Tiiiiiiiired

Party time with Kevin, Melissa and the kids.  Party time with Scotty.  Party time with Jody & Amanda.  Party time with Jeannie Mae and Dennis Lee.  Party time with Jack & Jill and the porch.  Party time with Alissa, Kristin, Jack and 984572043 people I didn't know.  Party time with sweet tea.


I'm wiped.  Still jealous I'm not in another country and still on crutches.  Missing people who've moved away.  Thinking I need to call my grandma when I wake up, I'm becoming a terrible granddaughter.  Besides, she's got the most adorable accent and I miss her terribly.  Perhaps a trip to the hills is in the mix.  I'll have to see how my knee will hold up.  Probably not well enough...stupid thing still turns purple and my toes still get pudgy.  My knee still sucks.  I might be able to convince Jeannie Mae to go get grandma so I can hang out with her and talk yarn.


I need to get out of this funk.  I need to finish cleaning my room.  I need to do a massive amount of laundry.  I need to finish some in-progress projects.  I also NEED to get a pedicure.

Little miss "run home to her daddy"

Ran home.  To her daddy.


I finally went to the new gym at work.  The place is crazy nice with tv's at every machine and a big screen too.  I hopped on the stationary bike and rode for 30 minutes and just over 2 miles with zero resistance.  I went to physical therapy today and got to do "pool time."  I was in the pool just under an hour and did a multitude of exercises INCLUDING walking!  The pool was 4 feet deep, so I was only doing about 20 or 30 percent weight bearing, but it still felt fantastic to go through the motion of walking and taking steps.  My PT also scheduled me for 2 days of pool next week, which is 2 times better than the 1 I'm getting this week.


I porch sat tonight.  Brandon hung out for a bit.  Once B left it was just Jill and I.  It was strange being up there without 28934759420 people, but it was nice.  We had time for "girl talk" and did what girls do?  I think.  I don't really know...I can't remember the last time I hung out with girls who weren't tomboys. 


I've been spending a LOT of time on the interwebzz and today I re-visited moo.com.  They make postcards, minicards (which really are rather small and I use mine as bookmarks), business cards and greeting cards.  All of these...are completely customizable.  My favorite part: you want 100 business cards, but you don't want them all to be the same?  You can design 100 DIFFERENT business cards and the price is the same.


In other news, my friend Nick is headed to Italy tomorrow and I'm insanely jealous.  Yes.  Insanely jealous.  I would LOVE to galavant around a foreign country.  Well, right now I'd just like to galavant around.  A different country is an added bonus at this point.  I want to eat my way through several countries and am trying to figure out where to go next year.  I need to get out of the country.  And by out of the country I mean off this continent.  Due to my fantastic schedule I have already thought about a few places I want to throw money at.  One of the US places I want to hit up is the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama.  Random destination, I know...but they have anywhere between 600-1200 motorcycles ON display and there's a shuttle that takes you from the airport TO the museum and a hotel near by.  Other than the fact that it's in Alabama and I can't really think of anything else good there.


Next year should be amazing.  Hopefully I'll be back to my jet-set, sleeping on planes, never being home lifestyle.  

4 desserts. 1 day.

I should've taken pictures of all the lovely treats before I devoured them, but I did not.


This weekend consisted of an epic urban adventure, the best of friends, porch sitting, delicious dinners, laughing until I cried, Shirley T's and making new tremendously fantastic friends!!


I'm growing more and more excited every minute about being able to stand up straight with two legs on the ground.  Come Wednesday I will hopefully make that a reality.  I miss standing up straight to put on make up, shower, talk to people, look in the refrigerator, etc.  These are things I generally took for granted.  Lucky for me, I've had to deal with this type of recovery in the past (not quite as bad before) and I took advantage of every walk, jump, skip, squat, shuffle, stair I could.


I think I might make it to the gym tomorrow to get on the stationary bike and try to work off 1/4 of one of those desserts.  Probably won't happen, but it's the thought that counts, right?!  RIGHT?!?!?!  Maybe I need the Scotty work out video instead so I can become a hard body.


Here's a pretty sweet picture of Brother, Grandma, Grandpa and I circa 2003.  Check out my super sweet double chin, thin eyebrows, long-ish hair and 15 extra pounds.  Grandpa LOATED taking pictures...I'm glad he was a good enough sport for this one (even if he wasn't looking at the camera).  

Reminiscing

I still think about this car.  On the regular.  I wish we would have bought it.  I know it'd probably still be in the same condition and I wouldn't be driving it, BUT IT'S A '59 BUICK!!!!!  My dream car.  Not only is it a '59 Buick, it's a 4 door hardtop.  This car...with 2 door doors on it, a slightly lower roof line, different wheels and tires and that beautiful panoramic back window is a wet dream.  I could probably think of a couple little customizations, but those would be the major ones (minus the panoramic window which is stock anyway and my FAVORITE part).  One day I'll own one. 

I'm going to stop having a boring life.

Actually...my life isn't boring at all.  BUT...as of the first Saturday in January.  Today was shift sign-ups and I was lucky enough to get the shift I wanted!!!  Come next year I will have Friday, Saturday, Sunday off for the entire year.  I'll also be working "normal" hours.  Even better news is that Alissa also got those days off and is on dayshift as well.  Our shifts are 2 hours different which means we won't be able to carpool, but at least vacations will be easier to plan for next year.  Look out Hawaii, New York, Barber Motorsports Park/Museum, Florida, Disneyland, Disney World and MANY others I can't even remember!  I'm going to get back to my jet-set lifestyle.


Once Alissa got home her and I went to Temple II and Ernesto's for a celebratory dinner!  Taco Tuesday turned into Taco Thursday near the house, so I hobbled over to the taqueria.  Jill came back to the house and watched The Office with Alissa and I, which is always ridiculously funny!!!  Bryce stopped by for a little bit and hung out too!!  After Bryce and the gang split, Jill and I hit up Rick's Dessert Diner!  We had banana cream pie and blackberry cheesecake!!!  Soooooooooooo delicious!  Frick.


I can't wait to get back to a normal life.  Doing normal people things.  Being able to walk and fix my hair at the same time would be pretty swell.  These next 5 weeks can't come soon enough!

Booya!!!!!!!!

I finally found part of a video I've been searching for over the last like 4 or 5 years.  I'm stoked!!!!


I had a crazy lazy day today and my shoulders and arms finally feel back to normal.  I only left the house for lunch at the taqueria and then for porch time.  While I was at home for the majority of the day, I spent it looking at oddee.com.  Be warned, it's an addicting site with lots of stuff to get lost in for HOURS.  Seriously...HOURS.  While at the porch with Jill and Buddy I met a Montanian with a billion cars and Ben the Bearded made an appearance.  


Tonight I was told I had a best friend and didn't even know it.  Apparently people with this trash.  I think it means people are far more bored than I think they are!!  I can't wait to get back on my two feet (literally).  Knowing I have a friend taking off to Italy in barely a week makes me want to travel my pants off.  Errr...my legs off.  I miss the jet-setter life style I had last year.  I haven't even been on a plane since last December.  I have quite a few places I want to be PRONTO.  Once I am up to par there will be no stopping me.


Tomorrow will be busier, but today was good.  Minus some missed conversations with a couple key people.  Otherwise, I love cool nights and laughing hard enough to make my stomach hurt.

If I could grow a beard...

I would.  Abso-freaking-lutely.  Or totes (totally...just shortened, yeah...I'm not really feeling that word either).  Whatevs.  Perf.  I can't think of anything else I shorten right now...or I'd throw those in there too.


I had a massage delivered to me today by Jill.  It was amazing.  I'm glad she has a mobile service for the disabled!!!  Haha.  Jill and I also had lunch at the thai place by my house.  It's close enough to crutch to, even though I still broke a sweat getting there.  Since Peet's is on the way home from the thai place, we stopped in there too.  While on the way in I saw the most adorable boy in front of the coffee shop.  He was picture perfect 1960s.  He was wearing slacks, dressy-ish shoes, a long sleeve collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up and 50s style Ray Bans.  He had the perfect JFK hair part and classic style.  Oh yeah...he was probably only 18.  To say he was 19 would be pushing it.  The guy's gonna be a lady slayer when he gets a few years on him (so long as he keeps his impeccable style).


Later in the night porch sitting ensued.  There was bbq, drinks and amazing people!!!!  I like the porch because I can sit down the whole time and it's hard to tell I'm a handi.  It's pretty easy to keep from getting injured while I'm there too.  There's not a whole lot of movement and I try to secure a spot where I can elevate my leg when needed.  Today was good.  Very, very good.  Hopefully I won't be paying for being out when I wake up!

No more machine!

I went to my post-op today.  My dad rode his bicycle downtown and met me, then we drove my car to my appointment.  On the way there, I pointed out Brandon's car and told Pops how the car was hit the other day while parked on the street.  I also told him how when we walked out and the lady randomly asked Alissa, B and I if the car was ours because she had backed into it, Alissa and I started laughing hysterically and walked into the coffee shop, leaving Brandon outside to pretend to be distressed over the situation.  My dad also found the story humorous and we laughed together and B's expense.  I love my dad.


The doctor said I was 3 weeks behind schedule for what the cartilage implant company expected, but that I'm doing well for my particular situation.  If I were to have been a normal patient, I would have only been non-weight bearing for 4 weeks instead of 7.  BUT...due to my particular situation and that this was my 5th surgery, I'm not doing so bad!  


I no longer need to use the CPM machine.  My doctor's a character and when I said, "Really?!" He responds with, "Heck yes!  Throw that thing out the window!!!!"  We laughed and then he told me he doesn't advise throwing the machine out the window, especially since it'd probably cost me a pretty penny or two to replace!!  


I no longer need to wear the gigantic brace.  He said I could still wear it, but also made it very clear that the reason people are usually required to wear the brace is for a reminder.  A reminder that you can't just jump up and start walking every where.  I don't think I'll have this problem, especially since I still keep having nightmares about doing just that.  I really don't want to do anything to put my knee at risk.  I'm done having surgeries for a while.


I'm to start physical therapy next week.  I'll be going twice a week for at least 6 weeks.  I really hope I don't have to pay the $30 or whatever it is EVERY visit.  I've got my fingers crossed that it's covered by insurance since it goes with the surgery. I'm also going to try to get some extra time in on a stationary bicycle when I can.  I'm tremendously excited to start physical therapy, even though I know it will hurt.


I'm up to 122 VERY painful degrees of flexion.  As I was laying on the table, he wanted to see how far I could bend my knee.  So I bent as far as I felt I could go...then he helped me out and pushed on my leg a little.  I thought I was going to cry.  It hurt, but he was happy with the progress I've made for strengthening, he's just worried about my bending.  I can also put about 1/4 of my weight on my leg.  This is going to be terrifically helpful for my daily activities...such as showering.  Or standing.  


To celebrate my knee brace freedom I went to Jill's house to porch sit.  Her roommate Bryce bar-b-qued us some delicious hamburgers and corn.  We talked a while, I did a lot of knee bending, we talked some more, we drank beers of the root variety as well as the wheat and barley variety, we talked even more, we yelled at cougs and pre-cougs, then we saw RACCOONS.  That's right.  Freaking RACCOONS.  These little brave souls travelled from across the street and into the apartment complex down the street.  I tried to yell "raccoon" but I think I had cougars on the mind because that's what came out instead.  I was pointing at them and was hugely excited.  Once Jill and Bryce turned to the street and saw these spectacular creatures, Bryce RAN downstairs to see these things eye-to-eye and I quickly stole his seat to get a better view!!!  The raccoons ended up meandering into the apartments, but it was still an amazing sight!!!

It's almost 5 and I'm looking at miniature pot belly pigs online

Yikes.  Too bad they're mad cute and ridiculously smart.  I watched a bunch of videos on youtube and saw all the neat tricks.  Maybe instead of dogs, my folks should get pot belly pigs.  I don't even remember why I started looking them up, but I always remember Royal Dandies and I guess now they make super ultra mega tiny pigs.  I know they're probably genetically altered so much that they have new unknown issues, but they're so freaking cute and baby size I want to ride around with one in the basket of my bicycle.


I woke up surprisingly early for having gone to bed so late today.  I did about 8 hours on the machine and I got some Thai food (finally) that I've been craving since about the second day I was at my folks place.  I also got to get out of the house a little longer when Brandon and I went to Jill's and did some porch sitting.  I definitely missed that for the past 5 weeks or so.  Making mistakes by yelling possibly rude things to passerby's should not be underrated.  I think perhaps I should get some shut eye...I've got a big day of ebay-ing tomorrow.