sport shoes, price on Reebok Ultralites knocked down to $10.  In addition, got the Dr. Scholl’s inserts from Walgreens, and also brought from home some other lace-up shoes, such as Mephistos, that the doctor may prefer to the superlight Reebok’s.   A real shoe-bag lady is coming his way tomorrow.  York will accompany me (my senior friend, great help and happy chauffeur) to be my “uncle”; first time I have brought anyone with me to an appointment.  A nurse I know told me it would help; he can clarify questions; doctor might talk more.  What do you folks think?  Do you bring your friends/partners/relatives or chauffeurs in with you?  Does it help or detract or not matter at all?

Six weeks in a cast, out of work, with no driving:  yes, I am getting used to lots of books, DVD’s, telephone yak and Internet surfing.   Work can wait.  I have mountains of books to go before I sleep.  The Napa grapes will be ripe and harvested before I can really get moving workwise, it seems.  I do miss the Wine tours the most!