I've finally upgraded my blog engine from v0.9.2 to v1.9.3. Man, I tell you, it's been a bitch.

When version 1.8.x was released at b2evolution, I already wanted to do the upgrade. But my web-hosting company's Fantastico in the Cpanel did not have it. So I waited. And waited. Then recently I saw that b2evolution has released 1.9.3. This time when I checked my Cpanel, I found that the upgrade option was available! So, without any hesitant, I immediately installed it - at mid-night. First mistake. I did not do a manual back-up because before the upgrade, Cpanel said it would back up for me. Second mistake. Also there was an instruction for reverting back to the previous version and it looked easy enough.

The upgrade finished successfully according to Cpanel. But when I tried to access my admin page or the blog page, it gave me errors. Maybe because it was past mid-night, my brain wasn't functioning quite well. Usually I would remain pretty calm and would search the support forum for more info. Instead I decided to revert the blog to its previous state. Third mistake. The revert took about 30 minutes.

After reverting, the site was back online. I'm not sure why, but I decided to try the upgrade again. Fourth mistake. It didn't work - it said something about a database table already existed and Cpanel just hung there. So, I made another revert. By the time I was done, it was way past 2am.

This evening, I decided to try again. I searched the forum and realised that the skin that I was using was not compatible with the new version, and all I needed to do was to download a newer version of the skin! I didn't need to do all the reverting. Jesus. Christ. This time though, I did a manual upgrade instead of using the Cpanel. And it was my first manual upgrade.

But because I had tried to upgrade once, new tables were created during the first upgrade and they were not deleted when I reverted it back to the previous version, I kept getting errors that certain tables existed. And of course, the installation wouldn't tell you once and for all which tables existed. It had to tell you one by one. In the end I had to delete 19 tables from the database.

Now, it's all done. I have installed a new skin to mark a giant upgrade; not just the amount of work, but I practically skipped the 1.8.x version. This version should have better spam control. It seems to have more features in the admin page too, but I would have to figure that out tomorrow. It's late and I'm beat.

It's still healing, although not in a speed I have hoped. I've been doing light jogging, proceeded to tougher agility drills and walking faster. My PT has cut down my physio sessions to once a week (from twice a week), but I'm working out on my own at the gym twice a week on other days.

But I still have these complaints:

• Stiffness after sitting down for a while
• Pain/Aches in the ITB when trying to get extension after sitting down for a while
• Still haven't reached full flexion (about an inch before my heel can tough my butt)
• Still haven't reached hyper-extension
• Still can't squat fully
• Pain when walking down stairs
• Clicking/cracking of the kneecap

It was very inspiring to see Michael Owen playing again. He looks stronger and looks like he had never done any knee surgery. I'm so looking forward to be able to forget that I had a reconstructed knee, but until then, I continue to work hard on my rehab.

Yesterday at PT, I was given the green light to do some light jogging on the treadmill. What a feeling! I hadn't been able to jog since the injury in September 23rd 2006 - that is almost 7 months. I was thrilled and apprehensive at the same time. Apprehensive because I was scared my right leg would not hold up and buckle. I started by walking very fast for 5 minutes. Then I increased the speed a little so that I could start jogging. I'm not sure if I can begin to describe those feelings in words. I almost couldn't believe it myself. 7 months ago, I thought I was never going to run again. And there I was, jogging on a treadmill. I think I was still thinking too much of my operated leg and kind of compensated it with my good leg. I think it will take some time before I am confident to even out the strides on both leg.

Nevertheless, I didn't dare to push myself too much. It was a very light jog and I alternated it between walking fast and jogging every 2 minutes. I will do this progressively for the next week or so, until I am confident to jog for full 10 minutes on the treadmill.

It was a great day.

This week is week 10 post-op. Things have been progressing albeit slowly. However, my PT wasn't too satisfied with my ROM when she checked last week. A few weeks ago, I was having a bit of trouble with my extension as I worked on my flexion. Couldn't straighten my leg without having to do hamstring stretches. I had to do it many times a day just to get the leg straight. Because of that, I decreased my effort on flexion and concentrated more on extension. So, maybe that is why my flexion is not satisfactory at this point. But now, my extension feels better. The hamstring is still very tight, but I'm able to straighten my leg with lesser effort. So now, I'm back at working at my flexion harder.

My PT has given me so many exercises to do each physio session that I need about 3 hours to complete them.

These are what I did today:

1. Recumbent bike - 10min
2. Calves stretch - 3 sets of 20s on each calf
3. Hamstrings stretch - 3 sets of 20s on each hamstring
4. Quads stretch - 3 sets of 20s on each quad
5. ITB stretch - 3 sets of 20s on the right leg only
6. Cross Trainer or Treadmill - 10min
7. Hamstring Curls - 15lbs, 3 sets of 10
8. Leg Press - 100lbs, 3 sets of 10
9. Inner-range quad - 12lbs, 3 sets of 20
10. Rotary Hip extension - 62.5lbs, 3 sets of 10
11. Rotary Hip abductor - 62.5lbs, 3 sets of 10
12. 1-legged squats against gym-ball at hip - 3 sets of 15
13. Wall-sit - 3 sets
14. Wobble Board - 2 sets of 1min
15. BOSU - 3 sets of 1min
16. Sliding Board - 3 sets of 1min
17. Squats - 1kg, 3 sets of 15
18. Lunges - 3kg, 4 laps
19. Agility drills - hurdles, cones and ladder

I do these twice a week for my physio session. On top of that, I try to cycle on my exercise bike and some exercises I can do without weight machines at home on other days.

Still, my operated leg is far from being as strong as my good leg. It's getting harder to explain to people who ask, "So now after surgery, your leg ok already, ah?"

This is only my 10th week. Michael Owen hasn't even come back for a competitive match and he blew his ACL during World Cup which is June last year. So I'm nowhere near ok at this point.

I've signed up a Tumblr account for a Tumblelog. So short posts and links will go there. Check it out.

Tumbling jinnpod