Hi everyone. Leo Notenboom here, for Ask Leo, for NotAllNewsIsBad.com, and SevenTakeaways.com.
Yes, this is not an Ask Leo video per se. I’m actually bundling it for several of my publications that have been affected over the past couple of months. Folks that are subscribers to Not All News Is Bad and 7Takeaways will have noticed that it’s been on hiatus since around Thanksgiving.
Ask Leo, as it turns out, has been run wonderfully by my staff — Connie, Mary Beth, and Mark. Since then… what? Well, I’ve not really been around since Thanksgiving, until I just started to poke my head back into things about a week or two ago.
What happened? Well, two days before Thanksgiving, I took a very hard fall. What followed was emergency surgery, three fused vertebrae, and over a month’s worth of recovery. I spent a week in the hospital. Here’s an image of what is inside of my neck right now.
The good news is that the recovery progress has exceeded expectations. I’m at least back to, say, 90% of what I would consider my state before.
The big thing that just happened in the last few days — this last week — is that until earlier this week, I was wearing a neck brace 24/7. That is now being phased out, and I expect that within the next few days, I won’t be wearing it at all. Given that I was wearing that thing for the last seven weeks — eight weeks now — it was very difficult to get a haircut. So the gateway to this video being recorded, and my getting back into the saddle in front of the camera, was the haircut that I got this morning.
Now, I do have some fall-related updates for each of the three publications. Not All News Is Bad resumes today. Seven Takeaways should resume this Sunday. I have about two weeks’ worth of content in the pipeline for Ask Leo, but I’ll be returning to that full-time now as well.
But the bottom line: in case you noticed I was out, I’m back, and I’m doing very well.
I’m Leo Notenboom, for AskLeo.com, SevenTakeaways.com, and NotAllNewsIsBad.com. Thanks for watching.
Welcome back, Leo!
Great to hear you are recovering. Appreciate your candidness.
Senior Geek
AKA John Turner
I also didn’t know you were gone, but wishing you well and also a speedy recovery! 🙂
Leo,
Get better. Do what the MD’s tell you. I had a fall and concussion about five years ago (lost about 15 minutes of memory) but have recovered just fine…nothing like what you have endured. We need you at 100% here in the computer community.
Plus, this takes care of that nasty rumor that you fell off a bar stool. hahahaha
Tom Latimer
So sorry to hear of your fall Leo. Since I discovered your posts sharing your excellent knowledge and advice on all things relating to the complex world of computing I have become an avid fan and always look forward to your next walk through something I previously knew nothing about. I’m 69 years of age and have always been frustrated and confused about just about every topic you post. I find my confidence growing daily as I absorb your explanations and advice (especially about converting to Windows11).
Very happy to see you are recovering well. Please don’t fall again mate (I’m from Australia), look after yourself and keep on keeping on!
Leo! Leo! Leo! Oi! Oi! Oi!
Welcome back, sir. We missed you. But glad to hear that recovery is going well.
So glad you are back, and have recovered well. Missed you!
Since you and I share a history of tumbling down stairs, I am exceedingly glad to see you sans cervical collar. Terrific news. I’m now in a boot post surgery so my stairs are on my butt going down, knees going up, so the likelihood of a serious tumble are limited to my enthusiastic dog’s trying to help.
Let’s both be careful. So glad you’re back.
Oh, it’s so good to see you back, Leo, and to hear that you’re recovering very nicely. ✌️
Glad to hear you’re on the mend and feeling well!
That certain age is coming…..be careful……
Sad to discover the reason behind your hiatus, but really happy that you are recuperating so well! And SUPER happy to have you back! You have been missed!
I am glad you are back and recovering.
Carlos.
Sorry you have not been well Leo. Good you are on the mend. And nice to know your good advice is 100% back.
Geoff
Ow! Ow! OWWWWWW!! A terrible experience, but it’s great that you got back to normal so quickly! Welcome back!!
Can’t keep a good man down. So glad to see you back and that you are on the mend. The IT community would be poorer without your information. Keep up the great work.
Get well soon mate ! You are much needed !
Life’s “little surprises” aren’t always welcome! Wishing you a fast and complete recovery.
Glad you are healing. Winter a better time to be out of commission than PNW summer!
How will this tumble affect your dance career? 🙂
I don’t think he’ll be on Dancing with the Stars soon, but in the not too distant future, who knows.
My break-dancing days are over, I’m afraid.
No, I didn’t notice, which testifies to how well-managed this site is.
Glad you’re on the mend!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, life can certainly dish out nasty surprises in a blink of an eye, Jim
Kudos on getting back in the saddle! And to your staff for covering so well I had no idea you weren’t around. The “Golden Years” can be tough, but you can be tougher, stay strong!
Sorry to learn of your fall Leo, but very glad to read that the recovery is going very well.
A decade or two older than you and a pickleball player to boot (we’re familiar with falling), I offer all my best wishes for a fast and full recovery.
While we’re talking, let me add that I recently started using Brave as my default browser. What a pleasant surprise to see AskLeo is it’s AI butler. Congratulations, Leo.
Sadly that Ask Leo is not this Ask Leo!. Unrelated.
Brave’s AI tool is called Leo AI, not AskLeo.
OMG!!!! Welcome back, and so sorry to hear all your news;( And you and your haircut looks Great, Happy New Year to You!
I love your delivery and content. Glad you recovered well and are now back in the saddle. Thank you for your up front explanation.
Leo; So glad to hear you’re continuing to make progress toward a full recovery!
So happy you are well on the road to recovery. We missed you and your sage advice.
I continued to receive your “Tip Of The Day” and “Confident Computing” E-Mails uninterrupted, so I never even knew you were gone!!!
But I’m VERY glad to see that you’re back!!! Losing you would have been a DEVESTATING loss to the computing world at large…
Glad to hear you are doing so well now! Get a portable walking pad you can pull out every few hours, 0(necessary as we put on years)
I’m having a devil of a time with win 11 and their very overly technical system adjustments. I never dreamed I’d be having to replace all of everything so rapidly. I understand, it’s because of all the platform changes/improvements, but all these people writing the code don’t seem to understand that some of us are using their work to do productive work and know little or nothing of all the extra junk they make us go through just to do our thing. We’re not all looking to impress everyone as our only reason for using a computer or phone, and we don’t all write code!!! If I did it would always be a lot simpler. (re bitlocker reasoning and other controls!)
Anyway, I trust your opinions and am a perm fan although only seem to check in when I either need something or am in trouble. Not so this time cuz I know I can find your answers on starting another new win11 computer up. I’ve seen it before but didn’t save it and should have. Just not used to getting so many new computers so often. It’s all good though and thanks again, be well!
A walking pad or a treadmill can be very useful, but nothing beats getting out in the fresh air. My doctor recommends an exercise bike while I watch TV, but I prefer to walk a couple miles a day. I’ve fallen a few times but luckily, I’d fallen flat and only got scraped up and sprained wrists. I guess my judo training in college paid off. I’m always cautious on stairs almost to the point of phobia. My doctor also recommended to practice standing on one foot to improve balance and help prevent falls.
BALANCE: YES! Before (in the before times?) I would stand on one foot while brushing my teeth at night. Could sometimes do upwards of 2 minutes on one foot, which I’m told is exceptional at 68. Not anywhere close now, but working my way back to that.
Take care of yourself. Don’t rush things. As we get older, it gets harder. Just need more patience and all will be ok.
Leo, I am so happy you are on the mend! Have a blessed recovery.
Way to hang in there Leo…Hope it stays on the great recovery track for you!!!
Glad to see you are back. I didn’t realize that you were gone. Your staff did a bang up job filling in. Good luck in your recovery.
Didn’t know you were gone but glad to hear you are back. I am a loyal reader of askleo for about a decade now. I don’t want to even think about it not being in my email everyday so I hope you and it are around for many years to come.
As a matter of fact, in the past several days or so I did indeed find myself wondering what was up. Just that certain feeling – spidey tingling perhaps – that had me thinking you had been absent somehow. I’m so glad you are on the mend! Continue the good progress.
So pleased to see so many wishing you well. I do too, especially having had a fall or two and damaged my vertebrae.
We NEED you!
I was wondering where you were. Glad to hear you’re on the mend! Get well soon!
Glad to see you’re back. Best wishes for a 100% recovery. You and your very thoughtful, savvy computer advice was missed!
Glad to see you’re back Leo. Good to hear you ar 90% recovered. Best wishes for a 100% recovery. You and your very thoughtful, savvy computer advice was missed!
Yes Leo I did miss you.Glad you are recovering! Don’t do this again!
Wow! After all you just went through, I am very glad you are making a good recovery. It is great to have you back with us again. Your team did an awesome job while you were away. Kudos to them.
Ouch……..so sorry to hear about your boo-boos but glad to hear all is going well.
I did miss you, and am so very sorry to hear this happened! Wishing you a speedy recovery!!
I thought you were on an extended vacation……. Glad (Happy) you’re doing well. Continue to take care.
Please be careful. You are too valuable to lose.
Congrats on your almost full recovery. Good haircut style too.
I don’t know the circumstances of your fall, but if it is due to uneven ground its very important to lift your feet so you don’t stumble. Also take turns slowly and deliberately.
Good luck, Be careful.
Leo, I hope you make a full recovery with no permanent side effects. Please be extra cautious and take it easy. I have been a subscriber for many years and along with numerous other fans, miss you when we don’t get a frequent dose of you!
So sorry to hear about your accident, and most relieved that you are improving. I do hope that your recovery is a speedy one, best regards, Bob
Siderenios, as we say in Greek.
Welcome back, sir
Glad to hear you are recovering, not lucky to have a fall injury but lucky the injury wasn’t even worse.
I’m trying to imagine how uncomfortable a fixed neck brace is – I wouldn’t want to test it even for half a day!
Congratulations to your team for deputising at short notice.
Regards, Dave m
Hi Leo (from Aussie)
May your recovery be complete and that you continue to inspire us (OLDER…82 year old) computer users to stick with the trials and tribulation of computers.
You are Sooooo helpful and knowlegable in that you don’t talk down to us plebs but help us to understand the complexities of modern computering.
Many thanks
Eddie (from Aussie)
Leo,
I would like to support Eddie’s comments above. You are much appreciated as far away as the antipodes.
Get well soon.
Regards
Mark P QLD AUS
Welcome back Leo! You’ve been missed! I’m glad to hear that your recovery has been going well.
Welcome back and heal quickly!! We missed you!
Leo, I’m so very sorry to hear about your fall, and greatly relieved that you’re still in functional condition, even if nothing will ever be the same. I’m so sorry for the delay in my reply, but I’ve been a bit under the weather this month, but I’m getting back to my new normal now. What I mean by my new normal is that I’ve had a stay in the hospital late last year, when I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). I went to the ER because I was having so much trouble with breathing when I’d lay down to go to sleep. It took me a few days to realize things weren’t getting better, so I went for help. I was put on an aggressive Lasix drip for a period of time, during which I dropped over thirty pounds in water weight. I was also diagnosed with a touch of aortal fibrillation and a heart flutter, so they tried to shock me back into sinus rhythm, which lasted for about a minute, so they had to perform a procedure where they burned out the short circuits in the right side of my heart, which worked perfectly, so after some physical therapy and a bit of extra preparation with my home, I’m now at home and doing well. May we both continue doing well, and enjoy a very productive and happy life going forward for as long as we can!
Ernie