slow walking

its been sometime since i added to the blog. i am finally taking steps. i have a pair of leg braces that keep my knees from buckling when i put weight over each leg. i am able to lift each foot by using my obiques and the muscles that run down the side of my back. it is difficult and my right leg is much easier to lift than my left. but hopefully in time they will be equal and require less effort to move. in the beginning, the trainers had me use a walker to take steps, but now i am using hand crutches. they are unstable, but if i can master them, they will be much more versatile. maybe in time i can learn how to take steps with ski poles - that would be pretty great.
i am looking forward to getting out of therapy and back to my life. i should be able to return, again, to work as soon as the 26th of dec. so, i am looking for a place. then, soon, i hope to begin the modifications to my home - nothing substantial. the necessary parts will include a ramp at the front deck, an accessible bathroom, wider doorways, lower storage for the kitchen, and an eight-person jaccuzzi tub for the front deck with built in stereo and cooler.
i am looking forward to winter and am curious how my chair will do in the snow and ice. should require some new skills. i am close to mastering getting up and down curbs and some short stairs. also i can descend long stairs pretty easily as long as there is one handrail. for sure, my chair has received quite a few new dents and scrapes. i hope it last me the seven years that the insurance companies require before allowing funds for a new one. i am trying to find a cheap, beater chair for doing everyday chores. in the meanwhile, i just need to be alittle more careful. and, who knows maybe researchers will discover that, so far, elusive procedure for repairing spinal chords. and we will have a huge fairwell party for my chair, where everyone gets three swings at my four-wheeled friend. you will all be invited.
best, chris.

Jaw Dropping

Chris,
You really take my breath away. Please check out this video. It shows Chris' victory, that we all share. Chris worked long and hard to get to this point, it takes all of his concentration and the use of his upper body to access any movement from his lower body. He practices every chance he gets and has far surpassed the expectations of his doctors in India.

We are all so proud of you CHRIS!!!



Much love,
Anna

Fabulous Pretty Sally Wine offer in support of CHRIS!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
http://www.prettysally.com/
in preparation of the great holidays to come, i wanted to share with you this absolutely brilliant idea + wonderful offer in support of CHRIS OBERLE this holiday + for years to come! this is a great gift for you, your family or friends for the holidays + even in the new year! i have personally tasted their wines + they are truly excellent (see wine critics reviews below). ALL orders will directly support Chris!

Rosalie + Dan Cornew, importers + partners of the Pretty Sally Vineyard, a premium Australian winery near Melbourne, first formed a friendship with Chris through an architecture project he did for them in Tahoe. They have generously donated their wine in the past 2 auctions in support of Chris + the overwhelming success of their wines items gave them the idea to create "CHRIS' CELLAR"...where EVERYONE who orders is a winner!

**Dan and Rosalie will contribute 20% of the wine purchased by Chris' extended community of family + friends towards a fund to help Chris finance his recovery through "Chris' Cellar".**

TO ORDER, simply fill out the special order form posted on their Pretty Sally website:
http://www.prettysally.com/where_to_buy.html
from the Home page, click "Where to Buy "
Make sure to use the Promotion code "OBERLE" to access this special order form.

*shipping UPS takes from 1-2 weeks going ground + in California it takes 1-2 days going ground!
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WINE INFORMATION:
The Pretty Sally wines have garnered the attention of wine critics, as they are a great example of the "cool climate style" of Australian wines. They are very much Australian in that they have strong berry fruit but also have the finesse, silkiness and additional aromas + flavors found in Southern French wines.

Below are some of the reviews their wines have been awarded, most notably by Stephan Tanzer, from International Wine Cellars, highly respected among wine buyers for being impartial + very critical:

2007 Pretty Sally Estate Sauvignon Blanc ($22.50)
"Greenish straw. Energetic, anise-accented pear, green apple and peach aromas offer verve and depth. Light in body, with gentle but insistent acidity; the fresh citrus and pit fruit flavors are subtly complemented by herbs and talc-y-minerals. more fruity than herbal and utterly delicious. "90 pts. IWC Tanzer.

2006 Pretty Sally Estate Rose ($15)
Orange-pink. Ripe raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by an exotic peach accent. Plush, round and slightly sweet, offering a creamy array of red berry and pit fruit flavors. A riper, fleshier style of rose, finishing with sweet red fruits and good length. More a food than aperitif style. 88 pts IWC Tanzer, 87pts Wine Spectator. "This is a terrific pink..."Leslie Sbrocco

2004 Pretty Sally Cabernet Shiraz ($17)
"Bright ruby. Youthful, focused nose offers cherry, red currant, rhubarb and candied licorice. Firm, juicy and complex, offering a striking blend of red and dark berry fruits accented by bitter chocolate and minerals Finishes with good length and sweetness...90 Pts: IWC Tanzer".

2003 Pretty Sally Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($21)
Dark red. Rich, spicy cherry on the nose, along with dark chocolate, vanilla and oak accents. The flavors are of dark berry and oak-spicy notes of pepper and clove. Has a well balanced structure with a very strong finish. Tannins are ripe and well integrated. 90pts/Exceptional,Gold Medal: BTI. Leslie Sbrocco 90 pts.

2004 Pretty Sally Estate Shiraz ($25)
"Ruby-red. Smoky aromas of fresh blackberry, cassis and candied cherry lifted by sweet licorice and bright minerality. The flavors offer a compelling combination of power and focus; raspberry and blackberry notes build and sweeten through the finish but there's also juicy quality providing focus and vivacity. Finishes supple and sweet, with lingering flavors of dark fruit liqueur. A rather graceful style of shiraz, with impressive concentration...91 pts: IWC Tanzer". "Crisp acid and a simply amazing structure; not to be missed...Exceptional: Dan Berger".
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A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ROSALIE + DAN CORNEW OF PRETTY SALLY VINEYARDS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT!!!

we welcome any + all ideas or collaborations in support of Chris! Thanks for checking this out, mmm mmm vino. please let me know if you have any questions.

with love, rita