Our Annual Visit To The Poulos Christmas House Lights Show

This last Thursday evening Veronica and I took our 2nd annual visit to the Poulos residence to view the awesome holiday light show that they put on every year.
Last year was our first year on the Outer Banks and our first opportunity to visit the Poulos residence.
In case you never viewed last years blog entry about this annual event, the Poulos residence home won the 2005 "Best Christmas Display" in the nation contest on NBC's Today Show and had the privilege of being visited by Al Roker himself.
In 2006 this residence gained even more attention when it was on HGTV's "Over the Top Holiday" program.
Veronica and I went early enough that we did not have to battle the crowds that usually show up for this beautiful holiday spirited light and decoration show.
This also gave me the opportunity to take my time and get some good photos/videos.
We noticed that they were several decorations that had been added to this years presentation. You can click on any photo to make it bigger.
Click on this link if you would like to view the photos/videos taken during last years 2010 Poulos family Christmas House presentation

Below is my love posing with an antique Ford pickup truck.

What's a holiday light and decoration presentation without a holiday porker

Here is Veronica posing with none other than the "Main Man" himself...Santa

Below are a couple of photos that I took while experimenting with different camera settings

Here is Veronica hanging out at the Reindeer Parking area. She had heard that Rudolph and the clan were supposed to be arriving soon, to attend the Poulos festivities. Unfortunately they were running behind schedule due to some really strong head winds. We ended up missing out on seeing them this year but there is always next year.

I believe that this was a new addition to the massive number of decorations at the Poulos residence

Below are a few videos taken while we were at the Poulos Christmas house 

Below is a really neat Mickey Mouse Christmas tree topper that Veronica noticed.

Doctors Visit Update

I went to a local Orthopedic doctor yesterday to get my knees checked out.

The X-Rays showed minimal arthritis and some calcification in the joints of my knees.

After much pulling, twisting and shaking the doctor told me that the ligaments in my knee were fine but because I had torn my meniscus years ago, there was a chance that I could have torn it again.

The only way to find out for sure was to have an MRI done.

I told the doctor that I had met my financial deductible for the year through my insurance company and that there was no rush to get the MRI done because I originally thought that the deductible had been met up until August of next year. As it turns out my deductible has been met until the 1st of next year, which is only 3 weeks away. At that point in time I will need to start over paying out again until my deductible has been met for next.

So this morning I called the doctors office to let them know about my mistake....which could cost us several hundred dollars of out of pocket expenses in order to reach next years deductible.

They will see how booked up the MRI schedule is and see if it is possible to get it done by the 1st of the year.

Until I know for sure, I will be giving my knees a break and I won't be riding my bike nor going for any long walks.

I will also be icing it down every night.

At least nothing glaring came to light during the knee exam and x-rays. Hopefully the MRI will come back clean and then it will be a little time to rehab the knee back into shape and then back to my normal routine.

At least that is my game plan at this moment.

I'm Still Around

I haven't posted much on this blog lately. I have been busy doing other things plus I kind of hit a period of "writers block".

So what have I been up to? Well I have been keeping myself busy with my workouts and nursing some injuries. I have had to totally quit going on my walks along with riding my recumbent bicycle. Seems that both of my knees have decided to go on strike at the same time.

Within a matter of a couple of days, my right knee started going out on me during my walks. It feels very "loose" and extremely unstable. I have had it go out and give way in a couple of places...sometimes it is in the front of the knee about an inch below my knee cap. This is about the same general area where I broke my leg several years ago. I have also experienced my knee go out in the back in what i will call the "knee pit" area. And last but not least..I have had issues with both sides of this knee.

Unfortunately this knee has had some trauma to it in the past. I had arthroscopic surgery due to a torn meniscus back in the 80s and I was also shot in this knee as a teenager back in the early 70s.

So after enduring some problems on my walks with the right knee, I decided to back off and start riding my recumbent bike in the garage. The 1st day on the bike was uneventful and I did 15 miles and felt a little better knowing that at least I could do something like that type of exercise without further damaging my knee. Unfortunately I was wrong on that thought. The next day I got on my recumbent bike and was on it for only about 2 minutes before I started getting some sharp knife like pains in my left knee this time. I immediately got off the bike after 2 sharp pains and haven't been on it since.

Since that point in time, I have had my right knee wrapped to add a little more stability to the knee. My knee still goes out when it wants to and makes a loud crunching and crackling sound when I walk on it....kinda sounds like if you would step on a bag of potato chips.

This time I did not do what I usually do when injured....wait and see if it goes away on its own while still going about doing my normal exercise routine.

Actually...this time I almost immediately called and made an appointment with an Orthopedic & Joint Doctor.

I go in this Tuesday at 1:45 for my first appointment.

Even though my knees are acting up, I am still able to do my weightlifting and am progressing nicely with my routine. Of course I don't do anything that involves any added weight or pressure on my knees. Everything is upper body and arms..

Besides dealing with my knees, I also have done some Holiday baking. After a request from several of Veronica's Associates at work, I baked 12 dozen of my coconut macaroons...some with Ghirardelli semi sweet chocolate morsels and either butterscotch or peanut butter chips/nibs. I also added chopped pecans in all recipes made. Veronica told me that the Associates at the store call my macaroons..."Ricks crack" because they are so yummy and addictive.

I also will be putting some meals together for families that utilize the mobile food pantries in the area.

There is also the possibility that I will be serving meals for those that are in need on Christmas Eve and maybe Christmas Day at a local church.

Not much else has been happening around here except....only 279 days left until our 14 day cruise out of Copenhagen on the NCL Sun....something both Veronica and I are greatly looking forward to.